Where are the Sindhi Organizations when other Pakistani NGOs showcase their Wares?
By: Khalid Hashmani
October 2009 — Washington, D.C. has seen many visitors from Pakistani NGOs in the last two weeks. They were here to secure funding for their pet projects under the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009. A State Department official commented that no final decision has been made whether the new assistance will be channeled mainly through the Pakistani Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or through the traditional way through USAid department with focus on government-to-government transactions. The Pakistani NGOs, some in collaboration with their US partners showcasing their capabilities and marketing their expertise. The irony is that none of these organizations have any roots in Sindh or Balochistan, where Human Development Index (HDI) is one of the lowest in the world. None of the NGOs officials making presentations had any abilities in the Sindhi and Balochi languages; much of their focus was securing projects in Sindh. A presenter even commented that the Punjab Government does not want much privatization of their public education system. Many in the local Washington Sindhi community are fearful that just as Islamabad government officials have not been fair in distribution of resources to Sindh and Balochistan, so will these Islamabad-based NGOs would divert major portion of the new US funding for their pet projects at the cost of Sindh and Balochistan. In order to ensure that such malicious designs do not succeed, this article provides information about these NGOs, about their claims that they are already running many private schools, health centers, and micro finance projects in Sindh. It is hoped that people of Sindh and Balochistan would be diligent and help verify whether or not such claims are true. Further, in the event that non-Sindhi organizations do win major projects in Sindh, Sindhis ought to monitor their performance and report on any discrepancies to ensure that true beneficiaries of the funds allocated to any projects in Sindh would be Sindhis.
VERIFICATION OF CLAIMS ABOUT PAST PERFORMANCE:
1. Are these organizations telling truth that they have already completed or implementing several projects in Sindh?
2. Are their administrative staff, teachers, and students predominantly from the local areas?
3. Do the student populations of the schools they run represent local areas where they serve or the students are mainly from other ethnic groups and represent much larger percentage than their population ratio in the service area?
4. Do their schools encourage or discourage Sindhis from choosing the Sindhi language as their medium of Instruction?
5. Do their schools ensure that every one in their school is taught Sindhi language and offer courses in Sindhi culture, traditions, and literature?
Recent Presentations From Pakistani NGOs in Washington DC
National Rural Support Program (NRSP) — Dr. Rashid Bajwa, CEO of NRSP made a solo presentation at the Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) on October 13, 2009. Although, loaded with facts and figures, he and another owner of a private educational organization called “Roots Schools” took a strong stand for privatization and centralization of the education system in Pakistan. Dr. Bajwa even provided a figure of US 8 billion (almost the same amount as $ 7.5 billion that US has committed in civilian assistance to Pakistan) to fix economic, education, and health systems of Pakistan in five years. Their proposal of privatization and centralization was strongly opposed by fellow Dr. Ali Shaikh and this scribe expressing fears that death of public education in Sindh and Pakistan will be bad for education and hurt Sindhi culture and language. Dr. Shaikh said that the current problems of the public education system in Pakistan are due to bad governance and the solution is not to get rid of public school system but improve the governance by firing of non-performing teachers and other staff. It would indeed be a tragedy of immense proportions if the Public School system was allowed to be dismantled by excessive involvement of private organizations.
Established in 1991, NRSP claims to be the largest Rural Support Programme in Pakistan in terms of outreach, staff and development activities. It is a not for profit organization http://nrsp.org.pk/index.htm. It has a presence in 46 Districts in all the four Provinces and in Azad Kashmir. The organization says it is currently working with more than half a million poor households organized into a network of more than 57,179 Community Organizations and is emerging as Pakistan’s leading engine for poverty reduction and rural development.
NRSP’s CLAIM OF WORK IN SINDH THAT NEED VERIFICATION:
Sources: Programme Update April 2009 – http://nrsp.org.pk/Program%20Update%20as%20of%20Apr_%202009.pdf
NSRP 14th Annual Progress Report (2007-2008) http://nrsp.org.pk/Documents/AR%20Part%201.pdf
(1) District Offices in the following Districts/Areas of Sindh – Tando Allah Yar, Chambar, Jhando Mari, Matiari, Hala, Saeedabad, Nawabshah, Badin, Golarchi, Tanndo Bhango, Talhar, Matli, Tando Gulam Hyder, Tando Mohammad Khan, Thatta, Mirpur Sakro, Sujawal, Mirpur Bathoro, Mirpurkhas, Hussain Bux Mari, Sindhri, JHudo, Digri, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Hyderabad (Rural), Latifabad, Qasimabad, Hyderabad City, and Kotri.
