ASSIGNMENT 2
DUE 29 APRIL 2025
, DVA3705-25-S1
Assessment 2
Open course index
Completion requirements
Opened: Wednesday, 1 January 2025, 8:00 AM
Due: Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 8:00 AM
Question
This question consists of 7 sub-questions that carry a total of 100 marks and you must
answer all of them. Please number your answers accordingly. You do not have to write
an introduction or conclusion. However, you must acknowledge the source of your
information by means of consistent and correct in-text citations, and a list of references
at the end.
(i) Explain what is meant by popular initiatives in development. Give examples of
popular initiatives (20 marks).
Popular initiatives in development refer to grassroots, self-driven actions undertaken by
ordinary individuals or communities to address their socio-economic, political, or
environmental needs without relying on external actors such as governments, NGOs, or
development experts (Study Guide, 1.2). These initiatives emphasise agency and
autonomy, reflecting the capacity of marginalised groups to “intervene in their context
and change it” through collective reflection and action (Study Guide, 2.2). Unlike formal
development interventions, popular initiatives are often informal, adaptive, and rooted in