1. Coady International Institute Operationalizing an asset-based approach at the community level

2. Coady International Institute, January 2004 2 A sset Based Community Development as a methodology Grew out of the findings of a nationwide (US) study of communities that had spontaneously and dramatically improved their economies and social conditions over a period of several years (McKnight and Kretzmann) Has been influenced by participatory methodological traditions Embraces the concept of asset-building, as well as asset-mobilization, for sustainable community-driven development

3. Coady International Institute, January 2004 3 McKnight and Kretzmann found that local economic development is successful when communities… …are able to identify and mobilize their own assets before drawing on resources from outside …have “citizens” rather than NGOs or government agencies at the center of the development activity

4. 4 The Coady Institute has identified more than a hundred cases of spontaneous asset-based and community-driven development internationally Examples: Coady is currently developing 10 in- depth case studies in Egypt

5. Coady International Institute, January 2004 5 The question is: how do you stimulate this kind of a process in communities where it is not occurring? ABCD has been designed as a methodology to help organizations that work at the community level (either in a geographic sense or with target groups) stimulate an asset-based and community-driven development process

6. Coady International Institute, January 2004 6 ABCD is being used as a methodology by NGOs in several countries Ethiopia India Kenya Philippines

7. Coady International Institute, January 2004 7 ABCD as a methodology is context specific. Among other factors, its application depends on: the historic relationship between the intermediary organization and the community power dynamics within communities the capacity of formal and informal leadership in the community cultural factors the relationship between communities and local and state governments (especially regarding access to assets)

8. Coady International Institute, January 2004 8 An Asset Based Methodology for working at the community level Purposeful reconnaissance Building a relationship with community members Motivating community members Identifying assets Linking and mobilizing assets for initial community activity Sustaining social and economic development over the longer term

9. Coady International Institute, January 2004 9 Tools and methods 1: Purposeful Reconnaissance Identifying communities interested in applying an ABCD approach Completing background research using simple template

10. Coady International Institute, January 2004 10 Tools and Methods 2: Motivating community members Appreciative interviewing to recognize existing strengths and assets: “Tell me about a time when this community worked together to achieve positive change…” Multiple cause analysis (the inverse of a problem tree) to analyze success.

11. Coady International Institute, January 2004 11 Appreciative Interviewing: Hundee, Ethiopia

12. Coady International Institute, January 2004 12 Tools and Methods 3: Identifying assets and opportunities Skills inventories, asset maps, Venn diagrams, transects: –Associations (social capital) –Individual skills (human capital) –Institutions (physical capital, social capital, opportunities in the policy environment) –Natural Resources (natural capital and land use/ownership policy environment)

13. Coady International Institute, January 2004 13 Identifying Assets: SEWA, India

14. Coady International Institute, January 2004 14 Identifying Assets: SEWA, India

15. Coady International Institute, January 2004 15 Tools and Methods 4: Identifying economic opportunities “Leaky Bucket tool” for Community Economic Analysis

16. 16 Example of Leaky Bucket

17. Coady International Institute, January 2004 17 Tools and Methods 5: Linking and mobilising assets. Asset wheel to show potential linkages among different assets Identifying initial activity Micro-planning with interested community members

18. Coady International Institute, January 2004 18 Asset Wheel: Midkiwan, Philippines

19. Coady International Institute, January 2004 19 Tools and Methods 6: Sustaining the process Demonstrating success as leverage for further investment Mobilizing additional resources through partnerships with outside agencies Strengthening associational capacity: –Association of associations? –Community Foundations?

20. Coady International Institute, January 2004 20 Illustrative Example: India Jeevika SEWA’s approach in Kutch, Patan and Surendranagar districts of Gujarat State (40,000 households) Village selection Whole village meeting (Gramsabha) Formation of organizing committee Asset mapping Analysis of opportunities Linking assets to opportunities Micro-planning

21. Coady International Institute, January 2004 21 Illustrative Example: Ethiopia Collaborative partnership with Oxfam Canada and three regionally based local NGOs: REST (Tigray), Hundee (Oromo), and KMG (Kembatta). Objectives: –Pilot ABCD in one community in each region over 3 years. –Document process and results throughout the 3 year period Progress so far: –Purposeful reconnaissance (using template for background research) –Appreciative Inquiry and asset identification and mapping now underway.

