What specific strategic goal most appropriately aligns with an 'empowering' model of community engagement, as opposed to 'informing' or 'consulting'?

The 'empowering' model of community engagement, unlike 'informing' or 'consulting,' signifies a transfer of decision-making power and resources to the community itself. In this model, the community holds the authority and capacity to identify problems, develop solutions, and implement actions independently. 'Informing' primarily involves one-way communication to provide facts and data to the community. 'Consulting' involves seeking input and feedback from the community on proposed plans or decisions, but the ultimate authority for making and implementing the decision remains with the external entity. Therefore, the specific strategic goal most appropriately aligned with an 'empowering' model is fostering community self-determination and building sustainable local capacity for collective action and problem-solving. Community self-determination refers to the right and ability of a community to make its own choices and control its own destiny. Building sustainable local capacity involves equipping community members with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to initiate, manage, and sustain their own development and address challenges without continuous external guidance or intervention. This strategic goal moves beyond mere participation to enable true community ownership of outcomes and the ability to drive future initiatives autonomously, ensuring long-term resilience and independence.