1. Role in promotion of leadership in collectives of women:self help groups,cluster and federations
29th August , 2018
Chaitanya

2. Context
Chaitanya has been facilitating spaces for women in the form of self help group, clusters and federations over 25 years
It is working in 40 locations with nearly one lakh members, mostly in Maharashtra and recently in Madhya Pradesh

3. What has it helped It has facilitated spaces
to share joys and sorrows,
overcome fear,
take risk,
do something new,
come out of the house
create an identity for themselves,
understand other women,
take decisions collectively,
solve problems,
access resources,
become confident

4. Strategies adopted for strengthening leadership
Regular meetings at group, cluster and federation level
Federation leaders take an honorarium ranging from RS. 50 to Rs. 200 per meeting depending on the financial situation of the federation.
Leader and member training
Rotation of location of meeting, chairperson for the meeting,
Organisation of AGM at group, cluster and federation level
Recognition of groups, clusters , office bearers in such AGMs
Exposure visits , conducting study,
Thematic jankars: audit, legal, govt, financial literacy, health, livelihood , resource person,
Thematic workshops

5. Exercise with facilitators of 8 federations
Identify the 3 leaders having excellent leadership qualities?
Why do you call them excellent?
What is the role of the facilitator in that
What did you learn out of this ?

6. Qualities identified by facilitators in the excellent office bearers
Takes responsibility
Eagerness to learn
Gained confidence of the women
Has support of family members
Attends regularly,, on time and vigilant
Ready to travel
Coordinates well with the women
Takes up new responsibility
Timely deposit of money
Participate in training
Thinks of how to take the federation ahead
Can take decisions involving everyone
Ability to express her opinion and women’s concerns
Promotes new groups, visits other clusters, revive dormant groups
Guide women in their livelihoods and solving problems
Coordinates between office bearers and the facilitators

7. Role of facilitator in leadership development
Train office bearers in their role and responsibilities
Focusing on transparency
Help them solve their problems
To discuss , demonstrate,
Share new information
Encourage, meet family members of the office bearers
Go with them to govt.offices to develop linkages
To share experiences of other groups, clusters,
Share in the joys and sorrows
Facilitating their participation in the gram sabha

8. Learning’s for the facilitators
Insights into how do we facilitate other leaders
Ensuring distribution of responsibilities , so that some leaders do not have to take more responsibilities.
Realized the need to talk to the families of the office bearers
Need to conduct training for the new office bearers
It helped reflection on the role s facilitator
Office bearers play an important role in problem solving

9. Next phase
The interview schedule used for earlier study on incentives and motivations translated into marthi
Video record the interview
Transcribe it
Find out the motivations and incentives which get reflected through the interview
Share the interview back with the leaders interviewed if she wants to add to her interview.

10. Work to be done further
Develop a cadre of participatory action researchers from the leaders and facilitators to work on issues which they find important
Collect and analyze data to understand leadership processes
Collaborate with academic institutions , VAF to do studies of mutual interest.
Changing aspirations of younger leaders and implications for shg process.
Facilitating new spaces for shg leaders
Self interest vs mutual interest of leaders