Mobilizing Communities for Mobilizing Communities for
Development and Social Change Development and Social Change
Save the Children USSave the Children US
What is community
mobilization?
Operational DefinitionOperational Definition
Community mobilization is a capacity-building
process through which community individuals,
groups, or organizations plan, carry out, and
evaluate activities on a participatory and
sustained basis to improve their health,
education, food security, etc, and other needs,
either on their own initiative or stimulated by
others.
Community Mobilization: Community Mobilization:
DefinitionsDefinitions
Community mobilization is not a
campaign, nor is it a series of
campaigns. It is a continual
and cumulative communic-
ational, educational and
organizational process that
produces a growing autonomy
and conscience.
Community Mobilization Community Mobilization
is not...is not...
Social mobilization
Community participation
Advocacy
Interpersonal communication
Although community mobilization may
utilize the above strategies, or may be
a strategy utilized by them, these
terms are not synonymous.
What is the difference
between community
mobilization and social
mobilization?
Social MobilizationSocial Mobilization
Social mobilization is a process
of bringing together all feasible
inter-sectoral partners and
allies to determine felt-needs
and raise awareness of, and
demand for, a particular
development objective.
(UNICEF)
Successful social mobilization
strategies have been one-time or
annual campaigns to solve one
problem (e.g. UNICEF’s EPI strategy
of the 1980s).
Maternal and neonatal health is
more complex and program
strategies are evolving. (e.g. Nepal
Safe Motherhood network).
Illustrative ‘Communication’ Illustrative ‘Communication’
ActivitiesActivities
Mass Media
42%
Community
Mobilization
36%
Interpersonal
Communication/
Counseling
22%
Why Community Mobilization?Why Community Mobilization?
Decentralization and democratization
require increased community level
decision-making
Communities have different needs and
problems, different cultures, beliefs and
practices--one message may not fit all
Builds mechanisms and systems to
sustain health improvements
Why Community Mobilization?Why Community Mobilization?
Brings additional resources that may not be Brings additional resources that may not be
available to health system aloneavailable to health system alone
Communities can apply political pressure to Communities can apply political pressure to
improve services. improve services.
Empowering CM approaches can strengthen Empowering CM approaches can strengthen
community members’ skills and capacity to community members’ skills and capacity to
address the underlying causes of health address the underlying causes of health
problems and reduce barriers to access of problems and reduce barriers to access of
information and services.information and services.
Why Community Mobilization?Why Community Mobilization?
Social structures and norms may need to Social structures and norms may need to
be changed if true access to information be changed if true access to information
and services is to be achieved by those and services is to be achieved by those
who need them most. CM can help to who need them most. CM can help to
facilitate these changes.facilitate these changes.
CM can increase community members’ CM can increase community members’
awareness of their right to decent awareness of their right to decent
treatment and can strengthen members’ treatment and can strengthen members’
ability to claim this right.ability to claim this right.
What is Community?
What is community?What is community?
Geographically definedGeographically defined
Shared interests, identity and/or Shared interests, identity and/or
characteristicscharacteristics
Shared resourcesShared resources
Consider using CM when Consider using CM when
and where….and where….
National IEC campaigns fail to reach pockets of
the country because access to mass media is
limited, language is different, etc.
Systemic changes are needed at community
level
Sustained community support is desired
Theme is too politically sensitive to be thrust of
a major national campaign
Consider using CM when Consider using CM when
and where….and where….
Settings are very diverse and local
solutions are required
Problem of individuals affects the rest of
the community
Communities themselves have identified a
health problem and request assistance
Community resources are required or
desirable
For the Group…..For the Group…..
What are some of the
important/key elements
of community
mobilization?
Key Elements of Key Elements of
Community MobilizationCommunity Mobilization
Human rights
Community
Health
Culture
Gender
Education
Communication
Leadership
Mobilization
Participation
Dialogue of
knowledge
Power
Equality
Citizenship
Ethics
Role of institutions
Collective action
Co-opted
Cooperating
Consulted
Collaborating
Co-learning
O
u
t s i d
e r C
o n
t r o l
S
u
s t a
i n
a
b
i l i t y
Dimensions of Community ParticipationDimensions of Community Participation
Adapted from: Andrea Cornwall, 1995, IDS
GETTING ORGANIZED
EXPLORING C.M.
FOCUS
& SETTING PRIORITIES
PLANNING TOGETHERCOMMUNITY ACTION
EVALUATING TOGETHER
Putting the strategies together--Putting the strategies together--
A Community Action CycleA Community Action Cycle
Preparing to
Mobilize
What skills do What skills do
“Mobilizers” need?“Mobilizers” need?
Understand and be able to apply learning and behavior
change principles and theories
Be politically, culturally and gender sensitive
Excellent communication skills-- LISTEN!
Facilitation skills; know and use appropriate
methods/techniques--Don’t “facipulate”
Technical knowledge of heath issue
Possess program design and management skills
Organizational development skills (group dynamics,
structures, etc.)
