Politics of Positve in Community Empowrment- CKS used Appreciative Inquiry in CMDRR: A Case Sory

Politics of Positive in Community Empowerment

A Story of Appreciative Story Telling in CMDRR Project of Caritas Sibolga

Dr. Shayamal K. Saha

January, 2010

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Sisobambowo, a desa (village) of Nias Island of Indonesia frequently exposed with flood; is one the many communities of Caritas Keuskupan Sibolga (CKS) (http://caritas-sibolga.blogspot.com/) covered by its Disaster Risk Reduction Project. In building disaster resilient community, CKS facilitates a community –managed disaster risk reduction (CMDRR) process in which communities are facilitated to form their organization, assess disaster risk, plan, implement and evaluate actions. This goes as continuous cycle. This participatory process of DRR is applied within the concept of problem solving, thus “what is the problem?” commonly becomes a central questions of dialogue and discussions. The facilitator of CKS-CMDRR team began to facilitate the Sisobambowo community since July 2007. Eventually in October 30 2007, a community DRR organization came into being in participation with 21 members in which Kepala Desa and customary leader of the community included. The First community DRR action plan of 2008 was successfully implemented by the community organization (CO). At the beginning of the year 2009 while developing the 2nd yearly action plan the CO of Sisobambowo included one of its activities is to constructed a small bridge in the village ; based on the need expressed by the community members. Economically poor community of Sisobambowo did not see their ability to provide financial resource needed for the construction of the bridge thus expectation to CKS. CKS fell into a dilemma; debate and discussions moved across the organization about whether CKS should provide direct financial support to the community organization to implement such a bridge construction project. CKS management could not make a firm policy decisions and provide resource support to the community for bridge construction. This circumstance generated frustration among the community and their organization. Since February 2009 dialogue between the CKS facilitators and the CO narrowed down to the only issue of Bridge Construction; when CO demanded support to construct bridge and CKS facilitator explained “they are not in a position to provide financial support. The CO began to feel “we cannot perform our role effectively to address community demand - so why should we continue this organization". On the other side CKS team began to feel “it’s so sad that the community and their organization showing negative attitude to them”. Eventually, the movement of Sisobambowo CO towards DRR collapsed; communication between CKS team and the community stagnated. I was reported by the CKS team that it is impossible to work with Sisobambowo CO until CKS provide financial support for bridge construction. This situation put across serious challenge to CKS management by posing an assumed threatening question “if after sometimes if a CO being failed to get one support stop their movement than how to facilitate self-sustainability of community organization in long run?”

December 2009, as a consultant of CKS-CMDRR project conducted the training on Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation to the CKS-CMDRR team. Without having any other alternative, for conducting field practicum part of this training we decided to go Sisobambowo and work with them. Thought this decision was made, but I could observe gloomy face of staff full of anxiety with uneasy feelings of not receiving any cordial response from the Sisobambowo CO. Anyway, we (all training participants plus me) went Sisobambowo on November 27, 2009. We had meeting, including the Kepala Desa ( Elected head of the village) and Customary Leader altogether 6 CO members kindly came to the meeting. Meeting started and soon the expression of frustration of not being able to construct the bridge became the centre – the discourse of deficit and frustration went for an hour gradually moved to a silence and then feeling of hopeless. At that stage, I made an effort to shift the discussions and dialogue from the failure to success. I asked the CO members to:

• tell a story about “being a member of the CO you felt proud of your organization doing good work for the community”

• tell a story about “you did something as CO members which made you happy”

• Tell a story about “as CO members you did something for the community and community members gave admiration to you?

Silence began to disappear; one after another, the CO members started to tell their experiential stories of success and being appreciated by the community. This positive/success story telling soon discovered that against one failure of bridge building the CO has made following nine successes:

1. Feeling happy because now they have an organization

2. They were able to do mahogany seedling

3. Got many education meetings with Caritas

4. Could organize regular saving money in their organization

5. Became a resource person to others in term of developing community organization, somebody asked & discussed on how to develop an organization (Fasa’aro – vice

1. secretary of CDRO)

6. People in the village come to the CO committee to discuss about their daily life problem

7. They collected some amount of money for earthquake survivors in Padang

8. The CDRO committee got respect from the people due to their position as community organization leaders. (Vina: in communal meeting like party, social celebration, they got simbi - a part of pork/pig body as a symbol of respect in Nias culture, because they are the members of DRR TF).

9. Sisobambowo got a project from health government office from Jakarta because they fitted with the important condition of the office: they had CO. Other villages didn’t get the project because they don’t have CO, so the existence of CO is a plus point for Sisobambowo.

Telling, sharing and identification of these success stories brought life in the dialogue by generating a sense of appreciation and proud among the members of community organization. Soon they realized that their organization made many success and they should not be frustrated of not being able to do only one - the construction of the bridge- for which they can continue their effort. They could also realize every day we do many good works for our family but it is not possible to meet all demand of all family members at a time. But not being fulfill one demand of a family member should not coz leaving of the guardian of the family. Unanimously all members in the meeting added “we will try to build the bridge but not being able to do so should not stop our other work”. They decided to have next meeting in the first week of December in which they will revise the yearly action plan and move. While coming back from Sisobambowo, on the way I had a small reflection meeting with the staff members of CKS-CMDRR team; I could clearly see the difference in their eyes and face from yesterday. Yesterday they came with feeling of regret and hostility; afraid and anxiety but today with sense of appreciation and enthusiasm. Months of stagnation and frustration transformed into power of moving forward when the TF members were facilitated to share their success stories –that gives life instead of doing postmortem of failure.

