How do we measure the value of Community-led development?

Community First Development worked in partnership with ACIL Allen to identify these qualitative benefits that applied to the 67 projects we completed in the 2020-21 financial year.

After the release of ACIL Allen’s ‘Social and Economic Impact Assessment of Community First Development’ we are reflecting on the findings and what they mean for us, our sector and most importantly the communities we are privileged to partner with. This week Community First Development launched a significant assessment on the effectiveness of the work that has been undertaken working alongside First Nations’ community projects. This report is built on the foundation of our commitment and continuing journey to closely monitor, evaluate, and maximise our positive impact with First Nations’ communities.  

So, what is a Social and Economic Impact Assessment? 

Simply put, the assessment gives us an idea of the value we generate through our work in communities which in turn helps us promote community development and empowerment. The value of this assessment lies in the stories of First Nations’ people and the changes that have taken place in communities. The report talks about ‘benefits,’  in this case ‘benefits are referring to where strong communities are driving change and have requested Community First Development’s support as part of the process. An example of this term in the report is ‘for every $1 in operational costs and volunteer contributions, an estimated $3.73 is returned to the community in social and economic benefits.’ In real terms, the benefits mean positive outcomes in communities in employment, business, health, financial independence, housing and more. 

At Community First Development we see this assessment as another much-needed validation of First Nations’ successes. 

What does the future look like? 

The findings show that our community approach creates transformational results, this adds weight and validity to our conversations with policy and program designers about what works when engaging with and partnering with communities.  Most importantly, this assessment supports our accountability to First Nations’ communities – it helps us to reflect and understand where we could be doing better and invest more in what is working. This analysis will be crucial to inform our future practices, strategy, and planning.  

It also challenges the traditional notion of value and success from outputs and financial measures to a broader consideration of social, cultural, as well as economic benefits. For example, the overview of the quantitative and qualitative findings of the report on page vi shows the challenge of understanding and communicating the value of  much of the work we do in partnership with communities.  

After removing the costs of operating the organisation, ACIL Allen estimates the organisation delivered an estimated $12.8 million in employment, business, health, justice, welfare, and housing benefits in the last financial year. On top of this, ACIL Allen’s assessment identified a significant range of additional qualitative benefits that could not be measured in monetary terms. 

Improving outcomes for First Nations’ communities 

Community First Development recognises that improving the economic outcomes of First Nations’ communities leads to direct and flow-on economic benefits including better outcomes in the areas of health, justice, and education. In this way, Community First Development’s projects support the significant investments made by government in economic-related policies for First Nations’ people. Community First Development is a crucial conduit for First Nations’ self-determination and because of this, is well placed through co-designed projects with First Nations’ communities to respond and support the actions of working towards strong Country and continuation of culture. 

Read a summary of the findings and download the full report here: https://www.communityfirstdevelopment.org.au/impactstatement