Design of a Community Ownership and Preparedness Index: using data to inform the capacity development of community-based groups

Abstract

BackgroundCommunity mobilisation is an important component of a participatory approach to health and development interventions. However, it is challenging to define, measure and assess community participation and ownership of a programme, especially at scale.MethodsAn iterative cross-sectional survey was designed for implementation across a representative sample of community-based groups, using a weighted index that captured both qualitative and quantitative data in a standardised form. These data were aggregated at the level of individual groups, as well as state-wide or across the whole programme. Community participation in the survey is a primary feature of the methodology and was integral to the process of designing the index and administering the survey.ResultsThe survey provided programme management and communities with objective tools for monitoring community mobilisation across a large-scale and complex intervention covering 32 districts in India. The implementation of the survey engaged communities in an open discussion of their goals and capabilities and helped them to challenge the power dynamics between themselves and other stakeholders.ConclusionsIt is possible to translate the theoretical premises of participatory development into a tool that both measures and fosters meaningful participation. The active participation of community members in the collection and analysis of data on their mobilisation suggests that monitoring of participation can be undertaken to inform a scaled-up programme and can be a useful intervention in its own right.

Community mobilisation programme for female sex workers in coastal Andhra Pradesh, India: processes and their effects

“…The overall index scores calculated determined the strength of community mobilisation, and the scores were grouped into a series of ‘bands’ labelled Basic (0–14), Foundation (15–29), Promising I (30–43), Promising II (44–57), Promising III (58–72), Vibrant I (73–87) and Vibrant II (88–100). Details of the interview tools, calculation of index scores and interpretation of the series of bands are discussed in the article by Thomas et al 15 in this volume.…”

“…The COPI study was analysed, and the index scores were calculated using the analytical tool developed by Praxis and published in this volume 15. The percentage distributions from an independent FSWs survey conducted in the select districts were calculated for each measure of collective efficacy, collective agency and collective action.…”

Participation Pays

“…Involvement of community members not only ensured that indicators moved from being purely healthbased and HIV-related to being more reflective of the totality of the everyday experience of stigma, discrimination and denial. Community members' perspectives on the relative significance of each indicator in the larger community mobilization framework were also taken into account (Thomas et al, 2012).…”

“…Where CBOs had been set up, elected representatives would meet monthly at the district levels and take responsibility for matters such as membership fees and, ultimately, for strategic planning (cf. Thomas et al, 2012).…”

Human Development and Capability Building in the Niger Delta: Issues and Challenges

“…According to Thomas, Narayanan, Wheeler, Kiran, Joseph and Ramanathan (2012), the extent to which community participate in developmental plans is crucial to sustainability of that project. The findings showed that community participation play significant role in achieving sustainable human development as indicated in the figure 1 below.…”