Programs: Community Mobilization and Development

 

In Serbia, ADF’s Community Revitalization through Democratic Action (CRDA) program promoted citizen participation in identifying and addressing critical needs for the economic and social revitalization of their communities. The CRDA Program brought together the members of the community – in partnership with local government – to create better conditions in 14 municipalities in the Vojvodina region and 12 municipalities in Eastern Serbia – over 91 communities altogether. ADF provided training and technical assistance for the establishment of a strong local Community Development Group (CDG) that worked with the community and local government to identify priorities and implement community and inter-community projects that improve social and economic infrastructure, increase incomes and job opportunities, and improve environmental conditions and practices. Many of these groups continue to advocate for their communities as formal NGOs known as Community Development Associations (CDAs).

 

ADF’s Citizens’ Networks Program in Haiti assisted civil society organizations, private businesses, and local government to come together to identify local priorities and design and implement community development actions that mobilize local resources for improving local conditions.  Local civic forums were organized that brought together all sectors in the commune (governmental and non-governmental) to discuss problems and commit their efforts to working together in finding solutions. This approach then facilitated the formation of a local joint committee (with representation of popular organizations, other local civil society members, business, and local authorities) to develop strategies for civic action to work toward these solutions. Joint committees in all twenty communes developed over 170 actions, based primarily on the use of local resources, to address the priorities defined in the civic forums ranging from mobilizing resources and support to build a local community school to coalition building with the local authorities to ensure safety and security in the communes.

 

In Egypt, ADF has developed the capacity of Egyptian NGOs to build and broaden strong constituencies at the community level. ADF has experience working either with groups of NGOs, or with individual NGOs, to help them strategize for mobilizing communities and increasing their constituency bases. ADF’s large and diverse outreach in the different geographical areas also included a good diversity of sectors of NGOs work such as promoting women’s legal rights in Sohag, Upper Egypt; Child Labor issues in Suez and Minia; preserving the environment in Dakahliya, and addressing export and trade related issues by business men and women in Portsaid and other five governorates.