I did not know that the staff memebrs of CMDRR project of Caritas Sibolga liked it very much and they would jump on using appreciative story telling so quickly until I went though their annual reflection report 2009 which stated:

“At the end of 2009 in 13 new communities year end reflection meetings were held by using an appreciative approach (guiding questions of appreciative discussion,. Since in the past the process of analysis, awareness, mobilization and community organizing were performed by problem solving approach, in the year end reflection project team deliberately used another new approach (project team adopted this method from Appreciative Inquiry approach). The approach focuses on appreciative discourse that explores the positive side & the potential of community which aims to raise the pride and confidence of the community, so that through internal reflection they do, they find that they have their own power to do self help actions. Many activities came out from community initiatives actually already started to be done by the people since the CMDRR project started in their villages, even before the CO was formed. The experience of CMDRR team to perform appreciative approach in Sisobambowo and 13 communities in the year end appreciative reflection meeting has built the belief among the team members that the appreciative methods is very productive to motivate people to look at the future optimistically and confidently to develop themselves. “Appreciative approach” refer to an effort of facilitating a discourse, telling & sharing stories by exploring the positive & potential side of the community instead of focus on negative/deficit side that tend to raise frustration, hopeless & feeling of not confidence, something the team learned from “Appreciative Inquiry” approach. So CMDRR team will strengthen this approach in facilitating the further CMDRR process.”

2010 the Year of Challenge, Year of Hope: Reflection Notes on Implementation of 2nd Phase CMDRR, Caritas Sibolga, First Year, 2009

This case story put across few lessons for community empowerment facilitators:

· Language and vocabularies is not just a tool for reporting something or sharing ideas but language is the most powerful agent of changing, constructing and reconstructing realities; the way we speak, we form us and our reality.

· Instead of facilitating dialogues and discussions on deficit, community participation and community, management gets better momentum if they are facilitated to be engaged in dialogues and discussions through their success story telling.

· Success story telling not only center interaction processes of community but also generate great sense of appreciation among the community and the community facilitator thus enthusiasm to participate.

· Although it is better to apply 4D cycle[1] of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) without mixing it with Problem Solving approach but if an organization or project is not in position to make radical shift of its approach from PS to AI rapidly then it is also possible to apply ‘appreciative story telling/reflection’ that not only create better effects but also brings lessons and encouragement to the practitioners to learn more and practice AI .

Ample research findings and literature telling ‘starting with problem’ “ makes people / community dependent on outsiders while starting and moving with what the community have is contributory to genuine empowerment. CKS-CMDRR team has made a deliberate attempt of “shifting vocabularies of deficit into vocabularies of hope and strengths” in CMDRR- showing its positive contributions to develop self-reliant community organization. Be it DRR or Livelihood promotion or health & development, if we conceptualize community empowerment is not jut individualistic construction but collective wellbeing then it requires: a shift in focus from building individual capacity to what we can do together; genuine people’s participation and interaction; space for multiplicity - for local creativity and for different ways of learning; a learning culture that encourages community and change agents/ workers to be co-learners and co-constructors, and; working towards opening-up new possibilities. Facilitating success story telling and sharing contributes a lot. However, I would like to request CKS-CMDRR team to remain aware that AI is not just about shifting vocabularies but bringing multiple interaction processes as both unit of analysis and locus of change. I hope gradually the team would learn how to link concepts and approaches of relational/social construction of development and social change in AI cycle application; essential for social transformation.

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[1] 4D refers Discovery, Dream, Design, Destiny

Profile of works - 2010

March 2010: Nommensen University Indonesia: Design and conduct Evaluation of Capacity Building for Community Empowerment Towards Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development for The Center for Disaster Risk Management and Community Development Studies (CDRM&CDS) a department of HKBP Nommensen University, Indonesia.

June 2010: Cordaid Indonesia: Design and conduct training for its local Partner NGO PUSAKA Indonesia on Community Mobilization and Organization Development
in Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction


July 2010: Caritas Asia: working in Ind1a together with a German Consultant to review and strengthen training manuals on family and community level emeregency disaster response preparedness.

October 2010: GTZ India & Government of West Bengal India: Visit Sundarbans and conduct a consultation with community and other stakeholders to assess climate change vulnerability and determine measures and suggested strategies for climate change adaptation. Develop a innovative conceptual and processual project framework as basis to design a pilot project proposal . Design and write a pilot project plan based on the framework. I prepared an innovation framework for climate change adaptation entitled: Participatory Local Innovations and Action (PLIA) for Climate Change Adaptation.

November 2010: OXFAM-GB-Bangladesh: Design and conduct final project evaluation on "Building Community Resilience to Floods in Central Region of Bangladesh with the funding support of European Commission Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid – (ECHO) under V- DIPECHO action plan.

December 2010: Caritas Keskeupan Sibolga, Indonesia: Design and facilitate Participatory Mid Term Review (PMTR) of the project " Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction

Profile of Previous Works-November- December 2009

November 15 to December 8, 2009
Mauloboh and Nias , Indonesia.

In Mauloboh I facilitated a seminar " Community Management Promotion" organized by Caritas Switzerland ; participated by project staff and partner organizations of Caritas Switzerland, Indonesia.

In Nias, I worked for Caritas Keuskupan Sibolga. The first part of the work was to conduct a training to the staff on Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation and second part was Facilitating a workshop on Use of Performing Arts in Community Education and Awareness Creation".

On December 9/09 I am back Philippines. Have to prepare a new consultancy proposal by next two days . By December 2009 and January 2010 I wish to prepare some concept note too.

