Education Programs

Asset-Based and Community-Led Development Principles

This 8-week online certificate introduces you to fundamental Asset-Based and Community-Led Development (ABCD) theories and principles. You will learn approaches 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 community development projects.

Applications opening soon!

February 2 – March 30, 2027

Registration closes August 31, 2026, or earlier if we reach the enrolment cap of 30 participants. 

FACILITATOR:

Jessica Popp

DURATION
8 weeks

COURSE TYPE
Online

Who can register
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.
Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Differentiate between asset-based and needs-based approaches to development.
  • Share and learn from examples of successful community-driven responses to opportunities and crises.
  • Apply participatory methods to discover, connect and mobilize community
  • Give insights on how outside institutions can support Asset-Based and Community-Led Development projects.
Time requirement

This course is delivered online over 8 weeks, using StFX Online’s learning platform, Moodle, and Zoom for live sessions. In addition to participation in live sessions on Tuesdays (10 am – 12 pm Atlantic Time), there is an expectation of 2-3 additional hours of asynchronous engagement per week following the live session, which includes engaging with videos, articles, online activities, and peer contributions, and completing assignments via Moodle. The total expected commitment per week is 4-5 hrs (2hrs class time, 2-3hrs outside of class time).

Fees

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.

This course is online. You will need a computer, reliable internet access (high speed is recommended), speakers and microphone.

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