EXECUTIVE SUMMERY

The document reflects the result of the Multi Stakeholder Forum (MSF) held in Booni Chitral by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), Chitral in collaboration with the Biyar Local Support Organization (BLSO). AKRSP established in Chitral and Northern Areas in 1982 with the aim to bring about a change in the socio economic conditions of the people, and following the principle of “learning by doing approach”, started organizing the people at grass root level while introducing a participatory model in the region.

With the flow of benefits from the formation of the village based organizations with a technical and financial support of AKRSP, people started organizing themselves in various forms, being able to address their emerging needs and requirements. In this way, in addition to Village organizations (VOs) and Women Organizations (WOs) other organization like interest groups, clusters and civil society organizations were established largely inspired by AKRSP, without its direct intervention. At the same time the government is trying to promote inclusive and participatory development policies by developing state authority, resources and responsibility to local government structures. These trends present AKRSP with a new opportunity to work with the public, private and civil society institutions at all levels. This development process needs to be strengthened by creating a sense of local ownership among various stakeholders for the future of the area. Moreover, the village level institutions fostered by AKRSP are effective in varying degrees at the lowest tier of development management, but their capacity to influence policy at higher levels is limited.

Keeping in view the differentiating and diversifying development needs of the region, AKRSP in its new phase (2004) adopted the strategy of formation of Local Support Organizations (LSOs) at valley level and strengthening them by building their capacities in order to plan and manage development activities on their own. These institutions are clearly connected to the larger mission of AKRSP and are, therefore, potentially the logical successors to AKRSP. This paper, therefore, is a planning document for BLSO, put together with the participation of a number of stakeholders including local government, local communities, village based institutions, civil society organizations, non government development organizations and people representing different religious and ethnic groups.

The MSF was organized around nine themes—social development, institutional development, poverty, women and development, natural resource management, investment and employment, energy and infrastructure, public private partnership and post Lawari tunnel scenario, and the participants were accordingly divided into nine working groups.

BACKGROUND

The Multi-stakeholder development forum was organized for the LSO, Biyar Local Support Organization, around nine themes: social development, institutional development, poverty, role of women in development, natural resource management, investment and employment, energy and infrastructure, public private partnership and post Lawari tunnel scenario.

Keeping in view the differentiating and diversifying development needs of the region, AKRSP in its new phase (2004) adopted the strategy of formation of Local Support Organizations (LSOs) at valley level and strengthening them by building their capacities in order to plan and manage development activities on their own. These institutions are clearly connected to the larger mission of AKRSP and are, therefore, potentially the logical successors to AKRSP.

OBJECTIVES

 

The objectives of this MSF were:

• To Develop Shared Vision among the stake holders
• Integrated Planning
• Participatory Development and Ownership
• Increase Coordination between Developmental  Partners
• Inclusion of Women in Development
• Improve Working Relationship among different development players

METHODOLOGY

 

The participants were divided into nine groups along with their respective themes. A format was developed for SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis considering their respective themes. Professionals from AKRSP and other organizations were included in the group to facilitate group dynamics. After a long debate, the final outputs of the discussions were presented.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF THEMES

 

1.         SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Group members                                 
Resource Person:                      Ms. Gulsamber Education Department             
Facilitator:                                Amir Nowroz Community member                               
Co facilitator:                            Zohran Shah AKESP
Repertoire:                               Hayat Muhammad Khan, AKRSP       
Mr. Farman Ajab                     Community member
Mr. Muhammad Younus           Community member
Mr. Humayoon Roomi              Community member
Mr. Khair Baig                         Community member
Ms. Rajuli                                 Community member
Ms. Rehmat Jamal                    Community member
Mr. Shah Zaman                       Community member

The group work started with the introduction of the participants. Mr. Amir Nowroz facilitated the participant in introduction. The resource person confined the participant to discuss only education and health in the theme.

