GRASSROOTSMATTER:LESSONSLEARNEDFROMCOMMUNITY‐BASEDLOCALECONOMIESPROJECTS

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EXECUTIVESUMMARYThe NGO Committee on Social Development presents theresults of its 2015 survey of community‐based localeconomiesprojects.The70projectsidenti ied, locatedin26different countries, are local, collaborative groups inwhichpeople assessed their own needs and developed economicstrategies to meet them. These include participatoryeconomies such as cooperatives; community farming andagricultural projects; small scale industries andentrepreneurship;micro inanceandsavingsgroups.Groupsserved are those most often left behind by otherdevelopment efforts; many focused on women living inextremepoverty.Factorsthatcontributetoprojecteffectivenessfallintothreebroad categories: use of a highly participatory, groupapproach; carefulplanningwith regularmonitoringofwhatworks and does not work; and selection of a reasonableproject that its with local conditions, uses local resources,andyieldsbene itstotheparticipants.Thecommunity‐basedparticipatory approach appears particularly effective inachieving social as well as economic bene its. Along withbetter livelihoods and improved food security, participantsgainself‐esteem,experiencebettercommunityrelationships,andengageactivelyinlocaldecision‐making.The lessons learned can be helpful in moving forward toachieve the 2030Agenda and the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals (UnitedNations,2015).Theprojectsstrongly indicatetheinterconnectednessoftheSDGsandtheabilityofasingleproject toaddressmultiplegoals.Assuch,weurgememberstatestotaketheselessonsandexamplesintoconsiderationin continuing to develop means of implementation of the2030Agendaatnationalandgloballevels.

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THEREPORT

“Development geared to the satisfaction offundamental human needs cannot, by de inition, bestructured from the top downwards. It cannot beimposed either by law or by decree. It can onlyemanate directly from the actions, expectations andcreative and critical awareness of the protagoniststhemselves. Insteadofbeing the traditionalobjectsofdevelopment, people must take a leading role indevelopment.”(MaxNeef,Chileaneconomist)

IntroductionThelaunchoftheUnitedNations2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentisanoptimaltimetore lectonlessonslearnedfromeffectiveeffortstoreducepoverty,enhanceequality,andstrengthen social integration while protecting theenvironment. Experts at the 54th session of the UNCommission forSocialDevelopmentcalledforaplatformforsharinggoodpracticesandknowledgeformutuallearning,aswell as for effective partnerships between governments andcivil society organizations, among other groups (UnitedNations,2016).ItisinthisspiritthattheNGOCommitteeonSocial Development presents results of its 2015 survey ofcommunity‐based initiatives to improve people’s economicandsocialwell‐being.The projects discussed in this report are local, collaborativegroups inwhich people have assessed their own needs anddeveloped economic strategies to meet them. Many aresustainable with limited external inputs. All use a people‐centredapproachtoengageindividualsandgroupsthathavebeen left behind by other efforts. Lessons learned fromexaminingfactorsthatcontributetoprojectsuccesswillhelpindesigningpoliciesandprojects thatwillmeet thegoalsofthe 2030 Agenda to end global poverty and leave no onebehind(UnitedNations,2015).

 

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METHODOLOGYThe Committee on Social Development’s Grass Roots TaskForce regularly surveys grassroots organizations to gleanbest practices from their efforts on the ground. The 2015survey focused on local economies projects that engagepersons at the grassroots level to address individual andcommunity poverty, often also addressing migration,education, health, and ecology. A semi‐structured surveyinstrument containing 12 questions about grassrootsprojects, includingtheireffectivenessandsustainability,wascirculated in March and April, 2015, to NGOs with diverselocationsworld‐wide.Seventysurveyswerereturnedbythecut‐offdate.Theanalysiswas conductedbymembersof theGrassrootsTaskForce.Mostrespondents includedextensivedescription and evaluative comments. Because the mostuseful data are qualitative, the report quotes comments byrespondents to illustrate the pointsmade and includes caseexamples.

SURVEYRESPONDENTS

Surveyresponseswerereceivedfrom26countriesacrosssixcontinentsasfollows:Asia—26responses;Africa—21,Southand Central America—8; North America—7; Europe—5;

Australia and the Paci ic—3. Thenumbers served varied greatly,ranging from six people creatingcrafts and jewelry in the UnitedStatesandsevenworkingonawaterproject in Zimbabwe, to asmany as350,920 affected by a communitydevelopmentproject in India. They

addressedneedsof over410,000persons, fromnewborn to95years.Notallinitiativesrecordedgenderstatistics,butitis clear from the descriptions that the majority of thoseserved are women. Participants' educational levels rangedfrom no education to those in tertiary school and adultliteracyprogrammes.

 

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TypesofProjects:The community‐based initiatives included the followingtypes: Participatoryeconomies,suchascooperatives Communityfarmingandagriculturalinitiatives Smallscaleindustriesandentrepreneurship Savingsgroupsandmicro inanceprojects EducationandhealthprojectsMany of the projects included a mix of strategies, such asblending savings with entrepreneurship or agriculturalprojectswithcooperatives.GeographicSpanoftheProjects

Most of the projects surveyedwere based in one or moregeographiccommunities,althoughotherde initionsofcommunityarepossible. Well over half of therespondents said their projectsinvolved persons from one area.That area could be a speci icvillage or city, various slums inone locale, a collection of villageson amountainside in India, or, as

in Tanzania, a sector within an hour’s walk. Althoughprogrammes had a speci ic location, they were open toengaging persons from outside their geographic area. Forexample, a Kenyan project is based in Nairobi, but servespersons who travel there from outside the city. Someinitiatives,suchasoneinBotswana,servemultiplelocations.PerhapsthebroadestserviceareawasthatofaWestBengalinitiative which engages persons in 3,624 villages within a10,000 kilometer radius. Participants from within a 300kilometerareatakepartinaZambianproject.Personstravelupto2½hourstoparticipateinaPeruvianeffort.VulnerableGroupsServedMany respondents pointed out the signi icance of identityfactorsotherthangeographiclocation.Forexample,aproject

OselumenseCooperativeSociety(p.6)

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involving Dalits and illiterate women in India reported,“Geographicareaisreallynotthecriteriafortheinitiative.Itisthriftandcreditwhichbindsthem;self‐helpgroupshaveanidentity of their own regardless of geographic location.” ACanadian respondent describedparticipants as “peoplewhohavefallenthroughthecracks.”InanIndianinitiativewhichengages rag pickers, it was noted that caste played a largerole and was a unifying factor. Target groups of otherprojectsincludedyouth,indigenouspersons,migrantsettlers,persons with disabilities, persons with Hansen’s Disease,relocated farmers, slum‐dwellers, women who have HIV,mothers, girls on the street, landless persons, mothers ofdisabled children, and brick‐workers. A respondent fromZimbabwe said, “The community is based on clan lines buttheyarebeingunitedbyonecommonissue— ightingpovertythat has resulted in a number of developmental issuesaffectingtheirdifferentvillages.”

STRUCTURINGPROJECTSTHATWORKThis section of the report will presentindings on project structures andprocesses. These are useful indetermining how grassroots projectsengage vulnerable groups and sustaintheir involvement. Important elementsinclude leadership and processes fordecision‐making,methodsfordisputeresolution,andsharingofrisksandbene its.ParticipationinLeadershipandDecision‐MakingGrassrootsgroup‐basedprojectsmustdevelopprocesses fordecision‐makingandaddresstheirleadershipneeds.Variousleadershipmodelsareused: Rotationalleadershipanddecision‐makingbyconsensus. Consultativeorrepresentationalparticipation. Rules‐based operations such as selection of leaders at

speci icintervals.Leadershipdevelopmentisoftenanimportantelementof

Par cipants of these projects are o en “people who have fallen through the

cracks.”

