COPAR

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH (COPAR) is a social development approach that aims to transform the apathetic, poor into dynamic, participatory and politically responsive community.

A process by which a community identifies its needs and objectives, develops confidence to take action in respect to them and in doing so, extends and develops cooperative and collaborative attitudes and practices in the community.

A continuous and sustained process of educating the people to understand and develop their critical awareness of their existing conditions, working with the people collectively and efficiently on their immediate needs toward solving their long-term problems.

A middle ground where the health care worker and the people need to attain community organization. A liberal freedom of the community where the people are allowed to participate in the overall health care status of their community

A transformation force, that enables the individuals, families and communities to be responsible for their own health.

Importance of c o p a r

COPAR is an important tool for community development and people empowerment as this helps the community workers to generate community participation in development of activities. COPAR prepares people to eventually take over the management of a development program in the future. COPAR maximizes community participation and involvement; community resources are mobilized for health development services.

PRINCIPLES OF COPAR

People, especially the oppressed, exploited and deprived sectors are open to change, have the capacity to change and are able to bring about change. COPAR should be based on the interests of the poorest sectors of the society. COPAR should lead to a self-reliant community and society.

Process/methods used in copar

A PROGRESSIVE CYCLE OF ACTION-REFLECTION-ACTION : Which begins in small, local and concrete issues identified by the people and the evaluation and reflection of and on the action taken by them. A PROGRESSIVE CYCLE OF ACTION-REFLECTION-ACTION

CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING : CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING Through experiential learning is central to the COPAR process because it places emphasis on learning that emerges from concrete action and which encircles succeeding action

COPAR IS PARTICIPATORY & MASS-BASED : COPAR IS PARTICIPATORY & MASS-BASED Because it is primarily directed towards and biased in favor of the poor, the powerless and the oppressed.

COPAR IS GROUP-CENTERED : COPAR IS GROUP-CENTERED And not leader centered. Leaders are identified, emerge and are tested through action rather than appointed or selected by some external force or entity.

Phases of c o p a r
Pre- Entry Phase : THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE ORGANIZING PROCESS WHERE THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER LOOKS FOR COMMUNITIES TO SERVE OR HELP. IT IS THE MOST COMPLEX PHASE IN TERMS OF ACTUAL OUTPUTS, ACTIVITIES, AND STRATEGIES AND TIME SPENT FOR IT.

ENTRY PHASE : ENTRY PHASE SOMETIMES CALLED THE IMMERSION PHASE AS IT THE ACTIVITIES DONE HERE INCLUDES THE SENSITIZATION OF THE PEOPLE ON THE CRITICAL EVENTS IN THEIR LIFE, MOTIVATING THEM TO SHARE THEIR DREAMS AND IDEAS ON HOW TO MANAGE THEIR CONCERNS AND EVENTUALLY MOBILIZING THEM TO MAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION ON THESE.

SUSTENANCE AND STRENGTHENING PHASE : OCCUR WHEN THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED AND THE COMMUNITY-WIDE UNDERTAKINGS. AT THIS POINT, THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES SET-UP IN THE ORGANIZATION-BUILDING PHASE ARE ALREADY EXPECTED TO BE FUNCTIONING BY WAY OF PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATING THEIR OWN PROGRAMS, W/ THE OVERALL GUIDANCE FROM THE COMMUNITY-WIDE ORGANIZATION.

PHASE OUT : THE PHASE WHEN THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS LEAVE THE COMMUNITY TO STAND-ALONE. THIS PHASE SHOULD BE STATED DURING THE ENTRY PHASE SO THAT THE PEOPLE WILL BE READY TO FOR THIS PHASE. THE ORGANIZATIONS BUILT SHOULD BE READY TO SUSTAIN THE TEST OF THE COMMUNITY ITSELF BECAUSE THE REAL EVALUATION WILL BE DONE BY THE RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.

Capacity Building for Sustainable Community Health Development

is a process that aims to increase a communitys ability to work together to meets its goals and needs. Capacity building works to enhance the strengths a community already has. Capacity is built from: Commitment: the will to act; Resources: including both financial and other resources; and Skills: talents and expertise

So what is capacity?
Capacity is the ability of individuals, organisations, institutions and societies to set and achieve objectives, solve problems, and perform functions sustainably Capacity components include skills, systems, structures, processes, values, resources and crucially powers These components confer a range of political, managerial and technical capabilities (UNDP, 2006)

Dimensions of Community Capacity

Participation & leadership Skills Resources Social & inter-agency networks Sense of community Understanding of community history Community power Community values Critical reflection

SD capacity development principles

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Dont rush the long-term process Respect and foster value systems Scan everywhere for ideas, but reinvent locally Change mindsets and power differentials Aim overtly for capacity, not just as a by-product Start with local processes integrate external inputs 7. Stay engaged even here capacity remains weak 8. Be accountable to beneficiaries 9. Emphasise learning by doing 10. Support those with real not just de jure responsibility

Each is easy to understand, but challenging to achieve