AEX001 Module 7-8 Community Organizing PDF

# Module 7: Community Organizing ## What I Need to Know 1. Explain Community Organizing and its principles and steps; and 2. Apply the steps in Community Organizing. ## Lesson 1: Introduction to Community Organizing **Community** is a social organization that is territorially localized and through...

# Module 7: Community Organizing ## What I Need to Know 1. Explain Community Organizing and its principles and steps; and 2. Apply the steps in Community Organizing. ## Lesson 1: Introduction to Community Organizing **Community** is a social organization that is territorially localized and through which its members satisfy most of their daily needs and deal with most of their common problems (Olsen as cited by Panopoi, et al. 1994). **Community organizing** is a process by which a community identifies its needs and objectives, develops the confidence to act in respect to them, and in so doing extends and develops cooperative and collaborative attitudes and practices in the community (Ross as cited by Batistiana & Murphy, 1996). It is a collective, participatory, transformative, liberative, sustained, and systematic process of building people's organizations by mobilizing and enhancing capabilities and resources of the people for the resolution of their issues and concerns towards effecting change in their existing and oppressive exploitative conditions (Batistiana & Murphy, 1996). ## What are the Goals/Aims of Community Organizing (CO)? 1. **People empowerment** is achieving effective power for the people. 2. **Building relatively permanent structures and People's Organization** is establishing and sustaining relatively permanent organizational structures which best serve the needs and aspirations of the people to ensure maximum people participate. 3. **Improved quality of life** is securing short- and long-term improvements to the quality of life of the people. **People empowerment** is the process of releasing the potentials of the people through appropriate programs, services and strategies, removing blocks that deter their growth and development and accessing them for the enhancement of their highest capabilities that they would be freed from the fetters of poverty, ignorance, oppression, social injustice and fear to stand up for their rights and pursuits for happiness as a member of a free just society (Agrinela Nemida Miclat/ Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement). ## What are the Phases of Community Organizing? **First Phase: Pre People's Organization (PO) Formation** This phase is to be concluded in six months to one-and-a-half years. This is the initial period which aims to create understanding on the importance of collective action, reflect on the formation of POs and identification of qualified leaders among themselves. **Second Phase: PO formation and consolidation** This phase needs to be completed within two to three-and-a-half years. During this phase, the community with the assistance of the CO creates all systems necessary for the formation of CO. Member gains skills to enhance the capability of their PO. **Third Phase: Preparation towards PO self-reliance and autonomy** This phase will be done within six months to one year. This is the phase when the PO is trained to be on its own. **Community Organizer** is a vital person in facilitating the whole community organizing process. He/She should have: 1. An understanding of development theories and concepts and process of community organizing; 2. Good social and community relation skills to promote social integration in community; 3. An ability to work with other teams of professionals; 4. The knowledge and skills to enable communities to access specialized technical assistance when this is needed; 5. Sensitivity to the local culture; and gender-sensitivity. ## What are the Purposes of Community Organizations? 1. To enable communities to become more aware of their situation and their environment and to realize their collective abilities and responsibility to manage themselves and environment in a sustainable manner; 2. To provide opportunity for participation of men and women in decisions and actions that will affect their lives, thus developing a sense of ownership and collective responsibility for such decision and actions; 3. To strengthen community **capacity** to access internal and external funds to support viable and sustainable socio-economic projects; 4. To enable community to link and form alliances for advocacy and technology sharing; and; 5. To build and sustain permanent organizational structure for resources management. ## Factors contributing to successful community organizing 1. Presence of knowledgeable and committed change agent/development worker/organizer who can assist and provide guidance to the affected sector or group in the participatory process of effecting or achieving the desired changes; 2. Existence of a functional community-based organization; 3. Local leaders, volunteers, and civic workers who serve as mediator and coordinator between people and assist agencies in initiating processes to help people help themselves; 4. Education and training for local leaders and the people for increased awareness understanding of the program, which may bring the desired change; 5. Common aspiration and social status among people. Goal of the community or the organization is geared towards economic development; and 6. Clear understanding of the program objectives and the benefits that can be derived from the introduced changes by the people . # Lesson 2: Steps in Community Organizing ## How to conduct Community Organizing? | Steps | Purpose | Component Activities | |---|---|---| | 1. Entry into the Community | 1. To introduce the COs to local Officials 2. To inform the local authorities on the project, its objectives and the nature of the COs stay in the community | 1. Adapting a Lifestyle in keeping with the community 2. Choosing an appropriate place or family to stay with | | 2. Integration with the People | 1. To imbibe community life and get to know the culture, economy, leadership, history and lifestyle of the people. 