lOMoAR cPSD| 1
DVA2602
EXAM PACK
, lOMoAR cPSD| 16857960
LUNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS
MAY/JUNE 2025
DVA2602
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE BASIC NEEDS APPROACH
100 Marks
Duration 4 Hours (08H00-12H00)
This paper consists of FOUR (4) pages.
Instructions:
This is a portfolio examination. As this is an open-book examination, you must use your study
guide and prescribed reading material (articles, e-reserves, marked assignments and
feedback). You should also consult and integrate material from additional sources into your
essays.
Follow the guidelines in Tutorial Letter DVAALLD/301 for essay writing, citation and
referencing. You must provide evidence-based arguments and acknowledge the sources of your
information by means of consistent and correct in-text citations. Direct quotations must be
placed in inverted commas (“…”) with a page reference as explained in Tutorial Letter
DVAALLD/301. Please keep this tutorial letter (DVAALLD/301) at hand and read it carefully.
You can download the tutorial letter from the module site on myUnisa. It is available in English,
Sepedi, and isiZulu.
Plagiarism will be severely penalised. Your essays must be your own work, in your own words.
Group work will be equally penalised as will any form of copying from any student.
Open Rubric
, lOMoAR cPSD| 16857960
You will be guided on completing a Honesty Pledge, which you will complete online.
This module is using the Invigilator app. Your exam QR & access code is embedded above.
Please read the instruction below on how to use the Invigilation app during this exam.
Alternatively, an instruction document with the same QR & access code is accessible on
myUNISA under Announcements.
• You should scan the QR Code as soon as you have downloaded your question paper
during the 15-minute download window before the official exam start time as per the
timetable.
• Please take note that you can only scan the QR code for a limited time after the
commencement time of the assessment and it should therefore be scanned as soon as
possible to start the invigilation.
• Please take note that you can only scan the QR code once. Make sure you are ready to
start the assessment when you scan the QR Code.
• It is important to note that you must adhere to the time limit in your myExams
assessment as the invigilation time in the app could exceed the time allocated to
complete your assessment.
• Keep the Invigilator app open on your cell phone during the assessment. You are not
allowed to leave or minimise the application.
• If you experience technical difficulties on the Invigilator App, contact the technical
helpdesk via WhatsApp on 073 505 8273.
You have 4 hours in which to submit your portfolio on myExams.
Answer all sub-questions under any TWO questions below. Use Arial 12 point, 1.5 spacing.
Your answer to both questions must be submitted as a single document in PDF format.
Create a cover page with the following information:
• Your full name
• Your student number
• The module code
• The module name
• List the two questions you answered (for example, Question 2 and Question
3)
, lOMoAR cPSD| 16857960
QUESTION 1
The role of different institutions involved in community development.
a) Discuss the role of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in community development.
(15)
QUESTION 1(a): Discuss the role of Non-governmental
Organisations (NGOs) in community development
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a central and
multidimensional role in community development, particularly in
contexts where state structures are under-resourced, overstretched, or
unable to respond adequately to the complex needs of local
populations. Community development is a process through which
communities identify their needs, mobilise resources, and work
collaboratively to improve their living conditions, socioeconomic
wellbeing, and overall quality of life. Within this process, NGOs have
emerged as critical actors because of their flexibility, grassroots
orientation, specialised expertise, and ability to reach vulnerable
populations. Their work spans several sectors including health,
education, housing, environmental protection, human rights, social
welfare, economic empowerment, disaster relief, and advocacy. To
understand the role of NGOs in community development, it is
essential to explore their major functions, approaches, and
contributions within communities.
A primary role of NGOs in community development is identifying
community needs and facilitating participatory development.
NGOs often engage directly with community members to assess their
challenges, priorities, and aspirations. Because they operate
independently from the state, they are often perceived as more
approachable and more responsive to local concerns. Through
participatory rural appraisal (PRA), workshops, surveys, community
meetings, and focus group discussions, NGOs ensure that
development interventions are grounded in local realities. This
participatory approach empowers communities to voice their needs
rather than having solutions imposed from external institutions. By
encouraging active engagement, NGOs help communities develop a
sense of ownership over development initiatives, which increases the
sustainability of projects. For instance, when NGOs facilitate
DVA2602
EXAM PACK
, lOMoAR cPSD| 16857960
LUNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS
MAY/JUNE 2025
DVA2602
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE BASIC NEEDS APPROACH
100 Marks
Duration 4 Hours (08H00-12H00)
This paper consists of FOUR (4) pages.
