Tostan’s Community Wellbeing Framework
How is community wellbeing defined?
Community well-being is defined by people themselves.
It is the collective vision of individuals and their communities that shape our approach to sustainable development. By listening to communities sharing their vision for the future and seeing the most significant changes brought about by Tostan’s program, we have identified recurring elements of well-being that most resonate with community members. Often these elements also align with local and national development plans as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What elements make up community well-being?
Community well-being encompasses a wide range of social, cultural, political, economic, environmental, physical, and educational conditions that individuals and their communities deem essential for their health, flourishing, and the realization of their potential. Wiseman and Brasher aptly describe it as “the combination of conditions identified by individuals and their community as necessary for them to be healthy, flourish, and fulfill their own potential.” In our collaboration with communities, we have identified two broad and interdependent dimensions of community well-being.
Relational Dimension
It embodies the values of dignity and respect, fostering love, trust, collaboration, peace, inclusion, equity, solidarity, good governance, social cohesion, and confidence.
Through Tostan’s programs, we take a strengths-based approach to nurture these commonly held values at community level, which we’ve seen can lead to decreases in violence, conflict, better health seeking behaviors and abandonment of harmful practices like child marriage.
Functional Dimension
Community Well-being: A values-based approach
Our approach to community well-being is deeply rooted in dignity and respect, aligning with human rights and responsibilities. Well-being is a holistic concept that reflects communities’ own visions of a better future. By including both the way people treat each other and the necessities for survival and development, our approach is inclusive and considers collective well-being while also focusing on the needs of individuals, especially those from marginalized groups. Community well-being is the outcome we strive towards and measure. While we believe in communities defining their own well-being, this framework and definition allows us to assess behaviors, practices, and, ultimately, the tangible outcomes that indicate progress towards community well-being.
How can you contribute to community well-being?
Whether you work in international development, you’re a donor, a member of the public, working in government, or a community-based organization; your support and collaboration are essential to advancing community well-being. Together, we can create lasting change and empower communities to shape their own futures. To find out more or to stay up-to-date with Tostan, sign up to our newsletter.
