We are thrilled to see a one fifth increase in IACD’s membership over the past twelve months and expect that figure to exceed 22% by the end of March (the end of our work plan year).
This increase in membership has been due to the membership drives built around events we have run, especially in North America, Oceania and Africa and we are hoping will increase again with the World Community Development Conference. At c400 individual and organisational members we clearly punch above our weight and as an international network are seen as relevant helping share policies and practice through our publications and events.
The IACD Board is currently in the process of preparing for the new work plan programme in light of membership increase and our intention to increase the proportion of the available budget funds from subscription fees.
These are some of the projects we have been considering and we would value member feedback. Please send you comments and ideas to Paul Lachapelle paul.lachapelle@montana.edu
1. To organise a World Community Development Conference in 2019 in Scotland.
2019 is the twenty first anniversary of the move of IACD international secretariat and HQ to Scotland. And to celebrate this, we have decided to return our annual international conference to Scotland, for the third time in twenty one years. We hope to partner with Dundee City Council to organise this, the most prestigious global conference in the community development calendar. Dundee City Council has long been one of our local government members and through Stewart Murdoch Past IACD Vice President, we have had a longstanding link with the city.
2. To expand the Global Community Development Exchange.
As highlighted in the 2017/18 year’s report, GCDEX has now begun to take off as the global repository for on-line teaching and learning materials. Our challenge remains to encourage researchers, teachers and practitioners of community development across the world to deposit their materials to share with others. Following initial support from the Scottish Government last year, we are now designing an application for funds to a US foundation to greatly expand GCDEX.
3. To further develop the new IACD website.
With Scottish Government support last year, we were able to launch our new website. We have had over 20,000 visitors to the site and have had positive feedback on the design and navigation. The website requires regularly updating (at least weekly and often daily) with information about the association and community development policies and practices around the world.
4. To publish three issues of the IACD magazine Practice Insights.
In 2017/18 we met our agreed target of three issues of the magazine. Practice Insights magazine is intended for the busy practitioner and receives very positive feedback. The first issue of the new work plan year will be a Special Africa issue. This will be followed by one drawing upon presentations to the WCDC.
5. To organise a Practice Exchange continuing professional development programme.
Following the success of our South American programme in 2017/18, we are organising two Practice Exchange field trip programmes in 2018/19, this time to Ireland and to Indonesia, both planned with local partners. We have respective country partners planning these Practice Exchanges.
6. To take forward the association’s work on International Standards for community development practice.
Last year we created draft international Standards guidelines for the community development field. The consultation period closes on 31st March 2018, after which we expect to launch the Standards at the 2018 conference in Ireland. We would want to promote the Standards through a series of dissemination events held with national CD associations around the world in 2018/19.
7. To design an IACD international blended learning programme for community development managers.
In partnership with the US CD Educators research and development programme based at Kentucky university, our intention is to design a certificated and accredited blended learning programme that could be delivered through trainer partners in different countries. We will aim to pilot our role here as an international accrediting body.
8. To design an IACD Young CD Leaders Global Seminar.
Specifically targeted at the new generation of under 40 age CD leaders around the world, the residential seminar will be based around the Salzburg Global Seminars model, whereby around c30 young CD leaders from different countries would be brought together to vision and explore the challenges and opportunities for the shape of the CD, community organising and education over the coming decade.
9. To support at least three events in IACD’s global regions.
In 2018/19 we intend to continue to run mini conferences/round table events that bring together members in different countries. Our priorities will be to hold partnership events in South America, Pakistan and Australia. These events are self-funded.
10. To continue to enhance UN awareness of, support for, and influence of community development with relevant UN agencies and policies.
We have reported upon our increased work at the UN in last year’s report. In January 2018 we appointed two Young People reps as part of our six strong team of unpaid members who attend and represent the association at the UN. We do this through our accreditation as UN accredited civil society INGO.
11. To continue to run a lean and mean HQ office in Scotland.
Our office based in Glasgow provides member service support. Over the next year we need to increase the admin capacity at the office to administer the 2019 conference.
