The document summarizes a needs assessment and project planning process conducted with community groups in Cameroon. It describes training sessions where groups identified needs and selected micro-projects, including an additional school building in Noubou and grain storage facilities in Boula and Meri. The document outlines the vision, resources, goals, and budget/timeline planning for each project. It aims to build the groups' capacities to organize themselves and implement projects to meet community needs.

1. Report of Community/Group Needs Assessments
and Management of Micro-Projects
Mahoney, Joanna
Peace Corps Volunteer
Education/Development
B.P. 131
Maroua, Cameroon
Tel: 95 07 39 58
Email: joannalmahoney@gmail.com
November 2012
Introduction:
This project was launched to facilitate the start of a micro-project in order to build
the capacities of selected CIGs in three of Heifer’s target communities in the Far
North region. The initial phase of the project consisted of two one-day trainings.
The first day of training was a needs assessment in which the participants worked
together to identify the theme of their micro-project with the guidance of their
facilitator. During the second session the facilitator led the participants through the
beginning steps of project planning and implementation.
This is a pilot project for the collaboration between Heifer and Peace Corps to draw
upon the strengths of each organization in order to raise the living standards and
capacities of the target participants. Through this partnership Heifer can draw on
availability and knowledge of Peace Corps volunteers to build the level of work and
knowledge of their groups. Peace Corps volunteers, on the other hand, can take
advantage of Heifer’s network of groups, who are currently active and motivated.
This report will summarize the different activities that were executed and the
outcomes of the trainings.
Goal and Objectives:
General Goal
• The goal of this project is to give Heifer’s target groups the knowledge and
skills needed to organize themselves and their communities (when
applicable) to be able to take action in order to meet a collective need.
Objectives
• Have the participants identify their own needs from which a micro-project
can be drafted

2. • Have the participants think critically about the chosen micro-project and
how their lives will be impacted
• Have the participants collectively decide upon a course of action that will
lead to the completion of the chosen micro-project
Trainers:
The trainings were conducted by Joanna Mahoney, an Education Development Peace
Corps Volunteer.
Contents of Training Sessions
The training sessions were organized and present in the following manner:
Session 1: Needs Assessment and Micro-project selection
Community Analysis: A community/group analysis was conducted through an
interactive discussion with the group. Leading questions helped the group
investigate which necessary resources were already present in their
communities/groups and which were missing. In order to spur dialogue, we
used the community mapping activity, for every community except Meri.
Meri did not need the activity to engage in an interactive discussion. Also, the
groups were asked to identify successful activities and/or resources in their
communities could be built upon and reinforced.
Pair-wise Ranking: The pair-wise ranking tool was used to discern the
relative importance of the proposed micro-projects from which the highest
ranked project will become the focus of the subsequent meetings.
Analysis of Micro-project: The group must clarify the specifics of their
selected project. For example, in the case of a need for water, the group must
decide which type of water resources will meet their needs and is feasible
(forage vs. well). Finally, the group was asked to reflect and give an estimate
of the group/community contribution to the micro-project.
Session 2: Clarify vision, identify resources and create goal for Micro-
project
Clarify vision: The group was asked to imagine the future of their community
in regards to their selected micro-project. In a year what would their project
look like? This activity acted as a drawing board for the group to pull out
general ideas to use later in more specific activities.
Identify Resources: The group was asked to identify first local resources that
are available in the community. These could be materials, equipment,

3. knowledge, etc. Secondly, the group identified external partners who could
possibly support the group through financial, technical, or other means.
These organizations would be NGOs, governmental services, business,
individuals, etc.
Create a strategy: The group is asked to create one or more strategies to
achieve their vision with the resources that are available to them. This
activity pushes the group to find creative strategies to attain their goal given
the problems of scarce resources. If there are multiple strategies proposed,
the group will compare the advantages and disadvantages of each using
specific criteria to determine which the best strategy is.
Create Goals and Objectives: The group will create specific goals and
objectives for their micro-project. This activity is to restate the vision and
approach in regards to the desired outcome. The goals and objectives must
be realistic and precise.
Dates of Training Sessions and Review of Activities
Noubou– GIC Djoumaay/Cinadum/Djinandra/Wudmezle
-November 23rd, 2012 – Needs Assessment and Micro-project selection
56 participants were present at the session, half in the morning
representing the two new GICs that Heifer recently started working with and
half in the afternoon with the two more experienced GICs. This split was due
to the fact that Heifer consultants were in Noubou on the same day as our
trainings and we agreed to alternate GICs. The majority of GIC members were
women. The groups identified nine different needs as a result of the
community mapping activity, that were then ranked according to
importance.
COMMUNITY MAPPING ACTIVITY

