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|   | *requires a greater commitment of resources, leadership and time - community mobilization may be perceived as less important than other aspects of the project  |   | *requires a greater commitment of resources, leadership and time - community mobilization may be perceived as less important than other aspects of the project  | 
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| − | [http://sgp.undp.org/download/SGP_India1.pdf Case study: India - Community-Based Rural Micro Hydro Project]: This project used a process-based, learning-by-doing approach to building and operating a micro hydro plant in this community. The community invested a significant amount in the project, both financially and in-kind. The community now runs and maintains its own power system,and is more interested in preserving the local forest than previously.    | + | [http://sgp.undp.org/download/SGP_India1.pdf Case study: India - Community-Based Rural Micro Hydro Project]: This project used a process-based, learning-by-doing approach to building and operating a micro hydro plant in this community. The community invested a significant amount in the project, both financially and in-kind. The community now runs and maintains its own power system,and is more interested in preserving the local forest than previously.   | 
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		Revision as of 11:29, 27 May 2010
Despite the expansion of SHP and other renewables in many countries, there are still some issues to be addressed in order to reach a fair level of development for this technology. One of these issues is the lack of awareness and information about the technology and its benefits. If policy-makers, energy planners, vendors, developers and consumers do not have access to accurate, easiliy grasped information on the technology, they will not be able to make a responsible choice of service. (Source: Alliance for Rural Electrification, 2008) 
The following information is based on the report by the Department of Industry/ World Bank (2003): Remote Area Renewable Electricity Fund (RARE) Pilot Programm. Trainign Manual for Community Mobilisation 
What is community mobilization? 
Community mobilization is the process by which members a community come together to achieve collective goals. 
What is the aim of community mobilisation? 
- To assist the community to make an informed decision about whether they want to participate in the projects. 
 - If they do, to establish the capability for the community to manage and operate a self-sustaining commune based micro hydro mini-grid.
 
Why is Community Mobilisation important? The community is expected to manage operate and maintain the project itself. To make sure the scheme works successfully local people need to: 
- know about and understand their responsibilities, 
 - be consulted and help to make decisions, 
 - help to build and operate the scheme (so they know how it works) 
 - commit to keeping it working by paying their fees, and have confidence that their fees are used properly 
 - benefit from the project
 
The principles that RARE fosters through community mobilization are: 
- ensure people whose voices are not always heard (for example women, some poorer households) are encourage to speak up; 
 - ensure the community is consulted about issues that concern them and is involved in decision-making; 
 - foster the development of local organisations to develop themselves; 
 - develop skills in local people.
 
Challenges of community mobilization are: 
- some people may be unwilling to give up their individual interests to the broader benefit of the community as a whole 
 - may create tension for the communes and organizations 
 - requires leadership and other skills that may not readily exist within the communes and organizations 
 - requires a greater commitment of resources, leadership and time - community mobilization may be perceived as less important than other aspects of the project
 
Case study: India - Community-Based Rural Micro Hydro Project: This project used a process-based, learning-by-doing approach to building and operating a micro hydro plant in this community. The community invested a significant amount in the project, both financially and in-kind. The community now runs and maintains its own power system,and is more interested in preserving the local forest than previously.