community-based and territorial planning guide · community members support in order to gain...

CommunityCommunity--based and Territorial based and Territorial Planning GuidePlanning Guide

For the First Nations of Quebec and LabradorFor the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador

2

© CommunityCommunity--basedbased and Territorial planning guideand Territorial planning guide

First Nation of Quebec and Labrador Sustainable development Institute

250, Place Chef Michel-Laveau, bureau 101

Wendake, Québec, G0A 4V0

EDITING

Mona Belleau

REVISION

Sylvain Legault-Rankin, FNQLSDI

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Sylvain Legault-Rankin, FNQLSDI

Reproduction of this document for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden.On the other hand, reproduction for non-commercial purposes can be allowed with the specific authorization of the First Nation of Quebec and Labrador Sustainable development Institute.

33

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTIONUnderstand community-based and territorial planning 6What is the community-based and territorial planning 7

► What is the goal of the community-based and territorial planning ? 7► Why should we planning ? 10► Why it’s so important for the First Nation ? 10► What are the benefits of the community-based and territorial planning ? 11► Community-based and territorial planning prerequisites 12► Community-based and territorial planning obstacles 13

THE COMMUNITY-BASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGA process 14FIRST PHASE: THE PREPARATION 17

STEP 1: Assessing the current situation 18► What information provided during the preparation phase? 19► Hiring a planning coordinator 20► Creating of a planning committee 21► Convening of community members 23► Assess the community acceptability 23► Build a Workplan 24► Create a communication strategy 25► Identification of the procedure for the community to get involved 25► Gather background information 25

44

4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

► Sustainable development Analytical Grid 26► When can we proceed to the planning step ? 30

SECOND PHASE : THE PLANNING 31STEP 2: Create a vision statement and define values 32► Convening the community members at a retreat 34► Creating the vision statement 37

PHASE THREE : GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 40STEP 3: Settings up goals 41STEP 4: Settings up objectives 41

PHASE FOUR: IMPLEMENTAION, MONITORING AND EVALUATION 43STEP 5: Identify actions 44STEP 6: Implementing the plan 46STEP 7: Evaluate progress and results 48

SUMMARY 49GLOSSARY 50APPENDIX 1: Sustainable development Analytical GridAPPENDIX 2: Sustainable development Analytical Grid user’s guide

55

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONUnderstand community-based and territorial planning

66

6

The 7 steps of the The 7 steps of the communitycommunity--based and based and

territorial planningterritorial planning

1- Assessing the current situation

▼

2- Create a vision statement and define values

▼

3- Setting up goals

▼

4- Setting up objectives

▼

5- Identify actions

▼

6- Implementing the plan

▼

7- Evaluate progress and results

What is the communityWhat is the community--based and territorial planning?based and territorial planning?

A participatory process involving all members of a given community used to ascertain community sustainable development objectives that will best suit the needs and objectives effectively using all their resources for future generations. This plan states the Vision statement the community has acquired to reach its goals. This Vision statement must be in direct relation with the community's values, objectives, spirit, resources and capability. The Vision means that the community is looking towards the future not forgetting who they are and what the community wants to become.

What is the goal of the communityWhat is the goal of the community--based and territorial planningbased and territorial planning ? ?

The First Nations' life-style bears the mark of a long durability tradition, consisting in sharing and protecting Mother-Earth and its ecosystem so that it can support future generations. With an ancestral approach, where the process is lead by and for the community, community and territorial planning is comprised of all of life fields, including economy, environment (territory and resources) and social and cultural aspects, including governance, education and health. Community-based and territorial planning is a holistic process allowing a given community to set up procedures to achieve viability and self-sufficiency, and to build up its governance abilities. This approach allows putting up a Vision for the future and bringing to fruition the projects leading to that Vision.

Dissecting the expression community-based and territorial planning, to start with, we find the word planning, which consists in identifying specific objectives and implementing the proper means to reach them in the desired time-frame.

INTRODUCTION

77

7

The termThe term Community Community involved three thingsinvolved three things :

► That the plan comes from the community. This plan is not only the Chief's nor the Band Counsel's, rather it is all the community members' own.

► That the community appropriates the plan. Meaning that everyone accepted and understood community and territorial planning .