(2) Non-Formal education and adult literacy centers established for children in the glass bangle industry in District Hyderabad.
(3) Rehabilitation and Operation of Kario Medical Center in Badin
(4) Number of village Branches (VBs): Badin -1; Thatta – 1; Mirpurkhas – 1; Digri – 1; Hyderabad Rural – 1; and Latiabad – 13 (why 13 in Latifabad and 5 in all other areas of Sindh?)
(5) Appear to have the following Sindhis on the Board of Directors: Mr. Fazullah Qureshi and Mr. M. Nazar Memon.
(6) From a quick reading, here are some projects were mentioned to be in Sindh are:
(a) Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour from the Glass Bangles Industry in District Hyderabad (ILO allocation: Rs. 23.5 million). Author’s Note: The making of Glass Bangle is mostly done in the city of Hyderabad and none in the rural areas of Sindh.
(b) Rural Water Supply Scheme, Garho Gogh (TMA Rohri Sukkur) [US Aid Grant: Rs. 1.42 million from total cost of Rs. 1.9 million]
(c) Education in Kacha (School Improvement Program) in Union Council Bago Daho and Daharki Ghokti [US Aid Grant: Rs. 1.70 million from total cost of Rs. 2.29 million].
(d) Drinking Water Supply Scheme, Jan Mohammad Khaskheli – UC – Jhol, Sanghar [US Aid Grant: Rs. 0.24 million from total cost of Rs. 0.33 million]
(e) Thaalassaemia Center in Badin completed in 2005 – USAid Grant Rs. 2.80 million.
(f) Improving and Reconditioning Road – Qasimabad-Hyderabad completed in 2005 – USAid Rs. 1.4 million.
(g) Educating the underserved Union Council Makli (Thatta District) completed in 2005 USAid Rs. 1.79 million
(h) Construction of Water Supply Schemes, Jhimpir, Thatta USAid Rs. 2.01 million.
(i) Construction of 16 water tanks in villages of Taluka Kunri, Kunri, Umerkot – USAid Rs. 2.41 million
(j) Improving and extending in Kazi Ahmed, Nawabshah District USAid Rs. 2.63 million
7. Social Mobilization Program Villages covered: MirpurKas (28), Sanghar (29), and Nawabshah (28).
8. Number of schools established; Badin (41), Thatta (1), Mirpurkhas (28), Jamshoro (5), and Hyderabad (7).
9. Number of Adult Literacy groups: Hyderabad (20) and Mirpurkas (40) — Total in Sindh 60 out of 977.
10. Number of Community School schemes completed in Hyderabad 952 – Total in Sindh 087 out pf total 6,819 in Pakistan.
Total Credit Disbursements as of April 2009: Badin (Rs. 361.4 million); Thatta 108.5 million); Hyderabad (167. million); ILO (1 million); Urban Hyderabad (380.9 million); Matiari (451.6 million); and Mirpurkhas (247.1 million) – Total Rs 1.7 billion in Sindh out of Rs. 29.245 billion (5.8%).
11. Number of Community Organizations (COs) in Sindh (Hyderabad District) 9,397 from the grand-total of covered divisions of 81,082 — 11.6%
PAKPAC Advocacy at Capital Hill
The Pakistani American Public Affairs Community (PAKPAC) held a session at the Rayburn House Balding at Capital Hill on October 20, 2009. The purpose of this all-day session was to introduce some Pakistani NGOs and do lobbying on their behalf. There were about 150 Pakistanis in attendance along with representatives from the US State Department and US Aid department. There were only two or three Sindhis in this large gathering. Mr. Farooq Soomro, an active SANA member. He is a member of the Board of Directors of PakPac and an organizer of the event. The following organizations made their presentations to pitch their wares for financial assistance:
1. AMERICAN PAKISTAN FOUNDATION (APF) – It appears that this organization was created to support the goals of increasing people-level cooperation between Pakistan and the USA by mobilizing public and private funds from the Pakistani-American community and friends of Pakistan. The American Pakistan Foundation (APF) is a not-for-profit organization. The organization claims that it was formed with encouragement from both Pakistani and American governments. Its Board of Directors includes Ambassador Nicholas Platt, Dr. Nafis Sadik, and Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.americanpakistan.org/.
2. Human Development Foundation — E-mail: info@hdf.com URL: http://www.hdf.com/ Formed by the American-Pakistani community to facilitate a nonpolitical movement for positive social change and community empowerment through mass literacy, improved education, universal primary health care, and grassroots economic development. HDF supports programs in community empowerment, education, adult literacy, health, grassroots economic development, and infrastructure development.
