"The Community Mapping Handbook is based on the community mapping toolkit for community radios. The toolkit, developed by Raghu Mainali and Yadab Chapagain, is a practical and participatory resource designed for community radio program producers to better understand the needs, wants, and preferences of their target audience, particularly marginalized and underserved communities.
Through a clearly structured and stepwise process, the toolkit guides community radio program producers in receiving meaningful information and feedback from the broadcast community in the shortest possible time. It describes the process, methods, and materials required to carry out community mapping with the aim of finding answers to the following questions: Who are the most vulnerable people in the community? Where are they located? Why are these people especially affected by poverty? What are the problems, needs and wants of the most vulnerable people?
The logic and the methodology prescribed in the toolkit may also be used by any civil society organization and individual interested in identifying the core concerns of a community that they wish to serve. The handbook is designed to inspire community radio program producers and reporters to integrate the community mapping toolkit into their work. By doing so, they can better identify the needs and priorities of their broadcast communities, with a particular focus on amplifying the voices of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups." (About the handbook, page 1)