Instructions:
This is a portfolio examination. As this is an open-book examination, you must use your study
guide and prescribed reading material (articles, e-reserves, marked assignments and
feedback). You should also consult and integrate material from additional sources into your
essays.
Follow the guidelines in Tutorial Letter DVAALLD/301 for essay writing, citation and
referencing. You must provide evidence-based arguments and acknowledge the sources of your
information by means of consistent and correct in-text citations. Direct quotations must be
placed in inverted commas (“…”) with a page reference as explained in Tutorial Letter
DVAALLD/301. Please keep this tutorial letter (DVAALLD/301) at hand and read it carefully.
You can download the tutorial letter from the module site on myUnisa. It is available in English,
Sepedi, and isiZulu.
Plagiarism will be severely penalised. Your essays must be your own work, in your own words.
Group work will be equally penalised as will any form of copying from any student.
Open Rubric
, lOMoAR cPSD| 16857960
You will be guided on completing a Honesty Pledge, which you will complete online.
This module is using the Invigilator app. Your exam QR & access code is embedded above.
Please read the instruction below on how to use the Invigilation app during this exam.
Alternatively, an instruction document with the same QR & access code is accessible on
myUNISA under Announcements.
• You should scan the QR Code as soon as you have downloaded your question paper
during the 15-minute download window before the official exam start time as per the
timetable.
• Please take note that you can only scan the QR code for a limited time after the
commencement time of the assessment and it should therefore be scanned as soon as
possible to start the invigilation.
• Please take note that you can only scan the QR code once. Make sure you are ready to
start the assessment when you scan the QR Code.
• It is important to note that you must adhere to the time limit in your myExams
assessment as the invigilation time in the app could exceed the time allocated to
complete your assessment.
• Keep the Invigilator app open on your cell phone during the assessment. You are not
allowed to leave or minimise the application.
• If you experience technical difficulties on the Invigilator App, contact the technical
helpdesk via WhatsApp on 073 505 8273.
You have 4 hours in which to submit your portfolio on myExams.
Answer all sub-questions under any TWO questions below. Use Arial 12 point, 1.5 spacing.
Your answer to both questions must be submitted as a single document in PDF format.
Create a cover page with the following information:
• Your full name
• Your student number
• The module code
• The module name
• List the two questions you answered (for example, Question 2 and Question
3)
, lOMoAR cPSD| 16857960
QUESTION 1
The role of different institutions involved in community development.
a) Discuss the role of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in community development.
(15)
QUESTION 1(a): Discuss the role of Non-governmental
Organisations (NGOs) in community development
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a central and
multidimensional role in community development, particularly in
contexts where state structures are under-resourced, overstretched, or
unable to respond adequately to the complex needs of local
populations. Community development is a process through which
communities identify their needs, mobilise resources, and work
collaboratively to improve their living conditions, socioeconomic
wellbeing, and overall quality of life. Within this process, NGOs have
emerged as critical actors because of their flexibility, grassroots
orientation, specialised expertise, and ability to reach vulnerable
populations. Their work spans several sectors including health,
education, housing, environmental protection, human rights, social
welfare, economic empowerment, disaster relief, and advocacy. To
understand the role of NGOs in community development, it is
essential to explore their major functions, approaches, and
contributions within communities.
A primary role of NGOs in community development is identifying
community needs and facilitating participatory development.
NGOs often engage directly with community members to assess their
challenges, priorities, and aspirations. Because they operate
independently from the state, they are often perceived as more
approachable and more responsive to local concerns. Through
participatory rural appraisal (PRA), workshops, surveys, community
meetings, and focus group discussions, NGOs ensure that
development interventions are grounded in local realities. This
participatory approach empowers communities to voice their needs
rather than having solutions imposed from external institutions. By
encouraging active engagement, NGOs help communities develop a
sense of ownership over development initiatives, which increases the
sustainability of projects. For instance, when NGOs facilitate
