DCA South Asia Annual Report 2013

AnnuAl RepoRt 2013

Dan ChurCh aiD

South ASiA

About DCA

DanChurchAid(DCA) is a faith-based, non-missionary organization. We work for the poor, vulnerable and socially excluded communities and believe in life before death. Our everyday work with development and relief aid strives to help the oppressed, neglected and marginalized groups in our focus countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America to strengthen their possibilities of a life in dignity. In Nepal, Bangladesh and India, we are involved in several thematic areas with our work focusing on disaster risk reduction, climate change and humanitarian response, resilient livelihoods and food security, active citizenship and migrants’ rights, among others.

DCA’S VISIONDCA envisions a world without hunger, poverty and oppression, in which popular and political powers constantly work strongly and actively for a just distribution and use of the earth’s resources.

DCA’S FUNDAMENTAL VALUESDCA works from a Christian philosophy of life for men and women, based on the understanding that all human beings are valuable, equal and share the same fundamental rights. This view of human nature is the basis of the rights-based approach of DCA’s work. It implies an obligation to work for a world with peace, justice and the care for human beings irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, race or political beliefs.

South Asia Annual Report 2013

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ContentsFrom the regional representative’s Desk 4

vision anD plan 2013-14 6

south asia regional oFFice programme 7

objectives 7

programmes

linclusive citizenship for acountable

governance (icag) 8

lmigrants’ rights programme (mrp) 11

l resilient livelihood and sustainable Food

security programme(rlsFs) 15

lhumanitarian assistance and

Disaster risk reduction programme 19

organisational priorities 22

lFundraising achievements and priorities 22

lhumanitarian accountability partnership (hap) 24

lprocurement 24

latc alliance 25

Financial management anD

buDget sumary 2013 26

south asia regional oFice team 29

programme-wise intervention areas 31

South Asia and South East Asia have enough natural resources to feed its population; however growing hunger and food insecurity among small and marginal farmers remain a chronic phenomenon. DCA, with the funding support from the European Union, launched a five year regional project in 2013 to increase the participation of small/marginal farmer organizations in decision making processes linked to food and nutrition security in Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.

The project “Improving Food Security Governance in South & South East Asia through strengthened participation of organizations of marginalized farmers” will reach 1,020,000 community members across the region and directly benefit 97,000 farmers organized into 1,877 farmer groups in the project countries. It will be implemented by a consortium of 13 implementing and strategic partners in the region.


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From the Regional Representative’s Desk

2013 has been an eventful year for DCA in South Asia. We implemented a number of major decisions, the foremost of which being making Nepal our primary focus country. This has meant moving our regional office from Delhi, India, to Kathmandu, Nepal. It has also meant changes in staffing, with many new colleagues including myself, with other colleagues adjusting to changing roles, and some friends leaving DCA.

This led to an increase in the size of our team based in Nepal. In India we had to slightly downsize our presence with several key staff splitting their time between Nepal and India.

As a result of the shift of focus country and base of Regional Representative, the organizational structure of India and Nepal office was reviewed. It was prioritized for some core positions to be based in Kathmandu, Nepal as opportunity arose (e.g: Human resource, communication,

programme officers, humanitarian response).

We have shifted from country-focused programmes to regional programmes. We have joined our Right to Food programme with Disaster Risk Reduction, as logically it is clear that they belong together as part of a continuum from the humanitarian through DRR to food security and right to food endeavors.

At the same time, we have had to identify potential new partners in Nepal and Bangladesh and phase out of some other partnerships in India.

All this change has brought with it difficult and painful challenges which, I am very proud to say, our entire team faced and overcame with tremendous strength of character, including flexibility, courage, and perseverance. They were able to demonstrate in practice the values of DCA.

In our programmes we were proud to see the culmination of many years of support to such key partners as, to cite but one example, the Centre for Equity Studies in India which was instrumental in contributing to convincing lawmakers to pass the landmark Right to Food Bill which guarantees all vulnerable and poor people access to basic quality food.

I had the privilege of seeing how the Centre for Dalit Rights in Rajasthan continued to defend the rights of the most oppressed people against institutionalized caste prejudice and discrimination. Just to witness the dedication and skill of CDR’s founder, Dr. Mimroth, over his entire lifetime was an inspiration to us all.

We continued to respond rapidly and effectively to humanitarian needs in Bangladesh and Nepal and also in India. DCA had longterm partners in all the countries with expanded network in emmergency and


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Disaster Risk Reduction. DCA was seen as a leading INGO particularly in food security and livelihoods across these areas of humanitarian intervention.

In the context of our Inclusive Citizenship for Accountable Governance programme, we commissioned a study in Nepal to look at civil society’s perceptions of the enabling environment for them to work effectively. This study will continue to be used in 2014 as a starting point for discussions of this important topic, drawing in government, donors, the private sector, and others to debate the situation with our CS partners.

2013 brought some successes in our collaborative efforts with other members of the ACT Alliance across the region. Particularly in Nepal and India we joined with ICCO (Netherlands) and LWR (USA) in a cross border early warning systems project. With ICCO and LWF(Switzerland) we agreed on

a joint livelihoods programme for Western Nepal.

Our Migrants’ Rights programme contributed information and did presentations on the plight of Nepali migrants in Qatar and other states. This raised awareness of the widespread abuses of migrants across Asia and the need for more concerted efforts to tackle the problems associated with migrants having their rights abused constantly and in many ways.

Our efforts to raise funds for our partners and programmes continued at great pace in 2013. Our dynamic and tireless teams contributed 10 concept notes and 13 proposals. We were successful in raising 4.78 million Euros for South Asia.

The challenges for DCA South Asia in 2014 are not only continue to expand our presence in Nepal but to also consolidate our programmes in India and Bangladesh.

Because of the diversity of skills across our partners in the region, we have the possibility of partners supporting each other across national borders on key issues such as climate change, migration, appropriate humanitarian support through cash transfers, psychosocial support in post-conflict situations, or nutritional interventions, and in supporting an enabling space for South Asian civil society to thrive and fulfill its role in supporting a rights-based approach to development.

We will strive to work more closely with other ACT Alliance organizations and like-minded INGO’s to deliver appropriate support to the most vulnerable people across the sub-continent.

May I wish everyone a happy and fulfilling 2014.

David smithRegional RepresentativeSouth Asia Regional Office


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DAN CHURCH AID’S GLOBAL STRATEGY

DanChurchAid (DCA) Global Strategy 2014-17 provides the framework and focus for DCA’s work globally.This document is the overall strategic tool to guide our international work till 2017. It addresses our development work, humanitarian assistance, mine action and advocacy globally and sets the direction for future development within programmes, our geographical presence and partnerships.

The organisational development and capacity to implement this strategy is described in the work plans within DanChurchAid Vision and Plan 2014-2017.

DCA South Asia has also developed its annual vision and plan based on the global strategy and prioritised needs of programmes and partners.

ViSion AnD plAn2013-14

OUR AppROACH: pARTNERSHIp FOR CHANGE

Partnership is a founding principle of DanChurchAid – not

just a way of working but fundamental to our values and identity. DCA partners have been interacting with the right holders and have played a crucial role in implementing the programmes on ground. They’ve also emerged as critical actors in being able to bring about policy level changes.

From 2013, DCA prioritised joint programming, joint advocacy strategies and organisational development work and strengthened partners to become strong civil society organisations in their own contexts. All DCA Regional Offices and national partner platforms have been introduced to the new Partnership Policy. Three Regional Offices have had an in-depth introduction and training in the implementation of the policy and related guidance notes.

DCA continues to focus with partners on clear programme approaches, strategies, objectives, results, organisational development, and accountability and transparency.

We will strengthen Action by Churches Together (ACT) cooperation on both humanitarian and development. We will be more strategic around external coordination and networks beyond ACT.

inclusive citiZenship For accountable governanceDCA believes that it is inherent to the dignity of every human being to be able to enjoy one’s equal right to participate in and influence developments within one’s community and country, regardless of one’s religion, gender, ethnicity, caste, sexual orientation, etc.

DCA’s overall policy goal is that poor women and men and representative of civil society organisations enjoy their equal right to participate to further democratic, inclusive and accountable governance for equitable development. The focus of the revised policy is on participation, freedom of association, assembly, expression and Right to Information.

The new policy involves engagement of poor men and women in decision-making structures in the electoral process at the local level, though discrimination continues to be the core issue. The focus is on building partner capacity on strategic advocacy and skills in political and power analysis.