3. ECOEnergy Finance (EEF) is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide energy for the rural poor in developing countries and the United States. Utilizing modern technology we are installing solar powered lights in villages. http://www.ecoenergyfinance.org/
According to EEF’s web site, EcoEnergy Finance is currently working on raising funds to light Alwani, a small fishing village located about 1 hour outside of Karachi near the coast of the Arabian Sea. This small community is neglected because they are considered too poor to pay. EEF hopes to bring solar power lights to each village, one at a time, beginning with Alwani Goth. This will help in displacing kerosene, which causes many accidental deaths and improve respiratory health. Further it will create awareness in community about the benefits of clean energy to communities about clean energy and help stop degradation of the coastal areas and the livelihood of local fishermen. On a follow-up question, the presenter said that the total price for solar panels including installation to provide basic electricity to about 85 households would be about $ 30,000.
Contact Inquiries at info@ecoenergyfinance.org
4. SOS Children’s Village — Google Search warned that web site may have significant problems. Ms. Rukhasana Rahman made a presented. The headquartered in Lahore and has currently 45 projects in Pakistan. In the context of Sindh, she said that SOS Children’s Village had projects in Jamshoro area and Karachi. In Jamshoro their project is to help a village and in Karachi, they run a Youth hall.
5. Development in Literacy (DIL) – http://www.dil.org
Developments in Literacy (DIL) is a nonprofit organization started in l1997 by Pakistani-Americans with a mission to provide quality education to disadvantaged children, especially girls, by establishing and operating schools in the underdeveloped regions of Pakistan, with a strong focus on gender equality and community participation.
DIL establishes, adopts and manages primary and secondary schools for underprivileged children in partnership with non-governmental organizations in all four provinces of Pakistan. In addition, DIL directly operates community schools in Punjab and Sindh. DIL has developed an educational approach that incorporates the following elements: Dill works in Local Partnerships with regional NGOs and local communities. It focuses on Teacher Development and Curriculum Development. According to their web site, they have two school systems in Khairpur and one system in Orangi. In cooperation with a NGO called NOWA, they run 21 schools in Khairpur teaching about 2,000 students with about 100 teachers. Their other system in Khairpur consists of 31 schools that they ruin in cooperation with Indus Resource Center (IRC) teaching about 1,600 students with about 75 teachers. In Orangi area of Karachi, they have about 20 schools with 2,500 students and 145 teachers. To get more information about this organization, visit http://dil.org/schools.html.
6. The Citizens Foundation (TCF) – TCF is a non-profit organization established in 1995. According to its web site, it has built 600 schools (459 primary schools and 141 secondary schools) with an enrollment of 80,000 students. TCF encourages female enrollment and boasts of a 50% female ratio in almost every campus. TCF has a full Female Faculty of 4,150 members. TCF also has a dedicated Teacher Training Center in Karachi for the ongoing training of its faculty and provides logistical support to all its teachers. 6, 026 jobs have been created in communities in which TCF operates. http://www.thecitizensfoundation.org/main.php. TCF web site says that its assets more than US $ 26.7 millions with annual expenses of about US $ 5.5 millions. TCF charges RS 10 per month in tuition fees. Its web site says that it has schools in the following locations in Sindh:
Badin, Bagan, Dadu, Daharki, Gado, Gharo, Gujju, Haji Kanat, Hala, Hyderabad, Jaicobabad, Jahngasar, Karachi, Kotri, Mirpurkhas, Mirpur Sakro, Moro, Nawabshah, New Jatoi, Petaro, Pir Dino Shah, Quetta, Shahpur, Singhu Goth, Sukkur, Tando Allah Yar.
7. Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT) – The main goal of LRBT is to help fight blindness and to promote access to free, high quality eye care for the underserved in Pakistan. This they accomplish by providing funds, surgical equipment and supplies to support the goals and aims of LRBT. The funds we have raised have been used for the purchase of medical equipment and supplies for LRBT hospitals in Korangi, Tando Adam, Akora Khattak, Shahpur, Mansehra, Lar (Multan), Lahore, Quetta and Pakpattan. It was heartening to see a sign in the Sindhi language on one of the photograph of an eye clinic. For more information, visit their web site: http://www.lrbtamerica.org/america/index.html
8. Pakistan Foundation for Public Health – In spite of some effort including going through several lists of Pakistani NGOs, the web site of this organization could not be found. According to the presenter, they had partnered with “Indus Hospital” to conduct a public health survey and partnered with US Aid to organize a seminar in Public Health. According to the web site of Indus Hospital is http://www.indushospital.org.pk/index.php, the hospital is a state of the art tertiary care center accessible to the public free of charge. The hospital facilities are complemented by community outreach programs focused on prevention and early detection of disease, encouraging community involvement and ownership. The Community Outreach Program is being developed in collaboration with Partners in Health to implement Pakistan’s first community-based MDR-TB Control Program. The Community Outreach Program aims to provide volunteer-based health and social services to a copulation of 2.4 million around Indus Hospital through a network of community health workers. The community outreach program consists of:
a. Household Registration and Follow-up – All households in the service area are registered through a baseline census.
