Community and Household Engagement

It is critical to engage with affected households about the process prior to fieldwork. This process provides an opportunity to explain why occupancy surveys are necessary, how the data will be used and what happens during the property transfer process.

Step 1: Meeting with community leaders / councilors

It can be useful to secure the support of local leaders and councilors for the process. At the start of the project the project manager or other senior team member from the housing authority should accompany the fieldwork team lead to meet with leaders and explain the process.

Step 2: Meeting with the community

Where possible, a community meeting should be held to inform residents about the enumeration process and to give them an opportunity to ask questions

Along with residents of the community, representatives from local government as well as local area committees should be in attendance to ensure participation and buy-in

Information must be provided about:

• The purpose of the survey,

• Expected timelines associated with fieldwork

• The organisations responsible for data collection and processing,

• The type of data will be collected.

Checklists and Fieldworker Support Documents

It is useful to provide a document checklist indicating which documents will be requested and photographed so that respondents can have these documents on hand during the enumeration.

A standard household document checklist is provided here Data Collection

A printed letter containing this information should be handed out during the community meeting. Community leaders and neighbours should be asked to give the letter to those who were not in attendance.

Step 3: Participation in the survey

When fieldworkers visit each property, they provide respondents with a printed letter on an official letterhead introducing the fieldworker, outlining the purpose of the survey, the type of data to be collected and documents that will be requested and photographed

The printed letter should be made available in the local language/s so that respondents understand the information contained therein.

An example of such a letter is provided under additional resources:

Fieldworkers need to take respondents through the contents of the letter and ensure that it is well understood.