Local ownership in community-driven reconstruction in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

“Local ownership” has taken a particular position in the policies of bilateral and multilateral agencies as one of the principles of effective development. It can be improved in community-driven reconstruction (CDR) where certain conditions are met. This paper analyzes whether participants within such a program developed local ownership during its execution. Data were collected by participant observation and semi-structured interviews during the project implementation. The study observed that where existing institutions such as the chieftaincy and local church played a positive role in involving residents in decision-making and project execution, and where transparency and accountability contributed to a relative success of the intervention, people felt a sense of project ownership. This article argues that local ownership of a CDR project can be enhanced in programs that create a space for it, and where existing institutions favor it. Attention is called to programs that use participatory reconstruction/development and that may improve the ability of potential beneficiaries to own a project.