Susan Cramer, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA
Successful projects typically require a great idea, meeting a real need, and money for implementation. A log frame analysis can help you articulate your project and its timeline. This is critical if you are going to be seeking funding. People need to know that you are organized and that there is a realistic plan to accomplish the project. Funders also want to be assured that real needs are being met. Hence, completion of a needs analysis. Here are a couple of websites you might turn to for information on these topics. Naturally you might want to type these topics into Google for additional resources.
Logical Framework Analysis
http://www.gdrc.org/ngo/logical-fa.pdf
(online version) http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:438plTSKAPAJ:www.gdrc.org/ngo/logical-fa.pdf+log+frame+analysis&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1&ie=UTF-8
What Is Logical Framework Analysis? This article outlines what it is, why you might use it, who should be involved, how you start, and terminology. The piece is very readable and includes examples. You might also want to examine other high quality resources from the Global Development Research Center.
Working with the Logical Framework
http://www.mande.co.uk/logframe.htm
Rick Davies of Cambridge, UK has compiled an excellent resource list of explanations, critiques, alternative versions, and his concerns of the logical framework. He also includes articles addressing wider discussions of logic models.
Conducting a Community Needs Assessment: Primary Data Collection Techniques
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HE/HE06000.pdf
(online version) http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:6wZSVKfAItAJ:edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HE/HE06000.pdf+needs+assessment+conducting&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2&ie=UTF-8
Needs come in all sizes and shapes. In this article Keith Carter and Lionel Beaulieu explain how to conduct a community needs assessment including five assessment techniques (key informant approach, public forum approach, nominal group process technique, the Delphi technique, and the survey approach).
Needs Assessment the First Step
http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~rouda/T2_NA.html
In this article Robert Rouda and Mitchell Kusy, Jr. explain why one designs and conducts a needs assessment and then outlines four steps in conducting one. This article focuses on human resource development.
Community Toolbox
http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/tools_toc.htm
While our focus in this issue is on needs assessment, you might want to check out the Community Toolbox site. This site is maintained by the Work Group on Health Promotion and Community Development at the University of Kansas and includes over 6,000 pages of practical information to support community health and development. Chapters 1-2 present models for promoting community health, change, and development. Chapter 3 focuses on assessing community needs and resources. It is in this chapter where you will find needs assessment information such as developing a plan for identifying local needs and resources, understanding and describing the community, conducting public forums and listening sessions, collecting information about the problem, analyzing community problems, conducting focus groups and more.