Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Programme (UCBPRP) Funded by: Government of Sindh (GoS)

Monthly Progress Report (Month of January 2018)

Implemented by: Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO)

Abbreviations - SRSO Sindh Rural Support Organization - GoS Government of Sindh - PSC Poverty Scorecard - HH Household - E-UCBPRP Expansion Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Programme - CEO Chief Executive Officer - TL Team Leader - MIS Management Information System - GRM General Regional Manager - GIS Geographical Information System - RSP Rural Support Programme - CO Community Organization - VO Village Organization - LSO Local Support Organization - CFO Chief Financial Officer - DFO District Finance Officer - F&A Finance and Admin - PMU Programme Monitoring Unit - MER Monitoring Evaluation and Research - RSPN Rural Support Programme Network - SMT Social Mobilization Team - DM District Manager - TC Training Coordinator - Avg Average - RSPN Rural Support Programme Network - MEC Monitoring & Evaluation Cell - UC Union Council - DPR Daily Progress Report - MPR Monthly Progress Report - FM Field Monitors - DC District Coordinator (PSC) - WDD Women Development Department - CIF Community Investment Fund - IGG Income Generating Grant - PI Programme Introduction - CMST Community Managed Skills Training - TNA Training Need Assessment - MIP Micro-Investment Plan - MERO Monitoring Evaluation & Research officer - SM Social Mobilization - S.O Social Organizer - UI Unit In charge - MAC Managerial Activist Conference

1. Executive Summary

This month report depicts the grand launching ceremony of the project because a huge community development project of anti-poverty model at Union council based is launched with PPP Government of Sindh’s leadership efforts and financing partnerships among Government of Sindh and SRSO. Since 2009, Government of Sindh and SRSO together working on poverty alleviation through organizing the community at community level institutions (CO/VO/LSO) through different combo interventions, which aims at promoting their living standard with a unite development thinking pattern through saving and right utilization of financial sources (CIF and IGG) among the rural women and households in rural areas of Sindh. All stakeholders joint efforts have combined successfully to develop an array of replica for community development initiatives from the housing for low- and moderate-income individuals to small loan (CIF-Community investment Fund and Grant (IGG-Income Generating Grant) for poorest families, as well as other community development needs, such Vocational Training Programme, Enterprise development for rural women and giving a huge grant to their community institutions (CO/VO/LSO).

This EUCBPRP is Designed especially for those new Households to the poorest community for their development as other districts women have changed themselves, this Project also serves as a step to change their lives by uplifting their living standard through small initiatives and resource for those who don’t engage in their rural women for as a financing source for their household regularly or those who would like to consider new source for income generation or new tools for overcoming upcoming inflation waves for survival. GoS and SRSO hope that community value this material and can apply its content to community development work so you, too, can come up with the money for your next initiative.

An event of Project on a Provincial level, which was launched by Pakistan People Party (PPP) Chairman Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chief Minister Sindh Sayed Murad Ali Shah and Ex- CM Mr. Sayed Qaim Ali Shah (Founder of UCBPRP) and other GoS officials. The ceremony was held at SRSO Complex Shikarpur Road Sukkur, in which above 11,000 to 14,000 rural and organized

women under three- tier social mobilization gathered and paid tribute to Government of Sindh and their leaders that today they have alleviated the Poverty through this Programme which has been portrayed as a real social change agent through UCBPRP interventions especially through CIF which has become a catalyst for rural women because the money is a worthy and exchange currency for every need in the society. While addressing the audiences’ Sayed Murad Ali Shah said that today we are feeling immense pleasure to came here and see such faces which are real heroes of nation which have fought against poverty and alleviated the poverty by strengthen to themselves through our Programme which is Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Programme under which 6,000,000 rural households have changed their lives and uplifted their living standard while utilizing their innate potential and realizing their skills with the technical assistance of SRSO under the UCBPRP Programme.

Furthermore, Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that this was the dream of my beloved and martyred mother Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to empower the rural women of Sindh economically and financially through these type of Projects: UCBPRP. The success of UBPRP has been seen today by the speeches and gathering of these rural women that they are fighting against poverty and uplifted their living standard and wipe out the poverty from their homes through saving, Community institutions’ and Skillful vocational training. He said that as 4 districts’ have successfully implemented this project at gross root level and their successful impact has motivated the other Governments’: European Union has funded the GoS for implementing the same type of Project on union Council Based model for alleviation of poverty with a Project named SUCCESS in 8 districts’ of Sindh (Larkana, Kamber Shadad Kot, Dadu, Jamshoro, Sijawal, Tando Muhammad Khan, Matiari and Tando Allahyar). Now, the Sindh Government is starting further remaining 6 districts of Sindh for organizing and implementing the same UC based model for poverty eradication: I.e. Khairpur, Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Umer Kot, Badin, and Thatta. Inshallah next Government of Sindh will implement further remaining districts’ and Sindh Government will implement this UC based Model in all the province with a carpet coverage and will be the first province of Pakistan under which women will be empowered and organized themselves into community-level institutions’ for development of society and poverty could be alleviated through proper mobilization and changed themselves for future generation. While speaking to rural Women Sayed Qaim Ali Shah (EX-CM Sindh) said that when SSK (Shoaib Sultan Khan came to GoS and bring this concept that I want to work with these rural women of upper Sindh specially Shikarpur. Kashmore and Jacobabad, I was astonished and said ok if you are willing to work I am giving you approval but today it has proven that the Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Program (UCBRP) is a revolutionary program of the Government of Sindh means to reduce poverty by tapping into the potential of people by harnessing their innate potential which they possess but need to provide an opportunity and with time it has been proved by themselves that they can also write their development history with golden words and marvelous changes has been brought in their areas through women empowerment, education and awareness and their leadership. Most important

a dream of our beloved leader Martyred Benazir Bhutto to empower the women has been fulfilled and they have their rights to live their lives as per their living standard.

