What emerging trends should you know about in community engagement?

2 Asset-based engagement

Asset-based engagement is an approach that focuses on the strengths, resources, and capacities of the communities, rather than their problems, needs, and deficits. Asset-based engagement recognizes that communities have valuable assets, such as skills, knowledge, networks, culture, and history, that can be leveraged to address their own issues and aspirations. Asset-based engagement also empowers communities to take ownership and leadership of their own development, rather than relying on external interventions or solutions. Non-profit program developers can adopt asset-based engagement by using participatory methods that enable communities to identify, map, and mobilize their assets, as well as by supporting and facilitating community-led initiatives and collaborations.

3 Systems engagement

Systems engagement is a perspective that acknowledges that communities are part of complex and interconnected systems that influence and are influenced by various factors, such as policies, institutions, markets, cultures, and environments. Systems engagement aims to understand and address the root causes and systemic drivers of the challenges and opportunities that communities face, rather than treating them as isolated or linear phenomena. Systems engagement also seeks to foster cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder partnerships that can leverage the collective intelligence, resources, and influence of diverse actors to create systemic change. Non-profit program developers can practice systems engagement by using systems thinking tools and frameworks to analyze and map the systems that affect their communities, as well as by engaging in network building, advocacy, and innovation activities that can catalyze systems change.

4 Equity-focused engagement

Equity-focused engagement is a commitment to ensuring that all community members and stakeholders have fair and meaningful opportunities to participate in and benefit from the development process. Equity-focused engagement recognizes that communities are not homogeneous or neutral entities, but rather composed of diverse and often marginalized groups that face different barriers, risks, and impacts of development. Equity-focused engagement also challenges the power imbalances and injustices that exist within and between communities and other actors, and strives to promote the rights, voices, and interests of the most vulnerable and excluded groups. Non-profit program developers can implement equity-focused engagement by using inclusive and culturally responsive methods that reach out to and involve the underrepresented and underserved groups, as well as by applying an equity lens to the design, implementation, and evaluation of their programs.

5 Learning-oriented engagement

Learning-oriented engagement is a mindset that views engagement as a continuous and iterative process of learning and improvement, rather than a one-off or fixed event. Learning-oriented engagement values the feedback, insights, and experiences of the community members and stakeholders, and uses them to inform and adapt the development strategies and actions. Learning-oriented engagement also encourages the sharing and dissemination of the learning outcomes and best practices among the communities and other actors, and fosters a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and innovation. Non-profit program developers can cultivate learning-oriented engagement by using participatory monitoring and evaluation methods that involve the communities and stakeholders in collecting and analyzing data, as well as by creating and using learning platforms and tools that facilitate knowledge exchange and learning.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?