4. The Pair-Wise Ranking tool was used as below to designate one
project:
PAIR-WISE RANKING
Water EE Electricit
y
Road/B
ri
Storag
e
ED Churc
h
Meet
Rm
Mouli
n
Water X x x X x x x x x
EE Water x x X x x x x X
Elect Elec Elec X x x x x x x
Road/Bridg
e
R/B R/B Elect x x x x x x
Storage Water EE* Elect R/B x x x x x
ED ED ED Elect R/B ED x x x x
Church Churc
h
Churc
h
Elect R/B Church Churc
h
x x x
Meeting
Rm
MR MR Elect R/B MR ED* Churc
h
x X
Moulin Moul Moul Elect R/B Moul ED* Churc
h
MR* x
*Close vote
The results of the Pair-Wise Ranking tool were as follows: 1-
Electricity, 2-Road/Bridge, 3-Church, 4-Education, 5-Meeting Room, 6-
Moulin, 7-Water, 8-Environmental Education, 9-Storage. The group decided
that an additional CES school building would be the focus of their micro-
project after considering other more ambition ideas and analyzing their
feasibility.
An additional CES building will help manage the overpopulated
classrooms and provide rooms for additional classes that cannot currently

5. exist due to the lack of separate classrooms. The additional classrooms will
help the community build their capacity by allowing their children to gain a
higher quality education.
-November 30, 2012 – Clarify vision, identify resources and create goal for
Micro-project
56 participants were present at the session. The group elaborated on
their vision of the selected project of the construction of an additional
building for the CES school. The group envisioned a structure much like the
preexisting classrooms that will be one individual building and be divided
into two classrooms.
BLUE PRINT OF CES SCHOOL
Capacity was not yet determined but a committee made of elected
members from the group will look into the cost and materials needed. The
objective of additional CES building is to allow for more classes to be taught
and to provide more space for the students who are currently overcrowded.
An extra CES building would benefit the entire community but will not be an
income generating activity. It will build capacity as it will help the children of
Noubou gain a better education.
The group identified local resources such as sand, rocks, gravel, labor
and technical knowledge. In regards to external resources the group named
Heifer International and US Embassy as potential financial backers.
A committee of management was chosen by the group to facilitate the
execution of the project. These individuals will meet with a technician who
can help the group expand the vision of the project in detailed fashion.
Through the creation of a budget and a better shaped vision the project can
begin to amass its contribution while searching for a partner to support the
missing materials and skills.
Finally the group conducted a seasonal calendar activity to better see
when the community’s work contribution could take place.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
W
C
W
C
6em
e
5em
e
4em
e
3em
e
FUTURE:
6,5

6. Cultive x x x x x x x
Recolt
e
x x x x x
Ecole x x x x x
Pluie x x x
The results of the seasonal calendar show that during the dry season
(November through April) the community is readily available to work on the
project. This information will be used to build the group’s dossier for their
micro-project.
A site visit was conducting at the end of the meeting to get a better
understanding of the location.
SITE VISIT
-Date TDB – Elaborate budget, work timeline and impact/goals for financing
proposal
The meeting will be held at the Heifer International office in Maroua.
Two representatives from the committee chosen to head the project will be
present along with a consultant, and PCV Joanna Mahoney to discuss the
budget and timeline for their micro-project. The GIC members will discuss
the different materials and tasks that could be provided by the community
(i.e. community contribution). Further the timeline for the different steps of
work will be discussed in order to maximize the GIC member’s availability
and also seasonal advantages for specific activities. The final budget and
timeline will be determined and attached to this report.
The GIC representatives will discuss specific questions in relation to
the Self-Help US Embassy grant proposal. The members explained the need
for an additional classroom building in Noubou due to the current lack of
classrooms. The additional school building would add two new classrooms to
the pre-existing four classrooms thus improving the education situation in

