(COADY-ABC)
This 8-week online course introduces you to fundamental Asset-Based and Community-Led Development (ABCD) theories and principles. You will learn tools to support communities to organize themselves to discover, connect, and mobilize their strengths for change. In addition, you will be able to reflect on the outside institutions’ role in supporting community development projects to avoid dependency and foster sustainable communities.
DATES: February 2 to March 30, 2026
This course is designed for change-makers of any age or sector who are questioning the relevance of projects and programs driven by external organizations and focused on community needs and deficits. This includes community builders, government agencies, NGOs, universities, and grant making organizations. You are a strong candidate if you are passionate about helping communities flourish and reach their full potential, curious about how ABCD can enhance your work, and committed to applying the approach after the course.
• Enhanced Skill Set: Participants will gain practical tools and methodologies to effectively engage communities, empowering them to identify and mobilize their own strengths for sustainable change.
• Critical Insight: The course provides participants with a deeper understanding of the dynamics between communities and external organizations, equipping them to critically assess and improve their approaches to community development.
• Networking Opportunities: Participants will connect with like-minded professionals from diverse sectors, fostering collaboration and sharing best practices that can enhance their own initiatives.
This course runs for 8-weeks. As a participant, you are expected to spend 8 hours per week engaged in learning activities by attending live learning sessions (Wednesdays, 1 to 3 PM (Atlantic Time), participating in online discussion forums, reading, reflecting, and completing assignments independently. While they are not mandatory, you are strongly encouraged to attend the live sessions. All instructional materials will be in English.
Coady Institute is committed to ensuring that practitioners and community members dedicated to community-led development worldwide have access to its courses. Thanks to the generous support of individual, institutional, and corporate donors, the tuition fee of $1,500 CAD has been reduced to $400 CAD plus HST.
Full bursaries are available for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit community members residing in Canada, as well as individuals residing in Nova Scotia from African Nova Scotian communities and Nova Scotians of African descent. To request a full bursary, please contact us at coadyadmit@stfx.ca
If paying by credit card is not an option, please contact coadyfinance@stfx.ca to arrange an alternative payment method.
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