Theological engagement with endogenous development: A case study amongst the Nsenga (Zambia)

Development takes place in many forms. There is a need for a kind of development that meets the needs and people’s aspirations in life. The question of this research is: what could the role of theology and the church be towards an endogenous development process that is culturally orientated to the Nsenga ethnic group of Zambia? The study is based on the working hypothesis that endogenous development provides the platform where the grassroots organisations and people become subjects of their own human development and transformation in life and society.
An endogenous approach to development is based on local strategies, values and innovations that encourage people in a given set-up to use their own resources, knowledge and initiative to develop new and better ways of doing things. This study considers culture as an important aspect of development and as a means to understanding and achieving forms of development from which people can draw meaning and fulfilment in life. Models of development that cannot integrate culture are likely not only to fail but also to cause damage to people’s well-being. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the study, both theoretical and methodological triangulations were employed. The methods of literature review, critical reflection, logical arguments and analysis were applied.