Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP)

14th Annual Progress Report 2011 -2012

THE ROAD TO TRANSITION

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CONTACT INFORMATION:Head Office:Near Dargah Hussain Shah, Siran, Mithi (69230), District Tharparkar, Sindh, PakistanPhone: 0232 261 661/ 462 Fax: 0232 261 379Reach us at: www.thardeep.org

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Zeenia Shaukat Amar Shyam Khangharani Rajesh Kumar Soni & Hoondraj SajnaniJai Parkash ShivaniAll Thematic Sections of TRDP Muhammad Anwar SaqibSubash Kotak Hareem Services (Pvt.) Ltd., Islamabad

14th Annual Progress Report 2011 -2012

Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP)

The Road to Transition

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF ACRONYMS

LIST OF PARTNERS

FOREWORD

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

I. INTRODUCTION

A. History and Mission

B. Geographical Focus

II. THE 2007-2012 FIVE YEAR STRATEGY: A SUMMARY

A. Context

B. Key Features

C. Key Takeaways of the Five year Strategy

III. PROGRAMME AREAS

A. SOCIAL MOBILIZATION

B. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

C. COMMUNITY PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

D. MICROFINANCE PROGRAMME

E. CHILD RIGHTS UNIT

F. ENTERPRISE SUPPORT UNIT

G. SOCIAL SERVICES SECTOR

H. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

I. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT UNIT

J. ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES

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3

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5

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10

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15

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25

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LIST OF ACRONYMS

Adamjee Insurance

Branchless Banking

Behavior Change Communication

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin

Board of Directors

Community Based Disaster Risk Management

Climate Change Adoption

Climate Change Adoption

Community Critical Infrastructure

Community Development Program

Coal and Energy Development Department

Common Interest Group

Community Led Total Sanitation

Community Organization

Community Physical Infrastructure

Child Rights Movement

Community Resource Person

Child Rights Unit

District Forum of Children Organizations

Disaster Preparedness and Management Unit

Disaster Risk Management Plan

Executive District Officer-Education

Enterprise Support Unit

Gender, Advocacy and Networking

General Body

Gender Core Team

Government of Sindh

Household

Human Resource Development

Information, Education and Communication

International Non – Governmental Organization

Low Cost Housing

Livelihood Employment and Enterprise Development

Livelihood Enhancement and Protection

Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust

Local Support Organization

Microfinance Programme

Mott Macdonald Pakistan

National Disaster Management Authority

Non- Governmental Organization

Natural Resource Management

Planning and Development

Provincial Disaster Management Authority

Participatory Disaster Risk Assessment

Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund

Revival of Traditional Crafts in Tharparkar

Save the Children United Kingdom

Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company

Small Grants and Ambassador's Fund Program

School Management Committee

Social Services Sector

Traditional/Trained Birth Attendant

Training of Trainers

Thardeep Rural Development Programme

Tetanus

Union Council

Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Program

United States Agency for International Development

Village Disaster Management Committee

Village Development Organization

Village Development Plan

Village Tourism Group

AI

BB

BCC

BCG

BoD

CBDRM

CCA

CCA

CCI

CDP

CEDD

CIG

CLTS

CO

CPI

CRM

CRP

CRU

DFCO

DPMU

DRMP

EDO-E

ESU

GAN

GB

GCT

GoS

HH

HRD

IEC

INGO

LCH

LEED

LEP

LRBT

LSO

MFP

MMP

NDMA

NGO

NRM

P&D

PDMA

PDRA

PPAF

RTCT

SCUK

SECMC

SGAFP

SMC

SSS

TBA

TOT

TRDP

TT

UC

UCBPRP

USAID

VDMC

VDO

VDP

VTG

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LIST OF PARTNERS

Government of Sindh

Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF)

Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN)

OXFAM Netherlands Organization for International Development Cooperation (NOVIB)

UN-Women

United Way Worldwide (UWW)

Citi Foundation

JANUM Network

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

Open Society FoundationPakistan (OSF)

World Food Programme (WFP)

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Save the Children International (SCI)

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Individual Philanthropists

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Foreword invigorating momentum and emerged as to

become an operationally self-sufficient

program. Livelihood through microfinance and I feel pleased to present TRDP's annual report,

enterprise development created a major 2011-12. The report tells the story of achieving

opportunity for fifty thousand entrepreneurs, the benchmarks set in five years (2007-2012)

which includes a big number of women.strategic plan. Alike the previous one the

reporting year was again witnessed the flood-

emergency but this time in southern zone I would like to express my gratitude to all who

districts of Tharparkar and Umerkot. contributed in translating the vision and

achieving the goal. I am thankful to all our

partners and donors for providing continuous Two consecutive years of flood emergency in

support.program districts however, was challenging in

ways to ensure programmatic interventions

and alongside carry out relief, early recovery The guidance and the encouragement by TRDP-

and rehabilitation services. The reporting year BoD kept the management's spirit high to make

will be reminisced as to carry out three-pronged all this possible. I am also grateful to TRDP staff

activities: regular program, expansion of who did a hectic work in ensuring the

rehabilitation services in Dadu and Jamshoro organizational credibility.

and non-program districts of Benazirabad and

Naushoro Ferouz and relief activities in

Tharparkar and Umerkot.

Consolidating the process of social mobilization

in program districts, in the year 2011-2012, an

approach was adopted to sustain the village

and local support organizations. Sixteen Local

Support Organizations (LSOs) were registered

with Social Welfare department (GoS) under

Societies Act-1860.

Networking and coordination with government

line departments and district authorities

remained a remarkable achievement; PDMA's

support in relief service for flood-hit

communities in Tharparkar, Umerkot and

Mirpurkhas districts through TRDP was

enormous.

The microfinance programme gained an

Zaffar Iqbal Junejo

Chief Executive Officer

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Dr. Naseer Muhammad Nizamani

Madam Professor Dr. Aftab A. Munir

Dr. Haji Shafi Muhammad

Ms. Mumtaz Begum

Mr. Qazi Abdul Muktadir

Mr. Haji Nabi Bux Baloch

Mr. Ghulam Haider Bhurgri

Mr. Muhammad Ramzan Samejo

Mr. Khanghar Singh

Mr. Muhammad Jameel Rajar

Dr. Khadim Hussian Lakhair

Mr. Muhammad Nazar Memon

Ms. Kamla Devi

Ms. Janki Devi

Ms. Kamyla Marvi

Chairperson

Vice Chairperson

Treasure

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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I. INTRODUCTION

A. History and Mission

The drought assessment of 1987 culminated in the launch of the Marvi Project, a short-term initiative based in Islamkot- at the heart of the Thar Desert. The project focused on addressing the emergency health and nutrition

In 1987, famine and drought in Sindh's needs of malnourished women, children and Tharparkar region drove a numerous NGOs to families in the drought-hit region. establish temporary disaster response operations. Around the same time, the Sindh Government, in As a follow up to the Marvi Project, SC UK collaboration with Save the Children UK and the founded the Thardeep Rural Development Project UNICEF, conducted a study to identify the in 1989. In its nascent form, this initiative developed underlying causes of the drought. This study a number of pilot projects focusing on service highlighted a significant deterioration of pasture delivery, micro-finance and nutrition rehabilitation. lands and increased desertification (resulting from a Learning from these pilots fuelled the need for a sharprisein human and animal population in the longer term, sustained set of interventions and the region) as prime drivers of the prevailing drought. It Thardeep Rural Development Project was also identified Tharparkar as one of the poorest indigenized into a local, independent NGO, districts in the country and highlighted the high renamed the Thardeep Rural Development unemployment rates, scarcity of animal fodder and Programme (TRDP). TRDP was registered under the veterinary services, lack of development Societies Act XXI – 1860 and with a management infrastructure and severe water shortage as factors team comprising mostly local women and men. causing malnutrition in a large proportion of the population. TRDP outlined the eradication of poverty,

addressing social injustice and child labour as its

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fundamental objectives. Protection (focus on poor, women and working As the idea of mobilizing communities to children), (3) Poverty Reduction and Livelihood

work towards their own development goals is Support (through Natural Resource Management, central to any sustainable initiative, TRDP adopted a Microfinance and Enterprise Development, and participatory development approach right from its Human Resource Development), (4) Social Service inception. Local communities were involved in all Sectors (Education, Health, Water Supply and stages of programming; from setting goals and Sanitation); and (5) Disaster Preparedness and design programs, to implementing processes and Management.evaluating success.

