and list on the worksheet all of the existing resources the

community could tap to help them reach the vision:  What are

the strengths and best resources your community could draw on? 

Give the teams 15 minutes to complete the task.

Trainer Note: If participants have already done assets maps and/or

individual capacity inventories in their communities, either as part of

this workshop or earlier on, they should draw on that information as

well as any other knowledge they have about the resources available in

or to their communities.

B. Move around the room, encouraging and assisting teams as

needed. If time allows, poll the teams for a few examples of

resources they have identified.

STEP V. Selecting Best Strategies and

Approaches for the Project

(30 minutes)

A. Have the teams review their framework thus far and then pose

the next question:  Given these resources, how can we make our

vision happen?  Ask them to brainstorm all the possible ways

they might approach getting to the vision and list these as possible

strategies and opportunities in the space provided on their

worksheet. Allow approximately 10 minutes for this activity.

Trainer Note:  Encourage the teams to be as open and creative as

possible during the brainstorming. Sometimes a great strategy will grow

out of an idea that, at first, may seem a bit zany. If some teams seem to

be struggling to come up with ideas, have them join with another team

to share and solicit more ideas.

B. Ask the teams to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of

the various approaches and then select what they think is the

best strategy or set of strategies. (This may involve combining

and/or modifying some of the items on the list.)

C. Optional ranking exercise: If participants need more assistance

in deciding which are the best strategies, suggest they use a

decision matrix as a ranking tool. As needed, explain and guide

them through the method.

Trainer Note: Using the Ranking Worksheet Handout, help the teams

design a matrix modeled on the sample below. Obviously, the teams will

be working with limited information. The criteria listed in this matrix

are options for you to adapt as appropriate to your group. Once you

have settled on the criteria you want to use, determine a three point

scale for the ranking. (For example: 1= less acceptable, less sustainable,

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