(This is the full posting on Ning that you will find on this page: http://aidscompetence.ning.com/forum/topics/share-your-experience-on-1)
Mobilization Resources is the umbrella of all forms of resources whether social, financial, human, knowledge and physical resources all of which are found in the community. Mobilizing these resources involves personal and political advocacy. Before, I am often reminded that NGOs should remain apolitical in order for the organization to keep away from dirty politics and influence of traditional politicians who might corrupt community workers and facilitators.
Later I realized that "political exercise" is a basic human right of every every human being. It is the only way they are involved in democratic processes in each of their spheres of decision-making whether peer-group, family, community, society and Nation. Its the only way they are engaged in creating an enabling environment and as watchdog for good governance where people are empowered to take action positioned to bring bout positive change in their lives.
Like JL who have a rich history at the UNAIDS who continuously strive to influence the agency to make a difference through political advocacy and indeed, jumping off the agency and creating the constellation was the leap that created a big difference because until now, a number of UNAIDS country offices around the world is adopting the life competence process that facilitates in the mobilization of local resources to respond to the pandemic.
The Ning Community too is one of the my favorite (second only to Social Edge) knowledge-sharing interactive space where resource such as community data is transformed into information then into knowledge and then wisdom. This is what the Constellation is all about. Discovering the Star in each of us then transforming them into a constellation and create communities that build relationships, support each other, share lessons learned, engage in community dialogue and cultural exchange, and develop local responses for addressing shared challenges and issues of life concerns.
Maybe, for people who suggest NGOs to be apolitical should do rethinking and instead of telling us to shun politics, should inspire us be "non-partisan instead". Or maybe, these people who tell us not to be political are the "corrupt" leaders we had and just wish to stay corrupt forever and wish to put corruption a "status quo" that feeds their greed and so that the resources available to all people will be controlled by their avarice. They tell us not to take our share by fooling us that it constitute corruption.
We should be VERY POLITICAL but NON PARTISAN, this can mobilize resources through advocacy and social mobilisation, as one of my favorite speaker Mr. Lito Lorenzana former Secretary of the Philippines Department of Agriculture always remind me.