NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

91, Cadastral Zone, University Village, Nnamdi Azikiwe Express Way, Abuja .
DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES.
STUDENTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRACTICUM LOGBOOK

PART ONE:
(Student’s Details)

Name of Student: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matriculation Number: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Year of Study: ----------------------------- Centre ----------------------------------------------------

Programme: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Faculty: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Community Name: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Local Government Area: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

State: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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PART TWO:

 Project Name:

 Location:

 Start Date:

 End Date:

 Project Coordinator:

 Team Members:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The practicum log book section of DES303 is an important aspect of the course and
must be taken seriously. As you work through this log book, you are expected to
bring into play all you have learnt in the theoretical aspect of the course and make
impact in any community of your choice. Therefore, you must take note of the
various stages.

2. As you go through this section, there are various sections and each is designed to
make you carry out what is expected of you. You are therefore encouraged to follow
them step by step.

Project Objectives:
(Briefly outline the project goals and expected impact)

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Project Timeline:
(Start and end dates for major phases)

SECTION 1: ACTIVITY LOG

(Use this section to document key activities carried out in the project)

DATE ACTIVTY PATICIPANTS OUTCOME

DESCRIPTION /REMARKS

Action Items:
(Specify any next steps or follow-up actions needed)

SECTION 2: RESOURCE ALLOCATION

(Track all resources utilized for project execution)

Resource Name quantity Purpose status

Budget Notes:
(Keep track of financial allocations and expenditures)

SECTION 3: CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS

(Identify key challenges faced and resolutions implemented)

Challenges Action Taken Outcome

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Lessons Learned:

(Summarize key insights gained from overcoming challenges)

SECTION 4: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

(Record interactions with community members, events, and feedback)

Date Event/meeting Key discussion Feedback/impact

Stakeholder Contributions:

(List community and partner involvement)

SECTION 5: PROJECT EVALUATION & SUMMARY

(Reflect on the progress, achievements, and future outlook)

Major Achievements:

(Highlight key milestones accomplished)

Challenges & Adaptations:

(How did the project evolve?)

Future Recommendations:

(Suggested improvements for similar initiatives)

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PART THREE
(Brief notes on how to carry out a Community Development Project)

1. Needs Assessment:

To assess the needs of a community, you are expected to identify their key challenges and
opportunities. While you do that, you are to engage the residents and stakeholders, this assessment
will help prioritize actionable solutions that can sustainably improve quality of life in that
community.

2. Objectives:

The main objectives of this assessment include:

 Identifying critical community needs across healthcare, education, and water, Sanitation and
Hygiene (WASH).

 Gathering insights through surveys, interviews, and focus groups.

 Developing a structured Community Action Plan to address some of the identified challenges.

 Establishing partnerships and mobilizing resources for implementation.

3. Methodology

The needs assessment will follow a data-driven and participatory approach, involving the following
steps:

Step 1: Data Collection & Community Engagement

 Conduct survey to assess residents’ concerns, priorities, and suggestions.

 Host town hall meetings and/or focus group discussions with key community stakeholders.

 Gather information on existing resources, gaps, and infrastructure conditions.

Step 2: Analysis & Prioritization

 Evaluate survey results to determine top community priorities.

 Rank needs based on urgency, number of beneficiaries, feasibility, and long-term impact.

 Identify vulnerable groups requiring additional support (youth, elderly, women, persons with
disabilities).

Step 3: Action Plan Development

The action plan will include:

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  Goals: Establish specific and measurable development targets.

 Resources: Identify funding sources, partnerships, and community volunteers.

 Implementation Roadmap: Define timelines, roles, and execution strategies.

Step 4: Implementation & Monitoring

 Launch pilot projects addressing urgent needs.

 Ensure regular community updates to ensure transparency and engagement.

 Set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure impact.

4. Expected Outcomes

Upon successful completion, this needs assessment will:

 Provide clear data for informed decision-making.

 Strengthen community participation and leadership in development efforts.

 Enable strategic investment in priority areas.

5. Conclusion & Next Steps

With community collaboration, this assessment will pave the way for sustainable development. The
next steps involve finalizing survey design, engaging key stakeholders, and securing funding for
implementation

For Instance:
Week 1: Needs Assessment:

1. What are the two most pressing challenges facing this community now? (Focus can be on
their educational, health or water issues)
2. What efforts have they made to address the issues before now?
3. Why did the efforts fail?

Education
I. Are there schools nearby?
II. What problems do your children face in attending school?
III. What do you think can be done to address the identified problems?

Health
I. Where do your people go when they are sick?
II. How close or far in the nearest health centre?
III. What are the most common health problems in this community?

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Water and Sanitation
I. Where does the community get water from?
II. Do you consider the water clean and safe to drink?
III. How do people dispose of waste and sewage?

Others----

Week 2: Planning and Design:

For planning and design:

1. Identify the Needs

 Engage with community members to understand pressing issues.
 Conduct surveys, interviews, or community meetings to gather insights.

2. Define Goals and Objectives

 Set clear, achievable goals that align with the community’s needs.
 Establish measurable objectives to track progress.

3. Develop a Project Plan

 Outline activities, timelines, and responsibilities.
 Identify resources (financial, human, material) required for implementation.
 Consider risks and mitigation strategies.

4. Build Partnerships
 Collaborate with local organizations, businesses, and government bodies.
 Secure funding through grants, donations, or sponsorships.

5. Implement and Monitor Progress

 Execute planned activities while maintaining flexibility to adjust.
 Track impact using feedback loops and performance indicators.

6. Evaluate and Sustain

 Assess successes and areas for improvement.
 Create sustainability strategies to ensure long-term benefits

Example of Planning and Design:

1. What are your objectives on this project?

i.----------------------------------------
ii----------------------------------------
iii----------------------------------------
2. Which of the challenges do you think is most pressing?
3. Which of the challenges do you think can be tackled with the available limited resources?

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4. What is the specific intervention you are recommending?
5. What are the specific objectives of your project?
6. What activities will help you achieve your objectives?
7. Who will do what, and by when?
8. Are community members actively involved in the project?
9. If your answer is YES, in what ways are they involved?

Fill in the below implementation plan:

S/N TASK DURATION RESPONSIBL REQUIRED EXPECTED

E PERSON RESOURCES OUTCOME

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Sustainability Strategy:
1. Who will take ownership of the project after its completion?
2. Are community members trained or equipped to manage the project?
Week 3: Budgeting:
1. What resources do you need?
2. How much money do you think is required to tackle the challenge(s) that can be tackled
with the available limited resources?
3. Is the community willing to contribute some resources?
4. If your answer to question 3 is YES, what resources are they contributing?
5. For the remaining activity or items, fill in the following table:

S/N ACTICVITY/ ITEM COST PER REQUIRED TOTAL REMARKS

UNIT (In Naira) QUANTITY COST (In (Use this if
Naira) you have
additional
information
to share)
1.

2.

3.

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 4.

5.

6.

7.

GRAND TOTAL

Week 4: Implementation proper

Monitoring and Evaluation:

From the beginning to the end of the intervention, you keep answering these questions:

1. What are the objectives of the project?

2. What specific result or change do you want to see?

3. Are the planned activities giving you the expected outcome?

4. What indicators are you using to measure progress?

5. What feedback are you receiving from the community?

6. What impact did the project have on the community?