SUSTAINABILITY FIELD STUDY - Mercy Corps

When programs work collaboratively with well-intentioned but under-resourced local governmentrepresentatives, prospects for sustainability become greater. To increase sustainability, developmentprograms must seek out committed government representatives and invest in their capacity alongsideinformal community leaders, building an understanding of transparent, accountable and participativeprocesses for engaging communities in their own development.Additionally, programs should reach out to youth to help expand their opportunities for incomegeneration and foster tolerance and community commitment. Modeling open processes of communitymobilization and instilling associated skills within this younger generation will help to shape the leadersand communities of the future.This study reaffirms Mercy Corps’ belief that by investing in mobilization methodologies, programimpact can be extended beyond the lifespan of individual projects. This study demonstrates thepotential for sustainability through the development of communities and community leaders, and itidentifies areas where further investment can contribute to greater impact.It is Mercy Corps’ hope that this study will serve to open dialogue and engagement with donors andpeer implementing agencies to refine and incorporate community development methodologies intofuture program designs based on analysis of experience and impact.36Sustainability Field Study