The report focuses on the Metropolitan Environmental Improvement Program ' s (MEIP) community-based initiatives, and considers the social dimensions, and long-term benefits of a community-based approach, by exploring the experience of twelve community projects in Indonesia and the Philippines, highlighting how communities gained from the process of establishing project successes, and its outcomes. It examines MEIP ' s social, and institutional development process, and the broader dimensions, and benefits of its community-based approach, and, looks at how MEIP ' s pilot projects enabled communities to be better equipped to improve their own lives, while shaping environmental policy, and programs. MEIP catalyzed communities, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to address the environmental problems of their cities, and show how seed funds, and technical advice were provided to NGOs to work in partnership with communities on local environmental issues. The report further looks at the building blocks of MEIP ' s community-based approach, i.e., the level of community involvement, local decision-making, capacity building, local contribution, and inclusion. Findings suggest MEIP ' s focus on a participatory process, institutional capacity building, and partnerships did benefit its communities; however, poor institutional capacity, and lack of network support weakened the sustainability of MEIP initiatives in Indonesia. An outline of key indicators to monitor social dimensions is provided, as well as considerations to expand MEIP ' s experience in scaling-up grass-roots efforts.
(With permission from the World Bank Group)
