Is it possible to use a singular model or approach to help these people? Apparently a non-governmental initiative by Rural Support Program Network (RSPN) has figured out a way to do that.<\/p>\n
Most policies in Pakistan sound promising when they are being formulated, but fall flat when it comes to implementation. In order to ensure that this doesn\u2019t happen,\u00a0RSPN<\/a>\u00a0has created an implementation model for developmental projects. To break it down, RSPN is calling its new method \u201ccommunity driven development through social mobilization.\u201d<\/p>\n While that sounds like a novel idea, how does one use this as an implementation strategy? Here\u2019s how their model purportedly works.<\/p>\n It starts with advocacy at a community level and a participatory approach for a community to find their own solutions. This model then moves on to the village level, then eventually to union councils.<\/p>\n RSPN\u2019s \u2018LSO model<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Through these local support programs (LSOs for short), RSPN is working on everything from advocacy for education to poverty alleviation. Since money makes the world go round, by helping a population to become economically independent through RSPs, they can then devise their own developmental solutions.<\/p>\n RSPN has an implementation partner in\u00a0Sarhad Rural Support Program<\/strong>\u00a0(SRSP). SRSP is running three projects across five districts. As part of their Community Investment Fund (CIF), they offer loans to start income-generating set-ups from labor for hire to livestock.<\/p>\n So how fruitful have their poverty alleviation efforts been? From their sample, 11,000 women from all their LSOs, some 60% showcased an income increase, while some 20% of households showed an income increase.<\/p>\n These people who benefited from the CIF, many return to obtain more loans. Some even came back over five times. Why keep giving people money if they have a sustainable set-up?<\/p>\n \u201cEconomic expansion requires capital.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Set-up established with SRSP assistance. Image Source: SRSP Facebook<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n CIF keeps providing loans to help these people so that they can expand their small-scale businesses and set-up. Some people have even moved on to employing others.<\/p>\n Another way to expand a set-up is to expand their market outreach. According to an SRSP Market Evaluation Officer, Tahira Jameel they do help people expand their market.<\/p>\n In fact, they carry out the market evaluation part for the people and then connect them to local markets. She revealed that while it may sound simple to move on from local to national markets, social factors also play a big part.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of these women are growing their set-up and we encourage that and provide capital as well, but these women\u2019s social experience has mostly been limited to their communities. Approaching local markets is a mammoth task for them, especially with social norms and all.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Based on the results they\u2019ve seen so far, Tahira is confident that they will gradually get to a point when these women will be selling to national markets.<\/p>\n Help people create their own schemes \u2013 SRSP CEO, Masood ul Mulk<\/p><\/blockquote>\n SRSP-CEO, Masood-ul-Mulk on how they \u2018invest in people, not prospects\u2019<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n There has to be a catch to this, right? RSPN asks in return that people carry on this flame of advocacy. In fact, it\u2019s part of their community awareness kit (CAT). All beneficiaries of these RSPs are asked to advocate for vaccination, education, livestock vaccination, family planning, etc in their communities and personal networks. When everyone knows everyone, this comes in handy.<\/p>\n Okay, sounds good so far. So how well has that turned out to be in the field? Currently, they have three major ongoing poverty alleviation programs SUCESS, Ehsaas, and BRACE.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s break these down.<\/p>\n Now that we know that \u2018LSO model<\/em>\u2018 of implementation, what does SUCCESS do? The program is part of Pakistan\u2019s largest grassroots level poverty reduction initiative that started back in 2015. Like its name suggests, this program aims to lift people from poverty in eight districts of Sindh.<\/p>\n The project, like most RSPN programs, is women-centered, with a goal of lifting 770,000 women from poverty, and with them, their 316 LSOs by 2021.<\/p>\n SRSP helping people set up livelihood in Sindh Image source: RSPN<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n For sustainable means of economic growth, we can\u2019t leave 50 percent of the population out of the discussion. So to benefit from this program people need women to make the big decisions for uplifting entire communities.