This description execution is a monthly progress report of the month of January-2018 undertakings of UCBPRP Programme in 6 Districts with the financial Assistance of GoS Government of Sindh (GoS).During this Month their many activities were carried out in Projected areas: Provincial Launching ceremony of EUCBPRP subjected above, Social Mobilization (CO/VO/LSO formation), CMST (Community Management Skills Training Programme), Managerial Activist Conference (MAC) of community leaders and activists that are willing to uplift the community from poverty and have a spirit to work under the community institution platform (CO/VO/LSO) with the technical assistance of SRSO. In month, the VO leaders Training VMST was also arranged at District Office Khairpur and CRPs Capacity building two days training was also conducted with the assistance of IMSD, many more the Vocational Training Programme which is job oriented was started in 4 districts: Khairpur, Sanghar, Badin and Thatta for the youth of the rural community to empower the society with their skills that they possess just need to polish their skills and have a systematic training process by trained trainers’ with their profession which can be a source of income generation at household level. During This Month the CIF (Community Investment Funds) cheques were distributed among the rural and poor community in two districts Khairpur and Sanghar against their Micro Investment Plan (MIP) as per their need and investment plan. Manager Activist Conferences’ were held in Khairpur, Sanghar and Thatta. The main purpose of VTP and CMST training was to augment the skillful knowledge to

community to run their community institution, to reduce the poverty strategy and building new solutions for existing problems within their households, building skills and to enhance the capabilities of the participants in planning and managing their inner developmental activities to empower the community that can self-generate their income generating sources through different skills and to utilize the available local resources at community level as well. It provides the participants an opportunity to build their capacities to break the vicious cycle of poverty by undertaking the poverty reduction and income generating activities on their own according to the community needs.

E-UCBPRP is a multi-sector, antipoverty and women-targeted Programme. The Programme includes social mobilization as its key strategy to implement the five main Programme activities. The activities include :( I) Community Investment Fund (CIF) - small loans and income generating Grants (IGG) (ii) Vocational Training Programme (VTP); (iii) Low-Cost Housing Schemes, (iv) Enterprise development (ED) for making the rural artisan women group for creating their linkage for hand made products and build capacity of creating linkages with market and stakeholders for income generating business at household level. The Programme is designed in a way that it includes different activities catered to different bands of the poor. The rural women into these projected areas have shown their keen interest to uplift their living standard by conducting monthly meeting, doing exercise of saving and operate their organization for development of human and society to alienate the poverty at household level by generating new sources of income at HHs level therefore all women are familiar with the objectives behind the formation of VOs and COs, and therefore participate actively in every exercise carried on through UCBPRP Programme. In all the Cos and VOs officeholders were selected in consultation with the community members in a democratic way which is also a sign of self-governing learning and ownership of UCBPRP by the community. Another encouraging sign of the democratic process is the Participation of the members in UCBPRP activities in the identification of the Programme activities for their VOs and COs. The Poverty Scorecard (PSC) is proving its usefulness and effectiveness in identifying and targeting Community Institutions record keeping is the first and basic need, therefore the literate female are the main assets of these community organizations. therefore the Fostered Community has also maintained the updated record and doing the practice of saving which is a positive sign of project during their initial phase because the organized community is self-aware regarding recording the documentation and Record keeping has significantly a good sign followed by the community in UCBPRP Programme in last two months. All fostered COs and VOs had their required registers and books available at the time of the formation, and all CO and VO records were fully maintained updated until the end of the month. This exercise of record keeping by the community and Social Mobilization teams is attributed to the continued process of follow-up and guidance with dedication and commitment by projected teams of SRSO. This shows continuity in SRSO’s efforts to inculcate transparency and accountability within the COs. A large cadre of rural men and women will be trained through a wide array of vocational trades and skills: a total of 176 rural women have been trained in 4 trades at Khairpur,Sanghar,Badin and Thatta District by establishing Vocational Field Training Centers at community level through

IMSD ( Institute of Management and Skills Development-a subsidiary of SRSO for Improving the skills of community members, especially the poor, through vocational training skills will help contribute towards labor force participation, but the most important factor is connecting the training skills with the needs of the market. Initially, only trainees are women and the majority of them are trained in traditional skills like handicraft and dress making (80%), and Stitching (20%). The training portfolio for the women needs to be diversified. After this training, the trainees will be able to do the job by using their skills acquired through training, mostly will capable of starting self-employment initiatives and the rest of them have achieved employment in the market. District Managers of EUCBRP during whole month holds different meetings, dialogues with higher authorities of Government Line departments about detailed briefing about UCBPRP Programme and also seek assistance in Programme for Community development to alleviate the poverty. Special detailed briefing Meetings were held during this month by TL-EUCBPRP MR. Ghulam Rasool Samejo with higher district Management Commissioner and deputy Commissioner of districts which was started from District Sanghar, where, TL conducted important meeting about Office establishment at Election commission Building on rent and he successfully granted it and also seek the cooperation and positive response during this whole Programme, this process was mainly also followed in other districts. These meetings were in detailed briefed about E-UCBPRP Current Progress and future interventions outcomes at the community level. During this month there was also a Basic Orientation of Staff training was held at SRSO head Office, in which 30 participants’ including all field staff participated. This training is manually comprised of RSP Approach, Three Tiers Social Mobilization and other field relevant components were covered. 2 days were held for field visit exposure of UCBPRP 1st Phase success stories of LSO/LSON achievements’ and another day at SUCCESS project where they observed how activities are carried out and in last day the certificates’ were distributed among all participants’.

