Having conducted needs assessments in the past and in our more recent project of conducting a needs assessment for a future project in Sierra Leone (which we will share more info about soon) for young girls empowerment workshops, we were thrilled to share some of the lessons learned on the impact of needs assessment. Every
successful social entrepreneur and humanitarian conducts needs assessments. Have you ever heard
nonprofit leaders complain about the lack of clients or not achieving
their target goals? Products or programs that are needs
based are overall more successful in targeting the right clients than
those that are based on assumptions. So what are needs assessments? In
the business world they are is referred to as feasibility studies and in
the nonprofit world a needs assessment. They are meant for organizations to identify their clientele and what types of services is best
beneficial to them. They can be either in the form of surveys, focus groups, one on
one conversation, SWOT analysis (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and threats) etc. It is advisable that before you provide any service
that you do some basic research to ensure that you are crossing all of
your T’s and dotting your I’s in providing the best services needed by
the community you serve. We compiled the 5 best reasons for why you should conduct on going needs assessments of the population you serve.
1. Needs assessments inform your goals for the organization and the priority areas to should focus on.
Once
you have collected your data, the trends and areas that resonate as the
most needed are the areas you should focus on as you develop your
strategic plan for your organization for the year. The strategic plan
should be built on the different sources of data from your needs
assessment.
2. Needs assessments will inform stakeholders (funders, partners, community) of the evident needs of your population you work with
If
a funder or a key stakeholder were to ask you, why you decided on
providing the services you currently provide as an organization would
you have a solid justification around data? It is critical to have this
data because you can not only make decisions based on the data for the
organization but you can also communicate this to your various
stakeholders. For example yes we provide birthing kits to expecting
mothers in Africa because after doing a focus group, and surveys with
the communities we realized this was a need. It makes the work you do
more evidence based.
3. Needs assessments become your baseline data to compare to once you implement the services.
Baseline
data is important because you can compare trends in how much your
service has impacted your client population over the years. Also needs
change over the years so it is important for you to track how effective
your services are as your client needs change.
4. They save money and time!
If
you identify the appropriate needs of your clients, chances are they
will show up to receive your services, however sometimes if that need is
not determined and you go purely off assumptions. Your clients may be
disengaged and not interested in what you are trying to offer. Thus you
have wasted time in creating a program that in your mind was spectacular
but to your clients futile.
5.
They help your community you are working with become more invested in the
services because they know the services are for them. This will in turn
lead to longer sustainability of projects.
This was one of the biggest hindrances to successful projects in development work. I think a lot of NGOs now though are finally starting to recognize the importance of doing them. Even though it may seem tedious, you can't just go into a community and do a project, without knowing whether there is a need for it or any other thing. I really think the number reason should be why its important to the community, but I like the list. Also to accompany a Needs Assessment, should be a feasibility study, which has some overlaps.
ReplyDeleteVery true! The reasons aren't numbered by priority but you are absolutely right! Can't go into a community assuming. What have you noticed in your work for why they are important? Do Share :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete