Asset Based Community Development or ABCD is a method which puts at the forefront, the development of a community’s assets and potentials in a sustainable manner while simultaneously acheiving broader transition goals in the process. It involves building capacity and empowering individuals, associations and informal networks to come together and leverage their strengths to mobilise action in their communities, hence unlocking several co-benefits in the planning and implementation process.

Financial limitations: Through the connections with local networks, organisations and associations that citizens build in ABCD, they are able to self-mobilise financial resources both internally and externally. They are able to leverage resources and service within the community and thereafter reach out externally to other partners based on the needs identified.

Inadequate public participation: Asset Based Community Development puts people and their strengths at its centre. As more people come together to exchange ideas, services and abilities, they build stronger connections in the process. Therefore this sustains a continuous participation process where people build social relationships, match with networks and build trust in each other.

Inadequate representation of affected communities: ABCD recognises that every person and community has an asset or gift to offer. Local citizens are in control of the organisation of the engagement efforts and are hence empowered to take important roles in bringing the all groups of the community together.

Scaling challenges: ABCD builds upon existing skills, gifts and assets of the local community and builds capacity to nurture and scale up these abilities. Through training, new skills are also imparted based on self-reflection and interests of the citizens.

Collaborating with local organizations and community representatives is essential to build trust from the beginning. The commissioning authority is predominantly a facilitator and supports the needs of the local communities.

1. Social workers or other community facilitators first collect stories from the neighbourhood to identify the motivations, skills, interests and assets in the community.

2. A core group of motivated individuals and groups is brought together.

3. The core group then acts as connections into the community to extensively map its gifts, capacities and assets of its individuals, associations, institutions, places and connections. Additionally, the local services and economy is also mapped.

4. Key connectors within the communities are then identified to further strengthen connections that will drive community development

5. The group of identified asset groups, together create a neighbourhood plan, vision and priorities. In this process, citizens actively participate and co-create a shared vision.

6. Based on the defined vision, the local groups self-reflect and mobilise internal resources to achieve its goals. At this stage, these groups form new types of collaboration and associations of working together and leveraging their assets.

7. The institutions support the local associations in making decisions and mobilising external resources wherever needed. These resources and investments are then utilised by the local community.

It is important to map all 5 types of asset diversities. The Institutions play a supporting role and empower people and associations to mobilise action. ABCD can be adopted to various climate and energy transitions at the neighbourhood scale. Local context and culture plays an important role in the identification of community assets.