Community Based Planning and Evaluation

A range of methodologies to conduct evaluation and planning processes in communities was described in four presentations. In India with NGOs to evaluate intervention programs; in Hong Kong with a community planning project, in Thailand to evaluate a counselling training program and in Malawi, where a national strategic planning process was devised. Participatory approaches to conduct evaluation activities that are inclusive of and involve local communities provide opportunities for leaning and development of more appropriate interventions. The structure of these activities can also build the capacity of local organisations not only to assess their programs but also to identify their organisational strengths and weaknesses. Participatory processes with NGOs described include the use of workshops to train staff in methodologies, undertake research, discuss and disseminate findings. An important outcome was that this approach reduced their fear of evaluation and highlighted issues relevant for sustainability of prevention programs. In contrast, an evaluation of a training program using a traditional method of pre and post testing showed that this approach did achieve changes in knowledge. However this information, when supplemented with qualitative assessment such as patient satisfaction and participant follow up showed greater improvements in capacity. Similarly, with planning processes, the involvement of local communities was crucial for understanding risk behaviours and identifying areas of need and local concerns. Two very different planning processes described local communities as the starting point for local and national planning exercises. Identifying key stakeholders in communities, developing ways to identify key areas of concern and maintaining links with these people as well as ensuring broad dissemination of information collected, were important aspects of the process. It is crucial for governments to lend their support to these processes. Too often governments place more value in outcomes of planning and do not recognise that processes that is inclusive and participatory can ensure greater ownership and improved capacity of communities to identify and address their issues. Where there is government support, these processes have more credibility and voices from the community can be reflected at all levels.