Community Development Approach Research Articles

MOOC for Pagelaran Pottery Village: Boosting Income through Design Educational Tourism

The implementation of this activity aims to design and build educative tourism infrastructure using the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) as a means to increase the income potential of Pagelaran Village. Pagelaran Village is famous for its pottery crafts, which are rich in cultural values. However, the potential for tourism and related revenues has yet to be fully realized. Therefore, employing MOOC as a tool to provide an online learning experience for a package of pottery production training activities is expected to attract tourists and boost the income of the local community. The methods used in this implementation include field surveys, literature studies, and analysis of tourist needs and preferences. The approach adopted is the asset-based community development (ABCD) approach, which consists of five stages of activity including: 1) Discovery, 2) Dream, 3) Design, 4) Define, and 5) Destiny. The infrastructure built includes the development of the MOOC platform, offering learning materials related to history, manufacturing techniques, and the art of pottery. Additionally, practical learning facilities are also provided for tourists desiring to undertake direct courses without constraints by space and time. During initial testing, this MOOC garnered favorable responses from travelers who participated the course. The results of the implementation of this activity indicate that the use of MOOC as an educative tourism infrastructure can increase potential income in Pagelaran Village. Keywords: MOOC, income, pagelaran pottery, educational, infrastructure

Pendampingan Penguatan Ekonomi Kreatif Perempuan Desa Tamansari Wonorejo Kabupaten Pasuruan

The aim of this assistance is to quickly start empowering women's creative economy evenly in the villages of Pasuruan district. The approach used to build the strength and potential of Tamansari village women in a sustainable manner, in this case how to empower Tamansari Village women, is the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, which is a service approach that empowers the assets owned by a community. The results of the implementation of the creative socio-economic strengthening program for women in Tamansari village are very influential in increasing human resources, creativity and welfare of women in Tamansari village and its surroundings, and changes in society that are more solid and have a positive image towards social change.

Wearing their heart on a wall: the World’s Biggest Comic

Abstract An arts-based project, using a community development approach engaging people in a community of place to address suicide prevention, is potentially powerful. This involves linking community development and mental health promotion practice. The challenge in doing this is that, conceptually, the integration between the two is incomplete and there is a lack of guidance about effective community processes. This paper analyses community development processes to create the World’s Biggest Comic (WBC). The WBC was an innovative, large scale public art project engaging local artists, some with a lived experience of mental illness, to tell a story of Will and Hope. A 15-part comic story, printed on vinyl canvas panels and mounted on buildings, covered 600 m2. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=217471332673743 Conducted in a small rural South Australian community by the local volunteer Suicide Prevention Network, the WBC aimed to raise awareness, break down stigma, and prompt life-saving conversations. Results of a mixed method impact evaluation are presented using a community development framework that considers ‘people’, ‘space’, and ‘place’. The use of sociological concepts about community and the community field, the value of relationships, and listening to the voices of those with a lived experience of mental illness, may assist practice. Some potential learnings and pitfalls in using a community development approach in mental health promotion are discussed.

Pendampingan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah dalam Mengimplementasikan Pembelajaran dan Asesmen Kurikulum Merdeka Menuju Madrasah Mandiri Berprestasi

The Merdeka Curriculum is a new curriculum aimed at improving the quality of education through a holistic approach, emphasizing the development of character, creativity, and multiple-intelligence of students. However, the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum in Lamongan Regency faced several challenges, one of which was the limited understanding of teachers regarding the concepts and learning methodologies contained in the curriculum. To address these challenges, mentoring was provided to Madrasah IbtidaiyahI (Islamic Elementary School) teachers (a case study in Brondong Subdistrict, Lamongan). In this mentoring program, the subject of PKM (Community Service Program) was the teachers in 35 Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) under the Working Group of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (KKMI) in Brondong Subdistrict, Lamongan Regency. The assets (figuratively speaking) as the implementers of this program totaled 70 teachers, with two representatives from each madrasah. The mentoring method used the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, aiming to maximize the assets and potential of the madrasah, while involving active participation from all teachers. The mentoring results showed a significant increase in teachers' understanding of the Merdeka Curriculum, reaching 71.43%. Teachers were also able to develop lesson plans that align with the principles of flexibility and contextualization, and implement active learning methods through practical activities reinforcing the Pancasila Student Profile Project and the Rahmatan lil Alamin Student Profile (P5-PPRA). This mentoring provided benefits and positive outcomes for the madrasah and students. The madrasah became more independent and achieved better performance, while students obtained higher-quality and more meaningful learning experiences.

