Community Based Reporting Another View of Community Based Sustainability Reporting © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action [email protected]

Community Based Community Based ReportingReporting

Another View Another View

of of

Community Based Sustainability Community Based Sustainability ReportingReporting

© CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action [email protected] www.crea-inc.org

What has been done in What has been done in Community Based Reporting (CBR)Community Based Reporting (CBR)

Community Based Reporting (CBR) has Community Based Reporting (CBR) has focused on reporting by an organization, focused on reporting by an organization, for example, a corporation or NGOfor example, a corporation or NGO

The reporting has focused on the impact The reporting has focused on the impact the organization had on the communitythe organization had on the community


Concerns: Concerns:

A.A. Assessment is usually done by the Assessment is usually done by the outside entityoutside entity

B.B. Focus is on level of impact or Focus is on level of impact or intrusionintrusion

C.C. Essentially measuring impact on the Essentially measuring impact on the community…whether positive or community…whether positive or negativenegative


The Sustainable Communities The Sustainable Communities ProjectProject

Focuses on the CommunityFocuses on the Community Assesses the Sustainability of the Assesses the Sustainability of the

CommunityCommunity Trains the Community in the process Trains the Community in the process

of sustainability self assessment for of sustainability self assessment for the future….which will then be a tool the future….which will then be a tool which the Community itself will use which the Community itself will use for its own planning. for its own planning.


Sustainable Communities Sustainable Communities ProjectProject

Assesses Assesses

- The strengths of the Community- The strengths of the Community

- The weaknesses of the Community- The weaknesses of the Community

- What needs to change- What needs to change

- What is possible to change- What is possible to change


Sustainable Communities Sustainable Communities ProjectProject

Uses information, ideas and learnings Uses information, ideas and learnings from other communities, from other communities,

Does not rank communities in Does not rank communities in comparison with otherscomparison with others

Encourages community to assess its Encourages community to assess its own progressown progress


Project FocusProject Focus

The Sustainability of the The Sustainability of the CommunityCommunity


BackgroundBackground

For more than 15 years, CREA’s work For more than 15 years, CREA’s work has focused on sustaining living has focused on sustaining living wageswages

Developed specific definitions for 5 Developed specific definitions for 5 wage levelswage levels

Level higher than the Sustainable Level higher than the Sustainable Living Wage is the Sustainable Living Wage is the Sustainable Community Income levelCommunity Income level


Background (continued) Background (continued) For the Sustainable Living Wage (SLW), For the Sustainable Living Wage (SLW),

CREA has developed specific and CREA has developed specific and quantifiable standards for housing, nutrition, quantifiable standards for housing, nutrition, clothing, education, transportation, water clothing, education, transportation, water (potable and non-potable), medical care, etc.(potable and non-potable), medical care, etc.

Standards can be found on Resource CDStandards can be found on Resource CD

Now we are developing the additional Now we are developing the additional standards needed for the Sustainable standards needed for the Sustainable CommunityCommunity


Use standardized definitions that can Use standardized definitions that can be applied specifically for each culture be applied specifically for each culture and countryand country

These standards are universally These standards are universally applicable after a process of applicable after a process of “acculturization” for each country and “acculturization” for each country and culture.culture.

This acculturization is done by local This acculturization is done by local members of the community. members of the community. These standards have been used in These standards have been used in

Latin America, Africa, Asia and North Latin America, Africa, Asia and North America.America.


Methodology automatically factors in Methodology automatically factors in effects of changes in wages, prices effects of changes in wages, prices and/or inflationand/or inflation

Data collection is done through Data collection is done through actual pricing and extensive actual pricing and extensive interviews.interviews.

Data is both quantitative and Data is both quantitative and qualitativequalitative


Example: Housing StandardExample: Housing Standard

A house should provide shelter from the weather including extreme heat and/or cold… …with sufficient living space and protection from public

exposure

A house should also provide sufficient sleeping spaces for all members of the family as well as a space for bathing

A house should provide space for cooking

A house should provide running water for laundry, sanitary needs and the general washing of household items

A house should provide space for meeting sanitary needs so that there is no risk of contamination.


