COMMUNITY MOBILISATION
Definition
Community mobilization is a process of bringing people together for a desired
purpose as individuals or groups to plan, organise, participate and evaluated their
activities for self-reliance and sustainability
THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
Community mobilisation is the process through which action is stimulated by a
community itself or by others that is planned, carried out and evaluated by a country’s
individuals, groups and organisations on a participatory and sustained basis to improve
the health, hygiene and education levels so as to enhance the overall standard of living in
the community.
It can be viewed as a process which begins a dialogue among members of the community
to determine who, what and how issues are decided and also to provide an a venue for
everyone to participate in divisions of their life.
Community mobilisation is a dynamic pcs that involves plant actions to reach, influence,
enable and involve key segments of the community in order to collectively collection
environment that will effect positive behaviour and bring about desired social change
REQUIREMENTS
Community mobilization needs man analytical and supportive resources which are
internal and external as well.
Several of the resources are as follows ,
(i) Leadership.
(ii) Organisational capacity.
(iii) Communication channels
(iv) Assessment tools.
(v) Problem solving
(vi) Resource mobilization.
(vii) Administrative and operational management and skills.
IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
1. It facilitates work to be done
2. It brings people together.
3. People learn from each other.
4. People realise the need for collective effort.
5. Activities are sustained
6. It builds a sense of belonging.
7. It yields results in a short time.
METHODS OF COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND THEIR RELATIVE
ADVANTANGES AND DISADVANTAGES
METHOD ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
[Link] People understand the It may not be loud enough.
message,(cultural Need to be skilled in drumming
oriented) Deaf are left out
Quite affordable.
Information travels fast
Doesn’t discriminate.
2. Posters. If well placed the message Can be removed by rain and malicious
travels fast. people.
If left in position, it keeps If it bears writing, it can only help
reminding people literate people
3. Announcements People are sensitized. There may be language barriers.
Message is fast If the transmitters is not audible, the
message may not reach.
It is expensive.
The message may be distorted.
Letter Writing Attracts responsibility and Letter may not reach
respect Quite expensive
Gives the exact message There is tendency to forget.
Can be sorted and durable If one is illiterate, it becomes useless
Home Visiting Gives first-hand Very tiresome
information. Time consuming
It is affordable Some people may hide
One is sure the message is Some people may get uncooperative
delivered. Personal bias.
Mass Media Message travel fast Very expensive.
Message may reach
quickly. people may not be available
People may respond Some people don’t have access to
quickly. media.
Language barrier
There is no secrecy.
OPPORTUNITIES OF COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
They include the following:
1. Church gatherings
2. Club meeting
3. Social gathering eg wedding, introductions
4. Funerals
5. Political rarries or meetings
CHALLEGES OF COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
1. Peoples capacity to plan effectively, communicate and make appropriate delegation of
duties and responsibilities.
2. Timing (Short notice/seasons).
3. Being timely in carrying out activities.
4. Attitude of leadership and individuals towards development.
5. Political and religious biases.
6. Negative attitudes of same community members towards development
FACTORS THAT PROMOTE COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
1. Good leadership.
2. Motivation.
3. Internet.
4. Functional community organisation.
5. Appropriate communication i.e. understandable language
6. Good transport system e.g. good roads.
7. Stable security
FACTORS THAT HINDER COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
Un functional community organisations
Past bad experience
Corruption by leaders
Insecurity.
Rumours
Poor approach
Poor communication .e.g. language barrier.
Ethnic/religious conflicts.
Poor planning(competition of community activities)
Political bias i.e. political leaders may not be committed due to political differences.
PROBLEMS MET IN COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND THEIR POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS
PROBLEMS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
1. leaders not being supportive to programme /activity Awareness raising/sensitization and training,
2. People don’t keep time for meeting. Plan with them the suitable time.
3. Community members divided Find out about leadership
4. Religious/ political differences Raise more awareness and train leaders.
5. Transport too far and difficult Sensitive and educate community
6. Lack of trust and lack of credibility Write measures and use different media.
7. High expectations. Keeping update with promises (transparency).
Adequate sensitisation.
