The people you serve.
WHY IT MATTERS MOST
Programmes designed without the community fail, consistently.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH BEFORE DESIGNING ANYTHING
What people actually want and need.
HOW
Ask them, and listen without a plan already formed.
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
Assuming you know Consulting after deciding
WHY THE SECOND IS WORSE
It is transparent and it destroys trust.
WHAT TO INVOLVE THEM IN
Design Delivery, where possible Assessment of whether it worked
WHAT COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT PROVIDES
Knowledge, legitimacy and sustainability.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT LOCAL STRUCTURES
Who has authority Who is excluded from it Who speaks for whom
WHY THAT SECOND POINT MATTERS
Working only through existing leadership can exclude those most in need.
WHAT TO DO
Establish who is not represented, and reach them.
WHAT TO MANAGE CAREFULLY
Expectations about what you will provide and for how long.
WHY
Raised and disappointed expectations cause real harm.
WHAT TO STATE CLEARLY
What the programme is, its duration, and what happens afterwards.
WHAT TO PLAN FROM THE START
What continues when you leave.
WHY
Programmes that collapse on departure achieve little.
WHAT TO BUILD
Local capacity, deliberately.
WHAT TO AVOID
Creating dependence on your presence.