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

Testimonial by Barbara Dettori. Delegate, Caritas Italy to Indonesia

Caritas Keuskupan Sibolga

Kotak Pos 44, GUNUNG SITOLI 22800 NIAS

Tel: +62 (0639) 7000 348

Email: caritas@keuskupan-sibolga.org

Website: caritas.keuskupan-sibolga.org

When I first met Shayamal it was on a Sunday, on his first visit in Nias island. He came with his colleague from IIRR to start a capacity building project for Caritas Sibolga, the organisation I had been accompanying for a long time.

I have to confess that my first impression was not very positive. Probably because I had already sacrificed too many Sunday afternoons to work, and I had hoped that the meeting would not take long, or because it was my first time to hear someone speaking English with a Bangladeshi accent, anyway I briefly concluded that “this man talks too much and it is not even clear what he says”. The next time I listened to him was over a lunch, when he was talking about something about the self. I remember I got lost in his argument on whether “is yourself really yourself?” or something like that. I even got to think that he must have been a bit crazy.

Not long after that I started to realise how far my fast and superficial judgement was from reality. What I had in front of me was not only a real expert of development work, but a truly passionate innovator. As soon as I gave up the hasty impatience, typical of western people, that often brings us not to really listen to the people we have in front of us; as soon as I tried to go beyond my prejudice and really concentrate in his words, I entered a new world, like that secret garden hiding behind a small door which opens up to fantastic colours and adventures. “This man is a genius” was my next thought!

After studying so much development theory for my master’s degree, for the first time I had in front of me a person joining his theoretical knowledge with his many years’ experience in the field and – what is more – for the first time it was not the usual arrogant German consultant wanting to teach everybody, but someone who started all from his village, from his childhood, someone who made of development work not only a theory but a belief, a realistic way to change our world to be a better place.

After that, every time he came I regretted that because of my work, I did not have time to attend his workshops for Caritas Sibolga staff. But I really enjoyed all the meetings and dinners spent together, where each and every of his words were like water in the desert, or, to be precise, like hearing the right things to do in an island where most organisations unfortunately did the wrong thing. I could never forget his tales on how he started to promote gender equality in his village, by teaching girls to ride a bicycle, or his challenge to the studies on the causes of poverty: why not study the causes of richness instead? Not to mention his experiments towards alternative methodologies rather than the classic problem-based approach, that everybody still takes for granted in my country. Why only ask the people: what are your problems? You depress them! Ask them “what are your resources” and build on them.

Shayamal immediately understood the incredible potential that there is in Nias people. The same people who are often judged as lazy and stubborn by NGOs he saw as the agents of change: the project he accompanied was successful also because it aimed at injecting self confidence in the people: you can do it! And the miracle was done. The lazy and stubborn became self-managed and open-minded.

In short, Shayamal represents for me the true passion for a development work that is in constant adaptation to new contexts, innovation and research, and is alimented by a true passion for this work. Although I am much younger and my experience is not even comparable to him, sometimes I get discouraged by the cynical attitudes of the practitioners in this field. Donors-led projects, projects looking well on paper but not in the field, pages of lessons learnt ignored by the next project planning, in spite of the cult of the project cycle. But Shayamal is different: he goes to the heart of the methodology and he challenges you by asking you, but on the field, did you really do it? Because I have done it, and I can tell you the story…

Barbara Dettori.

Delegate, Caritas Italy to Indonesia

Professional Biography

For more about my present job and organization visit
http://www.apcononline.com
For more photographs of my professional activities visit
http://picasaweb.google.com/shayamalsaha

I have more than 20 years of experience in both grassroots and international development. I worked with national - international NGOs and donor agencies including 7 years with International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), Philippines as Training Specialist, Program Specialist for Organizational Learning, Leadership and Development. Presently I am working as Independent International Trainer and Consultant . I founded Voluntary Organization for Rural Development; a national NGO and extensively contributed in developing DASCOH; a Swiss Red Cross mandated technical organization in Bangladesh. I have worked as a consultant in South and South East Asia for NGOs, bilateral, multilateral and international agencies and institute include IIRR-Philippines, NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation (NGOF-DWSS), Plan International, EDM, ICDDRB, Japanese & German Red Cross, SDC, World Bank, UNDP, GTZ-Philippines, WaterAid- , Bangladesh Ministry of Environment, and Local Government and Rural Development, , PROLINNOVA-Cambodia , CRS and several Caritas Family organizations in Indonesia and Trocaire in Timor Leste. I have pioneered a number of innovative approach and tools include Community Identified Significant Change (CISC) , Promotion of Self-help through Appreciative Inquiry, Functional Health Literacy, Community Managed Livelihood Promotion Towards Disaster Risk Reduction . I have also been a leading contributor in facilitating participatory consultation process in preparation of the National Environment Management Action Plan (MEMAP) in Bangladesh and in Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction in Indonesia and Timor Leste . I hold a Master of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Rajshshai , Bangladesh; a Master of Intercultural and International Management from the School for International Training (SIT), U. S. A., a diploma in NGO Leadership and Management from the Global Partnership program and a Diploma on Environmental Education form the Nehru Foundation – India. Besides working as adjunct faculty with the SIT-USA, I am pursuing a PhD in Social Science focusing on the application of Relational Construction Processes and Appreciative Inquiry in social and organizational change under Tilburg University of the Netherlands in collaboration with TAOS institute of USA. As part of my professional exposure I have designed and conducted international training courses workshops and seminars in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan , Laos, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines , Thailand, Timor Leste , Senegal , and USA.

