Relative value
40
Population
Forest cover
Soil quality
Distant past
Recent past
Present
Future
Figure 5: Fictitious example of a trend line graph of population, forest cover, and soil
quality over time
TOOL: Community Visioning
Purpose: This tool can be adapted and used to establish a collection community vision based on existing
capacities. It can help establish realistic expectations and form the basis of setting specific goals and
action plans, monitoring progress, and re-evaluating priorities. It should involve a highly participatory
process to ensure representation of various perspectives.
Resource: Adapted from draft Asset-Based Community Development Facilitator’s Handbook (Mountain
Societies Development Support Programme, 2008) and Guide to Participatory Tools for Forest
Communities (CIFOR, 2006)
o
Facilitate an open discussion amongst a broad range of community members using the guiding
questions in Box 24. Small groups may help encourage active participation of groups such as
women and youth. Be encouraging and non-judgemental; there are no wrong answers. Responses
could be provided through acting, as audio narratives or illustrations, or recorded on pieces of
cardboard or chart paper.
What is your most positive image of the community in 5, 10, 20, or 50 years?
What changes would you most like to see?
What would you be doing?
What would your children be doing? What would their children be doing?
What role would you play in bringing about these changes?
What accomplishments would you be most proud of?
What would the village surroundings look like?
What role will the existing local institutions have played?
How would the local decision-making system be different?
Box 24: Key questions for discussion
o
o
o
Review the responses provided and ask for further thoughts. Identify potential clusters or themes.
Discuss how the topics could be represented in a collective community vision. What format would
be most appropriate and meaningful?
A potential follow-up process could involve discussion of specific plans to achieve the visions. This
could be presented as vision statements, targets or goals, and activities.