1.1 Education

 

STRENGTHS Existence of educational institutions Human resource Existence of AKESP Free education	WEAKNESSES Limited resources Substandard text and examination system Lack of technical education Unnecessary political influence Lack of career counseling
OPPORTUNITIES Local government Emergence of new educational institutions Interest of GOs and NGOs in education Emerging sector of ECD Tendency of private investment in education	THREATS Lack of  standard in education Poverty Un uniformity in private and public  sector Unemployment

 

1.2 Health      

                                               

STRENGTHS Existence of basic infrastructure Local health professional Existence of AKHSP field unit and BMC Presence of ambulance Polio day and vaccination programs	WEAKNESSES Lack of staff or insufficient staff in govt. hospitals Lack of medical technicians Lack of safe drinking water and poor sanitation system Lack of awareness
OPPORTUNITIES Local government Public private partnership Patient welfare society Biyar Local Support Organization	THREATS Substandard food stuff and malnutrition Self-medication Substandard medicine Increasing diseases—heart and lack of medical research

1.3 Suggested Actions

• Parent teacher association should be made more active and participation of parent and teacher should be ensured to make it strong.
• Policy dialogue to build class rooms in schools
• Policy dialogue to fill the sanctioned post in schools
• Linkage development with the relevant organizations especially AKES,P for career counseling for the students in Biyar area
• Policy dialogue for improvement of courses and examination system
• For the improvement of distant learning, village based coaching centre should be established
• Linkage development with NCHD, AKESP, HOAP and Local Zakat Committees
• Policy dialogue to discourage cell of substandard medicines and unhygienic food stuff in the market
• Awareness raising programs in health
• Awareness raising programme for disaster preparedness
• Policy dialogue to improve the condition of Tehsil head quarter hospital
• Establishment of diagnostic center in the BLSO area
• Establishment of Family Park in BLSO area
• Policy dialogue for making health education as a necessary component of formal education

 

2.         INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Group members
Resource Person:          Mr. Mohammad Karam, Manger BASIP
Facilitator:                    Mr. Fazal Malik, AKRSP
Repertoire:                   Mr. Asif Ali Shah, AKRSP
Haji Bulbul Aman         Vice Chairman BLSO
Ali Ahmad                    BLSO
Saliha Bibi                    BLSO
Shahri                           BLSO
Gul Zahira                    Community member
Sara                             Community member
Edi Ali              Councilor UC Mastuj
Ibrahim Shah                Nazim UC Mastuj
Ali Dost                        Community member
Sardar Ali                     Community member
Abdul Ghaffar   Community member

Mr. Karam, resource person, welcomed the participants and asked them to participate fully during the discussion. He briefly explained the methodology i.e. to prepare an action plan on the basis of SWOT analysis. The theme was further divided into Government Institutions, Civil Society Institutions and Private Institutions. The resource person asked the participants to discuss and make SWOT analysis of each institution separately. After along discussion and brainstorming, the final out come was as follow:

2.1 Government Institutions

 

STRENGTHS Existence of Infrastructure Regular Allocation of Resources Permanent Availability of Human Resource Job Security Post Retirement Benefits Variety of Institutions	WEAKNESSESS Red Tapizm Bureaucratic Attitude Top-down approach/ Centralized planning Lack of Good Governance Transparency Accountability No merit base approach Not following rules and regulations Gender inequality Lack of women participation in decision making Lack of efficiency Nepotism/ favoritism Political Interference Non Competitive education system
OPPORTUNITIES Devolution of Power Promotion of Public-Private Partnership Pro women policy Introduction of IT as an accelerating factor in development process Income generation through investment on mega projects Globalization	THREATS Political Instability Non availability of resources in proper timeframe Political Interference Economic Instability Unprepared  for responding to negative effects of globalization

 

2.1.1 Suggested Actions (weaknesses based)

• Organize Multi-stakeholder forum for government functionaries
• To use civil society organizations as development partners by making them effective bodies with ownership of community
• Organize Gender sensitization workshops for government departments
• Skill enhancement programme for government functionaries

 

 

 

2.2 Civil Society Institutions

STRENGTHS Existence of Civil Society Organizations Organized community Better utilization of resources Savings Collective decision for collective development Sense of ownership Broad based approach Democratic approach Volunteers Social Harmony Aware community	WEAKNESSESS Lack of Leadership Informal civil societies No regular meetings of the members Dependency Project oriented specifically V/WOs Lack of democratic norms Lack of professional Opportunist elements Financial constraints
OPPORTUNITIES Partnerships with government Devolution of power Sustainable development Promotion of volunteerism Flow of regular information Empowerment of people Bottom-up approach in government policies	THREATS Unfriendly government policies Politicization of civil societies Stoppage of external support

 