My Bio-data

Curriculum Vitae
Shayamal Kumar Saha ( PhD)
International Development Consultant

Lot 16, Section 6, Queen Street , Regency Executive Homes , Dasmarinas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Cell phone: + 63 -927 506818
Land Phone ( Home) (0063) (46) 414725
E-mail: shayamalsaha@gmail.com
Skype and Yahoo Messenger: shayamal77

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COMPETENCE TO PROVIDE CONSULTANCY AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Community participatory processes

Design and application of participatory assessment planning monitoring evaluation and learning processes in development including participatory rural appraisal , appreciative inquiry , multi-stakeholder participation processes, promotion of self-help, community managed disaster risk reduction , self-mobilized total village sanitation processes, promotion of local innovation, design and applications community process sustainability, Participatry Impact Asessment and Learning

Project/program management

Project cycle management including program strategy development, participatory needs assessment, and feasibility appraisal, project proposal writing including budget preparation, monitoring evaluation, MIS design and participatory project/program evaluation. Design and conduct action research in development of innovative approaches and methodologies in community development.

Organizational development and management

Assessment, design, conduction, evaluation of training (at community, national and international level) and development of innovative training and IEC materials including application of action-learning based training-action-reflection approach to capacity development. Strategic planning for policy advocacy, inter-organizational relationship, and network building Organizational development and management include organizational diagnosis, organizational strategic thinking -planning, leadership development, creating leaning organization and netwroks

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Nationality: Bangladeshi
Marital status: Married
Date of birth : February 10, 1960
Country of residence at present: Philippines



EDUCATION

PhD in Social Science , Tilburg University , Netherlands and The Taos Institute, USA : Obtained PhD in Social Science. The theoretical background of this Ph. D. study includes Postmodern Social Construction Meta Theory, Relational Epistemological Perspectives, Relational Construction Processes of Change Work, and Appreciative Inquiry. Dissertation: Promotion of Self-Help in Development and Social chace: Constructing non- subject -Object processes : experiential Learning Journey Towards Centering Interaction Process as Unit of Analysis and Locus of Development: Problem Solving and Appreciative Inquiry in Local Community Context)

Masters in International and Intercultural Management , School for International Training Brattleboro, VT, USA

With a focus of NGO leadership, management and community management promotion in development. Courses included:
• NGO management: systems an strategies
• NGO management : capacity building
• Financial resource management
• Inter-organizational relations: partnerships. networking , and collaboration
• NGO development and social change
• Policy development and advocacy
• International policies and citizens’ advocacy
• NGO leadership
• Training for transformation
• Intercultural management
• Conflict transformation
• Research methodology for development

Internship on Environmental Education Nehru Foundation for Development Ahamedabad, India


Masters in Accounting and Financial ManagementUniversity of Rajshahi , Bangladesh

AFFILIATIONS

• Adjunct Faculty , School for International Training (SIT), Vermont , USA as for the Academic Courses – (1) NGO Leadership Development and Social Change (2) Policy Advocacy
• Member of the International Support Team: Promoting Local Innovation , ETC- Eco-culture, Netherlands
• TAOS- Institute PhD Alumni
• Member of Alumni Association of Asian Health Institute, Japan

CONSULTANCY AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROFILE

June 2008 – October

• Catholic Relief Services and KARINA-KWI, Indonesia: Technical advice and training to developing a core team of trainers/facilitators in Caritas Family organizations networks through action learning based capacity development approach. Consolidate practice generated lessons into program and training curriculum.
• March 2008- February 2009 : International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) Philippines: Capacity Development of selected IIRR staff in application of Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction accompaniment process to other organizations in Asia.
• August 2007- September 2008 : Caritas Sibolga , Indonesia: Program and capacity development of Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction
• March 2008- December 2008 (On-going ) : Caritas Sibolga , Indonesia: Developing and testing an Innovative framework of Community Managed Livelihood Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction
• May 2009: Design and Conduct eveluaton of Save The Children UK Afghanistan Program on Child Focused Disasater and Emeregency Resposne Management
• Faciliate Trocare Timor Leste to Develop Capacity Development Program on Disaster Risk Reduction
  

2001-2002

• Partnership of Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation , CARE-Bangladesh , International Development Enterprise and DSCOH: Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Documentation for the Water and Sanitation Partnership project
• Village Education Resource Center Bangladesh: (A national scale NGO in Bangladesh) Facilitating lead of five years (2001-2005) Participatory Strategic Planning Process (PSP).

1998-2001

• Japan Red cross Society: Establishing community managed health clinics of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society supported by Japan Red Cross Society.
• Partnership of Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation , CARE-Bangladesh , International Development Enterprise and DSCOH: Community Management Promotion in Water and Sanitation Partnership Project (WPP) in Bangladesh implemented by the

2000

• Village Education Resource Center (VERC) supporter by WaterAid-England: Self-mobilized water and sanitation program in Bangladesh: A community Empowerment Approach: jointly with Kamal Kar, Participatory Development Consultant of India,

1999:

• World Bank, Bangladesh: Participatory Urban Appraisal (PUA) on Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management in Khulna City of Bangladesh, (this has now recognized as a successful approach in Bangladesh).

1996-1998:

• German Red Cross Society: Design and application of approach and tools (including PRA, PPP and PME) on Community Based Disaster Preparedness Program of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society which is applauded by the national and international community as a successful approach; received Guggenheim Award
• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC): Design and application of PRA and Participatory Program Planning for sustainable Land Use for the Village and Farm Forestry Program (VFFP)
• Plan International-Bangladesh; Participatory Training Needs Assessment (PTNA) for capacity building of its staff in promotion of community managed health in Bangladesh.