► That the plan inspires and motivates the community to better their life conditions.

Organizations and community

services

Chief

Band Council

Community members

Community-based planning

INTRODUCTION

88

8

Community-based and territorial planning is a means the community chooses to take, so that, all together, they can better their life conditions. It must therefore motivate each and everyone to work on it. It's a holistic way to work on betterment of life conditions for all community members. It is not a plan dictated by decision-makers that community members have to accept. It means working together in order to better the community together.

CommunityCommunity--based and territorial based and territorial planning must have the following planning must have the following characteristicscharacteristics ::

► A long-term project

► Well planned

► Encompassing and fair

► Integrated in the picture as a whole

► Backed by community members

► With the benefit of the community

► Rooted in the traditional way of life of First Nations

Decision-maker

Community members

INTRODUCTION

99

9

Why should we planningWhy should we planning ??

► Because change cannot be avoided. Even if we would like our community to remain always the same, that is impossible.

► Because accepting not to plan is accepting to not be ready to face challenges or to seize any opportunities to come.

► Because if the community doesn't know what they want, it remains vulnerable to being dictated actions that very well may not correspond to its needs.

► Because the community interacts with numerous organizations who have expectations. Fund providers ask for statements of charge and discharge and the community is accountable for them.

► To allow for a sustainable community development .

INTRODUCTION

Why itWhy it’’s so important for the First Nation?s so important for the First Nation?

► Because Community-based and territorial planning is deeply rooted in the First Nations traditional way of life .

► They have tremendous needs in resources.

► They have little access to property, and, for this very reason, a limited territory.

► They hold short time-span elections therefore needing more stability.

1010

10

What are the benefits of the communityWhat are the benefits of the community--based and territorial planning ?based and territorial planning ?

► Betters life quality.

► Brings positive changes to the community.

► Better effectiveness of the Band's administrative services.

► Allows for the community to gain a wider autonomy through decision-making, and by taking control of their destiny.

► Increases the community's action means and governance capacities.

► Protects the community's basic cultural values.

► States a clear Vision statement for the future.

► Clearly Identifies the path the community will follow to get to where they want to go.

► Develops community members' capacities.

► Maximize resources while making sure they are used in the most efficient possible way.

► Coordinates everyone's efforts, increasing their efficiency.

► Gives the community a sense of responsibility about thinking collectively on what is important for them, and acting towards a better life quality.

► Allows actions instead of adlibbing; therefore being proactive rather than being passive.

In short, CommunityIn short, Community--based and territorial planning allows the community to know whicbased and territorial planning allows the community to know which path they are taking, and what h path they are taking, and what

actions they must undertake to reach their goalsactions they must undertake to reach their goals ..

INTRODUCTION

1111

11

CommunityCommunity--based and territorial planning prerequisitesbased and territorial planning prerequisites

Before starting Community-based and territorial planning process, it's important to gain support from the members of the community and from their leaders so that the setting up takes place in a successful atmosphere. This support will allow for people to welcome this new way to work. Fully understanding what is Community-based and territorial planning is important for the members of the community so that they don't look at it suspiciously, but rather understands that they and the future generations will benefit from it. Support from the members of the community will also insure a greater participation throughout the process.

► Band Council and Chief support

These persons must agree to participate in the Plan's setting up. It's important not only to make sure they are aware the Plan is being set up, but also that they commit to be planning key-players. Without their consent, the Plan is bound to fail.

► Community members support

In order to gain support from the members of the community when setting up a Community-based and territorial planning, it's important for them to fully understand the aim, the process, how they can participate, the awaited outcomes, and all the other elements of a Community-based and territorial planning. Information must be widely spread throughout the process to make sure an early support doesn't switch to suspicion.

INTRODUCTION

1212

12

CommunityCommunity--based and territorial planning obstaclesbased and territorial planning obstacles

► The community is going through internal conflicts damaging its capacity to develop and to bring projects forward.

► The community doesn't think that giving time to setting up this process is important. The community will unfortunately choose to adlib instead of planning.

► The community believes they don't hold enough time, don't have enough resources and money to set up the Community-based and territorial planning.

► The biggest barrier to Community-based and territorial planning success is when it's not well understood by the members of the community and when they don't see any advantage in taking time to draw up the Community-based and territorial planning.

