Community mobiliser: how to train and review the role
Works in villages or urban settlements to reach families, form groups, hold meetings and link people to a programme's services. Keeps registers of households and attendance. Reports to a field coordinator and is the face of the organisation in the community.
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Share your requirementsWho usually fills this role
Usually local women and men with school or college education, volunteers who became staff, or members of self-help groups. At hiring, test local language, trust in the community, ability to speak in a meeting, record keeping and willingness to travel and work on community timings.
Skills ladder
Stage 1
New joiner
- Visits households and explains the programme
- Keeps a simple household register
- Informs the coordinator of problems
Stage 2
Independent
- Forms and sustains groups
- Facilitates community meetings
- Links families to services and follows up
Stage 3
Senior or lead
- Handles sensitive cases and conflicts
- Trains new mobilisers
- Brings community feedback to programme staff
Training path
First weeks
- 1
Programme and community walk
The field coordinator explains the programme's aims, services and rules, then walks the area with the joiner. The joiner lists key local leaders and places and the coordinator checks the list.
- 2
Registers and visit forms
Teach household registers, attendance sheets and visit forms using dummy entries. The coordinator reviews real entries weekly.
- 3
Conduct and respect
Teach respectful behaviour, consent, confidentiality and what not to promise. The coordinator observes early visits and gives feedback.
First year
- 1
Facilitating meetings
The coordinator coaches planning, opening, listening and closing a group meeting. The mobiliser leads meetings and the coordinator observes.
- 2
Linking to services
Teach how to refer families to health, schemes or training and track results. The coordinator reviews referrals and outcomes.
- 3
Safeguarding and sensitive matters
Teach recognising and reporting abuse, violence or exploitation by the organisation's procedure. The programme manager or safeguarding lead signs off.
Towards senior
- 1
Handling conflict and rumours
The coordinator works through real cases of rumours or disputes. The mobiliser writes an action note and the coordinator reviews.
- 2
Coaching new mobilisers
The senior mobiliser takes a new joiner on visits and gives written feedback. The coordinator checks the joiner's work.
- 3
Feedback loops
The mobiliser records community suggestions and complaints. The programme manager responds and tells the mobiliser what changed.
Performance review
A monthly 1-to-1 with the field coordinator and a group review meeting with colleagues, plus a half-yearly written review that includes a field visit.
What to measure
| Measure | How it is seen |
|---|---|
| Reach and regularity | Visit register and group attendance |
| Group strength | Group meeting records and observation |
| Quality of records | Register checks against visits |
| Referral follow-up | Referral log and outcomes |
| Community trust | Community feedback and complaints |
| Conduct and safeguarding | Observation and incident notes |
Evidence to bring
- Visit and attendance registers
- Referral log
- Meeting notes
- Community feedback
- Safeguarding incident notes
Questions to ask in the review
- Which families are hard to reach and why?
- How are your groups doing?
- What did people raise as concerns?
- Which referrals are stuck?
- Where do you feel unsafe or unsure?
- How are your records?
- What training would help you?
Pitfalls
- Judging only on numbers reached
- No safeguarding training
- Paying late or irregularly, which hurts trust
- Giving no support for travel or safety
Questions about this role
Yes. Provide a clear role, training and fair terms. Confirm engagement terms with your adviser.
Give a clear neutrality rule, backing from management and a way to report pressure.
Use observation, community feedback and group strength alongside registers.