Step 6: develop the action plan

Once the strategies of the project are determined, the project team can write the action plan. The action plan includes all the specific activities, large and small, that will need to be done to implement each of the strategies. It also says who will carry out these activities, when they will be completed and how they will be evaluated.

The more detail that is worked out for the strategies, the easier it will be to accurately identify all the activities to be done. If the project is large, with many stages, it may not be possible to detail all the specific activities at the beginning of the project. If the project objectives must occur in a special time sequence, wait for some early work in the project to be completed before working out the detail of the later phases.

Detailed documentation of the activities, responsibilities and time frames will assist each team member to plan his or her part of the project. Detailed documentation is also important for maintaining accountability within the team and between the team and the community or funding agency.

See the section 'Documenting the Project'

The action plan will also list the resources required to do the project successfully. Resources will be required throughout the whole project, from needs assessment through putting strategies into action to final report writing.

Resources can include human resources, financial resources, materials, equipment and venues.

Examples of resources

The best resources for a community health promotion project are those that come from the community or are developed by interested community residents. Projects carried out using a community development approach build on existing skills and support people to develop further skills.

If projects use human resources from outside the community all the time, community members may begin to feel that they have no resources of their own. Such an approach could be disempowering.

Use the resources of the community whenever possible. It will build community confidence, self-reliance and enthusiasm.

See the chapter 'Strategies for Health Promotion'

Questions to help identify resources

• Who can assist in putting the strategies into action?
• What skills are there in the community that can be drawn on and built upon?
• What venues or places need to be organised? Are they appropriate for the activities? Will people feel comfortable there?
• What equipment is needed? Is it in the community? Will the project team need to borrow or buy equipment?
• Do we need any money for the project? Can it be funded by the community council, community residents or health centre budget?
• Where will we get the education resources?
• What resources have worked well in the past with the target group?

Before proceeding

• Have all members of the project team been involved in developing the action plan?
• Are the activities achievable with the current resources (time, money, staffing, equipment, and so on)?
• Are the resources appropriate?
• Does the project use community residents' skills, knowledge and resources?
• Do people know what their responsibilities are?
• Are they confident, willing and able to carry them out?