Endogenous development (building from what is local) is a core principle of development. While it is not a new concept, it is really experiencing a resurgence in Africa. So for a community grantmaker, this raises a question: do you behave in the ways of the exogenous (how your donor likes to work) or in the ways of the endogenous (how the community needs you to work)?
I have developed tools to tackle this question, and to provide practical measurement of the giving work done in and for the community. These are:
| The Horizontality Gauge – How to assess the behaviour of a community grant-making organisation | Community Asset Mapping – How to develop an inventory of community assets |
| Community Measuring and Valuing Assets – How to financially value the community contribution | Community Monitoring and Evaluation – How to assess YOUR impact on how the community helps itself |