2. Sindh Rural Support Organization Sindh Rural Support Organization is undertaking to stamp out the poverty from unprivileged impoverished meager rural households at household level with differed not community driven the development of community institutions by harnessing people potential for human development, to increase human capabilities and the level of choices at the household level. SRSO, being an RSP was accredited in 2003 by Govt. of Sindh under a mandate of poverty reduction in rural areas of Sindh. Registered under Section 42 of the Companies Ordinance 1984 as not-for-profit Organization, SRSO is currently present in 15 district s, namely Sukkur, Khairpur, Sanghar, Ghotki, Naushero Faros, Shaheed Benazir Abad, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Larkana, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Qambar-Shadadkot, Umer Kot, Badin, Mirpurkhas, and Thatta.

The thematic Focus of SRSO is to achieve the goals through community-driven development with the community institutions platform ripping the orthodox customs of women, rural development with the empowerment of women, skills enhancement, capacity building and development of community supported infrastructure projects, and the provision of support for income generation, enterprise development and micro-credit. SRSO is achieving a big milestone of poverty reduction through community driven development (CDD), on a community platform with women empowerment, skills enhancement, capacity building and development of community supported infrastructure projects, and the provision of support for income generation, enterprise development and micro credit. For this purpose, SRSO organizes the local communities into three tier community institutions (CO/VO/LSO) to develop their managerial and technical capacity. Human development of rural People and the government is supported in forging a partnership and inculcating the sense of ownership among the people. SRSO is presently entrusted with the responsibility of fostering a wide network of community organizations at the grassroots level in 15 districts of Sindh .SRSO’s mandate is to alleviate poverty by harnessing people’s potential lying within the communities to help themselves and undertake development activities. The goal of SRSO is to improve quality of life of rural poor in Sindh. To achieve this goal, SRSO attempts to harness peoples’ potential through a social mobilization process which has been designed on the core assumption that people have tremendous potential and willingness to improve their quality of life. At the heart of the social mobilization approach, lies the credence that every individual, be they poor or rich, man or woman, has the aptitude and perspective to carry out activities for their own assistance and for that of their own families. SRSO’s three-tiered social mobilization strategy helps to identify poor households and bring them into an ‘organized fold’ through their membership of Community Organizations (COs), Village Organizations (VOs) and local Support Organization (LSO). Above subjected policy has been endorsed by the government to achieve the goals of poverty reduction through community empowerment, women development, skills enhancement, capacity building, community training, vocational training and development of community supported infrastructure projects, and the provision of support for income generation, enterprise development and microcredit.

3. EUCBPRP Programme: The Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Programme (UCBPRP) is based on the three tiers social mobilization approach to alleviated the poverty through uplifting their living standard by realizing and unleashing the real potential of rural community by empowering the women who is the real driving force of generating new economic resources for household. SRSO being an implementing organization of this Programme from the starting of the UCBPRP from 2009 which has driven their real hall mark and depicts the real success of Programme by 50% graduation of intervened community through different interventions of UCBPRP Programme mainly through CIF.SRSO has firm believe that each rural poor household has their own innate potential to

improve its condition, however the household faces constraints that do not allow it to realize the potential.If these rural people especially rural women are organized in order to enable them to have a collective thinking and actions for the development of society and act upon their consensus decision to alleviate the poverty that is existing among their households’ collectively think and act upon their development. Therefore UCBPRP is based on Social Mobilization approach which is consists of the organizing of communities in rural into three tiers community institutions’. At the first tier, these communities are organized into Community Organizations (COs) which are organizations’ at the neighborhood or Mohallah level. These COs consist of membership from 15 to 25 households on average. COs ordinarily carry out activities such as household level development planning, trainings, savings and credit. At the second tier, the COs federate at the village level into a Village Organization (VO). Membership of the VO normally consists of two nominated members from each CO in the village he activities of the VO are to work on development activities which run across the village such as community infrastructure, partnerships with local government and other agencies, and on issues which affect the entire village. At the third tier, VOs federate at the Union Council level to form a Local Support Organization (LSO). This apex organization consists of membership from the VOs in the entire union council and is responsible for coordinating with its membership base to construct a development agenda for its members. It is also responsible for networking and developing linkages with external organizations’ such as local government, donors, NGOs and the private sector for the purpose of achieving its development agenda. The potential can be harnessed if the poor households are mobilized to foster their own network of organizations’ at Mohallah (Community Organizations – COs), village (Village Organizations – VOs) and union council levels (Local Support Organizations – LSOs). Once the women from poor households are organized, they prepare Micro Investment Plans (MIPs) wherein they highlight the potential income generating activities that they can undertake on their own, the constraints they face and how these constraints can be removed. SRSO provide Community Investment Fund (CIF) to these organizations’ so that they can provide small loans to CO members for the implementation of MIPs for income generation. While COs focus on income generating activities, VOs focus more on broader issues that affect the whole village, e.g. education, health, infrastructure, etc.

EUCBPRP Provincial Launching Ceremony by Bilawal Bhutto (Chairman PPP)

Grand Provincial Inaugural ceremony of the expansion of UC-based Poverty Reduction Programme (UCBPRP) was held on Monday 08th January 2018 at SRSO Complex Sukkur, which was graced by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, ex-Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and a large number of other distinguished guests including Provincial Ministers, Senators, MNAs, MPAs, Chairman Planning & Development Department, Programme Coordinator UCBPRP Mr. Asghar Memon,EX-PC Mr. Muhammad Ali Khoso, Sheren Narejo (, Commissioner Sukkur and provincial and local officials. SRSO is implementing the Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Program from 2009 in 9 districts of the Sindh Province out of which 3 districts have been successfully been implemented with graduation of this Programme which was started from year 2009 and graduation of these household is the real witness of poverty alleviation with the financial support of the Govt. of Sindh. The Project was launched by: Chairman Peoples Party Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, announcing the expansion of the Government of Sindh’s Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Programme (UCBPRP) to six districts of Sindh. The Programme will work with the poorest rural women of Khairpur, Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Thatta, Badin and Umer Kot. The UCBPRP will be implemented by Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) with the total budget of Rs 4.9 billion, the Programme will benefit 716523 households. The UCBPRP’s components include the

formation of 39808 women’s organizations’, provision of Community Investment Fund (CIF) to each women organization, vocational training to 32244 persons, 8599 units under low cost housing scheme and income generating grants to 30708 poorest women. Working across Sindh’s villages through women’s village organizations’, the UCBPRP is the largest government funded poverty reduction Programme in any province. Previously, the UCBPRP has successfully empowered the rural women to break the shackles of poverty in four districts of Shikarpur, Kashmore, Jacobabad and Tharparkar. The new phase of UCBPRP is aimed at targeting the poor through the process of social mobilization, harnessing their potential and enabling them to build productive assets, reduce vulnerabilities and improve by and large, the condition of their village or locality.

