Social Mobilization and Community Development in NGO-Assisted Grassroots Enterprises in the Province of Iloilo and Guimaras

Anonymous

by: Christine Mae D. Hernando, John Lorenz R. Belanio

Abstract

Social mobilization has been found to be an important strategy for generating community participation in community development undertakings. This paper presents the results of a study that examined mobilization strategies of NGO-assisted grassroots enterprises in the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras. Using a descriptive design, primary data was obtained through interviews with the entrepreneurs and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results show that mobilization strategies include information access, community dialogues, collective action, community partnerships, enterprise capability building, and client relations. Community development was realized in terms of socioeconomic benefits and political participation that entrepreneurs experienced with the assistance provided by the assisting NGO. In response to issues and concerns raised by the entrepreneurs, the study recommends using a governance approach in social mobilization to strategize organizational and business growth of the grassroots enterprises and enhance efforts towards community development.

Keywords: social mobilization, grassroots enterprises, community development