2.2.1 Suggested Actions (weaknesses based)

• Implementation of democratic norms
• Formalization of civil society
• Generalizations of resources in local level
• Recruitment of professional staffs
• Capacity building programme
• Promotion of good governance

 

2.3 Private Institutions

STRENGTHS Capital Personal interest/ commitment Competitive quality Professional Human Resource Linkages Job creation	WEAKNESSESS  Lack of community ownership Profit oriented No job security No post retirement benefits Personal interest
OPPORTUNITIES Creation of job Generation of Income Quality service Competition Partnership building Pro privatization policy	THREATS Inconsistent government policies Political instability Unfriendly Environment Unhealthy competition

 

2.3.1 Suggested Actions (Opportunity based)

• Formation of business groups
• Elimination of Intermediary/middleman
• Creation of Linkages between producers and retailers/whole sellers
• Identification of business minded persons to start a pilot projects in partnership, for replication
• Capacity building programme for business groups

 

3.         POVERTY

Resource Person:          Mr. Rahim Ullah, Manager AKHSP
Facilitator:                    Mr. Hussain Ahmad, AKRSP
Co-Facilitator:              Mr. Hussain Wali Khan, AKRSP
Repertoire:                   Mr. Ali Sher Khan, AKRSP
Hasil Murad                 BLSO
Khan Sahib                  BLSO
Amin Shah                    BLSO
Nusrat                          BLSO
Qazi Ahmad Saeed       AKRSP
Jaffar Ali Shah  Community member
Aziz                              Community member
Bul Khan                      Councilor UC Mastuj
Twakal Khan                Nazim UC Mastuj
Shamsur Rehaman        Community member
Sher Bahader               UTDN
Umid Ghazi                  Community member
Khwaja Nizamuddin     Community member

 

STRENGTHS LSOs Local Government AKDN Schools Banks V/WOs Poverty Reduction Committees (PRCs) Government Safety Nets Traditional Safety Nets Land Water Minerals Livestock Barren Land Herbs Social Workers Volunteers Philanthropists Skilled People	WEAKNESSES Poor Infrastructure Lack of Good Governance Gender Discrimination Remote Geographic Location Lack of Vocational Training Institutions Poor Infrastructure Small Land Holding Single Cropping Zone Poor means of communication
OPPORTUNITIES Natural Resources Social Institutions NGOs Banks High Production and Marketing Eco Tourism Minerals	THREATS Natural Calamities Political Influence Religious Intolerance Fast Growing Population Cultural Invasion Over Exploitation of Natural Resources

3.1 Suggested Actions

• Community Awareness Programmes
• Formation of PRCs
• Establishment of Revolving Fund at village level
• Partnership Linkages
• Capacity Building

4.         EMPLOYMENT AND INVESTMENT

Group members
Resource Person:                      Mr. Syed Harir Shah, Manger Focus               
Facilitator:                                Mr Shujaat Ali, AKEPB                                  
Repertoire:                               Shamim Akhtar, AKRSP         
Mrs. Ayen Jamal                      BLSO
Mr. Afiyat Khan                       Community Member
Mr. Muhammad Rasool            Community Member
Mr. Arshad Ali             Community Member
Mr. Sardar Abdul Rab              Community Member
Mr. Sher Afzal              BLSO

The resource person briefed the participant about the theme (Employment and Investment), and the methodology of the group work. In the discussion, the group realized that both investment and employment are interrelated:  investment creates employment opportunities, and increase in employment will ultimately increase demand, production and competition.

The group discussion mainly focused on the two main sectors i.e. Farm Sector and Off-Farm sector. After a long discussion and brainstorming of the members, the group prepared the following presentation reflecting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, action plan, responsibilities and remarks for BLSO.

4.1 Farm Sector

                       

Strengths	Weakness	Opportunities	Threats/ Challenges	Action Plan	Responsib-ilities	Remarks
Agriculture	Traditional  Cropping	Access to Market	Unfriendly Weather	Information About the modern  technology/ Techniques and Weather forecast System in the region	Government Agriculture Department, AKRSP	BLSO efforts should be appreciated
Live Stock	Shortage of Fodder and Man power	Insemination system	Diseases	Activation of Animal Hospital at Booni. To provide Training to Local Man Power	Agriculture Department Govt of Pakistan. NGOs	BLSO can submit application to concern department
Fruits and vegetable	Lack of Joint Marketing System	Good well in the market	Disease and natural  Climates	Establishment of Cold storage, Joint marketing system	BLSO with the help of NGOs and Local government	It will be helpful in sustainability of BLSO
Honey Bee Keeping/ Forests	Compatible  generation of Bee and Forests	Increasing Demand of Honey and wood	Harsher Weather	Local Breed of Honey Bee Local plants for forestations	BLSO with the Help of ICIMOD Govt Forest Department and NGOs	BLSO can take the help of KADO
Agriculture Equipment/ Insecticide/chemical/ fertilizers	Not available in the market	Increasing demand	Government license Professionals	Establishment of Agriculture Store in the region	BLSO with private partnership	It will support other business organization in the region

