Alternative theories of development are humanist approaches meaning that people decide for themselves what constitutes development. People are placed at the centre of development. Development is "for" and "by" the people. This humanist approach includes incorporating the indigenous knowledge possessed by the local communities which drives their economic and socia- cultural progress. 

The are 2 alternative theories to development: community and participatory development but we will be focusing only on the participatory development.

•Participatory development:

This development process involves the participation of the community/beneficiaries from the inception stage to implementation of the development intervention. It allows the society to build their own capacity and self-reliance. It also allows people of lower status to become partners in the development process. Participation enables collaboration between community members and all stakeholders.

Critiques of the Participatory development:

There is limited capacity, inappropriate technologies or no technologies at all, centralisation of power and limited competence amongst communities that hinder the development process.

Poverty and anti-participatory structures may hinder the process of participatory development.

The development processes have a positive effect on men mostly and a negative effect on women. The process looks down on the role, status and position of women in society. The undermining of women is a fact that is universal and visible in all societies. The reason behind their lower status as compared to men is their biological difference( biological determinism). This view was challenged stating that it was not the biological difference in itself but how the social construction of gender which was interpreted within culturally defined value systems.

Four distinctive models have been formed in order to explain how and why women and men are affected by development differently. These models are as follows:

1. Women in development (WID)

- It started in the early 1970s and it's focus is on women. The problem it focuses on is that women are excluded from the mainstream development. The mainstream development is linked to the modernisation theory. The WID aims at integrating women into the development process. 

2. Women and development (WAD)

-It started in the mid 1970s as a critique to WID and it focuses on women. The problem they focusing on is that women's contribution to the development process is not recognized even though they part of the development process. This development process has a negative influence on women and it is linked to the dependency theory. The WAD aims at involving  women as active participants of development both in the private and public sectors.

3. Gender and development (GAD)

- It started in the 1980s and it's focus is on women and men. The problem it focuses on is that equitable development and women's full participation is prevented because of unequal relations of power. It links to the socialist feminist thinking. The GAD aims at empowering women and transforming unequal relations between women and men.

4. Postmodernism and Development  (PAD)

 - It started in the 1980s and it's focus is on women. The probem it focuses is that women are seen as victims and recipients of development, the diversity of third world women is not recognized and the third world women is presented as a homogenous group. PAD is linked to post development and post modern feminism. The PAD aims at offering valuable contributions to theories of development by seeking to recognise issues of power, difference and gender.

-The most useful approaches are the GAD and PAD because they focus on equality amongst women and men, not just on women.

Development is progress, change and transformation of any area or country. Development includes social, economic and political transformation and it aims at producing growth, structural change and distributive equity as a result.

The four factors that constitute development are as follows:

1. Growth and structural change

-For an economy to grow it needs structural change. The economy's activity is divided into three sectors and each sector determines the income of that specific country, for instance in SA ,less developed areas mostly rural areas and places like Free state which comprise mostly of raw  materials fall under the primary sector (less developed areas). They produce less income than the secondary and tertiary sectors because they cannot afford or have limited opportunities for people to work in the secondary and tertiary sectors. So the primary does not contribute much to the growth of the economy due to its income.

-Areas that fall under the secondary sector produce medium amount of income. They specialise in using the raw materials and providing us manufactured products.

-Areas that fall under the tertiary sector produce large amounts of income because they in charge of the output of the economy

2. Modernisation.

- Most areas in South Africa like villages and some rural areas still rely on traditional ways of doing things, they not familiar with the use of technology and this is why areas like these do not develop. Technology makes everything easier and the economy grows quicker because technology generates money faster.

3. Demographic Transitions

-This refers to the improvement of sanitation and health resulting in lower death rates. South Africa has high death rates and the growth of the economy means lower death rates and birth rates as well. The health industries should contribute in the decrease of birth rates by making contraceptives available.

Depression is not a social problem due to the fact that it is more of a personal issue that does not involve the prevention of the goals of society. It does not influence the society nor affect it. Depression is a personal choice and it is not influenced by social factors. Since it is a personal choice it can be solved unlike social problems. Depression does not threaten the continuation of society in any way.

Smash -and-grab is a social problem because it affects the whole society. Everyone and anyone can be a victim of a smash-and-grab. It is crucial for the society to be safe so that people can feel safe. If people feel like their safety is threatened it makes them doubt their believe in what society should be like, and they would want to solve the issue ofcourse, which will not be easy.

Rape Is a social problem. It affects and it harms a lot of people. It is not easy to solve because it is caused by people meaning these people will have to change which is unrealistic. 

Fast foods are not a social problem mainly because consuming fast foods is a choice. If one consumes plenty of fast foods their health will be harmed. Even though it is something they could have avoided in the first place, so this makes it a personal issue not a social problem. It would have been a different story if the economy sold only fast foods. 

HIV/AIDS is not a social problem. It is not harmful to a lot of people because it can be avoided. The society knows how to avoid HIV/AIDS. It is the society's choice wether to avoid it or not.