The Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide - Democrats Against UN ...

The Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide
Selecting Both Participant and Technical Assessment Methods
Participant assessment methods and tools are group learning and analysis exercises that can be used with lay people and diverse
stakeholder groups to clarify, exchange, and debate the knowledge and wisdom of residents about different issues. They can also be
used to negotiate priorities and develop an appreciation of the systemic nature of issues. Participant assessment methods that have
been used around the world include: mapping, focus groups, SWOT analysis, and search conferences. A variety of methods and
tools for issue analysis are described in the Glossary of Selected Methods and Tools for Sustainable Development Planning in this
Guide.
It is important to remember to gather information not only on local conditions and problem issues, but also on the
innovative, informal approaches being presently used by residents to solve problems.
In implementing a participant assessment, it is important to remember to gather information not only on local conditions and
problem issues, but also on the innovative, informal approaches being presently used by residents to solve problems. These
approaches can often be upgraded and applied more widely to address issues on a larger scale.
Technical assessment methods are more formalized assessment methods that use technical expertise to scientifically and
statistically evaluate and document conditions. These methods include environmental auditing, Rapid Urban Environmental
Assessment, State of the Environment Reporting, Environmental Impact Assessment, comparative risk assessment, and systems
analysis. These and other methods are summarized in the Glossary. Each technical method is uniquely suited for use in different
kinds of projects or in evaluating different kinds of issues. A detailed description of Rapid Urban Environmental Assessment can be
found in Appendix 2 and a description of a Participatory Comparative Risk Assessment process can be found in Appendix 3.
Linking Participant and Technical Assessment Processes
The key to a successful community-based assessment process is to link together the use of participant assessment exercises and
expert technical assessments. Specifically, an assessment process should be organized in such a way that: 1) stakeholders participate
in the technical assessments; and 2) the findings of the technical assessments are provided as final input into the participant
assessment process. In this way, the full assessment exercise can be used to educate residents and stakeholders. Technical findings
can be used to validate participant observation and knowledge, and vice versa.
Technical assessment methods will need to be modified to permit extensive stakeholder involvement in the process.
In order to implement such a community-based process, technical assessment methods will need to be modified to permit extensive
stakeholder involvement in the process. This will require the training of stakeholders as well as the provision of an appropriate time
schedule for the completion of the assessment. Contrary to common assumptions, it is possible to use technical assessment methods
and tools within the context of a participant assessment exercise. This is illustrated in the case of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg
community in New York City, USA (Case #7), where residents use a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Comparative Risk
Assessment to undertake a community-wide analysis of environmental risks.
Assuring Analysis of Systemic Problems and Creating Baseline Data
Until now, this chapter has emphasized the importance and implications of a community-based approach to assessment. In order for
such an approach to have a long-term or strategic impact, two other factors must be built into the assessment process. First, the
assessment process should assure that the systemic nature of issues and problems is clearly understood. Second, the assessment
process should be designed to produce baseline data that can be used in future years to evaluate changing conditions and progress
towards the achievement of the Action Plan and its targets.
Effective sustainable development planning requires that the issue analysis process, and the assessment methods it employs, will
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