INTRODUCTION

In short, Community-based and territorial planning remains very accessible to all those who want to give some of their time for a better future for the community. All that's needed is to understand what is Community-based and territorial planning, and to be committing oneself thoroughly throughout the process.

1313

THE COMMUNITYTHE COMMUNITY--BASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGBASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGA process

1414

14

The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Approach in community-based and territorial planning aims at demystifying all the process of community-based and territorial planning. Since Community-based and territorial planning is complex and often new to First Nations communities, it's important to proceed by specific steps in order be the more efficient possible and to minimize any possibility of error. Community-based and territorial planning does not work in a linear way, rather in a circular way. We cannot think of a consistent Community-based and territorial planning if we don't stop to re-adjust as we go along the process.

A PROCESS

Planning

Feedback

Changes

1515

15

It's always essential to take feedback into account. If we don't, there's a risk of missing the goals that had been set, or else of not bringing to fruition a plan that, in the first place, was a consistent one, reflecting the community's need. Taking into account feedback requires flexibility and open-mindedness. We must be able to adjust at any time along the process.

In order to insure that the process runs smoothly, we need to proceed step by step. These steps must be well-defined to be well understood by everyone. By proceeding step by step, we minimize any possibility of errors or any confusion, and we allow for a readjustment if needed.

A PROCESS

CommunityCommunity--based and territorial planning includes 7 steps under based and territorial planning includes 7 steps under (4) four distinct phases(4) four distinct phases:

► The preparation phase

► The planning phase

► The identification of a development area phase

► The Implementation, monitoring and evaluation phase




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


1616

THE COMMUNITYTHE COMMUNITY--BASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGBASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGFirst Phase : THE PREPARATION

1717

17

Step 1Step 1 : Assessing the current situation: Assessing the current situation

During this phase, everything must be set up for the next phase to take place, which is the planning phase. The preparation phase is when the members of the community and the leaders are informed that a planning process is to start. It's mandatory to gain their support. Thereafter, the Planning Committee has to be set up, an evaluation to find out to what degree the community is open has to be carried out, and a work plan has to be developed.

Since support from the members of the community is fundamental to the good course of the Community-based and territorial planning, there are many ways to get that support. A referendum can be held if we really want support from a majority of people, or else a meeting can be held where people can speak out for or against the setting up of the planning process. Traditional or more creative ways can also be found to find out if the Community-based and territorial planning project gets support from the members of the community.

THE PREPARATION



1- Assessing the current Assessing the current situationsituation

▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


1818

18

What information provided during the preparation phase What information provided during the preparation phase ??

► Aim of planning► The process that will take place► The procedure for the community to get involved

As mentioned earlier, we must proceed step by step in order to always be aware of where we are at in all the planning process.

► Hiring planning coordinator► Creating a planning committee► Convening of community members► Assess the community acceptability► Build a Workplan► Create a communication strategy► Identification of the procedure for the community to get involved► Gather background information

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


INFORMATION INFORMATION is FUNDAMENTAL FUNDAMENTAL when at the PREPARATION PREPARATION phase

1919

19

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Hiring a planning coordinatorHiring a planning coordinator

The Coordinator is a person who :

► Has good leadership

► Has respect for the members of the community

► He will be in charge of submitting the idea of Community-based and territorial planning to the members of the community and to the leaders

► He will hold responsibility for the good course of the Plan and will have to work along with the Planning Committee to guide the planning process

► He must make sure that the members of the community support the project and maintain their interest in it

► Must be free for a long term commitment to work along with the Planning Committee, since he's in charge of maintaining interest of the members of the community

2020

20

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Creating of a planning committeeCreating of a planning committee

The Planning Committee must be comprised of: one (1) member of the Band Counsel, one (1) Band Counsel Employee's representative, a person from the community's social groups, and one (1) member of the community at large. The Planning Committee provides for broadcasting of information in the community. They are the channel of communication in the community, and the Committee largely executes most tasks related to the setting up of the planning process.