SAro progrAmme obJeCtiVeS

resilient livelihooDs anD sustainable FooD securityThe Resilient Livelihood and Food Security Program in South Asia with the focus in three countries — Nepal, India and Bangladesh from 2013 is a merger of DCA’s Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) and Right to food Program.

The programme policy focuses on building capacities of local communities and groups of impoverished and marginalised people in claiming and upholding their right to food and livelihood sustainability as well as of addressing the immediate and structural causes behind their food insecurity.

In 2013, DCA upgraded and promoted the sustainable livelihood activities in rural areas by building capacities and organising the farmers as well as improving food production and marketing of the agricultural produce. Our strategy is to improve disaster resilience by linking humanitarian effort more firmly to long-term development. Our focus is on access to sustainable and green livelihoods.

humanitarian assistance anD Disaster risk reDuctionDCA Humanitarian Assistance Policy focuses on securing the rights of marginalised people and their access to DRR, emergency assistance and rehabilitation, and their coping mechanisms are strengthened.

DCA has increased humanitarian assistance within the ACT Alliance to advocate for local populations where core humanitarian principles and standards are not respected. We have developed strategies for all humanitarian crisis situations where we engage for more than 12 months.

From 2013 onwards, we increased our use of cash programming in humanitarian response. DCA’s humanitarian assistance has a three-pronged approach to fulfil the rights of the disaster-affected at different levels: (i) actions for Relief and Rehabilitation, which make up the bulk of DCA’s humanitarian efforts by far; (ii) actions for Accountability vis-à-vis duty bearers, which are targeting the duty bearers to compel them deliver the assistance that disaster-affected people are entitled to receive; and (iii) actions for Political and Legal Empowerment which are meant to assist, educate and empower disaster-affected rights holders to claim their rights themselves

2013 has been another fruitful year for South Asia Regional Programme Team. With the implementation of three Regional Programmes, scale up strategy in new focus country Nepal, and new partnerships and successes under each programme, the significant achievements were a result of continued hard work by partners, SARO programme team coordinated by Head of Programme and Programme Officers with active guidance from Regional Representative and support from programme support members. The Programme team has demonstrated synergy across programmes, joint monitoring visits, regular team meetings within team and with other teams.

promoting migrants’ rightsThe regional Migrants’ Rights Programme (MRP) (2012-16) comes under DCA’s global Active Citizenship Programme. It represents the second phase of the former Asia Safe Migration (ASM) Programme (2007-11), and is currently being implemented through DCA’s Regional Offices in South Asia (SARO), Cambodia, and Burma/Myanmar. It works with partners in seven core countries: India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma/Myanmar, and Malaysia.

The focus of the programme lies on securing migrant workers’ rights through the entire cycle of migration, from origin, through transit, at destination, and at return to their home country. The three SARO countries are mainly sending countries in this scenario, although India also plays the role of transit country for many migrants going further afield.

The programme’s main objectives, in line with this focus, are: (1) The empowerment of migrant workers to claim their rights; (2) Increased accountability of governments and other duty bearers responsible for ensuring rights of migrant workers, as a result of civil society interventions; and (3) The strengthening of civil society organisations and government institutions working with migrants and for migrants’ rights.


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inCluSiVe CitizenShip for ACCountAble goVernAnCe (iCAg)

INTRODUCTION

The Inclusive Citizenship for Accountable Governance (ICAG) Programme started on 1st January 2013.

This was the culmination of a year’s effort in 2012; an evaluation of the previous Access to Social and Economic Justice took place, a context analysis was developed as a first stage to a new programme, and subsequently followed by a programme design workshop, which led to a new programme.

The new programme is a regional one, covering Bangladesh, India and Nepal. It also has partnerships at the Asia and EU level, which makes it a programme that has an ambition to engage from grassroots to policy.

The programme has focused on specific social, economic, religious and cultural discrimination that exist in the region and

the groups that perpetrate and suffer from them. During the course of the programme, work has focused predominantly on Dalits and minorities, with limited engagement with Adivasis. There has been a consistent emphasis on gender, especially around issues of mobilisation, leadership and violence. There was considerable use of legal intervention, organisation around issues, expansion of human rights education and democratic space for minorities, as well as advocacy and lobbying by partners on civil and economic rights of discriminated groups within the framework of the constitution of respective countries, and its range of progressive and inclusive legislation.

The programme developed four new partnerships with DWO, FEDO, INSEC and Jagaran in Nepal, four partnerships in Bangladesh with DSK, Nagorik Uddyog, RDRS and Steps towards Development, and continued with CDR, NAWO and SLIC in India. There was a new partnership at the Asia level with Forum Asia.


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This is a regional programme that covers three countries of South Asia- India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The programme interventions are focused on grassroots level to policy engagement in all three countries. There are cross continental linkages at the Asia and EU level in the programme as well.

The programme intervenes in areas which lack protection for human rights and human rights defenders with many instances of violations and non-application of state legislation. It focuses on creating enabling environment for W/HRDs and civil society organizations, encourage political participation of discriminated women in decision-making processes and increase participation of Dalits and other excluded groups in decision making across state and social institutions.

Overall Objective Women and men from discriminated communities enjoy their right to participate for furthering accountable governance and for fostering a culture of equality and diversity.

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE 1: The enabling environment and leadership capacity of discriminated women is enhanced for furthering their participation in decision making processes and structures.

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE 2 : Dalits and other excluded groups have increased participation within state and social institutions contributing towards the elimination of all forms of discrimination, including caste based discrimination.

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE 3 : Women and men human rights defenders and their organisations are capacitated and protected, and the state and its human rights institutions increasingly recognize and respect this with relevant laws and policies. IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE 4: DCA has facilitated cross regional organisational engagement and strengthened institutional partnership in active citizenship in Nepal, India and Bangladesh.

The identification process for new partnerships began in the previous year. All of the new/ planned partners attended the programme design workshop. Likewise project design workshops were held with all the new partners as part of the programme mainframe.

Three partnerships were closed in India, namely Jagori, MWS and NSS. At the same time the partnership with CSSS was reworked into an annual consultancy. Partnerships for the programme are now in place, with two remaining to be filled in the coming year; a partnership in Bangladesh and another one at the international level with IDSN.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

baselineThe ICAG programme is among the first DCA programmes to undertake a baseline. Discussions were held with the PTA, Baseline in April at Copenhagen, as a starting point. In July, all partners sat down to a workshop to design the baseline success criteria. Subsequently a consultant came on board and both criteria and methodologies were finalised during the platform. Field testing of methodologies were done, and partners have finished data collection. The consultant is expected to deliver a baseline report in January 2014.

stuDiesThree studies were commissioned during the year; these included one on Discrimination against Dalit Christians in Religious Institutions, by an external consultant and which would be taken up at DCA HQ and ACT Alliance levels for further engagement on the issue. Another study focused on Gender Responsive Budgeting in the three programme countries, which is being anchored by BARC, a unit of Astha, a DCA partner. The third study is part of a global initiative between ACT and CIDSE, focusing on an enabling environment for CSOs in a specific country. Nepal was the subject country for this effort, and it was anchored by INSEC, a PT1 partner. This country

study was presented at the international conference in Malawi by the PO.

innovations The year also saw elections in Rajasthan (India), Nepal and impending elections in Bangladesh. The Right to Participation has a key principle related to participation in elections of various groups. To fulfil this, support was provided to CDR in India, Jagaran in Nepal and Steps towards Development for undertaking Election Watch Campaigns. These innovative initiatives focused on ensuring participation of key vulnerable groups such as Dalits, women, etc. in elections, while ensuring free and fair voting for them.

DCA’S VALUE ADDITION

synergy The ICAG programme partnered closely with the Migrants Rights Programme, as part of building synergic value, which mutually enriched both programmes. Among the key areas of cooperation were partner platforms, reviews and evaluations and other programmatic cross cutting issues such as Organisational Development, Baselines, etc. As a form of programme synergy, this is a prime example in SARO.

Women’s group in Angul, India reassert their commitment to fight for their rights

In partnership with Jagaran Nepal, DCA undertook an initiative to increase women’s participation in the the Nepalese Constituent Assembly election 2013.

The project aimed to raise the awareness of the women voters in electoral activities. Links were created to civil society groups to mobilize their wings to ensure the equal rights of the excluded group including women in political process as well as during election. The focus was on making the election women friendly, increasing the participation of marginalized community in the electoral process.

Key activities included orientation of women groups on the election process, facilitated by Jagaran. Many of these women, who are survivors of the civil war, had not been engaged in any political action, and needed to be orientated on what it meant, and their mandate for democratic reform. A total of 153 women were trained to take this message across two districts where the organisation is present.

The women resource centre in Biratnagar was activating to engage with local political party nominees and promote interface events between candidates and women in the community. A total of four political parties with a strong local presence were engaged in interactions, on issues such as “free and fair elections”, and the role of political parties to ensure peaceful and women friendly voting. 40 women from various local institutions participated in these including NGO networks and community groups.

The National Forum for Women Rights Concern (NFWRC) was used as a platform in the Biratnagar region to bring together diverse voices on monitoring the election process. The focus was on a gender friendly mechanism for monitoring the election by a range of civil society bodies. This developed into a partnership between the National Women Commission and the Nepal Election Monitoring Committee on ensuring that women could cast their vote. A task force of 16 women was constituted to oversee the monitoring process.

4 key learnings from the DCA project:• Womenareparticipatinginelection

processes when there is a gender friendly environment for them to do so.

• Thepresenceofmanywomenstaffmonitoring the election process at the grassroots reflects their ability to engage on the issue.

• Limitedinfrastructureleadstolimited access, and the state has a role to reduce this gap, with the support of local institutions.

• Comingtogetherforanelectionprocess remains a collaborative space for a range of institutions, and this can lead to productive synergy between stakeholders.

Ensuring women’s participation in elections

Women leaders of Nepal discuss women related issues and elections during an interaction programme organised by DCA’s partner Jagaran Nepal.

from the fielD

(Story and Picture: Jagaran Nepal)


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Expected Outcomes 4 Increased number of migrants accessing

services and assistance, including interventions from duty bearers

4 Active participation of migrants, particularly women, in public activities and decision making processes.

4 Monitoring of legislation and government policies and practices by civil society

4 Ratification and implementation of International convention in particular C 189 and other rights based legislation and policies

4 Organizations and institutions working with migrant workers increasingly carry out strong rights based interventions

4 Increased and strong networking between organizations working with migrant workers at all level

Nepal

India

Bangladesh

Myanmar

Thailand Cambodia

Malaysia

Philippines

Our Working areas

Our Working areas

migrAntS’ rightS progrAmme (mrp)

DCA’s regional Migrants’ Rights Programme (MRP) (2012-16) in South and Southeast Asia represents the second phase of the former Asia Safe Migration (ASM) Programme (2007-11), and is currently being implemented through partners in seven core countries: India, Nepal, and Bangladesh in South Asia, and Cambodia, Thailand, Burma/Myanmar, and Malaysia in Southeast Asia. Since 2011, a EuropeAid Grant has facilitated the extension of project activities into the Gulf region by supporting a project focusing on labour migration from India to Oman.

The majority of South and Southeast Asian migrants are not highly-skilled and come predominantly from poor, rural areas, have little or no formal education, and are either semi- or low-skilled labourers. They are also increasingly female. Many of them are in undocumented situations, either as a result of having been lured into illegal contract agreements through agents, or of having become undocumented after overstaying their visa and/or escaping an abusive employment situation. This makes them extremely vulnerable to various forms of rights abuses along their respective migration routes. These problems are

particularly acute for female migrant workers, who face additional barriers to accessing outside assistance when working in private homes as domestic workers.

The MRP takes a comprehensive approach to addressing the rights issues of migrants in countries of origin, transit, and destination throughout the region. This approach is underpinned by a programme strategy that focuses on:

(a) Strengthening civil society organisations, particularly with a view towards empowering migrant workers and influencing policy

(b) Increasing accountability of governments through lobbying at different levels, especially in relation to specific issues such as legislation protecting the rights of domestic workers, ratification of relevant Conventions, and implementation of rights-based migration policies

(c) Expanding the notion of citizenship to a discriminated group like migrant workers by enhancing their participation in civil and political processes, in both destination and sending countries


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This strategy is being pursued by supporting partners in their efforts to (a) organise migrant workers; stage awareness campaigns; carry out concerted lobbying for specific legislation & ratification of international instruments; and contribute to capacity building with concerned government officials; (b) engage in advocacy at national, regional & international levels (including national-level consultations; the UN Human Rights Council; the Abu Dhabi Dialogue; the Colombo Process; GFMD; WSFM; etc.); and (c) organising regional and workshops and alternative civil society events.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

eu projects, studies, and a new programme countryBangladesh saw the successful conclusion of an EU Project on ‘Promoting Safe Migration and Local Development in Eight Districts in Bangladesh’, culminating in a Lessons Learned workshop and a final evaluation, which documented the successful implementation of the project. In particular, the report noted “the effectiveness of safe migration campaign at the grassroots” and its impact at the policy level. This included successful campaigns for the ratification of the UN Convention for the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Family Members, the formulation of domestic workers policy, and the revision of the migration policy in consultation with civil society.

In addition, several studies were commissioned as part of the project, which gave a deeper insight into the situation of Bangladeshi labour migrants, and in particular, of women migrants, including on female migrant workers’ remittances’ contribution to the national economy, the situation of women migrants in Bangladesh, and a case study analysis of rights abuses against Bangladeshi women migrants in Lebanon.

Our partners BOMSA and WARBE have continued their awareness raising and advocacy work through DANIDA funding after the end of the project.

In India and Oman, partners continued our EU-co-funded MFA project on ‘Enhancing the protection of Indian migrant workers in the Gulf countries through evidence-based capacity building with Governments and Civil Society’. Several successful consultations, workshops, and trainings were held in 2013, including capacity building for government officials on safe and legal migration; safe mobility of women migrant workers in South Asia; residential training for trade unions on forced/bonded labour; and trade unions’ organising of domestic workers.

Several of our partners across the region participated in regional civil society consultations on the second UNHLD, as well as participated in the UNHLD in New York itself in October, which led to the adoption of an ‘8-point, five year civil society action agenda’ for improved migrants’ rights protection, which has been used by partners throughout the region for their national-level advocacy with governments.

Nepali partners WOREC and POURAKHI were engaged in trying to ensure that migrants’ rights remain on the political agenda following the Constitutional Assembly (CA) elections in November by organising capacity building meetings for CA members and inter-ministerial coordination meetings on migration policy. In addition, a civil society gathering was organised at the end of the year in preparation for CSO engagement with the SAARC summit, which is due to take place in Nepal in 2014.

Burma/Myanmar saw the inclusion of its first ever MRP partner, the Migrant Workers’ Rights Network (MWRN) into the programme. The country has a vibrant and emerging civil society, which includes dedicated returnee migrants who are striving to make important contributions to the protection of the rights of their fellow migrants going abroad. DCA’s partner platform has already borne fruit by linking our Burmese partner with counterparts in Malaysia and the Philippines, which will further help them in reaching out to their


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compatriots abroad and forming a joint advocacy strategy.

DCA’S VALUE ADDITION

supporting partner networkingAs in previous years, the programme continued to bring together partners working in countries of origin, transit and destination, supporting the linkages between lived experiences of migrants at grassroots level and regional and international advocacy. This happened at project level, as well as through DCA-supported regional mechanisms, such as our Annual Partner Platform Meeting, which took place in October in Bangkok this time. The Platform proved to be a good stock-taking exercise where our partners shared their progress and exchanged information; it also led to new contacts, in particular with regard to the integration of our new Myanmar partner into the network. In addition, a research core group was formed, which will look at priority issues, including gender issues in migration, and monitoring of government commitments towards migrants throughout the region, from 2014 onward.

connecting with the wiDer worlD: act alliance anD beyonDIn November, DCA representatives from the programme and from HQ participated in the World Council of Churches (WCC) General Assembly in Busan, South Korea.

This gathering was used as a platform to highlight the issue of migrants’ rights violations, and generated much interest among participants from churches and other non-governmental actors, including other members of the ACT Alliance. As a follow-up, a scoping exercise on ACT members’ work on migration issues has been launched, in preparation for the upcoming ACT General Assembly in 2014, and closer collaboration with particular ACT partners on migration is underway. Funding opportunities with private and governmental donors are also being explored as a result of contacts established at the Assembly.

synergy 2013 has also brought the MRP closer together with DCA’s other thematic programmes in SARO. There is a growing realisation among partners that migration is often linked to livelihood crises in countries of origin, and hence there has been cooperation on joint monitoring, developing of joint projects, and joint approaches to funding between the MRP and the Resilient Livelihoods programme in particular. In addition, experiences regarding rights-based advocacy, organisational development, and baseline data collection processes are being shared with the ICAG programme, and plans for joint documentation and research are underway for 2014.

People gather in a haat bazaar in Bangladesh to watch the local artists perform. DCA’s partners organize such programmes in different villages to disseminate safe migration messages which have proved to be effective in reaching out to communities in rural areas

Kamla Pariyar, 30 – is a single mother of two children, living in the economically deprived district of Bardiya in mid-Western Nepal. After her husband left her, and there were no local livelihood options available, she decided to migrate abroad and worked for two-and-a-half years in Oman as a domestic worker, sending home most of her earnings to support her children and widowed mother. After her return, she has started working as a social mobiliser for DCA partner POURAKHI, trying to spread awareness about safe migration in her village. She wants people to migrate through official channels and avoid exploitation at the hands of agents, and thinks she could have earned a higher salary had she been aware of the advantages of legal migration at the time she left.

In search of a better future31 year old Manmaya Poudel (name changed) from Sinduli District is a returnee migrant. Manamaya had gone to Kuwait two years back in search of a brighter future for herself and her three young children. Little did she know that she was to return empty handed in six months.

Manmaya had left with the hope of working for a company but was forced to work as a domestic worker after reaching there. The first three months were comparatively better for her as she only had to do the household works and take care of the babies. They let her call her family every 15 days but things gradually changed after three months. She shared a room with sixteen other domestic workers from different countries that worked in the same building. Manamaya had to live on leftover food and was never given proper rest. She worked upto 23 hours a day .Every month she was forced thumb stamp on her salary sheet but never received a single penny. She was forced into prostitution by her employer who was discreetly running a brothel in his house.

Manamaya tried her best to flee from there but all her efforts went in vain.Her employer always locked her inside a room and threatened to kill her if she disobeyed him. One morning she found herself in the hospital. All she remembered from the previous night was that she had fallen unconscious all of a sudden. She was told she had been found in a garbage heap. She was raped and bruised and thrown out along with other garbage by her perpetrators assuming she was dead. The sweepers found her and took her to the hospital where she was diagnosed of severe physical injuries. She had broken her collar bone and

had severe bruises all over her body. After one month in the hospital, she was again sent back to the same employer despite of what happened.

Finally,15 days after returning from the hospital,Manmaya was successful in running away from her employer and took refuge at the Nepalese

Embassy which arranged for her to return to Nepal and contacted Pourakhi . She was received by DCA partner Pourakhi at Nepal airport and was brought to their shelter. She was given the required counseling and medical support prior to being repatriated with her family. “I had lost all hopes of living. If it was not for the psychosocial counseling provided at the shelter, I would have either gone crazy or committed suicide”,says Manmaya.

Being a documented migrant worker; she received some money from the Foreign Employment Promotion Board with the help of Pourakhi. Life is certainly far from being normal for her but the money has given her some hope to move on with her life. She has also enrolled herself for Pourakhi’s livelihood training so she can earn some money to make a living for herself and her daughter.

*The name of the person in the story has been changed to

protect her identity.

from the fielD

Manamaya at Pourakhi's shelter

(Story and Picture: Pourakhi, Nepal)


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reSilient liVelihooDS AnD SuStAinAble fooD SeCurity progrAmme (rlSfS)

INTRODUCTION

DCA’s regional programme on Resilient Livelihood and Sustainable Food Security (RLSFS) in South Asia represents the second phase of our former Right to Food (RtF) Programme (2006-12 with 2 year extension) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Programme (2008-12), and is currently being implemented through various partners in Nepal, India and Bangladesh under a five year programme cycle (2013-17). This holistic merged strategy is an attempt to address the interrelated issues of RtF, DRR and climate change adaptation through developing a model of synergy between thematic programmes of DCA in South Asia and could demonstrate the path for an effective integrated replicable approach across other DCA regional offices and countries and also bring in learning for other organisations.

DCA has recognized the need of programme synergy between DRR and RtF when it comes to issues of hunger, food security and livelihood amidst conditions that are vulnerable and at-risk. A stand-alone programme either on DRR or RtF would hardly be able to

auger adequate positive changes in the lives of marginalized communities. Hyogo Frame work for Action also promotes food security as an important factor in ensuring the resilience of communities to hazards, particularly in areas prone to droughts, floods, cyclones and other hazards that can weaken agriculture-based livelihoods, hence it is urgent and imperative to adhere to such guidelines to ensure sustainability of the program.

This, regional programme on RLSFS is the outcome of a wider level consultation with vulnerable communities at risk, community institutions, volunteer task forces, government and civil society organisations and their network in all the three countries to ensure synergy between approaches to DRR and sustainable livelihood.

key achievements in 2013:• Therehasbeenasignificant

achievement in the formation of Disaster Management Teams(DMT)/Disaster Management Committees(DMC) in Nepal for the mitigation of disasters. 43 DMTs and 59 DMCs with 51 percent women’s representation were formed and trained on disaster preparedness, response and relief .


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• 10DisasterandClimateRiskReductionAwareness Campaigns for students, teachers and management committees of schools vulnerable to disasters were recieved reparedness training.

• Followingthetrainingsprovidedbythepartners, the communities from DCA’s working areas were able to access and mobilize 11, 32500 NRs for DRR related activities. This also includes their contribution in cash and kind. They were able to receive NRs. 250500 from various district and national authorities and other like minded actors working in the area. This also owed to continued networking and partnership initiated by the partners through DCA supported projects.

• Thefoodsecurityactwaspassedby the Indian parliament in 2013. This ambitious programme of the government covers 67% population of India and intends to provide low-priced food grain through public distribution system. DCA partners, especially Centre for Equity Study(CES), have played very constructive role in drafting the legislation as well as providing grassroots feedback to improve the scope of the programme.DCA has been supporting CES for several years in their fight to ensure food security to the poorest of the poor.

• Thelandreformpolicydraftwas

finalized by the working group constituted by Government of India as a result of agreement between Central Government and DCA partner Ekta Parishad. Ekta Parishad played key role in drafting this policy with high level committee of the central Government of India.

• Therehasbeenaprogressiveincreasein policy advocacy intervention on social security, land appropriation, entitlement issues, filing petition for Right to food issues for landless and marginalized communities. SAHANIVASA / APVVU in India, occupied 263 acres of land in six villages ,Ekta Parisad submitted two memorandums to the honourable chief minister of Ra jasthan to draw his attention to solve the land and livelihood related problems in the area.

• DCApartnerCentreforScienceandEnvironment(CSE)’s live updates from Doha negotiation on climate change were used widely by climate networks worldwide. One of its stories at the Doha Climate Talks (http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/we-cannot-sell-idea-equity-back-home-says-us-negotiator), went viral and was reported widely. US Deputy Chief Climate Envoy was forced to acknowledge that the US was willing to engage with countries on the issue of equity. The chief climate envoy followed it up by an admission, for the first time ever, that there was a need to discuss and review the principles of equity.

• AsaresultofDCApartnerSAHANIVASA’s interventions, 5235 workers got an average of 94 days of employment during the year and earned 67.416 million rupees through NREGS. 512 acres of land is appropriated from the ineligible landlords and redistributed to 503 landless Dalit families; 750 acres of uncultivated waste lands was converted into cultivable land by mobilizing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) resources for land

A woman signs during the signature campaign for unorganised workers Social Security Act organised by SAHANIVASA


17

development; 491 BPL cards were provided to the most vulnerable families.

• DCApartnerDisha,inpartnershipwith30 other civil society organisations, led the Job demand campaign in Odisha and have been able to mobilise 52000 tribal, Dalit and women headed families demanding job under MGNREGA on days Rozgar Diwas (employment day). All the 52,000 families received the job with anticipated work days of 15,00,000 with minimum cash.

• DCApartnerIDFworkswiththemost backward Musahar and other communities in flood/draught prone block of Muzaffarpur in Bihar. The project has been revised keeping DRR, livelihoods and food security of the most vulnerable communities in flood prone area Muzaffarpur. A cross boarder collaboration was initiated with LWF Nepal on early warning system to help timely evacuation of the communities living on lower side has been initiated

• In2013,theprogrammegotthreenewEuropean Union projects i.e. 1. Regional Food Security Governance project 2. EU-NSA to be implementedin odisha, India; 3. EU-NSA to be implemented in Nepal.

synergyRegional cooperation and synergy among existing Right to Food and DRR partners through solidarity, information sharing and technical support has increased. The partners have been sharing their expertise amogst each other and have proved to be a resource for each other.

baseline A baseline process was initiated with full participation of programme partners and facilitated by external consultant. The baseline workshop in December 2013 has finalized design and process for data collection and report. Final report of the baseline is expected by March 2014.

partnershipsTwo new partnerships, one each in Nepal (NNSWA) and Bangladesh (FIVDB), have been initiated. Two partnerships (RCDC and SURE) in India have been phased out.

DCA has been selected as a member in Global Food Security Cluster (GFSC) evaluation reference group of World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and showed excellent performance during the devaluation process.

A Disaster Management Team member orients people about preparedness measures against floods during a mock drill organized by FAYA Nepal. DCA through its partners, trains communities on disaster risk reduction, preparedness and mitigation measures.

Putting sense back into FarmingWhile the climate scientists across the globe are worried about finding a way to save the world from the devastating consequence of climate change, it is interesting to note the scientific statement of Birabati Bag (wife of Purna Bag) of Balangir District,India in the context. She says “Nature has gifted us everything – seed, fertilizer, pest controlling insects and birds. But we destroy them using chemicals. It is like cutting off our own leg.”

In a lure to earn more money farmers opt for mono cropping using agro chemicals and high yielding and hybrid seeds but Purna Bag has opted for organic and integrated farming. He has now emerged as a successful farmer in his vicinity due to the practice.

Life was not always as easy for him.With only 2.5 acres of fragmented land primarily in a rain fed region with no irrigation facility, it was extremely difficult for him to meet the daily needs of his seven member family. He started participating in various meetings of the Food Security Committees (FSC) where discussions were carried out on agriculture. With the help of DCA partner RCDC, he enhanced his knowledge and skill through training and exposure visit trip on local resource based farming. He was an active participant in the training and workshops on intercropping or mixed cropping, integrated farming, seed preservation etc. From there,he adopted diversification of crops which helps farmer like him to secure an income as well as food, even in extreme situations.

He practices mixed cropping and animal husbandry. He grows a variety of seasonal crops and vegetables with a special focus on traditional varieties, appropriate to conditions and climatic situation. He has also integrated animals into the farming system. He has two cows, five hens and four sheep to supplement his income from which he earns about Rs.24000/- per year. He has his own vermi compost unit. Further, being aware about the health risk of chemicals and looking back to the traditional practices he has cultivated as many as 14 species of vegetables. He is also cultivating indigenous millets and paddy having drought resistant capacity and tuber crops like sweet patato is grown in different combination in his field.

These crops not only provide him with nutritious food for his family round the year, but also fetch some income which amounts to Rs.7000/- to Rs.8000/- pa. With this income he has educated his daughters and son. In the last year, he has constructed a concrete roof house in place of his earlier mud and thatched house. Though Purna is low literate, he is a good farm scientist and economist as well. The vegetables he cultivates are according to the market demand. Potato and brinjal varieties he cultivates are yielded rounded the year. When these vegetables are unavailable in the market, he grows, sells these and gets more income.

He further says that the soil nutrient optimization is crucial for sustaining the agro ecosystem in his fragile land and the mulched leaves which have much ecological and economic value protects soil erosion and runoff, maintaining soil moisture and soil health is enhanced reciprocating yield per unit area.

While in the prevailing social structure SC communities are treated as untouchable, this culture has been broken. He has been selected as Secretary of the Apex level Federation of FSC of 50 village level Food Security Committees). Purna has shouldered the responsibility to communicate and motivate farmers towards opting for integrated farming practices.

Mr. Purna stands firm in his ideology, belief and practice. He conveys his deep gratitude to RCDC for introducing him to various initiatives and says “the best fertilizer for the soil is at the footsteps of the gardener so any farmers can convert unproductive land into beautiful greenery by his hard work, dedication, commitment and deep respect for nature.”

from the fielD

Purna Bag taking care of Great Millet ( Sorghum)

(Story and Picture: RCDC, India)


19

humAnitAriAn ASSiStAnCe AnD DiSASter riSk reDuCtion

introDuctionDCA- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Risk Reduction programme addresses vulnerabilities in anticipation of predictable or recurring events to reduce the effects of disasters on people, property and the environment and provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the people affected by conflicts and natural disasters. Being a humanitarian and rights- based organization, DCA South Asia links its humanitarian actions with long term development programmes especially with the Right to Food programme.

Dan Church Aid as a part of Act Alliance has been working for more than two decades in South Asia region by providing humanitarian assistance in both sudden onset and slow onset disasters such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones, fire and drought, complex crises caused primarily by war and conflict. In addition, DCA Humanitarian programme interventions are usually followed by comprehensive DRR programming combining food security, DRR and climate change adaptation.

DCA, along with ACT partners in the region, advocates for local populations where core humanitarian principles and standards are not respected. DCA continuously works in strengthening stakeholders’ knowledge of Sphere Standards and HAP benchmarks, especially the development of complaints mechanisms, the provision of adequate information, and fostering of meaningful participation of disaster and conflict-affected communities. DCA’s humanitarian action is responding to humanitarian crises mostly through short term stand-alone projects

and in many cases linking immediate response interventions to our Right to Food and Disaster Risk Reduction and livelihood interventions.

key achievementsDCA partners have a long experience working in DRR and humanitarian response. Besides implementing Disaster Risk Reduction activities in the vulnerable communities,they also respond immediately to emergencies in their area. DCA and partners have well established network with other national and international NGOs and have coordinated with the government at all levels.This coordination was further strengthened in 2013.

In last three years alone (2011-2013), DCA SARO has implemented 22 humanitarian response projects in Nepal, India and Bangladeshwith various partners. These projects mainly provided humanitarian assistance to people affected by floods, cyclone, fire, landslides and communal violence.

DCA response included distribution of food and non food Items (NFIs), food and livelihoods security through cash transfer, nutrition assistance to children and women, assistance to repair and rebuilding shelters and psychosocial assistance to the affected people among others.

DCA’s Disaster Risk Reduction programs through CASA and LWSIT in India, LWF and FAYA in Nepal and DSK and RDRS in Bangladesh have continued to bear results in major emergencies even after the completion of the program. One such example was seen in cyclone Phailin affected areas where


20

community members trained in 2009 were actively engaged in evacuating and rescuing people to temporary shelters,used their contingency funds for immediate food before the support from DCA/Danida Emergency Response Funds (DERFs) through Act alliance was announced. Moreover, the District Action Groups (DAG) promoted by CASA in 21 districts of Odisha played a significant role pre and post cyclone Phailin. The DAG worked closely with the District Administration and participated at District level coordination meetings in each district.

Dca’s value aDDitionHumanitarian response partners have consistently reiterated the advantage of operating through ACT when launching appeals for funding of emergency situations.

This has facilitated the entry of new players in the emergency scene and enabled partners to advocate for international help.DCA has been playing a key role as a member of various coordination forums such as ACT, SPHERE and humanitarian teams at national and regional levels.

DCAs value addition has been specifically identified in areas of :1. Capacity building & organizational

development2. Flexibility in funding3. Programme approach & partner

platforms4. In-country and regional presence with

experienced and qualified staffs5. Introduction of new perspectives and

innovation6. Inclusive approach in humanitarian

response and disaster risk reduction with a focus to minorities,Dalits and women among others.

Women’s group meetings provide a platform for women to vent their feelings and leave behind the bitter memories of conflict. Besides interacting with each other and sharing experiences, these women carry out collective activities like weaving, knitting and tailoring. $24 is given every month to each group to support their activities. A psychosocial consultant also provides counseling to the group members on a regular basis.

Following the Bru-Mizo violent ethnic clash in 1997 over 200,000 Brus fled to Tripura and Assam. After over a decade of intermittent

violence and several rounds of negotiations between the Governments of Mizoram, Tripura and Bru organisations,the Government of Mizoram agreed to take back the Bru refugees in 2009. Assessment of the recently repatriated Bru families living in Mizoram, and consultations with local village councils and the government initiated Bru Coordination Committee (BCC) of Mizoram has revealed several unmet needs that require humanitarian assistance. The repatriated families are struggling for their livelihood, shelter, fuel woods among others as they are primarily land and forest based community.

DCA and its implementing partner, IGSSS with the funding support of Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission (ECHO) have been extending support to address the unmet needs of 827 families in Mizoram including their livelihood, WASH and psychosocial needs since April 2013.

Women share some laughter during a women’s group meeting in Mizoram’s Bru community.

Kantiagarh village of Palibandha Panchayat in Ganjam District is very close to the Bay of Bengal and is surrounded by the natural casuarinas and cashew forest which normally protect it from cyclonic storms. All 210 households of the village belong to backward castes and depend on agriculture as a primary source of livelihood followed by salt production. The agriculture depends entirely on monsoon rain but due to insufficient rainfall the area is considered drought prone. As a result, the youth of the community are forced to migrate to other states and towns in search of livelihood options to maintain their families during lean periods.

The DRR project is implemented by LWSIT, India with support from DCA. It includes women, children and youths and focus on awareness, hazard analysis, vulnerability and capacity mapping, and formation of disaster management team in the year 2007 namely Baba Bateswar Disaster Management Team (DMT), as well as formation of different task forces and preparation contingency plan with involvement of entire community. This exercise helped the community to identify their strengths and weaknesses and to take up their own preparedness and mitigation measures.

The very severe cyclonic storm Phailin with wind speed up to 220 km per hour was alerted by the IMD on the 10th of November to all the coastal districts of Odisha. The cyclone made landfall at Gopalpur in Ganjam district of Odisha at 8.00 pm on 12/10/2013.

LWSIT trained Community Based Disaster Management Team (CBDMT) members proactively to contact the local authorities on updates on the movement of the cyclonic storm. The CBDMT evacuated people living in mud and thatched houses to the disaster resilient multipurpose cyclone shelters, public buildings,

community centres and private buildings. Apart from helping their own community, this Disaster Management Team (DMT) also played a vital role by providing early warning and evacuation support of 780 families from other communities as well. Due to this outstanding effort of the DMT for evacuation and shelter management, the Chief minister of the state rewarded the DMT of Kantigada as thebest DMT of the state. On the eve of celebration of State Disaster Preparedness Day and National DRR day in Bhubaneswar, the Cabinet Minister handed over a Citation and Seal to this DMT on 29 October 2013.

Post Phailin Relief distribution with DERF funds in Ganjam district, India

(Story and Picture: LWSIT, India)

The Best Disaster Management team of Kantiagarh

from the fielD

A primary school student in Durgapur presents the vulnerability map of her school during an ECHO monitoring visit. The school is one of the schools where school based disaster risk reduction plan has been piloted by DCA through its partners. Durgapur in Netrakona District of Northeast Bangladesh is a flash flood prone area.


22

orgAniSAtionAl prioritieS

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

In 2013, despite the challenges of transition and increasing competition for funds, DCA SARO was quite successful in raising resources. We’ve raised 4.78 million Euros for DCA SARO programs besides supporting partner to raise Euros 316,000 in Nepal. A total of 10 concept notes and 13 full proposals were submitted, out of which 6 proposals were approved. The overall success rate is 46.15 %. Further, DCA SARO was able to finalize the Fundraising Strategy for 2014-18 through a process of wide consultation with DCA SARO teams as well as DCA headquaters. A key aspect of the strategy is to leverage various funding opportunities besides diversifying our funding base with other donors such as USAID, DFID, private foundations and corporates (particularly Nordic companies who operate in the region).

The 4.78 million Euro raised will help to consolidate and sustain DCA SARO development program and humanitarian work that focus on resilient livelihood and sustainable food security, active citizenship and Humanitarian response interventions implemented in far-west Nepal, North-east and North west

Bangladesh and Assam-Mizoram and Orissa states in India. 15 partners from 3 countries were capacitated on concept note and full proposal development process for raising funds particularly from EU. DCA has maintained high visibility among donors and consortium partners in Nepal, India, Bangladesh and is now recognized as one of the known players in the sectors of sustainable food security, rights to food, DRR, human rights and safe migration in the region, particularly in Nepal

partner submission/consortium modality with partners: In 2013, in line with the funding strategy, DCA SARO supported fundraising for partners, including their skill building on fundraising. Two concept notes and two full proposals were submitted and one full proposal was approved. Partners also felt this to be as a very encouraging strategy to build their own organisational capacity, while at the same time raising funds. “We have learnt a lot about the technical skills required for fundraising from EU especially on how to write qualitative concept notes and full proposals applying project cycle management approach” reflected DCA partners-Jagaran, INSEC and LWF during this process.

Fundraising for DCA SARO Programmes 2013-14


23

key challenges in FunDraising:• Competitionforfundsisveryhigh

in Nepal, India and Bangladesh and it has been a challenge to engage DCA teams, partners, consortium members to provide quality time to develop such proposals.

• Partnersubmission/consortiummodality is good strategy but demands a lot of time from DCA and partners teams to make winning proposals, while ensuring ownership of the process.

way ForwarD:• DCAandpartnerteamsallocate

sufficient time/resources to ensure quality of the proposal development process

• Focusonlyonveryrelevantandstrategic funding opportunities in line with DCA programmes

• Greaterfocusonfund-raisingforDCA program work in Nepal, the ‘new DCA focus country’ in the region.

• RolloutofDCAfundingstrategy2014-18 and Action plan( 2014) with its strategic focus areas viz.,

• Diversifyingfundingbasebyexploring with Danish foundations/corporates with interest in the region

• Ensuringhighqualityimplementation/reporting

• Optimisinginternalcoordinationand cooperation to facilitate both of the above including capacity building

10

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1413

06

CN FP Approved

overview & status of funding proposals -2013 cn-concept notes & Fp- Full proposals

750000

2225000

4,78,000

77,55,000

CN Pending

FP Pending

Approved Total

overview of euros raised (potential) 2013 in million euros


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DCA is HAP certified organisation and South Asia Office has taken steps since 2009 to institutionalize the process.

DCA South Asia Regional office (SARO) entered third year of HAP implementation together with partners after establishment of complaint mechanism in May 2011. Humanitarian Accountability Framework has been drafted and rolled out in team and with partners. As an accountability principle, DCA SARO has been updating and reporting back to all partners on HAP processes during South Asia Partnership meet.

During 2013, the SARO complaints committee comprising of SARO Regional Representative, Head of Human Resource and Head of Programme (HAP focal point) have met and discussed on three complaints on partnerships related to fund management, and have been able to successfully resolve and close the cases. The respective partners have also agreed and have been informed with action taken. SARO Complaints committee meeting minutes are documented and signed off and have been shared with DCA headquarters. The committee has functioned very well with active support of complaints committee in DCA headquarters. As an action, SARO has taken steps to build capacity of partners on finance and procurement policies and guidelines, so that gaps in the project implementation is addressed.

DCA SARO also ensured orientation of partners across all programmes during annual partner platform meetings. Assessment of partners on HAP benchmarks were carried out and partners reported back on the status and adherence to standards. DCA has also shared template of case studies to partners for documenting good practices on HAP. Through its humanitarian and development programmes, DCA envisages

adherence to HAP benchmarks and initiatives and achievements will be documented and reported in DCA Annual Report and web-sites.

DCA SARO will review and update Humanitarian Accountability Framework (HAF) in consultation with Humanitarian Response Unit in DCA Headquarters. This will be shared with all SARO staff and partners.

HAP General Assembly was also held in Bangkok from Oct 29-31 to take stock of HAP processes with regions and globally. This was attended by all the national forums in South and South East Asia.

pROCUREMENT In 2013, DCA Regional office shifted from India to Nepal. This led to an increase in internal organization activity as the partners in Nepal increased. It was necessary to orient the new Nepal partners and DCA staff on procurement guidelines and policy. With that focus, a partner’s procurement training was provided in Nepal in May 2013. All new DCA staff joining Nepal office are mandatorily provided the procurement training within the first quarter of their appointment.

In 2014, SARO is starting new Europe Aid funded projects in all three countries. An extensive procurement training will be provided to the relevant project staff. The procurement documentation of all projects will be regularly reviewed and partner’s provided feedback on the documentation.

In 2013, all the DCA procurement was done through the procurement committee. The committees in India and Nepal met more frequently to ensure complaince of DCA’s procurement guidelines in all procurement activities. In 2014, DCA is committed to improving planning and proper procurement. The 2014 procurement plan

Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP)


25

has been circulated to all the heads of departments and we plan to update it regularly on a quarterly basis.

ACT ALLIANCEAction by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance is a global alliance of churches and church-related organisations related to the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). It is committed to working ecumenically in the areas of humanitarian response, development and advocacy. In 2013, ACT National forums in Nepal, India and Bangladesh have moved ahead with coordinated meetings and plans.

nepalACT held 4 meetings in 2013. Highlights of activities in 2013 include a decision to hire a part-time coordinator for the Forum to be based in LWF’s offices. The position will be recruited in February 2014 and is to be filled by a female candidate from a marginalised community, thus providing a career opportunity for them.

DCA developed a joint livelihoods programme in the Far West alongside LWF and ICCO, based on common objectives and a complementarity of approaches. Training on the Theory of Change was held for these and local partners using a facilitator who had successfully supported DCA and ICCO on programme development in Kyrgystan.

DCA also agreed a cross-border (Nepal/India) early warning systems/DRR project with Lutheran World Relief.

Security training run by Church World Service Pakistan was held for staff from nearly all the ACT forum members in Nepal.

3 forum members have submitted their data for the elaboration of an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan EPRP for ACT Nepal.

The forum also contributed to the ACT Alliance survey on their global strategy.

inDiaACT meeting hosted by LWSIT Kolkata was held on Dec 7, 2013. The meeting was attended by Dr John Nduna, the General Secretary of the ACT Alliance and representatives of the resource partners and the National Forum members. Following the WCC meeting which Dr. Nduna attended, he shared that ACT Alliance has a special status within the WCC, as it is one of the specialized ministry. Therefore, ACT Alliance had to have an official delegation and played a very key role in the WCC Assembly. He also informed to the forum that the ACT General Assembly will take place from Oct 20-24, 2014 in Dominican Republic. The Secretariat is discussing together with the Board how ACT Alliance Secretariat could be more cost effective while still remaining efficient and closer to the National Forum members and take forward decentralization of ACT Secretariat. Over the year, ACT India members shared that a document on advocacy for justice has been developed with support of an external consultant, who is expected to develop a framework. A detailed profile of the Indian members of the Forum is also being developed. The challenges and areas to improve in coordination and capacity in humanitarian response and appeal was also discussed.

banglaDeshBangladesh ACT forum had organized a number of events in 2013. Of these, the Bangla translation of ACT Code of Conduct is a major task which the forum accomplished . A number of inter agency visit has taken place in 2013 for cross learning. The forum members have agreed to develop a strategic plan for the forum in line with the Act Alliance Strategic Plan in 2014 and align it with the member organizations’ strategic plans. In 2013, the Bangladesh Act Forum Members were oriented on HAP organized by Christian Aid. DCA had organized a sharing meeting with the head of the organizations of ACT Bangladesh forum members during the visit of the Regional Representative of DCA in March 2013.


26

2013 was a very active and fruitful year for the South Asia Regional Finance Team. With January 2013, the new phase of ICAG and RLSF programme started with new 5 year budgets being approved by DCA HQ. The shifting of Regional Office from India to Nepal also started under the guidance of the new Regional Representative. New staff positions were created in Nepal office with phased reduction in India office. The Head of Finance devoted 50% of his time in Nepal office for smooth transition of the financial management processes. Due to the excellent work of partners and management capacity of SARO, DCA headquarter approved additional Danida frame for different programmes. Three new Europe Aid projects and three ECHO/ DIPECHO projects got approved during the year.

All these successes and the start of the new phase of DCA programmes with a regional focus and priorities posed many new challenges before the Finance Team. To cope up with the new requirements, the Finance Team geared itself to emerging as a Regional Service Centre to provide support to programmes, projects and partners in South Asia Region and beyond.

The South Asia Regional Office now has a well-qualified Finance Team having two Finance and Procurement Officers each in India and Bangladesh and one for Nepal office and itsled by the Head of Finance. One position will shift from India to Nepal in the first quarter of 2014. The Finance Team is now well trained and equipped to support Funding and Programme Team with their fund raising initiatives.

the achievements oF 2013:DCA SARO was able to utilise 100% of funds made available in office budget and for Danida Frame grant. The Finance Team supported the Funding and Programme Team in developing and submitting 13 full proposals during 2013. DanChurchAid- SARO also bagged three new Europe Aid Projects with a total funding of 4.90 Million Euro. DanChurchAid also bagged three ECHO projects during the year.

The Finance Team completed the Programme finance report for 2013 and its Programme audit process was completed much ahead of deadline and was the first regional office to do so.

The Finance Team provided support to Programme Team in rolling out the new phase of programme during 2013. New partners were selected after thorough assessment of financial management capacities. The five year programme budgets for Resilience Livelihood and Sustainable Food Security (RLSF) programme and Inclusive Citizens for Accountable Governance (ICAG) programme were approved and rolled out.

During the period, the Finance Team managed 13 back donor projects – six from ECHO and seven from Europe Aid – by constantly working with partners. All partners implementing back donor projects were visited regularly with an aim to provide capacity building support and to evaluate their capacity in handling back donor funds. EC Court of Auditors from Luxemburg subjected one Europe Aid supported project to field audit during the year. A special Residual Error Rate Audit

finAnCiAl mAnAgement AnD buDget SummAry 2013


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Funding source no of projects value of grants (Dkk in million)

Danida Frame Grant 44 14.92

ECHO/EU Grants 13 17.93

Disaster Emergency Releif Fund (DERF) - Danida

2 1.67

Unmarked Fund 5 0.29

DCA office cost - Own Fund 5.20

total 64 40.00

for EU supported project was done by the European Union. An Auditor from ECHO visited the DCA-HQ and examined two ECHO projects of South Asia. The Regional Head of Finance was seconded to HQ for supporting the HQ Team in managing the audits of eight ECHO projects.

DanChurchAid adopts a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards corruption. Projects are subjected to rigorous review and monitoring from time to time to ensure timely compliance. DanChurchAid is formally registered under NGO Affairs bureau of Bangladesh, Social welfare council in Nepal. It complied with all necessary legal requirements in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. DCA India office which operates as Liaison office in India got extension of permission for another period of three years up to January 2017. Altogether, DCA South Asia managed 64 projects and three offices with total funding of DKK 40.00 Million in 2013.

the plan For 2014:Management of back donor projects will be the priority in 2014. Three new Europe Aid projects have started/ going to be started in 2014. At the same time, new project proposals are being submitted to Europe Aid by DanChurchAid and its partners. The Regional finance Team will work more closely with partners to build their capacities for better management of Europe aid projects. The Regional finance Team has been proposed as global Service

Centre of DanChurchAid to provide support to partners and other regional offices in the area of E-Documentation for back donor projects.

The finance Team will ensure funds are available to partners on time so that development work goes unhindered. This will be done through better follow up at the partner level and in DCA- headquarters level. Donor compliance is always a priority and necessity in ensuring better fund mobilisation. The finance Team will ensure timely and correct reporting to back donors, and conduct programme audit for three programmes supported by Danida frame grant in Regional Office. Training programmes will be conducted for partners in the field of budgetary control and donor and legal compliance. The finance team will also make capacity building visits to all partners in India, Bangladesh and Nepal and some selected partners outside India.

the challenges:Reduction in funding in Danida Frame is going to be a challenge for coming years. Although funding from back donors is becoming higher, the Danida Frame grant is useful in providing stability to the programme work. Completion of Programme audit is a priority and requires support from all partners to send in their audit reports in time. Compliance of back donor reporting requirement along with proper fund utilisation is also a challenge.


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maconomy iD

programme type/Funding source region "value in Dkk 2013"

1010227 PT3+PT5, Resilient Livelihoods and Sustainable Food Security / Danida

India 7,900,312.92

1010035 PT1 - Asia, Migrant Rights Programme/ Danida Asia Regional 3,659,376.85

1010037 PT1 - Inclusive Citizenship for Accountable Governance / Danida India 3,358,040.78

Danida Total 14,917,730.55

1010035-21 EU - MFA Enhancing the protection of Indian migrant worker in the Gulf countries through evidence-based capacity building with Government and Civil Society

India & Middle East

2,072,243.16

1010035-28 EU - WARBE/BOMSAPromoting Safe Migration and Local Development in Eight Districts in Bangladesh

Bangladesh 443,469.19

1010037-42 EU - SLIC Catalysing human rights institutions towards effective justice delivery

India 1,078,702.14

1010037-44 EU - IDSN European action to eliminate caste descrimination Denmark 401,275.01

1010037-51 EU - RDRS/DSK Strengthening Community Based Organisations for pro-poor democratic goverance

Bangladesh 3,756,428.09

1010227-28 EU - Improving Food Security Governance in South & South East Asia through strengthened participation of organisations of marginalised farmers

India, Nepal and Myanmar

1,324,344.97

1010038-15 EU - RDRS Alleviating Poverty through disaster risk reduction in North West Bangladesh


1010038-48 ECHO - CASA Integrated Humanitarian Response to the most vulnerable Thane cyclone affected households in Tamil Nadu

India 151,565.07

1010038-50 ECHO - CASA Integrated Humanitarian Response to the most vulnerable flood affected households in Barpeta, Assam

India 334,157.80

1010038-55 ECHO - IGSSS Recovery support to communities affected by ethnic conflict in Assam and Mizoram-Tripura states of North East India

India 3,589,985.32

1010038-51 ECHO/ MA - DSK Early Recovery Support to the Flood Victims in South East Bangladesh


1010038-56 ECHO/MA - DSK Early Recovery Support to Flood Victims in North West Bangladesh


1010038-57 ECHO/SC - DSK Strengthening Resilience and Safety in School and Communities in Bangladesh


echo/eu total 17,925,587.84

1010038-58 CASA DERF Emergency Response Cloudburst India 662,332.61

1010038-59 DERF ACT Response to Cyclone PhailinR through CASA &LWSIT in Odisha, India, 2013

India 1,003,431.92

Danid Emergency Relief Fund Total 1,665,764.53

1010227-23 SAHANIVASA - Goat, Gift Catalogue 2013 India 76,493.60

1010227-24 IDF - Rice bank, Gift Catalogue 2013 India 28,898.82

1010227-25 LWF - Vegetable Garden, Gift Catalogue 2013 Nepal 74,633.42

1010227-26 FAYA Nepal - Rice, Gift Catalogue 2013 Nepal 66,156.43

1010227-29 IRDC -Fruit Tree, Gift Catalogue funds Nepal 45,399.13

Unmarked Funds Total 291,581.40

Office Budget - Own funds Total 5,198,580.68

total 39,999,245.00

2013: South Asia Resource Profile

mr. David wallace smithRegional Representative, SARO

mr. Deepak singhRegional Programme Officer

mr. mani kumarHead Of Programmes

ms. Deepika sharmaHead Of Procurement

ms. smriti shresthaHead of Human Resource and Administration

Dr. surendra bahadur thapaRegional Programme Officer

mr. jerome D’ souzaRegional Programme Officer

mr. christian wolffRegional Programme Officer

mr. apb mallickHead Of Finance

ms. shreya singhRegional Communication Officer

mr. jaison thomasHead of Funding and Country Manager, India

ms. rita Dhakal jayasawalHead of Humanitarian Response

mr. krishna bahadur thapaOffice Manager, Nepal

mr. govinda neupaneCountry Manager,Nepal

ms. babita yadavAdministration Assistant, Nepal

mr. gyan sunuwarDriver/Office Assistant, Nepal

ms. geeta lamaCook/Office Cleaner, Nepal

mr. toran bahadur sunuwarSecurityGuard, Nepal

mr. lok bahadur basnetSecurity Guard, Nepal

ms. bimala badeProgramme Assistant, Nepal

mr. navaraj TimilsinaSecurity Guard, Nepal

mr. baliram chaudharySecurity Guard/Support Staff, Nepal

mr. rajesh jesper lillebaek holmen Fundraising & Communication Intern

mr. sanjeev karnaHumanitarian Assistance Programme Intern

mr. bhim bahadur chaudharySecurity Guard/Support Staff, Nepal

mr. raj kumar bajagainGH Caretaker, Nepal

mr. hari khadkaSecurity Guard, Nepal

mr. gehendra giriFinance and Procurement Officer, Nepal

mr. nar bikram thapaRegional Project Coordinator, Nepal

DCA SAro teAm

ms. parul sharmaProject Coordinator, India

mr. seeralan venkatesanProgramme Administrator, India

ms. jamila khanProgramme Assistant, India

ms. meena ChandraMohanOffice Manager, India

ms. poornima aroraOffice Assistant, India

mr. sanjib kumar goudaFinance And Procurement Officer, India

ms. susan joseph Accounts Officer, India

mr. mudasir waniFinance and Procurement Officer, India

mr. santosh kumar padhyProject Coordinator, India

mr. bikram mohapatraProject Coordinator, India

ms. jaya ganesonCook/ Office Cleaner, India

mr. pradeep aroraDriver, India

ms. hasina inam Country Manager, Bangladesh

mr. Zahangir alamProject Coordinator, Bangladesh

mr. sanjib sarker sumonFinance Officer, Bangladesh

mr. abdur rahmanProject Coordinator, Bangladesh

mr. siddiqur rahmanProject Coordinator, Bangladesh

mr. pradip kumar royProject Coordinator, Bangladesh

mr. nakul chandra bormanProcurement and Administration Officer, Bangladesh

mr. sridham hajongOffice Assistant/Cleaner, Bangladesh

DCA SAro teAm

progrAmme-WiSe interVention AreAS


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NEPALInformal Sector Service Centre (INSEC)E-mail: [email protected]: www.insec.org.np

POURAKHIEmail: [email protected]: www.pourakhi.org.np

Dalit Welfare Organisation (DWO)Email: [email protected]

Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO)Email: [email protected]: www.fedonepal.org

Jagaran NepalEmail: [email protected]: www.jagarannepal.org

Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC)Email: [email protected]: www.worecnepal.org

Forum for Awareness and Youth Activity (FAYA)Email: [email protected]: www.fayanepal.org.np

Lutheran World Federation (LWF)Email: [email protected]: www.lwfnepal.org

Indreni Rural Development Centre (IRDC)Email: [email protected]: www.kapilvastu.irdcnepal.org.np

Nepal National Dalit Social Welfare Organization (NNDSWO)Email: [email protected]: www.nndswo.org.np

Nepal National Social Welfare Association (NNSWA)Email: [email protected] Website: www.nnswa.org.np

INDIAAstha SansthanEmail : [email protected] : www.astha.org

Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA)Email: [email protected]: www.casa-india.org

Dalit Manavadhikar Kendra Samiti (DMKS)Email: [email protected]

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS)Email: [email protected] : www.csss-isla.com

JagoriEmail: [email protected]: www.jagori.org

Mahatama Gandhi Seva Ashram/Ekta ParishadEmail: [email protected]: www.ektaparishad.com

Centre for Equity Studies (CES)Email: [email protected] : www.centreforequitystudies.org

Lutheran World Service India Trust (LWSIT)Email: [email protected]: www.lwsi.org

Regional Centre for Development Co-operation (RCDC)Email: [email protected]: www.rcdcindia.org

SahanivasaEmail: [email protected],[email protected]

Society for Promoting RuralEducation and Development (SPREAD)Email: [email protected]: www.spread.org.in

Meera Welfare Society (MWS)Email: [email protected]

Nari Suraksha Samiti (NSS)Email: [email protected]

Centre for Promotional of Social Concern (CPSC)/People’s Watch (PWTN)Email: [email protected]: www.pwtn.org

Social Legal Information Centre (SLIC)/Human Rights Law Network (HRLN)Email: [email protected]: www.hrln.org

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)Email: [email protected]: www.cseindia.org

DISHAEmail: [email protected] : www.dishaindia.org

Society to Uplift Rural Economy (SURE)Email: [email protected]: www.surebarmer.org

Yugantar/AP State Advisor SecreteriatEmail: [email protected]: www.yugantar.org.in

Orissa Stata Advisor OfficeEmail: [email protected]

National Domestic Workers’ Welfare Trust (NDWWT)Email: [email protected]

Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS)Email: [email protected]: www.igsss.org

Integrated Development Foundation (IDF)Email: [email protected]: www.idfngo.org

MANASA Centre for Promotion and Social ActionEmail: [email protected]

National Alliance of Women Organisation (NAWO)Email: [email protected]: www.nawoindia.org

BANGLADESHBangladeshi Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA)Email: [email protected] : www.bomsa.net

Warbe Development FoundationEmail: [email protected]: www.warbe.org

Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK)Email: [email protected]: www.dskbangladesh.org

RDRSEmail: [email protected]: www.rdrsbangla.net

Steps Towards DevelopmentEmail: [email protected]: www.steps.org.bd

Nagorik Uddyog, Citizen’s InitiativeEmail: [email protected] : www.nuhr.org

Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) Email: [email protected] Website: www.fivdb.net

MALAYSIATenaganita (Women’s Force)Email: [email protected]: www.tenaganita.net

PHILLIPINESMigrant Forum Asia (MFA)Email: [email protected]: www.mfasia.org

THAILANDGlobal Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW)Email: [email protected]: www.gaatw.org

DENMARKInternational Dalit Solidarity NetworkEmail : [email protected] : www.idsn.org

PARTNER CONTACTS

OuR CONTACTSDanchurchaidSouth Asia Regional OfficeGPO Box 4844, JhamshikhelWard No-2, Lalitpur MunicipalityKathmandu, NepalPhone: +977 1 50 13 550/505Email : [email protected]

DanchurchaidIndia Office14, Palam Marg,Vasant ViharNew Delhi-110057IndiaPhone: +91-11-26148279/80

DanchurchaidBangladesh OfficeHouse#83, Road #23Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212BangladeshPhone: +88 02 8834343/14522

www.danchurchaid.org

DCA South Asia Annual Report 2013

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Transcript of DCA South Asia Annual Report 2013