Mobilisation of the Poor – a means to Poverty Reduction? - Sida

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ecorded from 1997 onwards, perhaps reflecting setbacks suffered by the programme as a result of the termination of Sida support to the programme and the transfer of programme management from the RDTRI to the newly formed NGO. However, group funds, which do not correlate directly with fluctuations in membership, show a dramatic increase particularly from 1997 onwards. It was not possible for us to validate this information in the field. Our inquires revealed that the reliability of this information may be low since it is based on information supplied by various CAP organisations to PSMS, which did not have any means to cross check this information in the field. Inconsistencies in the number of small groups, total membership, and volume of funds raises questions about the validity of the official information. It is quite possible that the POs tended to over-report membership and volume of funds in order to qualify for grants or loans from the national-level federation. We did obtain information from POs covered by the study about trends in membership in the respective organisations, and this information base was also unreliable in some instances. Figure 1 presents information from four POs where we did manage to get the relevant information. Trends in membership at PO Level Figure 1 presents information about trends in membership in selected POs. No of members Source: PO records and interviews with PO staff While some POs (for instance, Akmeemana and Nagoda) report a consistent rise in membership in CAP small groups over the 1995 to 2001 period, others show a fluctuating trend with a marked decrease in membership from 1997 to 1999 and a subsequent trend towards stabilisation of membership in 2000–2001. In order to illustrate the processes involved, we present below case histories of two POs. It must be noted here that according to the evaluation scheme developed by the Maha Sangamaya, both the POs under review are classified as moderately successful ones. 22 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Trends in PS Membership 1995-2001 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Year MOBILISATION OF THE POOR – A MEANS TO POVERTY REDUCTION – Sida EVALUATION 02/08 Ibbagam Gampola Akmeema Nagoda
Case 1: Nagoda Sahabagitwa Sanvardana Padanama (Galle District) CAP was introduced to the area in 1989 by a core trainer from RDTRI. Initially CAP activities were limited to six Grama Niladhari Divisions (GND). By 1990 the programme had become inactive in most villages because of limited follow up by the trainer. Another trainer from RDTRI revived the programme later that year. In 1992 25 volunteers representing 25 GNDs were trained by RDTRI in a nationwide effort to expand CAP activities. As a result of their efforts, group building started in all the 25 GN Divisions. In 1993 the PO was formed with considerable support from divisional level government officials. The Nagoda Divisional Secretary’s Office provided office space for the PO. By 2001 CAP continued to have a presence in 22 out the 25 GN divisions where it had been introduced in 1992. Of these programmes 15 GNDs were described as active by the PO staff, which numbered two full timers and 12 volunteers. The membership had increased from 940 distributed in 68 small groups in 1993 to 1600 distributed in 189 small groups in 2001. There was some inconsistency in the reported data, however, as it showed a consistent increase in membership despite a reported reduction in the number of divisions covered since 1992. In 2000 the total financial assets in the organisation were Rs.0.8 million. The total value of credit issued in the same year was Rs.1.6 million. In addition to the funds raised from membership fees and savings, the PO had received funds from the Maha Sangamaya (Rs.25,000) and SLCDF (Rs.350,000). The wages and allowances of the workers were paid from an estimated Rs.30,000 monthly interest received against the loans issued. The organisation was involved in the purchase of tea leaves from PO members (who were tea smallholders) for supply to a local tea factory. To transport the tea leaves the organisation had recently purchased a vehicle. This trade was seen as a means to liberate the tea smallholders from the tight grip of private tea collectors. The organisation had been instrumental in disseminating improved practices in tea cultivation among the local tea growers. The organisation also supplied fertiliser and credit to tea growers, thus enabling them to improve their farming practices. The