Local-Level Stakeholder Collaboration: A Substantive Theory of Community-Driven Development

Abstract

This paper presents a substantive theory of community-driven development based on a study of "social fund" projects in Jamaica. Social funds support community-based projects designed to rehabilitate and expand social and economic infrastructure, improve social services, and strengthen local organizations. Drawing on multiple sources of data, the qualitative study used the grounded theory method, including constant comparative analysis. The results revealed that the social fund community intervention is a process of development-focused collaboration among various stakeholders. The process encompasses four stages: (I) identifying problems and priorities, (2) motivating and mobilizing, (3) working together, and (4) creating an enabling environment. The underlying stakeholder involvement theory posits that collaboration increases the productivity of resources and creates the conditions for community-driven development.