Community Mobilisation and Participation

Session Objectives
By the end of the session, participants should be able to: Define the key terms: community mobilisation & community participation Explain the importance of community participation 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

Community Mobilisation

Definition: Process of involving people to organise and take action to achieve a common objective which will be beneficial to them. For example, an NGO/CBO may mobilise women and political leaders in one community to participate in a water and sanitation project. People may be mobilised by community members, nongovernmental 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 this concept, 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

Community Participation Concept (cont.)

Cost sharing concept

This concept advocates that community members make contributions in cash or in kind towards the construction and maintenance of the water and sanitation facilities. It is assumed that if people are willing to invest part of their meagre resources in maintaining the facilities, for example, to pay the hand pump mechanic, then they value the facility and therefore are committed to keep it in 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
It

involved in the thinking part/decision making;

does not guarantee sustainability of the installed water or sanitation facility.

Community Participation Concept (cont.)

Contractual Obligation Concept of Participation This concept advocates for establishing a minimal local structure to manage and maintain the system. It is based on the assumption that the structure will be able to generate and sustain local support. This structure is formalised through a contract which spells out the roles and responsibilities of the different parties(e.g. the subcounty 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 best or most representative people on committee
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Community Participation Concept (cont.)

Decision-making concept Community knows best their problems and priorities, hence need to involve them; Brings in new insights into community resources potential and constraints Takes time, that is, too long, too costly!? Requires skills in participatory planning/training approaches

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

Community Mobilisation
Major components High level advocacy- obtaining high level commitment to the program or cause is important. In community level projects this may mean convincing local chiefs or politicians, in a national campaign this may involve a President and his cabinet

Organisational motivation and training - people involved must have adequate training and high level of organisation to achieve the ends Community-level communication- accessible and effective communication must exist amongst the people in the community involved.
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Importance of Community Participation

Participation as an end in itself- it is a right for people to participate in making decisions which directly affect their living conditions Participation is a valuable learning process, preparing people to deal successfully with problems in other spheres of life Participation makes a project more effective, by making the outputs conform better to the real needs and aspirations of the people( e.g. technology, site, etc.) Participation makes a project more efficient, by stimulating peoples willingness to invest their own 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 Media music, dance and drama Campaigns Participatory methods

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Participatory Methods What are participatory methods? Participatory methods encourage the participation of individuals in a group process, no matter what their age, sex, social class or educational background.

They are useful for encouraging the participation of women (who in some cultures are reluctant to express their views or are unable to read and/or writes.) They are designed to build self-esteem and a sense of responsibility for ones decisions
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Participatory Methods

They try to make the process of decision-making easy and 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 critical requirements especially payment of contribution and sanitation 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 effective mobilisation:

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 for developing 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 to be 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 to 17 manage their own affairs.

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

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