UPCMP Process Document_Final-1-min

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LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE
Health Behavior Change Management is a cross-cutting and complex issue, requiring mobilization of knowledge, capacities and skills. Lessons learned have
offered valuable insight, not only for RGMVP to enhance its work in UP, but also for other development practitioners, academics and researchers to consider
such an approach for affecting other marginalized communities in India and around the globe.
Allow Adequate
Time for the Process
Ensure Community
- Owned Approach
Leverage Existing
Networks & Structures
1 2 3 4
Diversify Meetings
& Strategies
Careful planning is essential.
It is particularly important to allow
enough time to identify communities
where the approach can have
the most impact i.e. among POP
populations and SC/ST communities.
The UPCMP Learning Phase was
critical in achieving objectives, as it
allowed the necessary time to learn
about the local communities, identify
strong and capable mobilizers and
consult within the RGMVP streams
of influences to determine how poor
households could be most receptive
to BCC strategies. The mobilization
cycle is an intensive process that
takes time, but using a systematic
approach allows SHGs to develop
cohesion and mutual support, work
together to identify problems and
solutions and take collective action.
Significant value is attached with the
process of community mobilization in
order to attain UPCMP objectives. To
sustain the efforts, it is very important
that the women’s institutions,
through which activities are carried
out, become self-sufficient and
take ownership in the mobilization
process. SHG members need to be
consulted, involved and integrated
in the decision-making process and
social changes should be driven
from the community itself. In such
cases, community mobilization can
be seen as an approach and tool
that enables people to organize for
collective action by pooling resources
and building the solidarity required
to resolve local problems and work
towards community advancement.
Project implementation at the
local level is especially challenging
among rural populations, as it
requires significant rapport building
activities with community members.
RGMVP was able to counter this on
many fronts by utilizing its existing
networks and structures, and by
also galvanizing the influence it
had already made among the poor.
Recruiting local women with the right
attitudes and skills as facilitators and
mobilizers is also critical to success.
Leveraging the existing network of
ISC and others already familiar with
SHG processes and local context
proved to be especially efficient and
effective. With continued nurturing
and capacity building training, these
local leaders are the life force to in
the mobilization process.
High levels of women’s
participation can be achieved
without financial or other
incentives, especially if meetings
address topics that are extremely
relevant, such as newborn and child
health. Covering a range of topics
and using a range of methods and
BCC communication materials
helps to ensure good participation.
Reach is further extended as
mobilizers share knowledge
with and provide support to
other women in the community.
Encouraging innovation among
the women to adapt strategies and
also develop new is another great
way to expand and grow. Dayara
Mapping, for example, may be a
standardized method for targeting
women, but there are many forms
of implementation to ensure results.