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UNV DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICE POVERTY ALLEVIATION

WITH GRASSROOTS PARTICIPATION

The Domestic Development Service (DDS) is a grassroots development branch of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme. It works together with community-based groups and NGOs to promote and support self- help initiatives of communities. DDS operates today in 15 countries in Africa, with similar programmes in Asia and Pacific Regions.

How the programme operates

DDS is a participatory development programme: it is based on the assumption that development efforts yield the best results when they stem from local initiatives and rely on the resources and skills available in communities. The principal actors are the communities themselves; their work is facilitated by UNV/DDS Field Workers who are experienced community development workers with special expertise in a variety of fields related to rural development. These volunteers live and work within the communities which have requested their assistance. Following the needs expressed by the people, they help communities identify, initiate and carry out self-help projects, give advice and suggestions on organization of work and improvements in general living conditions. They also provide training in technical skills and help communities and groups in identifying other training opportunities and sources of financing.

Rationale of programme

DDC is an African exchange programme, a form of technical cooperation between developing countries. The Field Workers are international volunteers recruited from all over Africa. In May 1995 there were 166 UNV/DDs Field Workers from 23 African countries serving in 15 countries; Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana Central African Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Guinea, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

While working in another country, the Field Workers are exposed to different ways of thinking and doing. This sharing of ideas and experiences, technologies and skills, is a valuable asset when the volunteer returns home to resume work in national development efforts.

Contacting UNV/DDS

In countries where the Programme is operating, communities which feel they could benefit from the services of DDS can approach a local NGO or other organization which will forward their request to the DDS Country Officer or UNV Programme Officer at the UNDP representation. The local organization will act as the Field Worker’s host organization, supporting him/her and the community in their work. The DDS Country Officer is in charge of planning and coordinating the work of DDS in the country and liaising with the national authorities, NGOs and other reference groups for programme development.

DDS in Zimbabwe

The DDS Programme in Zimbabwe started in 1989. The official national cooperating partner is the Ministry of National Affairs, Employment Creation and Cooperatives. Other local collaborating partners include the Zimbabwe Self-Help Development Foundation, Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, Zimbabwe Women’s Bureau and three locally-based NGOS, all of whom host DDS Field Workers in the country.

In line with the government’s newly launched Poverty Alleviation Action Plan, the Zimbabwe DDS Programme today is working towards poverty alleviation. In this context, it seeks to improve communities’ capacities for self-reliance in terms of food production, employment creation, income generation and social well-being. An example of DDS work in Zimbabwe is the integrated aquaculture-agriculture project in Mutoko District, run by Kwaku Kofituo

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