The community takes charge of its challenges through grassroots development

Monterrey, Nuevo León, July 29, 2021. Community-based development is the process through which people in a community define, propose, and collaborate to address local challenges and improve their social, cultural, environmental, and economic well-being. This approach is gaining momentum thanks to the work carried out by community foundations in Mexico.

Among the partner foundations of the Alliance of Community Foundations of Mexico, one of the main objectives is to promote grassroots development in order to enhance the collective capacity of those involved in social projects within their communities.

In this way, community foundations seek to involve community members as active participants; build their capacity to continue taking action independently of external support; and improve the well-being of participants.

The Inter-American Foundation maintains that sustainable democracies, equitable societies, and prosperous economies are the result of people-centered strategies that emphasize participation, organizational development, and networking through a grassroots development approach.

We therefore understand it as the process of strengthening the capacity for collective action among communities in vulnerable contexts, so that their own members can participate in solving their problems by establishing long-term strategies, partnerships, and collaborations with the public and private sectors, civil society, and academia.

The grassroots development approach also creates the civic spaces and environments necessary for citizen participation, empowerment, and shared responsibility among community members, who take an active role in organizing and promoting holistic well-being in their communities.

According to the “Grassroots Development in Mexico” study by the Mexico node of RedEAmérica, this approach differs from welfare-oriented, paternalistic, or even patronage-based practices; rather, it is a strategic commitment to the sustainable development of communities.

As part of the second phase of the Active Communities Fund—an initiative of Comunalia, the Inter-American Foundation, and the Mott Foundation—a total of 10 partner foundations will develop initiatives or work alongside civil society organizations and grassroots groups to promote the economic and social recovery of communities affected by the health emergency.

Sources:

• Inter-American Foundation. (n.d.). “Grassroots Development.” Accessed July 2021 at: https://www.iaf.gov/es/que-hacemos/desarrollo-de-base/
• Sarvide, L., et al. (2017). Study: Grassroots Development Practices in Mexico. Red E. América, Mexico Node. Accessed July 2021 at: https://www.redeamerica.org/Portals/0/Publicaciones/DesarrolloBase/EstudioDdBMexico_VF.PDF?ver=2017-08-01-144556-710