b. Disease Prevention and Control – This service is designed to prevent the most common causes of childhood and adult deaths in low-income communities, primarily through vaccination and other low-cost health interventions. High priority diseases include pneumonia, diarrhea, tuberculosis and malaria.
c. Integrated Health Insurance – This service will link subsidized health insurance products for non-affording families with corporate and individual health insurance programs. The initiative aims to provide health safety nets to low-income households and improve the productivity (social and economic) of individuals and families.
9. APPNA Merit – This presentation consisted of a proposal to “Build Disaster Mitigation and Management Capacity by creating and implementing a training program for Health Professionals.” APPNA MERIT is a permanent standing committee of Association of Physicians of Pakistan-descent of North America (APPNA) with 12,000 members in the US. The key components of this program are:
a. short-duration Visiting Faculty Visits for hands-on training
b. Short courses programs for broader Healthcare teams
c. Electronic conferences beamed from US to multiple Pakistan sites
d. Electronic courseware for Online Training
e. Obervorship Opportunities for Trainees to visit/observe US programs
f. Program Officer for Program Coordination and Implementation
g. Optional Add-on – Trauma Center in Peshawar
h. Optional Add-on: US Faculty stationed in Pakistan for 6-12 months.
COLLABORATING PARTNERS:
1. Potential partnership with University of Massachusetts Medical School
2. CPSP
3. Medical Universities in Pakistan – Khyber, King Edward, UHS-affiliated
4. Higher Education Commission
5. PMDC
6. Ministry of Health.
10. CDRS/Comprehensive Disaster Response Service – This consisted of a presentation on a pilot project designed to “Strengthen the Health Care system and Empower citizens in Pakistan through New Funding Strategies and Strategic Partnerships between the Community, NGO, and the Government.” The project was to be undertaken as a joint collaboration between the people of Chikar and Sulmia Union Councils, the Azad Kashmir Government, and CDRS). http://www.cdrspakistan.org/
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
(a) Addressing gaps in the healthcare delivery system and ensuring sustainability.
(b) Organize local communities to work with AJK Ministry of Health
(c) Ensure proper management and development of the healthcare delivery system.
(d) Maintain special focus on vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly, and disabled.
The presenter also mentioned that they had a project in the coastal area in Sindh but there was no further information about their activities in Sindh.
11. National Institute of Health Sciences – A proposal was made by the Islamabad-based National Institute of Health Sciences to construct additional area and medical equipment necessary to expand its facilities. The web address was given as http://www.nihs.edu.pk/. However, the message on the site says that the redesigned site will open on Monday, October 26, 2009.
12. APPNA Seht – This presentation was on the “Low cost preventative medicine with community participation”. The proposal was from the Association of Physicians of Pakistan-descent of North America (APPNA) with 12,000 members in the US. The key components of this program are:
(a) TO help villages become self-sufficient in meeting their heath care needs.
(b) Provide information in clear and concise format
(c) Provide Immunization
(d) Household monitoring
(e) Presentation measures and early diagnosis in TB, Hepatitis, and other such diseases.
(f) Improve methodology that starts with symptoms, root cause analysis, finding solution, and implementation.
The program will have two Boards of Directors – one Pakistan and other in the USA.
13. ACUMEN Funds (Socially Responsible Investments) – Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that helps to solve the problems of global poverty, including health, water, housing and energy – through innovative, market-oriented approaches. http://community.acumenfund.org/.
Their current investments in Pakistan are US $ 7.7 million, India US $ 22.1 million, and in East Africa US $12.8 million. They participated in a project called “Khuda Ki Basti” – a low income housing model project covering 500 houses in Lahore. Under this project, the house is sold for Rs. 200,000 and provides incentives such as Ownership Title to leave slums. In Karachi, they have an inexpensive health insurance project will cover 20,000 persons. Their additional involvement in Sindh includes micro finance loans for drip irrigation systems in collaboration with Thardeep NGO.
