Daniel Muia – författare

International Community Development Practice provides readers with practice-based examples of good community development, demonstrating its value for strengthening people power and improving the effectiveness of development agencies, whether these be governmental, non-governmental or private sector. The chapters focus upon the making of the community development profession and the eight core competences required of the professional practitioner, as outlined by the International Association for Community Development (IACD), whatever their job title or host agency, in order to be able to undertake community development. These are concerned with the ability of the practitioner to:Put ethics and values into practiceEngage with communitiesEnsure participatory planningOrganize for changeSupport learning for changePromote diversity and inclusionBuild leadership and infrastructureDevelop and improve policy and practiceFrom a policy perspective, the book will reassert the role of community development approaches as related to a wide variety of global challenges, including poverty amelioration, climate change, human rights, peace building and social, environmental, political and economic development. From a practice perspective, the book will reassert the importance of high levels of professional competence building upon decades of experience in the field around the world by development practitioners working in community work, social work, health, adult education, environmental protection, local economic development, urban design, cultural work and other disciplines concerned to support effective community development.

International Community Development Practice provides readers with practice-based examples of good community development, demonstrating its value for strengthening people power and improving the effectiveness of development agencies, whether these be governmental, non-governmental or private sector. The chapters focus upon the making of the community development profession and the eight core competences required of the professional practitioner, as outlined by the International Association for Community Development (IACD), whatever their job title or host agency, in order to be able to undertake community development. These are concerned with the ability of the practitioner to:Put ethics and values into practiceEngage with communitiesEnsure participatory planningOrganize for changeSupport learning for changePromote diversity and inclusionBuild leadership and infrastructureDevelop and improve policy and practiceFrom a policy perspective, the book will reassert the role of community development approaches as related to a wide variety of global challenges, including poverty amelioration, climate change, human rights, peace building and social, environmental, political and economic development. From a practice perspective, the book will reassert the importance of high levels of professional competence building upon decades of experience in the field around the world by development practitioners working in community work, social work, health, adult education, environmental protection, local economic development, urban design, cultural work and other disciplines concerned to support effective community development.

This book is grounded in Afrocentric community development theoretical framing and perspectives. It curates nuanced perspectives, experiences and case studies to anchor the discipline and practice in traditional worldviews, values, and knowledge systems that draw on ubuntu-based interconnectedness.Focusing on community-led frameworks, such as asset-based community development and culturally aligned change, the book also addresses crosscutting issues, such as inclusion, gender empowerment, youth, sustainability and ethical and legal issues. Blending theory with practice, the book offers inspiration for scholars, policy makers and practitioners seeking to decolonise and strengthen community development theory and practice across Africa.

While several of the chapters address the foundational and theoretical bases of community development as well as community well-being, others address topical and emergent areas of interest in community development practice and scholarship.