The development sector is increasingly recognising that sustainable impact requires moving beyond extractive consulting models toward genuinely community-centred approaches. This shift demands fundamental changes in how development organisations design programmes, engage stakeholders, and measure success. Drawing on extensive fieldwork across Sub-Saharan Africa, this article presents a framework for community-centred development that respects local knowledge systems, builds on existing community assets, and creates sustainable pathways for economic empowerment. We examine how organisations can transition from top-down programme delivery to collaborative approaches that generate lasting community ownership.