RURAL CREDIT (RC):
The Credit program of SRPO enables the communities to undertake their development plans as identified in their portfolio of opportunities. It enables VO members to increase their capital for expanding their current income-generating activities. SRPO believes in utilization of local resources and it aims to utilize VO savings in future for Micro Credit on large scale. It disbursed Rs.0.235 million from VO savings. All these loans given are for livestock keeping. SRPO in this vague pursue different agencies for partnership and it successfully developed partnership with Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) Karachi. It disbursed more than Rs.2.89 million. A total of 59VillageOrganizations (VOs) of 55 villages benefited from micro credit, 44 Male, 4 Female and 11 Mix. All these loans are given to poor and very poor members of the VOs.
URBAN CREDIT (UC):
SRPO started Urban Credit Program (UCP) in March 2003. Most of the poor people living in the slums of Mirpurkhas used to visit SRPO office and insist for micro credit. But as mentioned earlier, SRPO was working in the rural areas so it had no solution for them. SRPO management discussed the issue and came up with the solution of UCP, which was presented in the board and approved. After approval from Board it started UCP at selected sites of Mirpurkhas, Kot Ghulam Mohammed and Samaro City. Currently, SRPO is providing loans at 7 Cities and Towns of district Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad. SRPO with its innovative approach introduced daily recovery concept. It is commonly observed that most of the entrepreneurs in the Cities and Towns are habitual of pooling money with lucky draw, they deposit a fixed daily amount and at their turn get lump sum amount of total duration. Therefore, this new idea very much attracts and suits the entrepreneurs. SRPO field staff collects the recovery amount from the loanees on daily basis.
CAPACITY BUILDING OF LIVESTOCK TRAINEES:
SRPO has built the capacities of 300 youth trainees from 12 Union Councils of Mirpurkhas District as 06 months Livestock Assistant Training Program with the support of Community Development Program Planning & Development Department GoS. SRPO has developed the mini accelerated course for 06 months as Livestock Assistant and arranged 05 days ToT for selected 12 master trainers (DVM) at Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam (SAUTJ). During the ToT SRPO has finalized the 600 trainees from 12 UCs (25 from each UC) to be trained as Livestock Assistant. During the training the trainees were also paid stipend to meet expenditures of travelling. After completion of successful training the SAUT has conducted the post test from trainees and certificates and livestock kit were distributed among them. The trainees are now curing the animals in their target areas and few from those have established the Veterinary Medicine Centers in local markets. Through this training program not only 300 youth have got livelihood opportunity but also the local livestock owners have access the veterinary services at their doorstep.
CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM:
Capacity building is an ongoing process through which individuals, groups, organizations and societies enhance their ability to identify and meet development challenges. Capacity building can be defined as the
“Process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources that organizations and communities need to survive, adapt, and thrive in the fast-changing world. Capacity building is the elements that give fluidity, flexibility and functionality of a program/organization to adapt to changing needs of the population that is served. SRPO’s Capacity Building (CB) aims at building capacities of communities for taking collective efforts and actions for sustainable development. SRPO believes that capacity building is much more than
training and it includes following;
•Human Resource Development, the process of equipping individuals with the understanding, skills and access to information, knowledge and training that enables them to perform effectively.
•Organizational Development, the elaboration of management structures, processes and procedures, not only within organizations but also the management of relationships between the different organizations and sectors (public, private and community).
•Institutional and Legal Framework Development, making legal and regulatory changes to enable organizations, institutions and agencies at all levels and in all sectors to enhance their capacities At organizational level, SRPO’s capacity building relates to almost any aspect of its work: improved governance, leadership, mission and strategy, administration (including human resources, financial management, and legal matters), program development and implementation, fundraising and income generation, diversity, partnerships and collaboration, evaluation, advocacy and policy change, marketing, positioning, planning, etc. For individuals, capacity building relate to leadership development, advocacy skills, training/speaking abilities, technical skills, organizing skills, and other areas of personal and professional development.
COMMUNITY TRAINING CENTER (CTC):
SRPO plans to establish a Community Training Center (CTC) at 78-Mori, Mirpurkhas-Umerkot for the capacity building activities of communities. The CTC would be comprised of one training hall, two meeting halls, 10 residential rooms, dinning hall, recreation hall and a part for the participants. The CTC would be used for training events with an environment specially designed for the trainings. The other organizations and line departments may also use the CTC for training activities on actual service charges. The CTC would be suitable for one day to one month training events organized in different skills. Currently, SRPO does not have sufficient funds but it would develop partnerships with different donor agencies for establishment of CTC.
CAPACITY BUILDING OF CCBS:
SRPO worked with Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE) at District Mirpurkhas in year 2007. DTCE implemented capacity building of CCBs and Secretaries of Union Councils in Project Cycle Management (PCM) at District Mirpurkhas with Jagarta Welfare Organization main implementing agency. The role of SRPO was to ensure the quality of these trainings and monitoring. DTCE held 15 such three days training workshops at District Mirpurkhas. After completion the successfully the said task within time frame SRPO has assigned the said project from Community Empowerment (DTCE) for the District of Qambar/ Shahdad Kot.