Chairman Pakistan People's Party Mr. Bilawal Zardari accompanied by the Chief Minister of the Sindh Mr. Murad Ali Shah graced the occasion with their presence and inaugurated the Expansion of UCBPRP,Ex CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and SRSO chairman Shoaib Sultan, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Sindh PPP President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Planning and Development Department officials, Project Coordinator UCBPRP Mr. Asghar Memon,EX-PC Mr. Muhamamd Ali Khoso UCBPRP and other senior party leaders of PPP, elected public representatives, as well as senior officials of various departments, Members of Districts Councils and other dignitaries of the concerned districts,14000 Women members of Community Organizations and community leaders/ CRPs and media representatives attended the ceremony.

Mr. Bilawal also Visited the different intervention and working stall of SRSO especially the UCBPRP Interventions i.e. Enterprise development, where the rural artisans’ were appreciated

by all esteemed guests for their hand work and promoting the ethical and pure Sindhi culture in a modern way, later visited the LCHS (Low cost Housing Scheme), where SRSO PITD AGM Mr. Yaar Muhammad Bozdar gave detailed briefing about LCHS and their work especially during VRP Project funded by Sindh and Benazir Housing cell (Low Cost Housing Scheme funded by BHC-GoS) and currently the LCHS project of EUCBPRP were given a detailed orientation and work methodology was shared. Later the esteemed guests visited the Education Services at community level which was led by a school and class management system that How SRSO is operating the Cluster and Feeding Primary Schools through these community institutions’ women by revitalization the closed schools under the UCBPRP Programme funded by GoS. The Programme was formally started with the recitation of Holy Quran and Programme host was TL-EUCBPRP from Dice and he called Chairman SRSO Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan for welcome and thanks note to all distinguished and notable guests. He Came and say warmly welcome to all guests and thanks note with an introductory speech about SRSO, RSP journey and especially how he has brought the Union Council Based Poverty reduction idea and proposed the GoS to fund for first 100% anti-poverty rural women Programme which is proved a key of success for these 6 lacs families that has graduated successfully with the interventions of UCBPRP Programme. He added that In 2009 when Chief Minister of the province Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah approved launching of Union

Council Based Poverty Reduction Programme (UCBPRP) for the two poorest districts of Sindh, because of his experience in India of mobilizing over 10 million rural women in State of Andhra Pradesh through UNDP and World Bank assistance, therefore he submitted to the Chief Minister that UCBPRP will only work with women. He smiled and observe you may try. He said that the far flung and backward areas women of tribally conflicted area Kashmore and Shikarpur have jot down their success stories in golden words and shared their experiences in a way that today they are a social change agent and role model for other rural women and governments’ that to aware and educate the community for development can be possible with social mobilization and this can bring a positive change in community also thinking their end solutions. Therefore, UCBPRP was picked up by European Union in 2015 giving funds to implement empowerment of women in another eight districts, in addition to four districts being funded by the provincial exchequer. This brought the rural women being empowered to over one million. Mr. SSK narrated and cited a report source of CIF Impact Assessment Study by SUKKUR-IBA University, as per report “According to poverty score card these Programmes would help 100% households below poverty line to graduate above their existing band and 40% beyond poverty line. According to recent evaluation carried out by Sukkur IBA-ORIC department by taking a random sample from 50,000 beneficiaries of UCBPRP in Shikarpur, Kashmore and Jacobabad districts 90% of the beneficiaries in bottom band of PSC graduated to higher bands and 68% above poverty line. In last, SSK said thanks to GoS for starting same Programme into more 6 districts of Sindh and hope that remaining districts will also be covered during next PPP GoS Cabinet. Later the TL- EUCBPRP called the CM Sindh for a note for UCBPRP Programme. The Chief Minister Sindh Mr. Syed Murad Ali Shah said that poverty alleviation Programme had been approved by Chairman PPP and Ex-Prime Minister Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and that Programme was achieved by launching this UCBPRP Programme by Ex-CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah. Now it was being extended to eight more districts by European Union after the SUCCESS of UCBPRP. He said that UCBPRP was beneficial to masses and helped bring about prosperity in rural areas of Sindh by generating new income generation sources’ for families, it also created employment and business opportunities for rural people. Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) chairman Mr. Bilawal Zardari said on the occasion, the PPP understood that NGOs including charity and public welfare organizations’ were carrying out a praiseworthy work by considering community at a Household level in far-flung rural areas of the Sindh. Their Working has greatly impacted the rural poor people. He said that this Union Council Based Poverty Programme was a great hallmark of GoS who has empowered the 6 Lacs Household that has been organized into different community institutions and has graduated from poverty through self-reliance and struggle to end the poverty with self-realization. He appreciated the SRSO and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for their efforts in this regard and noted that by extending financial and administrative support to the SRSO to implement the Programme, the Sindh government discharged its duty of alleviating poverty at UC level.Mr. Bhutto-Zardari told the audience that the Programme was launched in 2009 to initially cover around a few thousand deserving families in the UCs of four selected districts.