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C S O C S

F PWDK E —E S ,N Two cooperative initiatives in Nigeria are empowering personswho might previously have felt excluded. OselumenseCooperative Society and Favour PWD Kerosene Enterprise are

medium‐scale cooperativebusinesses in the Edo State ofNigeria which were proposed, setup, and are now managed bypersonswith disabilities. The 10‐member Oselumense Coop sellsfood items while the 15‐memberFavour PWD Kerosene Enterprisesells kerosene. Both groups beganas associations of persons with

disabilitiesregisteredwiththegovernment.Sixexperiencevisualimpairmentswhiletheremainderexperiencephysicaldisabilities.Among the groups’ aims are self‐advocacy for inclusion,empowerment,andequalizationofopportunities.Pro its pay the salesperson, maintain the facility and repay thenon‐interest loanfromtheDaughtersofCharityusedforstartupcapital. Speci ic amounts of the pro its then are allocated toindividual members. The groups share risks, dialogue, weighoptions, seek information and advice, monitor, and use lessonslearnedforfurtherplanning.The cooperatives have saved local people time and transportcosts to fuel stationsandmarkets. Fewerpeoplearedependentuponhandouts.Personswithdisabilitiesarenowseennolongerasobjectsofcharitybutasusefulandresponsiblemembersofthecommunity. They have greater self‐esteem and self‐con idence.This initiative involvesmultiple Sustainable Development Goals,including those dedicated to eliminating poverty and hunger, aswellasthosepromotinggenderequality(thegroupsinvolvemenandwomen),decentwork, reduced inequalities, and sustainablecommunities.

 

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community‐based projects. As stated by a multi‐facetedprojectinIndia,“theultimategoalofthecommunityinitiativeis tobeenhancingthetargetgroup[at]agrassroot levelbypromotingleadershipthroughcapacitybuildingtobringupasustainable society by themselves.” In groups such asneighbourhood‐based, self‐help units there is a high level ofparticipation of all the members in decision‐making whileelectedleadersdoassignedtasks.Leadersareusuallyelectedbyconsensusratherthanmajorityvote.Membershaveequalrightsandopportunities forattaininga leadershipposition. .In a very few programmes it is the NGO or otherimplementing agency that makes the decisions withopportunities for others to give their suggestions. In others,the project is entirely locally controlled.Respondents from a water‐point, bore‐hole project in Zimbabwe said: “Theconcept of community‐basedmanagement implies that the bene icialcommunity are in total control, have full authority andresponsibility.”Most of the responding projects use a group approach,organizingparticipantsintosmalltomediumsizegroups.Oneproject noted that “[the participants] don't even want theirnumber toexceed twenty.Otherwomenwhowished to joinhavebeenadvisedtobeginanothergroupentirely.”Regular group meetings are the norm throughout theinitiatives. Most project groups meet monthly but in someinstancesmeetingsareweeklyorquarterly.Projectsre lectasensitivity to cultural valuesand traditions inapproaches toleadershipanddecision‐making.Atthesametime,theychartnew territory in expanding the voice and participation ofwomen.Participantshaveavestedinterestincontinuanceofinitiativesanddecision‐makingprocessesre lectthis.Thereison‐going communication, consultation and dialogue amongthe participants. Based on participants’ opinions and views,limitationsarerecognizedandpracticesmodi iedtoavoidoreliminateproblems.Aconsensusstyleofdecision‐makingis

In many projects, leaders are chosen by

consensus.

 

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bene icial as it ensures inclusion of comprehensive localknowledge in an initiative; for example, local farmingmethods were embraced in a community agriculturalinitiative inNigeria.Wehave learnednotonly thatcapacity‐building and opportunity are key to participation andleadership but also that community‐based organizations arethebestmeanstofacilitateleadershipandparticipation.

Communityparticipation in choosing thenatureof aprojectcontributesimmeasurablytoitssuccess.“Grassrootsprojectsmust come from a felt need,” said one respondent fromEcuador. Also important is participant involvement inevaluation and recommendations for future action; theCommunity Participatory Review and Re lection Process(CPRRP) conducted at Bemhiwa Community DevelopmentSupportCentreinZimbabweinvolved48participants.DealingwithGrievancesandDisputesThemaintenance of positive relationshipswithin a group is

essential to effective operation of thegroup. Open communication,transparencyandaccountabilityaremost important in sustaining positiverelationships. Also,whenparticipantshave ownershipand greater stakes in

the initiative, they are more inclined to ind solutions toproblems.Groups have developed different ways of dealing withgrievances and disputes. Methods for dispute settlementincludedthefollowing: Dialogue and open discussion are most frequently used,

although this can takemany hours or even days as waslearned by the Phomphokwe Women’s Association inBotswana.

Dependence on tried and tested community practices ofelders settling disputes through community dialogue issometimes effective. For example, respondents from the‘GardenofOneness’initiativeinZambiastated,“Local

“Grassrootsprojectsmustcomefromafelt

need.”

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leaders have a way to sit and dialogue and iron outthings…andwetrusttheirwisdom.”

Mediationorarbitrationbyoutsidepartieswasusedinafewsituationswhenconsensuscouldnotbereached.

Inoneortwocasesthegrievancewasresolvedbytheaggrievedpersonremovingherselffromthegrouporbythegroupaskingthedisputanttoleavethegroupwhenanamicablesolutioncouldnotbereached.

On rare occasions, the organization sponsoring theinitiativeintervenedinadisputethatcouldnotbesolvedbyinitiativeparticipants.

Some groups have a code of conduct which is followedwhendealingwithadispute.

Disputeresolutionistime‐consumingbutdonetransparently,properly and justly it holds futurebene itfortheinitiativeaswaslearnedby the Deepshikha organisation inDelhiwhosaid: “As timepassed theyhave become used to it and gainedmore knowledge about theproceedings and gained trust in thepolicies.”SharingofRisksandBene itsLocaleconomiesprojectsinvolverisksaswellaspromisebene itstoparticipants.Althoughwell‐managedprojectstakemanystepstominimizerisk,complicationscanarise.Therefore,itisessentialthatprojectsplanforsharingofrisksandbene itsattheoutset.Inmost cases, bene its and risks are shared bymembers ofthecommunityaccordingtoagreedprinciples.Inthecaseofmicro‐ inanceprojects,thiswasusuallydoneinproportiontothe members’ investment in the scheme. Dividends weresharedproportionatelyattheendoftheyearaccordingtothevalueof their savings. Discussionanddialoguewerenamedas important in cases where risks affected the projectnegatively.Inthecaseofdefaultofloanrepayments,pressurewasbroughttobearonthedefaulterbytheothermembersof

BurkinaFasoproject(seeopposite)

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C S I ‐ M P ,

B F Weather patterns signi icantly affect people in the village ofNouma, Burkina Faso. Nouma experiencesthree months of rainfall per year. Theseason may result in looding. A lack ofwaterduringremainingmonthsoftheyearleavespersons living inpovertywith littleto do, since 80 per cent are farmers.Therefore, an income‐generating projectwas begun for women, particularly focusing on women withdisabilities.However, itwasnotedthatmale farmersalsowouldbene it from such projects because the growing season is solimited. Projects include soap making, animal rearing, andtransforming local products to give them greater market value.As activities grow, individuals are introduced tomicro inancingentities, which enables them to further develop their smallbusinesses.This project addresses a number of Sustainable DevelopmentGoals, including those related to ending poverty and hunger,ensuring decent work and economic growth, reducinginequalities,andensuringsustainablecommunities.

thecommunity.Incaseswherefamilycrisesarethereasonfordefault,mostprojectsindicatedthatparticipantsdiscussedthecircumstancesandfoundawayoftemporarilysupportingthemembersfromtheirownresources.Onlyonegroup—aculturalgroupinAustralia—hadaformalinsurancepolicytomanagerisk.EngagementwithGovernments,CivilSocietyGroupsandOthersThe majority of the survey responses indicated that othergroups and organizations are involved with their initiativeson some level. The range and scope of involvement variedfrom providing initial funding/resources to more robust,ongoing direct involvement with the projects. The mostcommonpartnersreportedarenon‐governmental

