3.3.7  Identify the resources

This is the time when you have to consider what resources will be needed to complete your health project activities. Once you have clarified the tasks to be done and the sequence in which the tasks must be carried out, you should be able to calculate what resources you will need more accurately (Figure 3.4). The resources you need to carry out an action plan include: staff, accommodation, power, equipment and materials. Time, skill and information are also important to be considered in resource calculations. What all this usually means is money. Your budgets will summarise the monetary resources that you need in order to carry out your action plan (Table 3.4). You cannot prepare a budget until you have an action plan.

Figure 3.4  When setting out your budget you might want to plan for the costs of celebrating the achievement of your health goals. Or perhaps the cost of this will be donated by the community. (Photo: Last Ten Kilometres Project)
Table 3.4  Budget for training of model households.
Cost (birr)
People (salary)25 birr per day x 15 days x 2 Health Extension Workers750
Health education materials100
Transportation allowance 30 birr on average round trip x 2 Health Extension Workers 60
Refreshment 5 birr/day x 2 times x 2 Health Extension Workers20
Use of village hall30
Total cost960.00

  • Look again at Table 3.4, which sets out the budget for training model households. What will happen if the costs are greater than this?

  • All budgets should be provisional and you should be prepared to revise them. Most budgets also have an item for ‘contingencies’ (possible unforeseen events) that can be used if more money is needed.

3.3.6  Identify and sequence activities

3.3.8  Prepare action plans and schedules