Overall targets
That functional Decentralised Local Governance structures and processes work to alleviate poverty by implementing strategies of Food, Nutrition & Livelihood Security in the rural areas of Eastern India based on an inclusive, participatory and sustainable Local Self Governance approach to Poverty alleviation
Immediate targets
Three immediate objectives are to be realised: 1. On advocacy, that well-functioning collaboration between District and Block level LSGIs in West Bengal and between Block level LSGIs in the States of Odisha and Jharkhand and the State Government as well as State Government technical departments (NAOs) improve the food, nutrition and livelihood security of poor families in a sustainable manner through Decentralised Natural Resource Management (DNRM) (funded through mainstream schematic initiatives including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)). 2. On capacity building, that Gram Panchayats’ ownership and prioritization of targeted food, nutrition and livelihood security initiatives through prescribed institutions and processes show that capacity is established, including ability and willingness to use National and State schematic funds (like MGNREGS) and LSGI funds for the described strategic deliveries of the project, and 3. On mainstream strategic deliveries, that the poor families through a local self governance approach as a result of mainstream initiatives have reduced their food, nutrition and livelihood insecurity by securing directly, or indirectly through income of supplementary livelihoods, their food and nutritional requirements by engaging in multiple DNRM activities.
Target groups
The project has four main target groups: A. The total number of food and nutrition insecure families targeted intensively will be 12,000 or a target of about 66,000 food and nutrition insecure participants. Women are the key participants. The distribution of participants is about 55-45 gender-wise between women and men, while about 33% are grown ups and 66% children as per average demographic features of the resident rural population. This primary target group will consist of different ethnic groups with a high percentage of Dalits (low caste) and Aboriginal Tribals. B. A second primary target group will be 440 so-called Para-professionals (Pps) from within the community targeted in each of the Village Council area. Local Self Governance Institutions (45 Gram Panchayats, 17 Parishad Samities and 4 Zilla Parishads) constitute the secondary target group. C. The National Administrative Organisations (NAOs - State controlled state level Departments of various Ministries) constitute part of a tertiary target group, of which 20 are found at District level and 95 at Block level. Finally, the 5 local rural CSO institutional members of AHEAD in partnership with whom the mainstream collaborative initiative is to be implemented is part of the tertiary target group.
Resume
The final phase of the Local Self Governance Approach to Food, Nutrition & Livelihood security project integrates advocacy for provisions of mainstream schematic funds (33,5 mil. DKK) by the State to support demonstrated approaches in two of the poorest districts in West Bengal as part of an innovative Poverty Alleviation initiative. The catalyzing mainstream adoption targets two District authorities in the States of Jharkhand and Odisha. Capacity building efforts will include 440 apprentices, 200 local resource persons, 1000 CBOs, 5 CSOs, 45 municipalities as well as Block and District entities. This includes an innovative attempt of institutionalizing of a common neighborhood skilling platform (an ‘After School’) supported by government technical departments trainers to strengthen required livelihood skills among the poor segments. Finally, it delivers input intensively to 12.000 families in 45 municipalities in 3 States and extensively to 40.000 families in other municipalities.