Community Engagement Solidarity and Citizenship

Core Values & Principles of Action Initiatives the deprivation of one right adversely affects
Core Values- are traits or qualities that are not the others.
just worthwhile, they represent an 3. Equal&Non-Discriminatory- All individuals are
individual's or an organization's highest equal as human beings and by virtue of the
priorities, deeply held beliefs, and core, inherent dignity of each human person. No
fundamental driving forces. They are the one, therefore, should suffer discrimination on
heart of what your organization and its the basis of a list of non-exhaustive categories
employees stand for in the world. 4. Participation&Inclusion- All people have the
Core Values right to participate in and access to information
1. Human Rights 3. Gender Equality relating to the decision-making processes that
2. Social Equity 4. Participatory Development affect their lives and well-being.
5. Accountability&Rule of Law- States and other
• HUMAN RIGHTS- are rights inherent to duty-bearers are answerable for the
all human beings, whatever our nationality, place observance of human rights. In this regard,
of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, they have to comply with the legal norms and
religion, language, or any other status. standards enshrined in international human
Inherent- essential,intrinsic rights instruments.
• Universal human rights are often expressed Rule of law states that rights should not be taken
and guaranteed by law, in the forms of away except in specific situations and according to
treaties,customary international law, general due process.
principles and other sources of international 6. Both Rights&Obligations- Human rights entail
law. both rights and obligations. At the individual
Categories can’t be used as basis of granting HR. level, while we are entitled to our human
Principles of Human Rights rights, we should also respect the human
1. Universal&Inalienable rights of others. States assume obligations
and duties under international law to respect,
• Universal- Everyone is born with and
to protect and to fulfill human rights.
possesses the same rights. The principle of
universality of human rights is the cornerstone • Obligation to Respect- States must refrain
of international human rights law. This from interfering with or curtailing the
principle is encompassed in Article 1 of the enjoyment of human rights.
Universal Declaration on Human Rights in • Obligation to Protect- States to protect
1948. individuals and groups against human rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 1 abuses.
All human beings are born free and equal in • Obligation to Fulfill- States must take positive
dignity and rights. They are endowed with action to facilitate the enjoyment of basic
reason and conscience and should act towards human rights.
one another in a spirit of brotherhood Core Values of Community Action Initiatives for Human
• Inalienable- Human rights are inalienable. Rights
They should not be taken away, except in 1. Integrity,Transparency&Accountability-
specific situations and according to due Operates with the highest level of integrity in
process. For example, the right to liberty may its administrative, service and outreach
be restricted if a person is found guilty of a activities.
crime by a court of law. 2. Professionalism&Responsiveness- Strives to
Due process is a prerequisite to restriction of right to find solutions that meet the needs and
liberty. preferences of individuals and communities
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 3: through direct service or referrals to other
Everyone has the right to life, liberty providers.
and security of person. 3. Advocacy- educates public on Human Rights
Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or and Good Governance.
servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be 4. Focus&Direction- Always make sure that
prohibited in all their forms. activities do not depart from the assigned
Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or goals and objectives.
to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or 5. Partnership&Collegial Spirit- Works with a
punishment. wide variety of partners and always make sure
Article 6: Everyone has the right to recognition that partners’ and stakeholders’ views are
everywhere as a person before the law. heard throughout the decision-making
2. Interdependent&Indivisible- All human rights process.
are indivisible, whether they are civil and 6. Social Responsibility- Is materialized by a
political rights. The improvement of one right commitment to ensure free legal aid especially
facilitates advancement of the others.Likewise, to vulnerable and poor persons.
