Defining community development is difficult because the meaning of ‘community’ is so diverse. In addition, the meaning of ‘development’ also varies!
In 2016, the International Association of Community Development (IACD) agreed upon the following as a global definition:
Community development is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes participative democracy, sustainable development, rights, economic opportunity, equality and social justice, through the organisation, education and empowerment of people within their communities, whether these be of locality, identity or interest, in urban and rural settings.
The European Community Development Network (EuCDN) put in place a framework in an attempt to draw commonalities between the work being done across Europe. In this framework they make the statement that:
The world is not equal … some communities in all of our countries are excluded and unequal as a result of structures and policies that we have created. The defining purpose overall of community development is to transform that reality through the involvement and actions of people as their own agents of change.
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Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.
– Abraham Lincoln
In 2015, Australia and other United Nations (UN) Members signed an agreement to commit to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade considers the SDGs to be “non-binding” but “highly influential.” 3
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Consider the SDG’s and the video above.
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Priorities of community development across the globe are similar to the priorities in Australia.
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The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 from the United Nations reports on how the 17 goals are tracking across the globe.
See the Community Development in 60 Seconds page from the Scottish Community Development Centre. This is also downloadable as a PDF or PowerPoint to easily share with your colleagues and community!
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