1995

• Ministry of Environment, UNDP and ADAB-Bangladesh: Development and application of tools for peoples’ consultative planning process in preparing the “National Environment Management Action Plan” (NEMAP).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

March 2008 –Continuing ,
Independent Development Consultant

Since March 2008 I am working as independent development consultant and engaged in providing technical consultancy services to ( 1) International Institute of Rural Reconstruction-Philippines (2) Catholic Relief Services – Indonesia (3) KARINA-KWI, Indonesia, (4) Caritas Sibolga Indonesia ( 5) Trocaire- Timor Leste , and ( 6) Nas-Cambodia. For all these organizations, my technical and consultancy services include organizational capacity development in application of innovative approach to development in the field of disaster Risk Reduction and program management development. In all cases I am applying action learning approach to Capacity Development utilizing an effective strategy of Training- Action - Reflection – built in part of a program process.

January 2004-March 2008,
IIRR Philippines
Program Specialist , Organizational Learning, Leadership and Development

Program development related to leadership and organizational development. Project design proposal writing, design conduct and evaluate international training courses. Conduct and coordinate ‘NGO Leadership Development and Social Change’ courses as well as any other activities under Global Partnership (GP) program. Design and conduct action research in the field of participatory planning monitoring evaluation and learning, community managed disaster risk reduction, Appreciative Inquiry. Consultancy and technical assistance to development organizations in the field of strategic planning, sustainability planning, application of appreciative inquiry, design and application of participatory planning monitoring evaluation and learning approach in development projects and program. Documenting, packaging and sharing practice based learning in the forms of training materials.
Additional responsibility: Since January 2007 acting as interim in-charge for the finance and administration of the Regional Center for Asia of IIRR due to absence of the Regional Director. Further, I am performing a lead staff of IIRR for the program management of Global Partnership program on promoting local innovation in sustainable development, Mekong region and Indonesia- Timor Leste program development.


2002-2003 IIRR, Philippines
Training Specialist

Responsible for designing, conducting and coordination all training courses and other relevant activities under Global Partnership for NGO studies Education and Training program. Feasibility study of training program. Technical assistance to marketing training courses. Design, conduct and evaluate international training courses in the field of participatory approaches to development, participatory planning monitoring and evaluation, leadership organizational development and management. Design and conduct customized training courses, study programs, consultancy for other national and international development organizations.

August 1995-2001
DASCOH - Swiss Red Cross Mandated Organization, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Program Officer

Development Association for Self-reliance Communication and Health (DASCOH) is a technical capacity development organization mandated by a Swiss Red Cross. Including obtaining its regal registration as an international organization, program and management development, I played key role in developing this organization. My major responsibilities included, facilitation strategic planning of the organization, detail program strategy development, program proposal development, preparation of projects, programs and organization budget and budgetary control, development of training and consultancy program for the programmatic and organizational capacity development for the partner organizations of Swiss Red Cross, SDC and other international organizations.

1987-July 1995
ADAB, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Program Officer, Training

Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh- a national apex body of NGOs in Bangladesh. As in-charge managing training and capacity building programs of ADAB. Responsibility includes, program planning, budgeting, designing conducting and evaluation training programs for the staff of NGOs. Advocacy for NGO Sector in Bangladesh.

1984-1987
PROVA , Baliakandi, Bangladesh
Community Organizer

Progressive Organization for Voluntary Activities (PROVA) was local NGOs in Bangladesh. My job responsibilities include formation of groups of poor male and female, savings mobilization, organizing and supervising functional literary centers for adult illiterate people, helping target groups in undertaking self-employment and income generation activates, and conducting leadership and group management training.

1984-2001
VORD My native village in Bangladesh
Founder and Chairman of the executive committee/board

Voluntary organization for Rural Development (VORD) is a local NGO which I founded in my own village in the year 1984 with my youth friends. I continued as chairman of the board but more importantly worked as active volunteer for developing this organization. I continued my voluntary activates since before my departure to Philippines in the year 2002. Activities included organizational strategy development, fund raising, program development, strategic direction and staff development.



PROFESIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS & ACCOMPLISHMENT

2008 – Independent Development Consultant

Training and Capacity Development

• Training & education development of a team of skilled facilitators of CMDRR in Caritas Sibolga , Codia Medan , Indonesia and Trocaire Partner Organizations in Timor Leste
• Development of core trainers-facilitators team at Caitas family organizations network at Indonesia and development of training capacity
• Facilitation of Caritas Organizations in Developing Facilitator 's manual s are (1) Training manual on Community Leadership an Organization Development in DRR (2) facilitator manual on Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of CMDRR (3) Training manual on Family and community level emergency response preparedness.
• 2008: Designed a new framework ‘ Livelihood approach to Disaster Risk Reduction ; Prepared a facilitator manual and conducted training course for 12 Local partner NGO staff of Trocaire Timor Leste

Research

• Research Action Research on “ Action Learning Approach to Training and Capacity Development“

Program development and management

• Organizational/program development and management establishment of CMDRR program at Caritas Sibolga, Nias Indonesia and Cordia Medan , Indonesia
• Establishment of Community Managed Livelihood Approach to DRR program at Caritas Sibolga, Nias Indonesia

2002 -2007 IIRR-Philippines

Training & Capacity Development

• 2007: Working as a leading team members and contribute to development of a facilitators manual on the implementation of ‘Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction’ program.
• 2007: Participated in a month-long International Leadership Development Course Organized by Asian Health Institute-Japan; established relationship and contact with Japanese governmental, nongovernmental development organization as well as private companies providing development funding support.
• 2005: Design test and development of a manual on participatory impact assessment entitled “community Identified significant change”
• 2004: Contribute to design and conduct international training of trainer’s course on Participatory Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PPME&L) for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) partner organizations.
• 2002- 2007: Design and conduction of about 12 international training courses participated by senior development managers, CEOs , trainers, researchers from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and America.
• 2003: Prepare detail facilitators guide on a 3-week training course: NGO Leadership Development and Social Change.
• 2003: Develop facilitator’s guide for process documentation and lessons-learnt from the field operations.
• 2005: Design test and development of a manual on participatory impact assessment entitled “community Identified significant change”

