1. Community Based Reporting Another View of Community Based Sustainability Reporting © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

2. What has been done in Community Based Reporting (CBR) Community Based Reporting (CBR) has focused on reporting by an organization, for example, a corporation or NGO Community Based Reporting (CBR) has focused on reporting by an organization, for example, a corporation or NGO The reporting has focused on the impact the organization had on the community The reporting has focused on the impact the organization had on the community © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

3. Concerns: A. Assessment is usually done by the outside entity B. Focus is on level of impact or intrusion C. Essentially measuring impact on the community…whether positive or negative © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

4. The Sustainable Communities Project Focuses on the Community Focuses on the Community Assesses the Sustainability of the Community Assesses the Sustainability of the Community Trains the Community in the process of sustainability self assessment for the future….which will then be a tool which the Community itself will use for its own planning. Trains the Community in the process of sustainability self assessment for the future….which will then be a tool which the Community itself will use for its own planning. © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

5. Sustainable Communities Project Assesses - The strengths of the Community - The weaknesses of the Community - What needs to change - What is possible to change © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

6. Sustainable Communities Project Uses information, ideas and learnings from other communities, Does not rank communities in comparison with others Encourages community to assess its own progress © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

7. Project Focus The Sustainability of the Community © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

8. Background For more than 15 years, CREA’s work has focused on sustaining living wages For more than 15 years, CREA’s work has focused on sustaining living wages Developed specific definitions for 5 wage levels Developed specific definitions for 5 wage levels Level higher than the Sustainable Living Wage is the Sustainable Community Income level Level higher than the Sustainable Living Wage is the Sustainable Community Income level © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

9. Background (continued) For the Sustainable Living Wage (SLW), CREA has developed specific and quantifiable standards for housing, nutrition, clothing, education, transportation, water (potable and non-potable), medical care, etc. For the Sustainable Living Wage (SLW), CREA has developed specific and quantifiable standards for housing, nutrition, clothing, education, transportation, water (potable and non-potable), medical care, etc. Standards can be found on Resource CD Now we are developing the additional standards needed for the Sustainable Community Now we are developing the additional standards needed for the Sustainable Community © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

10. Use standardized definitions that can be applied specifically for each culture and country Use standardized definitions that can be applied specifically for each culture and country These standards are universally applicable after a process of “acculturization” for each country and culture. These standards are universally applicable after a process of “acculturization” for each country and 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 Latin America, Africa, Asia and North America. These standards have been used in Latin America, Africa, Asia and North America. © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

11. Methodology automatically factors in effects of changes in wages, prices and/or inflation Methodology automatically factors in effects of changes in wages, prices and/or inflation Data collection is done through actual pricing and extensive interviews. Data collection is done through actual pricing and extensive interviews. Data is both quantitative and qualitative Data is both quantitative and qualitative © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

12. Example: 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. © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

13. Methodology of Purchasing power Unit of measurement = Minutes of work necessary to access/purchase any item Unit of measurement = Minutes of work necessary to access/purchase any item Core Question: How long do I have to work to acquire X? Core Question: How long do I have to work to acquire X? Unit = minPP Unit = minPP (minutes of purchasing power) (minutes of purchasing power) © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

14. Purchasing Power Methodology Everyone understands time as a measurement Everyone understands time as a measurement Everyone understands the limits of time Everyone understands the limits of time Time makes us all equal – no one can make more time Time makes us all equal – no one can make more time © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

15. Using Time as Measurement Measure cost of items for which monetary compensation is received – paid work Measure cost of items for which monetary compensation is received – paid work Measure cost of items for which no monetary compensation is received but for which time is required Measure cost of items for which no monetary compensation is received but for which time is required Example: Women carrying water Cutting firewood Cutting firewood © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

16. Comparisons possible Trans-National – from country to country Trans-National – from country to country Trans-Temporal – over time Trans-Temporal – over time Trans-Cultural – different areas within a country. Trans-Cultural – different areas within a country. For example: rural, urban within a country © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

17. Sustainable Community Project Builds on sustainable living wage work Builds on sustainable living wage work Looks at the community as a whole Looks at the community as a whole Examines what comes into the community Examines what comes into the community Both positive and negative Examines what leaves the community Examines what leaves the community Both positive and negative © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

18. Where Work is Being Done Cooperatives in Guatemala Cooperatives in Guatemala Village in Uganda Village in Uganda Planning for Sustainability study for Planning for Sustainability study for metro-Hartford area in US © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

19. Need for Appropriate Indicators Started with review of indicators available Started with review of indicators available G3 G3 GRI Sector Supplements GRI Sector Supplements International Finance Corporation (IFC) International Finance Corporation (IFC) PS indicators Asset4 Indicators Asset4 Indicators UN Millennium Development Goals UN Millennium Development Goals Katrina Guidelines Katrina Guidelines Others? Others? © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

20. Needed Indicator Areas Governance Governance Power and Voice Power and Voice Decision making Decision making Benefit distribution Benefit distribution Tax base Tax base Finances Finances Trade – products, services, etc. Trade – products, services, etc. Job creation – keeping youth in the community Job creation – keeping youth in the community Land use and distribution Land use and distribution Education Education Transportation Transportation Energy Energy Medical Care Medical Care Communications systems Communications systems Water – non-potable & Water – non-potable & potable potable Waste disposal Waste disposal Food/Nutrition Food/Nutrition Clothing Clothing Child care Child care Non-consumables Non-consumables Other???? © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

21. Findings Most indicators, no matter the source, do not deal with issues systemically Most indicators, no matter the source, do not deal with issues systemically Indicators do not look at root causes Indicators do not look at root causes Indicators mostly ask for data that are results Indicators mostly ask for data that are results © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org

22. Questions How to develop multi-faceted indicators How to develop multi-faceted indicators How to develop indicators that can be monitored easily over time How to develop indicators that can be monitored easily over time How the community can use the indicators to assist in its own sustainable development monitoring How the community can use the indicators to assist in its own sustainable development monitoring Role of GRI in sustainability Role of GRI in sustainability To be continued… © CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action crea-inc@crea-inc.org www.crea-inc.org