Community Development Council
Community Development Councils (CDCs) are a form of local councils in Singapore that serves as a bridge between the government and residents living in designated districts. Each CDC functions as a platform for grassroots initiatives and community engagement, aiming to bring governance closer to the ground. The councils encourage volunteerism, promote active citizenship and strengthen social cohesion through the involvement of residents in decision-making and participation in local activities.
Established in 1997, there were originally nine CDCs but this was later consolidated into five in 2001. Each council receives government funding to administer social service schemes, welfare assistance and community development programmes for residents within its district. Council boundaries are not fixed to the regions or planning areas but are instead formed by grouping several electoral constituencies. As such, their boundaries are fluid and subject to changes that occur with every general election. CDC districts should also not be confused with town councils. Town councils operate at a more local level, are smaller in scale and more numerous. They are usually formed from stand-alone single member constituencies (SMCs) and group representation constituencies (GRCs) or a combination of both.