Community Engagement Solidarity and Citizenship
7. Mutual Respect&Tolerance- Be aware of • Transparency- Act in an open & responsible
people’s differences and work to ensure that manner
every human being is treated with respect and • Accountability- take responsibility of all
dignity at every time. omissions & commissions when executing its
8. Innovation&Entrepreneurship- Regularly mandate
explores new approaches to Human Rights • Respect for Diversity- Value opinions,
and Good Governance for the best interest of circumstances, feelings and views of others,
the served communities. taking into account diversity
9. Financial Sustainability- Strive to deliver on • Inclusiveness- Facilitate the involvement of all
your mission with thoughtful strategic choices stakeholders in its affairs
that foster financial sustainability. • Integrity- Promote honesty & truthfulness
10. Networking&Internationalization- Principles of Gender Equality
Consistently seek global partner organizations 1. Employment&Compensation- Policies that
while exploring ways to extend activities to eliminate gender discrimination in areas such
other countries of the globe. as recruitment, hiring, pay & promotion
• SOCIAL JUSTICE 2. Work-life Balance& Career Development-
- Enshrined in the Philippine Constitution Policies that enable work-life balance &
specifically in Article XIII, Section 1 to 19. It is not a support educational, career, & vocational
mere slogan to express concerns for the plight of development
the poor and destitute. 3. Health, Safety, & Freedom from Violence-
- It is a mandate of the Constitution which requires Policies securing health, safety, and well-being
adoption of the State of measure that will promote of female workers
the right of all people in equality of opportunities in 4. Management&Governance- Policies that
all human endeavour and equitable sharing of ensure equitable participation in management
socio-economic benefits that will ameliorate the & governance
standard of living of the under privilege group of 5. Business, Supply Chain, and Marketing
people. Practices- Non-discriminatory business,
Basic Principles of Social Justice supply chain, contracting and marketing
1. Equality of Opportunity policies
2. Full employment and equal work opportunities 6. Civic&Community Engagement- Policies to
3. Right to health promote equitable participation in civic life & to
4. Humane conditions of work eliminate all forms of discrimination &
5. Respect & recognition of people’s organizations exploitation
6. Fair & just compensation 7. Leadership, Transparency&Accountability-
7. Participation in policy & decision-making Policies that are publicly disclosed, monitored,
Denunciation of people’s organizations isn’t a principle & enforced that display active commitment
of Social Justice. from top leadership
Core Values of Social Justice Strategies for Promoting Gender Equality
1. Commitment to the Common Good • Incorporate gender equality objectives into
2. Protection of human life and dignity activity, program, or project activities.
3. Accountability • Use participatory strategies to involve both
4. Responsibility women& men in design and implementation.
5. Rehabilitation • Ensure there is adequate time and resources
6. Concern for others for fieldwork during design.
Core Values & Principles of Action Initiatives • Ensure that gender strategies are practical, and
Gender Equality- “sex equality, egalitarianism”. The based on quality gender analysis.
view that both men and women should receive equal • Provide in-country social and gender analysis
treatment and not to be discriminated against based expertise
on their gender. This is the objective of the United • Collect adequate & relevant sexdisaggregated
Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which baseline information & use gender responsive
seeks to create equality in law and in social situations, indicators & monitoring processes as a
such as in democratic activities and securing equal minimum standard for activity design,
pay for equal work. implementation and monitoring.
• Objective of Gender Equality- for people to • Ensure that responsibilities for implementing
acquire, if they so choose, equal treatment gender equality objectives are explicit in job
throughout a society, not just in politics, the descriptions at every stage through the activity
workplace, or any other policy designated cycle.\
sphere. Participatory Development- seeks to engage
Core Values of Gender Equality local populations in development projects. An
• Fairness- Treat all people with dignity & approach to development that is designed to
impartiality enhance sustainability and self-reliance and
Community Engagement Solidarity and Citizenship
achieve social justice through improvements in the Induced Involvement- Strategy, design and work
quality of people’s participation. PD is not an plan are pre-determined & the intended
attempt to replace the top-down development beneficiaries are encouraged to participate
approach with a community-led approach. The Transitory Mobilization for Community
participation must not be transient; it must entail Development- Specific temporary tasks are
the sustainable upgrading of participation quality. created
The long-term process of participation is: raising Group Formation- Full participation which leads
the awareness of community people, forming to empowering of the poor.
community groups, upgrading their requisite Strategies of Empowerment & Advocacy of a
resource management abilities, and creating Community Action Initiative
norms or internalizing their mechanisms, improving
• Empowerment- refers to the development of self –
capabilities for external negotiations.
confidence, self-control, relationship with others and
Good Governance- the ideal orientation of
the firmness to gain political power to achieve
government that works best to achieve self-
improved inputs and equality. Empowerment is based
reliant and sustainable development and social
on the idea that giving people skills, resources,
justice. Hinges on whether the government’s
authority, opportunity, motivation, as well as holding
basic attitudes are democratically oriented.
them responsible and accountable for the outcomes
Elements Contributing to the Government’s Basic
of their actions, will contribute to their competence
AttitudesThat are Democratically Oriented
and satisfaction.
