Unlocking community capabilities across health systems in low- and middle-income countries: lessons learned from research and reflective practice

The right and responsibility of communities to participate health service delivery was enshrined in the 1978 Ata declaration and continues to feature centrally health systems debates today. Communities are vital part of people-centred health systems and engagement is critical to realizing the diverse targets prioritised by the Sustainable Development and the commitments made to Universal Coverage. Community members' intimate of local needs and adaptive capacities are essential constructively harnessing global transformations to epidemiological and demographic transitions, , migration, technological innovation and change. Effective community partnerships and processes that underpin community capability strengthen local resilience, enabling communities to manage shocks, sustain gains, and advocate for needs through linkages to authorities and services. is particularly important given how power relations broader contexts of resource scarcity and concentration, related to social liberties and other types of conflicts.