ABCD and ParticipationSome Issues/Ideas

When Helping HurtsWebinar 3October 28, 2009

Needs to Asset-Based Development Continuum

Needs-based development: Focuses on the deficit in the life of a person or community. A person or community is full of problems.

Key Implications:Solutions and resources primarily

come from the “outside”.Those in need are clients or

beneficiaries of services to be provided to them.

Asset-based development: 4 Elements of ABCD

Asset-Based: Focuses on identifying and mobilizing the

capabilities, skills and resources of the person and community.

Internally Focused: Look for resources and solutions from within the

individual and community first. Relationship Driven:

Key task is to build and rebuild the relationships between and among local residents, local associations and local institutions.

Outside Resources Not too early Not too much

“I like the emphasis on ABCD and local participation but it does make me wonder what exactly does the local church bring to the table - in addressing poverty in the U.S.? in addressing poverty abroad?”

Social Capital: A Key Resource

Key Ideas and Issues

What is Social Capital

Social Capital refers to the institutions, relationships, and norms that shape the quality and quantity of a society's social interactions. Social Capital refers to the collective value of all

“social networks” (who people know) and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other (norms of reciprocity)

What Does Social Capital Provide for Individuals

Emotional Support advice, encouragement, friendship

Instrumental Support material aid, services, information, social

contacts

Types of Social Capital

Bonding social capital Ties to people who have similar demographic

characteristics (family members, neighbors, close friends and work)

Can be negative influence

Bridging social capital Ties between people of similar demographics but

who previously lacked close personal ties.

Linking social capital Ties to people in positions of authority in public

(police, political parties, etc.) and private (NGOs, banks, etc) institutions.

Connects people across power differentials. Can greatly enhance instrumental support

Key source of linking social capital: Local leaders and intermediaries able to facilitate connections between poor communities and external development assistance

Measuring Social Capital Groups and Networks

Participation in various types of social organizations and informal networks, and the range of contributions that one gives and receives from them.

Information and Communication How households receive information regarding

market conditions and public services. Extent of their access to communications infrastructure.

Trust and Solidarity Trust towards neighbors, key service providers,

and strangers and how these perceptions have changed over time.

Collective Action and Cooperation How household members have worked with others in

their community on joint projects and/or in response to a crisis.

The consequences of violating community expectations regarding participation.

Social Cohesion and Inclusion Nature and extent of differences in a community and

the mechanisms by which they are managed Which groups are excluded from key public services

and everyday forms of social interaction Empowerment and Political Action

Household members’ sense of happiness, personal efficacy, and capacity to influence both local events and broader political outcomes

Approaches to Participation

If we are going to move from doing things to or for people to doing things with people then we must deeply examine how well we practice empowering participation in our efforts.

Directive/Blueprint ApproachActing on the Environment

Planning for people Imposes preexisting systems and meaning

on the local environment Employs standard techniques and

approaches wherever possible Treats design decisions as largely final;

plans are prescriptive. Error is bad. Management tasks are largely routine and

known

Interactive/Learning Process ApproachActing with the Environment

Planning with people Accommodates to existing systems where

possible; Develops techniques and approaches

appropriate to the local situation Treats decisions as experimental and

dynamic; plans are interactive. Error is embraced

Management tasks are often more innovative and unknown

Stages in the Interactive Learning ProcessAdapted from David Korten

Stage 1: Learning How to be EffectiveDeveloping a program model that fits the context, needs and resources of the local people and that has positive holistic impact

Stage 2: Learning How to be EfficientImproving the cost to beneficiary ratio

Stage 3: Learning How to ExpandExpanding the program in an orderly and sustainable manner

Some factors that hinder participation

Low sense of benefit

Reluctance to take risks

A sense of powerlessness or fatalism

Fear of social, economic even spiritual loss for overstepping customary roles

Factional differences

Distrust of the motives of those in power (leaders & outsiders)

Low self-esteem (marred identity)

Lack of experience in working with groups

Lack of skills in planning and problem-solving

Chamber’s Foundational Thinking

The 6 reversals Closed/Outsider to Open/Insider perspective Measuring to Comparing Individual to Group Verbal to Visual Higher to Lower

Position and Materials Reserve to Rapport

Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) Tools

Community Map Community History Transect Walk/Drive Venn Diagrams Chappati Diagrams (Pie charts) Flow/Causal Diagram Matrix Ranking Focus Groups Semistructured Interviews

Empowering Communities: Participant Handbookhttp://pcs.aed.org/empowering.htm

Sequencing (guidelines not rules) From general to specific From mapping to categorizing and comparing Moves to higher participation in quantity and

quality From safer to more sensitive subjects

Some Tools of ABCD: Asset “Mapping” / Inventories

Residents’ Skills Residents’ Economic Capacities Local Business Capacities Local Association Capacities Local Institutional Capacities Local Information Exchange CapacitiesList of ABCD tool books

http://www.abcdinstitute.org/publications/workbooks/

Community Opportunity Scanhttp://www.diaconalministries.com/communityministry/documents/COSoutlineOctober2007revised.pdf

Portions of an interview/ survey of an association

IV. ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIESAt this point, I’d like to ask you about the current activities of

your group.

17. What are the main activities that your group currently engages in? (Probe here for concrete examples. Ask respondent to be specific about the activities they mention. Always ask “Are there any others you’d like to mention?” after each pause.)

18. Now, I’m going to review the activities you mentioned in Question 17 and ask which ones benefit the larger community and not just your members.

Activity Description

Benefit the Community

In What way?