• Legitimacy& Accountability of the Govt. Categories of Empowerment in Social Science
• Securing human rights Individuals- Empowerment is building confidence,
• Local autonomy, and devolution of power insight and understanding, and developing personal
• Civilian control of military. skills like being able to analyze situations and
Good Governance-the ideal functioning of communicate more effectively with others.
government that operates most effectively and Groups- Empowerment is taken to involve building
efficiently. Depends on whether a government trust, co -operation and communication between
has the requisite political, and administrative members, and a prerequisite for this is that there are
structures and mechanisms and the capability to appropriate structures, protocols and procedures in
function effectively and efficiently place, with effective sanctions against those who
Elements Contributing to the Government’s Ideal default or abuse the system.
Functioning People Empowerment- a means by which they are
• Basic laws& institutions of a nation given the authority to analyze situations autonomously
• Administrative competence&transparency and independently and take proactive decisions. In this
• Decentralization of its administration way, the individual or a group will develop a sense of
• Creation of an appropriate market environment belongingness to a group or an organization.
Core Values& Principles of Participatory Indicators of Empowerment
Development • Confidence& Understanding- people taking on
1. Those who are affected by a decision have a new responsibilites e.g. charging meetings,
right to be involved in the decision-making organizing events
process • Skills in Analysis&Communication- Development
2. Public’s contribution will influence the decision & refinement of group aims and objectives
3. Recognizing and communicating the needs and • Trust,Caring&Tolerance- Delegation of
interests of all participants and decision- responsibility within the group, initiatives to involve
makers the disadvantaged
4. Seek out involvement of those potentially • Communication&Cooperation- Attendance at
affected by or interested in a decision meetings, evidence of links developing between
5. Seeks input from participants in designing how communities
they participate • Access to Information- Acquisition of material on
6. Provide participants with the information they group development
need to participate in a meaningful way Core Values of Empowerment
7. Communicate to participants how their input • Collaboration- Build upon the efforts of other agents
affected the decision of change. Empowerment acts as a uniting force,
Principles of Participatory Development and strategically engages optimal expertise,
-Effectivness&Efficiency -Empowerment experience, and implementing capacity of
-Transparency -Accountability complimentary local and global partners.
-Community Focus -Subsidiary • Positive Alternatives to Globalization
-Trust Building -Partnership Empowerment engages business in public -private
-Local Ownership -Gender Equality partnerships that reverse the effects of economic
Strategies in Participatory Development globalization through the creation of livelihoods that
Community Engagement Solidarity and Citizenship
protect indigenous heritage and promote cultural to accept the expanded responsibility. This act
diversity. requires trust and willingness to share information,
• Comprehensive Solutions vs. Single Issue knowledge, and power. Mentoring and coaching
(Band-Aid) Empowerment specializes in an become critical management skills in support of
integrative process rather than in one issue – one delegation.
program for all communities. • Hierarchy is minimized- Hierarchical
• Local Empowerment vs. Top Down Development organizational structures discourage empowerment
When people are empowered, they find creative by supporting a line-of-authority system and
ways to resolve their own problems and better discouraging cross-functional teams. Deviate from
contribute to society and the world structured courses of action from a systematic line
Principles of Empowement of authority.
• People are an organizzation’s most valuable • Organizational leadership and support are
source- the founding principle of empowerment is necessary to drive and sustain empowerment-
that people are more important than management Leadership and management must live the
systems. People are not expendable. It is empowerment vision and model the values by
necessary to preserve the mental, physical, putting into visible practice what is preached.
emotional, and even the spiritual well-being of the Strategies in Empowering Individuals & Groups
people in the organization. Post activity discussions 1. Provide the right skillset for a job.
are conducted not to only evaluate the tasks but to 2. Grant sufficient autonomy. -members are
also check the experiences of the members. allowed to make their own decisions and take
• High-involvement is maximized- The more their own measures of completing tasks as
people are involved in designing and controlling long as efficiency is achieved.
their work functions, the more productively and 3. Clearly articulate the scope of an individual’s
efficiently the organization will operate. People must jobs.- individual is presented with a list of job
have a high degree of self-discipline and self- functions exxpected him/her to accomplish
management in order to operate with the least 4. Provide adequate information and resources. –
amount of oversight or management. people provided with necessary input and
• Teamwork is valued and rewarded- A product or materials
service which involves several or many parts 5. Build people’s confidence.