7. Noubou affecting the lives of its members’ children and also the greater
community.
In conclusion, the GICs will complete their United States Embassy Self-
Help Grant dossier. The application will be attached and ready for
submission after final approve from the group.
Boula– GIC Djoumahou
-November 14th, 2012 – Needs Assessment and Micro-project selection
18 participants were present at the session, the majority being
women. The groups identified six different needs as a result of the
community mapping activity.
COMMUNITY MAP
The Pair-Wise Ranking tool was used as below to designate one
project
Pair-wise Ranking

8. Restauran
t
Storage Moulin Champ Forage Animals
Restauran
t
x x x x x x
Storage Stock x x x x x
Moulin moulin Stockage x x x x
Champ Champ Champ Moulin x x x
Forage Forage forage Forage Champ X x
Animals animals animals Animals animals animals X
The results of the Pair-Wise Ranking tool were as follows: animals
fattening program, forage, community field, Moulin, storage, restaurant. After
analyzing each project, the group decided that a community granary to store
cereal (millet, corn, etc.) would be the focus of their micro-project. The
animal “fattening” would only be beneficial on the individual basis and
unsustainable, the forage is not imperative as there are forages already in
Boula (something that did come up in the community mapping but not in the
pair-wise ranking), and the community field and restaurant are income
generating activities that they can start on their own. In fact, we suggested
that the community field is something they do to complement the magasin de
stockage. Also, many villages have restaurants that begin with a women and
a hanger. That would be easily feasible for this GIC.
The community granary will be able to provide the group with a
means to safely store their cereals at harvest time as in the past a lack of
transport to markets had blocked their activities. They do not have a grand
market in Boula just two small markets. The granary will also provide an
income generating opportunity for the group, as they will be able to store
their stock until supply has dropped on the market and prices for their
products have risen and rent room to other in the community.
-November 24th, 2012 – Clarify vision, identify resources and create goal for
Micro-project
14 participants were present at the session. The group elaborated on
their vision of the selected project of the construction of a GIC granary that
will benefit the entire community. The group envisioned a structure in the
center of the community next to the church and school, which would store
cereal for both individuals and the group.
SITE VISIT

9. Capacity was not yet determined but discussed to be between 500 to
1000 sacs. A committee made of members from the group will manage the
granary. The objective of the granary is to provide an income generating
activity for the group as well as improve food security at the village level.
The group identified local resources such as sand, rocks, gravel, labor
and technical knowledge. In regards to external resources the group named
Heifer International and the US Embassy. A committee of management was
chosen by the group to facilitate the execution of the project. These
individuals will meet with a technician who can help the group expand the
vision of the project in detailed fashion. Through the creation of a budget and
a better shaped vision the project can begin to amass its contribution while
searching for a partner to support the missing materials and skills.
Finally the group conducted a seasonal calendar activity to better see
when the community’s work contribution could take place.
SEASONAL CALANDER
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Recol
t
X X X
Field
s
X X X X
Fetes X
BEST
TIME
X X X X