Research

• Research 2004-2005: Conduct a participatory action research on “application of appreciative inquiry approach in promotion of self-help in development through multi-stakeholders participation process’ and package learning.
• 2005: Design and coordinate final project evaluation of USAID supported sustainable food security projects of World Vision Bangladesh
• 2006: Design and conduct first phase project-end evaluation of ‘Total Village Sanitation’ projects in Bangladesh implemented by Village Education Resource Center and Supported by WaterAid-Bangladesh

Program Development and Management

• 2002- 2006: Plan and implement Global Partnership for NGO Studies, Education and Training program at IIRR as new member of the partnership.
• 2007: Became program development lead of IIRR in Mekong River Region Counties ( Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam) and Indonesia –Timor Lester as newly included geographic areas of IIRR’s operation
• 2007: Become program lead and management of Global Partnership for Promoting Local innovations for Sustainable Development and established 4 years program in Vietnam and Cambodia.
• 2007: Leading and development of IIRR’s accompaniment programs of learning based capacity development on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction for 11 Caritas Family organizations in Indonesia and Timor Leste including 4 long-term accompaniment and capacity development projects generating organizational revenue of 1000000 US $ per year.

August 1995 -2001
DASCOH (Swiss Red Cross mandated organization ) Bangladesh

Training and education

• 1998-2001: Designed and test facilitating tool for establishing community managed health clinics of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society supported by Japan and German Red Cross Society.
• 1998-2001: Designed applied training manuals for the Community Management Promotion in Water and Sanitation Partnership Project (WPP) in collaboration with SDC, CARE, IDE and local NGOs.
• 1996: Designing and conducting Training of Facilitators (TOF) on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Participatory Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME), for the NGO partners of Swiss Red Cross that contributed to develop facilitators of Participatory Development process at the grassroots NGOs.
• 1997: Designed and conducted Training of Trainers for the staff of Chakaria Health Care project of ICDDRB supported by Swiss Red Cross

Research

• Design and apply an approach and tool for Participatory Training Needs Assessment (PTNA) for Plan International-Bangladesh.
• 2001: Conducted a research on “Promotion of Self-reliant Community Organizations at the village level: Perceptions of members of SHO and the filed level facilitators.

Organizational/program development and management

• 2001-2002: Preparation of Monitoring, Evaluation and Documentation manuals for the Water and Sanitation Partnership project.
• 2001: Facilitating VERC’s (A national scale NGO in Bangladesh) five years (2001-2005) Participatory Strategic Planning Process (PSP).
• 2001: Acted as core team members to design and organize national scale conference on “Self-help: be part of it “organized in collaboration with DASCOH, Plan International, UNDP, SRC, JRC and ICDDRB.
• 2000: Self-mobilized water and sanitation program in Bangladesh: A community Empowerment Approach: Tool designed jointly with Kamal Kar, Participatory Development Consultant of India, for determining Area Specific Approach for a Greater Community Participation in Water and Sanitation Program for Village Education Resource Center (VERC) supporter by WaterAid-England.
• 1995-2001: Actively worked with SRC delegates (Peter Eppler and Adele Birling) to develop all DASCOH Project Proposals and Budgets during the period of 1995-2001.
• 1999: Designed and applied an effective tool for Participatory Organizational Analysis Process (POAP) through integration of the concept of Learning Organization and PRA tools.
• 1999: Designed a module of Participatory Strategic Planning (PSP) including application of PRA at various steps of PSP process
• 1995-1996: Working with SRC delegate (Peter Eppler) to set DASCOH office in Dhaka, and development of service policy, office management procedures.
• 1999: Conducting Participatory Urban Appraisal (PUA) on Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management in Khulna City of Bangladesh, for the World Bank, this has now recognized as a successful approach in Bangladesh.
• 1997-1998: Design and application of PRA and Participatory Program Planning tools for sustainable Land Use for the Village and Farm Forestry Program (VFFP) of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• 1996-1998: Design and application of approach and tools (including PRA, PPP and PME) on Community Based Disaster Preparedness Program of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society supported by German Red Cross Society which is applauded by the national and international community as a successful approach.
• 1995: Writing the first proposal of DASCOH to Swiss Red Cross , processing application, obtaining clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs and finally registration of DASCOH from the NGO affairs bureau.
• 1997: Designed and conducted Training of Trainers for the staff of Chakaria Health Care project of ICDDRB supported by Swiss Red Cross

July 1987 :-July 1995
ADAB, Bangladesh

Training & education

• 1995: Contributed to the development and application of tools for peoples’ consultative planning process in preparing the “National Environment Management Action Plan” (NEMAP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, UNDP and ADAB.
• 1987-1994: Facilitated various Training Workshops on Village Based Organization Building, Participatory Needs Assessment and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Participatory Strategic Planning, Leadership Development, Promotion of Self-help for Development, Training of Trainers, ZOPP, Visualization in Participatory Planning VIPP, Organizational Development and Management, and Project Planning and Management.
• 1993-1994: Design and conduct training on self-help saving and credit management to cluster village project of Bangladesh Red C resent Society funded by Swiss Red Cross.

