Local needs assessment
Assessing local needs is an important part of every Red Cross branch's responsibilities. Once the needs and resources of the area have been identified, Red Cross assistance is directed in accordance with those needs, and through this work it becomes possible to help those who are most in need of support.
Needs assessment at the local level produces critically important information that may not be available from other sources (such as statistics) without going out into the community. This information can be used not only to support operational planning, but also in emergency situations: what must be kept in mind when targeting aid in an emergency situation?
Needs assessment is carried out in two ways:
- Independently among the branch's volunteers
- Community-based, together with local people
There are various tools available that can be used for needs assessment. The tools are presented in the appendices, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The Methods and Tools section also includes a brief introduction to why needs are assessed (PowerPoint presentation, currently only available in Finnish).
From Needs to Action -tool:
How to initiate needs-based action locally
This is a practical, PowerPoint-format tool that can be used, for example, in a local action group or the branch's board, when the aim is to:
- reflect on what kind of help people in the area need
- plan new activities
- develop existing activities to better meet local needs.
The tool is being piloted during the summer and early autumn of 2026, and it will continue to be developed based on the trials. You are warmly welcome to try it at this stage in your own work. If you decide to try the tool, we would love to hear about your experiences (katriina.kuusela@redcross.fi).
We want to identify both the needs for support and the resources available in the area. The goal is to target Red Cross aid according to those needs, so that we can help those who need the aid the most.
The aim is to build a comprehensive picture of the wellbeing of the local community (risks and resources). Based on this, plans will be made on how the identified risks can be reduced and how the community can be supported in improving its wellbeing.
Why should needs also be mapped in a community-led way?
- A platform is created for local people to influence and to participate. The goal is for local people to feel that the activities are their own and that solving shared challenges is a shared concern.
- "Silent knowledge" becomes more visible.
- Regional cooperation between actors (e.g. organisations, parishes, authorities) increases, making the work more impactful!
Methods and tools for assessing the local needs are currently available only in Finnish.
- Avun tarpeista_toimintaan_pilotti 2026.pptx
- Vahvempi yhteisö - malli paikallisten tarpeiden arviointiin (powerpoint-esitys).pptx
- Työkalu: Infosivu.pdf
- Liite Infosivua varten.docx
- Työkalu: Verkostokartta.pdf
- Työkalu: Yhteisökokous.pdf
- Työkalu: Yhteisökävely.pdf
- Työkalu: Haastattelu.pdf
- Työkalu: Kysely ja sosiaalisen median hyödyntäminen.pdf
- Työkalu: Kausikalenteri.pdf
- Työkalu: Ongelmapuu.pdf
- Työkalu: Ratkaisupuu.pdf
- Kortit-suojelun-ja-moninaisten-tarpeiden-huomioimiseen.pdf
Links for finding information for the "Info Page":
- A database compiled in Oma Red Cross (for logged-in users) on the activities of the Red Cross based on event and activity reports. The information can be found at the bottom of the page after logging in.
- Statistical information on population health and welfare - Sotkanet: Home page - Sotkanet.fi, Statistics and Indicator Bank
- Paavo - key information on the population by postal code: Paavo – statistics by postal code area | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
- THL (extensive information on the social and health sector, for example, information on social assistance): Open data - THL
- You can also make use of the Finnish Red Cross's own "Local operating environment" information product (Local operating environment – Power BI), which compiles branch-specific information on deprivation from open data sources. Note! You can obtain the information concerning your branch from a district employee.
