Community Engagement and Mobilization
Expert-defined terms from the Global Certificate in Neglected Tropical Diseases Management course at Greenwich School of Business and Finance. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Access #
The ability of individuals or communities to obtain necessary resources, including healthcare services, education, and social support, is crucial for effective community engagement and mobilization in the context of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) management. Related terms include availability, utilization, and equity.
Accountability #
Being responsible for one's actions and decisions is essential in community engagement and mobilization. This concept is closely related to transparency, participation, and responsiveness to community needs and concerns.
Advocacy #
The act of supporting or promoting a particular cause or policy, such as increased funding for NTDs control programs, is a critical component of community engagement and mobilization. Related terms include lobbying, awareness raising, and empowerment of marginalized communities.
Behavior Change #
The process of adopting new behaviors or abandoning old ones, such as improving hygiene practices to prevent NTDs transmission, is a key objective of community engagement and mobilization. Related terms include awareness, education, and motivation.
Capacity Building #
The process of enhancing the skills, knowledge, and abilities of individuals, organizations, or communities to effectively manage NTDs is essential for sustainable community engagement and mobilization. Related terms include training, mentorship, and institutional strengthening.
Civil Society #
The sphere of voluntary associations, non-governmental organizations, and community groups that play a crucial role in promoting community engagement and mobilization for NTDs control. Related terms include participation, activism, and advocacy.
Community #
A group of people living in a specific geographic area or sharing common characteristics, such as language, culture, or socio-economic status, that are targeted for engagement and mobilization in NTDs management. Related terms include population, neighborhood, and village.
Community #
Based Initiative: A program or project that is designed, implemented, and managed by the community itself, such as community-led total sanitation (CLTS) programs, to prevent and control NTDs. Related terms include participatory, bottom-up, and empowerment.
Community Engagement #
The process of building trust, partnerships, and collaboration with community members, leaders, and organizations to promote NTDs awareness, prevention, and control. Related terms include outreach, mobilization, and participation.
Community Mobilization #
The process of motivating and empowering communities to take action against NTDs, such as through mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns or vector control activities. Related terms include activation, awareness raising, and empowerment.
Control Program #
A coordinated effort to prevent, control, or eliminate NTDs, such as national control programs for lymphatic filariasis or onchocerciasis. Related terms include surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation.
Disease Surveillance #
The continuous, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data on NTDs cases, outbreaks, and trends to inform control programs and community engagement activities. Related terms include monitoring, reporting, and response.
Education #
The process of acquiring knowledge, skills, and attitudes to prevent and control NTDs, such as through health education programs or community-based workshops. Related terms include awareness, training, and capacity building.
Empowerment #
The process of enabling individuals, communities, or organizations to take control of their health and well-being, such as through community-led initiatives or participatory decision-making processes. Related terms include capacity building, self-reliance, and sustainability.
Equality #
The principle of treating all individuals or groups with fairness and respect, regardless of their socio-economic status, gender, or ethnicity, in community engagement and mobilization activities. Related terms include equity, justice, and human rights.
Equity #
The principle of promoting fairness and justice in the distribution of resources, services, and opportunities, such as access to healthcare or education, in community engagement and mobilization activities. Related terms include equality, disparities, and inequities.
Evidence #
Based Practice: The use of scientific research, data, and evaluation findings to inform community engagement and mobilization strategies, programs, and policies for NTDs control. Related terms include research, monitoring, and assessment.
Global Health #
The field of study and practice that focuses on improving health outcomes and equity worldwide, including the prevention and control of NTDs. Related terms include public health, international health, and global governance.
Health Education #
The process of providing individuals and communities with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to prevent and control NTDs, such as through behavior change interventions or health promotion programs.
Health Promotion #
The process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over and improve their health, such as through empowerment initiatives or community-based programs. Related terms include education, advocacy, and social support.
Health Systems #
The organizations, institutions, and resources that deliver healthcare services, including preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care, to individuals and communities affected by NTDs. Related terms include health policy, governance, and financing.