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organizations,followedbygovernmentalbodies.Some noted the importance of key partnerships within thecommunitytomaintainfundingstreams.Severalprogrammesreported that their partners worked to educate thecommunitymembersabouthowtointegratethecomponentsoftheprogrammeintothecultureandlifestyle.Projectsthatdidnotreportinvolvementfromothergroupsororganizationsgenerallyweremicro inance/loanprogrammesthat are managed by the community members. Savings aregenerated by the members and dispersing of funds is donethrough the members of the programme; one noted littleinterest in involving outside organizations due to “lack oftrustand theperceptionof ‘middlemen’/agentswho in thegarbofhelping[roles]destroygroups.”Of the11projects thatreportednooutside involvement, themajoritysaidthattheybelievedthatinvolvementfromothergroupswouldbehelpful.“Thecashtothebene iciarieswillbeincreased for the expansion of their businesses and morewomenwillbeenrolled.”Most respondents commented that inancial assistance, aswellas technicalandmoralsupportwouldbemostvaluablefor their projects. “Some good mechanical/technicalassistancefromthestartoftheinitiativewouldbehelpfulfora good, developed project” and “for the initiative to besustained there is the need for technical supports formembers of the initiative and also grants for expansion andmaintenance.” Another priority area included funding forstrategic planning and development of sustainableparticipationfromthecommunity.“Weneedoutsidefundingresourcestohelpusfullyimplementtheprojectandtoreach

out to more families to join thisproject.” Other projects believed thatany support or involvement fromoutside groups would be helpful totheirmission. “Certainly, involvementorincreasedinvolvementofanyother

“Involvementofanyothergroupswillbe

helpfulandwelcomed.”

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groupswillbehelpfulandwelcomed.”Projectsthatstatedthatincreasedinvolvementwouldnotbebene icial focused on the cultural/programmatic componentof theprogrammes, rather than the inancial implications ofpartnerships. One programme stated that the “services theycurrently received were adequate for what the programmeseeks to provide, and therefore, not necessary’.” Anotherresponse: “It may not be very helpful to join/involve othergroups due to the geographical proximity, lack of commonsocio‐politicalbackground.”

IMPACTOFGRASSROOTSPROJECTS:BENEFITSTOINDIVIDUALSANDCOMMUNITIES

Grassrootslocaleconomiesprojectsyieldeconomicandsocialbene its for individuals and families and often for theircommunities. Some projects also have a positiveenvironmental component, thereby addressing the threedimensions of sustainabledevelopment—social,economicandenvironmental—identi ied in the2030Agenda.Projects’ImpactonIndividualsEconomicBene itsMostof theprojectsresponding to thesurvey identi iedimprovingtheeconomicconditionsofparticipantsasoneimportant goal.The fact that community members hadbeenabletogenerateincomeforthemselvesandsupplementtheir family incomewasmentionedbyall themicro‐ inanceandsavingsgroups. Thiswasparticularlyhighlighted inthe women‐led groups where access to income generatingactivitiesandtocredithastraditionallybeenlimitedortotallyabsent. Acommunity‐basedoutreachprojectamongmarginalized

people livingwith HIV/AIDS in Kenya helped to providebasicbusinessskillsandtrainingtomorethan166people.With loans, some have been able to buy assets such aslandorsewingmachineswhileothershaveexpanded

Communitymemberswereabletogenerateincomefor

themselvesandtheirfamiliesinallthemicro‐inanceandsavingsgroups.

 

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theirsmallbusinessinitiatives. InoneexamplefromBilhar,Indiaatotalof2,083women

participated in 162 self‐help groups supported by oneDevelopmentCenter.Mostofthewomen,comingfromtheDalit community, were now helped to support theirfamilies through self‐employment ‐ vegetable cultivation,agriculture, poultry and cattle raising and by setting upsmallgroceryshops.

Othereconomicbene itsmentionedbymicro‐ inancegroupsincludedhavingaccesstoloans,developingacultureofsavingandhavingmoresecurityintimesofeconomicandfamilycrisis. Participation in community‐based “Savings and Internal

Lending Communities” (SILC) groups in several Africancountries“enablesmemberstoaccesssmallloansattimes

of crisis in their families such as death orsickness; providessmall loans for fertilizerin the growing season…funds to repair theroof of their hut…and money to pay schoolfees,”accordingtoagroupinZambia.

In a signi icant number of cases such as the OsuelumenseCooperative Society in Nigeria, economic bene its were alsoidenti ied in terms of providing opportunities for self‐employment or job opportunities. Economicbene its thatwere sustainable in local conditions were often linked totaking fulladvantageof locallyavailableresources.Thiswastrueforbothcraftandagriculturalprojects. In Fiji a recycling craft project which took advantage of

paperandplasticwasteturned“trashtocash”andhad

Savingsgroupsallowmembersaccesstoloansduringacrisis.

 

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enabledsomefamiliestohaveasourceoflivelihood. Women’sgroupsorganizedamong theMasaipastoralists

in Tanzania were able to start bee‐keeping and goatprojects to supplement theirmeager income as nomadicpastoralists. Leather is readily available, and skills inprocessingitareseenasthenextstep.

In northeast Brazil, a community association of ruralproducers is promoting indigenous drought‐resistantpalm trees (licuri) for local processing and sustainableproduction of palm oil for local food, local cuisine,cosmetics, craft industry and brickmaking.

Oneof themost frequentlymentionedwaysin which the socio‐economic wellbeing ofindividualswasenhancedwasbyeducationand skills training. Participants, especiallywomen,oftengainedskillsthatenhancedfutureemploymentor self‐employment. Not only did participants themselvesbene it but participation in self‐help groups and trainingsenhancedtheirsavingsandmadeitpossibleformoreoftheirchildrentobesenttoschool.Thiswascitedacrosstheboardinexamplesfromallthecontinents.SocialBene itsEconomic bene its of community‐based initiatives wereclosely intertwinedwithsocialbene its, clearly showing thatinancial inclusion and social inclusion are intimatelyrelatedandmutuallyre‐enforcing.Often,socialwell‐beingofparticipants was also associated with more productivity,better livelihood strategies and improved livingconditions. Projects identi ied numerous lasting socialbene itstoindividuals.Participating in a cohesive group, developing skills andacquiring new sources of income strengthened the senseofself‐esteem of members, giving them greater self‐con idence and self‐worth. Self‐esteem was oftenaccompanied by a strong sense of ownership and pride inwhattheywereabletoaccomplish.

Economicandsocialbene itsoftheprojectsare

closelyintertwined.

 

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C S N W R T —F

Nausori Women Recycling Trash represents the intersection ofsmallenterprisewithecology.Theprojectbeganasagroupof ive

womenwho decided to convert discardedtrash, such as noodle, biscuit, soap, candy,and chip packaging into marketablegoods in Fiji. They were mentored by aDaughter of Charity named Sr. AnnaWiwiek Soepraptiwi. Several years later,trainers have expanded the project to 62villages.

Participants are mostly homemakers, with some the solebreadwinners in their families. A few youth, who had leftschool, also learned the technique. They transform rubbishinto pencil cases, bags, mats, bracelets, and more. Productsare registered with the government under the name FijiMade. Among thewaysGovernmentcameonboardwas throughthe creation of television advertising encouraging this recyclingprocess. The project also has the support of the Ministry ofWomen, the Ministry of Trade, and the Ministry of theEnvironment.SeveralNGOsareinvolved.Onewoman,who earned $75perweek throughplantationwork,discovered she could take home twice as much pay bysellinggoodsshefashionedfromplastic.Agrandmotherproduceditemsathome,whichfundedthepurchaseofsugar,milk,andbookbags for her grandchildren. A teacher carried the concept ofrespect for the earth into her classroom,where students pick uprubbishandcratecrafts. Oneyoungman,whohelpedhismotherpickuptrashanddesignproducts,nowwishestobecomeadoctorbecause,ashesays,“Iwantpeopletohaveahealthyenvironmentandahealthylife.”Thisproject involves, tosomedegree,at leastsevencross‐cuttingSustainableDevelopmentGoals:Goal1(EndPoverty);Goal2(EndHunger);Goal5(Achievegenderequality);Goal8(Decentworkforall); Goal 12 (Sustainable consumption and production); Goal14(Reducemarinepollution);andGoal15(Haltandreducelanddegradation).

