Grassroots Capacity Building

Working in so many diverse settings, the success of CHF International’s programs is largely dependent on the extent to which communities lead the development process, and we proactively assist them in articulating their unique needs and providing them with the resources to help themselves in the years to come.

By providing communities with the skills and resources to accomplish their own goals, our greatest success will be the day we work ourselves out of business.

CHF developed the Participatory Action for Community Enhancement (PACE) methodology to build the capacity of individuals within a community to become self-reliant and catalysts for positive change. Through the PACE methodology, communities are brought together to actively participate in voicing their needs, whether is be for a project related to infrastructure, environmental management, conflict mitigation, economic development, or disaster response. The process behind the physical improvements paves the way to a promising tomorrow.

In addition to providing a mechanism for citizens to hold their governments transparent and accountable, the citizen groups we organize in nearly every CHF project often serve as incubators for new local leaders, and provide an effective mechanism for lasting community engagement. As a result, even after the culmination of CHF’s work, these community groups often become associations, cooperatives and sustainable local development organizations.