In reference to program of your choice, describe the cycle of community mobilization

Stage 1: Clear selection of community concerns
This is the initial stage where selection of community concerns is done. To ensure transparency and reliable selection of community concerns, focused group discussions or informative interviews can be conducted in the community. This will not just ensure transparency but it will also give reliable and current data on the real issues the community is facing. Involving the community in selecting the project will enhance full participation of community members as the key stakeholders of the project that is about to be implemented. (Global Communities, 2015)
Stage 2: Identify community entry point and map community priorities
Once the concerns of the community have been established, the next thing will be to find ways in which the community can be mobilized to create awareness on the intended project and also involve the community in mapping the most pressing concern. At this stage, targeting the most influential leaders in the community can play a big role in community mobilization. Information about these kinds of leaders can be obtained from the community members through a simple questionnaire. Like we can ask selected members of the community some of the leaders they turn to whenever they have a problem that need to be solved. These could be the most appropriate leaders to target because these are leaders that community trusts and passing your intention through them, high chances that the project will be accepted by the community is high. Once you identify the leaders and they are able to mobilize the community, the next thing would be to engage the community in mapping the most pressing issue among the many that have been highlighted. For this case we will assume that” lack of sustainable livelihood” has been prioritized as the most pressing issue that needs to be dealt with so as to improve the lives of the people in the community.

Stage 3: Organize community to form groups and elect group leaders/representative to coordinate the project
At this stage since we can’t work with the entire community, the community will be engaged in electing leaders of their own who will represent them throughout project planning, implementation and evaluation. First target groups for livelihood activities will be formed and then the groups will go ahead to elect their own representatives who will represent them. For the purpose of enhancing sustainability of the project after donor withdrawal, these leaders will actively participate in the project and ensure that they understand the full cycle of the project. This will give them an insight on how they will soldier on by ensuring that the livelihood project started in their community continues existing even after the external support has been withdrawn. They will be the eyes of their groups to guide them on ensuring that whatever activities that have been started to support their livelihoods continue existing and supporting them even in the years to come after the external support has been withdrawn.
Stage 4: Plan and implement project activities with community
Once the groups have been formed and group representatives have been identified, the next thing will be to plan with them on appropriate activities as far as livelihood is concerned. To avoid conflict from arising, no member of the community should feel left out; the livelihood activities being planned should therefore consider all target groups in the community and this should include the youths, women, men and people living with disabilities. Cultural and religion beliefs should also not be left out when designing livelihood activities for the groups. For instance, you cannot start pig raring as a livelihood activity in a Muslim community for it is against their religion belief. Each group will be allocated funds depending on the size of the group and their planned activities and the group representatives will be tasked to guide their group members through the activity implementation using the set guidelines. They representatives should ensure active participation of all group members and ensure that the activities are focused towards supporting their livelihoods.
Stage 5: Monitor and evaluate the project with the community.
After the livelihood activities for each group have been started, it is time then to monitor how the groups are faring on with their respective livelihood projects. This stage is important because it will enable the stakeholders to know whether the objectives of the project are being achieved or not. It is a stage where the project can be monitored and evaluated and then feedback of the evaluation is used to correct where things aren’t working well and reinforce that which is working so that the project can be successful. Also if sustainability has to be ensured, the group representatives together with their group members should be accountable as far as funds/income accountability for their various activities is concerned. Therefore monitoring and evaluating the project will ensure that there is no embezzlement of funds allocated for livelihood activities and it will also ensure that funds allocated has been used for the intended purposes and that all the funds are accounted for. It will also ensure that the profits being made is well accounted for and that it is benefiting all members of the respective groups.
Stage 6: Plan with the community how the project will be sustained
This is a stage where the external support withdraws from the community livelihood activities and group members are left to manage the livelihood projects by themselves. This can only be done once we are sure that the livelihood activities are well established and that members of the groups are able to rely on it as their livelihood income. The project must have started to support the livelihood of the group members. If it is poultry keeping or green house project, it has to be ensured that the return from the livelihood project is able to sustain the project and at the same time adequately support all the group members. External support can also be withdrawn when the members have acquired enough skills to run the project on their own. For instance, if it poultry keeping, the group should have mastered how to take care of poultry in terms of feeding them, treating them in case of an outbreak, reaching the market by themselves, being able to maintain/balance their financial records for the project among other things. Once they can do this without external support, then it is an indicator that they can fully sustain their project without external support.


REFERECES

1. Global Communities Partners for Good, (2015 April 15), Five Steps to Successful Community Engagement and Mobilization. Retrieved From:
https://www.globalcommunities.org/node/38087

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Smwenje answered the question on November 15, 2018 at 18:58