Local self-help programmes (activities) have a significant role to play in promoting local and regional development, and in improving the living conditions of the people. Self-help activities can be instrumental in mobilising availablecommunity resources such as talents and skills, leadership, human energy, and capital and material resources. In addition to this, local participation in such activities will facilitate the process of need identification and sound decision-making regarding the goals to be pursued, and feasible programme design and implementation. The process will foster effective ways of tackling local problems, and as a result may enable the community to gain some degree of self-reliance. Furthermore, the local community may also acquire practical leadership and organisational skills from the process. Over time, both improvement in their living conditions and overall development in community capability may ensue. The two case studies presented here and others which are cited in the text clearly demonstrate that through proper guidance and encouragement local self-help organisations can accomplish such results.
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