 

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InthecaseofacommunitygardeninZambiaitwasnotedthat “people are proud of what they are creating. Theyhave a great sense of ownership…They ind a peace andwellbeinginthegarden;notformonetarybene it.”

In Burkina Faso, the community initiative had created asocialavenueenablingmembers toshare their ideasandtheirproblemsandtherebyserveatherapeuticfunction.

Manyexpressedtheviewthatparticipantswerenowabletospeakinpublicandfeltempoweredtomovetowardsgreaterindependence.Thiswasparticularlyevidentinthecommentsfromwomen’s groups from India, where several noted thatbecauseoftheirengagementintheself‐helpgroupstheywerenolongersodependentontheirhusbands.Literacyskillsandotherbasicskillswerehighlightedbysomeof the most marginalized groups. In several cases where

participants had been marginalized andstigmatizedbecauseofbeingHIVpositiveorsufferingfromleprosy,enhancedself‐worthhelped them to view themselves in a newlight, giving them the con idence to live inthelocalityandbeseenasfullycontributingmembersofadiversecommunity.

Manyofthesocialbene itsidenti iedrelatedtostrengthenedcommunityrelationshipsandnetworks.Participantsfeltempoweredbynewknowledge,skillsandtraining,andwereable tobemoreactively involved intheir localcommunities.Beingacceptedand integrated into localcommunitiesmeantthey enjoyed a wider network of contacts and new friendsand greater social standing. They were seen to becontributing members of the community, which was morecloselyknitandofferedmutualsupport. “Our groups savings and loans programmes help

improve the relations of the families in the communitythrough helping and supporting each other,” reported aprojectinCambodia.

Cultural interchange programmes have been helpful toimmigrantgroupsinUKandUSandtoaboriginalyouthin

Manyprojectshelpedparticipants

feelmoreindependentand

con ident.

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Australia.Projectsalsoyieldedhealthbene its.Membersofagriculturalcooperatives felt that their household food security wasstrengthened.Growingvegetableslocallywasassociatedwithbetter nutrition which, in turn, was associated with healthbene itsforthefamily. In Peru, a tree‐planting project highlighted the fact that

membershadanenhanceddiet “withorganicvegetablesandediblemushrooms.”

In Brazil, where local plants were being collected andprocessedtomaketeas,syrups,healthyfood, lessmoneyhad to be spent on thepurchase ofmedicinesinpharmacies.

Enhanced access to clean water, moreknowledge about hygiene andpreventativehealthmeasuresmadeforhealthiercommunitiesandservedasanincentive to people to produce homeremedies locally, thereby saving onpharmacypurchases. One group in Zimbabwe reported

thatithadestablishedawaterpointfund,fromwhichitsmembers bene ited because there was reduction indiarrhoealdiseases.

Sessions concerning hygiene have helped members inIndiatopreventopportunisticinfections.

Projects’ImpactonCommunitiesCommunities also bene it as their residents gaineconomically and socially. The social impact on thecommunitywasnotedthroughgreatersolidarityandmutualsupport, expressed through higher levels of participation incommunity affairs. This, in turn, leads to community levelimprovements that reach beyond direct participants inprojects. After the earthquake in Nepal, 507 families from Koshi

DekhaVillageDevelopmentCommitteehavehadtoworktogetherverycloselytorebuildthehousesandschools

BemhiwaCommunityDevelopmentSupport

Center(p.19)

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that were destroyed. All are in need of each other andfocusedonthereconstructionworkforthewelfareofall.

In an area of New York where ethnic tensions can runhigh, a Women’s Craft project has demonstrated thatwomenbroughttogethertoengageinameaningfulgroupactivity can learn from one another and from thecommunity.

Greater socialacceptanceofminoritygroups was expressedbyanumberofdifferentprojects. For people affected by leprosy in River State, Nigeria, a

community‐based combined farming initiative had“broken thebarrierof stigma.”Thoseaffectedby leprosyare accepted and loved, allowed to marry and toparticipate in community affairs. Cooperatives withpeoplewithdisabilitiesinEdoStateenhancedrespectforthem.

Through their participation in the NeemaEntrepreneurship project in Kenya, women introducedtheir HIV positive colleagues to organizations whichsupportedpersonswithHIVAIDSdirectly,enablingthemto gain access to counseling, care, treatment and childsponsorship.

AboriginalpeoplewhoattendBaabayngroupsinAustraliahave a greater sense of pride inwho they are and havesucceeded in raising awareness about the situation ofaboriginalcommunities

Formanycommunities,membershipinagroupmeanthavingaccess to a broader range of community‐based services.Sometimesthiswaslinkedtoaspeci icareaofneed. SeveralgroupsinIndia,NigeriaandZimbabwehad

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C S B C D S

C —M ,Z The Bemhiwa Community Development SupportCentercameaboutinresponsetolocalfeltneedsin a drought‐stricken rural area of Marange,Zimbabwe, where the effects of widespread HIV

andAIDS,hungerandpovertybroughtwomenfromfourvillagestogether in an effort to resolve their problems.Engaging their local leadership and seekingsupport fromtheDioceseofMutareCommunityCare Programme they were able to develop anumberofincomegeneratingprojectsovera13year period. These included a grinding mill, anutrition garden, a piggery, a tuck shop and aschool uniform/dressmaking project, all of which evolved inresponsetoneedsandgraduallybecamemutuallysustainable.Sofar,762householdshavebene itedfromtheinitiative.Bene itstothefamiliesandimpactonthecommunityrelateto12ofthe17SDGs,mostnotablySDG1–6,8,10,and12.Inthelastsixmonths,theseverityofthe2015/16“ElNino”hashad a serious impact on food security, health, and wateravailabilityinthecommunity,andthreatenedthesustainabilityofsomeof theprojects. However, the resilienceof thecommunityhas come to the fore, as the villages remain united despite theharsh drought and failed harvest. The participation of youngwomen and girls has increased and there has been sustainedmoral support for this women‐led initiative from traditional(male) leaders. The women‐led committee has demonstratedenhancedcapacityinmanagingthecenterinthistimeofcrisis.Inan effort to respond to climate change, they have also adopteddrought‐responsive initiatives that promote conservation of thenaturalresources.

developed concrete initiatives in responding to the HIVpandemic through preventative programmes, as well asproviding careand support to theirmembers livingwithAIDS.

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A community initiative in a poor, informal settlement inBrazil was able to develop a greater appreciation foralternative medicine in the local community. The wholecommunity began to take care of plants and theenvironmentandrecuperatethevalueoftraditionalhome‐based cures and there was greater knowledge ofpublichealthpolicies.

With strengthened social cohesion and the training of localleaders, new needs were identi ied and new initiativesdevelopedtoaddressthem. Vandalism virtually disappeared in

one low‐income area in Newcastle‐upon‐Tyne due to the community‐based development of variedconcreteactivitiesforyoungpeople.

Insomecases,thetrainingopportunitiesofferedandgreaterawarenessofsocialissues had brought about signi icantchangesinlocalculturalnorms. Onestrikingexamplewasinasocialserviceinitiativeina

remoteruralareaof Indiawhereawareness traininghadled to the elimination of female infanticide and a 30%reductioninchildmarriages.