(steps) can be performed simultaneously; Provides 6. Guide with positive feedback.- corrections
opportunity for synergism which is not possible for made constructively
an individual working alone; and Team functioning, • ADVOCACY- act or process of supporting a cause or
over a sustained period, preserves the overall proposal for enhancing effective practices to improve
health and well-being of people. Organization behaviour. It enables the people to engage in actions
created groups that will cover various tasks. and activities that seek to positively influence
• Personal&Professional Growth is Continuous- outcomes directly affecting the lives’ of the
Since empowerment is a dynamic process rather people.Advocacy is the active support of an idea or
than a specific goal to be reached, there is a cause expressed through strategies and methods that
sequential cycle of self-motivated goal setting and influence the opinions and decisions of people and
achievement, which continually drives the organizations.
enhanced capability of people. ✓ The aims of advocacy are to create or change
• Responsibility&Accountability are maximized- A policies, laws, regulations, distribution of resources
predisposed mindset of total responsibility for or other decisions that affect people’s lives and to
projects or tasks are delegated. Such a mindset has ensure that such decisions lead to implementation.
the potential for not only meeting but also Pro-Poor Advocacy- advocacy for political decisions
exceeding customer or client expectations. Without and actions that respond to the interests of people to
a critical fraction of highly responsible and directly face poverty and disadvantaged people.
accountable individuals, empowerment is not Core Values of Advocacy
possible. Every member of an organization paid • Collaborating Relationships- Partners with allied
attention to details of the program making them organizations, agencies and others to develop and
capable of responding to concerns. achieve shared goals.
• Self determination, self-motivation, and self- • Continuous Improvement- Sets challenging
management are expected- Most, if not all, objectives and measures the effectiveness of
individuals have the talent and capability to perform organizational processes and professional practices
their jobs and responsibilities with the least amount • Diversity&Integrity- Understands and honours
of oversight and management. People in the individual, cultural and other contextual differences in
organization are expected to be self-driven in terms our own interactions and as they shape development.
of determination, motivation, and management. • Excellence- Is committed to honesty and to treating
• Expanded delegation is a continual process- A others with dignity and respect
requirement of expanded delegation is ensuring
that an individual or a team is maximally prepared
 Community Engagement Solidarity and Citizenship
• People-Centered- Strategically selects goals and ➢ Partnerships among community-based nonprofit
activities focused on the needs of individuals and their service organizations
families When community-based nonprofits join forces, each
• Visionary Leadership- Approaches work with organization must have the organizational capacity
optimism, energy, and confidence, working necessary to manage projects, budgets, and staff
pragmatically with “what is” while moving toward involvement. In community-based partnerships,
“what can be” decision-making should be inclusive and deeply
Principles of Empowerment engage the community itself.
• Independence- Advocates are completely ➢ Cross-sector partnerships (between nonprofits
independent from any service providers and the business, government, and/or academic
• Empowerment- The advocates’ role is to support the sectors)
service are completely independent from any service Cross-sector partnerships are fairly simple to initiate
providers but challenging to maintain. Regardless of the goodwill
• Confidentiality- The advocates will not discuss of the participants, two very different organizational
confidential matters with third parties unless they cultures must come together to produce results. One
have given written permission to do so. key is to find common ground and use shared
• Loyalty- Advocates represent the views of service language that underscores the vision of the partners.
providers. ➢ Partnerships between donor organizations and
recipients
• Equal Rights- advocates must uphold equal rights
Partnerships between donors and recipients can
• Safety and Risk- No advocates will be put to risk by
create confusion. Is the partnership just about
carrying out their duties.
receiving money? This type of partnership actually
Strategies in Advocacy
aims to take advantage of what the recipient, as well
1.Promote culturally competent practice. Provide
as the donor, can bring to the relationship. Together,
professional development, resources and advocacy for
both sides must define the terms of the relationship.
culturally responsive services.
