Collaborating with local initiatives and public authorities in this way, CDP facilitates cooperative working partnerships in which governments enable communities to manage improvements that better the working and living environment of the poor. The development and promotion of participatory sustainable human settlements development is recognized in the Habitat Agenda, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996. The Programme recognizes the different needs of women and men. Only participation with decision-making power is sustainable and creative. Participation must build on gender equality and include youth and the elderly.
Capacity building is essential to promote equitable participation between women, men and youth.
Communities do have a hidden resource for participating in city, town and village development-capacity building can release this resource. Communities are prime stakeholders among development actors to identify problems, improve and maintain their settlements. Awareness and capacity building can make partnerships among communities, NGOs and municipal more equitable. Community development which is planned by external persons and only requires communities' free labour, is unlikely to be accepted by communities at large. Planning of participation is one of the most frequently overlooked elements of community development.