Human Rights #
The fundamental rights and freedoms that are inherent to all human beings, including the right to health, education, and participation in community engagement and mobilization activities. Related terms include equity, justice, and dignity.
Inclusion #
The principle of involving and valuing all individuals, groups, or communities, regardless of their disability, age, or socio-economic status, in community engagement and mobilization activities. Related terms include equity, access, and participation.
Inequities #
The unfair differences in health outcomes, access to resources, or opportunities that exist between different populations, groups, or communities affected by NTDs. Related terms include inequalities, disparities, and health disparities.
Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) #
The strategies and materials used to promote awareness, knowledge, and behavior change among individuals and communities affected by NTDs. Related terms include health education, advocacy, and social mobilization.
Intersectoral Collaboration #
The cooperation and partnership between different sectors, such as health, education, and environment, to prevent and control NTDs. Related terms include multisectoral, collaboration, and coordination.
Mass Drug Administration (MDA) #
The strategy of distributing medicines to entire populations or communities to prevent and control NTDs, such as lymphatic filariasis or onchocerciasis. Related terms include preventive chemotherapy, treatment, and control programs.
Mobilization #
The process of motivating and empowering individuals, communities, or organizations to take action against NTDs, such as through advocacy campaigns or community-based initiatives. Related terms include activation, awareness raising, and empowerment.
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) #
The continuous process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of community engagement and mobilization activities, as well as NTDs control programs. Related terms include surveillance, research, and assessment.
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) #
A group of infectious diseases, such as lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis, that disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable populations worldwide. Related terms include tropical diseases, neglect, and global health.
Networking #
The process of establishing and maintaining relationships, partnerships, and collaboration between individuals, organizations, or communities to promote community engagement and mobilization for NTDs control. Related terms include coalition building, alliances, and coordination.
Non #
Governmental Organization (NGO): A private, non-profit organization that operates independently of government and business sectors to promote community engagement and mobilization for NTDs control. Related terms include civil society, community-based organizations, and advocacy groups.
Participation #
The process of involving individuals, communities, or organizations in decision-making, planning, and implementation of community engagement and mobilization activities, as well as NTDs control programs. Related terms include inclusion, empowerment, and ownership.
Partnership #
A collaborative relationship between two or more organizations, communities, or individuals to promote community engagement and mobilization for NTDs control. Related terms include coalition building, networking, and coordination.
Policy #
A set of principles, guidelines, or regulations that govern community engagement and mobilization activities, as well as NTDs control programs, at local, national, or global levels. Related terms include advocacy, lobbying, and governance.
Prevention #
The set of measures designed to prevent the transmission or spread of NTDs, such as through vector control, vaccination, or behavior change interventions. Related terms include control, treatment, and elimination.
Public #
Private Partnership (PPP): A collaborative relationship between public and private sector organizations to promote community engagement and mobilization for NTDs control. Related terms include partnership, coalition building, and coordination.
Research #
The systematic investigation and study of NTDs, including their causes, consequences, and control measures, to inform community engagement and mobilization activities. Related terms include science, evidence, and evaluation.
Risk Communication #
The process of exchanging information, messages, or warnings between individuals, communities, or organizations to prevent and control NTDs. Related terms include health education, awareness raising, and behavior change.
Social Mobilization #
The process of motivating and empowering communities, organizations, or individuals to take action against NTDs, such as through advocacy campaigns or community-based initiatives. Related terms include mobilization, activation, and empowerment.
Stakeholder #
An individual, organization, or community that has an interest or investment in community engagement and mobilization activities, as well as NTDs control programs.
Sustainability #
The ability of community engagement and mobilization activities, as well as NTDs control programs, to be maintained and scaled-up over time, without reliance on external support or resources. Related terms include capacity building, empowerment, and ownership.
Vector Control #
The set of measures designed to prevent or reduce the transmission of NTDs, such as through the control of insect vectors or snail intermediate hosts. Related terms include prevention, treatment, and elimination.
Vulnerability #
The degree to which individuals, communities, or populations are susceptible to the impact of NTDs, due to factors such as poverty, lack of access to healthcare, or social exclusion. Related terms include risk, disparities, and inequities.