In the political arena, community‐based groups namedvariousways inwhich their involvementhad impacted localcommunities.Firstly,participantswerebetterinformedabouttheirrightsandwerebetterabletovoicetheirgrievancesandseek justicewhen their rightswereviolated. Sometimes thismeant thatasamarginalizedgroup in thesociety theywereable to be represented in local decision‐making structureswhich had previously side‐lined them. Having a voice alsomeantthatthecommunitywasbetterabletochallengeunjuststructures. A community‐based youth project in Albania is helping

people learn that youth are part of the solution. It isproving tobeanadvocacy initiative formore investmentinyouth,withyoungpeoplebeinggiventheopportunity

TheCommunityAssociationofUruçu(p.21)

 

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C S T C A U —B ,B

TheCommunityAssociationofUruçuismadeupof28families inthe Mairi area of Bahia, Brazil. The Association has as its goalenhancing family‐basedsourcesof incomecooperatively inawaythat explores the more productive use of local resources whilerespecting the agro‐ecological balance of the zone. One of theindigenous trees that thrives in the semi‐arid conditions ofnorthernBahiaistheLicuriPalm,atreewhichholdsgreatculturalimportance to the local people. The palm nuts can be eaten raw,but also processed to produce coconut food products, biscuits,liqueursandcosmetics. Licurimilk is a traditional componentoflocal Bahia cuisine. The Community Association is promotingsustainable use of the licuri palm nuts by developing processing

skills locally. 14people arenowworkingdirectlyinamini‐factory,networkingwithotherruralproducersinthearea.In conjunction with CESOL, the PublicCenterforSolidarityEconomyandvarious

faith‐based and Government agencies, they have heldworkshopsdemonstratingthevarioususesoftheLicuripalmItsseedextractcanbeused toproducevegetableoil, its leavesareused for craftworkandeventheshellsofthenutscanbemadeintobricks.TheCommunity Association is encouraging local producers to plantmoreorchardsofindigenoustreesandLicuripalms,andprovidingamarketfortheirorganicallygrownfruit.Whiletheprojectisnotyetself‐sustainable, theyareworkingtowards thisend,hoping toestablish increased family income, promoting the practice ofsustainableuseof local resources andhelping to stem the tideofrural urban migration. The initiative highlights an integrated,community‐basedapproachtoSDG1,2,8,12and13.

tobeanimatorsofchange. Atree‐planting initiative inthemountaincommunitiesof

Peruhasstrengtheneddemocracyatlocallevelbyinvolv‐ing the legally constituted representative body of the“JuntadeCampesinos”inallthedecisionsandactivities.

 

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Becausemorepeoplewereabletoexercisetheirrighttovote,democracywasstrengthened.Communitiesthathadformerlybeenmarginalizednowhadmorecredibilityinthepublicsphere.Politicalimpactwascitedmostofteninthecommunity‐basedinitiativesinIndiaandwasoftenassociatedwithhighermotivationandanoverallsenseofempowerment.InsomecountriessuchasKenyaandZimbabwethepoliticalimpact of the project took on another important dimension,namely,greatertoleranceforpoliticalandethnicdiversity. Oneentrepreneurshipprojecton theoutskirtsofNairobi

noted that people from different political parties andideologieswereable towork together in thesamegroupinordertoachievethegoalofeconomicempowerment.

In the women‐led Bemhiwa rural project in Marange,Zimbabwe, the teamspirit thathaddrawn them toworktogether as a community of 762 households facingpoverty, food insecurity and drought had helped to“neutralize the political tension that used to exist in thefourvillages.”

The impact in the economic sphere was noted most inimprovedeconomicstatusatthehouseholdlevelbutwasalsore lectedinthecommunityasawhole. Peoplewereabletoexploit local resources for self‐reliance, generate income tosupporttheirfamilies,haveaccesstosmall loansandescapethe clutches of the money lenders. Greater inancialindependence and increased productivity were linked togeneral improved standards of living and opening up ofemploymentopportunities. TwocooperativesinruralEdoState,Nigeriaestablisheda

localmarketformuch‐neededitemssuchaskeroseneandfoodstuffs, thereby providing income for their membersandsavingpeopletimeandtransportcoststofuelstationsandmarkets.

Inat leasthalf the casesexplored,enhancedgenderequalitywas explicitly citedas an importantoutcomeof community‐basedinitiatives,animportant indinginaddressingSDG5.

23

 This was particularly noted by women’s groups, whereparticipants claimed that their economic contribution to theupkeep of the family had led to greater respect for them aspersonsandasbreadwinners. Participation in savings groups in India had empowered

women to exercise their franchise in elections, therebybecoming leaders in their communities and evenconfronting men who exhibited apatriarchal mindset. They were able todemand their right to food ration cardsfrom the Government and their children’srighttoeducation.

Women’s collective rightshavebrought aboutsomesigni icantchangesatlocallevel.Womensaid that they now had greater awareness oftheir rights and were able to advocate more effectively forthem. Participation in community‐based initiativeshad alsohelpedmany to have amore critical approach to social andpolitical realities and to stand up against gender basedviolenceanddiscrimination. Forexample, in theBilhar regionof India theirdemands

resultedintheelectri icationofavillage,theconstructionof a sewerage system, a paved road and the issuing ofrationcardsandhousingallocatedinthenameofwomen,as well as reserving 50% of the seats for women in theelectionoflocalof icials.

Becausewomenhavebeen empowered through learningand practicing conservation farming skills, cropdiversi ication and composting, as well as loanmanagement skills in a rural agricultural project inKaoma, Zambia, they stand a better chance in ightingagainstgenderbasedviolence.

FACTORSCONTRIBUTINGTOEFFECTIVENESSInordertobene itfromthelessonslearnedfromtheprojects,it is important to identify the factors that contribute toprogramme effectiveness. This should help new projects toimprove their chances of success. Respondents identi iedmanyelementsthatcontributetoeffectivegrassroots

Improved gender equality was

explicitly iden fied as a major outcome in at least half of the grassroots projects.

 24

 

projects. Thesecanbegrouped into threebroadcategories:relationships with and between participants; sound projectplanning and management; and selection of projects thatmeet participant needs and are appropriate and reasonablegiventhelocalcontext.Mosteffectivegrassrootsprojectsusea highly participatory, group approach and emphasizerelationshipbuilding.Regulargroupmeetingscontributetobuildingsolidarityandtrust.AprojectintheUnitedStatesthat focused on health and social services identi iedcommunicationas“thekeyelementforbetterunderstandingandrelationships.”Theyreportthatinvolvingeveryonewitharoletoplaytowardacommonagendaworkedwell.Trustisparticularly critical when the groupsmanage funds such assavingsandmicro‐loanprojects.Theroleofstaffvariedanddifferent models contribute to success. Many projects saidthat the participants themselvesmanage successful projectsusinggroupdecision‐makingandproblemsolving.Afew,however,creditedregular“hand‐holding”bystaffasimportanttoensuresuccess. The role of sponsoring NGOsvaried from providing initial assistanceand training to ongoing support. Somedegree of common background ofmembers contributes to solidarity andtrust,aspectsthatallgroupsaimtoachieve.AprojectservinganaboriginalpopulationinWesternAustraliaisrunbyEldersfrom the community who share the background of otherparticipants.As reported by the response, “the Elders have similar livedexperienceasthosetheyworkwithandsoarerespectedandtrusted.Theyareknown in the community tobe thosewhotake initiative…They have a strong sense of pride in beingAboriginal and all their work is voluntary.” A commonbackground is not essential to effectiveness, however. Anincomegeneratingproject inKenyamanaged tocreate trustandcooperationamongwomenfromdifferent tribalgroups.Thegroupsinthissavingsandloansproject,includingtwo

Solidarity and trust are extremely

important factors in the effec veness of grassroots projects..

25

 

groupsofHIVpositivewomen,createdandenforcetheirownConstitution.Theprojectreportsthatthisholdsthememberstogether and that they often do jobs for each other duringtimesofpersonalorfamilycrisis.