22. Coady International Institute, January 2004 22 Illustrative Example: Egypt Collaborative partnership with Center for Development Services, supported by Ford Foundation Objectives: –to document “successful” community development –to analyze success through an ABCD “lens” Progress: Initial selection of case studies underway; field work for one case study completed

23. Coady International Institute, January 2004 23 Illustrative Examples: Philippines Tongantongan (population 8,000) Background research Appreciative Interviewing, analysing success Visioning Compiling Inventories with sample households Asset wheel shows linkages required for past successes Asset wheel prompts ideas for other linkages Initial activity (organic agriculture) Sustained activity in organic agriculture through connections with private sector, local government and local university

24. Coady International Institute, January 2004 24 Illustrative Example: Kenya Collaborative partnership: –CREADIS in Bungoma District, Western Kenya –2 communities: one rural, one urban. Objectives: –Pilot ABCD in one community in each region over 3 years. –Document process and results throughout the 3 year period Progress: –Establishing rapport with rural community –Sensitizing local government –Appreciative Inquiry. Analysis of success –Asset Mapping, skills inventories underway –Further training of local government pending NEPAD funding

25. Coady International Institute, January 2004 25 Implications for agency practice Shifting from problem solving to responsive investment in community- driven initiatives Rethinking accountability mechanisms Encouraging conducive policy environment that provides opportunities (i.e. access to assets or relaxation of bureaucratic procedure)

26. Coady International Institute, January 2004 26 Expected Results: Short term Functionally effective relationships between communities and local government, private sector, NGOs Within communities, the assets of even the poorest are recognized and mobilized, and increased through the resultant development activities Improved access to information and other assets required for local economic development Collaborative activity at the community level that has positive economic outcomes or the potential for local poverty reduction

27. Coady International Institute, January 2004 27 Expected Results: Long term Sensitivity of outside agencies to factors that determine community-driven development An improved policy environment that provides opportunities for communities to access assets and respond to economic opportunities Improved capacity of communities to mobilize assets and respond to economic opportunity

28. Coady International Institute, January 2004 28 Rationale for Coady’s investment in ABCD: In keeping with our traditions in the Antigonish Movement: “Use what you have to secure what you have not” Consistent with our commitment to active citizenship Collaborative action research feeds directly into educational programs in Community Based Development for developing country practitioners

29. Coady International Institute, January 2004 29 Individual Skills Conflict resolutionVeterinaryConstruction (roads/buildings) LeadershipAnimal husbandry (camel, horse, mule)Carpentry OrganizationalAnimal breedingMasonry CivicLivestock managementPlastering Military/securityCastratingRoofing Knowledge of customary/ traditional lawsFatteningMining (sand/stone) Traditional healingTradingWeaving MidwiferySkin processing/tanningBasket making Treating broken bonesBlacksmithBamboo crafts Storytelling (parables and proverbs)Honey and Tedge productionEmbroidery Playing musical instrumentsCactus processingSpinning Making musical instrumentsCereal crop productionTailoring Traditional games/making gadgetsWater conservation techniquesPlating hair/barbery Caring and nurturingHand dug well constructionFood processing Weather forecastingMaking silosBaking Grain milllingFarm implement making/milking utensilsShoe making WoodcuttingButcheryHome-based liquor/beer GoldsmithHuntingVending/petty trade Singing/dancing/composing

30. Coady International Institute, January 2004 30 Active Associations Peasant association Farmers cooperative Burial society Rotating savings and credit group Handicraft association Church group Youth club Local Institutions Local government administration (education, agriculture, health, water, roads) REST (NGO) Dedebit (microfinance institution) Tigray Development Association

31. 31 Remittances Pensions Export IncomeState Administration (local) Education Agriculture Health Water supply Road Farm co-ops -------------------------- REST/TDA Export Oriented Informal Bamboo crafts Timber Agric. products Fire wood and charcoal Formal Mining (sand and stone) Construction Local Oriented Firms Informal Petty trade Local liquor house Black smith Carpentry Masonry Wood cutters Formal Small shops Grocery Gold smith Bakery Grinding mill Butchery Households

32. Coady International Institute, January 2004 32 Linking and Mobilizing Assets: Tigray, Ethiopia Farming skills Farmers groups Mining skills Organizational skills Producers cooperative Community owned mining venture Peasants association Crops Livestock Land/soil Water Sand Stone Road access Savings Individual skills Savings Private investors Gov’t. mining department Gov’t. extension