“I am informed that by 2016, more than 600,000 families living in 395 UCs of 52 talukas in 11 districts were benefiting from the Programme,” he said. Appreciating the progress, the PPP chairman expressed his confidence that within the next five years, the coverage would touch the figure of 1.1 million families. He said the PPP and Sindh government had resolved to alleviate

poverty from across the province for which several other Programmes, projects, and schemes were also in progress. He stressed the need for women empowerment at all levels. He noted that the PPP and Sindh government arranged for interest-free loans extended to womenfolk to enable them to run their own ventures in different trades like livestock, tailoring, embroidery etc. It’s heartening to see that 97 percent of the women paid off their loans while running their businesses,” he said.

Mr. Bhutto-Zardari highlighted the role of his mother, Benazir Bhutto, in public welfare activities and women empowerment throughout her life, and said that being the first woman prime minister of the Muslim World, his mother did her best for the self-respect of womenfolk in Pakistani society. “A dictator in collusion with terrorists snatched my mother from me and the people of Pakistan lost a great politician,” he said, adding: “But I regard every mother as my mother and have same the respect for each of them”. He held out the assurance that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), as well as all other such PPP initiatives, would be extended more vigorously to the people across the country after the PPP would return to Centre in the next election. He said PPP would continue to support any institution which came forward with the cause of empowering women of the low-income group. He hoped that the SRSO Programme would reach each and every district of Sindh. “By making joint efforts, we and you can eliminate poverty from society,” he said, and pointed to former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to say

that he was the man who had implemented the SRSO Programme in 2009 to alleviate poverty and empower women, specially the rural ones.PPP women wing president MNA Ms. Faryal Talpur, speaking to the audience, said that those who were talking of a “change” should realize that the real change was bringing about prosperity and ensure massive development in the Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman – SRSO (Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan) was most۔country grateful to Syed Nasir Hussain Shah for arranging the visit of Chairman – PPP (Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and also inviting other dignitaries of the area where SRSO works. He was happy to meet the third generation of Bhutto family. Mr. Shoaib Sultan briefly illustrated the incorporation of SRSO. He informed about his efforts in convincing the Govt. of Sindh through the then Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, back in 2009, for the approval of UC based poverty reduction program in Shikarpur, Kashmore-Kandhkot & Jacobabad. He further added that upon acknowledging the results of the said program, the EU offered funding for implementing the same in eight more districts of Sindh in 2016. The same program was further replicated in another six districts in 2017 by the Govt. of Sindh. He also thanked all those who facilitated at every step including the Chairman P&D Mr. Muhammad Wasim and the Secretaries. He lauded the tremendous support of Sindh Government for approving the poverty reduction program for the Province. He also acknowledged the efforts and dedication of staff for making it a success. He was happy to see how these poor rural Sindhi women got organized actively and very positively responded to these programs. Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan further requested the Government to approve the remaining districts for UCBPRP. His request was recognized by the CM – Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah who in his speech announced to implement the same program in the remaining districts of Sindh, during the current year. The guests were greatly delighted to see these organized women, inspired and appreciated their work.

Visibil

ity of Programme and GoS

Political Pillar Participation

Political Representation in Event

Media Talk by Politician

Government Line Departments Officials

RSPs Officials

Media Coverage (Electronic/Print Media)

Programme Activties Progress

Social Mobilization-

Programme Introduction (PI) of EUCBPRP

OTW (Orientation Training Workshop for Programme Implementation staff), one day exposure visit was arranged by IMSD in Khairpur district where the first Step of Programme Activity was reviewed. The Programme introduction was organized by Khairpur District Team in which OTW Pax, District project staff, IMSD Officials and TL- EUCBPRP Participated along with 200 community participants’.

The Programme Introduction session was conducted TL-EUCBPRP, he initiated the session by doing brain storming of rural women with participation approach that what is poverty and where it lye? And what are the main causes of poverty and how can it be alleviated from rural areas. He vividly define them that what SRSO has bring for you, he told them SRSO has brought a Programme with the financial assistance of Government of Sindh, so we will not do any work that is government or government institutions’ and departments’ are doing we are only here for you just a bridge for GoS intervention to household level because Government could not reach out at every household level.

He added, the Pakistan is also suffering with high poverty rate but poverty is existing worldwide, we cannot say that any province of Country has no poverty but in Pakistan Actual poverty is existing at Rural areas and especially at the household level; only a mother knows when her children are hungry, out of school, ill, and without shoes. So, if poverty is at the household level then actions have to be taken at the household level. However, despite doing great deal of work, all these hundreds of government departments do not, and cannot, reach out to the household level where actual poverty exists and is being experienced 24 hours a day. Therefore, Government of Sindh has brought a revolutionary Programme for you people but there are three conditions that are compulsory to alleviate the poverty because it is the real witness of your success. Whereas, which are 1: foster themselves into three social mobilization, 2nd choose honest and dedicated community institutions leaders that can give you time and run the institute with willingness and commitment and 3rd is the exercise of saving at household and CO level because

