New Roles for NGO/ CSOs in the New Ear of WSD Projects An Analysis of Opportunities within Common Guidelines MV Ramachandrudu, WASSAN

Pre 1994 Post 1994 Hariyali Post Hariyali Evolution of Roles of Voluntary Organizations in the Context of Watershed Development Projects in India Key Trends, Issues, Experiences Related to Roles of NGOs and Partnerships with GO

Pre 1994 Innovations, Pilots, Model Villages – MYRADA, WOTR, Relegan Siddhi, AKRSP I, Seva Mandir, AFPRO, several others Contribution from Voluntary Organizations towards Conceptualization of Watershed Approaches Institutional Arrangements: SHGs, User Groups, Committees, Para workers/ volunteers Project Content: Integrated Approaches –natural resources and agriculture Concerns: Participatory Decision Making, Flexible Technical Norms; Gender and Equity Considerations, Enhancement of Local Capacities; Project Management: Dedicated Project teams, Local and Micro planning with communities, Consistent monitoring and review

Pre 1994 Cont Largely Traditional Roles State was open to take up lessons and working models created by NGOs into policy formulation – Guidelines for Watershed Development Projects 1994

POST 1994 Up scaling of Good Practices from NGO Sector and Mainstream with several newer elements. Dedicated Project Implementing Agencies for a cluster of watersheds Clear Budgetary Support to Administration, Community Organization, Training Several NGOs became partners of Government - Good, Bad and Ugly. In some states, the role of NGOs is minimal and some states worked with a large number of NGOs. Several Good Experiences Generated

POST 1994 CONT NGOs played critical role in up-scaling good practices. Scale of Projects posed new challenges to partnerships between GO and NGOs Large amount money attracted undue attention. NGO, GO, CBO and PRI partnership related issues surfaced. Issues related to weak processes, sustainability of benefits, influences of externalities became hot topics for debates Hariyali Guidelines were issued

Post Hariyali NGOs are out of partnership in the name of Strengthening PRIs. Several committed NGOs also came of the project due to various problems – Corruption, Fund Flow Problems, Lack of Administrative Supports Difficult to Separate Good from Bad. Good intentioned Government officers also could not do much.

Post Hariyali cont Implementation Role to Other Roles – Resource Organizations, Research and Advocacy; Documentation and Capacity Building Support Services; Community Mobilization; Networking Mother Agency; Lead Organization, Support Voluntary Organizations Complete withdrawal by Some NGOs Up-Scaling Themselves to Facilitators of Up-Scaling Soft Roles – Evolution of Second Order Institutions

POST HARIYALI – COMMON GUIDELINES 2008 Multiple Roles of NGOs/ CSOs recognized – Implementing Innovative Approaches as PIA at Community Level Strengthening Project Management – Preparation of Detailed Project Reports; Institutional Partnerships for Monitoring/ Evaluation/ Learning Strengthening of Capacity Building Support Systems – Training, Systems of Capacity Building, Resource Persons, Preparation of Modules and Materials Several NGOs contributed to the policy formulation process of Common Guidelines

POST HARIYALI – COMMON GUIDELINES 2008 CONTD NGOs are recognized as necessary support systems and on-par with national level resource institutions Emphasis is on partnerships

Change and Continuity What is changing and What is continuing? What are the reasons for change and what are the reasons for continuity? What should change and What should continue? Based on experiences and need, role of NGO/CSO should change. The contribution and agenda of NGOs/ CSO has to be relevant to the changing aspirations of the communities…. Change in Roles is inevitable. Continuity in partnerships and relationships is important requirement in development process. Belief and trust on partnerships are necessary for continuity.

Some Good Practices that continue the change processes… Network of NGOs/CSOs engaged with watershed projects (Implementation, CB Services and Research) Annual Network Meetings Special Streams of Innovative Projects within large scale development projects Working Groups/ Committees in which NGOs are active members Consortium of Resource Organizations – NGOs, Academic Institutions, Line Departments, etc

Resource Organizations functioning as Secretariat of Consortium Lead NGO/ Resource Support Organizations providing hand holding support to implementing agencies Anchoring CB Service Centers/ Livelihoods Resource Centers that are established by state District Resource Organizations/ Teams Active Collaboration between NGO and GO leading to formulation of Process Guidelines/ Operational Guidelines for watershed projects Offering independent monitoring, research, feed back support to watershed development projects Some Good Practices that continue the change processes…

New Roles, Opportunities in the context of Common Guidelines.. … Several of policy provisions can open up only when SLNA intends to open these spaces for NGOs/ CSOs. NRAA/ DoLR/ MoAgri are in a crucial position to influence the formation and functioning of SNLA and its operational strategies

New Roles, Opportunities in the context of Common Guidelines.. … Key Questions: Are SLNAs ready to strategize the operational processes of watershed projects? How can NGOs support this process? How can NGOs influence this process in different states? How to collaborate with NRAA/ DoLR/ MoAgri to get space at national and state levels, in operationalizing the Common Guidelines and various provisions of Common Guidelines (Concerns, Content, Project Management)? What are the good examples of such collaborations? How to up-scale such collaborations? What kind of institutional form is required to facilitate change and continuity?