Needs Assessment & Scale Planner

Name a need, screen it in about a minute, then build the plan only if it is worth building. Most assessments surface two to four candidates — do them one at a time and the tool will rank them against each other.

Keys: use more than one source of information and check what people tell you against what you observe in the field — then prioritize on Impact × Actionability.

Use this after your field visits. It covers steps 4 and 5 — identifying priorities and planning for scale. Steps 1 to 3 are fieldwork, and no tool can do them for you.

A saved draft was restored. Start fresh instead

Priorities assessed so far

Clear list

1. What is the need or opportunity?

One at a time. Name the cause rather than the symptom — “calves are dying in the first month” is a symptom; “calves are not getting colostrum in time” is something you can act on.

The need or opportunity

2. Screen it

Four judgements about the need you just named. No more typing.

Impact if addressed Select… High Moderate Low

Actionability Select… High — a practical solution farmers can realistically try Moderate — possible, but there are constraints Low — no practical solution, or major barriers

Farmer interest Select… High Moderate / uncertain Low

Confident you understand the true cause? Select… Yes Partly / needs checking No

3. What is this based on?

Strong assessments use several sources and check what people say against what you see.

Tick everything you have actually done

Talked with farmers Visited fields, herds or farm operations Consulted extension workers or local experts Reviewed secondary data or existing reports Checked markets, services and input access Considered women, men and other relevant groups

4. Is there a pathway to scale?

Think past the pilot: who would keep delivering this, and with what support?

Delivery system readiness Select… High — capable actors and incentives already exist Moderate — some capacity or partnerships need strengthening Low — delivery pathway is weak or unclear

Inputs, services and market support Select… Generally available Partly available / uneven Major gaps

Assess this priority Reset

Assessment

Build the plan Save and assess another need

5. Build the plan

Leave anything blank and it will show as “to be defined” in the summary — a gap you can see is more useful than a gap you have hidden.

Target farmers / audience

Location / production system

Practical solution

Farmers need to KNOW

Farmers need to HAVE

Who could deliver or support this?

Who could deliver it at larger scale?

What would show progress?

Generate summary

Planning summary

Print / save Copy summary Edit

A planning aid, not a substitute for field judgement. Revisit priorities as new evidence emerges.

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