The Association for Communities Participatory Development Shared Its Experience at the EMPOWER Conference

April 10, 2025

In April 2025, the Association for Communities Participatory Development (ACPD) took part in the EMPOWER conference, which brought together representatives of civil society, international partners, and local government bodies to exchange experiences and develop joint approaches to community development.

📍The Director of the Association presented ACPD’s unique approach to working with communities, which is rooted in the principle “Nothing about us without us.” Special emphasis was placed on the human dimension of partnership, the importance of trust, and the development of organizational capacity as a key element of effective collaboration.

☝️Over the past five years, ACPD has grown from a local initiative into an organization with international partnerships, including with GIZ. This growth became possible thanks to the implementation of transparent internal policies, a code of ethics, and structured project and financial management procedures, as well as a clear distribution of responsibilities within the team.

The principles that guide the Association’s cooperation include:

• Openness — regular reporting, general assemblies, open community meetings;
• Honesty — candid dialogue about opportunities and challenges;
• Consistency — communities know what to expect from cooperation;
• Equality — shared decision-making and joint responsibility;
• Trust — the cornerstone of long-term partnership.

2025 marks a milestone year for ACPD — its 5th anniversary.

We thank the EMPOWER team for the opportunity to share our experience and look forward to new opportunities for cooperation with communities, partners, and initiatives that share our values.

We invite you to partner with us! 🧡