CONTACTS:
The following additional contacts were made available at the two sessions:
Mr. Joseph T. Truong
Outreach and Public Information Officer for Pakistan
US Agency for International Redevelopment
Telephone: 1-202-712-1366
JoTruong@usaid.gov
In Pakistan:
Robert Wilson
Mission Director
USAID/Pakistan
Tel: 92-51-208-2795
Lawrence W. Dollan
Officer-in-Charge
Tel: 202-712-1063
Email: LDolan@usaid.gov
CONCLUSION:
It is apparent that race among Pakistani and US NGOs and commercial organization is going to be hectic for securing funding provided under the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 (also called Kerry-Lugar bill). The proposals that have come so far in the open show that the projects that are being proposed are within the scope, competencies and capabilities of Sindh’s educational, government, NGO, health, and commercial organizations. What is lacking is initiative and drive on the part of the Sindhi organizations. As Pakistan’s own economy continues to remain in trouble, sooner or later, the budgets of universities, colleges, health services are going to be adversely affected. The laziness on the part of Sindhi organizations to simply ignore opportunities such as US funding is a short sightedness for which we will not be forgiven by our future generation.
About Author: Mr. Khalid Hashmani is a Washington DC-based veteran human rights activist. He is the founding President of Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) and Chief coordinator of Sindhi Excellence Team (SET) that participates in advocacy activities on behalf of rural Sindhi.
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Introduction to HANDS
Health And Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) is a registered Not for Profit organization working in social sector since 1979 to develop the communities to meet the challenges of 21st century. HANDS is benefiting directly to more than 13 million population of 16,703 villages in 24 districts of Pakistan, and indirectly through Research, Capacity building and information & communication resource to million throughout country. HANDS focus centrally on the delivery of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the promotion of human security in impoverished rural areas through community-based integrated interventions and community-based capacity building. HANDS is working in health, education, poverty alleviation and emergency response sectors with cross cutting themes of Social Mobilization, Advocacy, Gender and development, behavior change communication, human resource development, monitoring, evaluation & research and resource mobilization.
HANDS is certified by Pakistan Center of Philanthropy (PCP) and Institutional Management Certification Program (IMCP) by USAID for management standards. HANDS also registered with European Union.
HANDS is one of the leading organization working on disaster management and emergency response. HANDS is having an experience to work in Pakistan with several national and international organizations.
HANDS is therefore positioned well to play a leadership role in the humanitarian and development phases as the focus moves to achieving impact, and this was noted in the recent emergency response and its regular development and poverty reduction program. HANDS’s strong local existence and great experience with community-based program makes it an ideal partner to focus on the community, and on ensuring demand for and access to social services and reconstruction of infrastructure at the community level. This can be accomplished by ensuring an effective strategic approach to be implemented at community level. To do this effectively, HANDS would contribute:
•Strong field existence with over 1,500 staff located in 20 field offices
•National- and local-level advocacy, communication and mobilization for poor and affected people;
•Strong relations with public institutes and government departments;
•Proven procurement capacity;
•Expertise in Community capacity development, advocacy, communication and social mobilization;
•Experience in complex situations and difficult places; and
•Monitoring and evaluation
HANDS experienced devastating flood of human history during 2010 – 2011. The 2010 Pakistan floods began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Baluchistan regions of Pakistan and affected the Indus River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan’s total land area was underwater, approximately 796,095 square kilometers (307,374 sq mi). According to Pakistani government data the floods directly affected about 20 million people, mostly by destruction of property, livelihood and infrastructure, with a death toll of close to 2,000.
Evacuation of trapped people, who were endangering of life, was prime task of HANDS rescue team, which evacuated 93,163 people. 500 relief camps were established and supported 35,000 families (245,000 individuals). Each family was provided with tent, two to four months food, commodities, hygiene kits, water & sanitation hygiene facilities, health, education and livestock services. During relief period more than 35000 tons of rations were provided. 35000 hygiene kits, Non-Food Items to 35000 families provided, besides HANDS ensured adequate water supply and toilet facilities under the most challenging circumstances.
HANDS health teams provided health services to 300,000 patients through more than 3500 medical mobile/fixed camps in 13 districts. Around 10,000 women were screened for antenatal and post natal care, ensured 10,000 safe deliveries free of cost services with reproductive health kits comprising of required contraceptives after
counseling session while 5000 health and hygiene awareness sessions were conducted.
HANDS Education team established more than 350 Temporary Learning Centers where more than 9500 children education get education. HANDS agriculture and livestock team worked to provide vaccination, de-worming and fodder for more than 57000 goats, buffalos, and bulls.
