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Role of NGOs in NRLM
15th February 2011Presented By:
Dr. Sudha Kothari and Kalpana Pant
Chaitanya – Empowering Women
and Youth
One of the earliest institutions to promote poor women’s financial institution
Promoted first SHG federation in Maharashtra – in 1991 – has been rated by M-CRIL and received support from NABARD, SIDBI and commercial Banks
Initiated Jankar programme – community resource persons for SHG, federations, livelihood and legal counseling
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Why NGOs?
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To identify the needs, opportunities/risks and perceptions of the community
To monitor and evaluate the program effectively
To innovate and institutionalize community-based institutions
To develop ownership among the community for continued involvement
Why NGOs?To facilitate convergence of resources To reduce cost, and ensure sustained
financial contribution to run the programme
To increase effectiveness of the programme by using local knowledge and ensure culture sensitivity
To empower the community, facilitate community involvement in decision making
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Role of NGOs in Development
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EXECUTION - Piloting, innovation Designing need based programmes Identification and reaching the
poorest of the poor Identification of community leadersSocial mobilisation, awareness
building Local institution building
Role of NGOs Contd…
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Research and AdvocacyWatchdogBuilding pressure for policy changes (RTI)
Research based advocacy
Capacity BuildingTransfer of technology Facilitating Convergence Exposure Creating learning platforms
Role of NGO vis a vis Government agencies
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Complementarity between government and NGOs:NGO researches and pilots, Govt replicates (SHG)
Govt. plans, NGOs execute (Jal Swarajya)
Government plans and executes, NGO monitors or involved in capacity building (NRHM)
NGO raises concerns, Government amends policies/programs (Forest Bill)
Role of NGOs under NRLM
Role of NGOs in NRLM - Initial remarksFluidity even at the national level –
scope to determine/ evolve the role
Everyone to participate to generate thoughts ideas to increase complementarity and evolve framework for useful partnership.
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Strategies in NRLM
Community Mobilization to promote community owned institutions
Capacity Building and trainingCadre Building through Community
Resource Persons ( CRPs)Convergence –public private
partnershipsMonitoring and Evaluation Recruitment of trained staff from NGOs
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Broader frameworkNGOs are important stakeholders –
both in planning, implementation as well as monitoring of the programme
Need investment from the government to facilitate better partnership
Develop good institutional mechanism and right structure to work with NGOs
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Challenges Selection of NGOs – not based on
merit or determined by transparent criteria, often under political pressure
Lack of coordination – resulting in delayed implementation
Passing the buck –shifting responsibility
Flow of funds – Small NGOs may not have the capacity to deal with delay in fund transfer
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Challenges Training has been not necessarily in
response to an assessment of the needMany NGOs have come in just as a
contractorVery few organisations with proven track
recordGood NGOs afraid of working with
government – corruption, delay in flow of funds
Lack of accountability and transparency
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Selection of NGOs Under NRLM
Possible Options –Centralised Selection
Tejaswini programme - Identified 3 resource organisations for implementation and consultancy across the state.
CAIM – Short-listing of RNGOs and a bid process –district level process recently initiated
Jal Swarajya – State level unit responsible for bidding – mixed results
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Decentralised SGSY – the experience of selection of
NGOs by district offices has not been good
NABARD – Recommendation by regional offices and approval by head office up to a limit (now entirely decentralised)
While centralised process results in delays, decentralised process may results in dilution of quality
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The process of selection – Best PracticesA partnership approach rather than
giving out a contractNGO empanelled on some selection
criteriaIt designs the project within the given
frameworkSome initial cost for preparation of
project proposal – helping NGOs contextualise their experience
Flexibility and resources for innovation 17
Role of NGOs in NRLM
Role of NGOs at different levels Theme based –Agriculture/ Horticulture ,
financial literacy. State or national level resource agencies could be identified as experts
Activity Based – Training, marketing, women’s empowerment, community mobilisation, micro finance. Organisations with good experience in the region could be identified
Geography Based– some districts/ regions earmarked for NGOs – small organisations at district or block level with good track record can be identified
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Implications for selection of types of NGOS
NGO location Implications (Suggestive)
Within district
Within region
Within stateOutside state
Direct ImplementationTraining of trainersExpertise as resource
organisationsConsultancy based
Need to see cost implications and expertise experience and availability
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Role of CBOExisting SHG federations, producer’s
company farmer’ club to have option to be part of the programme.
NGO works with existing federations to take this process further
Could also work with banks and other partners
Could also be invited as resource institutions
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Collaboration of NGOs with Academic Institutions TISS – Chaitanya Collaboration
Micro Finance Development and Management Course – first all girls batch with TISS – convocation expected in March 2011.
NGO Management and Resource Mobilisation – the first course is to start in February
YCMOU –ChalanaCertificate course for Animators
Explore more collaborations with academic institutions to meet the demand for resource persons
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Role of NGOs in Accreditation of CRPsDevelop a mechanism to rate the
resource persons Federations do the job of
identifying and placing them In the convention 23rd-24th
February 1000 such resource persons coming together
All are invited!
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Most importantly…NRLM builds on the knowledge and
resource base existing in the state.
Various programmes – CAIM, Tejaswini and NABARD’s SHG –Bank linkage programme have experiences that need to be built upon.
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Reiterating the need to complement the strengths
Both NGOs and Government need each other
NGOs cannot achieve the scale and impact
that is possible for the government
Government machinery may not always enjoy the sustained, intense resources and the flexibility to use them which is necessary for innovations and experiments
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Thanks
Let us Work together to Create a better Future!