How can you use community development theories to develop non-profit programs?

1 Asset-based community development

Asset-based community development (ABCD) is a theory that focuses on the strengths, resources, and capacities of a community, rather than its problems and deficits. ABCD encourages you to identify and mobilize the assets of individuals, groups, and institutions within the community, and to leverage them for collective action and improvement. To use ABCD in your non-profit program, you can start by conducting an asset mapping exercise, where you ask the community members to list and categorize their assets, such as skills, talents, relationships, networks, organizations, facilities, and natural resources. Then, you can facilitate a dialogue among the community members to identify their shared vision, goals, and strategies, and to connect their assets to their opportunities and challenges. Finally, you can support the community members to implement their plans, monitor their progress, and celebrate their achievements.

2 Participatory development

Participatory development is a theory that emphasizes the active involvement and empowerment of the community members in all stages of the development process, from planning and decision-making to implementation and evaluation. Participatory development recognizes the diversity, knowledge, and agency of the community members, and seeks to create a collaborative and democratic relationship between them and the external actors, such as non-profit organizations, donors, or governments. To use participatory development in your non-profit program, you can adopt some of the following methods and tools: participatory rural appraisal (PRA), where you use visual and interactive techniques to collect and analyze information from the community members; participatory action research (PAR), where you engage the community members in co-creating and testing solutions to their problems; participatory monitoring and evaluation (PME), where you involve the community members in defining and measuring the indicators and outcomes of the program; and participatory learning and action (PLA), where you facilitate a continuous and reflective learning process among the community members and the external actors.

3 Social capital theory

Social capital theory is a theory that explains how the social networks, norms, and trust among the community members can influence their collective well-being and development. Social capital can be seen as a resource that can be accessed and mobilized by the community members to achieve their goals, overcome their challenges, and cope with their risks. Social capital can also be seen as an outcome that can be enhanced and sustained by the community members through their interactions, cooperation, and reciprocity. To use social capital theory in your non-profit program, you can aim to strengthen the three types of social capital: bonding, bridging, and linking. Bonding social capital refers to the ties among the community members who share similar identities, backgrounds, or interests. Bridging social capital refers to the ties among the community members who differ in some aspects, but still share some commonalities or goals. Linking social capital refers to the ties between the community members and the external actors who have different levels of power or authority. You can use various strategies to foster social capital, such as creating spaces and platforms for dialogue, exchange, and collaboration; building trust and mutual respect; providing incentives and recognition; and facilitating access and representation.

4 Sustainable livelihoods framework

Sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF) is a framework that helps you understand and analyze the complex and dynamic factors that affect the livelihoods of the community members, and how your non-profit program can support them. SLF defines livelihoods as the capabilities, assets, and activities that people use to make a living, and sustainable as the ability to cope with and recover from shocks and stresses, and to maintain or enhance their livelihoods without compromising the future generations. SLF consists of five components: the vulnerability context, which describes the external shocks and trends that affect the livelihoods; the livelihood assets, which include the human, social, natural, physical, and financial resources that people have or can access; the transforming structures and processes, which include the policies, institutions, and power relations that shape the livelihood opportunities and constraints; the livelihood strategies, which include the choices and actions that people take to achieve their livelihood outcomes; and the livelihood outcomes, which include the income, well-being, security, and sustainability that people achieve. To use SLF in your non-profit program, you can conduct a participatory livelihood analysis, where you use various tools and methods to collect and synthesize information from the community members and other stakeholders about the five components of SLF. Then, you can use the analysis to identify the gaps, needs, and priorities of the community members, and to design and implement your program interventions that address them. You can also use the SLF to monitor and evaluate the impacts of your program on the livelihoods of the community members, and to adjust your program accordingly.