10. The results of the seasonal calendar show that during the dry season
(January through April) the community is readily available to work on the
project. This information will be used to build the group’s dossier for their
micro-project.
-Date TDB – Elaborate budget, work timeline and impact/goals for financing
proposal
The meeting will be held at the Heifer International office in Maroua.
Two representatives from the committee chosen to head the project will be
present along with a consultant, and PCV Joanna Mahoney to discuss the
budget and timeline for their micro-project. The GIC members will discuss
the different materials and tasks that could be provided by the community
(i.e. community contribution). Further the timeline for the different steps of
work will be discussed in order to maximize the GIC member’s availability
and also seasonal advantages for specific activities. The final budget and
timeline will be determined and attached to this report.
The GIC representatives will discuss specific questions in relation to
the Self-Help US Embassy grant proposal. The members explained the need
for a cereal storehouse in Boula due to the lack of storage. The storehouse
would raise the level of food security for the community and add to the CIGs
economic activities, thus improving the lives of its members and also the
greater community.
In conclusion, the GICs will complete their United States Embassy Self-
Help Grant dossier. The application will be attached and ready for
submission after final approve from the group.
Meri– GIC Tassermangay
-November 25th, 2012 – Needs Assessment and Micro-project selection
8 participants were present at the session, the majority being women.
The group identified four different needs, which were proposed as focuses of
a micro-project. The community mapping activity was not needed for this GIC
as they were already having an open discussion and the PCV Joanna Mahoney
is posted in this village and is very familiar with its layout. The Pair-Wise
Ranking tool was used as below to designate one project
PAIR-WISE RANKING
Water Grain Storage Moulin Women’s
Center
Water x X x x
Grain Storage Water X x x

11. Moulin Water Grain Storage x x
Women’s
Center
Water Grain Storage Moulin x
Final rankings: 1 – Water, 2 – Grain Storage. 3 – Moulin, 4- Women’s Center
The results of the Pair-Wise Ranking tool were as follows: water, grain
storage, Moulin and women’s center. After analyzing each project, the group
decided that a community granary to store cereal (millet, corn, etc.) would be
the focus of their micro-project. after considering other more ambition ideas.
The forage idea was shut down because the mayor indicated that there will
be a functioning chateau d’eau in March that will provide the community
with the adequate amount of water needed.
The community granary will be able to provide the group with a
means to safely store their cereals at harvest time. The current amount of
magasin de stockages is grossly inadequate to meet the needs of the
community. The granary will also provide an income generating opportunity
for the group, as they will be able to store their stock until supply has
dropped on the market and prices for their products have risen and rent
room to other in the community.
-November 28th, 2012 – Clarify vision, identify resources and create goal for
Micro-project
12 participants were present at the session. The group elaborated on
their vision of the selected project of the construction of a community
granary. The group envisioned a structure in the center of the community,
next to the grand market, which would store cereal for both individuals and
the group. Capacity was not yet determined but discussed to be between 500
to 1000 sacs. A committee made of members from the group will manage the
granary. The objective of the granary is to provide an income generating
activity for the group as well as improve food security at the village level.
The group identified local resources such as sand, rocks, gravel, labor
and technical knowledge. In regards to external resources the group named
Heifer International and the US Embassy.
A committee of management was chosen by the group to facilitate the
execution of the project. These individuals will meet with a technician who
can help the group expand the vision of the project in detailed fashion.
Through the creation of a budget and a better shaped vision the project can
begin to amass its contribution while searching for a partner to support the
missing materials and skills.
Finally thr group discussed the best time for the construction of the
project to take place. They specified that the rainy season might be a good
time because there will be water for the builders and materials. This
information will be used to build the group’s dossier for their micro-project.
-Date TDB – Elaborate budget, work timeline and impact/goals for financing

12. proposal
The meeting will be held at the Heifer International office in Maroua.
Two representatives from the committee chosen to head the project will be
present along with a consultant, and PCV Joanna Mahoney to discuss the
budget and timeline for their micro-project. The GIC members will discuss
the different materials and tasks that could be provided by the community
(i.e. community contribution). Further the timeline for the different steps of
work will be discussed in order to maximize the GIC member’s availability
and also seasonal advantages for specific activities. The final budget and
timeline will be determined and attached to this report.
The GIC representatives will discuss specific questions in relation to
the Self-Help US Embassy grant proposal. The members explained the need
for a cereal storehouse in Meri due to the lack of storage. The storehouse
would raise the level of food security for the community and add to the CIGs
economic activities, thus improving the lives of its members and also the
greater community. A meeting with the Mayor will take place in January to
get his approval. Mme Mambila went to see his approval in November but
was asked to come back in January.
In conclusion, the GICs will complete their United States Embassy Self-
Help Grant dossier. The application will be attached and ready for
submission after final approve from the group.