C S A S C D P —

D ,I The An Siol Community Development project cameintoexistenceasaresponsetotheneedsofwomenin a deprived area of inner city Dublin where fewhad been able to complete basic schooling and therewas a high

instance of alcohol and gambling addictionamong the male population. Sisters from thelocalparishhelpedthewomenformgroupsandreceive training in various skills identi ied in aneeds survey. These ranged from sewing, craftwork and child care to assertiveness training.Alocalemploymentservicewasestablishedtohelp

thewomenaccessjobsandreceivetrainingininterviewskills.Inresponse to the drug problem in the area, volunteers from thecommunity set up a group to support “dry users” and theirfamilies.Bythemid1990sthewomen’snetworkwasinapositionto set up their own community development project and “AnSiol”(TheSeed)wasborn.AnSiolaimstoaddressthecausesandconsequencesofsocialandeconomicexclusion,actingasacatalyzingsupportfortheworkoflocalresidentsinidentifyingandrespondingtoissuesofconcernand helping to provide local services that enhance theirlivelihoods and quality of life. The community developmentprojecthasgrownoverthe20yearssince itwasestablishedandnow involves about 200 people. Some of the needs to which itresponds include homework support for children in primaryschools,lowcostservicestomeettheneedsofSeniorCitizensandtraining in organizational skills. In response to a cryingneed inthe community a “Personal Counseling and PsychotherapyService” has been established with the aid of volunteerprofessionals.SeeninthecontextoftheSustainableDevelopmentGoals,theinitiativeaddressesSDGs1,3,4,5,8and10.

 26

 

Self‐helpgroupsalsoconsideredthemselvestobesustainablebecause they were connected with the community and hadresourcestoengagemembersovertime.Acommonstrengthof those projects that identi ied themselves as sustainablewas the ability to understand the class/caste system andbuildtrustamongmembersthatareconnectedviageography,educationallevelandfamilialrelations.Secondly,effectiveprojects tendtobewellplanned with regular monitoring andevaluationofwhatisandisnotworking.Clarity of goals wasmentioned by severalrespondents. A rural development projectinBahia,Brazilstressedthe importanceofsetting targets and assessing progresstowardsthemthroughmonitoring.Whereasvaluesandgoodintentionsmatter, soundmanagement is essential toprojecteffectiveness. An interesting example was provided by asavings and loan group’s project in Zambia. The moneygeneratedintheprojectiskeptinasafeboxwith3locks;thekeys are lodged with 3 different participants and money isonly disbursed during group meetings. This demonstratesthattrustcanbecombinedwithcautionandsafeguardingofmembermoney.Transparencyisalsohelpfulinbuildingandmaintaining trust. Training of members is important inbuildingparticipantcapacity.The third key element is selecting a reasonable project thattakes localconditions intoaccount,uses localresourceswhereverpossibleandyieldsbene itstoparticipants.Asone respondent from a sustainable agriculture project in

Indiaputit,aprojectthatissuccessfultakesthe localsituation intoaccountandpitchesitself in amanageablemode. Examples arechoosingtherightkindofcropsoranimals,and production of products that are easilysold and use readily available rawmaterials.

ChetnaBharatiproject(p.28)

ChetnaBharatiproject(p.28)

 

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Anexampleisaprojectinasemi‐aridpartofKenyathatisserving women (and a few men) who are mothers ofchildren with disabilities. Mothers are given a goat andtrainedtocareforgoats;theythengivethe irstbabygoatborn to another family. One factor in the success is thechoice of goats: “The goat project is a simple project…Goats are hearty and can eatmost anything so they areeasyforthewomentocarefor.Thegoatmilk is very nutritious and in highdemand.”

Handicraftprojectsaremoresuccessfulifthe products are easily sold. Theavailability of plastic trash in FijicontributedtothesuccessofthehandicraftprojectinFijithatconvertedtrashtocraftitems.

A farming project in India introduced new methods ofpaddy cultivation and attributed effectiveness toappropriate technologies and to the training provided inuseofthetechnologies.

Successful projects meet the needs of participants. Asnoted earlier, one respondent indicated “grassroots projectsmustcomefromafeltneed.”Becauseoursurveyfocusedoneconomic projects, this was fairly easy. Participants sharedtheneed for income, so projects that are income generatingaddress a basic need. As one project noted, the communityserved isverypoorso it iseasytomotivateparticipation. Inthiscase,theprojectservedworkersandtheirchildreninthebrick ields in West Bengal India with community water,sanitation,educationandhygieneprojects.Many of the factors that respondents associated witheffectiveness were also cited as contributing to projectsustainability.Mostrespondentsconsideredtheirprojects tobe sustainable and cited support of their communities andcommunity leadership, contributions to economicempowerment and good project models that could bereplicatedinothervillagesorcommunities.

Factors that improved project effec veness also

contributed to sustainability.

 

 28 

C S C B —C D ,I

It is 25 years since self‐help groups were started among aDalit community in an area of India wherepeople were landless, illiterate anddependentondailywagelaborfortheuppercaste people of the villages. Today some6,500 women in Chatra District areorganized in 591 groups. The community‐based initiative focusedon the formationofsavings groups, each consisting of 10 – 12 people. Throughorganizedstruggle,thepeopleconfrontedlandlords,therebyretrievingsome2500acresof landwhichwasredistributedamong the people. This has made it possible for them tocultivate land and carry out income‐generating projects.Manyhavebuilttheirownhouses.The initiative has had a far‐reaching impact on thecommunity, which is now cohesive, interacting with othersbeyond caste divisions. Enrolment in school has increased,fewergirlsaredroppingoutofschool,andtherehasbeenadeclineintherateofchildmarriage.Immunizationrateshaveincreased. There is increased political participation and alarge turnout for elections. Women have begun their ownmovement, numbering 1,200 members and is called the“Struggling Women’s Committee for Emancipation.” Theentire process has been replicated in 9 out of 11development blocks in the Chatra district. The bene its toindividuals and the larger community relate particularly toSDGs1,2,4,5,8and10.

FactorsHinderingEffectivenessofProjectsFewer respondents identi ied factors leading toineffectiveness.Someofthosethatwereidenti iedarefactorsbeyond easy control of projects, including droughts, poorhealth or migration of participants, and lack of funding.Agricultural projects are hindered by drought or otherweather‐relateddisasters.

29

 

AsustainablefarmingprojectinDeltaStateinNigeriasufferedfromwaterproblems.Somesmallbusinessesinasavingsandloan project in Nepal failed due to inability to control therequired temperatures to sustain mushroom growth thatmembershadinvestedin.The project serving families working in Indian brick ieldscommentedthat familiesseldomreturntothesame ieldthenextyear.Assuch,theprojectisservingnewgroupseachyearand cannot build long‐term relationships. Poor health ofparticipants hindered a project serving women with HIV/AIDSwhentheybecametooilltorepaytheirloans.Lackoffundingwasmentionedbymanyprojectsasabarriertoeffectiveness.AlthoughsomeNGOscoulddomoretoraisefunds, serious obstacles exist. A programme in Irelandreported that the government had ceased all funding forinformal education, leaving them few options. Moreover, ingeneral agricultural and educational initiatives requiremorepartnerships and funding from outside resources. Acommunity‐basedagriculturalenterpriseprojectinBotswanasaid: “I see these grassroots initiatives are extremely fragile.They can only survive with both outside inancial help anddedicatedleadership.”Projectswithaneducationcomponentin India and in Tanzania spoke of the need for inancialsupport to extend their work with people who aremarginalizedandilliterate.Poor planning and lack of staff withsuf icient knowledge can interfere withsuccess. In Botswana, a project thatinvolved women in jewelry productionsaid “without regular orders, the initiative collapses,”indicating the need for successful marketing in advance.Finally, a few respondents noted lack of participation orcommitment to the project, or interference by other outsideactors,includinggovernmentdepartments,asimpedimentstoprojecteffectiveness.

Lack of funding is a serious barrier to

project effec veness.

