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Community Development Methodology
In 2015, we chose to enhance the impact indicators designed in 2014, creating an integrated system of evaluation and report. We resumed the discussion on our operating model and approached the concept of "social capital", proposed by the World Bank as a fundamental axis. With that in mind, we reorganized and created some new indicators. We also identified some tools for measuring and building the presentation model of the impacts.
This is all part of a toolbox which aims to measure the progress of interventions in the generation of social capital and community development, to understand the social returns on investments, providing strategic recommendations.
After a pilot phase in the Angico dos Dias community (Bahia), the toolbox was presented to the Board of the Lina Galvani. After the recommendation that it be shared with partners and other industry organizations, we spoke to GVCes, AVINA, Agenda Pública, GIFE and specialized consultants who helped us identify points to be improved. In November 2015, we had our second phase, in Serra do Salitre (Minas Gerais), to identify its "ground zero".
KEY FINDINGS
The clearer the purpose of the project (its core), the more accurate the measurement. In this sense, it is worth simplifying processes and performance.NEXT STEPS
Faced with the enormous challenge of measuring impact in the social area, the proposal now is to keep on improving the Toolbox, with partnerships to ratify it in new territories beyond those where the Lina Galvani Institute already operates. -
Event: Development of communities impacted by large projects
On September 15, in São Paulo, the Lina Galvani held the second edition of the "Development of communities impacted by large projects" event, aimed at fostering collective learning to enhance legacy in affected communities. The Bloco Brasil of RedEAmérica was our partner, and we had 53 guests, handpicked from a diverse group of professionals involved with this topic: representatives of companies, business institutions, consultants, researchers and community leaders. The 2015 edition deepened the debate on the main themes that emerged in 2013 – when the event took place for the first time. It also had the distinctive presence of community leaders from different areas of the country where COIMEX, Galvani, Holcim, Natura and Votorantim operate. These leaders participated in a pre-event session, on the 14th, where they could share their first impressions and opinions on the topics to be discussed the next day.
The event was mediated by professor Ligia Pimenta, who said:
The purpose of the meeting was to share experiences and practices, because when we share we strengthen our dialogue, and when we talk and exchange experiences, we grow stronger as people and strengthen our ties, enhancing our bonds with trust and respect, which are essential values in our community work. When we broaden our understanding of our practice and experience and establish new mutual bonds of trust and respect, we articulate and strengthen ourselves to look at the past and learn from it. We also see the emerging future from a present perspective. This is the double look of this journey: not only into the past, but also into the future where we want to be. We look, think and become creative.
The group of 53 participants was formed by 12 community leaders, representatives of 10 companies, 16 representatives of corporate institutes and foundations and 15 representatives of networks and organizations. The debate among them was systematized so that the two-day experience could contribute to the promotion of inclusion, engagement, responsiveness, in addition to strengthen bonds of trust and their sense of belonging. The stakeholders – always using their practices as the starting and finishing point – reflected upon aspects of Community Development and Collaboration and worked together to challenge certainties, explore their contradictions and ambiguities, improve their practice, listen for tips, revisit dreams, strengthen themselves and build relationships that fuel and empower their role in the world.
They come from different cities, different companies, different institutes, but the reality is very similar and we need more spaces like this to share our worries and find solutions to them.
Check out the pictures!
KEY FINDINGS
The attendants missed the public sector at the meeting. This absence made us think that there can be no development without the government – in its various branches: executive, legislative and judicial – and that we must build paths of dialogue and participation with these players. We must also bear in mind that the organizations of the 3rd sector, businesses and communities are co-responsible for this approach. -
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Publication: Perspectives on community development
In order to deepen the discussions that came up in the first edition of the event, in the 2015 meeting the Lina Galvani Institute released a publication called "Perspectives on community development – 10 perspectives on the impact generated by large projects". To ensure diversity and breadth of looks, the texts were authored by ten experts who wrote about the following topics: strategic alignment, dialogue, public policies, impact indicators and sustainable development. Representatives of RedEAmérica, Camargo Correa Institute, Votorantim Institute, Agenda Pública, GVCes, as well as academics, researchers and community leaders made up the team of co-authors.
A total of 1,000 publications were issued, 802 of which were handed out in 2015: 375 were given to institutions, foundations and other Third Sector organizations, 195 were sent to companies, 167 to academy members and people interested in the subject, and 65 were handed out in the Second Meeting of Communities Impacted by Large Projects.
Read the publication online! -
The Lina Galvani Institute stands out at industry events
In March, in Merida, Mexico, the LGI attended the VII International RedEAmérica Forum – Company, Community and Development. We were invited to present the work we develop in "company-community engagement", sharing the floor with Coca-Cola FEMSA (Mexico) and TECK mining (Peru).
In September, the Institute was asked to present its governance model in the "Governance in Foundations and Business Institutes" course, promoted by the IBGC (Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance) and the GIFE (Group of Institutes, Foundations and Companies). We spoke about how decisions are made after the alignment with the business, the role of the Board and its evolution over time.
In November, the Fonte Institute and FICAS, with the support of the Itaú Social Foundation, held the latest edition of a series of dialogues to celebrate the International Year of Evaluation, addressing the relationship between evaluation and other management processes. At this meeting, the Institute was invited to present the creation process of its indicators to gauge community development, addressing various aspects of the impact assessment toolbox and sharing experiences from the locations in which it operates.
We highly appreciate the presence of social organizations managers willing to share their everyday practical experience, both the accomplishments and achievements and the dilemmas faced along the way. In this sense, Cecilia Galvani's participation was very fruitful. One of the attendants wrote that in Cecilia's speech he learned the importance of working in partnership, 'Not doing it for the other, but with the other’.
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Production of knowledge
In 2015, in order to stimulate reflection on our practice, systematize and share the experiences of the Institute, our team and our consultants wrote 3 articles and 2 case studies.
These texts can be found on our blog:A voz da comunidade: O poder da união
Encantamento à segunda vista
Construção da Agenda de Futuro de Serra do Salitre
Rodas de Conversa – diálogos que ecoam
Encontro Desenvolvimento de Comunidades Impactadas por Grandes Empreendimentos 2015
KEY FINDINGS
Today's hectic life and our lack of time eventually impact our availability and dedication to the production of knowledge. The challenge is to create more and more room for this type of activity, with the opportunity to reflect on our practice and systematize our learning. -
Activities in Jaguaré – Living street (Rua viva)
In 2015, the Lina Galvani renewed its operation in the Jaguaré area, encouraging the dialogue with partners and the neighborhood population and building projects to contribute to local development and improvement of community life.
The first idea was to build a public square in a place used for illegal disposal of garbage and debris. However, we realized that a square alone would not be enough to solve the problem, so we created the "living street" project. Our intention was to bring together partners and the local community in the search for collective solutions and concrete actions. The project had the partnership of the Reinventar Institute and General Water.
In November, we held the first workshops for children. We also spoke to local dwellers to introduce them to the initiative and encourage them to join in. We also partnered with Eletropaulo, which registered families on its recycling program. This project will continue in 2016.
The Lina Galvani Institute joined forces with us to address the serious matter of improper waste disposal in the company's surroundings. We then had the chance to promote better education in the community (something we have been thinking about since 2008).
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