Putting Community Based Planning into Practice

Community Based Planning (CBP) is the gold standard for working with communities and is an important part of the COMPASS programme’s focus on localization.

Find out more about this approach below and learn how it was applied in Nigeria and Ethiopia!

What is Community Based Planning (CBP)?

CBP is a people-centered approach that empowers communities affected by crises and displacement to address their social, economic, and material needs. It fosters conflict resolution, strengthens social bonds, and promotes local leadership through transparency and accountability. Focused on community-driven outcomes like livelihood restoration and infrastructure, CBP emphasizes inclusion, participation, and the right to make decisions based on local needs, particularly for those impacted by displacement and conflict.

Component 1:

Community based preparatory phase

Component 2:

Community based assessments

Component 3:

Community based planning and prioritization

The steps in Component 1 establish the foundation for an inclusive and participatory CBP process, guiding practitioners through government liaison, community definition and selection, outreach, and team formation.

Component 2 places the community at the forefront of the assessment process, offering an alternative to traditional methods like key informant interviews, focus groups, and multisectoral assessments. This community-driven approach fosters a deeper understanding of the community, builds trust, and sets a strong foundation for future planning and implementation.

In this component, participants will design community projects based on a shared vision, using insights from the assessment phase to align project needs with available resources. The outcome will be a detailed Community Action Plan (CAP), celebrated at a launch event.

To learn more about putting CBP into practice, check out IOM’s
Participation in Practice: The Community-based Planning Manual.

CBP in action

Renovated classrooms and a solar powered borehole in Nigeria

Fifty community members, including vulnerable socio-economic groups such as migrants and people living with disabilities were empowered to demand and actively participate in development interventions that affect their lives. The CBP’s intensive planning process inspired the Uhi community to develop a three-year Community Action Plan (2024-2027) that thoroughly expressed their needs and fits into the local government’s development plan.

The newly renovated classrooms are benefitting around 100 students, inspiring them to excel in their studies and encouraging more children to pursue their education with renewed passion and enthusiasm.

For a long time, members of Uhi community relied on rain and a distant stream for water. With the solar powered borehole, community members will no longer have to trek long distances in search of clean water.

“Witnessing today’s handover of two community projects is a true testament to the pivotal role local communities play in addressing irregular migration. Their involvement right from the consultation stage promotes a sense of ownership and commitment to communal development.”

— Cyprine Cheptepkeny, IOM Awareness Raising Officer during the official handover ceremony of two community projects under the COMPASS programme.

Read the full press release here.