Community development strategies to meet challenges of potential impacts of rapid economic development in Thailand

ABSTRACT In 2018, the Thai Government proposed industrial investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). This research aimed to identify ways for a community to safely voice their concerns about the perceived impacts of rapid economic policy under an authoritarian regime. Practice-theories of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and Participatory Development Practice (PDP) guided community facilitators. Research methods included in-depth interviews, observation, and a consensus conference with key stakeholders. The results suggest that ABCD assisted the community in identifying physical and social capacity and cultural values as assets. PDP helped stakeholders to 1) raise awareness about inconsistency with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); 2) engage young people in voicing their concerns; and 3) achieve greater collaboration. The research showed that community development approaches can aid government policy implementation processes, to enable consistent achievement across the SDGs.

IN SEARCH OF THE NATIVE: A POSTHUMANIST APPROACH TO COMMUNITY PRACTICE

This paper is a narrative outcome of our fieldwork experiences with two Adivasi communities (Scheduled Tribes) on the outskirts of Mumbai City in India. Diverse, complex problems like urbanisation, capitalism, and climate change impact the livelihoods of these communities. The wicked nature of these problems perpetuates their social vulnerabilities, agro-biodiversity losses, and livelihood insecurities as they are constantly alienated, dispossessed, and displaced from their local environment and everyday forms of being. Given these circumstances, more than traditional community development approaches may be required locally. Engaging with these communities also implies that we engage with ecologies of knowing-in-being and repair, which, from a posthumanist perspective, guides us to the situated understanding of nature-culture entanglements, their relationalities, and the multiplicities of human-nonhuman associations.

Pemberdayaan Anak Korban Perceraian Melalui Pengolahan Hasil Laut Berbasis Online Menuju Kemandirian Ekonomi Kreatif

This assistance aims to determine the form and impact of empowering children who are victims of divorce in the Ujung Pangkah Gresik sub-district through online-based processing of seafood towards creative economic independence. From this assistance, it is hoped that it will be able to create economic independence for children who are victims of divorce and it is hoped that it will be able to suppress the destructive potential that befalls children who are victims of divorce. The problem formulation of this assistance is what is the form and impact of Empowering Children of Divorce Victims in Ujung Pangkah Gresik District through Online-Based Sea Product Processing Towards Creative Economy Independence? This assistance uses an Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach and is carried out in Ujung Pangkah Gresik District. This assistance involved 15 children who were victims of divorce in Ujung Pangkah Gresik District. It can be concluded that this form of empowerment assistance through making products from marine products in Ujung Pangkah Gresik District is able to provide change for children who are victims of divorce. There are three products produced and marketed, namely crackers, ebi shrimp and fish chunks. The impact of this assistance on children who are victims of divorce is that they have had positive activities so that they no longer track, consume drugs and buskers. Apart from that, this assistance can increase the creative economic independence of children who are victims of divorce.

Assessing the Impact of Asset-Based Community Development Approach on Rural Poverty Alleviation in Ghana: The Moderating Role of Government Policies

This paper investigates the effects of the asset-based community development (ABCD) approach, thus, local resources, asset mobilization, and citizens’ participation on rural poverty alleviation in the northern part of Ghana by employing the moderating role of government policies. A total of five hundred fifty (550) questionnaires were administered in three (3) regions of the northern part of Ghana (Upper West, Upper East, and Northern); however, five hundred twenty-two (522) accurately filled responses were retrieved and used for the analysis. More robust structural equation modeling techniques are used to uncover accurate and reliable results. The results prove that local resources, asset mobilization, and citizen participation boost rural poverty alleviation. Also, the moderation role of government policies between asset mobilization and rural poverty alleviation is positive and significant. However, the moderation role of government policies on local resources and rural poverty alleviation nexus, and citizens’ participation and rural poverty alleviation nexus are statistically insignificant. Based on the study’s findings, policy recommendations applicable in Ghana and other developing regions have been proposed.