Understanding that social mobilization was at the core of its theory of change, TRDP's first act was to build community organizations at various.

In terms of its geographical scope, TRDP This allowed the organization to establish a currently operates in the rural areas of Tharparkar, participatory approach and garner local support for Umerkot, Dadu and Jamshoro districts of Sindh. its planned initiatives.These districts comprise the Sindh Arid Zones (SAZs).As the organization expanded, TRDP further

developed its programme focus areas. These core The SAZs cover un-irrigated and infertile areas now include (1) Social Mobilisation; (2) Social

sandy terrains that lie below the Indus river canals

B. Geographical Focus

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and are some of the most deeply impoverished Thar to larger metropolitan areas in search of regions in Pakistan. The communities residing in the employment. Given the lack of vocational training SAZs are characterized by a lack of formal assets, and education, migrants from Thar typically find unsustainable livelihoods, poor infrastructure, jobs as labourers and domestic servants. They also gender and other social inequalities, absence of set up grocery and other shops in towns such as political voice, unsustainable land usage, and most Mithi and Islamkot, and venture into small significantly, crippling water-scarcity. handicraft enterprises.

Women bear the major burden of water These unstructured shifts towards a capital-shortage in the SAZs and labour for hours to fetch based economy have without doubt impacted the saline and brackish water from deep underground traditional social structures of the region. A new wells. As the wells dry up during the summer class of middlemen has emerged with a monopoly months, the rural villagers are forced to migrate to over the local trade. This has exposed villagers to other regions and wait for the arrival of the exploitative market practices and high interest monsoon season. Wells that bear sweet water are money-lending at a time when their communities difficult to dig and often claim the lives of those who are already struggling to make ends meet. The local attempt to dig them. The villagers in the SAZs leadership in the region, such as Tharparkar, has depend on monsoon to irrigate crops, feed their migrated permanently, leaving a void. Traditionally, livestock and provide food and water for their feudal chiefs are responsible for protecting the families. In recent years, the challenges associated natural resources, developing and maintaining with poverty and water scarcity are further water sources, providing leadership, and advocating compounded by climate change. The SAZs witness for community before the government. The loss of prolonged drought, erratic and heavy rainfall, leadership combined with a lack of self-mobilisation severe wind erosion, and desertification. has hampered the ability of the communities to act Simultaneously, a combination of natural and man- collectively for their rights and development. All of made disasters such as earth quakes, flash floods these trends have further led to the vulnerability of and fires further add to the ordeal of the already the people of the SAZs. As a result of these vulnerable populace. challenges, TRDP focuses on the core tenants of

sustainable development and incorporates the The adverse impacts of climate change and social mobilization of marginalized groups into all

unsustainable land usage in the agro-pastoral aspects of programming.region of the SAZs have drastic implications for the rural society and economy. These communities have traditionally depended on agriculture and animal husbandry to generate livelihood. Crops are primarily grown for subsistence, and animals bred to provide food security and income from the sale of by-products such as milk. As a result of climate change related shocks on livelihoods, communities have moved from an agriculture-based economy to the one characterized by animal husbandry and other small-scale trades. Brick manufacturing, agriculture trade, private sector jobs, migrant labour, industrial and government jobs, and fishing (in parts of Dadu and Nara) now account for a growing sources of alternate income.

Since the 1980s,there have been large migrations of people, young men in particular, from

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II. THE 2007-2012 FIVE YEAR STRATEGY: A SUMMARY

A. Context

B. Key Features

transition was already underway, TRPD's strategy focused on Tharparkar, Umerkot Districts in particular, and other arid regions in general. TRDP's strategy concentrated on midwifing these social and economic transitions and helping make them smoother for vulnerable and marginalized communities.

TRDP's last five year strategy was developed in 2007. This was drawn within the

With poverty alleviation, social injustices emerging realities at that time, especially the and child laboridentified as critical problem areas, fundamental shifts in Thar's socio-economic TRDP's five year strategy dictated that programme environment in since TRDP began working there in components becentered on the premise of the 1998. In the first ten years of its operations, the involving local communities to identify, mobilize, transport and communications infrastructure had and resolve these issues. As a result, programming improved significantly. As villages receded and strategy was developed to address the following urban sprawl grew, the newly urbanized are a areas:secured better access to basic facilities. As in most

I. Social mobil ization to organize rural places, urbanization in interior Sindh led to an communities as capacitated partners in increasing prevalence of non-farm sources of development;incomes. The growing mineral and mining industry

II.Social protection focusing on the poorest, in the Sindh Arid Zones (SAZs) created new employment and entrepreneurship opportunities women and working children;and within agriculture, a growing trend emerged in III. Poverty reduction and livelihood favor of cash crops, mixed cropping and marketing s u p p o r t t h r o u g h n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e of produce. Livestock services improved and some management, microfinance, enterprise communities gradually moved from subsistence d e v e l o p m e n t a n d h u m a n r e s o u r c e farming to elementary commerce. A new credit development;culture was also emerging parallel to the traditional IV. Social services sector facilitating access “udhaar” system. Even though the informal money to education, health, water supply and lending continued unabated, their client-base sanitation (through Community Physical started shifting towards lower-risk, better-off Infrastructure)people. V. D i s a s t e r p r e p a r e d n e s s a n d

Rural-to-urban migration continued with management.thousands of people from Thar moving to As a part of the social mobilization Hyderabad and Karachi for employment. Moreover, strategy, the four“program districts” were a large number of people from Dadu, immigrated to organized into five regions with Regional Offices the Middle East in search of greener pastures.

and further divided into thirty two Field Units. Government projects such as road construction and

TRDP committed to reach 280,000 households private sector activity e.g. construction, offered

(HHs) in 5,000 villages. It was expected that by greater opportunities for casual labor. New trades

the end of the next phase, around 20,000 Para-such as, mobile phone sale and repair, mechanical

Development Committees (PDCs) would be and technical workshops etc. brought new work

formed. This structure was planned to be opportunities. With better communications and

followed by more evolved Village Development larger potential markets, artisan products found

Organizations(VDOs) and Local Support new ways to reach out to a wider market.Organizations (LSOs). In order to improve As a part of its five year strategy, TRDP gender equality, TRDP strategized to achieve decided to leverage its community relations and act equal participation of men and women at all as a facilitator of change. As the socio-economic

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In order the effectively respond to the levels. Moreover, the development of children's capital/credit needs of its constituency, TRDP's forums was also outlined as a part of the micro credit was separated from the rest of the rural strategy. development components. The idea was to turn it For Social Protection, the strategy into a self-sufficient and separate cost center, which envisaged to develop programs in conjunction with could also take up other financial services that the the organized forums, especially with LSOs. TRDP communities needed.also planned to use PDC forums to spread

As a part of the Enterprise Development, awareness and link the members up with available TRDP strategized to support existing enterprises support services.and encourage new businesses through credit To eliminate child poverty and labor, child provision, market linkages and other business protection and child rights was taken up as the key development and promotion opportunities.thematic area and put at the center of TRDP's work.

The focus of the HRD was outlined as in-This included (a) concentrated efforts on reducing house capacity development as well as vocational child labor and main streaming children in skills for the communities engaged with the TRDP. education; (b) addressing the drivers of child labor These vocational skills were in line with the and helping alleviate poverty of families engaged in economic opportunities available in the desert child; (c) promoting child rights through region and also reflective of new opportunities mobilization and advocacy. It was also decided to emerging as a result of urbanization and migration. set up a child rights unit.

In terms of gender, the objective of gender Natural Resource Management was re-equity and equality was emphasized throughout the designed around promoting livestock protection, strategy. Key themes included: developing water harvesting and conservation, agriculture, institutional systems and capacity of the TRDP staff environment and biodiversity, and wildlife and communities to own and lead gender-protection.