The Planning Committee executes the following tasks:

► Runs the planning process

► Determines the budget and the financing sources

► Carries out researches relevant to the setting up of the Community-based and territorial planning process

► Maintains communication with the community and makes sure they are well informed

► Looks for funders to obtain funding

► Collaborates with the different partners

► Updates and brushes up on the different documents the Committee broadcasts

► Is accountable to the community

2121

21

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Creating of a planning committeeCreating of a planning committee

After having set up the Working Committee, a working paper entitled Terms and References aimed at the members of the Committee has to be drafted. This document has to outline to the members of the Committee their role, mandate, responsibilities, etc., so that they fully understand what is asked of them. Transparency should characterize the Planning Committee throughout the process so that the community is aware that the Committee is working for a better life quality for all members of the community. The Planning Committee is to hold training sessions for Committee members. These training sessions aim at making sure that the Planning Committee is fully awe are of all the steps to go through. If needed, the Planning Committee can ask external resource person to help them with some of the steps of the planning.

At these sessions, we must make sure to:

► Explain the planning process

► Identify community organizations likely to participate in the drawing up of the Community-based and territorial planning

► Adapt the planning model to the specific needs of the community

► Put up a timetable

2222

22

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Convening of community membersConvening of community members

The Community-based and territorial planning Committee asks community residents to attend information sessions in order to generate interest and be sure that they fully understood the issues raised by planning. At these information sessions, the Coordinator should identify those who would be interested in being a member of the Planning Committee.

Assess the community acceptabilityAssess the community acceptability

How open the community is to planning depends on two (2) things :

► The open-mindedness of the members of the community

► Access for the community to the necessary resources to set up Community-based and territorial planning. These can be financial, administrative, personal.

ASSESS THE COMMUNTY ACCEPTABILITY EXAMPLEASSESS THE COMMUNTY ACCEPTABILITY EXAMPLE

BEHAVIOUR AVAILABLE RESOURCES OPENNESS DEGREE

Good + Many = Excellent

Disinterested + Many = Average

Apprehensive + Few = Unfavourable

With these few examples of community assessment, we can see how much these analysis elements are very interrelated. Even if a community is very favourable to set up Community-based and territorial planning, if there are few or no resources at all available, the community will have to solve the resources supply problem before starting the planning process. On the opposite, when a community has many resources but remains disinterested, there needs to be more mobilization around the project before undertaking the process. Even if the ideal conditions will be difficult to reach everywhere, it's important to keep a realistic attitude on how open the community is to planning, and to find a solution to the barriers before starting the Planning Phase.

2323

23

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Build a WorkplanBuild a Workplan

The work plan will be the Planning Committee's guide. The work plan must include the main factors that will determine what actions to undertake to bring to fruition the Community-based and territorial planning. Here are the main divisions of the work plan.

WORKPLAN

WORKING GROUP MANDAT

ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

ROLES AND RESPONSABILITIES

BUDGET

SCHEDULE

2424

24

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Create a communication strategyCreate a communication strategy

Since communications issues are very important throughout the community planning process, it is important to specify how the Planning Coordinator and the Planning Committee will contact community members. They will have to build strategies to broadcast the information in the right way to be sure everyone hears about how the whole process is progressing. Once these strategies identified, it will be important for the Committee and the Coordinator to respect these new ways to communicate with the population.

Identification of the conditions for the community to get involvIdentification of the conditions for the community to get involveded

It is important that the members of the community know that they can get involved at anytime during the process, and that it's actually important that they do. They can get involved through a work committee, discussion groups or any other appropriate involvement.

Gather background informationGather background information

Data collection consists in gathering all relevant data and other information about the community' past, present and future. The data needs to come from various sources in order to be sure that all sides of the community have been examined thoroughly. This is a crucial step of the planning phase because it determines on what the efforts will need to be concentrated when implementing Community-based and territorial planning. It is essential that the community is aware this data collection process is ongoing, since they can become important sources. They might for example hold archival records or historical knowledge that could be used for data analysis, which is the next step. Once again here, we must try to have the largest possible number of people getting involved at this step of the process. The widest range of sources we get, the more relevant the future action will be.

2525

25

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Sustainable development Analytical gridSustainable development Analytical grid

Before starting data collection, it must first be specified how this will be done. The main tool for data collection is the Sustainable Development Analysis Grid, available in the Appendix.

