International Association for Community Development - IACD

09/10/2026

👏 Welcome to our new Trustees! 👏
We are absolutely delighted to welcome three long-standing IACD members Fiona Miller and Peter Westoby from Australia, and Yu Cheung Chan from Hong Kong, to the International Association for Community Development - IACD Board of Trustees for their first 3-year term.

Our new Trustees are already active and recognised figures within our network (and beyond), and each brings a wealth of professional experience, knowledge, and wide ranging skills. We are excited to draw upon their leadership and insights as we move forward with our core purpose of promoting the discipline and practice of community development globally.
Their contributions will be invaluable in supporting our mission of networking, sharing, and knowledge exchange across regions and around the world. Please join us in welcoming Yu Cheung, Fiona and Peter on board!

09/10/2026

This week, we say a heartfelt goodbye to three valued members of the IACD Board of Trustees: Michelle Dunscombe, Cissy Rock, and Dawn Brown.
Over their years on the Board, Michelle, Cissy, and Dawn have brought immense experience, strategic insight, and dedication to our organisation and community. While we are sad to see them step down, we fully celebrate the new opportunities and directions ahead for each of them.
Thank you all for your leadership, guidance, and lasting contributions to IACD. We wish you continued health, peace, and success in all your future endeavors!

09/10/2026

🏛️ IACD at the Scottish Parliament’s Communities Open Day

On 25 September, IACD’s Administrative Officer Jessica van Kerckhoven attended the The Scottish Parliament Communities Open Day. The Scottish Parliament is an organisational member of IACD, and it was a great opportunity to learn more about public participation, community engagement and the work of the Participation and Communities Team.

Jessica also had the opportunity to catch up with colleagues from the team and explore how community development is being placed at the heart of their work.

👉 Read the full blog post on the IACD website:
https://www.iacdglobal.org/iacd_at_the_scottish_parliament_s_communities_open_day

09/10/2026

🎥 Leadership Deep Dive: Sparking Agency & Leadership

In this inspiring conversation, IACD Trustees Laurie Cook and Janine Ward explore how leaders can spark agency and nurture leadership — whether working alongside communities or within their own organisations.

Drawing on Janine’s 40 years of grassroots community development experience, they discuss the inner shifts needed to foster a genuine sense of agency, power and possibility.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwzBlwZgtbY

In this Leadership Deep Dive conversation, Laurie talks to Janine W...

07/10/2026

🌍 From National Commitments to Global Debate: Reflecting on the 2026 CDAS Conference

What can community development learn from the connections between national policy, local practice and the wider global picture?

In our latest blog, IACD Strategic Director Anna Clarke reflects on the 2026 Community Development Alliance Scotland (CDAS) Conference, exploring themes including community empowerment, Community Wealth Building, democratic participation, workforce development and the IACD International Standards for Community Development Practice.

The blog also invites us to look beyond Scotland and consider: what does this picture look like in other countries and regions?

Read the full blog and share your thoughts and experiences with us. 👇

🔗 https://www.iacdglobal.org/from_national_commitments_to_global_debate_reflecting_on_the_2026_cdas_conference

06/10/2026

🎥 Webinar Recording Now Available!

The recording of our recent webinar, “ABCD as Homecoming: A 40-Year Journey of Returning to Self and Community”, with Janine Ward, IACD Trustee for the Sub-Saharan Africa region, is now available to watch on the IACD YouTube Channel.

Join Janine as she reflects on 40 years of community development practice and the journey of returning to self and community through an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) lens.

▶️ Watch the recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA0BiqPRUP0

05/10/2026

There is still time to register for tomorrow's IACD Annual General Meeting. Join us!

📣 IACD Annual General Meeting – 6 October 2026

We are delighted to invite IACD members from around the world to join us for our Annual General Meeting on 6 October 2026 at 12pm (UK/Ireland time).

The AGM is a great opportunity to:

🌍 Get to know IACD Trustees and staff
📋 Learn about progress on our strategic priorities over the past year
🤝 Network and build connections with IACD members from around the world

A full agenda and AGM papers will be circulated to members ahead of the meeting.

🎟️ Register for the AGM:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/internationalassociationforcommunitydevelopment/2442275

We look forward to seeing you there and connecting with our global IACD membership community!

28/09/2026

📣 IACD Annual General Meeting – 6 October 2026

We are delighted to invite IACD members from around the world to join us for our Annual General Meeting on 6 October 2026 at 12pm (UK/Ireland time).

The AGM is a great opportunity to:

🌍 Get to know IACD Trustees and staff
📋 Learn about progress on our strategic priorities over the past year
🤝 Network and build connections with IACD members from around the world

A full agenda and AGM papers will be circulated to members ahead of the meeting.

🎟️ Register for the AGM:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/internationalassociationforcommunitydevelopment/2442275

We look forward to seeing you there and connecting with our global IACD membership community!

22/09/2026

It’s great to be back in Glasgow - this time for the Community Development Alliance Scotland conference this week!

Hot on the heels of our World Community Development Conference with the University of Glasgow, we are delighted to be connecting again with colleagues from across Scotland, picking up the thread from , and continuing the vital discussions on how community development responds to today's complex challenges.

Our Strategic Director, Anna Clarke is contributing to panel discussions focusing on Community Development: our role in influencing decisions which affect quality learning & education, and the questions submitted by participants set up some weighty topics for debate.

We’ll be getting to grips with:

* How AI will impact community development work and what critical training is needed to support groups and practitioners.
* How we navigate an increasingly fragmented landscape, the balance between public and voluntary sector roles, and the long-term policy commitments needed to sustain local, regional, and national infrastructure.
* How practitioners can be formally recognised and resourced as a vital workforce driving democratic participation beyond the ballot box.

Advocating for quality Community Development learning, strong practice standards, and robust infrastructure for community development is core to our work at the International Association for Community Development.

If you are attending the CDAS conference on Wednesday, look out for our Information Stand and say hello - we’d love to connect!

17/09/2026

🌍 Reconnect with fellow participants, contributors and community development practitioners following the Glasgow World Community Development Conference 2026!

These online gatherings provide a dedicated space to reflect on the key insights, shared learnings and standout moments from our time together in Glasgow.

Whether you want to continue conversations started during the sessions, discuss emerging collaborations, or share your key takeaways and action plans, these informal sessions are designed to keep the momentum going.

What to expect:

💬 Reflection & Highlights – A chance to review major themes and takeaways from the conference.

💭 Open Discussion – Interactive breakout spaces to reconnect with peers and discuss practical application in your local contexts.

🤝 Future Connections – Explore ongoing networks, joint initiatives and next steps for the international community development community.

All registered conference participants are warmly invited to attend one or both of these meetings. Please check your time zone.

We look forward to seeing you online!

📅 Meeting 1: 29 September at 8am Glasgow (BST)
👉 Register for Meeting 1: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/internationalassociationforcommunitydevelopment/2383117

📅 Meeting 2: 29 September at 4pm Glasgow (BST)
👉 Register for Meeting 2: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/internationalassociationforcommunitydevelopment/2383142