After relief phase, HANDS started working on its early recovery & rehabilitation plan “TAMEER” (The Appropriate Measures for Early Recovery and Early Rehabilitation). HANDS facilitated more than 35000 families to move back to their respective villages as soon as water recedes. HANDS Research team conducted rapid assessment of the most effected villages and UCs and selected 16 union councils in 7 districts of Sindh and one district of Baluchistan under the umbrella of TAMEER project. During the process nearly 12000 villages of 7 districts were surveyed.
HANDS constructed more than 6000 one room shelters with water, sanitation & hygiene services being the integral part of all shelters and handed over to flood survivors while construction of more than 2000 one room shelters is under process. HANDS is targeting 50,000 shelters in next 03 years. HANDS completed nearly 1092 Community Physical Infrastructure (CPI) of 279 model villages and nearly 6674 are in process of 446 villages. These include street pavements, water reservoir, culverts, roads, channels etc. During early recovery phase HANDS providing food to 6300 families, health facilities to 103196 clients and livelihood to 1000 families. In addition to that 6250 WASH structures were also provided.
HANDS supported around 3000 entrepreneurs (comprised of agriculture, livestock, fishing, indigenous trades etc). HANDS provided extensive skill trainings, grant support and technical support in developing these enterprises. Support of developing 2000 more entrepreneurs is in process.
HANDS is managing a large scale project of “Integrated Approach for School Revival -ISAR” with the support of UKAID-DFID for revival of 1000 primary schools in 07 flood affected districts of Sindh. This project is benefiting 100,000 children, 2000 teachers and nearly 500,000 community members.
To combat future disaster HANDS started establishing 02 HANDS Disaster Management & Preparedness Centers (HDMPCs) in Northern and Southern Sindh and in Karachi to minimize risks of disasters and to rehabilitate and reconstruct the losses and damages happen due to disaster
During 2010-11 HANDS focused to human & institutional development both at organization and at grass root levels. HANDS anticipating the need of capacity building and community development in 21st century established Institute of Community Development to empower and strengthen the NGOs, COs, Govt. departments (District & Provincial) and promote health, education and alleviate poverty.
During reporting period 85 staff members were trained in communication, 124 members in education while 5 staff members were given opportunities in finance. In GAD/PAP 197 staff members were trained, in health 1049 staff members, while in ME&R 73 staff members were trained. In the field of leadership and management 731 staff members were trained. Total 2337 staff members were trained through 219 training events. Staff was also given opportunity of international training held in Greece, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Doha, Cambodia and Nepal. HANDS conducted 2076 training for community members and trained19780 members in health, education, skill development etc. Trainings were also conducted for government officials and 3964 persons from various government departments were trained.
HANDS health promotion program has provided the health care services to male, female and children clients/patients directly in the community and through secondary health care facility in district office Karachi Rural, RH Centers in district offices Karachi, Matiari and Thatta, and by strengthening of Govt. Health facilities in districts Dadu, Sukkur, Sanghar and Thatta in FALAH project. Health program provided health facilities in flood affected population through Mobile and Fixed Medical camps. Total numbers of patient treated were 314128.
Health program is working in community based management of Acute Malnutrition and has establish 30 OTPs (Outpatient Therapeutic Program), 30 SFP (supplementary feeding program) and 2 NSC (Nutrition stabilizing centers ) in district Jamshoro and Kashmore for screening the under 5 children and pregnant and lactating women. CDGK – HANDS hospital is an exemplary public private model; the number of patients seen in this hospital last year has increased to 29144. Out of these, 17747 were females, 3987 were males, while 7414 children were examined in the hospital.
Health program under FALAH project envisages increasing demand and utilization of family planning services through repositioning family planning in the public discourse as a key health intervention to improve the survival and health of the mother and the newborn child. This was undertaken through a communication campaign at the national level and social mobilization at the community level in close collaboration with the Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) committees of the Ministry of Population Welfare (MoPW) and the Ministry of Health (MoH).
HANDS-Education & Literacy Promotion Program benefited through its community/village based program to more than 1.5 million population of 150 villages in 07 districts of Sindh which are Matiari, Tando Mohammad Khan, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Karachi (Rural), Badin and Thatta and indirectly through Research, Capacity building and information & communication resource to most part of the country.
In the reporting period HANDS education program/ projects intervened in 224 Govt. Girls & Boys primary, community & Higher secondary schools. Education program focused on provision of quality education for less privileged areas/villages of sindh.In the reporting period, under the education & literacy promotion program Total 21 trainings were conducted for 450 different cadres of male and female educational service providers, school management committee members & Parwarish workers in different districts. These trainings were conducted on classroom learning environment, teaching methodology, concept & strategies of ECE & ECD, Nutrition & balance diet, health messages for health behaviors, school management & environment, adult learning, and adolescent life skills based learning.
