In some cases, research may just be not available. Suppose your project is about preventing human trafficking in your project area, but you may be surprised that there is absolutely no research data available about this. This can be very challenging.
In such a case, NGOs themselves can undertake a quick survey of the situation using a small checklist or a questionnaire. Direct interviews and group discussions can be held with the community and facts can be recorded. This exercise can be quoted as a valid source of information by the organization while writing the proposal. This exercise is also helpful in gathering community feedback about proposed solutions. This not only helps build community confidence, empowerment and ownership, but also gives lot of weight to the proposal.
Specific target
Another advantage of the framework to identify problems, causes and effects is that it also gives us an idea of the project beneficiaries or targeted audience. Specific targeted audience has to be identified and separated in any proposal. It gives a clear understanding for the donor and also for our targeted actions.
In our example proposal, we can identify the following targeted beneficiaries:
1) Unemployed and uneducated youths in villages
2) Men farmers from poor and disadvantaged groups
3) Vulnerable women