This is a useful needs assessment guide for your planning and design phases. I use it as a guideline not just for my projects, but also when redesigning strategies, or doing programme design, even in organisational assessment.

The most important ideas it to start with a creative, participatory design phase, which also includes defining a methodology and starting on the planning. You then gather your data to answer the questions outlined in your methodology, keeping within your foundational framework.

Though it’s quite old – almost 20 years old! – I really like the clearly laid out needs assessment survey that was outlined here, which also examines how to gather the most representative sample from your community, and preparing for in-person surveys. It even has some really good guidance for door-to-door surveys.