Human and community development are linked by the fact that human development is a major driving force for the process of attaining community development. The human components of any community are the main determinants of the development of such a community. To this end, any type of human development will also translate to the development of the community through a transference of the human capital toward effective community development.
One of the considerations in the link between human and community development is the effect of the empowerment of the community members through education and its effect on their general outlook. For instance, if enough emphasis is laid on the education of the members of the community, they can increase their store of human capital and use the same for the development of the community. Assuming the members of the community receive quality education and that some of them go on to become engineers, they can use their technical knowledge and skills to develop concepts aimed at improving the infrastructure of the community.
An example of how human and community development are related can also be seen in the area of health. Part of the development of human capital is an investment in the welfare of the people. As such, if the people are healthy, they will have the wherewithal to contribute to the development of the community. People will be absent less from work due to ill health and the attendant loss of man-hours. Also, the investment in the health of the community members will guarantee that there will be a low rate of infant and maternal mortality as well as the negative effect such losses have on the population growth.
The relationship between human and community development is also evident in the manner in which a good store of moral human capital will ensure that there are fewer undesirable behaviors in the community. Where the members of the community are taught the right values, the rate of crime will be significantly lower than in communities where morality is not a strong point. This will also reduce incidences of corruption and other negative activities that tend to detract from community development.
The knowledge gained through investment in the education of the community members can also be used to improve factors like communication and transportation. An enlightened community is also better able to make use of the opportunities inherent in the globalization trend by gaining knowledge through exposure to other cultures and economies. The knowledge gained from such an undertaking will also help the community improve its own economy.