ABSTRACT
Because projects are usually local, the data should also be local. To effectively plan and measure progress of the initiative, you will need relevant local information. This chapter covers forming partnerships to carry out data gathering for a community assessment and planning to address community needs. Partners and community members work together, sharing expertise and decisions. Collaboration can increase the number of ideas generated and the speed with which those ideas are refined. Collaboration also expands the number of social connections the group can tap into to help implement a community change. Finally, it can increase the energy to overcome resistance. This leads to joint ownership of information, solutions and new knowledge and capacity building. This process also leads to greater knowledge of the community issue and process knowledge as well. One form of research described in this chapter is Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR).
