[PDF] Community Development Toolkit - CommDev

6Strategic Planning FrameworkcontinuedPLANNING TOOLSWhen to use this toolTo ensure that community projects areresponsive to the needs of the community anddecisions are made to deliver lasting value,this tool should be used before any significantinvestment is made in community projects.This tool should be used as early as possible,when building your community developmentteam (see tool 13 Competencies Assessment).Communities should undertake this process,if they wish to, prior to developing theirCommunity Action Plans (tool 16) usingparticipatory methods. Post-closuresustainability also needs to be taken intoaccount when defining strategies.How to use this toolStrategic planning includes five key elements,discussed below:• a vision statement, defining your objectives,values and principles• a mission statement, describing what youare going to do and why you are going to do it• goals, the results you want to achieve in themedium to long-term• purposes, the means by which you will achieveyour goals and with what resources (inputs)• outputs, the measures to be achieved byimplementing strategies in pursuit of yourdefined objectives.Strategic planning will provide the foundation –as you improve your understanding of yourlocal environment, and explore opportunitiesfor partnership with regional stakeholders – fordetailed program planning. This is where youbegin to address critical management issuesrelated to resource allocation, deadlines,budgets, responsibilities and performance.Program planning is described in detail later inthe toolkit (see tool 16 Community Action Plans)and resourcing issues are discussed furtherin the Management Systems tool (tool 15).STEP 1Develop vision statementYour vision reflects your understanding ofthe ideal conditions for your communityor for the part your project plays in thecommunity, for example how things mightlook if community development wereperfectly addressed and there wereharmonious and mutually supportiverelationships between the mining companyand other sectors of the community. It isbest articulated and communicated througha vision statement.By developing a vision statement, you clarifyyour objectives, values and principles – firstfor yourself, and then for your team andorganization (see Table 10). Vision statementsshould generally be:• easily understood by members of thecommunity and shared by all teammembers• broad enough to include a diverse varietyof perspectives and based on anassessment of what is important to people• inspiring and uplifting to everyone involvedin your effort• easy to communicate – generally shortenough to fit on a T-shirt.Your vision statement should inspire yourpeople to dream. Your mission statementshould inspire them to action.86 Community Development Toolkit