This grid as the following characteristics :

► A measuring instrument helping to favour sustainable development of the communities

► It helps diagnose the communities' sustainable development Vision

► Allows one who uses it to get a bigger picture of the community's many concerns and objectives

► Allows to evaluate links between the community's directions and sustainable development

► Can play a unifying role between the community's different role players

► Allows to reassert the basic objectives

► Allows to identify different paths to follow in order to reach sustainable development

► Facilitates the rise of mutual understanding in the community

2626

26

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


But the analysis grid is only one of the means that can be used to gather data. Other methods can also be used:

► Research ► Questionnaire► Interviews in private homes ► Visits in school classes► Visits at elders' ► Visits with focus groups► A confidential telephone line ► Suggestion box

These methodologies will allow the gathering of qualitative as well as quantitative data

There's also different ways to prompt people to take part in the data:

► Information meetings ► Word of mouth► Community radio advertisement ► Recruitment by the peers► Newspaper advertisement (anyone has to be► Press Release accompanied by another person )

The only limit in regards to the methodology chosen is the Planning Committee's sense of creativity. When collecting data, we must try to reach the largest number of organizations possible in order to get an accurate picture of the community.

Information Information is not only theory theory but has to be reliable!reliable!

2727

27

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


These are examples of questions that can help at this stageThese are examples of questions that can help at this stage ::

► What are the historical factors having an impact on today's community, either positive or negative ?

► What is the community members' statistical portrait ?

► What goes well in the community ?

► What are the community's strengths and weaknesses ?

► What are the community's opportunities ?

► What are the most urgent actions to take ?

► What major projects will be developed in the future, and what will be their impact on the population ?

► What are the barriers keeping the community from reaching the objectives ?

► What makes the community unique ?

► What relations can we develop at the local level? Regional? Provincial? With other communities of the Nation?

► What aspects of the community must be protected ?

2828

28

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


We must keep a strict record of all data collected in order to ease the work to come. After having the most accurate possible portrait of the community drawn up, it will be important to transfer the results in a document to be presented to the members of the community, to get feedback on the collected data. The document to be presented can be divided as follows:

► Introduction ► Sources

► Presentation of he work group ► Appendix

► Methodologies used ► Main data collected► Analysis grid► Other data

It isn't necessary to report everything in the Reference Document. A digest of the data can be done by highlighting the key elements, those that will really make a difference in the steps to come.

Here as in each step of the process, it's crucial that the information be made public and that all members of the community can speak out and be heard. So to ease transmission of the collected data, we can organize an information meeting where the Reference Document is handed out and where all members are invited to speak out.

2929

29

THE PREPARATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


When can we proceed to the planning step ?When can we proceed to the planning step ?

► When the community and their leaders have agreed to the process

► The Planning Committee is set up ( team and Planning Coordinator)

► The work plan is drawn up

► The communications strategies with the population are set up

► The conditions under which the community will get involved are known

3030

THE COMMUNITYTHE COMMUNITY--BASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGBASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGSecond Phase : THE PLANNING

3131

31

Step 2Step 2 : Create a vision statement and define values: Create a vision statement and define values

It is at this phase that we really start to plan. But before planning, we must hold the community's most accurate possible portrait in order to choose the actions to take. To do this, we must first find out what sources will be useful to get relevant data. Data collection will allow gathering of historical information as well as statistic, economic and others that will help getting to know the state of things in the community, its strengths, weaknesses, the challenges, etc. Once the community will have been examined thoroughly, the Vision the community wants to give themselves will be much clearer.

► Analyze the information gathered

► Convening the community members at a retreat

► Creating the vision statement

► Analyze the information gathered

THE PLANNING




▼

2- Create a vision statement Create a vision statement and define valuesand define values

▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


3232

32

Once the information is collected and organized, it's time go to the data analysing step. This step aims at having a very precise knowing of the community's strengths and weaknesses, the possible barriers, the maybe beneficial opportunities, and it allows identifying what needs to be rectified, improved, or maintained. It also helps understanding why some things are successful when others are not. Surprises can come up at this step, when unsuspected aspects of the community life can be brought out in the light.