these things have set a remarkable milestone in alleviation of poverty 1,266 COs in northern areas of Pakistan and In Sindh also. Furthermore, he said that after the success of the first UCBPRP in two district namely Shikarpur & Kashmore@Kandhkot, where thousands of the people were mobilized and graduated at poverty level with same this 23,281 HHs Programme. The realization and success of Programme has brought this Programme for you people also. Keeping in view the eye witness of organized poverty alleviation at Household level, GoS supported the setting up of SRSO to expand the Programme in more Six districts of Sindh, namely Khairpur, Sanghar, Mirpur Khan, Umer Kot, Badin, & Thatta. 1,885,200 Saving Later, the Rural show their willingness that there are ready to do for their future generation and for their families and they have skills to do more to alleviate the poverty but need your guidance and assistance. While asking examples that what they possess that can alleviate the 1,434 CMST poverty, they said that they have minimal resources at household level: small ruminants or a share in cattle/buffalos, knitting/stitching skills, etc. These can be small piece of land, some livestock, some skills, family members, or some small savings. 73 VOs Women shown their keen interest that they have many skills which are underutilized due to not having resources and potential to do but slightly need to polish and improve the management of the resources of the poor households through which there source of income generation can increase because the money is main source of alleviation 167 VTP of poverty and if money came into house then it automatically turn the living standard of poor. They quoted several potentials i.e. Vocational Trainings for their daughters and sons, vocational trainings for themselves i.e. Tailoring, Stitching, hand embroidery, applique and 30 VMST beautician. The gathered community women and men agreed upon a single point of having some resources, and that their management can be improved. In last all community women speaks about their poverty and shown 1,366 MAC keen interest to work with SRSO and foster themselves into CO/VO/LSO. Community Organization (CO), VO & LSO Formation Activity Social Mobilization is mainly to mobilize the community about a big idea that is going to hearten them for their development and uplift their living 3,934,000 CIF standard through a successful experience of organizing themselves into Dsibursed community level institutions: CO/VO/LSO. SRSO in last UCBPRP Phase has been proven experience that when community owned organizations’ are financially and socially viable initiatives that can play a pivotal role in the process of social transformation. Because this will 182,000 IGG create a social awareness and thinking pattern change through which Disbursed a cumulative thinking and realizing their potential will be ignite and work automatically being a self-reliant and own initiatives for development of society. As part of the UCBPRP Programme, Community Organizations’ (COs), Village Organizations’ (VOs) and Local Support Organizations’ (LSOs) will be formed to create local level domination organizations owned and operated by the community especially rural women.

Now the SMTs are going into village and after conducting the Programme introduction briefly tell them about the importance of CO/VO/LSO, whereas the community has also told that how these organizations

will help you in future that these organizations’ are expected to play an important role in identifying problems and offering solutions, with the help of the government and other development stakeholders at community level through this platform for community driven development.

As SRSO is playing a vital role between GoS and Community so the Core activity of all interventions is the Social mobilization approach in UCBPRP to identify the poor in order to enable them to participate directly in decisions that affect their lives and prospects. The concept is to build capacities of people to organize, manage their own organizations’. In this Programme of UCBPRP SRSO social Mobilization teams provide technical and social guidance and financial assistance to the rural poor based on a standard three-tiered social mobilization approach for alleviation of poverty which is the basic mandate of this Programme. The social mobilization approach, it mainly depend on trust of poor women that this will be a social change agent by they possess the skills that can be utilized very well just need to polish their skills and have an innate potential to help themselves, that they can better manage their limited resources if they organize themselves into their own institutions (CO/VO/LSO). Once people are organized into properly functioning institutions of their own, they find the platform to harness their potentials, address their problems and fulfil their needs. When such institutions of the people are fostered at the neighborhood, village and union council levels, they become a vehicle through which all kinds of community development initiatives can be effectively implemented. These institutions serve as the primary partners in fulfilling the nation’s development agenda by extending outreach to the household level across the country, for it is at the household level that poverty is experienced on a daily basis.

Above all importance is briefly discussed before formation of CO at Community level and SRSO is conducting this activity with a niche approach of completing the UC wise and after maturity these Cos are federated into VOs where the Cos managers and President join the VO at village level. Furthermore, as Community Organizations’ (COs) are the foundation of the three-tiered institutional network. The CO is a neighborhood level institution comprising of 10-25 member households. COs are federated into Village Organizations’ (VOs) for planning and coordination at the village level.

CMST (Community Management Skills Training) Programme

In UCBPRP the CMST (Community Management Skill Training (CMST) is designed for presidents and managers of Community Organizations for the purpose of mobilizing and strengthening their capacities to identify their problems and decide priorities at their own. The CMST is organized when COS formally started conducting meetings monthly and at least two months they have conducted meetings and practiced saving exercise at household level. This training aims to enhance the knowledge, skill and capabilities of the participants in planning and managing their developmental activities and to utilize the available local resources as well. It provides the participants an opportunity to build their capacities to break the vicious cycle of poverty by undertaking the poverty reduction and income generating activities at their own according to the community needs

CRPs Training for Conducting CMSTs at community level

CRPs’ are the main pillar of social mobilization to carry forward the Social mobilization activity and can assist the Community in comprehension. District Khairpur identified the 26 CRPS and conducted the interview to measure the Level of their minds and capacity to perform in front of community, so 21 passed the interview and selected as a CRP as a Trainer for CMST. In this regards, IMSD Organized TWO days ToT for CRPs’ as trainer in which following Things were covered to fully equip them about poverty and alleviation. 1st day 4 hours were dedicated about introduction of SRSO, GoS funded UCBPRP Programme in detail and 2nd was totally on following criteria.  Poverty o What is Poverty? o Reasons for Poverty  Development o Kinds of Development o Steps of Development  Social Mobilization  04 Basic steps of Rural Development o Social Development o Saving o Human Resource o Linkages/coordination  Community Organization (CO) o What is CO? o CO’s Responsibilities o What is office Bearers? o Responsibilities of President o Responsibilities of Manager o Routine Meeting 10 Basic Points o Record Keeping o Saving & Their Reasons o Internal Lending From Saving o Planning o Steps of Planning  HH MIP  CO MIP  VO MIP  Programme Packages  IGG  CIF  VTEC  LCH

DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND (CIF) and IGG STARTED

Under the UCBPRP Programme Funded by GoS, the first round of Community Investment Fund (CIF) was distributed in the newly fostered Village Organizations’ (VOs) from Sanghar and Khairpur during the visit of CEO- SRSO, Mr. Muhammad Dittal Kalhoro in Sanghar and TL-EUCBPRP In Khairpur. CIF is one of the main components of the Government of Sindh Funded Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Programme, and is targeted at the women from poor and poorest households. A capital grant is provided by the SRSO VOs or Local Support organizations’ (LSOs), and is used by those community institutions (CIs) as a revolving fund. The poverty score of the household, obtained through the Poverty Score Card (PSC) survey, is used to identify the eligible households to ensure that only the poor and poorest households (with Poverty Score 0-18) access CIF capital and start income generating activities. During the visits, subjected officials also met with the leaders of CIs who gave brief overview about the progress made by their respective CIs for local development. Community leaders said that the women feel empowered and important after forming their own organizations’. Talking about the priorities of the CO/VOs they said, “Capacity building of women and making them more aware about various social and health issues is the CIs priority area”. While discussing the challenges at Sanghar, community leaders said that “the locals were not ready to mobilize initially, but persistent persuasion helped the communities realize the importance of coming together and saving money.” Many women also shared their stories about the ways savings have helped them in their times of need. While talking to the organized women community members CEO SRSO said, “I am very happy to hear your stories and you have proved that you can solve your local development issues and help reduce poverty at household level once you are organized.” Managerial Activist Conference (MAC)

