Professional Practice in Community Investment and Development

This module introduces students to private sector-led community social investment and economic development (CoSI and ED) in the natural resource-based sector. The aim is to orientate students around some core questions relating to the field: What is CoSI and ED? Why is it a critical aspect of a business responsibility and social impact practice? What are companies typically trying to achieve through CoSI and ED programs? Who are the target beneficiaries and who benefits? What are the factors currently driving or restraining meaningful and impactful delivery? This module also introduces students to key terminology and concepts crucial for CoSI and ED delivery.

This module explores some of the dominant discourses about poverty and development, as well as contemporary approaches used in the field of CoSi and ED. The module also examines the unintended consequences these discourses and approaches can have on private sector-led programs. It also explores how these development paradigms impact on who benefits and doesn’t benefit from CoSI and ED interventions, as well as the overlapping roles and impacts of business, government, NGO’s and communities. Finally, this module provides students with a foundational understanding of Theory of Change (ToC) as a structured planning approach to illustrate how interventions lead to desired outcomes. The module covers important aspects like CoSI and ED success factors, enablers, as well as lessons learnt in this field of practice.

This module introduces a best practice process for the designing, planning and implementation of community social investment and economic development (CoSI and ED) programs. This includes guidance on key elements such as reviewing your internal and external contexts; matching business and CoSI and ED objectives; identifying investment and development priorities using participatory approaches; project planning and risk management; developing project implementation plans, including your monitoring and evaluation framework; and approaches for integrating effective internal and external stakeholder engagement throughout the project process.

This module builds on the previous module by exploring the complicated process of CoSI and ED program agreement making with internal and community stakeholders and beneficiaries. Various types of agreements will be examined, ranging from local impact and benefit agreements to regional development plans. Typical challenges to achieving consensus and agreement are covered, along with critical success indicators and strategies for achieving sustainable and positive outcomes.

This module will examine the basics of getting community social investment right. The module highlights best practice for CoSI by focusing on the planning required for successful implementation. This section will also ensure that students are able to design CoSI initiatives that are both strategic and integrated throughout the business. Emphasising flexibility and adaptability, students will learn to tailor CoSI strategies to local contexts, ensuring meaningful and impactful contributions to community well-being and sustainable development.

This module will examine best practice for the design and implementation of local content models for community social investment and economic development that can be achieved through local employment, local procurement, skills development, and enterprise development.

This module will explore the principles and practices of regional economic development and shared infrastructure, emphasising the establishment of strategic partnerships as key enablers of community benefit and positive social outcomes. The module analyses the links between development planning at national, regional, and local levels. Students will examine various approaches and tools for maximising the impact of these initiatives. Through case studies and interactive exercises, students will learn more about collaborative partnerships with local stakeholders, government entities, NGOs, and community representatives.

This module will explore other models and approaches for achieving impactful community social investments and economic development. These can include implementation partner capacity building, shared ownership and revenue models, investment in local service delivery, employee volunteering schemes, local livelihood support programs, etc. As with other modules the impacts, benefits, implementation considerations and potential challenges will be analysed for each model or approach through the application of case studies and practical exercises.

This module covers the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks with strategies for adjusting Community Social investments and Economic Development (CoSI and ED) initiatives and reporting outcomes. Students will be taught the basics of developing and implementing M&E frameworks for CoSI and ED projects, ensuring objectives are met, outcomes achieved, and impacts assessed effectively. The module also explores how to utilise M&E results to inform adjustments and improvements at project level, emphasising the importance of regular reporting to internal and external stakeholders for promoting accountability and transparency in CoSI and ED initiatives.