RURAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (RESDO)

5. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY:

5.1: Activity description:

1. Community Assessment and Base line Survey: Conducting village level assessment including baseline survey and PRA exercises to collect detailed demographic information of 10 target villages. The details will include information on the households and their status in terms of functioning. The project will also identify existing vocational skills and local alternative livelihood opportunities available in the target communities. The demographic information will help to identify villages for formation of new SHGs.

2. Formation & orientation on SHG: Initial meetings with community members to form 50 new SHGs will be organized in all the villages. Project staff will orient the members about the need and benefits of forming an SHG. The agenda of the meetings will be to motivate women from the target communities to organize into SHGs for better livelihood opportunities. The meetings will facilitate group formation and selection of key members of the group such as President, Secretary and Treasurer.

 

3. Training on group dynamics to SHGs: Once the groups are formed, the project will begin with training on the group dynamics and various techniques involved in managing the group. It will organize trainings to all 50 SHGs. Roles and responsibilities of the groups will be discussed and finalized during these trainings Rules and monthly subscriptions by the members will be decided during the trainings. These trainings will be organized at village and will include all the SHGs from the village.

 

4. Training on leadership development: The training is crucial and identified as one of the gaps in several studies conducted in Tribal villages. The trainings will impart skills in leadership development and management of the group. The trainings will be provided to key members of all 50 SHGs.

 

5. Training on accounts and bookkeeping: Accounting and bookkeeping in the groups has always been a challenge due to lack of education and literacy amongst the group members. The project will impart training on basic bookkeeping procedure to selected members of the SHGs. It will ensure that the groups will have at least one literate person and support her in bookkeeping and accounting.

 

6. Refresher trainings to SHGs: The refresher trainings will aim to identify the gaps/challenges in group dynamics, leadership and bookkeeping and address the same in participatory manner. These trainings will be organized after completion of one year of group formation. The project will adopt peer support approach viz. engaging successful SHGs to resolve the challenges of other SHGs. Further the refresher trainings will provide additional inputs to the key members of the group.

 

7. SHG exposure visits to other NGOs: Exposure visits to other successful SHGs will be organized to newly formed SHGs. It will be useful for the members of new groups to understand the functioning and benefit of SHGs.

 

8. Celebration of World Women's Day: As part of awareness rising on women rights and entitlements, World Women’s Days will be organized throughout the project duration. Women from all the SHGs will be mobilized for mass rally on the occasion.

 

9. Procurement of Quality seeds for paddy cultivation under SRI: Quality seeds units will be procured and distributed to 10 SHGs. These units will be donated to those groups, which are active and undertaking agriculture cultivation.

 

10. Training on SRI cultivation: Build technical skills in SRI agriculture cultivation. The project will engage external experts to organize the training and build the technical capacity of the members. Three trainings are planned for 10 SHGs and each training will last for four days.

 

 

11. Training on Organic Vegetable Cultivation: Trainings to be provided to 10 SHGs poor farmers on organic vegetable cultivation with the support of Horticultural department. Training to be provided to interested vegetable farmers belongs to SHGs members. The resource persons to be hired from partner NGOs and other professional agencies to enhance the skills of poor farmers in operational area on various scientific methods of vegetable cultivation, organic farming and best practices of vegetable cultivation. Along with community based trainers to be promoted like community service providers. They will act as community services providers provide all type of technical services to the people on fees basis.

 

12. Capital Support to Vegetable Cultivation: Capital support to be given 1500 farmers (10 SHGs) for purchase of seeds, tools, machinery and working capital support in collective approach.

 

13. Training on Kitchen Garden: Training to be given to all SHGs on kitchen garden to enhance their household level income in association with agricultural and horticultural department.

 

14. Procurement of Vegetable seeds for Kitchen Garden: In order to increase the income level of daily vegetable cultivation women, the project proposes to distribute small vegetable kits. 200 vegetable kits will be procured and distributed to women from SHGs. The project will ensure that the supplier provides proper demonstration to the beneficiaries to understand its usage.