SRSO district Offices organized MAC (Managerial Activist Conferences’) for the organized Households, Community Institutions office bearers and Community resource Persons, Volunteer, activist to highlight the village level issues and collectively find out the solution with the assistance of three pillars officials : Political, Administrative and social officials’. The conference will be a bridge to have a result oriented interaction within political, government, & social pillars to create the platform for these organized rural women and their community institutions (CO/VO/LSO), the conference will be a social change agent

for social pillar to be aware the all government and non-government stakeholders that will assist the community. Whereas, this type of conference provides the basic opportunity to collectively identify the social and administrative issues that creating hurdles to alleviate the poverty on village level. Furthermore, this conference is a way to try to get attention and closer coordination with all stakeholders for community driven development with the technical assistance of SRSO.

The workshops were attended by community members, District Government officials, Women Development, Assistant Deputy Commissioners’, Social Welfare departments, Local Government members, and Different stakeholders’ officials. The day was dedicated to highlight the importance of women mainstreaming in development and presenting first women empowering Programme as role model for active and equitable rural development to alleviate the poverty at household level with self-assistance and belief with new sources and ideas and willingness to work through the community institutions’ platform with a cumulative development of society also.200 women community activists and leaders from 50 villages participated in the workshops in three districts: Khairpur, Sanghar and Thatta. Women leaders of COs and VOs made presentation about the process of social mobilization and institutional development in their communities and also highlighted that many of them have begun to take small self-help initiatives for their own development. All the Administrative and Political pillars speakers told the community that with a collective approach you can reduce the poverty from your homes and SRSO is brought this Programme for you and said that this rural women gathering is the most encouraged by the women who have fostered themselves into community institutions’ (CO/VO/LSO) and have made huge change within such a short time in their village. Furthermore, they also appreciated the women’s keen interest in improving education and health. District and Local Government officials added that their administration will provide full support to the rural women for their development. Through the CO/VO/LSO social mechanism, the government line departments have an opportunity to extend their outreach and that he will encourage the departments to work closely with SRSO and the women’s of COs/VOs/LSOs.In Last, all rural women speakers highlighted various self-help and awareness interventions on promotion of health, hygiene and education which can brought a big change with the technical assistance of some government and non-government departments and they also emphasized the un organized women that there is a dire need for fostering and strengthening community institutions so that the social pillar is enabled to complement government’s political and administrative pillars.

GoS Officials Visit

Purpose of Visit : Validation of Poverty Score Card (PSC) Government official Mr.Hisham Mazhar Director EUCBPRP and Mr.Ali Asghar Mahar Monitoring & Evaluation Cell visited District Badin regarding validation of poverty score card survey at tehsil Shaheed Fazul Rahu, Badin and Talhar with coordination of SRSO official Mr.Irshad Mallah District Manager. Government officials visited number of eight villages in seven union councils and three Tehsils (described in below table). S.No District Tehsil Union councils Revenue Village Villages Chak No:57, 1 Dargah Ahmed Shareef Ahmed Rajo Yameen Jat, Rajo 2 Jhol-2 Chak No: 41 Shaheed Fazul 3 Mureed Chang Chak No:42 Rahu Girari-3 Chak No:33 Jat 3 Mohallah Badin 4 Gharo Akai Peeru Lashari 5 Kadi Kazia Wariyaso Kirshan Koli Badin 6 Kadi Wah Baneri Karo Khaskheli 7 Peeru Walhar Mehram Petafi Talhar Haji Mohammad Ashraf 8 Rip Rip Thebo Rip Shareef They conducted interviews individually with beneficiaries and filled up validation format and checked out door marks code of PSC. In this whole process, SRSO District Team facilitated them as they could complete requirement of validation. They visited District office of Badin and Unit offices under EUCBPRP and ongoing VTP center at District Badin.

SM Module and Android Based Training of field Staff: PIU team conducted a one day training for MIS assistants, Social Mobilizers on Android Based training at SRSO district office Sanghar. District team Sanghar also conducted district SMT wise meeting for smoothly execution of the Program Activities at district Sanghar.

Orientation Training Workshop (OTW, #4 Batch) SRSO-IMSD organized 10 days basic induction training (OTW) of E-UCBPRP field Staff (Field Teams, SMTS, and other concern staff) at SRSO Complex. Orientation Training Workshop (OTW) is a straightforward binding training for all Project staff to comprehend the SRSO working Philosophy. Its view points are to grasp the Social Mobilization (Three tiers) participatory approach and their practices at the household level and working methodology with a chain cycle of different sectors of SRSO to achieve their goals at office and field level. The 10 days training was comprised of 8 days at complex with different activities, lecture deliveries’, role play, brainstorming discussions, Group work and participatory methodology was followed by different trainers and 02 days for field exposure due to extensive field work in E- UCBPRP at community level that’s why this training will prove as the cornerstone of capacity building scheme in SM. As a matter of practice, new inductees in Social Mobilization approach are expected to seek familiarity with the basics of SM theory and practice though some training or orientation workshop and to again knowledge about SRSO’s different sectors and its working methodologies. OTW also intends to enhance the interpersonal skills of the staff so as to increase their efficiency and can build better rapport with communities in rural areas of Pakistan. OTW offers a comprehensive solution to such orientation needs of new practitioners of Social Mobilization.