Pendampingan Sertifikasi Halal Melalui Program Sehati Bagi UMKM di Dusun Wareng Desa Kepek Kecamatan Saptosari

Halal certification is one of the requirements for importing, distributing and trading a product in Indonesian territory. In Wareng hamlet, there is one MSME group and two MSMEs that were formed individually, but their products are not yet labeled halal and do not have a business license registration number. The reason why Wareng hamlet MSMEs have not received halal certification for their products is a lack of knowledge and understanding regarding halal certification obligations. This year the government opened registration for the Halal certification program, namely the SEHATI Program. This service activity aims to provide outreach to increase knowledge and understanding regarding halal certification obligations for a product. Apart from that, this service provides assistance in applying for halal certification through the SEHATI program. This service method uses the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach which focuses on asset-focused community development, namely developing Wareng hamlet MSME products so that their products receive halal certification. Results: MSMEs Wareng Hamlet have become more aware of the obligations of halal certification and have begun to apply for halal certification through the SEHATI program and currently the halal certification stage is in the process, taking two months.

DISPARITIES IN RURAL UNIVERSITIES TRANSFORMATION: A REVIEW FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

In recent years, the South African government has placed a greater emphasis on transforming rural universities. This has been driven by a desire to increase access to higher education and improve the quality of education in rural areas. However, this process has not been without its challenges, among which is the fact that rural areas tend to be less developed than urban areas, making it difficult to attract and remain in the fulcrum of development. This paper is located with an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach toward transforming rural universities in South Africa. A systematic review approach was employed to investigate the problem, which enabled the researchers to draw logical conclusions from the findings of exhaustive literature to address the problem of the paper. After systematic scrutiny, inclusion and exclusion criteria were operationalized by limiting to 8 relevant articles. The databases used were Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Scopus, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC). Findings revealed that Inequality, Poor physical infrastructure, and Lack of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and training support in Rural Universities were dimensions against rural university transformation in Africa. The paper, therefore, concludes that rural universities (RUs) are grappling with several challenges thwarting their efforts in delivering quality teaching and learning with the recommendation that adequate infrastructure, policy change, and provision of academic support for students should be provided.

Opportunities and Barriers to Embedding Community Development Approaches in Local Systems

Background: Community development is a multi-faceted process which generates individual and community empowerment and can contribute towards reducing health inequalities, particularly in marginalised communities. Community development approaches refer to interventions, frameworks and programmes which work with communities to help them to identify their collective needs and challenges, and mobilises them to utilise available assets to generate long term change within the community. Funding for community development is typically provided on a short term ‘one off’ basis which limits its potential benefits. Continued investment, so that community development becomes normalised, is needed. Embedding community development within local systems, such as primary health care, local authorities and housing associations, is one way to achieve continued investment and to maximise benefits. However, there is little research on how to embed community development approaches within such systems. The research presented is part of a PhD project which aims to address this research gap. 
 Methods: Semi-structured interviews with Key Informants, who have experience embedding community development approaches within systems, are currently being conducted and shall be completed in December 2022. Participants are being recruited through purposive sampling. The interview topic guides were reviewed by a Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) panel in June 2021 and were developed around the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Data analysis is being undertaken also using the five domains of the CFIR (intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, individual characteristics and intervention processes) in NVivo.
 Results: Preliminary results have shown that all five domains of the CFIR impact the embedding process. Funding is frequently described as a barrier to implementation, but some participants believe that funding is incorrectly identified as a barrier, with only limited funds needed to embed this way of working. It is frequently mentioned that a strong belief in the purpose of the project and key individuals driving systemic change within the organisation are key to long term implementation. Other current emerging themes include the significance of the political setting at both a local and national level, as well as a multidisciplinary and inter-sectoral approach being adopted being a facilitator to change.
 Future Implications: The results of this research will be collated with other parts of the PhD research project on embedding community development approaches in systems to improve health and reduce inequalities, to generate guidelines on how systems can embed community development approaches into their way of working. A panel of community members will contribute towards the generation of these guidelines, which will be made available to any local system considering adopting a community development approach.

