About UsThe International Association for Community Development (IACD) is a global multi-disciplinary network for professional community development practitioners and others with an interest in community development practice. As an organisation, and collectively as members we are committed to promoting participative democracy, sustainable development, human 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. |
IACD is a non-governmental organisation operationally based in Scotland. We have an international board of Trustees, and a global membership that extends to more than 70 countries and includes practitioners, educators, researchers, students and organisations active in the field of community development. Through our activities we support networking and collective sharing of learning and good practice We are accredited with the United Nations and have consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. |
What do we mean by community development?Collectively, we subscribe to the following definition of community development, agreed in consultation with our members, in 2016; |
“Community development is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes participative democracy, sustainable development, human 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.” |
Community development and social changeCommunity development is a professional field of practice and a way of working with communities towards social change. It is also an approach utilised in other social professions including health, economic regeneration, adult education, social work, and sustainable development. As well as practitioners working in a paid professional capacity, there are also many more who are working in a voluntary basis within their communities, using community development approaches to promote collective action and positive change. |
PurposeOur mission is to promote values-based community development as a practice of community empowerment and facilitate networking and shared learning opportunities for our global membership. Our vision is of collective and globally connected community development practice, founded on and leading to community empowerment, equality, human rights and social justice, participative democracy and sustainable development. |
|
ValuesWe believe that community development is a values led practice. We promote and work to the follow values;
|
IACD is based in Scotland and receives financial support from the Scottish Government.