Fidál, 04 Kalimát (Words), 182 B.E.
Social Action: The Nature of Bahá’í Social and Economic Development
Quotes for Reflection:
At the heart of such an approach lies the question of capacity building. It has been observed in cluster after cluster that the capacity to carry out efforts in the area of social action is gradually raised as growing numbers of individuals are involved in the institute process and are assisted to dedicate their energies to the spiritual and material transformation of the regions in which they live. Generally speaking, Bahá’í social and economic development efforts begin at the grassroots, start small, and grow organically, commensurate with the local human and financial resources available to them. In this connection, as noted in the Riḍván message of 2010, social change should not be conceived of as a project that one group of people carries out for the benefit of another, nor should it be reduced to the mere delivery of goods or services. In light of these considerations, Bahá’ís are discouraged from implementing projects in countries where they do not reside. Further, for a number of reasons, considerable caution needs to be exercised in cases where external funds are made available to a particular endeavor. Experience has shown, for example, that the right of the local community to trace its own path of progress can be compromised when those providing resources from outside of the community assume responsibility for the management and direction of an initiative or exert undue influence on the nature of projects undertaken. Moreover, organizations which are solely reliant on external support often struggle to sustain their activities in the event that outside sources of funding are withdrawn. In order to avoid such challenges, the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Bahá’í World Centre helps to coordinate the flow of resources to Bahá’í-inspired development projects, taking into account both the conditions in the region and the maturity of particular initiatives. — Universal House of Justice 1
Question for Consideration
What conditions should Bahá’ís consider when starting social and economic development projects or joining those already underway?
Perplexity Pro Response 2
When Bahá’ís consider starting or joining social and economic development projects, several essential conditions and guiding principles should inform their approach. These ensure that efforts are sustainable, spiritually coherent, and genuinely serve the needs of the community.
Grassroots Origin and Organic Growth
- Projects should begin at the grassroots level, emerging from the needs and aspirations of the local community.
- Initiatives should start small and grow organically, expanding as local capacity and resources increase [1] [2] [3].
- Efforts must be commensurate with the available human and financial resources, avoiding overly ambitious plans that could overwhelm the community [1] [2].
Community Ownership and Participation
- The local community must be the primary protagonist, actively participating in all stages—from conception to implementation and evaluation [1] [4] [3].
- Social change should not be imposed by outsiders or reduced to service delivery; rather, it should foster self-reliance and collective ownership [1] [4] [2].
- Projects should be designed to build the community’s capacity to address its own challenges and opportunities [4] [5].
Capacity Building and the Institute Process
- The capacity to carry out social action is strengthened as more individuals engage in the institute process and community-building activities [1] [2] [6].
- The presence of a strong institute process and a vibrant pattern of community life are indicators that a locality is ready for more sustained social action [2] [7].
Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency
- Projects should aim for long-term sustainability, avoiding dependence on external funding or management [2] [3].
- While initial external assistance may be used for capital or expertise, the goal is for projects to be maintained by local resources and enthusiasm, even if outside support ends [2] [3].
Alignment with Spiritual Principles
- Initiatives must reflect Bahá’í spiritual principles such as justice, unity, the equality of women and men, and the oneness of humanity [4] [2] [8].
- The primary objective should be service to the community, not profit or business interests [3].
- Social action should foster a dynamic coherence between material and spiritual advancement [4] [2].
Consultation and Local Needs Assessment
- Projects should be based on thorough consultation with the local community, including Local Spiritual Assemblies and other institutions [3].
- Efforts must address the real needs and aspirations of the local population, not just perceived needs from external perspectives [3] [2].
Caution with External Funds and Influence
- Care must be taken to avoid situations where external donors or organizations manage or direct local initiatives, as this can undermine community ownership and sustainability [2] [1].
- Projects solely reliant on external support often struggle if funding is withdrawn, so building local capacity is crucial [2] [3].
Modesty and Learning Through Action
- Undertakings should be modest in scope, especially at the outset, allowing for learning, reflection, and gradual expansion as experience is gained [2] [3].
- A cycle of action, reflection, consultation, and learning should guide the development and evolution of projects [2] [6].
Summary Table: Core Conditions to Consider
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Grassroots Origin | Start small, grow organically, rooted in local needs |
| Community Ownership | Local participation and leadership at every stage |
| Capacity Building | Engage in institute process and community-building activities |
| Sustainability | Aim for self-sufficiency, minimize reliance on external support |
| Spiritual Principles | Reflect justice, unity, equality, and service |
| Local Consultation | Base efforts on thorough consultation and genuine needs assessment |
| Caution with External Influence | Avoid undue external management; ensure local direction |
| Modesty and Learning | Begin modestly, prioritize learning, and expand as capacity grows |
By adhering to these conditions, Bahá’í social and economic development projects can become sustainable, empowering, and truly transformative for both individuals and communities [1] [4] [2] [3] [8].
Citations
[1] Social Action – The Bahá’í Faith
[2] The Nature of Bahá’í Social and Economic Development – Bahá’í Reference Library
[3] Social and economic development – Bahai9
[4] Social Action – Bahá’í Quotes
[6] Evolving conceptual framework – Reddit
[7] Social Action – The Bahá’í Faith
[8] Community Social Action – International Environment Forum
[9] Social and Economic Development: The Baha’i Contribution – Bahá’í International Community
[10] Overview of Bahá’í Social and Economic Development – Bahá’í Library Online
[11] Social and Economic Development and the Baha’i Faith – Uplifting Words
[12] Readings on Bahá’í Social & Economic Development – Palabra Publications (PDF)
[13] Social Action: Community Activities – The Bahá’ís of Vanuatu
[14] Building Community: Love in Action – Bahá’ís of the United States
[15] Socioeconomic development and the Baháʼí Faith – Wikipedia
[17] The Nature of Bahá’í Social and Economic Development – Bahá’í Reference Library
[20] The Bahá’í World, Volume 19, 6: Social and Economic Development – Bahai.works
Follow-Up Approaches Proposed by Perplexity
- Identify key local human and financial resources available.
- Assess community readiness to manage and sustain projects.
- Ensure initiatives align with spiritual and material transformation.
- Avoid reliance on external funding that compromises local control.
- Coordinate with the Office of Social and Economic Development.
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/957685526. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “Key Conditions for Bahá’í Social and Economic Development Projects.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. July 14, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/at-the-heart-of-such-an-approa-ijV5S0WrTwmFsYN.d08bSA. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 