Creating a system wide third sector - health system partnership

Introduction: The volunteer (third) sector provides double the care in the community than does the healthcare system. However, within the geographic jurisdictions that a health system operates, there may be thousands of third sector organizations. In order to best meet individual and population medical and social needs, care provided by the third sector needs to be integrated with health system care. This can be challenging given the complexity of a health care system and the number of third sector organizations. The process by which the province of Alberta, Canada approached this integration challenge is described below.
 Target audience: This topic is pertinent to those working at a systems level in healthcare, government and the third sector.
 Who was engaged: In developing this approach government, health system planners, and a variety of third sector representatives, typically “umbrella” organizations representing a number of individual groups, were involved.
 What was done: With a single healthcare system divided into five administrative zones, we used the approach of doing centrally, zonally and locally that which made sense to do at those levels. Third sector actors functioning at those levels were engaged with their health system counterparts. Joint committees, accountable only to the members, were typically established to set a common vision and to coordinate activities in support of that joint vision. Wherever possible, an asset-based community development approach was used to identify what services existed at the various levels, service deficits, the wants and needs of individuals and communities, and the way in which the community could be supported to address those needs and wishes. From an infrastructure perspective, the health system, government and third sector leadership established mechanisms to facilitate cooperation.
 Results: Creating formal linkages between the health system and third sector, at all levels, was extremely helpful for the healthcare system to understand community needs and factors impacting health. The third sector found the relationship helpful to focus their efforts on programs or interventions which most effectively impacted health and wellness. Individuals and communities benefitted from an integrated approach to health and wellness.
 Learnings: Giving up control, on the part of the health system, was initially uncomfortable. However, the effectiveness of joint committees accountable to the members, rather than to a hierarchy, was found to be an extremely effective way of working together. At a more local level, allowing communities to determine priorities and approaches similarly resulted in much more effective and productive relationships in meeting the needs of the community, the healthcare system and its providers. Components of the quadruple/quintuple aim were much more effectively addressed than by using a medical model of community engagement.
 Next steps: From a health system perspective, we plan to use this approach at a community level. However, we find that our workforce will need to be adapted to include those who have skills in developing and maintaining relationships, are comfortable working in complex systems and with uncertainty, and an ability to adapt in keeping with a learning health system. 

Dementia Meeting Centres: People Affected by Dementia Take the Lead

Meeting Centres (MC) are a flexible, hyper-local model for dementia post-diagnostic support, which create engaging, enabling, and empowering spaces for families affected by dementia.
 MCs offer ongoing warm and friendly expert assistance, including peer support, for people and families affected by dementia. The model originated in the Netherlands, led by Professor Rose-Marie Dröes at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers. Meeting Centres UK was established in 2018 and led by the Association for Dementia Studies (ADS), University of Worcester. In 2019 Kirrie Connections set up the first Scottish MC.
 Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 13 MCs in the UK. Despite the pandemic, there are now 32 funded MCs in England and Wales and 14 in Scotland with the likelihood of another 10 being funded before the end of 2023.
 Significant national and regional developments have taken place over the last three years. This has been driven by different policy decisions and funding opportunities across the three nations and has involved a variety of partnership working between academic, local authority, third sector, government and lived experience partners. The Scottish Government is supporting the development of a national MC network because of the recognition that capacity can be built, best practice shared, and communities empowered. In addition, the involvement of people affected by dementia is of paramount importance. In Scotland, this is being driven forward with a strategy board made up of a third people living with dementia, a third family carers and a third dementia professionals. This is being replicated in the new UK National MC Consortium.
 In the presentation, the different contexts and approaches to MCs will be described and compared. The audience will gain an understanding of the flexibility of the MC model in meeting the needs of people affected by dementia in different communities; the MC grassroots community development approach; and the impact of the involvement of people affected by dementia in the meaningful ongoing coproduction of MCs. 
 Brooker, D., Evans, S., Dröes, R. M., (2016), Framing outcomes of post-diagnostic psychosocial interventions in dementia: The Adaptation-Coping Model and Adjusting to Change. Working with Older People. Vol 21: Issue 1 
 Evans, S., Bray, J. and Brooker, D. (2021), ""How Meeting Centres continue to support people affected by dementia: report on UK COVID-19 impact"", Working with Older People, Vol. 25 No. 4, pp. 283-293. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-12-2020-0060
 Evans, S., Bray, J., Brooker, D. and Stephens, N. (2022), ""The essential features of Meeting Centres: development of the UK criteria for community support for people affected by dementia"", Working with Older People, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-03-2022-0009