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mainstreaming agenda; developing the leadership organized and mobilized. As a result, these groups skills of women in the community: building gender will have improved access to sustainable livelihoods expertise and capacity; and building a woman- through microfinance, enterprise development, friendly organizational culture. marketing support, and better natural resource

For social services (education and health), management. Water security, basic healthcare and TRDP identified supporting government schools sanitation support especially for women and and improving and expanding community (non- children, and primary and non-formal education for formal) schools as important thematic areas. In girls were also declared as programmatic goals of terms of healthcare, it was decided that focus would the five year strategy. be maintained on women and children, addressing The Loca l Support Organ izat ions endemic illnesses, and facilitating secondary care. established by the TRDP have been at the forefront For the Community Physical Infrastructure (CPI) of designing and planning of development component, the strategy outlined a continuation of activities, including the startup of small businesses CPI's participatory approach for addressing the and lobbying of government departments for needs and priorities highlighted by the communities resolution of local problems. Women have themselves. remained major beneficiaries in all programme

As a part Disaster Preparedness and interventions, participating actively in various levels Management, one of TRDPs most important of community organizations and leading the way in programming components,, it was decided that the savings initiatives and enterprise development.capacity gaps of the staff and community would be Some notable programmatic outcomes of addressed; and a protocol for early warning, relief implementing the five year strategy are summarized operations, disaster management would be up as follows:prepared. TRDP also decided to maintain a seed lSocial Organisation: In the course of five pool, food pool, and shelter pool for immediate years, TRDP has organized293,728 relief, along with undertaking recovery and households and 5,348 villages. This has rehabilitation measures in the event of natural or resulted in the formation of 21,594 PDCs man-made disasters. and surpassed the original target set for

organizing 250,000 households.

lSavings: As of June 2012, the collective While a detailed report on TRDP's savings of the PDCs amounted to Rs.

performance vis-à-vis the five year strategy is 222.12M. Women accounted for38.16% warranted, a brief summary of major outcomes may (Rs.84.77) of the total savings. Men indicate TRDP's contribution to an economic and contributed 60.58% (Rs. 134.56M) while social order undergoing rapid transition. children members of the PDCs saved

TRDP's activities have sharply focused on Rs.2.78M (1.25%). Encouragingly, Year on social mobilization and capacity building of women, Year savings trends have shown that men and children and vulnerable groups in order to women have now surpassed men in their promote self-reliance. Gender mainstreaming and contribution to total savings e.g women child rights have been integrated across its accounted for 72.42% of total savings in the programme as a part of the five year strategy to 2011-12 period.bring women and children at the forefront of all TRDP's work. This has also been a part of the

lMicrofinance and Insurance: As a part of process to develop a comprehensive broad ranging supporting enterprise development and programme to eliminate poverty. The strategy encouraging entrepreneurship, microcredit estimated that the successful implementation of

loans have been widely extended. Women TRDP's programme will lead to 70% of rural women

dominate participation, claiming around and children in TRDP's operational zone being

50% of all micro-finance credit. For the first

C. Key Takeaways of the Five year Strategy

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time, community members were extended knowledge of the gendered dimension of

insurance coverage against health and program interventions

accident risks.

lIn the past five years, TRDP also

lAccess to Government Programs: Women spearheaded research on the regional

received land grants under the Government carpet industry and compiled a database of

of Sindh's Landless Hari Project. children from 20 union councils in district

Tharparkar. This effort aided in tracking the

lA r t i s a n C l u s t e r s : P r o m o t i n g progress and wellbeing of working children.

entrepreneurship further, TRDP helped

expand Thar's famous vibrant embroidery. lPhysical Infrastructure: To protect and

Program act iv i t ies inc luded sk i l l utilize water resources more efficiently, drip

development as well as marketing i r r igat ion systems were insta l led

branding. To improve market linkages and extensively. Over 90 acres across

skilled embroiderers, TRDP formed artisan Tharparkar, Dadu, Umerkot were provided

clusters based on a thorough craft mapping drip technology to enhance smallholder

exercise and arranged trainings in productivity and output These initiatives

traditional and non-traditional embroidery. were led by PDCs that realize TRDP's

Several groups emerging out of these community physical infrastructure

clusters are now working independently strategies based on local needs and

with well-established links with the market resources. Solar energy projects were also

for traditional and wedding dresses. piloted and pursued for the provision of

electricity in the otherwise energy-

lCapacity Building: Extensive trainings were deprived region.

designed and implemented with specific

focus on the socio-economic needs lLivestock Management: 1.98M animals

were consistently vaccinated in an effort of the local communities. Community

to protect them against preventable members were trained in various themes

diseases, thus providing additional security including management skills, child rights

to the region's major income source.and protection, health, education and

natural resource managementlHealthcare: Family planning and pre-natal

care activities were emphasized by linking lChild Labor: The TRDP strategy focused on Marvi workers and trained birth attendants multiple areas of child labor including to women in TRDP covered areas. Clean phasing out children from child labor and delivery kits were also delivered as a part of addressing poverty to discourage children the process.joining work. Thousands of children were

phased-out of hazardous labor and enrolled lSpecial provision of Fortified Blended Food into schools and non-formal education

and Ready to Use Therapeutic Food were centers.supplied to pregnant and lactating mothers

and malnourished children in order to lTo improve effectiveness, TRDP trained its address the malnourishment gap that has staff and improved their comprehension of consistently undermined the maternal and child rights, child protection and child child health.p a r t i c i p a t i o n . S i m i l a r l y, g e n d e r

mainstreaming skills were also conducted

to ensure a strong awareness and

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A. Social Mobilization

B. Human Resource Development (HRD)

C. Community Physical Infrastructure (CPI)

D. Microfinance Programme

E. Child Rights Unit (CRU)

F. Education

G. Enterprise Support Unit

H. Social Services Sector (SSS)

I. Natural Resource Management (NRM)

J. Disaster Preparedness & Management Unit

K. Special Projects

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A. SOCIAL MOBILIZATION such as infrastructure and social service delivery at the village level. They establish linkages with other Social Mobilization is at the foundation of stakeholders in the area in order to find solutions, all TRDP activities. Effective social mobilization related to various village level issues relating to involves the organization of communities at the infrastructure, education, livestock, and agriculture Para(neighbourhood), village and local level. To among others. VDOs are also designed to approach ensure that rural communities have effective voice state authorities for services such as building better and control over their resources, TRDP helps roads and high schools. As water scarcity is a communities organize themselves in Para consistent challenge, VDOs are empowered to Development Committees (PDCs), Village develop their own water supply schemes e.g drilling Development Organisations (VDOs), and Local community wells. By design, VDOs are better Support Organisations (LSOs). All of TRDP's equipped to create external linkages for securing objectives, whether they relate to livelihood access to services for the village.support, development, social services or disaster

As the PDCs and VDOs have grown and response, are carried out with the direct became mature, the members have realized the involvement of the relevant committees.need for apex bodies at the Union Council level. To Initially, a community is organised at the a d d r e s s t h i s n e e d , L o c a l S u p p o r t Para level to form the PDCs. The PDCs usually consist Organizations(LSOs) – clusters of village/community of 15-25 members from both genders including organizations have been formed. LSOs are apex-children. Members typically belong to the same level institutions comprising representation from neighbourhood and address issues at the para level VDOs and consisting of a General Body with an (community/mohalla). They work jointly to create a Executive Committee. LSOs support and strengthen problem-solving mechanism with indigenous projects that are implemented at the village level or decision-making as its objective. district level by liaising with local NGOs and the Following mobilization through PDCs, government. LSOs are also able to form at the Union capacity building exercises are carried out in the Council level where there is 70% membership of form of training and skill development of social households within a particular UC. Formally, LSOs leaders and local technicians. These trainings established at the UC level are registered with Social impart skills to manage resources and finances

efficiently. Eventually PDCs are expected to develop into local institutions with a voice in governance. An other important function of the PDCs is to manage “savings”. From the beginning, PDCs have work towards a forming pool of collective savings which is used for internal lending, usually during emergencies.

Women outnumber men in terms of their total membership in PDCs as well as the number of leadership roles assumed. This reflects the growing capacity of women to organize and work collectively for their issues.

