How to form, sustain groups
Members of the Karurumo Self Help Group in their juice processing plant in Embu. Formation of common interest groups such as this starts when members come together for a common goal. PHOTO | BRIAN OKINDA | NMG
What you need to know:
- Members need to understand from the word go that formation of a group is one thing while sustainability is another.
- The norming stage is characterised by close relationships and cohesiveness among members. They are able to identify their needs and norms and conflicts are easily settled.
- The social services departments in the counties and sub-counties not only offer such services but they also register the formed groups into legal entities in addition to offering the after registration advice and follow up.
- Key issues that the leadership should follow strictly include meetings, office tenure, responsibilities of officials and members as well as way and means of making the group self-reliant.
If you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go with others, so goes the popular African proverb.
Agricultural value chain actors aspire to move far and, therefore, the formation of common interest groups (CIG) is crucial. Between 2000 and 2005, the National Agriculture and Livestock extension programme (Nalep) assisted in formation of 7,500 CIGS annually.
However, reviews and discussions with farmers in 2010 indicated that over 70 per cent of CIGS had difficulties in reaching the intended level of financial viability and significantly contribute to increased income and improved livelihood of the members.
The growth and scale of operation for those groups was another concern. CIG formation still continues today and their viability and sustainability can be enhanced through empowerment of the group members, comprehensive and working constitution, quality management by the officials, well-maintained group records and having successful and sustainable activities as well as conflict resolution mechanisms.
Empowerment of the group members
Members need to understand from the word go that formation of a group is one thing while sustainability is another.
They need to understand that group formation is a process with various stages of development and whenever they face challenges, they should relate them to the formation stages to assist them in understanding and solving the issues. The stages are: formation, storming, norming and the performing/maturity stage.
The formation stage starts when members come together for a common goal. At this stage, members demonstrate a lot of commitment to the group and willingly offer their services. At this point they should consider their mutual relations based on their needs, social structure, leadership and democratic factors.
Challenges at this stage include superficial relationships among members, demonstration of dependency on existing leadership in decision-making and uncertain responses from leadership and colleagues.
The storming stage is when members come to know each other better, disagreements are common while competition, tension and disunity are highly likely. Each also seeks to control the group. By the end of this stage, there is a clear ranked structure of leadership in the group.
The norming stage is characterised by close relationships and cohesiveness among members. They are able to identify their needs and norms and conflicts are easily settled.
At the performing/maturity stage, the members see themselves as a group and get involved in tasks. The group redefines its goals in the light of information from the outside environment and shows an autonomous will to those goals.
One key issue that studies have shown to have positive effects on formation of sustainable group is the democratic say in the decisions regarding the outfit. Further, merger of small to larger groups has been found to enhance the powers of the group
Comprehensive and working constitution
One of the critical issues that the group should consider during the formation stage is the constitution that is to guide operations. Members can borrow a constitution from an existing group and customise it to suit its needs. It can also seek the help of a professional to draft one.
The social services departments in the counties and sub-counties not only offer such services but they also register the formed groups into legal entities in addition to offering the after registration advice and follow up.
The constitution has the following parts: Name; aims/objectives; membership eligibility; office bearers and their functions/roles; meeting procedures; venues; time and day; funds management; discipline of members, record management, amendment to the constitution, acceptance and endorsement of the constitution and dissolution of the group.
Quality management by the officials
Quality leadership involves democratic management where the role of the leader is just facilitation in nature and precise implementation of the constitution is important.
Key issues that the leadership should follow strictly include meetings, office tenure, responsibilities of officials and members as well as way and means of making the group self-reliant.
Well-maintained group records
Transparency and accountability should be the pillar of record maintenance.
Successful and sustainable activities
Research has shown that successful and sustainable group activities lead to group interactions, cohesion, interpersonal trust and co-operation.
Conflict resolution
Where two or more people come together, misunderstandings are likely to occur. The constitution should spell out the conflict resolution mechanisms.
Members in conflict should be given a chance to express themselves and approaches selected by the whole group should be used to resolve the issue at hand. Issues and not individuals should be the concern of the arbitrating team.
Talk to Dr Mwirigi on [email protected]