Research

• 1991: Design and conduct training needs assessment of local NGOs in Bangladesh

Organizational/Program development and management

• 1991-1995: Project planning , budgeting and management of ADAB’s training program on ‚Development of Local NGOs in Bangladesh.

1987- 2001:Voluntary Activities as Chairman of the Executive Board with Voluntary Organization for Rural Development (VORD) in my native village, Bangladesh

While in my own country Bangladesh, I have founded and established an NGO in my own locality; Voluntary Organization for Rural Development. Starting in the year 1987 since 2001 (before coming to Philippines), besides my Job, I founded and provided facilitative leadership for a band of young dedicated people to establish this organization. While developing this organization I have learned and contributed to strategic planning for organizational development, writing grant proposals and mobilizing fund form the donor agencies, tracking grant reporting, organizational and project budgeting and budget control. At present, the organization is established with a number of 100 paid staff. It has a well-equipped training center in my native village. Many NGO leaders, donors form Europe and USA visited this organization. My contributions were:

• 1987- 1995: Designed and conducted several training for the volunteer and staff VORD
• 1989: Development of Functional Health Literacy curriculum/primer and teacher’s guide
• 1988: Formation and development of a folk performance team to apply folk songs and theater in community health and related development education
• 1991-1995: Designed and piloted Village Development Committee Approach as a community organization model in the context of rural Bangladesh for promotion of self-help and community management promotion in development in my own village through VORD. This VDC model is now replicating in a larger scale by international NGOs and bilateral projects in Bangladesh
• 1987-1989: Foundling , initiating and obtaining approval of VORD from the department of social services, and foreign donation registrations of NGO Affairs Bureau of Bangladesh
• 1989- 1992: Facilitate VORD in development of organizational strategic plan, setting organizational structure, human resource and financial management policy guidelines as well as various program management guides
• 1991-1995: Project planning , budgeting and management of ADAB’s training program on ‚Development of Local NGOs in Bangladesh.
• 1989-1995: Facilitated VORD ‘s program and resource growth and obtaining finical support from Asia Partnership for Human Development (APHD), Swiss Red Cross (SRC), Overseas Development Administration (APHD), and partnership programs with BRAC, PROSHIKA, NGO Forum for DWSS.

GRANT MAKING

• 1989 Asia Partnership for Human Development: Wrote project proposal an obtained 5 years funding for our village NGO-VORD to implement project on community organizations building and awareness creation.
• 1991-95 Overseas Development Administration (ODA) (later Bangladesh Population and Health Consortium): Wrote proposal of 2 phases of a project on ‘reproductive health care ‘and obtained funding support for our village NGO-VORD
• 1991-1995 Swiss Red Cross: Wrote proposal of 3 phases of a project on ‘participatory human and health development ‘and obtained funding support for our village NGO-VORD
• 1998 Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation: Designed proposal of community management promotion component of water sanitation partnership project and obtained fund for capacity building of 16 partner NGOs and government department of public Health in Bangladesh to apply project processes
• 2005 New Zealand Aid : Contribute to design watershed development proposals for IIRR and obtained funding support
• 2006 DGIC-Netherlands: A 4-year ( 2007-2010) Proposal design and obtain funding on facilitating National forum in Cambodia and Vietnam to promote local innovations in Sustainable Development
• 2007- Caritas family organizations of Indonesia and Timor Leste : Writing 4 long-term (2 years) bidding technical accompaniment proposals and obtained funding support from Catholic Relief services, and Caritas Italy to develop capacity of Caritas Family organizations working in Disaster Risk Reduction programs in Indonesia and Timor Leste
• 1995-2005: Funding for consultancy and training: Designed many short and long term consultancy and training proposal and obtained funding from several international organizations and funding agencies

INTERNATIONAL AND INTERCULTURAL EXPOSURE

While working with DASCOH I have worked with many good colleagues from Switzerland, Germany, Japan, and Nepal. I had several opportunities to accompany visits of Swiss Red Cross Head Quarters Staff and Mission. For my second Masters Degree study in USA I had opportunity to stay and work with students from many countries of North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. For IIRR- Philippines I worked with colleagues from Philippines, Canada, America, India, Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria. International training course I coordinate and conduct are participated by nationalities of Asia, Africa, America ,Europe and Latin America.

Country visited

As part of my professional exposure through implementation of development programs, conducting and participating training , workshop seminars I have visited and stayed in foreign countries include (1) America (2) Cambodia (3) China (4) England (5) Germany (6) India (7) Indonesia (8) Japan ( 9) Kenya (10) Laos (11) Nepal (12) Netherlands (13) Senegal, (14) Thailand and (15) Timor Leste .

Project works in foreign countries

• Philippines- 2002-continuing: Conducting participatory action research program in village communities of Bicol region to promote Participatory Local Governance
• Cambodia- 2005-Continuing: Working with a national multi-stakeholder forum ( NGO, Government agency and research Institutions) to promote local innovations for sustainable natural resource management
• Indonesia-January 2007- Continuing: Long-term accompaniment to program and capacity development of Caritas family organizations in Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR)

PAPERS & PUBLICATIONS

Press printed books

• Functional Health Literacy curriculum for the illiterate adult (1995), published by Voluntary Organization for Rural Development (VORD)
• Co-author of the Facilitators Manuals (a series of 4 volumes) on Community Management Promotion in Development (2000), in Water and Sanitation Partnership Project, published by DASCOH as programme operational and facilitating guidelines for the Local NGOs in Bangladesh.
• Co-author :Training modules on Strengthening Self--Help organizations (2000), published by DASCOH
• Co-author :Training modules on Rural Leadership and Development (1997), published by DASCOH
• Co-author : Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) on health: A report of training of Trainers (1997), published by DASCOH
• Co-author: Building Resilience Community: Training Manual on ‘Community Managed disaster Risk Reduction (2007), Published by IIRR and Cordaid, Netherlands.

