This working paper is primarily focused on institutional issues at the national level when using and implementing community-driven development programmes. 

The design and implementation of community-driven development programmes requires an effective central management system and an accountable agency responsible for oversight of the work at community level. Immediate structural decisions need to be made on whether the central agency is within a government ministry, is a specialised government agency or an independent organisation established with the specific task of managing the overall operations of the programme.

This paper is an output of the project ‘Rebuilding and Restoring Livelihoods through Community-Driven Development Approaches in Fragile and Conflict Situations in South Asia’.