Methodology of Purchasing Methodology of Purchasing powerpower

Unit of measurement = Minutes of Unit of measurement = Minutes of work necessary to access/purchase work necessary to access/purchase any itemany item

Core Question: How long do I have to Core Question: How long do I have to work to acquire X?work to acquire X?

Unit = minPP Unit = minPP

(minutes of purchasing power)(minutes of purchasing power)


Purchasing Power Purchasing Power MethodologyMethodology

Everyone understands time as a Everyone understands time as a measurementmeasurement

Everyone understands the limits of Everyone understands the limits of timetime

Time makes us all equal – no one can Time makes us all equal – no one can make more timemake more time


Using Time as MeasurementUsing Time as Measurement

Measure cost of items for which Measure cost of items for which monetary compensation is received – monetary compensation is received – paid workpaid work

Measure cost of items for which no Measure cost of items for which no monetary compensation is received monetary compensation is received but for which time is requiredbut for which time is requiredExample: Women carrying waterExample: Women carrying water

Cutting firewoodCutting firewood


Comparisons possibleComparisons possible

Trans-National – from country to countryTrans-National – from country to country

Trans-Temporal – over timeTrans-Temporal – over time

Trans-Cultural – different areas within a Trans-Cultural – different areas within a country. country.

For example: rural, urban within a countryFor example: rural, urban within a country


Sustainable Community Sustainable Community ProjectProject

Builds on sustainable living wage workBuilds on sustainable living wage work Looks at the community as a wholeLooks at the community as a whole Examines what comes into the Examines what comes into the

communitycommunity

Both positive and negativeBoth positive and negative Examines what leaves the communityExamines what leaves the community

Both positive and negativeBoth positive and negative


Where Work is Being DoneWhere Work is Being Done

Cooperatives in GuatemalaCooperatives in Guatemala Village in UgandaVillage in Uganda Planning for Sustainability study for Planning for Sustainability study for

metro-Hartford area in USmetro-Hartford area in US


Need for Appropriate Need for Appropriate IndicatorsIndicators

Started with review of indicators availableStarted with review of indicators available G3G3 GRI Sector SupplementsGRI Sector Supplements International Finance Corporation (IFC)International Finance Corporation (IFC)

PS indicatorsPS indicators Asset4 IndicatorsAsset4 Indicators UN Millennium Development GoalsUN Millennium Development Goals Katrina GuidelinesKatrina Guidelines Others?Others?


Needed Indicator AreasNeeded Indicator Areas

GovernanceGovernance Power and VoicePower and Voice Decision makingDecision making Benefit distributionBenefit distribution Tax baseTax base

FinancesFinances Trade – products, Trade – products,

services, etc. services, etc. Job creation – keeping Job creation – keeping

youth in the communityyouth in the community Land use and distributionLand use and distribution

• EducationEducation• TransportationTransportation• EnergyEnergy• Medical CareMedical Care• Communications Communications systemssystems• Water – non-potable & Water – non-potable &

potablepotable• Waste disposalWaste disposal

• Food/NutritionFood/Nutrition• ClothingClothing• Child careChild care• Non-consumablesNon-consumables

Other????


FindingsFindings

Most indicators, no matter the Most indicators, no matter the source, do not deal with issues source, do not deal with issues systemicallysystemically

Indicators do not look at root causesIndicators do not look at root causes Indicators mostly ask for data that Indicators mostly ask for data that

are resultsare results


QuestionsQuestions

How to develop multi-faceted indicatorsHow to develop multi-faceted indicators How to develop indicators that can be monitored How to develop indicators that can be monitored

easily over timeeasily over time How the community can use the indicators to How the community can use the indicators to

assist in its own sustainable development assist in its own sustainable development monitoringmonitoring

Role of GRI in sustainabilityRole of GRI in sustainability

To be continued…To be continued…© CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action [email protected] www.crea-inc.org

Documents

Community Based Reporting Another View of Community Based Sustainability Reporting © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action [email protected]