Once all poor households are organised in a Welfare Organizations and are directly eligible for village they are encouraged to elect members from government funds. As a result Local Support each community organization (CO) to serve as a Organisations are envisioned to evolve into self-community representative at the village level. These sustaining organizations with their own voice in the representatives federate to form Village district government. Development Organisations (VDOs).

As a larger collective of PDCs, the Village Development Organizations work on broader areas

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Box 1. PDCs in 2011-12

A total of 1,257 new PDCs were formed close to the annual target of 1,479

341 new VDOs were established

1,010 womens PDCs were established with a membership of 20,617 women.

This is in line with the past trend

Overall, there are 16 registered LSOs. Two more LSOs were formed in 2011-12

Simultaneously, 114 community conferences were also held against the target of 67

In the period 2011-12, PDCs managed to raise a savings amount of Rs.6,184,812.

Women accounted for 72.42% of total savings , Men 7%, and children PDCs

admirably raised Rs. 108,226. MIxed PDCs accounted for 19% of the total

savings amount

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B. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

Out of the six major trainings imparted this year, managerial skills courses were the most popular with the highest number of participants.

Human Resource Development (HRD) is an Over 10,302 community members attended and embedded component of the TRDP. The benefitted from managerial skills training and organization invests in HRD through two main developed skills critical to executing participatory channels: Staff trainings and skills development for development programming. Similarly, 3,221 targeted communities. To pursue its goal of steering members attended vocational and technical development and social transformation in the training. Such large attendance is likely to have an marginalized zones, the TRDP recognizes that HRD is impact on maximizing the gains of TRDP's an important investment that goes beyond the programmes.function of ensuring efficient performance. In- In order to address the needs of a house HRD programming exposes the TRDP staff population that is heavily dependent on rain-fed and its targeted communities to new possibilities agriculture and livestock for livelihood, TRDP that participation in the development process conducted a series of Natural Resource affords. Management trainings in Thar this year. A total of

TRDP's staff receive numerous HRD 5,168 community members were trained in various opportunities and trainings in order to better approached to sustainable natural resource engage with community members, policy makers, management at a time when unreliable patterns of government agencies, and other stakeholders. Staff rains and recurring droughts compound the poverty members get experiential learning opportunities for and vulnerability of the local population.stakeholder management through workshops, TRDP also arranged health and education seminars, and exposure trips. As TRDP's current trainings this year with specific focus on women and focus is on women and children, HRD efforts are children. A total of 4,972 community members aimed at building the capacity of the staff and availed these training opportunities to equip community members to reach out to them as well as themselves with vital knowledge and skills related other marginalized groups. to the area. In terms of child rights TRDP placed

I n t h e 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 p e r i o d ,T R D P special emphasis on child protection, education and concentrated its skills development trainings on children's development and trainings were Management, Natural Resource Management, imparted to 5,196 individuals.Health and Education (Vocational and Technical), Water and Sanitation, and Child Rights. In addition to program related trainings, TRDP also executed a number of diverse training courses with the support

of the UCBPRP, Oxfam Novib, PPAF, LEP, RSPN, PEWC, Oxfam Belgium and UNICEF.

Overall, the TRDP has been able surpass the planned number of human resource development activities for the 2011-2012 period. TRDP trained 38,159 community members against a plan of 30,596 realizing over 100% of its target.

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C. COMMUNITY PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

development and social solidarity.CPI programming has also played a crucial

role in allowing women to participate in the TRDP's Community Physical Infrastructure development of their community. Women's needs

(CPI)programming is broadly divided into two are identified and prioritised in the various stages of categories: Water access (includes installation of CPI project development since they bearthe major hand pumps, dug wells, tube wells, rainwater burden of provision of water for the family. harvesting ponds, culverts, water channels, and In terms of health and education CIP, TRDP construction of water supply schemes) and other plays an intermediary role between local non-waterinfrastructure (physical infrastructure communities and government departments, NGOs such as roads, bridges, sewerage facilities, and and private sector organizations and facilitates renovation of health and education centers). Within access to health services and the creation of non-the CPI mandate, the renovation of health and formal primary schools and adult literacy centers.education centers is facilitated by linking rural In order to expand and improve access and communit ies with re levant government availability of health and education facilities, TRDP departments. also trains community members as health workers

While specific interventions are usually and school teachers.technical in nature, CPI programmes are executed in collaboration with the local communities. TRDP employs qualified technical staff that supervises all technical aspects of the CPI projects and facilitates the design and construction of small infrastructure projects e.g. hand pumps, culverts, dug wells, tube wells, and desalination plants. However, community members and organizations not only participate in the execution of CPI projects, they are also responsible for project identification, regular operation and infrastructure maintenance.

The community's involvement in CPI projects is realized at the Household, Para, Community and Village levels - all with different sets of responsibilities and outcomes.

At the HH level latrines, economy stoves and cemented tanks are installed. At the Para level, the schemes include hand pumps, culverts, and dug wells. At the village level, culverts, tube wells, flood protection walls and drinking water supply schemes are facilitated.

CPI schemes are pursued according to the needs declared by the local community. The community pays 20% of the cost through its labour while the TRDP provides 80% of the material cost. In addition to addressing the basic needs of rural communities by facilitating the provision of water, sanitation, health and educational facilities, CPI creates a sense of ownership through collective effort and develops leadership from within. The community is involved in all stages of development which also results in knowledge-sharing, skills

In the reporting year July 2011-June 2012, the CPI unit managed to meet 100% of its set targets. Overall, a total of 4,992 schemes were pursued. These include: 624 hand pumps, 2 Sanitation projects, 21 link roads, 10 brick and street pavements, 2 lining of water courses, 5 drinking water supply reservoirs, 129 drinking water supply scheme, 109 dug wells, 1 solar pump, 1,418 latrines, 3 check dams, 16 water storage reservoir, 1,747 low-cost housing under UCBPR, 100 pope culvert, 1 Delay Action Dam, 500 rooms construction, 49 Desalted Irrigation Channels, 132 school renovated, 8 health centres, and 115 WATSAN Facilities has been completed.

17

were catering to an8,000 person strong client base. Micro credit loans have remained popular

as they allow villagers to borrow money to start an Capital is one of the scarcest resources in enterprise or expand existing ones. TRDP's micro

Sindh's rural arid zones. Low levels of income per credit programme offers loans for three distinct capita reduce HHs ability to save for income shocks activities; (i) Small businesses e.g. grocery shops, or future investment. TRDP's micro credit tailoring; (ii) Purchase of livestock; (iii) Agriculture programme provides organized communities access inputs e.g. seeds, ploughing land, and fodder.to micro credit loan in order to address the deficit of Loans for small businesses form the biggest HH financial capital in the region. component of TRDP's microfinance programme,

TRDP's rural microfinance operations followed by livestock and agriculture. Depending on commenced in 1997 with community-based lending the conditions set at the time of appraisal, recovery that were managed by the social mobilization units. is managed monthly, quarterly, biannually or The objective of these operations was "to evolve a annually. The recovery procedure is with mutual basic financial system at the grassroots level to understanding between parties considering the use alleviate poverty in the rural areas." TRDP's of the loan, credit disbursement, and market microfinance operations remained limited in scale facilitation, among other factors. until 2000, with a client base of 1,500-2,000 Since 2005, TRDP has provided loans to community members. The majority of loans female entrepreneurs through the Urban Micro disbursed were financed through donations from credit Programme (UMCP). This programme was long-term partners. However, from2000 onwards, established through a credit line provided by TRDP's partnership with the Pakistan Poverty possible Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) in Alleviation Fund(PPAF) catalysed operations in the response to the needs of entrepreneurial women in districts of Tharparkar and Umerkot. 8 new offices urban areas. Start-up loans are provided to women

D. MICROFINANCE PROGRAMME

18

In terms of recovery, urban micro credit with an interest in launching their own businesses loans have been remarkably successful, boasting a and a demonstrated record of loan recovery. Under rate of 100% recovery since inception. This success this initiative, a group of three to five women from has been a result of a combination of factors the same neighbourhood form credit groups to including the investment of social collateral, careful apply for a loan and go through a systematic appraisal systems and gendered focus.appraisal. Credit ranges from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 30,000

per client. Most women utilize these loans to start grocery shops, sewing machine centres, or embroidery work. Some choose to invest in livestock to gain steady income e.g. buffalos or cows to sell milk. Providing loans to groups of individuals secures social collateral and acts as an incentive to return loans on time; lowering the risk for the UMCP.

