Asset Based Community Development: Co-Designing an Asset-Based Evaluation Study for Community Research

This paper responds to challenges around how to generate robust evidence in keeping with the principles of an asset-based approach based on mobilization of community strengths. The design of a collaborative evaluation of a multi-site Asset Based Community Development program is described and emergent learning discussed. A qualitative mixed method design was used to capture changes at community and program level drawing on diverse sources of evidence. Shared principles on the conduct of the evaluation were developed with program leads and community practitioners and opportunities for shared learning were built in. The paper distils learning on evaluation into six design features including the asset-based model as a framework, understandings of evidence and outcomes, ethical conduct, and the centrality of a collaborative and developmental approach. The paper concludes that these features form a coherent approach to asset-based evaluation which can link the theory and practice of Asset Based Community Development. Plain Language Summary Designing a collaborative evaluation of an Asset Based Community Development program Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is a way of working with communities based on understanding the strengths within communities. It is difficult to evaluate whether ABCD works as each community is different and there is very little agreement about the best way to research ABCD. This paper responds to these challenges and describes in detail how we went about designing a collaborative evaluation of an ABCD program across multiple neighborhoods in one city. The methods used to capture changes at community and program level are discussed. We developed shared principles with program leads and community practitioners about how the evaluation should run and built in lots of opportunities for shared learning. The paper distils this learning on evaluation into six design features which are all in keeping with an asset-based approach. The paper concludes that these features can be used to guide other asset-based evaluations as they link the theory and practice of Asset Based Community Development.