International Partners

Carnegie UK Trust has been working in partnership with the International Association for Community Development (IACD) over the past five years reviewing asset-based approaches to community development and regeneration.  Increasingly commentators are becoming aware that the very basis of many regeneration schemes - an emphasis on all the things that an area and its residents LACK- has a negative impact on the morale of intended beneficaries.  Carnegie UK Trust believes that positive approaches to regeneration are very much the way forward- building on what you have got.  In this respect, we have much to learn from other countries, where asset-building approaches are common.  

 IACD began this action research by exploring the global literature on asset-based community development.  This led to a publication titled 'Asset-Based Approaches to Community Development - Literature Review and Resources (2006).'  A series of international case studies were also identified which began to illustrate what asset-based approaches look like (listed on the left.)  This action research was part of the wider Rural Action Research Programme (RARP) whose findings are summarised in the 2009 breifing paper 'Building on What You Have Got - A guide to Optimising Assets.' IACD has also produced a supporting brief which starts to look at Asset-Based Approches to Community Development in more detail (attached below.) 

In November 2009 IACD, in partnership with Carnegie UK Trust, launched an Review into Asset-Based Approaches to Community Development. This builds upon the previous action research findings as well as scoping what is really meant by the term and what we can learn from international experience.  At a crucial point in time when policy makers will decide how to invest scarce resources, are there opportunities to bring this experience to bear to influence policy and practice? The findings of this process will be published in a report which will be launched in 2010. 

More details of this inquiry and ongoing discussions can be found in our Community of Practice site - www.fieryspirits.com.  Alternatively, if you wish to find out more, please contact Debi Fry, IACD Development Officer- debi.fry@iacdglobal.org