In order to identify the strengths and weaknesses, we can use the ''onion peel'' method, where we start by identifying strengths and weaknesses at the local level, then regional, Nation-Wide (the Nation the community is part of), and finally at the provincial level. That same process can be used to shed the light on barriers, opportunities and others.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSESSTRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

THE PLANNING




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Niveau provincial

Niveau national

Niveau régional

Niveau local

3333

Local Level

Regional Level

Nation-Wide Level

Provincial Level

33

Convening the community members at a retreatConvening the community members at a retreat

Once the Planning Committee is set up, they must call on the members of the community to a join day away to set up the Working Group. The Working Group will have the task of developing the Vision propositions that the community chooses as a pathway for Community-based and territorial planning.

So that it is inclusive and that it portrays the interests of most people, it must be minimally comprised of :

► one (1) elder ► one (1) youth ► one (1) man ► one (1) woman► one (1) person from the business sector► one (1) person from a community organization► Band Council representatives► Services sector (health, education…)

It's important that the Work Group does not become a homogeneous group who would use this process as a means to reach their own specific needs, neglecting those of the community's largest numbers of persons. The Work Group will be dissolved and will not hold any active role in the rest of the planning after their task of drawing up a Vision statement will be done.

THE PLANNING




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


3434

34

To draw up a Vision, the members of the community must gather in meetings or in discussion groups to describe, depict, sketch, draw, paint or in any other way their Vision of the future for the community. Another option is to use pictures, drawings, cards or objects that people can identify and add up, assemble as collages or models. When the members of the community have expressed their views, the main themes and messages must be extracted. These reflect the values of the community.

Example of values :

► Rigor ► Honesty

► Integrity ► Transparency

► Cultural and language transmission ► Protection (development)

► Cooperation and communication ► Personal and social constitution of the territory

► Prosperity ► Accountability of the administration

► Security ► Education

► Autonomy ► Pride

► Preservation of the traditional language ► Health of the community

► The traditional way of life ► Recognition of persons

THE PLANNING




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


3535

35

In order to whip up people's creativity and imagination when taking part in the Vision development process, we can ask participants how they see the community 25 to 50 years from now.

Here are examples of questions:

In 25 to 50 years from now…

► What will our community be ?► What will be different and what will remain similar ?► How will we live with one another ?► What activities will we lead ?

You can also ask other kinds of questions like:

► What are the most precious traditions and basic principles we want to keep in the future ?► What memory do we wish to leave to future generations ?► If we could preserve only one aspect of our culture, what would it be ?► Will we still speak our mother tongue ?

THE PLANNING




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


3636

36

Creating the vision statementCreating the vision statement

Following the two (2) previous steps, as well as the day away, we should have a good idea of what characterizes the community. It is now time to draw up the Vision statement, which will ascertain the actions to take in the next steps.

Vision must be directly linked with:

► the aspirations ► the interests ► the values ► the dreams► the roots ► the potential

… of the community.

It is at this step that the Work Group will propose Vision statements. These will be presented to the community members for approval. Drawing up the Vision is a step requiring a lot of creativity and asks for the Work Group to ventures to propose statements reflecting the main conclusions drawn after the analysis and the day away. The statements have to bring the members of the community to look upon the past and present to identify what they want to become in the future.

In short, in the Vision statement, members of the community state their values and wishes, and depict what they want their community to look like one of these days. For Community-based and territorial planning purposes, it will be easier and realistic to go for a 25 years time-span.

THE PLANNING




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


3737

37

In the Vision statement, members of the community state their values and wishes, and depict what they want their community to look like one of these days. The Vision must be a daring portrait but still a realistic one for the community, not a dream that cannot be realized.

THE PLANNING

Aspirations Action of carrying one's desires towards an ideal.

Interest Frame of mind taking part in what it finds worth of interest, important.

Values What is true, nice, and good, according to a personal judgment more or less in relation with the general judgment of the era.

Dreams A build-up from a sleepless imagination, a thought looking to escape the constraints of reality.

Roots What makes the basis of one's identity.

Potential Capacity of action, production.

