The National Authority for Community Safety (hereinafter: the Authority) operates in local authorities across Israel to prevent violence, delinquency, and anti-social behavior as well as against drug and alcohol abuse. The Arab Population Team at the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute conducted a research-based consultation for the Authority’s Southern District, related to its activities among the Bedouin population in the Negev. The counselling was conducted in the course of 2022 as part of the evaluation study of the five-year socio-economic development plan for the Bedouin population in the Negev for 2017-2021. The goal of the consultation was to assist the Authority in improving its monitoring and measurement system in order to improve its ability to conduct a focused examination of the impact of its work on the target population.
This report presents two products. The first product provides a comprehensive look at the measurement approach used by the Authority and proposes an adapted outcome measurement system for the Bedouin population in the Negev. The report describes the measurement challenges facing the Authority and the potential benefit of adopting ongoing measurement as a professional management tool. In this context, the report proposes a comprehensive measurement approach based on an ecological perspective of the Authority’s activities. The report maps the Authority’s activities in four spheres of influence: the domestic sphere, the school sphere, the community sphere, and the locality sphere. It proposes that the status of the Bedouin localities in the Negev be examined in light of the core goals of the Authority by means of ‘heat maps’. These will enable assessment of the progress made toward the goals in each of the spheres by color representation of measurement data – from red (a sphere that is not managed as required – high risk level) to green (a well-managed sphere – low risk level). In addition, a conceptual framework which draws on collective efficacy is proposed, to enable a focused examination of the Authority’s activities and assess their outcomes.
The second product is a mapping of the Authority’s set of indicators for the Bedouin population in the Negev and the formulation of recommendations for its improvement. In this context, the report examines the diverse programs operated by the Authority in each of the four spheres of influence mentioned above. For each of the programs, the applicable indicators (where such indicators are defined) are reviewed and the study’s findings regarding the characterization of the activities carried out and optional channels of influence are presented. Based on these findings as well as on the theoretical and professional literature in this field, a critical examination of the quality of the applicable indicators is presented and fine-tuned indicators (improved indicators) as well as additional indicators (new indicators) are proposed.
In conclusion, four organizational arenas are reviewed which should be focused on to promote a workplan based on the study’s recommendations: The authority’s southern district (training of human capital); the community (public participation); the National Authority of Community Safety’s headquarters (development of a supporting outcome measurement system and language adaptation of the measurement tools); and the national arena (removing bureaucratic barriers and mobilizing political capital).
Citing Suggestion: Litmanovitz, Y., Majadlih, A., & Haran, D. (2023). Improvement and Modification of the Measurement System Used by the National Authority for Community Safety for the Bedouin Population in the Negev: Research-based Consultation for the National Authority for Community Safety (Southern District). RR-946-23. Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute. (Hebrew)