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Background

All NRM boards in South Australia are involved in community engagement. This assists them to identify areas for improvement in resourcing, skills development, supply of equipment and governance in relation to NRM in their respective regions. If the Board has information on community NRM priorities, then the Board can utilise this in formulating their strategies. This information also contributes to a performance assessment of the Board and provides a baseline for monitoring and evaluation.

Our Role

Rural Solutions SA was contracted by DWLBC to develop the NRM Assessment Tool, with a specifc focus on measuring the capacity of communities to undertake future NRM programs. Using existing networks, suitable participants were identifed and invited to attend workshops. A number of four hour workshops were delivered across the region and specialised facilitation and observational skills were used to ensure the workshops collected reliable information.

Outcomes

The NRM Board received 360 Degree feedback on their performance as assessed by the community, environmental organisations and the Board themselves. This information was presented as a comprehensive, analytical report to the Board, which can be used as an indicator of areas for improvement. It also provides feedback that can be incorporated into the NRM Board’s overall planning. The Assessment process is a robust and structured way of achieving two way communication between the Board and community members as well as providing a benchmark for future assessments. It also stimulates ownership of the NRM agenda within the community; as NRM is a whole of community responsibility and not just the NRM Board’s responsibility. There is a commitment to do a follow up Assessment within two years to verify required improvements are on track.

Contact: Jason Downs

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