The UMCP collaborates closely with Micro credit Enterprise Development but is independent from other TRDP programmes. For instance, women do not need to be a PDC member in order to secure a loan.

During the reporting period 20112-2012 a total of Rs.841.72 million in credit was disbursed by TRDP's microfinance programme. The disbursed amount was released to 58,312 borrowers including 34,188 women with an average loan amount of Rs. 14,435. The major proportion of lending was for enterprise development followed by livestock as shown in the table

19

E. CHILD RIGHTS UNIT Child labour is the most critical social

challenge facing Sindh. In 2011-12, the province had 1.37 million primary age children and 3.25 million secondary age children out of school and a large number of HHs falling below the poverty line. This means that children end up paying the price of state's apathy towards the plight of its citizens. A lack of access to social protection coupled with low-wagesdrives households to seek debt at harsh rates that they are usually unable to repay. As a result children are forced to engage in hazardous and

poverty and child labour. The strategy aims to not bonded labour in order to pay off their families' only protect children from abuse, violence and debts. exploitation but also facilitate access to education In addition to carpet weaving, the main and vocational skills. industries that employ children in Sindh include

Similar to TRDP programmes and projects, agriculture, livestock, rope and bangle making, wool the Child Rights Project works with PDCs. With a processing, construction, road building, brick focus on phasing children out of hazardous labour making and domestic help. These types of and enrolling them in school, TRDP targets families occupations can be extremely hazardous and of children with child labour. These families are expose children to a large array of risks. Physical engaged through awareness meetings, reiterating injuries and illnesses such as poor eyesight and the need to protect the rights of the child. respiratory infections through exposure to dust and

The PDC membership is also extended to toxic chemicals have been widely associated children. Since its inception in 1998, the children's children employed in these sectors. Moreover, organizations are encouraged to participate in bonded labour deprives children of their childhood forums and community conferences which serve as while forcing them into deeper poverty and a forum for them to share their feelings and views. compromising their future by preventing them from They are also encouraged to save smartly as their going to school. Girls, apart from being forced to savings are on occasion used to purchase school take up employment as domestic workers with well-books and pay schooling fees.off families, are also burdened with the

TRDP's child rights approach also involves responsibility to carry out the regular household helping vulnerable and debt ridden families address chores. Thus, in many cases children (especially their financial challenges. This is done by facilitating girls) are overworked and not permitted to attend access to capital for loan repayment, and skill-school.building. TRDP offers easy loans to indebted families TRDP emphasizes child rights and child engaged in carpet weaving to repay private labour issues in all its programming as a part of its contractors and money lenders. Households are five year vision. TRDP's Child Rights Unit addresses also given training in vocational skills and are linked poverty by providing primary and non-formal with cooperatives to provide direct access to the education to children and reducing child labour market. Moreover, TRDP provides numerous through various initiatives. The CRU liaises with opportunities to such families to sell their products different sectors to facilitate the provision of through TRDP outlets.sustained livelihood options to poor families,

removing children from labour and allowing them access to quality education.

In the reporting year, Child Rights Unit remained proactive in achieving its annual targets (July 2011-June 2012). Below is a summary of the The current five year strategy sets out the TRDP's achievements in the CR programme area:development of a holistic programme to eliminate

ii) Progress

i) Strategy

20

iii) Revisiting Child Rights Initiatives

Advocacy

Research/Assessments

Education

Capacity Building:

In February 2009, TRDP arranged a vision exercise that examined the organization's child rights and child participation work in detail. The participants of the exercise determined that in order to successfully exploit the opportunity of addressing child labor in Thar, TRDP must expand its scale and scope. As a result, a set of organizational changes were proposed at the programmatic and the field level. Following this strategy, the TRDP undertook the following initiatives:1. TRDP restructured its child rights unit and created a unit titled “Protection and Empowerment of Working Children (PEWC)”. The main aim of the

District Forum: District child forums PEWC was to develop and sustain poverty

remained active and held 16 meetings in all alleviation on a long-term basis by tackling the root

targeted districts.causes of poverty.

Seminar/workshops: 12 seminars for 2. TRDP revised its Child Rights Policy, increasing its children were organized in all four districts. focus on working girls and boys, and the most Networking and Alliance: TRDP is leading marginalized members of society in all TRDP's the efforts to establish a provincial chapter thematic areas and interventions.on Child Protection. A Universal periodic 3. TRDP outlined a mainstreaming framework to Review has also been conducted in this incorporate chi ld r ights throughout the regard. organization in all projects, programmes, and

initiatives – particularly through the use of the social Assessment of Non-Formal Education mobilization strategy.Centers (NFECs). 4. TRDP drafted and developed a capacity Assessment of'TRDP Integrated Support to development strategy and child participation Working Children'. standards.Research on children working in various 5. School enrolment of all working childrenwas hazardous labors in all 4districts” made a condition for all programme interventions Published 2 Child Rights journals titled where applicable.Phulwarri. 6. The role and responsibilities of Social organizers'

were revised. SOs dedicated to child rights were Improvement plans for 50 primary and 50 hired at the field level.secondary school were implemented. 7. Working children's families were targeted to 172 school and NFECs were provided receive livelihood support where possible. These learning class material and 1,003 students initiatives included soft loans, opportunities to

enhance skills and market products, health for secondary education were also insurance, and agriculture and livestock support.supported. 8. The Child Rights Unit developed and updated a 15 secondary education tuition centres for database of children who had been successfully girls were also established.phased out of child labour. It continues to focus on strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems in 28 Master trainer refresher trainings were order to ensure the effective implementation of provided.TRDP's child rights policies, and the effective 301 Non Formal Education teachers participation of children in the grassroots levels benefitted from refresher trainings.projects and programme2,605 children (above the age limit of 14)

were provided life skills-based education.

Children Phased Out: During the period, 3,351 children were phased out of child labour. All these children were enrolled in schools. 233 children organizations were also formed in all four districts (of TRDP operations).

Vocational trainings: Vocational trainings were imparted to 1,623children phased-out from child labour.

21

F. ENTERPRISE SUPPORT UNIT undergone craft-mapping to identify their crafts, skills and the quality of the work. This exercise allows TRDP and market players to easily identify Without access to reliable and up-to-date available artisans in the area.information, those in poverty cannot make the best

use of the scarce resources available to them. By In the carpet industry, TRDP has established addressing information and skill deficits and

a training centre to impart processing, dyeing, and facilitating stronger linkages to the market, TRDP finishing skills to weavers in Tharparkar. This has seeks to improve the earning capacity of Thar's allowed carpet weavers to add value to their poor.products and increase income opportunities. TRDP Since its creation, TRDP has worked with also facilitates the sale and marketing of finished women and men artisans, especially those carpets in Karachi, Islamabad and abroad. Similarly, employed in the embroidery and carpet industries women embroiderers and artisans have been to facilitate focus groups, training and skill-trained and organized into skill groups, leading to development, and create linkages with the market. the formation of embroidery groups. Many of these In addition, as poor women in rural areas are

especially vulnerable to income shocks, these initiatives target them and enable them to access new income opportunities.

TRDP's Enterprise Support Unit (ESU) seeks to identify highly skilled artisans through its social mobilization unit, organize them, build their capacity, and facilitate production and linkages to the market. This approach includes modules on group formation, knowledge transfers, financial and groups are now working independently and catering business management, value addition, and also to the market demand for traditional and wedding involves establishing non-formal vocational training dresses directly. In the past five years, TRDP has centres for adolescent girls. TRDP particularly established Frame Embroidery Centres in eight focuses on increasing the income of women who villages. Artisan clusters at the UC level have also rely on artisan skills such as embroidery, cut-work been set up in Tharparkar and Umerkot.and stitching. In addition to trainings, capacity development and market linkage opportunities, women are offered small-scale loans from the § SAARC Mela, March 2012.TRDP's microfinance sector. § Jashan-e-Faiz Carnival Karachi, Nov 2011.

