Over the past few years, SPARC BC has engaged in a wide range of
community indicator projects. In an effort to consolidate what we have
learned and share it with you, we have created Tools for Action: A resource
guide for designing community indicator projects (CIPs). In this publication
we address questions about how to design and implement a CIP in your
community, especially a CIP that is linked to the development of local action
strategies.

So what is a CIP? As a generic term, a CIP is a type of community-based
knowledge production project that engages community members and
leaders in an inclusive and democratic process of developing a set of
indicators that reflect important aspects of community life.
CIPs are indicator projects that are designed by and for people who live
in the same geographic area. They involve the public in the process of
formulating indicators and seek to engage them in local action strategies.
CIPs are diverse in terms of content and methodology, with specific projects
being tailored to the particular interests, needs, and concerns of the
community or region in question. They share in common a reporting
function that aims to integrate diverse data sets from multiple fields of
human activity and the natural environment for the purpose of creating a
holistic picture of the state of community life.

Ideally, the result of a CIP is strengthened social capital in the host
community, as well as to report and supporting media (TV, radio,
newspaper, etc.) that showcases salient features of the state of community
life. The data contained in CIP reports are typically used to inform policy
choices, to educate and engage citizens, to legitimate new action
programs, as well as to serve as a mechanism for measuring government
accountability.