Needs assessment
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Needs assessment is a process for determining and addressing needs, or "gaps" between current conditions and desired conditions, often used for improvement projects in education/training, organizations, or communities. In the context of community improvement, it is known as community needs analysis. It involves identifying material problems/deficits/weaknesses and advantages/opportunites/strengths, and evaluating possible solutions that take those qualities into consideration.[1]
[edit] Community needs analysis
Community needs assessment involves assessing the needs that people have in order to live in:
- an ecologically sustainable environment
- a community that maintains and develops viable social capital
- a way that meets their own economic and financial requirements
- a manner that permits political participation in decisions that affect themselves
Community needs assessment as a technique thus forms a part of an Ecologically Sustainable Community Economic Development (ESCED). It forms a first step in any project that aims to secure:
- Ecological enhancement: minimising ecological impact or ameliorating any ecological damage
- Social vitality: building a community that meets all the social and human needs of its members
- Economic resilience: "shock-proofing" local "green" business enterprises as much as possible
- Political participation in ways that ensure the participation of people in political decisions that affect them
Community needs assessment has especial usefulness in action-learning projects, and in ensuring that organisations meet green objectives of:
- social justice
- participatory democracy
- non-violent resolution of conflict
- ecologically sustainable development
[edit] References
- ^ Gupta, Kavita; Sleezer, Catherine M.; Russ-Eft, Darlene F. (2007-01-16). A Practical Guide to Needs Assessment (2 ed.). Pfeiffer. p. 14-17. ISBN 978-0-7879-8272-0.
