Needs Assessment or Community Needs Analysis provides a method of assessing the total needs of a community of people: of that community, for that community and by that community.

Community needs assessment involves assessing the needs that people have in order to live in:

1. an ecologically sustainable environment
2. a community that maintains and develops viable social capital
3. a way that meets their own economic and financial requirements
4. a manner that permits political participation in decisions that affect themselves

Community needs assessment as a technique thus forms a part of an Ecologically Sustainable Community Economic Development (ESCED). It forms a first step in any project that aims to secure:

1. Ecological enhancement: minimising ecological impact or ameliorating any ecological damage
2. Social vitality: building a community that meets all the social and human needs of its members
3. Economic resilience: "shock-proofing" local "green" business enterprises as much as possible
4. Political participation in ways that ensure the participation of people in political decisions that affect them

Community needs assessment has especial usefulness in action-learning projects, and in ensuring that organisations meet green objectives of:

• social justice
• participatory democracy
• non-violent resolution of conflict
• ecologically-sustainable development

External links

• The Gaia Foundation of Australia (like its sister-organisations world-wide) requires needs assessment in the "dreaming stage" of any project.
• Needs Assessment "From Needs Assessment to Action", textbook on the subject of Needs Assessment.