Poverty Alleviation Program (PAP) provides opportunity to HANDS staff and other institutions to build capacity in different component of the program. In this regard total 13 trainings were conducted in which 39 staff members were trained. 23 of these were conducted internally and 16 organized by other public and private institutions. In this year total 4 exposure visits were organized for the staff of different institutions and 13 staffs were exposed to various skills and knowledge.
HANDS in collaboration with Khushhali Bank Ltd is implementing the SMF Project in 7 districts of Sindh, including Hyderabad, Matiari, Thatta, Badin, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar and Khairpur. Total 30091 members were generated for micro-credit disbursement in the reporting period. The approach of SMF is to mobilize the poor to form community groups, enhance capacity of the credit group members for community mobilization, social awareness, selection and management of income generating activities, develop skills and provide basic community skills to credit group leaders. The approach is to facilitate the group to receive loan products like Agriculture Development, Livestock Development and working capital. HANDS has facilitated Khushhali Bank Ltd to disburser Rs. 271,046,850 since 2003 to community groups.
The Community Physical Infrastructure (CPI) component provides grants to the community on cost sharing basis for small-scale infrastructure projects through Partner Organizations who meet the eligible criteria. Partner Organization assists communities in organizing, preparing, and implementing and managing these projects. The average size of a community physical infrastructure project is approximately Rs.100,000 – 500,000. The target population of the CPI component is poor and disadvantaged rural and urban communities especially women, under-served districts and communities that lack essential infrastructure and have high unemployment.
HANDS Information & Communication Resource Program (ICR) made enormous efforts to develop material and bring out 529 publications in a year i.e. more than 18 publications in a month. ICR team has to stretch itself to meet the demand of extensive work. The number of publication is almost tripled then previous year in which tremendous amount of publication developed under the umbrella of TAMEER project which is a Project incepted after flood of 2010. Shelter, WASH, Infrastructure, Education (ISAR) Projects were supported by ICR Program in publications of material and other communication material. ICR has conducted many researches with the facilitation of ME&R Program to formulate BCC strategy of the MARVI, NARI and other projects.
ICR Program disseminated 749,690 copies of various publications of HANDS among different Civil Society Organizations, Government officials at district, provincial and federal levels, donor agencies, educational institutions, associations and philanthropists to promote HANDS extensive work in health, education and poverty alleviation. Out of 77 articles 36 articles were written on health issues, 17 on education issues, 10 on poverty alleviation and remaining on other issues. However the focus has been on women and girls issues in either of the sector. Total 33 stalls were organized by HANDS offices during different programs.
Gender and Development (GAD) Program of HANDS works as cross cutting theme to ensure gender equity and equality in organizational policies, procedures and in all programs and projects. Program creates an enabling environment to flourish the skills of men & Women, ensure its application in development work and women’s socioeconomic empowerment.
GAD program developed many capacity building packages, and developed human resource in different subjects and conducted different trainings/diploma courses for Communities representatives, total 177 trainings conducted only for women members in which 3284 women trained. Program provides opportunity to staff to build their capacity. In this regard total 13 trainings including gender sensitization trainings conducted for HANDS wherein 187 staff members trained. 3108 community organizations and groups have been strengthened in reporting period and built the capacity of 39840 members of communities.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (ME&R) are essential for assessing progress or success of any program/project. It is through the monitoring and evaluation that one is able to assess the intervention output, out come and impact. HANDS Monitoring and Evaluation program synergies all inputs and output by maintaining Monitoring Information System (MIS). M&E conducted using a wide range of tools, methods and approaches. These include performance monitoring indicator. The logical framework; theory based evaluation, formal surveys such as service delivery surveys, citizen report cards, living standards measurement surveys (LSMS) and core welfare indicator questionnaire (CWIQ), rapid appraisal methods such as Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions and facilitated brain storming by staff and officials, participatory methods such as participatory M & E, public expenditure tracking surveys, rigorous impact evaluation, cost – benefit and cost – effectiveness analysis.
MER Program has conducted many researches (baseline, midterm and final evaluation) during reporting period that includes project like MUMKIN, GAVI, MISALI, NARI, MARVI, FARAH etc. During reporting period, 52 reviews were conducted including schools, Health Centers, Villages, community organization, health facilities etc were monitor through this process.
