Purpose is clear
Can you explain the decision, the questions and how participation will be used in plain language?
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Community Readiness Checklist
Check the conditions for useful participation before inviting people into an engagement process.
By Blaise Itabelo · Updated 26 September 2026
A practical guide for discussion and planning. Adapt it to the people, purpose and authority involved; it is not a validated assessment instrument.
A readiness checklist
Use these prompts together and revisit them as you learn. They are not a fixed sequence.
Authority is understood
Is someone accountable for acting on the findings? Are the limits of influence explicit?
Relationships are considered
Have you checked relevant history, trust and expectations with people who understand the context?
Access is planned
Are language, venue, timing, transport, digital access and other participation needs addressed?
Capacity is realistic
Do organisers and participants have the time, support and resources required? Do not place all responsibility on the community.
Follow-through is resourced
Is there a plan and owner for synthesis, decisions, communication and follow-up?
Illustrative application
What this can look like
Before a workshop, an organisation discovers that the proposed time excludes shift workers and that no decision owner can attend. It changes the format and clarifies ownership before issuing invitations.
This is a hypothetical planning example, not a claim about a client engagement.
A working note for your project
Copy these headings into your planning document. Record evidence and uncertainty, then agree who will follow up.
- Readiness area:
- Evidence of readiness:
- Gap or risk:
- Action and responsible person:
- Review date and decision to proceed:
Before acting: check who has contributed, what is still uncertain, and who has authority to make the next decision.
Connect the guide with practice
These prompts bring together common engagement and planning practices. They are offered as practical working guidance, without a claim that the underlying ideas are unique.