Asset-based community development (ABCD) is an approach that focuses on a community's strengths rather than its deficiencies. ABCD seeks to identify and mobilize a community's assets, or skills and talents of its individuals and associations, to create positive change. An asset map categorizes a community's assets into five areas: individuals, associations, institutions, physical assets like land, and assets that facilitate exchange between community members. The goal of ABCD is to build communities from the inside out by empowering community members and utilizing existing local assets and resources.

1. ASSET BASEDASSET BASED
COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT
An Asset-BasedAn Asset-Based
Approach:Approach:
““Communities haveCommunities have
never been built uponnever been built upon
their deficiencies. Buildingtheir deficiencies. Building
communities has alwayscommunities has always
depended upon mobilisingdepended upon mobilising
the capacities and assetsthe capacities and assets
of people and place”of people and place”
Kretzman & McKnightKretzman & McKnight
19931993
‘‘Building CommunitiesBuilding Communities
from the inside out’from the inside out’

2. Asset Based
Community
Development
(ABCD): looking
for the positive
things/strengths
in a community
and making the
most of them.
It’s not about
making lists of
what’s missing,
identifying
‘problems’ and
trying to fill the
gaps; it’s about
seeing what’s
there, and using
it.

3. What is an ‘Asset’
“Capacity, competence, capability,
‘know–how’, aptitude, talent, gift,
propensity, faculty, endowment, force,
authority, wisdom, enthusiasm,
creativity, resourcefulness.”
Harrison et al (2004) Assets for Health
and Development European Programme:
Developing a conceptual framework,
Geneva: World Health Organisation.
•

4. GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF
EMPTY
• Asset based community development is not a tool you whip out of your, ‘tool bag’ whenAsset based community development is not a tool you whip out of your, ‘tool bag’ when
you cannot seem to solve a problem with which you are faced. It is a complete shift in theyou cannot seem to solve a problem with which you are faced. It is a complete shift in the
way you approach the work that you do, the people with whom you are working, and theway you approach the work that you do, the people with whom you are working, and the
communities that you are trying to organise. At it’s most basic level, it is like the halfcommunities that you are trying to organise. At it’s most basic level, it is like the half
full/half empty glass. When you look at a glass what do you see? The normal answerfull/half empty glass. When you look at a glass what do you see? The normal answer
would be half full if you are a positive thinking person and half empty if you are a negativewould be half full if you are a positive thinking person and half empty if you are a negative
thinking person.thinking person.
• The real and true answer would be a bit of both. The glass is both half full and half empty.The real and true answer would be a bit of both. The glass is both half full and half empty.
We all have a ‘full’ side: Our gifts, skills, passions and talents. But we also have our halfWe all have a ‘full’ side: Our gifts, skills, passions and talents. But we also have our half
empty side: Our deficiencies, problems and bad habits.empty side: Our deficiencies, problems and bad habits.
• Imagine you were asked to write down a note on a card displaying the one thing that youImagine you were asked to write down a note on a card displaying the one thing that you
hate most about yourself, something that you couldn’t even tell your family members.hate most about yourself, something that you couldn’t even tell your family members.
Then imagine if you were asked to walk around all day with that note strapped to yourThen imagine if you were asked to walk around all day with that note strapped to your
chest!! Not interested? No because we all know that one thing is not what defines us!chest!! Not interested? No because we all know that one thing is not what defines us!
There are many things that would probably define you as a ‘whole person’ yet how oftenThere are many things that would probably define you as a ‘whole person’ yet how often
have you judged or been judged on just one aspect of self? Would you define someonehave you judged or been judged on just one aspect of self? Would you define someone
who is blind…based on their inability to see, no I ‘m sure you wouldn’t!!who is blind…based on their inability to see, no I ‘m sure you wouldn’t!!

5. THE ASSET MAP
• AN ASSET MAP IS
BROKEN DOWN
INTO 5 KEY AREAS.
• 1. INDIVIDUALS
• 2. ASSOCIATIONS.
• 3. INSTITUTIONS.
• 4. LAND.
• 5. EXCHANGE.

6. INDIVIDUALSINDIVIDUALS
• The centre of every community are the
people who live there. They should be the
focus of any work that is carried out within
that community in order to bring the
community together and address the
stigma that may be evident within that
area.

7. ASSOCIATIONSASSOCIATIONS
• An association is any group of people that
come together because of a shared
interest or because of a common cause.
What are some of the associations that
are active within your community.

8. INSTITUTIONSINSTITUTIONS
• These could be businesses, local
government, large and small non-profit
organizations, schools, hospitals, libraries,
etc. All of which could have space,
expertise, buying power, employment
opportunities and many more things to
offer your community.

9. RESOURCESRESOURCES
•Kevin.jaffray@canpartnership.org.uk
•http://www.abcdinstitute.org/
•http://abcdeurope.ning.com/
•http://abcdinaction.ning.com/

10. RESOURCESRESOURCES
•Kevin.jaffray@canpartnership.org.uk
•http://www.abcdinstitute.org/
•http://abcdeurope.ning.com/
•http://abcdinaction.ning.com/