You cannot intervene everywhere. You must choose a place for action: your own community or a remote community from another region, another country discovered during a trip. We can only act locally, but we must act in a global perspective, that is to say, being aware that the living conditions of the local community are influenced by global interactions.
You do not choose a site of action randomly but because you have developed relationships with people. Be realistic, keep in mind one simple rule: the closer the site of action is, greater the chances of success are. When there are fewer cultural and language barriers, greater ease of contact with beneficiaries, it is easier to gather information and analyze problems and needs.
However, if you choose to intervene in a remote region or a country, try to gather as much information as possible on the local community involved, look for people who already have a concrete knowledge of the situation there. In the case of a project of international solidarity, for example, you can effectively make contact with an association of migrants from the country and the region where you will take action. Such an association can become an efficient partner. It will also be necessary to visit the community and meet with the authorities, local leaders, people and check your assumptions.
Once the site of action is chosen, you must identify the stakeholders, that is to say all those involved in the project in one way or another and who may have a positive or negative influence on the project or be affected positively or negatively by its success or failure. They should be involved in the needs assessment and in defining objectives.
The stakeholders may include the following categories:
- Authorities, local governments, media: all institutions that can hinder or promote the success of the project.
- Beneficiaries: that is to say all those who will benefit from the project in a direct, immediate (target groups, direct beneficiaries) or indirect, long-term way (final beneficiaries).
- Partners: all those who contribute in one way or another to the project
This classification applies regardless of the project, even if it is to create a small business.
Useful resources :
- Handout Stakeholder Analysis
Español
Français