The ESU is currently active in more than 42 § French Bazar exhibition at the Alliance villages in the Tharparkar district. The unit has two Française.training centres, where 3000 women have § SAARC Women Entrepreneur Mela, Feb

2012.

§ Opening ceremony of the Display Centre,

A p r i l 2 0 1 2 ( M i n i s t r y o f Wo m e n

Development).

§ Sabah Pakistan Home Based Artisan Craft

Exhibition, May 2012.

Participation in Exhibitions & Linkages:

In 2011-12, the ESU has:§ Successfully engaged 345 artisans in 16

villages and 7 UCs of district Tharparkar in enterprise development interventions

§ Facilitated the registration applications of two artisan cooperatives.

22

G. SOCIAL SERVICES SECTOR mothers. TRDP is also associated with national and international initiatives for health delivery including Health, Sanitation and Education are the the Marvi Community Health Workers Project, three main pillars of TRDP's Social Services Sector. Community Health and Accident Insurances, and To improve social service delivery in the Thar region, Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria TRDP acts as a strategic intermediary between local (GFATM) among others.communities, government departments, NGOs and

TRDP works directly with government-private sector organizations. TRDP works with the sector organizations to improve upon the access to community and the state to improve the delivery and quality of healthcare services. This also involves and availability of critical health and education undertaking joint activities, including trainings, to services to the vulnerable and marginalized facilitate and contribute to the ongoing initiatives. communities of the region.Moreover, TRDP works with communities in regions Pakistan performs poorly on most health where governmental programmes have not yet indicators and has alarmingly low life expectancy been introduced. In order to facilitate social and disturbingly high mortality rates, especially for protection and extend health to Thar's vulnerable women and children (10% children die before their and marginalized populations, TRDP has introduced fifth birthday). These indicators are symptomatic of community health and accidental insurance, with acute poverty and gender discrimination coupled special coverage for women facing medical with a lack of adequate and affordable healthcare. emergencies. In the four districts where TRDP operates,

In the 2011-12 period, The Social Services healthcare facilities such as Rural Health Centres Sector (SSS) implemented various new projects:and Basic Health Units are situated at an average

distance of 10km from community settlements. Strikingly, Taluka and district level civil hospitals equipped to deal with serious illnesses are 25km and 49km away respectively. Accessing medical-care facilities for emergency needs not only drives HH's into poverty and debt- the travel time to hospitals often results in deaths or extreme deterioration of the health.

In order to meet critical health care needs, TRDP's interventions actively link local communities with various state and private sector-led interventions i.e. Mother And Child Health Centres (MCHs), eye-care camps with LRBT, support for government immunization programmes, treatment for snake bites, and nutritional programmes for malnourished children and pregnant and lactating

i) HealthvThe MCH Centre in Mithi, RHC in Islamkot,

and Thar Sath project provided rural health

delivery, family planning, C-section, operation

and other common treatments to 45,930

women/mothers and children of district

Tharparkar.

lPPAF Phase IIIHealth Project: Under this

project, 7 health facilities were extended

renovation and support in district Tharparkar

and 10 health facilities were provided medicine

support. Simultaneously, 19 training sessions

were provided to for laboratory technicians and

LHVs covering vaccination, malaria and

monitoring. In addition, 3 health facilities

received new furniture and equipment.

lEmONC project, Dadu:Initiated in 2011 with

the support of the RSPN, the projects has seen

the following progress :

§Completed baseline assessment

§40 introductory dialogueswith the

communities for the selection of CRPs

conducted

§40 clusters were formed in the targeted

Ucs.

23

§2,380 married couples were registered. v Polio Awareness Campaign For 13 Ucs Of

§40 Health committees were formed and District Hyderabad: Supported by UNICEF, this

trained. was a 15-day campaign highlighted the pressing

§23 TBAs were identified. need for polio vaccination and garnered a 100%

In the period under review 18,879 families and 272 acceptance polio vaccinations in 13 union

individuals were insured through credit and non- councils. The initiative also engaged religious

credit programmes under the Community Health & leaders to back the cause and use their

Accidental Insurance Initiative. influence to support the campaign. Overall :

vPotential Partnership for Advocacy, §82,330 households and 440,854 individuals

Behavior Change Communication & Social were covered.

Mobilization (ABCC&SM): The project is being §13 Advocacy meetings with religious

implemented in 14 Union Councils of district leaders at the UC level were held. A district-

Umerkot with the support of NPPI. In the period level seminar with religious leaders was

under review following progress was achieved: also organized.

§33 staff members were oriented on the §319 field staff members were trained on

project; project activities and methodologies.

§1 orientation exercise was carried out with

the government and NGOs officials. TRDP has been implementing the Oxfam Novib §128 villages were identified and 128 focal supported-Community Led Total Sanitation project

families were selected for planned in two Union Councils i.e. Kamal Khan and Gozo of interventions; District Dadu. In year 2011-12the following

§116 health committees were formed on the initiatives were undertaken:village level §KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice)

§One MCH week was celebrated. surveys were completed in two targeted

Ucs.

§70 health committees were formed.

§CLTS and DRM plans were developed in 70

villages.v Child Survival Project:This 2 year initiative

§610 community members trained on health relates to pre and post natal care. While the first

and hygiene.year project activities were conducted by

§200 katcha and 70 pakka demo latrines another organization, TRDP assumed

were constructed.responsibility of all activities in the year. TRDP

§14 CMST events were organized.led trainings and orientations, and worked

§5 seminars and rallies were arranged at the towards improving access to pre and post natal

district level.products and healthcare services by :

§IEC material was developed§Conducting orientations of 14 staff

The procurement process was completedmembers.

§Extending clean delivery kits extended to TRDP's education work is an extension of its 1,000 women.

programme components for rehabilitating former §Facilitating 570 postnatal care visits by child labourers. Through experience and research, LHWs to assess new born babies.TRDP ascertained that even after leaving labour, §Arranging 570 meetings were with male former child labourers found it difficult to attend groups.school. This was because many children had no §Holding 150 awareness-raising sessions government or secondary school to attend, or had local with communities.crossed the age limit for enrolment. Parents of §Proving TBA related orientation to 153 former child labourers also often failed to recognize women.

ii) Sanitation

ii) Education

Special Projects

24

were provided uniforms, books and bags. the need for an education and felt that work 113 government teachers were trained on experience or vocational training would be more

useful in later life. the concept of quality educationTo address the problem of low enrolment

rates of former child labourers, TRDP has started §TRDP worked with the UNICEF to complete working with families to facilitate access to schools. the TLC project for three districts: The organization engages existing institutions Jamshoro, Dadu and Thatta. Under the through teacher trainings, and focused on project, 261 TLCs have been established. improving their capacity to absorb children phased 8,936 children were mainstreamed to out from child labour. Following the removal of government schools whereas 545 Para children from child labour, TRDP facilitates access to teachers and community mobilizers, and primary level education and then introduces them 783 SMCs members were also trained.into either secondary school or provides them with vocational training to build capacities in a wide vGENDER, ADVOCACY AND NETWORKINGvariety of fields. TRDP held a gender awareness session in In year 2011-12, TRDP executed the following Dadu and one Umerkot based staff initiatives in the area of education: completed a ToT on gender.§PPAF Phase III:Under this project, 32

Government Primary Schools were

renovated and provided school aid material

and furniture. Teacher support was also

facilitated to government adopted schools.

2,510 children enrolled in these schools

25

H. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

1higher on small farms as compared to large farms .