2. To establish rapport with the people and build mutual trust and cooperation 3. To allow the COs to be one with the people and learn or understand the people's problem | Participation of COs in economic work, group activities, household discussion, social function | | 3. Social investigation | 1. To systematically acquire information and analyze the political and socio-political and socio-cultural structure of the community. 2. To identify issues around which to organize the people. | 1. Gathering and reviewing secondary data sources such as records & documents. 2. Holding personal interviews. 3. Conducting a survey. 4. Observing people & their environment- participative - nonparticipative | | 4. Problem Identification & Analysis | 1. To identify, analyze and rank the problems and needs | 1. Identification of the scope and degree of the problem 2. Investigation of past efforts to solve the problem 3. Analysis of the origin of the problem 4. Identification of the factors that maintain, increase or eliminate the problem 5. Undertaking consequence analysis 6. Problem prioritization | | 5. Planning and Strategizing | To translate goals and objectives into specific activities to solve community problems | 1. Problems identification 2. Identifying resources 3. Formulation of possible solutions 4. Setting plans of actions | | 6. Core group Formation | To form a small group of potential leaders to assist the COs in organizing and mobilizing the community | 1. Identification of contacts and political leaders in the community 2. Conduct of training in leadership and organizing with the core group members and participants | | 7. Organization Development Mobilization | To facilitate wider participation and collective action on issues and problems concerning the community | 1. Setting up a formal organizational structure. 2. Mobilization of community effort or action solve community problems | | 8. Evaluation and Reflection | To review the course of action that has been undertaken to solve community problems | Holding of dialogues, workshops, etc. | | 9. Turnover and phase-out| To transfer the CO roles and responsibilities to the organization as soon as the latter is ready | The COs may shift to a supportive role monitoring, consultation and evaluation | # Module 8: PLANNING SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS ## What I Need to Know 1. Define the following terms: change, plan, program and project; 2. Comprehend the concept of sustainable agriculture; 3. Formulate a sustainable extension program plan; and 4. Explain the primary function of change agents in facilitating development. ## Lesson 1: Nature of Change ## Who are change agents? What are the functions of change agents? **Change agent** is usually a professional who influence or facilitate innovation-decisions in a direction deemed desirable. Sometimes they are called community organizers (CO) or field facilitators. 1. Teacher 2. Community organizer includes value formation and community commitment; 3. Planner 4. Farm Management Adviser 5. Linker 6. Facilitator/Catalyst 7. Researcher ## What is the nature of change? **Change** is the only permanent thing in this world (Heraclitus). It happens to anyone, anywhere at any time at an accelerating pace **Societal change** is the process of transformation of the total or its particular institutions from one form to another. It can be planned or unplanned. a. **Unplanned change** is a transformation caused primarily by natural phenomena or disturbance in the physical environment b. **Planned change** is almost always human-made. ## Describe the social change process Social change is the process by which alteration occurs in the structure and function of a social system. There are three steps in social change: 1. **Invention** is the process of creating new ideas 2. **Diffusion** is the process of communicating these ideas into the social system 3. **Consequence** is the resultant change occurring in the system. ## Categories of social change: 1. **Immanent planned change** when inventions take place within a given social system with little or no external influence. 2. **Selective contact changes** when new ideas are communicated by outsiders to members of a social system and the latter interpret and select these ideas according to their needs. 3. **Directed contact change** when change is caused by outsiders who, on their own or as representatives of programs of planned change, introduce new ideas to achieve definite goals. ## Levels as which change occurs: 1. **Individual level** is called modernization 2. **Societal level** is termed development ## Ten Megatrends affecting agriculture worldwide (Naisbitt 1985): 1. From industrial society to information society 2. From forced technology to high tech/high touch 3. From national economy to world economy 4. From short term to long term 5. From centralization to decentralization 6. From representative democracy to participative democracy 7. From institutional hierarchies to institutional networking 8. From north to south 9. From either/or to multiple options 10. From institutional help to self-help ## Lesson 2: Extension Program Planning ## What is planning? **Planning** is the process of establishing goals and objectives and figuring out how to achieve them. It is an attempt to manage the future. **A goal** is a specific target that a person tries to achieve or a condition that the person wants to exist in the future. ## What is the importance of planning? 1. Planning helps achieve substantial long-term goals. 