Pendampingan Literasi Menulis Berbasis Proyek di SD Penggerak

This Community Service aims to create and foster a culture of writing literacy in elementary school students. The method applied is a mentoring method with an Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach. The writing literacy assistance in this program focuses on two projects: wall magazines and student bulletins. Participants in this assistance and service were teachers and students at the Penggerak Elementary School (SD), Rejoagung Trangkil. The program of community assistance is divided into four activities which involves Training of Trainers (ToT), Writing Literacy Action Plan (RALMe), School Publication Plan (RPS), and Project Based Literacy Assistance in schools (PLBP). The results obtained were the realization of a project-based writing literacy program and the publication of wall magazines and bulletins at SD 01 Rejoagung.

In search of strategies for rural revitalization in China: Puhan’s approach to sustainable community development

Abstract Despite the central government’s rural reconstruction programme targeting rural villages, rural communities in contemporary China continue to face massive social, economic, and environmental challenges. This paper reports on a case study of a farmers’ cooperative in Puhan. Continual rural decline, alongside national economic reform and rural community development, provide the context for the case study. Well known to rural community development scholars in China, the Puhan cooperative represents an island of rural revitalization in a sea of rural decline. The paper begins with a discussion of the background to the study, the research design and objectives, and participatory observation method employed. Thereafter, it discusses sustainable community development and provides an analysis of the way in which the community development approach facilitates the attainment of sustainable development goals generally and in Puhan in particular. Focusing on the broader context of rural development in the context of national top-down policy-driven change, it examines the Puhan cooperative’s contribution to rural revitalization and the strengths and challenges encountered, given its adoption of bottom-up, grassroots community development. By outlining the lessons learnt from this case study research, the paper aims to enrich knowledge on the community development approach, sustainable community development, and rural revitalization in contemporary China.

Bridging the gap between social work and community development: implementing a post-graduate training partnership

ABSTRACT Although, arguably, the origins of social work in the UK have been closely aligned to community development in the past few decades, social work has occupied a bureaucratic landscape focusing primarily on individual risks and needs, leading to both fields drifting further apart. Dismantling of shared values and practices was fueled by layers of government policy and legislation, driven by a neoliberal agenda and public management reforms. However, a horizon of hope emerged when university staff in Social Work and Community Development Departments in Northern Ireland were approached to examine the need to reintroduce community development principles and practices into social work training. This paper aims to trace the development of a post-graduate diploma in community development approaches for professional social workers and analyses research that explores community development as the essence of social work. The programme was developed through a synergistic partnership between university, health trusts and the professional awarding body. Tracking 4 years of programme delivery, the paper highlights the effectiveness of, and learning from, collaboration between the two professions at strategic, technical, and operational levels. We posit here well-learned lessons for future collaborations and make recommendations providing a route map to mainstreaming community development in social work practice.

Perspectives from community partnerships in three diverse higher education contexts


 
 
 Asset-based Community Development (ABCD) approaches in higher education have the potential to benefit a diversity of higher education settings and partners, but they can also present challenges and opportunities for growth in higher education institutions. Co- curricular community engagement and academic service-learning programs may struggle to balance the broader political and logistical constraints imposed by the university with equitable, long-term, community-guided relationships that reflect a genuine commitment to ABCD. Extension programs may face difficulty engaging community members and maintaining their commitment to the long-term nature of ABCD in an environment where ABCD is not universally utilised. Although these challenges may seem daunting, partners in all three contexts can draw on a wealth of ABCD tools and resources, including case studies like those anchoring this discussion, in order to answer the question: How can ABCD approaches be utilised most effectively in higher education contexts to address challenges and improve outcomes? Specifically, can an asset-based orientation help position community participants as peer ‘experts’ alongside their academic partners, share power and authority in the collaboration? If so, how? If not, why not? The authors explore these questions using a case study methodology, allowing for nuanced portraits of three different contexts depicting interactions among community and university partners seeking to ground their collaborations in the mobilisation of assets, gifts and strengths. This article also seeks to identify key lessons learned in each setting of the three participating United States universities – the public, four-year research institution, the private religious university and the land-grant college/cooperative extension in order to make recommendations on using ABCD to build and nurture academic-community partnerships that are generalisable across other contexts.
 