Developing strong Public Private Partnership in health and education systems is a big achievement of HANDS. High indigenous philanthropy contribution, Corporate philanthropy, Model of sustainable health services and Community based income generation model made HANDS a unique organization in Not for Profit sector. Establishing HANDS Institute of Community Development is a milestone in HANDS history, through which HANDS is aiming to transform illiterate and ignored rural communities to literate, trained, motivated and empowered communities.
I need a job, please I’ll be thankful to you If i got a job……… i am graduate in geology
SWO is an NGO Collaborating Partner of Pakistan Medical Association. With the technical support of our Partners we are going to Lauch Shikarpur Computer Literacy Project for Teachers and Students. We badly need financial and technical support from International and National Organizations.
We will appreciate and welcome NGOs of Sindh to assist us.
Mehtab Qureshi
President
SWO
Thank you so much Khalid sahib for raising concern on Sindhi’s & balouchi participation in sindh and Balouchistan, we are small NGO consortium working in Sindh on gross level CBOs and NGOs, rather blaming anyone without grounds, we suggest if the task have given us we can conduct research survey reports on the failure/incomplete projects in sindh which will sure an authorized document to comment on. as the irony of fact, everyone knows that only tool for getting the funds are well prepared Proposals / reports (by those paper based NGOs who have strong linked at Islamabad) to justify the channel and interface to INGOs & Donors. also community background & language have been used as a tool to influence among various donor and UN offices , bureaucratic chain at Islamabad level, feudalism chain at village level and political people often high jack the District Governments and have quite strong grip on the situation. more so, in Sindh flood 2010 UN agencies delegates fear to failure of services and loosing of job contract compromised on so many things and
in addition even evaluation teams from donors could not figure out the real situation on grounds by paying a single day visit to the affected areas.
if we talk about solutions than suggestions are as follows :
1) research and survey should be prepared on failure / incomplete projects
2) many failure projects; i.e health, education facility buildings are available and since the failure not used by any one, so therefore that can be re-initiated with small funding.
3) On energy and environment, we have quite huge opportunity to explore with, all is needed to make a community center lead by women, where point of contact should be native women of that village.
4) Agro-economics, women handi craft and cattle farming are the basic tools which will help the villagers to uplift and maintain sustainable livelihood.
and on another hand meet the world food crises and support the environment concerns.
Will write you soon more about it
Please don’t hesitate to contact
Saad Ali (Hyderabad)
Dear Sir,
I am very much anguished to see that Thatta Sindh is a Historical District of Sindh various NGO Claiming for development work in Thatta, Makli Gharo Jhampir etc but I am senior journalist and personally visited the area there is nothing positives schemes in Thatta NGO claiming for development works are in papers only actually no any NGO working properly in Thatta they are only in papers and expending million on their own expenses nothing more all the schemes shown should be verified and certified before issuing any funds to the NGO, NRSP & others are only paper NGO.
Solar power is indeed very helpful to us. It gives life long benefits and very environmental friendly. I have developed a keen interest in this entire area. I find it very interesting how many people are so passionate about alternative and green energy sources.
I have recently posted my thoughts about this here:
I hope you like it. Let me know.
Thanks,
Scott
want job
have 2 year,s experience in TB control program as a (C H O )community health officer GREEN STAR Lahore
i need job
Please add our organization name in your good book
we are working indistrict Shaheed Benazirabad
i would like to inform you that ngo with show like musical show i know and some personal relations, frindship ktn and sindh tv fankars .. therefore these person are intreasted to come out and make the shows and what ever ticket income , use to ngos and help to help less people ,,
mazhar ali naich abudhabi uae
salaam,
i am a pharmacist and i have very interest to join sindh rural ngo….
Sindhi needs Best education any person who support our Sindhi Students. If any body else contact us
it is best wishes for u my dear specially for u young people
we’ve an local NGO working at small basis projects in district thatta & we have no more funds to help for development, our NGO want to work on some small projects but due to lack of fund we are not able to do some for our nation . Our team want to work on 1. Development of rural poor children education 2. Appearance on Abuse of alcoholism like Gutka & Main Pure (Cause of Mouth cancer) etc.
do some for the development of our oppressed nation
Thanks alot
I’m very glad to see this site (b/c its my 1st time to see it) & hope that u’r team will play a big role in achievement of our sindhi nations rights, my pray r with ur team for ur success.
thanks alot
(A hopfull member of oppressed nation )
I would like to supply your ngo with used medical equipment,used clothes and whatever other requirment I am able to meet. Please contact me on the email address: devakumar99@yahoo.co.uk
or call me on 07989978011. I am based in the Uk.