Year-round mutual-aid network activity
This criterion assesses the active cultivation of a year-round mutual-aid network, embodying the principle of *Taʿāwun*. By facilitating direct peer-to-peer support, the organization strengthens community resilience, deepens social bonds, and builds a sustainable, dignified system of care. A ‘documented act’ is a recorded request-and-fulfillment instance between peers (not staff-delivered services), logged with date, type, anonymized parties, and outcome. Direct cash transfers are not permitted. Where shopping/reimbursements are necessary, they must use a controlled process: (1) pre-approval by coordinator, (2) two-person verification for reimbursements, (3) itemised receipts required, (4) payment only to the helper (not to the requester) via traceable method (bank transfer), and (5) recording in the mutual-aid log with finance reference.
| Metric | Mutual-aid network activity & quality |
|---|---|
| Target | ≥4 acts/yr across 3 quarters |
| Frequency | Quarterly Review |
| Method | Count of activities (distributed quarterly), fulfilment rate, and incident count. |
| Unit | Composite |
Level 1: Initial/Ad-hoc
Informal & Reactive Support: The organization facilitates mutual aid on an ad-hoc basis. Support is reactive, typically initiated only when a community member makes a direct request to the leadership.
Level 2: Developing
Developing System: A basic, dedicated channel for mutual aid exists. The process is semi-formalized, but management is still largely reactive and dependent on a few key individuals.
Level 3: Established
Established & Proactive Network: A formal mutual-aid program is established with clear guidelines, a dedicated platform, and defined roles. The organization begins to proactively identify needs and match them with available community resources.
Level 4: Advanced
Managed & Optimized: The mutual-aid network is managed using data and distributed year-round. The organization tracks requests, fulfilment rates, and trends. Feedback is regularly collected to improve processes.
Level 5: Optimizing
Leading & Integrated: The mutual-aid network is a fully integrated, self-sustaining part of the community's culture (Takaful). The system anticipates needs, empowers members to lead initiatives, and demonstrates high fulfilment rates and robust governance.
Organisation Types
By Organisation Size
| Size | Applicability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Micro | partial | Requirement for 4 acts is achievable, but formal DPIA, extensive induction materials, and a dedicated Deputy role are disproportionate; informal logging suffices. |
| Small | partial | Can appoint a Lead and log quarterly acts, but formal DPIA and complex induction documentation should be scaled down to basic privacy notices and guidelines. |
| Medium | full | |
| Large | full | |
| Major | full |
Applicable When
- The organization has a significant community presence and engagement.
- The organization has existing infrastructure that can be leveraged for mutual aid (e.g., volunteer base, community outreach programs).
- The organization is located in a community with identified needs that could be addressed through mutual aid.
Not Applicable When
- The organization's activities are highly specialized and do not involve direct community interaction.
- The organization operates solely at a national or international level without any local chapters or community-facing presence capable of running a mutual-aid network.
- The organization is a for-profit entity with a primary focus on generating revenue, although even for-profit businesses can engage in mutual aid, it's less of a primary focus.
Related Criteria
Discussion (1)
📋 **Version updated: 1.0.0 → 2.9.7** **Changes:** Updated islamic_references from mizan-297.json
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