The Coady International Institute has been promoting community self-reliance since it opened its doors to educate leaders from around the world over 40 years ago. Established by St. Francis Xavier University in 1959, the Coady International Institute is world-renowned as a centre of excellence in community-based development. The Institute was named in honour of Rev. Dr. Moses Coady, a prominent founder of the Antigonish Movement—a people's movement for economic and social justice that began in Nova Scotia during the 1920s.
Over the past four decades, the global reach of the Institute has grown immensely. Nearly 4,000 development organization leaders from over 120 countries have taken part in the Institute's campus-based programs. Today, the Coady's community cooperation approach is more relevant than ever. The next decade will present enormous challenges to organizations engaged in development work. Global economic reform, political restructuring and technological change are redefining the environment in which the Institute and its development partners work. The need for innovative and effective strategies for building civil societies and addressing issues of poverty and injustice has never been greater.
The Coady is able to remain at the forefront of innovation within the field of community-based development by adapting and evolving to meet the changing needs of development practitioners. The Institute is a learning organization dedicated to identifying, developing and disseminating knowledge on effective development practice. As a leader in the study and practice of community-based development, the Coady provides relevant programs that help others make a positive difference in their own communities.
The Coady Institute is committed to:
Our programs include: