QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT

(01 July – 30 September 99)

compiled by

Research and Documentation Programme

Frontier Resource Center, Peshawar

ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

January – December 1999

1.    Background

The main objective of Information Programme is to enhance the institutional and programmatic capacity of NGOs, CBOs and other partner organizations through development of an effective information resource base.

FRC firmly believes that systematic, accurate and relevant information empowers community and contributes to creating an enabling working environment for NGOs and other civil society organizations.

The Library & Information Programme of FRC aims at the enhancement and capacity building of NGOs, CBOs and other organizations by developing and maintaining a reference library containing necessary information relating to the work of NGOs and CBOs.

The main purpose of FRC’s Training Programme is to develop and enhance capacity of the CBOs/NGOs and other partners through coordinating, conducting and facilitating various training and training related activities.

In order to achieve its objectives, FRC’s Training Programme focuses on:

    a.    Training co-ordination including networking and linkages.

    b.     Facilitating/ conducting training in some critical areas.

    c.     Develop a directory of training resource of NWFP.

   d.   Acquire / Develop training manual / modules.

    e.    Conduct and review TNAs for CBOs, NGOs and FRC staff.

    f.    Procure necessary training material and training aids.

Though FRC may not ensure training in all the identified critical areas as well as ensure rigorous follow-ups of these, however, it intends to build-up mechanisms, based on the stakeholders’ feed-back, to assess the effectiveness and need of training.

As training needs and priorities keep on changing, the training section of FRC has planned periodic review of the TNAs to update information on these. In this regard the following attempts were made.

1.  A tear-off page was circulated through FRC’s quarterly Newsletter "Sehlkar" in July 1999

2.  One-day TNA workshop for CBOs and NGOs of all the 22 districts of NWFP was held on     November 01, 1999.

The Research and Documentation programme of FRC aims at capacity building of CBOs, NGOs and other development organizations through strengthening and promoting the research and documentation component. Initially the R&D programme was supposed to conduct research studies either in-house or through external consultants on various issues relevant to the development sector. Within this mandate the R&D section embarked on commissioning a research study on "Assessment of NGOs’ Initiatives for Women’s Economic Empowerment in District Dir" through a consultant. The R&D programme drew a number of lessons from this experience, which lead the Programme to revisit its role and priorities keeping in view its financial and human resources’ limitations.

The R&D section, after consultation with its partners and other FRC programmes planned to focus more on collecting, analyzing and sharing practical experiences of the development scene rather than embarking on huge research topics and generating new knowledge. In this regard the programme planned the following activities.

1.    In order to analyze various development initiatives and share it with its partners, the      programme planned to conduct in-house case studies. Additionally, the programme also decided to search, collect and share with its partners, relevant case studies and analytical reports compiled by  other organizations and individuals.

2.    To inculcate the culture of experience sharing among various development practitioners and     promote their writing and analytical skills, it was decided to start publishing a bi-annual,              bi-lingual (Urdu & English) development magazine – Devmag.

3.    To meet the requirements and needs of the development organizations and provide them with a  conducive working environment, the programme planned to analyze and document issues,             having direct or indirect bearing on NGOs’ performance. As a first step information on              "NGOs registration process" was abridged, compiled and published in Urdu and English.

INFORMATION PROGRAMME

1.     Quarterly Newsletter

Three issues of the newsletter were published and disseminated among partner organizations while the fourth and the final issue is currently under print and will be ready for distribution by second week of January 2000.

For the sake of information collection the information Programme visited/contacted various NGOs, CBOs, development projects, funding support organizations and other relevant organizations and institutions [see section–B Annex-3] for collecting profiles, news and other information for inclusion in the newsletter. This material is translated and edited before publishing in the newsletter. Besides, relevant articles from different books, newspapers, reports and other sources are also considered for publishing the newsletter.

Newsletter is presently being circulated on complementary basis to more than 1800 CBOs, NGOs, individuals, international organizations, development projects, researchers and government agencies.

Keeping in mind the needs and demands of the readers of the newsletter, that mostly comprises of CBOs and individuals from remote parts of the NWFP, FRC regularly carries out content analysis and consultations with various partners to make the newsletter more informative and interesting.

Over a period of time, the newsletter has attracted readers’ attention. They have reported the newsletter to be an effective and useful tool in their organizational work, which helps them in developing linkages with other organizations.

2.    Database Directory of NGOs/CBOs of NWFP

This activity remained the major focus of the information programme during the year.

After a critical analysis of the initial experience of data collection in ten districts of NWFP, in 1998, the contents of the questionnaire were reviewed during a consultation workshop in May 1999 in order to make it more simple and user-friendly. [Copy of the report attached as Appendix-A]. As a result a comprehensive questionnaire was developed in August 1999. To explain the data collection process, contents of the questionnaire and various terms used, an Urdu guideline was also developed and annexed to the questionnaire.

To discuss the contents of the questionnaire and various technical and procedural aspects of data collection, a two days training workshop was organized for 50 enumerators from all the 22 districts of NWFP at Peshawar. [Copy of the report is attached as Appendix-B].

Presently, FRC is in the process of developing computer software for treating the data and generating various reports. Under the current plan the Database of NWFP will be ready by end of March 2000, which is planned to be updated regularly.

As part of FRC’s programme to foster linkages and promote activities of local NGOs and CBOs outside NWFP, profiles of four organizations one each from Mardan, Dir, D.I.Khan and Charsadda districts were sent to NGO Resource Center Karachi, for publishing in their quarterly newsletter "Akhbar".

Up-gradation and verification of the mailing list (comprising about 1800 addresses)is a regular feature of information programme. The list is used for disseminating FRC’s publications and other information to its partners. Recently a volunteer has been involved on short-term basis to assist the programme in updating and verification of the mailing list. This mailing list is being increasingly used by NGOs, CBOs and other organizations for developing linkages with other partners in development.

Being the focal point for SNI related activities, Information Programme attended various meetings of the forum including NGOs elections for the Provincial Council. Securing highest number of votes in these elections, FRC was elected as member of the Provincial Council for the year 1999-2000.

Information Programme represented FRC at various meetings and forums during the last one year. [See section-B (Information Programme) Annex-1].

Besides, representatives of various NGOs/CBOs also visited FRC for orientation and information gathering purpose. [See Section-B(Information Programme)Annex-2].

The programme evolved its strategies on the basis of partner organization’s needs and in the light of discussions and consultation meetings with other programmes of FRC. To achieve its objectives the programme planned the following activities.

1.     Bibliography

Bibliographies of FRC library as well as two other libraries are compiled biannually.

Press clippings on subjects concerning NGOs, CBOs and other developmental organizations are compiled regularly and disseminated biannually to partner organizations.

Alert Services are provided to inform FRC’s stakeholders about relevant important events / project proposals / funding sources / developments requiring their immediate attention.

Library Development was attended as the major concern during the year. It included                   Accessioning, Classification and Cataloguing of various informative material.

b.    Photo Album

Photographs of partner organizations’ activities are collected and maintained for record and information.

• The Library programme participated in different workshops [Section-C (Library Programme) Annex-1] on various developmental issues, FRC Library is also participating in Coalition against Child Labour (CACL) movement as a National Working Committee Member. FRC had completed its work on a UNICEF funded project on "Simplification of National and Internal Laws on Child Labour". In this connection three booklets are in the process of compilation, one each on International and National Laws.

• FRC worked on ratification aspects of ILO Convention on Child Labour by the UN member states. This effort is part of a publication to be compiled and published by the CACL in English, Urdu and Pashto. A meeting of all those NGOs who are part of the CACL project was also hosted by FRC on Oct 05, 1999.

• FRC library also provided technical assistance to the Library Officer of Aurat Foundation, Peshawar Chapter in developing and maintaining their reference library.

• Visits to various organizations and libraries were made to establish linkages for coordination and information sharing. These visits were extremely beneficial. See section-C (Library Programme) Annexure3.

• Similarly, the library prpgramme entertained visitors from different organizations who were interested to visit the library and learn from each other’s experiences. [Section-C (Library Programme) Annex –2].
•  

S. #

Targets Planned for 1999

Progress

1.

2.

3.

b) Prize for Women Creativity in Rural Life

c) Application from NGOs working on Environment for Financial Assistance in Small Scale Projects

d) Conference on Global Knowledge for South Asia

4.

5.

6.

During the previous year the training coordination section of FRC participated in meetings, seminars, discussions, workshops and various other events. Details are given in Section-D (Training Programme) Annex-1.

Training programme represented FRC at various meetings and forums [See Section-C (Training Programme) Annex–1] during the reporting period.

Requests regarding training, from individuals, NGOs/CBOs, and projects and other organizations were received during the reporting period. In this regard relevant information was shared with UNICEF, DFID, DLG, SPO, Khwendo Kor and various CBO members. Besides various NGO/CBO representatives visited FRC for their orientation on training activities of FRC. See Section-D (Training Programme) Annex–2.

Representatives of CBOs / NGOs were given briefings from time to time on the mission, vision and mandate of FRC, future plans regarding training coordination and other relevant issues.

Pakistan Association of Christian Service Ministries (PACSM) is a Lahore based NGO. Two representatives from PACSM Mr. Albert Joseph General Secretary and Mr. Joseph Sadiq member Executive Committee were on a three-day NGO orientation visit to Peshawar, which was being coordinated by FRC.

The main purpose of their visit was to learn about the capacity building programmes of various NGOs and CBOs.

The Baluchistan Rural Urban Water And Sanitation (BRUWAS) project was winding-up on 30th June 1999. Its staff, CBO members and volunteers had decided to initiate two new NGOs by the name IWACO and AGRIBICON in order to carry on similar activities in Baluchistan.

In such a context a group of 20 persons requested FRC to coordinate and arrange a visit to some of the NGOs / CBOs of NWFP working in the sector of water, sanitation and environment for "Experience Sharing".

The visit programmes for BRUWAS to various reputed organizations in Peshawar, Swat, Swabi and Abbottabad were coordinated and facilitated by FRC from 12-18 June 1999. Other activities carried out during the year include the following.

d) Report compiled on OCA & OD training held in September 1998.

e) Reports compiled on training and other seminars attended during the last year.

f) Coordination with FRC staff to enable them to participate in various events.

g) Worked on redeveloping questionnaire for collection of data / resume of Training Resource             Persons.

h) Compiled and sent minutes of the meeting of Education Core Group to all participants.

i) Sent format of report writing (Urdu / English) to 400 CBOs / NGOs as insert in FRC newsletter.

j) Worked on FRC’s Training Policy, Internship Policy, Staff Appraisal Forms and Job description of the Training Coordinator FRC.

k) Worked on analyzing the OCA & OD training.

l)  Send OCA & OD training report to participants and facilitators.

m)Worked on collection of training material on NFE.

n) Confirmed addresses of various projects for FRC’s directory of addresses.

o) Requests for training calendars to training institutions and organizations.

p) Sent data / list of staff development training to SNPO.

q) Replied in writing to organization and individuals asking for information.

r) Sent list of training resource persons available in NWFP to various organizations on request.

s) And routine office work.

Progress against Planned Targets