Be able to assess, support and build community
capacity/competency (organization, participation,
leadership, management, link to external orgs, etc.)
What roles can external What roles can external
organizations play in organizations play in
community mobilization?community mobilization?
Mobilizer: works directly with existing leaders and community groups
to stimulate action.
Organizer: forms new organizations or bring existing organizations
together in new ways around an issue.
Partner: may focus on capacity building of local organizations or
complement local organizations in a joint effort.
Liaison: links communities with resources, builds networks.
Advisor: provides assistance to communities who request specific
advice/technical expertise.
Advocate: supports community members efforts to obtain resources
or change policies.
Donor: provides funding to community to address health issue
Marketer: shares experience with others to expand CM
Community Mobilization Community Mobilization
Strategies and ApproachesStrategies and Approaches
Community OrganizingCommunity Organizing
Identify and work with existing
organizations and leaders.
Identify those most affected by issue.
If they are not already organized,
facilitate organization and work with
and through them.
Establish support groups.
Redefine community structures and
roles.
Community Organizing- Community Organizing-
cont’dcont’d
Organize community around:
•Critical incidents
•Common problem(s)/issue(s)
•Expressed needs
•Traditional community events
•General development activities
•Emergencies
Strength-Based Strength-Based
StrategiesStrategies
Appreciative Inquiry
- Discover (what is now)
- Dream (what might be)
- Design (what should be)
- Deliver (what will be)
Assets-based approaches
Strength-Based Strength-Based
StrategiesStrategies
“Positive Deviance”
(SC/Vietnam)
Identify those who practice
healthy behaviors and enlist
them to model positive
behaviors for others.
Participatory Research Participatory Research
& Evaluation& Evaluation
Rural Rapid Appraisal
Participatory Research & Assessment
Participatory Learning & Action
“Autodiagnosis”
Community participates in question
formulation, design of methods and
instruments, conduct, analysis of
research & evaluation.
Community Community
DevelopmentDevelopment
“C-BIRD”- community-based
integrated rural development
Institutional development
approaches
Partnering (joint agreements,
plans, etc.)
Leadership training (changing
concept)
Community Community
DevelopmentDevelopment
“Community Action Cycle”
(SC/Bolivia Warmi Project)
Autodiagnosis
Planning Together
Implementation
Participatory
Evaluation
Participatory Communication Participatory Communication
& Community-based Media& Community-based Media
Community members develop, design
and produce:
•Local radio shows
•Street theater, dramas, concerts
•Print materials (newspapers, educational
materials, booklets, comics, brochures...)
•Slide shows, videos
•Health fairs (“Lilac Tent”)
•Other (“talking drums”, town crier, etc.)
““Community Defined Quality”Community Defined Quality”
Community members work with
service providers to define and
improve quality of care.
(e.g. Peru “Building Bridges for
Quality” project, Save the
Children/Nepal CDQ project)
AdvocacyAdvocacy
Political action
Petitions
Lobbying
Demonstrations and rallies
Support of political candidates
Drafting of legislation or policy
proposals
Evaluating CM programsEvaluating CM programs
Current SC (JHU/PCS4) community
mobilization projects are
attempting to measure indicators
related to:
•Health outcomes
•Community competency/capacity
outcomes
•Linkages/relationships between
communities and service providers
CM “sticky issues”CM “sticky issues”
Varying opinions about what CM is and
how it should be done
Evaluation frameworks, indicators
Going to scale
Cost-effectiveness compared with
other approaches (goals and
objectives may not be comparable)
Donor support often not realistic (time
frames and resources)
More “sticky issues”More “sticky issues”
Ethical and political issues related
to equity and empowerment (cultural
biases, transparency, control, what is role
of external orgs.? etc.)
CM often not considered a technical
discipline
Emphasis on tools and methods
rather than comprehensive
approaches & philosophy
Key Element:
Community
Community is not merely a human space confined to a
defined territory. Communities today may be defined more
broadly in terms of common interests or characteristics, but
they are not homogenous and are likely to be full of conflict
and contradiction. Many people living in a community may
be excluded from decision-making processes and have
limited access to services and information. These
marginalized groups are often at greater risk of health
problems. They have the right and should be invited to
actively participate in community work to ensure that their
needs are addressed. It is important to respect and promote
a community’s autonomy, but this autonomy should not be
interpreted as isolation from the outside world.
Key Element:
Mobilization
Mobilization is always closer to interaction and
dialogue about knowledge than messages with which
one intends to change behaviors. Mobilization
cannot be confused with spontaneous and sporadic
impulses. Experience shows that in some cases it is
necessary to create new organizations in the
community to stimulate the mobilization process.
Mobilization is not a linear process; it has its peaks,
its highs and lows. Mobilization does not only seek
to resolve specific problems, but also to influence
local, regional and national policies.
