Khanya-aicdd has developed a set of 6 key governance issues which are required if the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) or people-centred development approach are to be achieved. CBM hinges on the two governance principles relevant to empowering communities at the micro (community) level;

• Ensuring that people are active and involved in managing their own development (claiming their rights and exercising their responsibilities) especially disadvantaged groups;
• Ensuring that there are responsive, active and accessible networks of local service providers (community-based, private sector or government).

CBM is an empowerment model. Empowerment describes a progressive process of community participation that enables local stakeholders to take the initiative and work actively in their own interest. This goes far beyond simply widening access to decision making. It is about people understanding the reality of their situation, reflecting on the factors that influence the situation, determining the pace of their development and, most critically, taking steps to effect changes to improve.

CBM can contribute towards local development in the following ways:

• Ensuring greater responsiveness to community needs;
• Promotion of more affordable and efficient services;
• Creation of local income generation/job opportunities;
• Capacity-building/development of skills: the training of people from the community will enrich the skills base of the community;
• Promoting community empowerment/self-reliance.