Needs Assessment in Intervention Programs for Rural Development

This paper offers an essential and précis introduction to the subject matter: needs assessment and practice. It expounded the term needs assessment, and showed the indispensable nature of the process and why it must beundertaken for success of government or donor funded intervention and projects that have relevance to rural development in all sphere. The article also delved into germane subtopics as: when and why to conduct a needs assessment; methods to conducting a needs assessment; stages involved in carrying out needs assessment; and models of needs assessment. Italluded to the fact that needs assessments have impacted positively to the success of most agricultural development cum rural development projects, but advocated for it to be complemented with other relevant project management processes in light of present realities. The authors suggest that governments, project sponsors, development partners, and other relevant bodies make it obligatory for implementing agencies to conduct credible, verifiable, and inclusive needs assessment before releasing funds for Projects and intervention purposes.Keywords: Needs assessment, Intervention, Rural development, Technology needs, Training Need