COMMUNITY DIAGNOSING FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF BOLGATANGA AND BAWKU WEST DISTRICTS.

Abstract

This study sought to identify community groups that were operating with an- eco- nomic focus and to assess the potential for Technoserve (TNS) to initiate work with them. Women's groups engaged in shea-nut harvesting, selling, and shea butter extraction were targeted. Focus areas were: level of activity, potentials and constraints, income generating and livelihood activities. A combination of instruments, namely purposive sampling of communities, windshield survey, semi- structured interviews, focus group discussion, key informant interviews, and ob- servations to collect and analyse the data. The study revealed that: • Both men and women group exists in the Micro-enterprise Best Practice Pro- ject (MBP) area. Women in groups in the area are industrious but need ap- propriate training and financial support to handle large amounts of money and volume of business. • Income generation is an integral part of the economic and social system of the area. However, they are hardly integrated into a service system, which promotes and supports them • The study concludes that: Considerable income generating capacity exists in the area. However, the interacting constraints and risk factors require careful handling and tactful- ness. Socio-economic constraints emanate from their low level of entrepreneurial know-how and limited access to loans, limited off-farm activities, which underscore the need to increase options. • 20 Lecturer in the-Department of Environmental and Resources Studies, University forDevelopment Studies, Ghana 21 Dedicated to. his memory. He was a Lecturer in the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies, University for Development Studies, Ghana.