community mobilisation and participation

7/29/2019 Community Mobilisation and Participation

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Community Mobilisation and Participation


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Session Objectives

By the end of the session, participants should beable to:

Define the key terms: community mobilisation &community participation

Explain the importance of communityparticipation

List at least 3 channels of community

mobilisation Identify at least 4 challenges of community

participation


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Presentation outline

Definition of Key Concepts The concept of community participation

Major community mobilisation components

Importance of Community Participation Channels used in Community mobilisation

Participatory Methods

Challenges Principles of community Mobilisation


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Community Mobilisation Definition: Process of involving people to organise and

take action to achieve a common objective which will bebeneficial to them. For example, an NGO/CBO maymobilise women and political leaders in one communityto participate in a water and sanitation project.

People may be mobilised by community members, non-governmental organisations, or by local government

Mobilisation can occur at all levels: National

Regional

Community

Individual


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Community Participation

Cheap labour concept :-According to thisconcept, the community is considered to have

participated when it provides free, unskilled

labour for construction and provision of locally

available materials in the spirit of self-help. Labour contribution under duress (at times)

Usually community not involved in the thinking part

Lowers costs

People identification with project/system

Pride/Sustainability


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Community Participation Concept (cont.)Cost sharing concept

This concept advocates that community members makecontributions in cash or in kind towards the constructionand maintenance of the water and sanitation facilities.

It is assumed that if people are willing to invest part oftheir meagre resources in maintaining the facilities, forexample, to pay the hand pump mechanic, then theyvalue the facility and therefore are committed to keep itin good working order.

This concept has its advantages and disadvantages,these include:

Reduces strain on government resources;


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Community Participation Concept (cont.)

Not involved in the thinking part/decision making;

It does not guarantee sustainability of the installedwater or sanitation facility.


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Contractual Obligation Concept of Participation

This concept advocates for establishing a minimal localstructure to manage and maintain the system. It is basedon the assumption that the structure will be able togenerate and sustain local support.This structure isformalised through a contract which spells out the rolesand responsibilities of the different parties(e.g. the sub-county and the community.) Contract negotiations rarely involve the average village person -

leading to a decline in labour and cash contributions

Wins over local leadership hence legitimising the project;

Water

Local management structures

Immediate committee formation runs risk of missing out the bestor most representative people on committee


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Decision-making concept Community knows best their problems and priorities,

hence need to involve them;

Brings in new insights into community resourcespotential and constraints

Takes time, that is, too long, too costly!?

Requires skills in participatory planning/trainingapproaches

While the 3 are important, involvement in "thinking anddecision making is paramount


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Community Mobilisation

Major components

High level advocacy- obtaining high level commitment tothe program or cause is important. In community levelprojects this may mean convincing local chiefs orpoliticians, in a national campaign this may involve a

President and his cabinet

Organisational motivation and training - people involvedmust have adequate training and high level oforganisation to achieve the ends

Community-level communication- accessible andeffective communication must exist amongst the peoplein the community involved.


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Importance of Community Participation

Participation as an end in itself- it is a right forpeople to participate in making decisions whichdirectly affect their living conditions

Participation is a valuable learning process,

preparing people to deal successfully withproblems in other spheres of life

Participation makes a project more effective, bymaking the outputs conform better to the realneeds and aspirations of the people( e.g.technology, site, etc.)

Participation makes a project more efficient, bystimulating peoples willingness to invest theirown time and resources


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Methods used in Community Mobilisation

Mass media radio, Television

Print Media-Posters, leaflets, Newspapers, brochures

Person to Person - meetings, home visits

Traditional Mediamusic, dance and drama Campaigns

Participatory methods


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What are participatory methods? Participatory methods encourage the

participation of individuals in a group process,no matter what their age, sex, social class oreducational background.

They are useful for encouraging the participationof women (who in some cultures are reluctant toexpress their views or are unable to read and/or

writes.)

They are designed to build self-esteem and asense of responsibility for ones decisions


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They try to make the process of decision-making easyand fun.

Participants learn from each other and develop respect

for each others knowledge and skills

Participatory methods are based on principles of adult

education

They help people to feel more confident about

themselves and their ability to take action and make

improvements in their communities


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Common Participatory Tools for Water and

sanitation programs

Participatory mapping

Sanitation ladder

Safe Water Chain

Faecal Routes & Barriers

Transect walk

24 hour activity chart

Gender analysis tools (task,resource & time management

Story with a gap


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Challenges

Time constraints: Inadequate time for community

mobilisation Some components need more time e.g. sanitation and

community contribution

Some communities are too poor to meet some of the

critical requirements Inadequate follow up support to communities

Unwillingness of some communities to meet the criticalrequirements especially payment of contribution andsanitation improvement

Political influence especially in allocation of sources &meeting the critical requirements

Staff turn over


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Principles of Social Mobilisation

The following principles for social mobilisation are important for effectivemobilisation:

Start from where people are;

Work with the people and not for the people;

Respect the people and their cultural values and believe in their potential fordeveloping their own lives;

Talk the common language;

Go to people as learners and not as teachers;

Be humble, honest, dedicated, patient and sensitive;

Should maintain a simple and reasonable life style. Be one of or appear tobe seen as one of them, that is, identify yourself with the community;

Have the capacity and humility to withdraw as soon as people are ready tomanage their own affairs.


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Water collection from a deep well


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An improved pit latrine


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Hand washing after latrine use


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Drying rack

community mobilisation and participation

Documents