 30

 C S

I ‐J K G V S —B ,I Thisprojectoperatesin4panchayatsoftheManerBlockinthePatnaDistrictand8MunicipalCorporationconstituenciesinthePatna District of India’s Bihar State. They organize at the locallevelandare in theprocessoforganizingall58slums, soas toraisepeople’svoicesforshelterrights.Theirpriorityisensuringsocial security, especially food security, for the most deprivedcommunities. They educate children in 6 villages in the area.They have adopted the bridge course, so the children receivefoundationstomoveon.Theprojecthasabout10youthgroupscomprised of both boys and girls, so that young people candeveloptheircapacities.Thesegroupshavebeenabletorespondtosomeoftheyouth’sneeds.Theinitiativeprovidesskills trainingtoaround100younggirlsandwomeneachyear. Thereareabout20women’sgroups, inwhichwomen gather not only to save, but also to think abouttheirlifeandtheneedtobringaboutchange.Womenhave,toagreatextent,broughtaboutchangeintheirwayoflifeandhavedared to move on in spite of challenges. To date around 700women have been trained. At least 50% have becomeeconomically empowered and gone on to open up their ownsmallbusinesses.LIAISONANDADVOCACYwiththegovernmentand bureaucracy has brought us to the macro‐level ofinvolvement. So, havingmicro‐level experience at a rural level,and semi‐macro experience at the urban level, we are able tomove into themacro level.TheSDGsdirectlyaddressedby thisinitiativeincludeSDG1,2,4,5,8,10,and11.

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CONCLUSIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONSThe data from self‐reports of the 70 grassroots projectsreportedheredemonstrateinnovative,sustainablemodelsforeconomicandsocialdevelopmentwithuseful lessonsforthe 2030Agenda. The inal report of the 54th session of theCommissionforSocialDevelopmentcitedasthegoalsforthefutureto“endpovertyby2030,leavenoonebehindandbuilda life of dignity for all on a healthy planet” (UnitedNations,2016). To achieve these will require deep commitment andintensiveworkbyallstakeholders.Theresultsofoursurveyunderscorethatgrassrootsprojectshaveanimportantroletoplay. Indeed, as one respondent from Kenya put it, “smallprojects that are well managedmay bemore effective thanmajorgovernmentalinitiatives.”Thissuggeststheimportanceofinterventionsandindicatorsthatencourageandcapturetheinterrelatednatureofsocial,economicandenvironmentaldevelopment.Projects that are community‐based and develop at thegrassroots aremost likely to identify and engage thosewhohavebeenleftbehindbyotherdevelopmentefforts.Reaching the most vulnerable is very dif icult and requiresknowledge of local cultures and conditions and a sustainedinvestment in the community.Most of the projects reportedhere are serving the most vulnerable groups. They includepeople living in extreme poverty andoftenfurtheroppressedbystigma—thosewith HIV/AIDS, leprosy, or disabilities;Dalits and other stigmatized societalgroups;migrants,peoplelivinginisolatedrural areas; and illiterate women. Thesegroups are seldom engaged in mainstream social andeconomic institutions and therefore traditional approacheswillcontinuetoleavethembehindandfailtomeetthe2030Agenda. However, community–based initiatives that engagestigmatized groups in responding to local needs havebeen shown to play an important role in fostering attitudechangeinthelargercommunity.

We strongly recommend the use of a grassroots model in

the 2030 Agenda.

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 C S

W ’ C P —N Y ,USASince2012,womenofdiverseethnicityinNewburgh,NewYork,have been perfecting craft and jewelry‐making skills andmarketing theirproducts.Financially, allwomenwhomakeandselljewelrybene it.Socially,allbene itbecauseclassesareheldataplacewherewomencanlearnnewskillsandenjoythecompanyofotherwomen.Thecraftcenterisopen to anyone who wants to betrained, with a stable six‐membergroup maintaining the base.Currently, there are 6 womenselling products and directlyreceiving themoney. Inadditiontomaking new jewelry, the womenrepurposedonatedjewelry.Newburghisanareainwhichpersonsofdifferentethnicitiescanexperience tensions. This initiative demonstrates that womenbrought together to engage in peaceful,meaningful activity canform community and learn from one another in a non‐competitive environment. One major issue with the initiative,however,isthe luidityofparticipants.Thereisnowaytobeabletodetermine if thewomenwho teachwillbeable to return thefollowing year due to changes in their circumstances. Theinitiative has potential to become completely economicallysustainable, if teachers are available and adequate numbers ofjewelry are made and sold, effectively advancing the 2030AgendathroughSDGs1,4,5,8,and16.

Theparticipatory,small‐groupapproachusedbygrassrootsprojectsisparticularlyeffectiveinachievingsocialaswellaseconomic bene its and enhancing social and inancialinclusion. Improved self‐esteem and increased communityandpoliticalparticipationareindicatorsofa“lifeofdignity.”Many of the projects emphasized participation andleadership of women and achieved notable gains inwomen’s empowerment and agency, having a positiveimpactongenderrelations. 

 

 33 

Engagement and self‐esteem also seem to increasepeople’s capacity to invest in caring for theirphysicalenvironment.Anumberofprojects includesustainableagricultureandcareoflocalforestresources.Thegoalof localeconomicsprojectsat thegrassroots is tofacilitatefamilylivelihoodsthataresustainableandimprovewell‐being over the long term. Project sustainability is animportant interim step. The majority of the respondingprojectsdid,indeed,considertheireffortstobesustainable,especially with ongoing involvement from other groups.They also exemplify how resilience in times of shock is astrong indicator of the long term sustainability ofcommunity‐based initiatives and holds the key todevelopment. Our indings leadus tostronglyurgeuseofgrassroots models to advance the 2030 Agenda.However,thatisnottonegatetheroleofgovernments.Therespondent from Kenya, who inds small projects moreeffective than large governmental initiatives, nonethelessurges partnerships: “government and other organizationscould help by reducing taxes and restrictions on smallbusiness,byimprovinginfrastructuresoproductscanreachmarket, and by providing free training and education insmall business, inancial management and small scaleagriculture.” These policieswould encourage scaling up oflocalprojectsandtheirreplication.Finally, the survey results strongly underscore theinterrelated nature of the individual SustainableDevelopment Goals. Although they were initiated prior toformulationandadoptionoftheSDGs,theprojectsreportedhere all address multiple goals simultaneously and in anintegratedway.TheyreportprogresstowardsSDGs1,2,5,8, 10, and 16, and in many instances integrate aspects ofgoals3,4,6and15. 

 

 34 

C S S G M F I —

G ,I The initiative began in July, 2000, at the ParodaMission inGoa, India, in a remote village predominately inhabited byaboriginal Kumbis and Gaudas. To date, 6 self‐help groups,eachwith15 to20 tribalwomen,mostlyof the samesocialand economic status, have been functioning within thecommunity. Alongside educating thewomen on sanitation,humanrightsandthevariousgovernmentschemesavailabletothem,trainingenabledthewomentobeginsavingsgroupsand micro inance initiatives. Every month Rs.200 arecollected from each woman and two of the women shareresponsibilityfordepositingthemoneyintoasavingaccount.Loans are distributed on a needs basis, with the groupassessingthemostdeservingcase.Theinterestrateismuchlowerthanthatofmoneylenders,enablingwomentoescapefromviciousmoney‐lendingpracticesandhavingtopaybackexcessive interest, practices which worsen their economicsituation.It was identi ied that in enabling women to have a betterquality of life, theymust irst be empowered economically,(SDG1,5and8)andthroughthegroupstheyareabletoful ildaily needs and develop self‐con idence. The group workswithotherNGOsonvariouscivilandconsumer issues,suchaswater,sanitation(SDG6),androadsafetyinteralia(SDG9),yet is inneedof fundingassistance tobecomeeconomicallysustainable. At present, a forum working on civic andconsumer issues has been formed, with each membercontributingfunds.

