Assets Approaches

IACD is helping members to share and learn from each other the challenges, opportunities and implications of different assets approaches around the world. We are doing this by:

a) collecting member case studies and other useful materials, and distributing our 2011 report, 'Appreciating Assets';

b) facilitating an online discussion forum on asset mapping. If you are involved in this work, or would like to hear about others' experiences, please join the conversation. Sign up to FierySpirits and join the 'Mapping Community Assets' topic group

c) collaborating with partner organisations to explore local and international assets approaches. Examples of this include 'Shaking our Assets', an event sponsored by the Community Learning and Development Standards Council for Scotland, which took place in Glasgow in February 2012. More information is available here.

For more information or to get involved, contact Gill Musk.

What are assets approaches?

Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) has emerged globally as an alternative to deficit models, where communities have to demonstrate all the things they lack in order to win resources. This is not to say that needs should be underplayed or ignored: the best asset-based practice recognises structural inequalities and helps communities to address these with confidence.

Asset-based development takes as its starting point existing assets within communities - strengths such as social networks, skills, knowledge and culture - and mobilises these, alongside tangible assets such as land and buildings, to create new economic and social opportunities.

A brief history

In 2005, IACD was commissioned by the Carnegie UK Trust to undertake a literature review and to collect case studies on assets approaches globally. This resulted initially in the publication of 'Asset Based Approaches to Rural Community Development: Literature review and resources'.

IACD continued the exploratory work through a programme of meetings and events, including a seminar as part of the CIVICUS World Assembly in Glasgow in July 2006. In November 2009, a nine-month inquiry process was initiated at an international event in London. Supported by the Carnegie UK Trust, the inquiry brought together members of the FierySpirits Community of Practice and the IACD network, in an exploration of the applicability, challenges and potential of using asset-based approaches. This culminated in the publication of 'Appreciating Assets' in 2011.

Both these reports can be downloaded from IACD publications.