Grounds for Partnership Building
2. Diversity Advocacy. Recruit individuals from
1. Identify the stakeholders who can help or hinder
diverse
the project.
backgrounds to advocate and be involved in
2. Differentiate between who you really need as
community and school work.
partners and who would want to be a partner
3. Enhance professional advocacy. Empower the
3. Before approaching potential partners make sure
advocacy to uphold high professional standards,
you have support and agreement within your own
engage in practice that reflects the full range of their
organization about working with others
expertise.
4. Make informal contact with potential partners to
4. Strengthen connections with members. This can
find out about their attitudes and interest before
be done by improving the organizational structures,
putting out formal proposals
operations, and means of member feedback to attract
5. Communicate with your potential partners in a
and retain membersthroughout their careers or work.
language they will understand and focus on what
5. Promote Evidence-based professional practice.
they want to achieve
This can be done by supporting research that
6. Plan the partnership process step by step.
demonstrates the relationship between the advocates
7. Establish trust
and the community.
8. Encourage others to join in
6. Support Life-lay Professional Learning. Provide
COMMUNITY PROFILING- involves building up a
professional development of all advocates to meet
picture of the nature, needs and resources of a
changing and diverse practice needs.
community with the active participation of that
7. Improve Resource Alignment. Align all policies,
community. Provides basic information (where little is
practices and programs including resources with
known) before starting to work in an area. Records
transparency and equity.
information on a broad range of factors:
8. Enhance Leadership development. Identify,
Environmental/natural features and management,
recruit, and mentor advocates and leaders across all
Socio-demographic characteristics, political and
areas to ensure that they work well in the communities
economic structures, local institutions, economic
they are going to serve.
activities and livelihoods, basic household and
Methodologies and Approaches in Community Action community facilities and social organization.
PARTNERSHIP- a collaborative relationship between It is extensive than needs assessment.
organizations. The purpose of this relationship is to Methods of Community Profiling
work toward shared goals through a division of labor ➢ Before&After- This method utilizes photos, drawings
that all parties agree on. Complex vehicles for or computer simulations showing a place before
delivering practical solutions to societal and community and after development has taken place from the
issues. A give-and-take relationship that can same viewpoint.
strengthen organizations’ capacity for long-term ➢ Door Knocking- This is certainly the most popular
cooperation and collaboration. method of community profiling. Data compiler holds
Types of Partnerships
 Community Engagement Solidarity and Citizenship
a site – to – site visit (houses or offices) of the ➢ Focus Groups- qualitative method that uses group
community residents. Community members may be interview that explicitly uses group interaction as
asked to fill out a data sheet on their own. Data part of the method to generate data
compilers may also employ questions and will ➢ Rapid Appraisal- research method used to quickly
record the answers of the respondents. This is identify the health needs and priorities of the target
particularly useful for consultants or developers population without great expense; researchers
unfamiliar with the area. interview key informants with knowledge of the
➢ Historical Profiling- Construction of historical profile area
in groups. Information about past events is ➢ Field Work/Observation- Researchers observe a
gathered to explain the present and predict possible particular group in their own environment and
future scenarios. It involves 7 people describing and make recommendations regarding needs based on
explaining their life history with respect to particular their observations; dependent on the skills of the
issues. Information is marked up on maps or charts researchers; can be subjective and open to
to build a comprehensive time-line of events and interpretation; may have ethical implications.
issues that mould and affect a community. ➢ Draw&Write Technique- Suitable for assessing the
➢ Informal Walk- walking in a group without a definite needs of children and young people. Useful for
route, stopping to chat and discuss issues as they gathering qualitative information on sensitive
arise. Data that can be gathered from this method subjects. Non-intrusive, cost effective, can be used
may be limited because it is dependent on what is in individuals and groups
visible to the data compiler at that particular time. Formulating a Community Action Plan
Data gathered from informal walk are substantial. COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN- a road map for
➢ Interview- a recorded conversation (may be implementing community change by clarifying what will
individual, focus group discussions, key informant be done, who will do it, and how it will be done. The
interview) usually with prepared questions. This is plan describes what the community wants to achieve,
useful for information gathering as a data compiler what activities are required during a specified time
can probe deeper into areas of concern and is more period, what resources (money, people and materials)
flexible and interactive than a questionnaire. are needed. Producing the action plan helps people to
➢ Risk Assessment- examine communities of risks take realistic and concrete steps toward participatory
from disasters. This focuses on development planning.