Those engaged in livestock related trades in Thar are deeply influenced by drought, scarce grazing resources, animal diseases and inadequate

Effective natural resource management is local markets for trade. Give the lack of local level critical in Sindh's arid zones as the sustainable land livestock markets, farmers are forced to sell use prevents soil erosion and over-grazing and livestock in other villages, often at lowered rates. reduces climate related stress. This year, a large High animal mortality rate is also a major problem in

the Thar area as access to veterinary hospitals is poor proportion of landhas remained uncultivated due to and expensive.intermittent rains and scarcity of water. Swelling

In addition to livestock related challenges, animal populations and untenable agricultural access to land itself is a major problem. practices coupled with the exploitation and Approximately half of the cultivable land in the area unsustainable use of landhas also accelerated the is privately owned while the remaining half is either depletion of natural resources in the region. Climate 'goucher'(common grazing land) or belongs to the change has further impacted the delicate ecology of

2state . A study on land rights in Tharparkar reveals the arid zones region as long periods of droughts that approximately 54% of the people have their have led to increased desertification.own land. The remaining landless population either Livestock rearing is one of the dominant migrates to work in urban areas or works as 'haris' economic activities in Sindh's desert economy. It

3(peasant) on privately held land .plays an important role by ensuring subsistence and In order to protect precious resources security against crop failures under drought

available in a harsh desert landscape, TRDP conditions. The presence of better ranges in high established the Natural Resource Management rainfall zones helps farmers raise more animals. In a (NRM) Unit in 2004. The objective of the NRM is to 2006 survey, Dawn newspapers found that farmers protect resources traditionally linked with region's in high rainfall zonesmanaged significantly higher economy i.e. forests, water, agriculture and animals number of animal units, while the stocking rate was with the aim of generating sustainable livelihoods

1Dawn, “Livestock management in Thar desert” published

2006-01-16,

2“Land Rights in Tharparkar”by Hameed Diplai3Ibid

26

through efficient management, and sustainable practices. The NRM Unit concentrate on:

§Access to irrigation techniques for

increasing agriculture coverage.Trainings

cover enhancing agriculture productivity

through sustainable methods andfarmer agriculture and livestock sectors:

learning sessions focus on the preservation vLivelihood Enhancement and Protection

and improvement of local varieties of trees, LEP Project-Tharparkar:

cropsand vegetables through seed §Under this project, 884 ultra-poor women

identification. An additional area of focus is and 907 vulnerable individuals were

improving local seed varieties through provided assets, including sewing

research and dissemination.machines, donkey carts, and livestock

§Development of water supply schemes, support. 2,941 beneficiaries were also

demonstration of water conservation trained in various skills in the period under

techniques and facilitation of drip irrigation review.

technology.§575 veterinary camps at the village or

§Demonstration of NRM techniques for cluster level were set up against the annual

plants and livestock.target of 350. In these camps 163,977

§Protection of local wildlife by establishing animals were vaccinated and 355,480

Wild Life Protection Committees formed animals were drenched, and treated. In

through VDOsaddition, 2,801 poultry units were also

§Engaging community organizations to provided to the community.

prevent desertification and deforestation.

§Establishing kitchen gardens and poultry vJANUM Project - Umerkot:Implemented

units and poultry management for in district Umerkot, this intervention

marginalized women.supplied 25 buffalos to25 women in 2

§Providing veterinary support for livestock villages.

including vaccination and drenching

programmes to prevent the spread of vLandless Haree Project:

disease.§This government-run programme aims at

§Livestock management training;distribute land to landless women in

§Linking landless farmers with government Sindh.Under the LLHP Phase II, TRDP

programmes for land distribution.facilitated the provision of 339 acres of

During the period under review (July 2011-June government land to 78 women farmers in

2012) TRDP carried out a range of activities in

§12,097 farmers were provided family

nutrition kits in the four targeted districts.

2,600 fruit and fodder trees were also

provided to communities. In order to

enhance the productivity of cultivable

land, 1,075 farmers received farm yard

manure (organic fertilizer).

§2,801 poultry units and 60 animal shelters

were provided.

§100 Bio Sand Filters were installed.

§Micro drips were installed on 6 acres.

§A workshop was held on the subject of

land utilization with over two dozen

farmers.

§Mazri Palm trees were planted and rope

making machines were installed

27

I. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT UNIT

with government and aid agencies to facilitate fast and efficient relief delivery. It also spearheads there habilitation of the affected families.

In the last decade, Sindh has been Since its inception in 1987, TRDP's has led experienced dramatic climate change. This has emergency and disaster relief interventions to resulted in floods, torrential rains, droughts and address famine and drought in the Tharparkar cyclones. For communities residing in the arid region. The famine in 1987, the earthquake in 2001 zones, drought is the most critical challenge to and the subsequent drought in 2002 – these events survival. Agriculture activities in the desert region further compounded TRDP's involvement in are almost entirely dependent on rainfall during the disaster response. monsoon season. A lack of adequate rainfall can have a disastrous effect on the health, income and wellbeing of rural economies. In recent years, massive flooding has emerged as another recurring natural disaster. These come with little or no warning, destroy crops and property, kill people and livestock, and create permanent health problems among villagers.

Other hazards confronting the local population include occasional earthquakes in the arid zones as well as incidences of fire in villages (during the spring). Strong and hot winds during the spring causes fires (usually caused by cooking or straylit matches and cigarettes) to escalate and As a result of recurrent natural disasters in spread rapidly, often fuelled by based roofing the region and the TRDP's experience in addressing materials in traditional huts. them, the organization created a separate unit to

TRDP works to mitigate the effects of these bring disaster preparedness, management and disasters within its programme areas. In 2011-12, rehabilitation under one framework. Formed in late the DPM Unit was primarily involved in relief 2002, TRDP's Emergency Relief Unit has the activities in the flood-hit areas (August- September distinction of being the first locally established 2011). In addition to flood relief, the Unit managed institution for emergency assistance in Pakistan.to carry out its DRR agenda as well:TRDP's Emergency Relief Unit(ERU) strengthens the §82 fire affected families were provided food capacities of communities to both prepare for and

and ration;respond to emergencies and natural disasters. §One ToT event was organized on DRR, Preparation efforts centre on disaster risk reduction

benefitting 10 staff and community and developing practical interventions to support people's livelihood and natural resource assets. The members.ERU develops contingency plans, engages media, §50 village Disaster Management Plans with stakeholders and donors and conducts advocacy communities were developed for 50 and research. This work cuts across all other TRDP villages.units, projects, and programmes and is reflective of §Consultant was hired to prepare a DRR TRDP's holistic approach to participatory manual. This is currently in process.development. §172 DRR committees were formed at the

In terms of disaster response programming, village level.TRDP assesses on-ground situations; launches §Five Coordination meetings were held with search and evacuation operations; evaluates loss of different stakeholders.infrastructure, assets and livelihoods; devises information mechanisms to engage funding agencies, media and other actors;and coordinates

28

Special Projectsrevival package (cash grant).

§300 individuals were given agricultural

inputs (seed fertilizer and toolkits).vO X F A M B E L G I U M - S U P P O R T E D §600 individuals were provided kitchen

LIVELIHOOD AND WASH EARLY RECOVERY gardening kits.SINDH §10,000 animals were vaccinated in 5 union

Initiated after the 2010, this early recovery program councils of both districts.

is being implemented by TRDP in three districts .i.e. Jamshoro, Naushero Feroz and Shaheed Benazirabad. Program interventions focus on support for livelihood, community infrastructure, health and hygiene. During the course 2011-12, the following activities were undertaken:

The arid zones of Sindh are gifted with abundant §1,055 labourers working on community mineral resources. TRDP has established a Coal and physical infrastructure (CPI) schemes were Tourism Cell in order to protect the interests of provided cash incentive under the “Cash for indigenous communities and tap prospective Work” intervention.tourism opportunities. In the reporting period of §2,000 workers, working under the CPI July 2011-June 2012,TRDP's Coal and Tourism Cell scheme (mainly water courses, earth filling) undertook the following activities:received toolkits in three districts.§Held 17 meetings with government §1,000 families were provided pair of goats

representatives regarding coal.for livestock restocking.§Arranged 17 stakeholder conferences on §40 training sessions on l ivestock

tourism and coal.management and 20 others on poultry §Led 120 dialogues with members of LSOs, management were held.

VOs and PDCs to discuss the community's §49 health and hygiene sessions were role in tourism enhancement.organized.

