The document outlines nine elements to consider when developing a community-based activity: goals, audiences, message, delivery, resources, gaps, first steps, risk assessment, and evaluation. The goals should distinguish between short and long-term outcomes. Audiences may include more than one group. The message should address each audience's needs. Delivery methods vary by audience. Resources include existing material and knowledge. Gaps in resources should be identified. First steps bring key people together and symbolize long-term goals. Risk assessment anticipates barriers and challenges. Evaluation takes place at every step and measures progress towards goals.

1. Group Project: Develop a Community-Based Activity There are Nine Elements to Consider

2. Goals: What do you want to accomplish? • Distinguish between short-term (3 to 6 months) and long-term (1 to 2 years) intended outcomes • Identify content goals (what will be done) • Identify process goals (how it will be done)

3. Audiences: Who will be involved? • There may be more than one audience or group of participants • Decide whether activities should be mixed- or same-sexed • Include people with authority and status in the community

4. Message: What do they need to hear or think about? • Each audience will have different needs and have different ‘entry points’ • Generally, there are two types of messages: what is ‘right’ and what is in the audience’s ‘self interest’

5. Delivery: How can we get participants to hear our message? • What is effective will vary from audience to audience

6. Resources: What do we have to work with? • Effective community mobilization efforts build on the resources already in place • Consider both material and non-material (knowledge, role models) resources

7. Gaps: What else do we need to develop? • After taking stock of what is available, identify resources you need but do not have • Also consider how you might access these resources

8. First Steps: How do we begin? • Identify some hort-term activities that would bring the right people together, symbolize the larger work ahead, and foster the synergy that will drive long-term goals

9. Risk Assesment: What barriers and challenges might exist? • Anticipate barriers to participation and challenges from participants in order to design strategies to address these risks • Include an assessment of your organizational capacity

10. Evaluation: How will we tell if it is working? • Evaluation needs to take place at every step so that adjustments can be made • Evaluation also enables you to monitor progress towards your goal • Identify clear and measurable base line measures

11. • Aspects to be evaluated include: what was done; who participated; where; when the activities were held; are you on track for your timeline; how well the work is being done