Overview
Advocacy Communication and Social mobilization, a key strategy for increasing demand for and use of health and other essential services, is a process that helps communities to identify their own needs and to respond to and address these needs. Gaining the participation of community members can help providers raise awareness both of health issues at the community level and of social and cultural issues that may promote or inhibit use of information and services, as well as improve clients’ understanding of the methods or services being offered. Specific barriers to service access and use can be addressed and service utilization increased. Social mobilization is important in linking health institutions and structures to communities, fostering greater access to and equity in health care. Social mobilization promotes consideration of the needs of specific populations and localities. In particular, underserved populations, such as youth and men, can be reached more effectively through Social mobilization. Mobilization also leads to greater sustainability, as communities are empowered and capable of addressing their own needs. A number of studies show a sense of ownership is crucial in building sustainability.
Advocacy
Advocacy in all its forms seeks to ensure that people, particularly those who are most vulnerable in society, are able to:
- Have their voice heard on issues that are important to them.
- Defend and safeguard their rights.
- Have their views and wishes genuinely considered when decisions are being made about their lives.
Advocacy is a process of supporting and enabling people to:
- Express their views and concerns.
- Access information and services.
- Defend and promote their rights and responsibilities.
- Explore choices and options
An advocate is someone who provides advocacy support when you need it. An advocate might help you access information you need or go with you to meetings or interviews, in a supportive role.
Communication
The communication aspect of ACSM is about more than just exchanging information. It’s about understanding the emotion and intentions behind the information. Effective communication is a two-way street. It’s not only how you convey a message so that it is received and understood by someone in exactly the way you intended, it’s also how you listen to gain the full meaning of what’s being said and to make the other person feel heard and understood. In community social work, we are too fast at making conclusion without feedback, anyway this is not far too fetch as most organizations are eager to report to donors.
Social Mobilization
Social mobilization is defined as “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 and other needs, either on their own initiative or stimulated by others.
In Social mobilization, Communities lead or participate in all stages, from start to finish. With Social mobilization, the role of the implementing agency shifts from a more traditional one of teacher/advisor/leader to that of facilitator. Agencies facilitating Social mobilization should guide communities through a step-by-step process that includes:
1) A big-picture assessment of the community issues, needs, and resources;
2) Community exploration of issues and priority-setting;
3) Community action planning;
4) Implementation of community action plans
5) Monitoring and Evaluation of Social mobilization.
Approaches such as participatory learning and action (PLA) can be used in the mobilization process. PLA is a Social development approach whereby facilitators work with communities to help them analyze their needs, identify solutions, and develop and implement action plans. Participatory processes are used not just for assessment purposes but also for follow-on mobilization and action. Lift Up Care Foundation (LUCAF) on several occasion have successfully undertaken Social mobilization interventions in several places. For example, in Ankpa and Lokoja LGAs (Abache, Amoke, Enabo, Emere, Angwan Kura, Angwan Rimi, Angwan Pawa, Adankolo, Cantonment, Ikanekpo, Kabawa, Karaworo, Madabo, and Sarikin Noma communities) of Kogi State. Lift Up Care Foundation has a pilot VC project to improve the well-being of Vulnerable Children and their Household through improved systems and structures. The project has its specific objective as thus:
- To improve the Systems and Structures at Ankpa and Lokoja Local Government level in providing responsive quality care, protection and support services for vulnerable children (VC) and their households.
- To facilitate access of vulnerable children and their Households in Ankpa and Lokoja LGAs to integrated VC services for their wellbeing.
- To strengthen the capacity of Vulnerable Households to access appropriate Household Economic Strengthening and Nutrition services.
Lift Up Care Foundation activities in Ankpa and Lokoja LGAs include: The project started with a “community entry” process of meeting with leaders and major stakeholders to explain the goal and the objectives to obtain their support. It includes compiling a brief assessment of the community and basic demographic data to prepare a community profile. A larger community meeting/sensitization was held to introduce, enlist the support of the community for the project and to work with the community leaders/gatekeepers to select dedicated and committed members of the community to serve as the community-based Volunteers of which some were selected to serve as Volunteer Coordinators in the selected communities.
Advocacy kits were developed to provide information and statistics about the VC challenges in Kogi State with emphases on Ankpa and Lokoja Local Government Areas with the aim of influencing government policies for increased commitment and investment in addressing the VC burden in State.
Programmatic Considerations
Social mobilization activities should strengthen and develop referrals and linkages with services. It is important to meet increased demand with supply. The Social mobilization process can raise expectations as well as create demand for health services; if facilities do not have the capacity to cope with demand, this can create discouragement and disenchantment. Gaining donor support and partnership in the process is critical. Projects have been able to balance Social and donor needs by assuring that Social mobilization goals and efforts are consistent with strategic objectives and are directed at achieving the same results as donors. In terms of demonstrating results, indicators for monitoring and evaluating Social mobilization tend to be process-focused rather than impact-focused. Programs often face the challenge of demonstrating the value and results of Social capacity building.
Social mobilization and participation projects do not follow a “one size fits all” model—each scale-up area requires a local adaptation of processes and methods. Strategically linking Social mobilization with marketing and promotion activities can have increased effect.
Takeaway Lessons or Recommendations
- Allow adequate time for the process.
- Define who participates and how.
- Recruit effective leaders, Social representatives, and volunteers.
- Have skilled facilitators/staffs.
- Understand sociocultural context.
- Use culturally accepted methodologies.
- Develop Social mobilization activities in the context of larger social reforms.
- Accommodate unanticipated consequences.
- Demonstrate mutual respect and nonhierarchical relationships.
- Where possible, work with established networks, drawing on existing local-level associations.
- To optimize mobilization, involve local service providers and Social representatives in collecting information, analyzing information, and advocating the method or service.
Compiled by:
IDRIS OZOVEHE MURAINA
Program Manager
LUCAF Head Office, Lokoja
07063797550