2. Planning increases satisfaction when agreed targets are met. 3. Participative planning helps ensure efficient and just allocation of resources, thus maximizing achievements and minimizing conflicts. 4. Formal planning allows opportunities for involving the community in the process. 5. Plans and their documentation increase the group's ability to influence the community. 6. A written plan helps ensure continuity of activities. 7. A written plan helps the group explain its activities to visitors, new members and funding bodies. ## What is the extension program plan? **Program plan** is a written working plan that consists of a description of the general situation, needs and problems of the people in the area. It is developed by the community with the help and/or guidance of the change agent. It is the basis for undertaking extension or development activities in the area. **Extension program planning** is a process used by local people to decide their major problems and assemble all available forces and resources for improving the farm, home and the community. ## What are the characteristics of a good program plan? 1. Sound program planning is based on analysis of the situation. 2. Sound program planning selects programs based on **needs**. 3.. Sound program planning determines objectives and solutions that offer satisfaction. 4. A good program has permanence with flexibility. 5. A sound program has balance with emphasis. 6. A good program has a definite plan of work. **Plan of work** is an outline of procedure so arranged as to enable efficient execution of the entire program. **The calendar of work** is an outline of work arranged chronologically. 7. Program planning is a continuous process. 8. Program planning is a teaching opportunity. 9. Program planning is a coordinating process. 10. Good program planning provides for evaluation of processes and results. ## What are the steps in program planning? 1. **Analysis or assessment of the situation** The information obtained from the community would serve as basis for: a. Defining the environment where change is to occur. b. Identifying entry point for the community-based program. c. Formulating the goals and objectives associated with meeting the needs and problems. d. Establishing the benchmark from which to judge the performance of the project and the change made. e. Utilizing the available resources in the community development programs. 2. **Setting program objectives and goals** Objectives and goals are derived mainly from the problems identified that are considered of primary importance or of immediate concern for both the clientele and the planners. An objective is defined as a direction of movement. General objectives are more definite social statements expressing the general purpose of the extension organization. **Attributes of a good objective:** S - specific/simple M - measurable A - accurate/attainable R - realistic T - time bound 3. **Designing the strategy** A strategy is a combination of means to achieve the program objectives and goals. The strategy may include the following: a. Selecting the approaches for change b. Determining alternative solutions to problems c. Choosing appropriate extension and communication techniques (as either individual, group, mass media or combination) d. Setting up the organizational structure and staff e. Preparing the budget f. Enlisting community support g. Establishing linkages with other agencies 4. **Planning the program of activities** It includes the plan and calendar of work of the project or the scheduling of the various project activities. A plan of work is the outline of activities so arranged as to enable execution of the entire program. It answers the questions of how, when, where and by whom the work is to be done. A calendar of work is a plan of work arranged chronologically. 5. **Evaluation** This takes place throughout the whole program planning activity. As one goes through the various stages of the planning process, alternatives must be discussed, and decisions must be made. Each alternative needs to be assessed first before deciding. ## What are the pre-requisites for a successful program plan? Possible situation/feelings if any of the above requisite is missing: + VISION + CAPACITY + FIRST STEPS = Change is of low priority PRESSURE ++ CAPACITY + FIRST STEPS = Change is directionless ## Lesson 3: Monitoring and Evaluation **Evaluation** comes from the Latin word "valuare" meaning 'to find the worth of something'. ➤ It is a program activity designed to obtain information about program or project activities to assess their effectiveness, significance and efficiency. In the context of agricultural extension, evaluation of agricultural extension is the process of systematically examining and making judgments about the relevance of the objectives to the purpose, the extent to which the objectives are being achieved, the effectiveness of the methods being used and the efficiency of the use of resources (Potter, 1962). **Agricultural extension evaluation** is the assessment of the overall effects of an agricultural extension program or project in terms of production levels and farmers' welfare (Valera & Plopino 1987). **Monitoring** is a management technique in which extension agents collect data on the way in which the extension program is implemented and the problems it faces in trying to stay on the right track (van den Ban & Higgins 1996). ▷ It determines whether activities are conducted, inputs are delivered, outputs are accomplished, and other required actions are taken according to plan (PCARRD 1997). ## Why Evaluate Programs? 1. We evaluate to economize on effort. 2. We evaluate to improve programs. 3. We evaluate to get support for the programs. 4. We evaluate to determine change in conditions or behavior. 