The principle explicitly recognizes and seeks to support or expand social structures and social processes that contribute to the ability/resources of community members to be part of project activities. The abilities may include individual skills and assets; networks of relationships characterized by trust, cooperation and mutual commitment; and mediating structures within the community such as religious institutions and other structures where community members come together. Recognizing community strengths and resources represents a transformative research opportunity to unite all partners by giving underserved communities a genuine voice in research/project activities, and therefore increases the likelihood of success in project outcome. Further, incorporating community resources enables partners to best contextualize cultural values and practices that enhances sustainability and ultimately democratizing science by valuing community resources in all activities and knowledge production processes.
Commitment to become familiar with and understand the context, the people, their culture, and priorities.
Ability to explore and embrace existing strengths and resources within a community.
Understanding and appreciation of the value of different forms of knowledge; experiential, contextual, technical etc.
Capacity to identify personal capacities (from the head, hands and heart).
Capacity to identify existing community structures (physical spaces), institutions and citizens (political, social, historical, cultural, religious, others) that could contribute towards change.
Understanding of how to leverage existing formal and informal governance structures to make positive changes.
Understanding of the variety of skills/assets that can contribute to CBPR research at different stages.
Ability to assess and apply assets and strengths to collect, analyse data and contribute to change.
*Please note that some statements are adaptations or direct quotes from the papers listed in the reference section