COMMUNITY LENS: Seeing Development Projects from the Community's lens
Before asking whether a project is technically successful, we should ask: What does this project look like from the community's side?
The framework we have been developing has 8 lenses:
People — Who are the people affected?
Rights — What rights, entitlements and protections do they have?
Land & Resources — What resources, land and livelihoods are involved?
Power — Who has influence and who does not?
Participation — Are people actually participating or simply being consulted?
Impact — What are the real benefits, risks and unintended consequences?
Governance — Who makes decisions, controls resources and provides oversight?
Grievance & Accountability — What happens when things go wrong?
For developers, safeguards/MEL teams, community liaison, and funders.