29 Oct 2025

Social and Community Development (S&CD) officers at the North East District Council have been urged to build trust with the communities they serve.

The advice came from Chobe District Council principal community development officer, Ms Amochilani Modikwa, during a four-day workshop on Sustainable Livelihoods Approach in Tatisiding on Tuesday.

Ms Modikwa emphasised that building trust was crucial in understanding the community’s needs, assets, and resources.

She noted that communities were key stakeholders in community mapping and know more about their resources and assets than officers do.

However, she cautioned that some community members might pretend not to know something to test an officer’s trustworthiness.

Community development officer for Sechele in North East District, Ms Mandy Kologwe advised participants to ensure that community members have a sense of ownership in the mapping process.

She emphasised the importance of engaging all stakeholders, including marginalised groups, government agencies, local organisations, and NGOs.

Some participants raised concerns about potential challenges in community mapping, such as conflicts over land acquisition. They noted that land was a highly regulated resource, and acquiring it can be difficult.

The workshop, themed “Building Resilient Communities through Sustainable Livelihoods,” aims to equip officers with the necessary skills to promote sustainable livelihoods and build resilient communities.

The SLA framework focuses on human, social, natural, physical, and financial assets.

By adopting this approach, the North East District Council aims to improve its understanding of community livelihoods, to plan development activities more effectively, as well as to promote sustainable livelihoods.

The workshop will include a visit to Patayamatebele, a settlement in the district that faced various challenges, providing officers with a practical opportunity to apply the SLA framework. ENDS