Skills

Skills
Interaction skills
Communication and Engagement Skills: establishing working relations with local leaders and
residents, being able to operate in unstructured and sometimes chaotic situations, having a
tolerance of functioning in situations where the community worker might be "scapegoated" by
official bodies, being able to communicate clearly and directly (verbal and written
communication).
Learning to understand what people are communicating, and to put our own thoughts and
feelings into words, is a crucial skill in social work. These skills involve being able to
communicate across a wide spectrum, from those located at the top of the professional ladder
like directors, magistrates, people’s representatives, doctors or law enforcement officers to those
who are struggling to survive, that is our clients.
The major dimensions of this skill include proper use of language and non-verbal forms of
communication. Some authors also include the importance of “symbolic communication” –
meaning punctuality, reliability and attention to detail.
Observation skills help us to understand and draw conclusions about what is actually happening
and why and to check the reliability of our perceptions against those of other people and other
information available.
Organisational and Planning Skills
Having a grasp of the mechanics and dilemmas of building organisations, an ability to "plot out"
strategic and tactical options (and their possible implications), the ability to relate individual
problems to organisational responses.
Organizational skills are necessary in order to develop, build and sustain a constituency that will
make an impact on the social problem. These are required to ensure collective action that will
have an impact on a social issue. Examples include the ability to identify problems, attain goals
through programme activities, establish an appropriate group or organizational structure, plan
and conduct conferences/meetings and campaigns and weigh competing concerns to help
establish priorities.
Skills in Information Gathering and Assimilation, Problem Analysis
Research and Assessment Skills – it involves a range of activities like describing, explaining,
predicting and evaluating a problem situation.
Analytical skills imply the ability to study a situation or problem, to assess past efforts to deal
with it and to identify additional information which might be required. The worker must be able
to define a focus relevant to the central issues which incorporates an assessment of both the
opportunities and the constraints posed by the context of the situation.
Political and Analytical Skills
For instance, being able to view local action within a broader socio-economic framework of
reference, a knowledge of the sociology of political processes and a grasp of different varieties of
political ideologies.
Strategic or political skills are required in order to ensure collective action that will have an
impact on a social issue. This includes the ability to assess interests and commitments of parties
to a transaction, identify internal and external sources of influence and power, strengthen the
cohesiveness of one’s constituency, and identify areas of conflict and convergence. So implicitly,
skill in both verbal and written communication and a talent for negotiation are necessary.
Learning how to conduct meetings, engage in group decision making, build constituencies, an
negotiate and take leadership are few of the skills which can be acquired through organizational
experience.
Community mobilization,
Community mobilization is defined as “a capacity-building process through which community
individuals, groups, or organizations plan, carry out, and evaluate activities on a participatory
and sustained basis to improve their health and other needs, either on their own initiative or
stimulated by others.” Howard-Grabman, and Snetro, 2003.
Guide communities through a step-by-step process that includes: 1) a big-picture assessment of

the community’s issues, needs, and resources; 2) community exploration of issues and priority-
setting; 3) community action planning; 4) implementation of community action plans; and 5)
monitoring and evaluation of community mobilization. Approaches such as participatory
learning and action (PLA) can be used in the mobilization process. PLA is a community
development approach whereby facilitators work with communities to help them analyze their
needs, identify solutions, and develop and implement action plans. Participatory processes are
used not just for assessment purposes but also for follow-on mobilization and action.
1. Engage the whole community (Circles of Influence)
2. Facilitate a Process of Social Change
3. Provide Repeated Exposure to Ideas
4. Use a Human Rights Framework
5. Promote Community Ownership
Resource mobilization (external and internal),
Resource mobilization is actually a process of raising different types of support for the
organization. It can include both cash and in-kind support and it can be from outside the
community or from among the target community members.
Submitting proposals to a typical donor agency is the most conventional way of getting support.
a good fundraising strategy will consider these other methods also.
Organizing fundraising events where you invite guests and request donations for your
organization. Donation boxes where you request small amounts of money from public.
Collecting in-kind contribution such as used clothes, furniture, books, vehicles or even buildings.
Volunteer support where volunteers provide their time and resources to support the work of your
organization. Income from business-oriented projects of your organization like selling of
publications, offering consultancies, microfinance, micro insurance or micro-enterprise-based
activities

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Skills

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Skills

Organisational and Planning Skills

Skills in Information Gathering and Assimilation, Problem Analysis

Political and Analytical Skills

Guide communities through a step-by-step process that includes: 1) a big-picture assessment of

Resource mobilization (external and internal),

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