3838




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Aspirations

Roots

Dreams

Values

Interest

Potential

VISIONVISION

38

Vision must have the following characteristicsVision must have the following characteristics:

► Must provide for a main guideline for all the other actions to be taken in the future► Must run in the long-term► Must inspire and motivate the members► Must speak to everyone in an inclusive and proactive way► Has to be well-supported► Is responsible (that the process of developing the Vision is open and transparent)► Using tradition as a resource (draw on history and tradition to find ways to face the future)► Daring but realistic► Is concrete but remain unspecific

► Watch not to be abstract to the point of loosing sense of reality► Watch not to be too inflexible to the point of developing limits

When the community as a whole will agree on a Vision statement, we can move on to the next step, which is Phase Three.

THE PLANNING




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


The strength of the VisionThe strength of the Vision is that the community carries it, and that it strikes to them

3939

THE COMMUNITYTHE COMMUNITY--BASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGBASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGPhase Three: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

4040

40

Step 3Step 3 : Setting up goals :: Setting up goals :

The goals the community chooses follow from the Vision. They determine how the community will put up actions by identifying the priorities. Goal identification is very important for its way of finding out what we wish to reach.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES




▼


▼

3- Setting up goalsSetting up goals

▼

4- Setting up objectivesSetting up objectives

▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Step 4Step 4 : Setting up Objectives : : Setting up Objectives :

The objectives follow from the goals and specify even more what needs to be set up to turn the Vision into reality. One goal can have many objectives, as shown in the following table.

''Preventing Diabetes''''Do a better control of AIDS/HIV''

Short (less than five (5) years)

Specific assertion on a way to reach the goalObjective

''Improving community's health''Average (five (5) to ten (10) yearsGeneral assertion of one of the community's wishesGoal

EXAMPLEREACH IN TIMEDEFINITION

Vision ← Goals ← Objectives ← Actions4141

41

To set goals and objectives, begin with the main development area. Use the community’s vision, the values and the needs to steer the discussion.

To define the GOALSGOALS of the community in each of the development area , ask yourself:

► What do we want to accomplish in this area in the next 10 or 20 years ?

► How do our vision, values and needs guide our goals setting in this planning area ?

To define the OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES required to achieve the goal, for each goal ask yourself :

► What can we do to achieve this goal ?

► What are the separate objectives – how many actions must take place ?

When setting goals and objectives, you must know what the desired outcomes or results are. An outcome is a measurable change that occurs as a result of action taken to meet a goal and its objectives.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES




▼


▼

3- Setting up goalsSetting up goals

▼

4- Setting up objectivesSetting up objectives

▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼


Vision ← Goals ← Objectives ← Actions4242

THE COMMUNITYTHE COMMUNITY--BASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGBASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGPhase Four : IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND EVALUATION

4343

43

Step 5Step 5 : Identify actions: Identify actions

It is at this step that the actions are identified at the precedent step. If the precedent step was based on rather abstract notions, this step here is very concrete. The actions identification step is the step where we decide what has to be done to implement the Vision.

The identification of actions, as the name shows, will result in a series of actions to be carried out in the few following years. This step then becomes the reference point for a community wanting to develop in accordance with the Vision they drew up.

But before deciding what we want to carry out, the various already existing strategic development and action plans have to be searched to see how the actions that have been targeted in these documents can be integrated in the community planning. That is to say that community planning integrates the community's pre-existing plans, making a coherent and unifying document out of it.

IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND VALUATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actionsIdentify actions

▼


▼


4444

44

When these actions will be targeted, we must make sure they don't contradict one another or that they harm the success of another action. The different actions, even if they are specific, are interdependent and must therefore be seen as a whole. For example, an action that would aim at the economic development shouldn't harm an action concerning the community health sector. However, on the opposite, it is certainly possible to address many issues at once. For example, we could decide to preserve the culture by building a cultural center that could also be used as a tourist attraction boosting up in return the local economy. All issues cannot be solved in a few years. Accent must be put on the most critical issues for the community, but without loosing sight of the long run aspect. So we must ensure that the actions are consistent and realistic in order to reach the objectives, and mostly that they are in line with the Vision.

IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND EVALUATION




▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actionsIdentify actions

▼


▼


Strategic Development Plans Action Plans

Community-based and territorial planning

4545

45

Step 6Step 6 : Implementing the plan: Implementing the plan

This is the step where the objectives and the goals following up from the Vision get carried out. Since it's the step where the projects become a reality, it's the longest of all the steps. One must not think at this step that community planning is over with; on the contrary, it plays an integral part in the step. Thus it must be understood that the implementation of the plan is not an aim in itself, rather one of the steps, where the projects that are part of the Community-based and territorial planning process do get carried out. It's important that the members of the community remain active in the process at this step. They must not just leave the work to do in the hands of the Planning Coordinator or any other decision-making body part of the setting up of the community planning. They must be included in all the process, and of course, at this crucial step also. Concretely, they could be part of small work groups, committees or others.





▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼

6- Implementing the planImplementing the plan

▼


4646

46

In order to ensure that the implementation takes place in a consistent and harmonious way, it's important to set up work plans. A work plan has already been set up at the preparation Phase, but that one was covering all the community planning process. This time, the work plans will only deal with the implementation of the development plan that has been set out by the community members.

As it would be at any step of the process, it's normal to have to brush up on the work plans since new facts will come out. As soon as a project will be implemented, we must go to the next step, which is the assessment of progress achieved and results. This way, we always keep an eye on the progression of the projects. At this step, the Planning Coordinator and the Planning Committee together will have to identify the success indicators that will allow evaluating, at the next step, if the actions have been carried out successfully or if a corrective action has to be carried out so that the project gets done. These can be various and depend on the actions undertaken.





▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼

6- Implementing the planImplementing the plan

▼


Planning

Feedback

Changes

4747

47

Step 7Step 7 : Evaluate progress and results: Evaluate progress and results

To facilitate the assessment of the development plan's progress, the Coordinator and the Planning Committee have identified, at the precedent step, indicators measuring results as well as the timetable. As mentioned before when treating of the objective's conditions, these need to be measurable. If the objectives had been well identified, it will be easy to assess progress and results. At this step, we not only need to assess progress and results, but also keep the members of the community well informed about it. This way, they will quickly b able to value the benefit of the implementation of the development plan.

The committees, groups and others will each have to submit a report to the community mentioning the following information:

► Nature of the project

► Results

► Problems encountered

► The lessons drawn

► A list of all the persons who were involved in the project, directly or indirectly

► The time-frame

► The resources used





▼


▼

3- Setting up goals

▼


▼

5- Identify actions

▼


▼

7- Evaluate progress and Evaluate progress and resultsresults

4848

48

SUMMARY

As we have seen throughout this document, Community-based and territorial planning is a holistic approach requiring rigor and will. It represents the tool that will allow Aboriginal communities of Quebec and Labrador to improve their quality of life, by setting out a guideline allowing them to reach the objectives and goals they have chosen. In order to maximise the Community-based and territorial planning's potential, we must make sure we have support from the members of the community, from the Chief and from the Band Counsel. They need to be informed of the process undertaken, and of the results it generates. A step by step approach is mandatory for Community-based and territorial planning is often a new way to plan the future of the community. It is therefore necessary to become familiar to the process. This new process requires flexibility, mind-openness and solidarity within the community to be efficient. Community-based and territorial planning ensures those who use that process to reach their goals if the steps are followed. Community-based and territorial planning is therefore an extraordinary challenge to take up for all the community.

In short:

► You have to find what you have in common. (Your vision)

► You need to know what direction you go. (Your goals)

► You need to know how to get there. (Your objectives)

► You must each other along the path. (Your support)

4949

49

GLOSSARY

Aspiration: Action of carrying one's desires towards an ideal.

Autonomy : The right to self-governance, and for people to follow their own laws; the right for an individual to determine the rules to which he obeys.

Community : A social group of people living together or who have goods or interests in common.

Development : Allows for a progression.

Development areas : A major theme that follows from priorities and that comes in an implicit way.

Holistic : Related to holism, considers the object as a whole.

Ideal : The idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain.

Vision: The action of seeing; to represent in one's mind.

5050

THE COMMUNITYTHE COMMUNITY--BASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGBASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGAPPENDIX 1 : Sustainable development analytical grid

THE COMMUNITYTHE COMMUNITY--BASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGBASED AND TERRITORIAL PLANNINGAPPENDIX 2 : Sustainable development analytical grid user’s guide

community-based and territorial planning guide · community members support in order to gain...

Documents