 

15. Promotion of alternative livelihood opportunities: In the target communities for women not engaged in agricultural activities to 50 Nos SHGs. The project will use baseline and PRA information to identify the existing alternate livelihood opportunities as well as vocational skill building requirements. Few alternate livelihood opportunities such as dairy farm, goat rearing, poultry farm, Community fair shops, leaf plate making, and other micro enterprises could be explored.

However, the project will emphasize on the demand from the target groups with regard to alternate livelihoods and support accordingly. Capital support to be given to SHGs for purchase of cows, goats, establish community fair shops, leaf plate enterprise in collective approach. 10% community contribution to be generated to enhance ownership and sustainability on community based enterprises.

 

16. Vocational skill building on alternative livelihood opportunities: The project proposes to organize skill building trainings, if needed, once the alternate livelihood opportunities are identified and finalized by the groups. Specially the training to be organized dairy farm, goat rearing, poultry farm, Community fair shops and leaf plate making.

 

17. Workshop on government livelihood entitlements: To increase knowledge on the existing schemes available for tribal and other disadvantaged communities in the tribal region of Manipur. The project will involve officials from agricultural, horticultural department and social welfare department of government of Manipur as resource persons so as to ensure accurate information about the entitlements. Two such workshops (one day each) are planned involving key members from all SHGs.

 

18. Workshop on role of PRI vis-à-vis implementation of government entitlements: Most of the government entitlements are being implemented through the local Panchayats. Hence, it is important for the groups to understand the role of Panchayats, which is crucial in implementation of the schemes. The workshops will involve Sarpanchs (elected representative of local Panchayats) to provide information about the existing schemes and its access. Two workshops, of one day duration each, are proposed in the project. The potential participants of the workshop would be key members of the SHGs as well as village leaders who work closely with the Panchayats.

 

19. Seminar on Right to Information (RTI) Act. Right to Information Act is enforced by the Government of India in 2005, which provides the right to access any information from the government authorities / department. The tool has been effective for an ordinary citizen to access crucial information from the government.

As part of women empowerment, the project will organize a one day seminar for key members of all the SHGs to raise awareness on the Act and its usage. At least 100 people from all the SHGs will participate in the seminar.

 

20. Development of Information Education Communication (IEC) materials: The project will undertake a detailed communication needs assessment of the target communities. The needs assessment will determine different communication needs and the mode of communication. Based on the needs assessment, the project will develop IEC materials mainly focusing on the livelihood opportunities and benefits of SHG. The IEC materials will be displayed at strategic public locations such as community halls, Panchayat buildings, Anganwadi centers, etc. for greater visibility and impact.

 

21. Networking with financial institutions: To establish and increase micro-credit linkages for SHG. Apart from financial institutions, the project will coordinate with Block and District Administration to get information regarding the schemes and entitlements for women from the target communities.

 

22. Organizing Cluster level meetings: The purpose of the meetings will be to discuss and get the consensus about the formation of Self Help Cooperative Society under the Manipur Self Help Cooperative Act 2001. The meetings help to decide the office bearers, structure, roles and responsibilities, etc. These meetings will be conducted with the leaders of cluster level SHG federations. Five such meetings are planned during the course of the project.

 

23. Registration of the Cooperative Society will be undertaken from 2nd year of the project. Necessary documentation will be prepared and submitted to the concerned government authorities for registration.

 

24. Training on organization development and management: The training will provide basic understanding about the organizational dynamics, development and management. One training (3 days duration) will be organized for all the office bearers as well as key members of the society. External technical experts will be hired to conduct the training.

 

25. Training on financial procedures and management to provide basic understanding on the financial management of the society. One training is planned and the duration of the training will be two days. Training will include key people responsible for finance/accounts management.

 

26. Networking for building marketing linkages: The main purpose of the society is to create better marketing opportunities for the SHGs. The society will network with various marketing agencies such as ORMAS (Manipur Rural Development and Marketing Society). The society will also make efforts to explore other market avenues for selling SHGs related products. RURAL ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (RESDO)will provide ongoing technical support to strengthen the society.