35

 

C S C F —K ,Z

The Kaoma Sustainability Project was originally developed,andcontinuestobuildon,theexpressedneedoflocalpeople,namely,hunger.Workingwiththemostvulnerablepeopleinthearea, theseprojectshelpalleviaterootcausesofpovertyby teaching people to help themselvesthrough various forms of education.Groups are comprised of some of thepoorest persons in ive areas who arewilling to use methods of conservation

farming, includingcomposting rather thanusingcommercial fertilizer, inter‐cropping,rotatingcrops,andplantingcropsandtrees that contribute nutrients to the soil.Because land is easy to obtain, but jobs are soscarce, farming is the only way that most local

peoplewill survive andbecome self‐sustainable.Eachgroupwasgiventwooxen,anoxcart,aplow,andareapertoassistthem in generating income for their group. Fish is one ofZambia’s primary foods. Property purchased for the pilotprojectfeaturesanaturalspring.Fishponds,whichhavebeendug by hand, allow clients to learn to raise ish, whichprovides food and generates income for other needs. FromDecember through February, there is great demand for ish

due to a governmentbanon ishing inpubliclakesandrivers.Originally begun as a programme formaking school uniforms for poor,outlying schools, a tailoring initiativehas expanded to include merchandisesuchasmen’sshirts,women’sdresses,curtains, sheets and bedspreads. The

groupfocusesonitemsnotavailableinKaoma,soastoavoidcompetitionwith local tailors.Notonlydo these itemsservesomeofthepeople’sneeds,buttheyalsogenerateincometohelpsupporttheministryoftheKaomaSustainabilityProject.

 36

 

ReferencesMaxNeef,M.,(1992).DevelopmentandHumanNeeds.InP.Ekins&M.Max‐Neef,eds.,RealLifeEconomics:Understand‐ingWealthCreation.London:Routledge,pp.197‐213.UnitedNations,(2016).CommissionforSocialDevelopment:Reportonthe ifty‐fourthsession.(13February2015and3‐12February2016).NewYork.E/2016/26‐E/CN.5/2016/5UnitedNations,(2015).TransformingourWorld:The2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment.Accessedfrom:https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld/publication

NoteonSurveyMethodologyandLimitationsThesurveyreportedinthisdocumentwasconductedtogleanusefullessonsfromgrassrootslevellocaleconomiesprojects.The survey was not a scienti ic research project and nosampling methodology was used. Survey instruments weredistributedtograssrootsaf iliatesoforganizationsbelongingto the NGO Committee for Social Development. Therefore,resultsarenotintendedtobegeneralizabletoallNGOorcivilsociety efforts. The responses represent a diverse array oftypes of projects, bene iciary groups, and come from allcontinents. The descriptions and perspectives providedshouldbeusefulininformingpolicyandfutureprogramming.

 

 37 

Cambodia TakeoIntegratedCommDevelopmentProgram(DC)

India

AsansolBurdwanSevaKendra:SelfHelpInitiatives(IBVM);AthmikOrganizingAwarenessCampaign(IBVM);ChetnaBharati:SelfHelpGroup(SCN);Deepanjali:EmpoweringwomenthroughSelf‐HelpGroups(IPA);Deepshikha:EmpowermentInitiative(IPA);HolyRedeemerHospital:CommunityHealthInitiative(IPA);HowrahDaneshSk.LaneNavadoySevaNiketan(IBVM);JanKalyanGraminVikasSamiti:LearningCentres(IPA);KushdanCommunity:SavingsGroupsandMicroFinance(IPA);LandandEducationIssuesforMusaharcommunity(MMS);MaharashtraPabodhanSevaMandal(MPSM)‐SustainableAgriculture;MenhipatharMutipurposeCooperativeSociety(MMS);NaihatiProlifeCommunityDevelopmentPrograms(IBVM);NavjeevanDevelopmentCentre(SND);NavjyotiWomen'sEmpowermentProgramme(SCN);SabujSangha:Pond‐BasedIntegratedFarmingandpaddycultivation(IBVM);Samachidhar‐SavingsSelfHelpGroup(MMS);SevaVardhini‐IndigenousCommunity(IPA);TagoreSocietyforRuralDevelopment‐RajnagarKhayrasolProject;TheHopeFoundation:JanaSwasthyaSuraksha(IBVM);UshaMultipurposeCooperativeSociety(USHA)(IBVM);Varusanadusocialservicesociety(IPA)

NepalKoshiDekhaVillageDevelopmentCommittee(SCN);NavjyotiWomenEmpowermentProgram(SCN)

Philippines SmallScaleEntrepreneurshipProject(DC)Botswana PhomphokweWomen'sAssociation(OSU)BurkinaFaso

TaborHouseMicro inanceProject(DC)

DRC KinzonoAgriculturalProject(RSCJ)Ghana Microcreditwomensavinggroup(DC)

KenyaIncomeGenerationProgramme‐Kitale(DC);LoretoNeemaProject(IBVM);Y.E.S.‐YouthEmpowerment,Goat,Micro inancingProjects(DC)

Nigeria

CommunityPlaintain&FishpondFarmingInitiative(DC);Dream‐HIVAIDsserviceofSt.Vincent'sHospital(DC);IfeomaCooperativeSocietyforwomen(DC);IleMariaIwaroOkaAkokaInitiative:HIVorphans&vulnerablewomen(DC);MadonnaFarm(DC);MarianRehabilitationHomeCombinedFarmingInitiative(DC);OselumenseCooperativeSociety/FavourPWDKeroseneEnterprise(DC);VillageSavingsandLoansinitiatives(DC)

Africa

Asia

W

 

 38 

Africa(cont’d)

NorthAmerica

Central/SouthAmerica

Europe

Oceania

TanzaniaNotreDameOsotwaCentre:Women'sSelfHelpGroups(SND)

ZambiaConservationFarminginKaomaWestProvince(IPA);GardenofOneness(IPA);MulongoSavingsandInternalLendingCommunityGroups(IBVM)

ZimbabweBemhiwaCommunityDevelopmentSupportCentre(RSHM);Caritas‐MtDarwin&RushingaCommunityWaterPoint(RSHM)

Canada

CentredeServicesCommunautairesVanier(CSCV)‐(UNANIMA‐DW);StMary'sHome:SchoolandCommunityCenter(UNANIMA‐DW);TheGatheringPlace(IPA)

MexicoCommunidadCreceA.C.‐Women'sempowerment(RSCJ)

USAProyectoJuanDiego(DC);Women'sCraftProject‐Newburgh(IPA)

AlbaniaMaryWardLoretoYouthFoundation:Training&Employment(IBVM)

GreatBritain

FenhamAssociationofResidents(RSCJ)

IrelandCorduffDevelopmentGroup(RSHM);AnSiolCommunityDevelopmentProject‐Dublin(RSHM)

N.Ireland St.Anne'sOneWorldGroup‐CeiliDanceClass(RSHM)

BrazilAssentamento17deAbril(InformalSettlementProject)(DC);CommunityAssociationofUrucu‐Mairi,Bahia(RSHM);"RaiosdeSol"Women'sGroup(DC)

EcuadorCantoalaVida‐(HospitalPadreCarolloOutreachProgramme)(IPA)

ElSalvador ProyectoRadioComunitariaJovenes(IBVM)

Peru

DCPAEnvironmentalCulturalProductiveDevelopment(IBVM);LamudHuertoAgriculturalProject‐Luyadistrict(IBVM);SociedadParroquialBotica“JUANPABLOII”(IBVM)

AustraliaBaabaynAboriginalCorporation(UNANIMA);TheSisters'Place:OutreachtoHomelessWomen(IPA)

FijiIslands NausoriWomenRecyclingCraft(DC)

DC DaughtersofCharity OSU UrsulineSistersIBVM InstituteoftheBlessedVirginMary RSCJ SocietyoftheSacredHeartIPA InternationalPresentationAssociation RSHMReligiousoftheSacredHeartofMaryMMS MedicalMissionarySisters SCN SistersofCharityofNazareth

SNDSistersofNotreDame

UNANIMAUNANIMAInternational

July2016Formoreinformation,visit:http://ngosocdev.org

ReportdesignedbySarahJohnson

G R T F VeronicaBrand,RSHMOliviaDawson,IPALynneHealy,IASSWSarahJohnson,IASSWElsaMuttathu,IPAMargaretO'Dwyer,DCCatherinePrendergast,DCChristiHolmesStaples,IASSW