CONTINUED.... PART III. Abstract WHAT WILL OUR BUNYALA COMMUNITY DO TO ACHIEVE DEVELOPMENT? These strategy will help us identify and avoid any negative or unintended consequences. For example, to reduce unemployment, we could use any or all of these strategies: 1. Increase the amount of loans available to existing businesses; 2. Set up a job training program; 3. Recruit new businesses into the community; 4. Start a small business center; or come up with another creative idea. After we have developed a list of strategies, we must evaluate them to decide which ones will be most effective. Here are some questions to help us think about the impacts that a strategy could have. If negative impacts are identified in any of these areas, we can brainstorm about ways to minimize or avoid them. 1. Does the strategy attack the root causes of a problem? 2. Is it a powerful method for change? 3. Does it involve partnerships among all sectors? 4 Will the strategy promote community empowerment in decisionmaking? 5. Will the strategy distribute benefits widely in the community (Consider age, gender, race, income and disability)? 6. How will the strategy affect the community’s economic diversity and vitality? 7. How will the strategy affect the community’s self-reliance and vulnerability to outside influences (e.g., global trade, severe weather, economic downturns)? 8. How will the strategy affect the community’s resilience or ability to adapt to changing circumstances? 9. How will the strategy impact existing public services, such as schools, police, roads, water, waste and sewer? 10. What is the net impact on community finances (revenues vs. long-term costs)? 11. How will the strategy affect the community’s natural resources (air, water, energy, and land)? 12. Will the strategy enhance the more efficient use of community resources (financial, manmade, natural)? 13. How much waste or pollution will the strategy create? 14. What will be the cumulative effect of this and other related actions (i.e. approving a subdivision may contribute to a gradual loss of farmland.)? 15. How will this action further the community’s long-term vision and goals? 16. What impact will this action have off-site (neighboring communities or the larger region)? 17. How much risk does this action involve? We have to consider whether it puts all of the community’s eggs in one basket or if some aspects of the action could succeed while others do not. mplementation may be the most difficult but most important phase in the community development process. IMPLEMENTATION It is in this phase that the planned-for resources can be lost, partnerships become either close or distant, projects are started and then managed, and results become visible. Experience shows that successful communities usually do these things: 1. Start with a smaller project that has a high chance of success, 2. Manage their resources wisely and get the most value for every shilling, 3. Act responsibly so their supporters have confidence in the community’s ability to deliver the promised results, 4. Keep citizens informed and constantly involved, 5. Set benchmarks to measure how well they are doing, 6. Evaluate progress regularly and publicly, 7. Change their plans when conditions change or new opportunities arise, always keeping in sight the long-term vision, 8. Use every opportunity to learn from experience, and 9. Celebrate successes publicly. CONCLUSION - SUMMARY Strategic Plan Elements What is the product of the strategic planning process? Unless required by a specific program, the plan does not have to follow any specific format. Here are all the major elements of a strategic plan: 1. Vision Statement • What values will guide our activity? • What kind of community do we want to become? 2. Community Assessment • Trends/conditions (economic, social, etc.) • Problems and barriers, their root causes and their magnitude/severity • Community strengths and opportunities • Ranking or prioritizing of problems and opportunities • Existing resources, assets, capabilities and new resources needed 3. Goals Group goals under key issues, such as housing, transportation, employment, and environment and under each major heading, describe: • What are out long-term goals? • What is our desired condition? • What do we want to change (condition, problem, barrier, opportunity)? 4. Strategies • How can we best achieve each goal? • How will partnerships help us achieve our goal? 5. Evaluation Process • How and when will the strategic plan be reviewed and updated? • How will the community report on progress every year? • How will the community evaluate its process, outputs and outcomes? • How will members of the community be kept involved and informed?
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 10:47:45 +0000
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