21. Have there been any neighborhood issues or problems that your group has worked on?

0=NO

1=YES (ASK 21a)

2=UNCERTAIN

4=REFUSED

21a. What were the issues?

22. Is your group currently working with any other groups or clubs in your neighborhood?

0=NO

1=YES (ASK 22a, 22b, 22c)

2=UNCERTAIN

4=REFUSED

22a. Which ones?

22b. What are the issues you’re working on?

22c. What will be (has been) the result of your collaboration?

Associations and Community ChangeLocal Associations Addressing Neighborhood Challenges (total of 85

associations)

Community Benefit Activity

Have Done Work in this

Area

Willing, But Haven’t Done Work in this

Area

Not Willing To Do Work in this Area

Willing To Collaborate with Other

Groups

Teenage Pregnancy

46% (39) 14% (12) 39% (33) 54% (46)

Child Abuse 46% (39) 19% (16) 34% (29) 60% (51)

Drug Abuse 53% (45) 13% (11) 32% (27) 64% (54)

Domestic Violence

42% (36) 7% (6) 49% (42) 48% (41)

Youth Gangs 48% (41) 8% (7) 41% (35) 53% (45)

Neighborhood Crime

60% (51) 12% (10) 27% (23) 67% (57)

Neighborhood Illiteracy

47% (40) 11% (9) 41% (35) 55% (47)

Associations and Community ChangeNumber and Percentage of Local Associations Addressing

Neighborhood Projects (total of 85 associations)

Community Benefit Activity

Have Done Work in this

Area

Willing, But Haven’t Done Work in this

Area

Not Willing To Do Work in this Area

Willing To Collaborate with Other

Groups

Neighborhood Beautification

46% (39) 21% (18) 29% (25) 59% (50)

Working with Youth

67% (57) 15% (13) 16% (14) 72% (61)

Working w/People with Disabilities

39% (33) 25% (21) 32% (27) 53% (45)

Working with People on AFDC

58% (49) 19% (16) 19% (16) 67% (57)

Working with Ex-Convicts

41% (35) 12% (10) 44% (37) 47% (40)

Supporting Families

68% (58) 15% (13) 14% (12) 74% (63)

Associations and Community ChangeLocal Associations Involved in Job Training and Placement (total of 85

associations)

Community Benefit Activity

Have Done Work in

this Area

Willing, But Haven’t

Done Work in this Area

Not Willing To Do Work

in this Area

Willing To Collaborate with Other

Groups

Start a job training program in the neighborhood

15% (13) 35% (30) 48% (41) 39% (33)

Participate in an existing job training program in the neighborhood

14% (12) 39% (33) 46% (39) 42% (36)

Participate in an inventory of the job skills and interest of local residents

8% (7) 44% (37) 45% (38) 42% (36)

Assist employers in job placement efforts

15% (13) 33% (28) 48% (41) 41% (35)

Recruit residents for local jobs

19% (16) 33% (28) 44% (37) 45% (38)

Community Benefit Activity

Have Done Work in

this Area

Willing, But Haven’t

Done Work in this Area

Not Willing To Do

Work in this Area

Willing To Collaborate with Other

Groups

Inform members of neighborhood jobs through postings/ announcements

29% (25) 29% (25) 39% (33) 48% (41)

Inform non-members of neighborhood jobs through postings/ announcements

25% (21) 31% (26) 44% (37) 47% (40)

Help local teenagers find jobs

24% (20) 38% (32) 36% (31) 49% (42)

Connect unemployed residents to the available jobs of employed residents

29% (25) 29% (25) 38% (32) 45% (38)

Have members mentor unemployed and/or recently employed residents

19% (16) 34% (29) 44% (37) 41% (35)

Associations and Community ChangeNumber and Percentage of Local Associations Improving the Local

Economy (total of 85 associations)

Community Benefit Activity

Have Done Work in

this Area

Willing, But Haven’t

Done Work in this Area

Not Willing To Do

Work in this Area

Willing To Collaborate with Other

Groups

Start or attract new businesses to the neighborhood

9% (8) 40% (34) (46% (39) 42% (36)

Patronize new businesses in the neighborhood

15% (13) 35% (30) 47% (40) 41% (35)

Invest in new businesses in the neighborhood

8% (7) 34% (29) 53% (45) 34% (29)

Buy at existing local businesses

14% (12) 39% (33) 44% (37) 39% (33)

Collaborations Between Local Associations and Formal InstitutionsTotal=85

Type of Local Institution Percentage of Local Associations that “work with” this type of local

institution

Local Police 47% (40)

Local Schools 40% (34)

Local Parks 32% (27)

Local Hospitals 29% (25)

Local Libraries 29% (25)

Social Service Agencies 27% (23)

Local Banks 15% (13)

Community Development Corporations 8% (2)

Local Chamber of Commerce 7% (6)

3 Cautions in Asset Mapping

Unsuccessful mapping initiatives usually result in lists, directories or literal maps that are rarely used. Initiative too focused on data collection vs.

community mobilization. i.e. the “product vs. the process

Inadequate “sponsorship” If have few or no residents and associations on

board with doing the activity the probability of mobilizing occurring after the mapping is greatly diminished

Significant lose of mobilizing opportunity if data collecting is done primarily by outsiders. i.e. each interview is an opportunity to establish a relationship between local residents and association leaders. These relationships can be critical in activating associations

Not having enough people and time Group Administered Face to Face Self-Completed Telephone Internet

Questions?

Next WebinarDoing Short Term Missions Without Doing

Long-Term HarmMonday Nov 9 at 12:00 est

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