 

ASSET-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES (ABCD FOR DFC): A PILOT PROJECT IN HONG KONG

Abstract There is little understanding about how a dementia-friendly community can be constructed in East Asian societies, particularly in geographically remote areas characterized with majority older adult residents and limited external support. A pilot project using an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach in constructing a dementia-friendly community in Hong Kong was implemented. Informed by the theoretical tenets of ABCD, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of this pilot project in enabling older adult residents and other community stakeholders to better respond to challenges resulting from growing prevalence of dementia. Multiple stakeholder interviews were conducted with older adult residents, church leaders, district councillors, and social workers. Participants were asked to share the strengths and challenges of this ABCD pilot project in building a dementia-friendly community. Data generated from interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four key preliminary themes were identified, including on the individual level: enhanced dementia literacy, and enacted proactive behaviour; and on the community level: strengthened bridging social capital, and improved community caring capacity. Uncertain long-term financial and professional support posed challenges to participants. Nevertheless, findings underscore the importance of departing from traditional service delivery models, to one that infuses ABCD approaches in constructing a dementia-friendly community. Mobilising existing human and social capital in the community, and embedding older adults in co-creating solutions are key to improve dementia-related interventions. We contribute to ongoing theoretical and practice discussions on the intersections between population aging and employing community-based solutions to create a more dementia-friendly society.

Pemanfaatan Limbah Tempurung Kelapa sebagai Media Bahan Bakar Alternatif Berbentuk Briket Desa Siwalan Kecamatan Panceng Gresik

Coconut shells are solid waste from processed coconuts from which the coconut meat has been removed, but there are still many people who don't know how to manage them, so they become waste. Thus, the author is interested in managing this waste into something that has selling value so that apart from reducing the waste population it can also improve the economy. The author took a case study in Siwalan village, Panceng sub-district, Gresik Regency, because this area has quite a lot of coconut shell waste. The method used to implement this program is the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, by providing education and outreach to the community, especially mothers and traders, about how to process coconut shells into briquettes. This implementation method involves collecting coconut shells, processing, printing and drying and packaging. Through this activity, young people and other community groups will learn about how to make simple alternative energy which is not only a solution to waste problems, but also opens up business opportunities that can advance the village economy.

Reflections on evaluators' role in community needs assessment

Evaluators play a critical role in shaping evaluation practices, but in practice this can be challenging to accomplish in ways that are productive as well as healing. This article discusses evaluation practices in the context of a project commissioned as needs-based to assist with community recovery after a racially motivated mass shooting in an urban neighbourhood marginalised by crime, income, race and unemployment. Development of an unmet needs survey included incorporating initial data collected by empowered community leaders with subsequent data collected by evaluators through focus groups and surveys. Evaluators then analysed and organised the data into a report that community leaders could submit to local and state officials. Identifying details were omitted out of an abundance of concern and respect for the privacy of the communities and constituents that were directly and indirectly affected by the tragedy that inspired this discourse.
 
 
 
 This article presents a reflective discussion between evaluators on whether or not it would have been appropriate to suggest integrating an assets-based community development (ABCD) approach within a commissioned community needs assessment. It also covers the evaluators’ process of using a critical lens to retrospectively assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of adopting an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach. The discussion emphasises the importance of acknowledging and engaging with the diverse perspectives held by the wider evaluation community. It recognises, too, the value of ongoing dialogue and debate to encourage evaluators to critically reflect on the appropriateness and implications of integrating a variety of approaches within community needs assessments. This article also explores how the authors ‘made space’ for this conversation, including aspects of content analysis and consideration of crucial conversations, parameters and ethics, in the hope of further stimulating discussion and fostering a decision-making process that would encompass a range of viewpoints, ultimately driving more effective and responsive community development practices.