The Development Change Agent by François Theron | Grassroots Facilitation, Participation, Empowermen

The Development Change Agent: A Micro-level Approach to Development by François Theron examines the role of the change agent in grassroots development. It reframes development not as top-down delivery, but as a partnership between those enacting change and local beneficiaries. The book explores how ordinary people, community workers, and development practitioners can enable participation, empowerment, and social learning in their local contexts.

Theron addresses key ideas like social capital, indigenous knowledge systems, action research methodology, capacity building, participatory development, and good governance. The text is especially useful for those involved in community development, NGOs, local government, and anyone interested in effective, people-centred development.

Key Topics Covered:

• The agency-beneficiary partnership in grassroots development 

• Holistic/community-centred approaches & enabling people 

• Empowerment, participation & capacity building 

• Ways of using indigenous knowledge systems in development work 

• Action research and social research methodologies for grassroots facilitation 

• Practical reflections for development agents: project management, local government, health, forestry, etc. 

The Development Change Agent, François Theron, micro-level development, grassroots facilitation, participation, empowerment, capacity building, indigenous knowledge, social capital, action research, development practitioners