About COMPAS / vision & mission

VISION

The COMPAS programme envisions self-sustaining local communities across the globe living in dignity, resilient to external and internal stresses, with a sense of belonging to their traditional worldviews. The livelihoods of the communities are based on a balanced material, social and spiritual well-being. Endogenous development revitalises ancestral and local knowledge and integrates external knowledge and resources that fit the local context. It leads to increased bio- and cultural diversity, reduced environmental degradation, and a self-sustaining local and regional exchange.

MISSION

The COMPAS programme is committed to support field programmes of Community Bases Organisations (CBOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to develop, test and improve the endogenous development approach in dialogue with modern western based science and in close cooperation with universities and research centres. COMPAS will systematise the experiences in such a way that other NGOs and government agencies can make use of the endogenous development approach. COMPAS is engaging in capacity building and policy dialogue to create an enabling environment that promotes and supports endogenous development. Intercultural dialogues amongst CBOs, NGOs, universities and research centres across countries and continents are facilitated to enable systematisation beyond the national level.

Endogenous development is based on local peoples' own criteria of development, and takes into account the material, social and spiritual well-being of peoples. READ MORE