The centre piece of the RSP approach is
social mobilisation of the
poor in order to enable them to participate directly in decisions that affect their lives and prospects. Communities are mobilised and asked to indicate their priorities through a process of dialogue,
catalysed by the programmes. They are then encouraged to assume responsibility for implementing and maintaining the projects, reflecting their own priorities, with technical and financial support being extended by the programmes. The model upholds
civil society as central to addressing the economic, socio-political and cultural
causes of poverty. It also subverts the conventional model of
social development, which assumed that either
central government or
outside agencies would lift people out of
poverty. == Role of RSPN ==