environmental/natural features and management as General Principles of Community Action Plans
well as emergence/presence of destabilizing ✓ It is a process for action; not a blueprint for future
organizations like terrorists. This should ideally be development.
used in all planning - since most communities face ✓ The solution for problems comes from the
some kind of threat. But it is most necessary for community itself.
vulnerable communities prone to natural or human- ✓ Avoid activities such as lecturing or teaching the
made disasters. people; but to concentrate more on workshops as a
NEEDS ASSESSMENT- Identifying needs and planning form of discussion with the community.
ways on how to address the concerns are the primary ✓ Guarantee that all relevant groups participate in the
focus of Needs Assessments.The reason for community activities.
needs assessments is to discover the weakness, ✓ Facilitate input from all groups; do not allow one
addressing problems, and serving the community. group or leader to dominate the discussion
Can be extracted from a community profile ✓ Remember that one issue might appear to be not
Methodologies in Needs Assessment very important for one group, but is important for
➢ Questionaires- Useful for collecting information another group.
from relatively large numbers of people. It can be ✓ Avoid too many pictures and text; it is better to
qualitative (ask open questions which can be absorb and remember several points rather than
responded to in a variety of different ways, easy to make a long list.
design but harder to analyze) or quantitative (use ✓ Use simple language and avoid difficult terms.
closed questions that require yes/no answers, box ✓ Make the material as simple as possible.
ticking, or scale answers, harder to design but Stages in Creating a Community Action Plan
easier to analyze) 1. Opening: introduction and socialization. This
➢ Individual Interviews- Structured or semi- intends to provide a common understanding of the
structured, used for identifying expressed needs importance of having a good community action plan,
(which may or may not also be felt needs), suitable and a common understanding of why an action plan is
for small numbers, 8 may be carried out face to needed.
face or telephone, qualitative data, time- 2. Social and Environmental Mapping Financing.
consuming and resource intensive, dependent on This is meant to gain an understanding of the latest
skills of interviewer and allows for probing and conditions in the 5 community life that is social,
expanding on issues economic, as well as environmental conditions. By
developing a map, the community will be able to get a
better picture of problems and priorities.
 Community Engagement Solidarity and Citizenship
3. Identifying the Problems, Needs, and Resource
Potential. This stage defines the problems that are
actually faced by the community, the needs that must
be fulfilled in order to overcome the problems, and the
financial resources available to accomplish the needs.
4. Determining the Priority in Problems and Needs.
The problems and needs are ranked by the community
members according to their level of urgency,
importance for the development of community life, and
the opportunity to overcome and to fulfill.
5. Formulating the Choice of Strategy. In this stage,
the strategy is developed and the approach is chosen
that is the most feasible to be used in overcoming the
problems and fulfilling the needs on the priority list.
6. Formulating the Choice of Action. Determine
which action has to be taken in implementing the
chosen strategy and approach.
7. Formulating the Implementation Plan. This stage
is used to formulate a schedule and division of tasks in
carrying out the action chosen.
8. Formulating the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
This is used to formulate a plan and system of
monitoring and evaluating the execution of activities.
9. Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation. The
final stage consists of carrying out the action, and at
the same time, monitoring and evaluating.
*KAC – Key Areas of Concern (Problems, weaknesses,
or shortcomings that need to be solved)
*Objectives – How are you going to solve the above
areas of concern (Objectives must be SMART –
specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-
bound)
*Strategies – Explain how your group will reach the
objectives.
*Activities – These are ways or steps in carrying out
your strategies.
*Persons/Agencies Involved – These are the
individuals or agencies who can most benefit and
contribute and how they can be reached or involved in
the effort.
*Time frame – When are you going to start your
activities? Is your time frame attainable?
*Budget – These are the financial resources needed to
implement the activities.
*Success Indicators – This is also referred to as
expected outcomes.