Testimonial by Anat Prag, Cordaid Liaison Office, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Shayamal Saha is an innovator; he leads those that he works with in reflection, analysis and development so that we are stronger, more focused, and better able analyze our actions to learn.

Shayamal has provided technical assistance to CRS (whom I worked for until July 2008) and CRS’ partners in Aceh, Nias and Jakarta since 2007 in the implementation of a series of Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction projects which aim to strengthen capacity of Caritas agencies in Indonesia to develop an environment of safety and resilience at all levels.

Shayamal’s technical assistance has contributed to supporting local partners facilitate and apply DRR through their work in communities and parishes, developing CMDRR Training and Tools, and consolidating learning to strengthen the work of the partners as they prepare to mainstream the approach.

Shayamal has become deeply involved in supporting local partners develop their institutional capacity through establishment of 14 CMDRR Learning projects in local communities in Aceh, Nias and North Sumatra. Shayamal has equipped local Caritas DRR Teams with the concepts, methods and tools of facilitating the CMDRR process with community organizations.

Through these projects, Shayamal has provided technical assistance through direct field based activities with the partners and in the communities they serve, and electronic back-stopping to the partners. He rapidly immerses himself in the projects, partners’ perspective and local context so that within days of his first technical support he is able to understand and support partners in their learning and reflection, and understand the needs, priorities and challenges as faced by the communities. His skills in engaging partners in self reflection and analysis have provided space and opportunity for a deep learning experience on the part of the local partners. His confidence in Community Organizing and CMDRR application and analysis in the Indonesian context has contributed significantly to strategic developments in the work of the Caritas agencies in Indonesia, with contribution to CMDRR being mainstreamed with the establishment of a platform for capacity building and training network resource team.

It has been a pleasure and honor working with professional as dedicated and skilled as Shayamal, through his approaches he has brought new learning to work of the Indonesia partners and deep insights that has strengthened and developed our shared work.

Anat Prag

Cordaid Liaison Office Yogyakarta

Indonesia

January 2009