New Roles for NGO CSOs in the New Ear of WSD Projects An Analysis of Opportunities within Common Gui

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New Roles for NGO/ CSOs in the New Ear of WSD
ProjectsAn Analysis of Opportunities within
Common GuidelinesMV Ramachandrudu, WASSAN
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Evolution of Roles of Voluntary Organizations in
the Context of Watershed Development Projects in
India

• Pre 1994
• Post 1994
• Hariyali
• Post Hariyali

Key Trends, Issues, Experiences Related to Roles
of NGOs and Partnerships with GO
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Pre 1994
Innovations, Pilots, Model Villages MYRADA,
WOTR, Relegan Siddhi, AKRSP I, Seva Mandir,
AFPRO, several others
Contribution from Voluntary Organizations towards
Conceptualization of Watershed Approaches Institu
tional Arrangements SHGs, User Groups,
Committees, Para workers/ volunteers Project
Content Integrated Approaches natural resources
and agriculture Concerns Participatory
Decision Making, Flexible Technical Norms Gender
and Equity Considerations, Enhancement of Local
Capacities Project Management Dedicated
Project teams, Local and Micro planning with
communities, Consistent monitoring and review
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Pre 1994 Cont
Largely Traditional Roles State was open to take
up lessons and working models created by NGOs
into policy formulation Guidelines for
Watershed Development Projects 1994
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Post 1994
Up scaling of Good Practices from NGO Sector and
Mainstream with several newer elements.
Dedicated Project Implementing Agencies for a
cluster of watersheds Clear Budgetary Support
to Administration, Community Organization,
Training Several NGOs became partners of
Government - Good, Bad and Ugly. In some states,
the role of NGOs is minimal and some states
worked with a large number of NGOs. Several Good
Experiences Generated
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Post 1994 cont
NGOs played critical role in up-scaling good
practices. Scale of Projects posed new
challenges to partnerships between GO and NGOs
Large amount money attracted undue attention.
NGO, GO, CBO and PRI partnership related issues
surfaced. Issues related to weak processes,
sustainability of benefits, influences of
externalities became hot topics for debates
Hariyali Guidelines were issued
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Post Hariyali
NGOs are out of partnership in the name of
Strengthening PRIs. Several committed NGOs also
came of the project due to various problems
Corruption, Fund Flow Problems, Lack of
Administrative Supports Difficult to Separate
Good from Bad. Good intentioned Government
officers also could not do much.
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Post Hariyali cont
Implementation Role to Other Roles Resource
Organizations, Research and Advocacy
Documentation and Capacity Building Support
Services Community Mobilization Networking
Mother Agency Lead Organization, Support
Voluntary Organizations
Complete withdrawal by Some NGOs Up-Scaling
Themselves to Facilitators of Up-Scaling Soft
Roles Evolution of Second Order Institutions
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Post Hariyali Common guidelines 2008
Multiple Roles of NGOs/ CSOs recognized
Implementing Innovative Approaches as PIA at
Community Level Strengthening Project
Management Preparation of Detailed Project
Reports Institutional Partnerships for
Monitoring/ Evaluation/ Learning Strengthening
of Capacity Building Support Systems Training,
Systems of Capacity Building, Resource Persons,
Preparation of Modules and Materials Several
NGOs contributed to the policy formulation
process of Common Guidelines
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Post Hariyali Common guidelines 2008 contd
NGOs are recognized as necessary support systems
and on-par with national level resource
institutions Emphasis is on partnerships
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Change and Continuity
What is changing and What is continuing? What
are the reasons for change and what are the
reasons for continuity? What should change and
What should continue? Based on experiences
and need, role of NGO/CSO should change. The
contribution and agenda of NGOs/ CSO has to be
relevant to the changing aspirations of the
communities. Change in Roles is
inevitable. Continuity in partnerships and
relationships is important requirement in
development process. Belief and trust on
partnerships are necessary for continuity.
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Some Good Practices that continue the change
processes
Network of NGOs/CSOs engaged with watershed
projects (Implementation, CB Services and
Research) Annual Network Meetings Special
Streams of Innovative Projects within large scale
development projects Working Groups/ Committees
in which NGOs are active members Consortium of
Resource Organizations NGOs, Academic
Institutions, Line Departments, etc
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Some Good Practices that continue the change
processes
Resource Organizations functioning as Secretariat
of Consortium Lead NGO/ Resource Support
Organizations providing hand holding support to
implementing agencies Anchoring CB Service
Centers/ Livelihoods Resource Centers that are
established by state District Resource
Organizations/ Teams Active Collaboration
between NGO and GO leading to formulation of
Process Guidelines/ Operational Guidelines for
watershed projects Offering independent
monitoring, research, feed back support to
watershed development projects
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New Roles, Opportunities in the context of Common
Guidelines..
Several of policy provisions can open up only
when SLNA intends to open these spaces for NGOs/
CSOs. NRAA/ DoLR/ MoAgri are in a crucial
position to influence the formation and
functioning of SNLA and its operational
strategies
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New Roles, Opportunities in the context of Common
Guidelines.. Key Questions
Are SLNAs ready to strategize the operational
processes of watershed projects? How can NGOs
support this process? How can NGOs influence this
process in different states? How to
collaborate with NRAA/ DoLR/ MoAgri to get space
at national and state levels, in operationalizing
the Common Guidelines and various provisions of
Common Guidelines (Concerns, Content, Project
Management)? What are the good examples of such
collaborations? How to up-scale such
collaborations? What kind of institutional form
is required to facilitate change and continuity?