While seeking to alleviate the plights of the people, you are better placed to understand the concerns of the people by talking to the local influential personalities, local government officials and local group leaders. These are people whose input in community needs assessment is very vital. You can also seal loopholes in your study by consulting independent agencies or groups with better understanding of the local challenges.
When talking to the local stakeholders, you can ask about their views on the pressing requirements of the people. You can also seek to find out from them if they know where else details you want are held or whose contribution is important in better understanding the problems and solution approaches. In some cases you might be able to obtain a reasonable insight into what the people want through such consultative meetings with the local leadership and stakeholders.
Seeking to understand the challenges of a deprived people helps to draw focus on the most pressing issues. This means that such focus is likely to garner support of the local people and stakeholders which in turn means greater chances of success in the undertaking. However, in the event that you rush to implement your own mental picture without discussion with the concerned people, you may face resistance and even total rejection.
If your real intent is to advance the interest of the people by addressing their glaring plights, then you can never wish to get started on a wrong footage which could spell doom to future projects. Basically, moving in straight away to address the plight of a people without first involving them in the preliminary stages might be interpreted as contempt of their intelligence. In the end, the very people may rise against the project or sabotage it.
This explains why even when addressing an issue that might seem very obvious, getting down on a discussion table with the local leadership, stakeholders and interested groups in the area is necessary before that big step. Consultation paves the way for smooth implementation of the project. In addition, it ensures that you get a motivated people to work with because they feel ownership of the project.
Naturally, you realize that with such initial breakthrough into the hearts of the people, your organization is more likely to acquire further funding for implementation of other projects that rank lower in the priority pecking order. Winning the support of a people is what makes the difference between a successful project and a failing one. Basically, however deprived a people may be, they might not give their blessing to an organization that seems to insult their intelligence by overlooking their input in terms of ideas through consultation.
After conducting a survey for your intended project, you can now get back to the people through focus groups. Now armed with options for your action plan, you can once again discuss with the stakeholders and potential partners in the local area so that more light can be shed on the priorities and operations. This is best done with a facilitator in the room so that people can stick to the topic.
Remember though, that focus groups might not give you facts, as such, they are best for understanding perceptions. That is why your questions to such forum during community needs assessment might just touch on their main concerns and identification of particular groups facing the problems noted. Taping the conversation is recommended over note taking because it has less interruption.
When talking to the local stakeholders, you can ask about their views on the pressing requirements of the people. You can also seek to find out from them if they know where else details you want are held or whose contribution is important in better understanding the problems and solution approaches. In some cases you might be able to obtain a reasonable insight into what the people want through such consultative meetings with the local leadership and stakeholders.
Seeking to understand the challenges of a deprived people helps to draw focus on the most pressing issues. This means that such focus is likely to garner support of the local people and stakeholders which in turn means greater chances of success in the undertaking. However, in the event that you rush to implement your own mental picture without discussion with the concerned people, you may face resistance and even total rejection.
If your real intent is to advance the interest of the people by addressing their glaring plights, then you can never wish to get started on a wrong footage which could spell doom to future projects. Basically, moving in straight away to address the plight of a people without first involving them in the preliminary stages might be interpreted as contempt of their intelligence. In the end, the very people may rise against the project or sabotage it.
This explains why even when addressing an issue that might seem very obvious, getting down on a discussion table with the local leadership, stakeholders and interested groups in the area is necessary before that big step. Consultation paves the way for smooth implementation of the project. In addition, it ensures that you get a motivated people to work with because they feel ownership of the project.
Naturally, you realize that with such initial breakthrough into the hearts of the people, your organization is more likely to acquire further funding for implementation of other projects that rank lower in the priority pecking order. Winning the support of a people is what makes the difference between a successful project and a failing one. Basically, however deprived a people may be, they might not give their blessing to an organization that seems to insult their intelligence by overlooking their input in terms of ideas through consultation.
After conducting a survey for your intended project, you can now get back to the people through focus groups. Now armed with options for your action plan, you can once again discuss with the stakeholders and potential partners in the local area so that more light can be shed on the priorities and operations. This is best done with a facilitator in the room so that people can stick to the topic.
Remember though, that focus groups might not give you facts, as such, they are best for understanding perceptions. That is why your questions to such forum during community needs assessment might just touch on their main concerns and identification of particular groups facing the problems noted. Taping the conversation is recommended over note taking because it has less interruption.
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