5. We evaluate to provide personal satisfaction and security. ## Basic Principles in Effective Evaluation 1. Evaluation of extension work should be well planned and clearly defined in scope as to what phase of a program is to be evaluated. 2. Extension personnel themselves should take part in evaluation. 3. Everyday evaluation should be continuous and integrated with the program development process from planning stage to the end. 4. Reliable and effective devices should be used. 5. Evaluation should be more concerned with the achievement of behavioral changes than with the number of participants, meeting hours, items prepared. 6. Careful analysis and interpretation of findings should be considered when an evaluation study is being planned. ## Purposes of Evaluation: A. **Operational purposes** these include verifying the extent to which project is achieving or has achieved intended output and effects and to determine the critical factors involved. This aims to provide justification for the continuation, modification or supervision of project; and to provide objective and analytical information for accountability report B. As an analytical tool to improve project design, evaluation aims to improve and sharpen project objectives and design; verify project assumptions and make them more explicit; and serve as a framework to review the entire process of means and ends to achieve desired goals. C. For policy purposes, evaluation aims to ascertain the validity of a given development strategy, approach, assumption or hypothesis; explore and/or to gain more knowledge about the interrelationships of several actions or policy decisions the affect the efficiency and effectiveness of a group of projects, approaches or strategies on a comparative basis. ## Types of Evaluation: 1. **Program planning evaluation** includes information on the nature, extent and scope of a problem to decide which program should be initiated, supported or continued. ## Techniques to be used in identifying target population and scope of problems: a. Key informant approach- knowledgeable leaders and experts b. Community forum approach- open town meeting c. Indicators approach-statistical data such as population, fertility, mortality d. Surveys & censuses- yield accurate and direct data on target problem & population 2. **Program monitoring evaluation** aims to determine whether or not, and to what extent, the target client is reached or served by the program; and whether goods and services were delivered on time, were satisfactory to client and were according to plan. ## Approaches could be used: a. Use of records b. Survey of program participants- special survey of participants c. Community surveys- a community sample survey 3. **Program impact evaluation** aims to determine whether the program produced the desired change. ## Prerequisites for assessing project impact: a. The project goals are sufficiently well articulated to identify measures of goal achievement b. The intervention has been sufficiently well implemented so there is no question that critical elements have not been delivered to appropriate targets. 4. **Economic efficiency evaluation,** when funds are limited, choices need to be made continually in allocating scarce resources to ensure optimal use. This can be done through cost-benefit analysis relationship between costs and outcome in monetary terms) and cost-effectiveness analysis (quantifying costs and benefits not in monetary terms). ## Levels for Judging an Extension Program (Bennett and Rockwell 1995) ☑ Result: Consequences for society ☑ Changes in farm practice: consequences for target group ☑ Behavioral changes in target group: change in KASA ☑ Reactions: Farmer's opinion about extension activities ☑ People involvement: farmers' participation in activities ☑ Activities: implementation of program ☑ Inputs and Resources ## Who Should Evaluate Extension Program? 1. Extension agent 2. Evaluation experts/specialist 3. Independent research workers ## Characteristics of a Good Evaluation Instrument 1. **Reliability** is the extent to which measurements are repeatable by the same individual using different measures of the same attribute. This is synonymous with dependability, accuracy, consistency, stability, predictability. 2. **Validity** refers to the 'truth' or the 'meaning' of the measurement (e.g. indicators are valid measures ## Ladder or Farmer Participation in Extension Evaluation | Level | Description | |---|---| | 5 | Farmers conduct their own evaluation of extension independently of extension and report their findings to policy makers. | | 4 | Farmers carry out evaluation of extension in cooperation with extension managers and make decisions regarding changes in providing extension services. | | 3 | Farmers received evaluation results and other information from extension staff and are asked to give reactions and recommendations for improving extension processes and resources. | | 2 | Farmers receive information, evaluation summaries, feedback on extension performance from extension staff, but are not asked to react. | | 1 | Farmers provide data and evidence of their achievements along with their reactions to extension without being involved in evaluation efforts. | ## Evaluation Models 1. **Merit evaluation** establishes certain criteria or minimum standards as bases for analysis and decision making. 2. **CIPP Model (Context, Input, Process and Product/Impact) Evaluation.** **Context evaluation** is used to define the environment, define and assess needs and delineate the problems responsible for the needs. **Input evaluation** assesses system capabilities, available input strategies and methods of implementing these strategies. **Process evaluation** is used to detect or predict defects in procedures or management during the implementation stages through periodic feedback. **Product or impact evaluation** aims to relate the results to the objectives, context, input and process to measure and interpret outcomes.