IACD Chair - Season’s Greetings 2025
Dear Colleagues in Community Development,
The festive season is here with us. As we come to the close of the year 2025 and enter the festive season, it is an opportunity to be thankful for the many blessings and achievements we have had individually as members of IACD and collectively as an organization.
2025 has been an eventful year for IACD. At the operational level, we have largely achieved most of the targets in our operational plan and are largely on track with our strategic plan. At the organizational level, new leaders joined the executive as chair, vice chair and secretary, while at the staff level we operationalized a new role – that of strategic director, to help oversee a re-set of IACD towards being more responsive, impactful and sustainable.
Allow me to thank you all for your support and commitment to the mission of IACD and for being available to make contributions to our publications as well as participate in the successful networking events that we held over the year, namely, catch-ups, webinars, educators and researchers forums as well as the end of year reflection forums. The feedback so far received is being usefully utilized to make IACD better and stronger.
The year ahead, 2026, holds many opportunities. We plan to have a lot more opportunities for catch ups, advocacy, capacity building and connections, and especially at regional level. We can only become stronger when we enhance our solidarity and increase our voice around matters of common interest to us and our communities. Let us leverage on IACD as brand that, grounded on the spirit of the International Standards for Community Development Practice, will be transformative and impactful in making lives better for those who would otherwise be left behind, as well as be true to its billing as a truly global multi-disciplinary network for community development practitioners, with accreditation with the United Nations and consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.
The WCDC2026 in Glasgow in June/July 2026 is already promising to be a great opportunity for us to gather, connect, share, dialogue and discuss all things Community Development in a Chaotic World: Challenge, Change and Collective Action - but in a peaceful and friendly atmosphere. Thereafter there will be opportunities to immerse in the planned practice exchanges and sample community development experiences on offer. Let us purpose to meet in Glasgow. More details about WCDC2026 - https://www.wcdc2026.org/.
As you make plans for the remaining days of the year and thereafter, it is my sincere hope that you will have opportunity to take care of yourself and recharge even as you spend time and connect with family, friends, loved ones and spaces.
In conclusion, as we get into the universal festive season, allow me to sincerely send to all of us season’s greetings and solidarity in community development and practice. To those who profess Christianity, Merry Christmas.
My best wishes to you all – and yes, happy new year 2026.
We are One.
Daniel Muia
Chair
International Association for Community Development