§Identified15 potential villages to conduct§500 families were provided poultry units.trainings on village tourism concepts.§A Business Revival Project assisted 700

§Formed 45 village tourism groups.individuals.§Trained 10 community members on village §660 latrines and 33 water courses were

tourism concepts.constructed.§Completed construction work on heritage §Fishing nets and boats repair material was

shop.provided to 500 individuals.§Finalized plans for Kasbo Tourist Huts vOPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE (OSI) FOR EARLY

provided land to villagers for the purpose.RECOVERY PROJECT IN DADU AND

JAMSHORO In 2011-2012TRDP implemented a flood relief project funded by the OSI. The project focused on early recovery initiatives to the flood affected families of five union councils of Jamshoro (3 UCs) and Dadu (2 UCs) districts. Interventions included the involved formation of committees, livelihood support, and livestock care. In 2011-12, TRDP achieved the following progress:

§417 PDCs were formed in both districts.

§130 VDOs were formed.

§200 individuals were given a business

. ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES

COAL AND TOURISM CELL

29

EXPANSION OF UC-BASED POVERTY REDUCTION PROJECT, GOVT OF SINDHThe expansion of Union Council-Based Poverty

Reduction Project (UCBPRP) is currently being

implemented in District Tharparkar. The project

focuses on improving the quality of life for the rural

communities. Key interventions include the

formation of VOs (according to Poverty

Score/Band), the provision of Income Generating

Grants (IGGs) and Community Investment

Fund(CIF), livelihood-focused trainings, support for

low-cost housing, improvements in drinking water

supply and provision of health insurance. In year

2011-2012, the programme formed Village

Organizations, extended grants to the “extremely

poor”, provided trainings to youth, and supported

construction of shelter. Overall :

§35,153 householdswere extended

community Health Insurance Package.

The spell of heavy rains in August-September 2011

affected 23 districts in Sindh and five districts in

Balochistan. Over 5 million women, men and

children in Sindh and Balochistan faced extreme

difficulties, including displacement and inadequate

access to food, drinking water, and health and

sanitation facilities. Of these, an estimated 2.7 million people were affected in the three districts of Tharparkar, Umerkot and Mirpurkhas alone. According to the assessments and estimates of the

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),

the Provincial Disaster Management Authority §600 community organizations and 191 (PDMA) and United Nations (UN), a large proportion

Village Organizations were formed, whilst of the flood affectees were women of reproductive 12,600 households have were organized. age, with many pregnant women in need of medical

§375 ultra-poor women benefitted from assistance. 796,861 houses have been damaged or Income Generating Grants. destroyed compared to 1.8 million houses

§4,058 VOs [i.e. 1700 (0-11 PSC band)] and destroyed across Pakistan during the 2010 floods. 2,358 (12-18 PSC band) have been provided The total cultivable area lost to waters was 2.28 Community Investment Fund as revolving million acres.fund

§1,500 potential youth (600 of 0-11 poverty Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah, Dadu, level and 900 of 12-18 poverty band) were Badin and Chor experienced the heaviest rainfall trained in various trades. that ranged from 760mm to 260mm. As the rains

§270 TBAs of Tharparkar were provided affected majority of the TRDP operational areas, the training on safe delivery and family organisation undertook urgent relief measures, planning. followed by early recovery initiatives.

§1,100 PDC members have been trained in For relief measures, the TRDP moved into managerial skills and CIF need identification the field working in partnership with the Sindh Rural trainings. Support Organization Consortium (SRSO Con). The

§831 VO members were trained in VO Consortium comprised three rural support M a n a g e m e n t , C I F a p p ra i s a l a n d organizations i.e. Sindh Rural Support Organization m o n i to r i n g , re co rd - ke e p i n g , a n d (SRSO), National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) management and planning trainings. and the TRDP itself. The consortium initiated

§172 book keepers were trained in accounts, operations in the following flood hit districts:books keeping and auditing. 1. Mirpurkhas

§230 VO members were sent to exposure 2. Umerkotvisits. 3. Tharparkar

§Construction of 1,747 LCHs was completed The 2011 floods resulted in the damage of mud and handed over to the shelter less houses, destruction of crops, mainly cash crops like households. cotton, sugarcane and chilies (Kunri in Umerkot

Floods 2011:

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District is the biggest chili market in Asia; it was

completely flooded), destruction of infrastructure

including roads, link roads, water and irrigation

infrastructure and community infrastructure such

as schools, loss of livestock, loss of poultry, seed and

food stocks and loss of lives.

The relief measures were undertaken

following a detailed damage assessment exercise in

Umerkot and Tharparkar, with support from Oxfam

Novib. The assessment of all 639 villages in 17 field

units was assisted by grassroots community

organizations that the TRDP works with for its

development programmes.

The Sindh (RSPs) consortium was equipped with a

well-established structure that comprised field

units, taluka and districts offices, along with the

experienced staff and fleet of vehicles. A formal

relief operation was started on 17-09-2011 and

ended 30-09-2011.

Clean drinking water was provided through tankers

in the camps/villages of Umerkot and Tharparkar

covering an approximate population of over 0.5mn.

In Mirpurkhas, drinking water was already being

provided with the support of UNICEF.Cooked food

was simultaneously arranged in the face of

continuous rainfall as dry items or any family

cooking arrangements were unlikely to work. Over

7,600 daigs were cooked over a period of 13 days

and distributed to the affectees stranded in the

relief camps in heavy rains.

In addition, TRDP provided malaria nets, warm

clothes, vaccination for livestock and pit latrines for

the flood affectees, as a part of relief support.

As the rainfall slowed down and the displaced

persons started to return home, they were provided

a supply of dry ration comprising flour, sugar, oil,

rice, salt and pulses covering a period of 7 days.

In this period, the consortium

reached out to thousands of people in these three

districts, providing cooked food, clean water and dry In October 2011, TRDP entered into an agreement ration support. with the United Nations Development Programme The assistance was disbursed following a formal to undertake early recovery in the flood affected registration of displaced persons who were also areas of UC Jhangara and Burira, in District provided tokens to access relief supplies. Two Jamshoro and Dadu respectively. The 6-month hundred and thirty five staff was divided into ten project period aimed at achieving the following committees under District Managers in order to outcomes:execute the relief process. 1) Return of 500 families to 40 villages of Jamshoro

Early Recovery

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and Dadu by making available permanent shelter outlined. Four hundred one-room houses were

arrangments; rebuilt and one hundred houses were repaired in UC

2) Easy access to portable water for communities of Jhangara and Burira.

30 villages; Drinking water was the most critical need of the

3) Provision of livelihood for 3,000 rural community in the face of extreme inaccessibility of

people/labour and landless farmers by providing water sources. The villagers ofUC Jhangara and

daily wage earning opportunities in construction Burira had to travel one to two kilometers everyday

and repair work of physical infrastructure; to fetch drinking water from water plants or

4) Provision of disaster risk preparedness facilities purchase water containers from locally available

for communities of 40 villages (4,500 families). arrangements. Some six water supply schemes and

For the area of shelter, the scheme included 144 hand pumps were installed in the two UCs. The

rebuilding and repair of rooms. For water provision, villagers found it as the most useful scheme with

repairing of water supply lines and hand pumps one villager, Muhammad Hassan Barejo sharing that

were outlined as interventions. Restoration of he used to travel several kilometers everyday for

public infrastructure in the form of repairing link water, for the last 50 years. The water supply project

roads, street pavements and sanitation were was the first ever intervention in the village to make

outlined as targeted intervention. the crucial resource available at their doorsteps.Restoration of sanitation schemes and link roads The schemes were executed with the help of the were likewise initiated in Jhangra and Burira. These Village Development Organisations. In this covered sanitation schemes, link roads and street regard,VDOs of 11 villages formed through Social pavements in seven villages of UC Jhangra and ten Mobilization strategy. Village profiles were villages of UC Burira.developed and assessment exercises were also

carried out. The VDOs were provided financial and

technical support to further the interventions

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CONTACT INFORMATION:Head Office:Near Dargah Hussain Shah, Siran, Mithi (69230), District Tharparkar, Sindh, PakistanPhone: 0232 261 661/ 462 Fax: 0232 261 379Reach us at: www.thardeep.org

Coordination Office:F-178/3, Block-5,Kehkashan, CliftonKarachi-75600Phone: 92 21 35868791-3 Fax: 92 21 35867300