What approach involves community members in developing plans for local initiatives in CED?

The approach that effectively involves community members in developing plans for local initiatives is participatory planning. This method emphasizes collaboration and active engagement of community members in the planning process, ensuring that their needs, preferences, and insights directly influence the initiatives being developed. By engaging diverse stakeholders, participatory planning fosters a sense of ownership and accountability, which can lead to more sustainable and relevant outcomes.

In contrast, top-down management typically involves decisions made by higher authorities without active input from the community, limiting grassroots participation. Directive strategy refers to a more prescriptive approach where decisions are made with little to no consultation, thereby sidelining community involvement. Centralized decision-making also limits local input, as major decisions are made by a central authority rather than the community members themselves. This makes participatory planning distinctly valuable for community empowerment and fostering collaboration for local development.