<\/p>\n About 770,000 women in 316 LSOs. It does feel a little over-ambitious, doesn\u2019t it? Field Unit Incharge from LSO Larkana, Shumaila Bahadur says that its not that far off. She revealed that in districts like hers, it\u2019s been smooth sailing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve never had trouble meeting our targets. Whether\u2019s its helping women set-up sustainable livelihood or expanding our advocacy reach. In more deprived areas I admit it would be harder, but based on the progress I\u2019ve seen, I know it\u2019s not unattainable though.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n SUCCESS is even helping pre-existing poverty alleviation programs grow and meet their goals. Like Sindh\u2019s Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Program (UCBPRP) which covers 10 districts. Sindh has a total of 23 districts. (they\u2019ll figure out a way to get to all of them, eventually).<\/p>\n Besides that, they even have the re-directing government policy part down. Last year SUCCESS and RSPN lobbied to have the Sindh government add a provincial-level poverty reduction strategy to their framework.<\/p>\n Pakistan\u2019s most mineral-rich province has unfortunately been lagging behind when it comes to growth. Most of this is due to ill-conceived policies and lack of provincial government initiatives. So rather than wait around for the authorities to get their heads together, BRACE has set out to empower Balochistan\u2019s community\u2019s socially and economically.<\/p>\n A socially empowered population with economic stability, can then eventually hold their elected representatives accountable. Advocacy covering issues like education, gender parity, human rights, etc and opportunities for economic independence in nine districts, this sounds like a plan.<\/p>\n BRSP engaging community women.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Image source: RSPN<\/p>\n Regional attitudes can be as much of a hindering factor as the degree of poverty. According to a Balochistan government official Faiza Malik, its regional implementation partner BRSP isn\u2019t trying as hard as they should.<\/p>\n She\u2019s been working with independent players like BRSP, UN Women, Aurat Foundation, etc for a while now. She revealed that:<\/p>\n \u201cBRSP occasionally hold vocational training, but they\u2019re not making regular efforts required for steady development.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n When we have a good strategy but inadequate implementation partners, that\u2019s like being back at square one. Faiza suggests that accountability and audits be carried out by RSPN as a solution.<\/p>\n In such cases, social pressure from traditional power holders is to be expected. With NRSP onboard for implementation, hopefully these sort of issues will be kept at bay.<\/p>\n BRACE was only launched in 2017. Still, it has 977 community organizations (COs for short). Surprisingly, about 213 of these are women-only COs.<\/p>\n The government hasn\u2019t been too keen on starting new things. While advocacy initiatives like \u2018Billion Tree\u2019 are coming in strong, implementation efforts look shabby.<\/p>\n According to a member of the Board of Directors of SRSP, Akhtar Habib:<\/p>\n \u201cOur government is failing to take initiatives out of fear of failure.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n He said treading cautiously is understandable but you don\u2019t know if it\u2019ll work until you try. So, they can\u2019t just wait for a magic formula for poverty alleviation.\u00a0Except they did wait and find one.<\/p>\n With decades of RSPN laying down the groundwork, it\u2019s an even playing field for them. So what will the government do about their big dreams of development? Turns out they just had RSPN lend them their tried and true model for their \u2018Ehsaas<\/em>\u2018 program.<\/p>\n The question we should ask ourselves is \u2013 can this model successfully help 16.2 million people who live in poverty? RSPN certainly thinks that it can get there.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rspn.org\/success\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RSPN-LSO.jpg\")
An Example in Action<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rspn.org\/success\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SRSP.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rspn.org\/success\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Masood-ul-Mulk.jpg\")
Sindh Union Council & Community Economic Strengthening Support Program (SUCCESS)<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rspn.org\/success\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SUCCESS.jpg\")
Balochistan Rural Development &Community Empowerment Program (BRACE)<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rspn.org\/success\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/BRACE.jpg\")
Ehsaas<\/h3>\n
Written by\u00a0Ummara Sheraz<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n