Key Element:
Participation
Participation is not merely an instrument to more effectively
ensure compliance with reaching project objectives, but is a
right and a fundamental necessity of people and of
communities. Participation cannot be considered as merely a
strategy of health services to obtain the collaboration of the
population. Participation is an action of responsibility, of liberty
and self-determination. Participation is important in relation to
the group, but also as a democratic value. From participation,
one learns how to pass from co-management to self-
management. Participation can resolve conflicts, but it can also
generate them. One should not sanctify participation, it is not a
panacea nor is it indispensable for all occasions. It has to do
with passing from a representative democracy to a participatory
one.
Key Element:
Dialogue of Knowledge
Community mobilizers should recognize
the importance of both kinds of knowledge:
the scientific technical and the popular
traditional. Establishing a respectful
dialogue between the two can lead to
innovative and effective “new improved
practices” and broader understanding of
the rationale behind existing and
recommended actions.
More Definitions...
Approach: An approach is the course
to be followed, in a broad sense. Your
approach helps to define how you orient
your program. For example,
•Problem-posing
Appreciative, Strength-Based, Asset-
Based
Strategy: A strategy sets forth the
direction in which you move toward
achieving a specific goal. For example,
Organize and strengthen women’s groups.
Work with traditional healers to increase
community acceptance of condom use
Child-to-child promotion of healthy
practices
Methodology: “a set or system of
methods, principles, and rules used in a
given discipline, as in the arts or
sciences.” (Webster’s Dictionary) For
example,
•“4-D’s” of Appreciative Inquiry
Warmi’s “community action cycle”
Participatory Rural Appraisal
Methods:Methods are the techniques
and tools that you use in your program.
For example,
•Facilitated group discussion
Venn Diagram analysis of community
relationships
Socio-drama or role play
Activity: “a specific deed, action,
function, or sphere of action.” (Webster’s)
For example,
Train 50 Community Volunteer Health
workers in how to facilitate group meetings.
Community youth group will develop and
perform a drama depicting how HIV/AIDS
affects young people in the community.
Measuring a Group’s Social Measuring a Group’s Social
Standing and Capacity for Standing and Capacity for
Collective ActionCollective Action
Increased access to resources
Increased collective bargaining power
Improved status, self-esteem and cultural identity
The ability to reflect critically and solve problems
The ability to make choices
Recognition and response of people’s demand by
officials
Self-discipline and the ability to work with others
(Suzanne Kindervatter Non-formal education as an empowering process: case studies from
Indonesia and Thailand. Amherst: Center for International Education, University of
Massachusetts, 1979.)
Dimensions and Sub-Dimensions Dimensions and Sub-Dimensions
of Community Capacityof Community Capacity
Citizen participation that is characterized
by:
Strong participant base
Diverse network that enables different interests
to take collective action
Benefits overriding costs associated with
participation
Citizen involvement in defining and resolving
needs
Identifying and Defining the Dimensions of Community Capacity to Provide a Basis for
Measurement, Robert M. Goodman, Ph.D. et al., Health Education and Behavior, Vol.
25 (3): 258-278 (June 1998).
Leadership that is
characterized by:
Inclusion of formal and informal leaders
Providing direction and structure for participants
Encouraging participation from a diverse
network of community participants
Implementing procedures for ensuring
participation from all during group meetings and
events
Facilitating the sharing of information and
resources by participants and organizations
Goodman, et al (1998)
Leadership that is
characterized by:
Shaping and cultivating the development of
new leaders
A responsive and accessible style
The ability to focus on both task and
process details
Receptivity to prudent innovation and risk
taking
Connected-ness to other leaders
Goodman, et al (1998)
Skills that are characterized
by:
The ability to engage constructively in group
process, conflict resolution, collection and analysis
of assessment data, problem solving and program
planning, intervention design and implementation,
evaluation, resource mobilization, and policy and
media advocacy
The ability to resist opposing or undesirable
influences
The ability to attain an optimal level of resource
exchange (how much is being given and received)
Goodman, et al (1998)
Resources that are
characterized by:
Access and sharing of resources that are
both internal and external to a community
Social capital, (the ability to generate trust,
confidence, and cooperation)
The existence of communication channels
within and outside the community
Goodman, et al (1998)
Social and inter-organizational
networks that are characterized by:
Reciprocal links throughout the overall network
Frequent supportive interactions
Overlap with other networks within the
community
The ability to form new associations
Cooperative decision-making processes
Goodman, et al (1998)
Sense of community that is
characterized by:
High level of concern for community issues
Respect, generosity, and service to others
Sense of connection with the place and
people
Fulfillment of needs through membership
Goodman, et al (1998)
Understanding of community
history that is characterized by:
Awareness of important social, political,
and economic changes that have occurred
both recently or more distally
Awareness of the types of organizations,
community groups, and community
sectors that are present
Awareness of community standing relative
to other communities
Goodman, et al (1998)