An-Najah Staff

This study aimed to clarify the role of community participation in the development of the community, to be among the first studies of its kind to examine the relationship between the level of community participation and community development in the city of Nablus. In addition, it shed light on one of the means of public participation, which is the neighborhood committees in the city of Nablus in terms of their existence, role, relevance, disabilities, and the associated problems. The study seeks to provide officials and those responsible for local community development programs in the city of Nablus with sufficient information on these committees as well as the awareness of people towards the importance of participation in the development of local community. To achieve these goals, the author used both the descriptive and analytical approaches based on primary and secondary sources of information. Moreover, the he conducted a study on a sample of members of the community, in addition to interviews with members of neighborhood committees in Nablus governorate as well as the officials of community programs in some institutions operating in the city of Nablus. The findings of the study indicated that there is a desire and positive trend of the searched community members towards community participation and its role in the development of the community, and that they are aware of the role of the neighborhood committees as a tool for community participation in the development of the community. Also, it indicated that people understand the nature of the activities carried out by the neighborhood committees and they participate in these activities. In addition, the results showed that the underlying motivation for joining the neighborhood committees from the viewpoint of some members of these committees was because they want to increase and develop their life experience, enhance their affiliation and collective work, increase their self-confidence, develop public relations, and fill their leisure time in useful work. Moreover, the study indicated that voluntary work in the area from the viewpoint of some officials of community-based programs does not depend on the changing age and sex because the association is available to male and female alike, and, most importantly in voluntary work is commitment to work and ability to give education and the willingness and desire to develop personality. The study recommended the need to expand voluntary work for community members, in order to strengthen the capacity of neighborhood committees to confront problems and treatment. Also, it recommended raising awareness of the importance of voluntary work and urge them with their families to actively participate in the activities of the neighborhood committees. In addition, it emphasized the role of concerned bodies in identifying the needs of society and the demands of its members through referendum on the level of services provided to them. Moreover, the study recommended the need for building a system for the work of the neighborhood committees. Finally, the study has urged the related official institutions to provide the neighborhood committees by the necessary information and statistics on their neighborhoods.