third EF meeting
- background note

Subject for sharing and discussions in EF: Local Contribution

Also read: Guiding Principles as per Mid Course Correction document

Third EF executive summary

It was proposed during the Programme Steering Committee (PSC) meeting held in October 2003 that the topic for sharing in the next exchange forum would be on Local Contribution. PRAWARDA team agreed to take the responsibility of organizing the exchange forum meeting in April (26-28 April, 2004). Accordingly, the third exchange forum meeting is being organized to get an insight into the various experiences and challenges in mobilization and future management of local contribution.

Background

The two main salient features of ISPWDK Phase II is the establishment of registered village level institution called Village Development Society (VDS) and people centred and people owned processes. VDSs in the project villages are being developed as strong village institutions due to intensive capacity building & handholding efforts by partner NGOs. Apart from project interventions, they are able to plan, monitor and mobilize resources for non-project interventions in the village. The people centred process is reflected by the active participation of households right from village level committees / institutions to highest level of decision-making body in the project i.e. PSC. People’s ownership and sustainability of project interventions is envisaged through local or own contribution. The local contributions are mobilized through cash or labour, and get deposited in maintenance fund account at VDS level.

Purpose of the meeting:

• To share experiences, status on the mobilization and management of Local Contribution in ISPWDK, SDC/IC NGO Programme Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, MYRADA, OUTREACH, selected schemes implemented by GPs / Government of Karnataka and elsewhere.
• To discuss and clarify challenges and constraints in the collection and management of Local Contribution (legal, taxation, etc)
• To bring out different strategies, approaches, systems and procedures adopted for the mobilization and management of Local Contribution under different projects/ programmes for the long-term sustainability of project interventions and CBOs (VDS and other institutions/ agencies).