Published articles /papers in conference documents and reports

• Article: Participatory Rural Appraisal an Approach to Community Management Promotion in Urban Waste Management: Presented in the Regional Workshop of the World Bank, November 1999, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Article : Co-author: Community Management Promotion in Rural Water and Sanitation through Village Based Self-help Organizations: International Water and Sanitation Conference
• Article: “So you attended an IIRR course, so what? Creating and sustaining value–driven NGO leadership” Published in IIRR annual report 2003
• Article: “Decentralized planning and action in upland community: Garayon made significant increase of contraceptive users” Published in IIRR annual report 2004
• Report: Promoting Local Innovation in Ecologically Oriented Agriculture & Natural Resource Management: Report to the 3rd Program Committee Meeting of Global Forum for Agricultural Research of FAO. International Convention Center, Beijing, China , November 28-29, 2007
• Evaluation research findings: “Moving up the sanitation ladder: A participatory study of the drivers of sustainability and progress in Community Led Total Sanitation” (March 2008) . In JWicken. J.. , Verhagen J. et al . Jointly Publication of International Water and Sanitation center , Netherlands and Wateraid , London
• Promotion of Self-Help in Development and Social Change : Constructing non subject-Object Processes " ( September 2009). PhD Dessertaion published by Tilburg University Netherlands
  

Unpublished practice based cases , stories and tools used in international training and technical support

• Case story: ‘Towards Good Local Governance in Development: Enhancing Participation Through Self-Help Promotion;’ documented in the year 2004 and used in IIRR’s international training course on Participatory Approach to Development Management.
• Case story: Co-constructed Unity and Struggle between Positive and Negative: Appreciative Inquiry in an Economically Poor Rural Community of Philippines. Written in March 2006, selected for forthcoming IIRR Journal
• Case story: “Start With What They Know-Build On What They Have: Appreciative Stories in Community Development” written in January 2006 and used in IIRR’s international training course on Participatory Monitoring an Evaluation
• Case story: “Writeshop a unique approach to document practice based learning links social and organizational learning”- written February 2006, selected for IIRR annual report 2005
• Tool: ‘Community Identified Significant Change (CISE) a guide to conduct participatory project impact identification; developed in the year 2005 and used in IIRR’s international Participatory Monitoring an Evaluation
• Case story: ‘From Relief to Preparedness: Community based Disaster Preparedness (CBDP) at Coastal Belt of Bangladesh- Written in 2004 and presented in Asian Disaster Preparedness Center , Bangkok ,Thailand
• Manual: “Tool for documenting processes and lessons learnt” complete guide developed in the year 2003. Used in IIRR’s newly development International Course on “Managing Learning in Development Organizations
• Case story: ‘Designed Process Approach Centered Training (DPACT) For Capacity Building in Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction In Post Disaster Communities: A Case of Bangladesh.
• Tool kit: “Participatory Capacity and Vulnerability Assessment (PCVA) : A Facilitator guide to assess vulnerabilities and capacities of community to plan disaster risk reduction.; developed in the year 2005 and used in IIRR’s international training Course on facilitating Community Managed Disasters Risk reduction
• Facilitator’s guide: Participatory Appraisal and Feasibility study on the Livelihood Approach to Disaster risk Reduction” for the partner organizations of Trocaire Timor Leste - Prepared in December 2007.
• Traning Curriculm: A total 7 Manuls to facilitate development of " Community Managed Disasater Reduction Program ( 2009) , Catholic Relief Services , Indoensia and National Caritas Indoensia
  

HONOURS, AWARDS, & OFFICE

• 2007: 5 years of Services-Best staff: IIRR Crest
• 2007: Alumni Association: Asian Health Institute, Japan
• 2007: Asian Health Institute Scholarship to Participate International Leadership Development Seminars
• 1987-1995 Chairman of the Board; Voluntary Organization for Rural development
• 1997-2001 Member of the Advisory Board of Caritas Development Institute, Bangladesh
• 2004-2005 Member, South East Asia Disaster Management Practitioners Group
• 1995-Continuing Center for Environmental Education Alumni Association
• 1976 Student of Merit of the Government Edward College, Pabna, Bangladesh – (Full Scholarship for Higher Secondary Education)
• 1982 Provost’s award of good caretaker; Habibur Rahman Hall , Rajshahi University
• 1995 Commonwealth scholarship for environmental study in Nehru foundation - India
• 2001 SIT financial aid for Master’s study
• 2001 Village people’s award: laid a stone in my village by my name as founder of the local NGO (people of my village did it before my departure to Philippines.
• 2007 The Taos Institute (USA) Partial Financial Aid for the PhD study

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

English: Fluent in both writing and speaking

Bengali: Fluent in both writing and speaking

Hindi : listening / understanding meaning and little speaking

Urdu: listening / understanding meaning and little speaking



TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED

• NGO Leadership Development and Social Change: ( GP course)- International Courses
• Organizational Behavior: -International Courses
• Organizational Development and Management: - National – Bangladesh
• Training of Trainers: National – Bangladesh and International Courses
• Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction: - International Courses
• Participatory Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation : National – Bangladesh and International Courses
• Training of Facilitators on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA): National – Bangladesh
• Goal Oriented Project Planning: National – Bangladesh
• Project Proposal Development and Budgeting : National – Bangladesh and International participants
• Participatory Strategic Planning: National – Bangladesh
• Organizational Learning for Development Action: International Courses