Following Training Objectives were achieved during this training: 1. To familiarize the participants with Social Mobilization and its conceptual packages in RSPs context. 2. To make them understand the three tiers social mobilization philosophy and Programme packages.

Social Mobilization Progress

Month of January-2018 Progress

January Umer Achievements' Sanghar MPK Kot Thatta Badin Khairpur Total

CO Formation 280 174 115 127 193 386 1,275

HHs Organized 4,720 3,213 2,408 2,296 3,331 7,313 23,281

Saving 1,885,2 476,220 307,700 154,730 181,970 328,200 436,380 00

CMST 298 278 74 166 146 494 1,456

VO Formation 20 9 6 12 5 25 73

VTP 25 26 26 90 167

MAC 550 166 650 1,366 No. Of CIF

Beneficiaries’ 160 13 135 308

CIF Amount 1,890,00 4022,00 Disbursed 2,293,000 0 1,641,000 0 No. Of IGG beneficiaries’ 17 17 IGG Amount

Disbursed 182,000 182,000

VMST 30 30

Cumulative Progress as of January 2018

Activity As of December 2018 Progress for the Month Of January Cumulative CO Formation 1143 1,266 2,409 HHs Organized 13464 23,281 36,745 Saving 862979 1,882,500 2,745,479 CMST 1021 1,456 2,477 VO Formation 10 73 83 VTP 52 167 219 MAC 0 1,366 1,366 No. Of CIF Beneficiaries’ 0 308 308 CIF Amount Disbursed 0 4,022,000 4,022,000 No. Of IGG Beneficiaries’ 0 17 17 IGG Amount Disbursed 0 182,000 182,000 VMST 0 30 30

SRSO Management Coordination Meeting with PMU-UCBPRP Officials

A coordination meeting was held at PMU-UCBPRP, where GoS-P&DD and PMU Officials attended the meeting and from SRSO: CEO-SRSO Mr. Muhammad Dittal Kalhoro and TL-EUCBPRP Mr. Ghulam Rasool Samejo participated. The Progress and Programme updated was shared by SRSO Management and further discussion took place on challenges and PSC survey completion. In detail there was discussion took place about PSC, Vehicles and ToRs of Programme Interventions and PMU-UCBPRP appreciated the quality of work and SRSO hard work and dedication found in Programme.

HHS ORGANISED

20%

33%

13%

10% 14% 10%

Sanghar MPK Umer Kot Thatta Badin Khairpur

VTP Centers Inauguration

General Progress of District Sanghar:

• Provided the project monthly report to Deputy Commissioner Sanghar, requested for VO Notification and Invited for MAC • Conducted meeting with women development department district Sanghar In charge and invited for MAC conference • Conducted meeting with Deputy Director Social welfare department and Child protection incharge and invited for MAC conference • Conducted meeting with UC chairman Peero Faqeer Shoro, ShahMardan shah and Kurkal invited for different program activities for their participation and Support. • Manager HR and Sr Manager IMSD conducted the interviews of male/female SOs and MIS Assistants. • DM attended a consultative seminar on Disaster organized by RDF and district administration at sanghar • Conducted meeting with assistant Commissioner Khipro and Invited in MAC and VTP Inauguration ceremony at SMU Khipro • Madam Ruqia visited the CMST event and also visited VTP center Khipro Sectoral Staff Training ( MIS & SM Module)

• Android Base System and ERP of UCBPRP MIS database Training was held at SRSO complex for Concern staff, in which one day was for training session and another day was practical demo exposure of Field data that how MIS and SM module work during field for UCBPRP data base.

Annexure: Photos:

Program Introduction Program Introduction

CO Formation CO Formation

VO Formation VO Formation Summary: Transparency International Pakistan organized training workshop on ‘Promoting Democratic Values Amongst Young People’ on Thursday, December

CMST CMST

CMST CMST

\\ Routine Meeting of CO Routine Meeting of CO

Coordination Meeting with UN-FAO Staff Coordination Meeting with ICLN

Training on Android based CO /VO formation Training on Android based CO /VO formation

\\ Training on Promoting Democratic values among Training on Promoting Democratic values among young People by TPI young People by TPI

Community Management Skills Training Programme

Coordination Meetings of District Managers

Meeting of DM Khairpur with AC Sobho Dero Meeting of DM Khairpur with SDM Sobho Dero

4

Linkages of CO with NCHD for NFEC at taluka Sobho Dero National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) established 20 Non Formal Education Centers (NFEC) with support of Community Organization at taluka Sobhodero district where almost 500 learners are enrolled. All NFECs identified by Community Organization with coordination and support of SMU Sobhodero and NCHD team.

Procurement Plan of February 2018

Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Programme

Activties Sanghar Umer Kot Mirpur Khas Thatta Badin Khairpur Total CO Formation 400 150 300 150 200 350 1550 HHs Organized 7200 2700 5400 2700 3600 6300 27900 CMST (Pax) 300 200 450 220 450 650 2270 VO Formation 30 20 30 20 35 40 175 MAC Conference ( Participants') 750 400 300 400 300 350 2500 VTP (No. of Pax) 150 50 100 50 100 50 500 No. of CIF Beneficiaries’ 700 250 500 250 500 750 2950 No. of IGG Beneficiaries’ 100 25 50 25 50 50 300 LSO Formation 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 VO Management & Planning Training 30 20 60 30 30 30 200 CIF Appraisal & Monitoring Training 30 60 30 30 150 District Level Project Launching ceremony 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 CIF Book Keeping & Co Accounts & Auditing Training 30 20 30 30 110 Book Keeper/CRP Honorarium 2 0 2 2 2 8 LCHS 50 50 Enterprise Development / BDG/ Market Survey 1 1

Financial Report