4.2 Off-Farm Sector

                                                           

Strengths	Weakness	Opportunities	Threats/ Challenges	Action Plan	Responsibilities	Remarks
Tourism	Lack of facilities	Friendly Environment	Culture and environm-ental problems	Advertisement	Local Government BLSO, CAMAT Local News papers, E-Papers	BLSO should arrange a workshop on the topic
Social Sector	Good Governance	Educated and Skilled People	Local Attitude, Lack of Resources	Awareness Workshops, Seminars and continuous efforts	BLSO, AKRSP, AKESP, AKHSP, AKEPBP, AKSWB and Local Government	BLSO can make a working plan for the institutions
Information Technology	Access to Modern Technology	Usage of IT as a Product. Skilled and Semi Skilled People	Sustainability of Electricity and Internet Server	Digital Exchange at Parwak Internet Server at Booni	Ministry of Information NGOs/ Local Govt	BLSO efforts in this regard will be highly appreciated
Business and Trade	Non-commercial attitude of people	Natural Resource Local Products Embroideries	Attitude of People Linkage roads	Tajikistan, China Peshawar Road/ Motivational programme/ Information	Government of Pakistan AKF  Other NGOs AKRSP  and Govt Mining Departments	BLSO should have to forward  proposal to government and AKF
Development of Human and Natural resources	Lake of Skills	Natural Resources/ Overseas employment bureau	Resource Management	Establishment of Hydel Power Stations/ Exploration of Natural Resources/Linkages with OEB	BLSO AKRSP Government Mining Deptt	BLSO should have to forward  proposal to government and OEB for training of youths

 

5.         PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

Group Members
Resource Person:                      Izhar Ali Hunzai GM AKRSP
Facilitator:                                Shabnam Ara AKRSP
Co facilitator:                            Farid Ahmad AKRSP
Repertoire:                               Shahla Saeed BLSO
Shah Abdul Mansoor                ID officer AKRSP Booni
Ismail                                       Intern AKRSP
Abdul Samad                           Member BLSO
Mehbob Wali                            Member BLSO          
Mir Talab                                 Member BLSO
Saeedulah Jan                           Director Education
Ali Hazrat                                 Secretary  UTDN
Rahmat Nadir                           Member  BLSO
Yosuf                                       Member BLSO

Mr. Izhar Huzai, GM AKRSP briefed the participants about Private Public Partnership. He told the group that it’s a close liaison between civil society organization, CCBs VO/WO and Govt. Organization and lines department to boost and execute socio economic activities resulting development. Modern age is the age of socio economic development where mutual co-existence and cooperation is instrumental to bring prosperity and development. The age-old tradition of bureaucratic control is replaced by modern practice of emerging of potential civil society organization, that would represent the community in general and civil society in particular.  Civil society represents the common people, so it would be easy for them to identify their problems and needs so as to resolve them amicably. The problems of civil society vary from urban society to rural society. The need of the hour is tackling the problem in right direction that is possible only through the emergence of strong civil society.

 

STRENGTHS Physical Infrastructure Motivated community Community Institution Volunteerism Private sector partnership Human Power Social environment/Diversity	WEAKNESSES Lack of ownership Lack of Good governance Coordination Gap Less Specified human power Shortage of facility Lack of Modern techniques
OPPORTUNITIES Private Public Private –Private Partnership (PPPP) Human Resource. Govt. Commitment (MDG) Donor interest. Professional Development institutions Local Govt. system Information Technology	THREATS Change in Govt. policies Community Conflicts Natural Disaster

 

 

5.1 Suggested Actions

• Policy Dialogues
• Facilitation in resource mobilization process for PPPP
• Organize MSF for integrated planning to strengthen partnership process
• Peer group net working

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