 

5.2. Activity Schedule:

The following is the activity schedule of the project.

 

5.4 Inputs (Resources) Requirements for the Project:

5.4.1. Material resources: The project will require two computer systems for documentation and smooth flow of field operations. A computer with printer & modem and digital camera will also be required for communication and official documentation purposes. Three bikes for the

 

5.4.2. Human resources: S.Bheema Rao appointed by the Board of Governance as an Executive Director, represents the organization in all legal and contractual obligations. He will also be responsible for implementation of the project and reporting to the donor in all project related matters. He will appoint project staff, develop project work plans and review project progress on regular basis. He will be responsible for project accounting and reporting till end of the project. He will not get any remuneration from the project and voluntarily contribute for project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. In addition, the project will require five full time paid staff (including a Project Manager) for implementation of the project. The project Manager will manage day to day project operations and report to Executive Director. The organogram of project staff and their details are given below:

 

Positions and quantity required

Project Manager (One): Post Graduation preferably in Social Work with at least three years experience in project management overall responsible for the project implementation, monitoring and reporting under the framework of the project. The incumbent will be responsible for staff capacity building initiatives and networking with various stakeholders.

Livelihood Coordinator (three): Post Graduate Certificate in Livelihood management with at least two years experience in SHG and livelihood promotion Or MSW with 5 year experience in NGO sector. The person will be responsible for formation and capacity building of SHGs. Identification and assessment of livelihood opportunities. Exploring marketing opportunities and building linkages with various stakeholders on livelihoods.

Technical Coordinator (One): MSW with minimum 5 year experience, provide technical support and help in documentation, and research work.

Accounts cum Admin: Graduation in Assist. The project coordinator with Officer (One) Accounting/Commerce with two years of experience in NGO accounts and office administration administrative and financial functions of the project. The person will assist the project coordinator to maintain project documentation and provide coordination support to the field staff.

Community Mobilizes (three): Graduate and two years experience in community mobilization.

The community Mobilizes are primarily responsible for undertaking community mobilization activities as well as awareness raising initiatives.

 

5.4.2. Financial Resources:

The total financial requirement is Rs.50,77,600 / - towards entire project cost for three years. The Donor Contribution Rs. 43,19,255(85%) and Local Contribution Rs.758375(15%) .

 

Expense head Amount Percentage

1 Program cost 116,000,000 Rs./- (58%)

2 Personnel cost 64000000Rs/- (32%)

3 Administration cost Rs. 2000000/- (10%)

Total: 200000000 100%

 

5.5. Project Monitoring and Evaluation:

RURAL ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (RESDO) will commit to follow up the project from the moment work has commenced and will send three-monthly reports to donor agency up until six months after its termination. In addition, the project will establish a project monitoring plan based on the project logframe for internal monitoring and evaluation purpose. The monthly activity plans will be developed from the project monitoring plan. RURAL ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (RESDO) will develop appropriate reporting formats for collection of project information on a monthly basis. Monthly project review meetings will be organized to review the progress and these meetings will be facilitated by the Project Manager. Proceedings of each monthly review will be recorded and kept for future reference.

The Executive Director will undertake period monitoring visits to the project area to interact with project beneficiaries, project staff and other stakeholders on the progress. Besides, the project will form an executive committee consisting of the following members:

- Executive Director of RURAL ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (RESDO)

- Project Manager RURAL ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (RESDO)

- Livelihood Coordinator RURAL ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (RESDO)

- Two SHG members from the Tribal community

The executive committee will act as a nodal body for project monitoring and implementation. Towards end of the project an external evaluation is planned by external resource person. The evaluation will assess the impact of the project within the project framework. It will also identify the gaps and provide recommendations to be considered for similar future projects. In case, donor agency commits to undertake the external evaluation of the project, then the project will reconsider the budget for the evaluation activity. However, RURAL ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (RESDO) will appreciate a communication in this regard.