Understanding Community Engagement in Development Practice
Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Article | NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-tchdrcmeng-02
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About the Article
Community engagement is both a theoretical framework and a practical necessity for sustainable development. This article examines its foundations and methodologies through key frameworks such as Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), Social Capital Theory, Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation, and the IAP2 Spectrum. It contrasts deficit-based models with asset-based strategies that empower communities as agents of change, highlighting how trust, networks, and participation foster resilience and accountability. Drawing from global case studies in health and education, it explores both the benefits and challenges of engagement in low-resource and culturally diverse contexts. The discussion emphasizes inclusivity, transparency, and long-term commitment as essential for transforming community participation into genuine co-creation and ownership.
Key Topics
- Community engagement theory and models
- Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)
- Social Capital Theory
- Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation
- IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation
- Inclusive and sustainable development
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Understanding Community Engagement in Development Practice. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. NEYA Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-tchdrcmeng-02
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