Alternative Approach to Rural Development in Africa:
Saemaul Movement
Saemaul Movement Saemaul: “New Village” Æ Re-building Æ Revitalization Key Underlying Principles: Self-help Local/community-based decision making Sense of ownership & independence
Alternative Development Framework
Distinctive Features of Saemaul Existing ODA programs
Saemaul projects
Principally confined to financial assistance
Î Focused primarily on transferring the management techniques/ educational training programs
Managed by envoys/local staffs
Î Actively incorporates local community members to take the initiative on the practical ground
On ad-hoc basis, without central coordination
Î Premised on the presence of strong central government leadership and a high degree of political willingness from the top
Has the side effect of increasing dependency, instead of strengthening autonomous capacity building of local communities
Î Results in an enhanced degree of local autonomy/independence in terms of conceiving, negotiating, and implementing development agenda, thus allowing policy sustainability
Lacks consumer-oriented approach in decision-making and policy implementation
Î Policy needs are first identified by local population, and the process of implementation actively utilizes (and cultivates) local human resources
Historical Context: Korea Colonial past: 36 years of Japanese occupation Korean war: 1950~ 1953 Æ Near-total devastation Æ Division of the country Æ Economic & social foundation in urgent need of revival Process of economic rebuilding Æ Poverty reduction the first priority
Commonalities found in African experience
Process of Economic Rebuilding: Challenges and Response Poverty-reduction plan Æ five-year economic development plan Æ mainly focused on heavy industry Underdeveloped Rural Area
Urban-Rural Disparity
Population Education Sanitation Housing Other basic social services
Motivating Impetus 3 Fundamental Features of Saemaul
Education & Change of Mentality
Government Leadership & Support
Community-Based Rural Development
Government Leadership and Support
Material Capital Technical Administrative Educational Incentive-related
KEY ELEMENT Leadership and support which actively encourage local
communities’ decision making processes
STRONG POLITICAL WILL
Transformation of Mentality Capitulation of the Saemaul Spirit:
Self-help Sense of ownership Community participation
Identification of Needs
Policy Design
Policy Implementation
Focus : independent & sustainable development
Process of Implementation Support from the Central Government
Community-Level Decision-Making & Implementation [Projects related to basic social services]
Community-Level Diversification of Projects (based on incentives) [Income-increasing projects]
Saemaul Projects Major Projects by Steps Basic services
¾Housing facilities ¾Sanitation facilities ¾Water provision ¾Other community facilities
Income increasing ¾Advancement of farming vehicles ¾Education/ technology development in the Projects area of agricultural production
ProductivityEnhancing projects
¾Further development of water systems ¾Readjustment/ development of transportation system ¾Joint venture with neighboring villages
•1974 average rural household income > urban income •98% of all rural villages became self-help villages
Supportive Roles of Gov’t Rural Community
General Guidance Incentives
Central Government
Monitoring Evaluation Information Sharing Managing Performance
Regional/Local Government
Expansion of the Movement Success of Saemaul in Rural Areas URBAN AREA
•Efforts to eradicate corruption •Improvement of social services •Enhanced public order •Environmental reforms •Strengthening of community awareness
CORPORATE SOCIETY
•Improvement of working environment •Enhanced community outreach
Development into a Nation-Wide Movement
Factors of Success
Strong Political Will & Leadership Effective System of Competition / Incentives Participatory Decision-Making Processes Sense of Ownership and Independence
Breaking away from the cycle of foreign aid dependency Long-term sustainable rural development
Applicability Saemaul in Africa
Features of historical commonalities (colonial past, civil war, need for effective poverty reduction)
Need of alternative development mechanism Success of pilot projects in Democratic Republic of Congo