CAP programme in the area had experienced many ups and downs, influenced by the interests of the small groups, commitment of mobilisers, competition from other programmes, and external support available for the process. Case 2: Udapalatha Prajashakti Sanwardana Padanama (Kandy District) CAP started in Udapalatha in 1990 under the leadership of two trainers from RDTRI. It was implemented in only three GNDs in Udapalatha. In 1992 the programme was extended to 29 GNDs under the RDTRI-initiated scheme for scaling up the programme. The Udapalatha PO was formed in 1995 in keeping with trends in the programme as a whole. With the end of external funding for the programme, coverage declined markedly in the years that followed. The number of GNDs covered decreased from 29 in 1992 to 11 in 2001. There was a corresponding decrease in membership from 873 in 1995 to 450 in 1999. The factors that contributed to the decrease included the departure of some trained volunteers from the programme once allowances paid to them were stopped, disillusionment among CAP members, in some instances financial irregularities among office-bearers of CAP organisations, and competition from other programmes such as the Samurdhi Programme. By 2001 the programme had recovered to some extent, as is evident from an increase in membership from 450 in 1999 to 590 in 2001. By 2001, thanks to the initiatives taken by its leaders, the PO had successfully secured funding from several outside agencies, including PSMS, NDTF, SLCDF, World View International, and the Ministry of Environment. Apart from savings and credit operations, the PO was involved in a variety of activities including environmental action, child rights, and health and sanitation. As of 2000 the financial assets in the organisation amounted to Rs.245,000 consisting of Rs.113,000 constituting funds received from outside organisations, Rs.112,000 membership fees paid by small groups, and Rs.20,000 deposits by individual members and small groups. These two cases illustrate some important points about the pattern of development of CAP since 1987. MOBILISATION OF THE POOR – A MEANS TO POVERTY REDUCTION – Sida EVALUATION 02/08 23
Page 1: Sida Evaluation 02/08 Mobilisation
Page 4 and 5: This report is part of Sida Evaluat
Page 7 and 8: Acknowledgements This evaluation wa
Page 9 and 10: Executive Summary This evaluation a
Page 11 and 12: 1 Introduction This chapter deals w
Page 13 and 14: Softestad, Wanasinghe and Ernfors r
Page 15 and 16: CAP’s achievements are assessed b
Page 17 and 18: emaining five households were chose
Page 19 and 20: Social mobilisation approach as it
Page 21 and 22: 1990). While this too may be seen a
Page 23 and 24: Long-term trends in CAP Despite “
Page 25 and 26: The national federation, which is s
Page 27: of saving as a routine practice amo
Page 31 and 32: Case 4: Example of a Successful Sam
Page 33 and 34: Case 6: Disintegration of the CAP G
Page 35 and 36: 4 Impact of the Change Agent Progra
Page 37 and 38: why they considered themselves poor
Page 39 and 40: attention. In most areas where the
Page 41 and 42: Perceptions of impact of CAP on wom
Page 43 and 44: In conclusion, CAP remains an impor
Page 45 and 46: cent) reported borrowing from Praja
Page 47 and 48: 5 Conclusion - Is there a Future fo
Page 49 and 50: 1. As of 2001 the programme had lar
Page 51 and 52: must be noted that the CAP methodol
Page 53 and 54: Sustainability In a country where d
Page 55 and 56: well decide to take up other jobs.
Page 57 and 58: Towards enhancing future prospects
Page 59 and 60: 3. Better integration with existing
Page 61 and 62: Dianis, A.P. (1998) ‘Rural Povert
Page 63 and 64: Ratnaweera, D. de. S. (1991) Evalua
Page 65 and 66: Annex 1 Statistical Tables Table 1.
Page 67 and 68: Table 6. Progress of the Change Age
Page 69 and 70: Table 10. Cross tabulation of house
Page 71 and 72: Table 16. Percentage distribution o
Page 73 and 74: 1.11 Religion Buddhist Hindu Islam
Page 75 and 76: 3.4. The way drinking water is obta
Page 77 and 78: 4.3 Any relations to the organized
Page 79 and 80:
5.21 What does s/he understand by t
Page 81 and 82:
7. Responses of those who never joi
Page 83 and 84:
mobilisation”. Nevertheless, the
Page 85 and 86:
Effectiveness In empowering the poo
Page 87 and 88:
quantitative methods will be used i
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published and distributed as a publ
Page 92:
SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT C
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Mobilisation of the Poor – a means to Poverty Reduction? - Sida

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