1. ROLE OF NGOS IN PROMOTING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
An experience under
Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project

2. Community Resource Management approaches
Three common approaches
State owned (Suffers from Hardin’s tragedy of commons)
Privatization (Profit earning is the limited motive)
Community based (Community has distinct role to play)

3. Status of Community participation in three approaches
State owned management approach:
Insignificant emphasis on community participation in community resource management even though the community has critical stake on the resource.
Privatization of the resource:
Community by and large at ignored as this approach focuses on maximization of profit to the agency, to whom the resource is leased.
Community based management:
Empowers the community for development of the resource and its utilization in a sustainable manner.

4. Why community based Resource Management requires engagement of NGOs?
The community by and large has-
Limited knowledge about –
the resource
best management practices & legal aspects
development of resource
value addition
appropriate marketing
sustainability aspect
Inadequate organization skills/ drive within the community for taking initiative(s)
Poor capacity to mobilize the financial resource
NGOs with experience in the field of NRM are capable in
providing the requisite support

5. NGO functions in promoting community participation
Organizing the community
Planning (including micro-planning)
Capacity Building of the community
Microfinance management
Empowerment of community -
Economic
Social
individual
Ultimate objective is to make community self-reliant

6. NGO Partnership under OFSDP
P-NGO
OFSDP
IGASA
CBSA

7. P-NGOs in implementation of OFSDP
Tasks performed
Institutional development & strengthening of VSS/EDC for implementation of various project components.
Prioritization of Entry Point Activities in consultation with the VSS/EDC members and execution thereof
Preparation of micro-plan for implementation of various project interventions and their field execution
Day to day management of VSS/EDC activities including field management of project interventions.
Coordination with FMU and other partner organizations.
Preparation of MPRs and other deliverables under OFSDP & submission to appropriate quarters
Under OFSDP the P-NGOs served as the main link between the FD & the Community in implementing various project interventions.

8. Capacity Building Support Agencies under OFSDP
Provided an enabling environment to implement Capacity Building approaches at community level (VSS/EDC)
Undertook rapid training need assessments identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats SWOT analysis)
Facilitated development of appropriate training materials and tools
Mobilized quality resource person to conduct the training and other CB events such as practical/field demonstrations/field visits
Closely worked with F.D. staff and other project partners to roll out CB activities
Supported DMUs in follow up activities after trainings / demonstrations
Made periodic assessment of the training approach and individual events in terms of what worked and what needed to be improved
Supported the DMUs in preparation of periodic reports on training, demonstrations, exposure visits, etc.
The CBSAs facilitated the much needed intellectual forum for successful implementation of the OFSDP

9. Income Generating Activities Support Agencies under OFSDP
Tasks performed
Carried out activities around cluster SHGs, small IGAs for SHGs and individual households.
Capacity Building of SHG members-
Skill development trainings
Conduct of exposure visits
Institutional strengthening of clusters and impact monitoring
Cluster development-planning and expansion
Organization of cluster meetings & formation of cluster committees.
Preparation of Business Plans and forging credit linkage.
Market linkage support to cluster IGAs for income augmentation.
Required documentation of small IGA, cluster and other activities and corresponding reporting.
Linkages of SHGs, clusters etc. with programmes of Mission Shakti, ORMAS, NRLM, NABARD etc. at state level.
Facilitated loan disbursement to SHGs and repayment thereof.
The IGASAs under OFSDP played the lead role in augmenting the income generation initiatives

10. Concluding Statement
Non-Government organizations, viz. P-NGOs, CBSAs and IGASAs played noteworthy role in successful implementation of the OFSDP

11. THANKS