GRANITE Phase 2, Toolbox Analysis May 28-29, 2007

Achievements of GRANITE I

Project Snapshot

Title Grassroots Reachout & Networking in India on Trade & Economics (GRANITE)

Funded by The Royal Norwegian Embassy, New Delhi, and Oxfam Novib, The Netherlands

Project Duration January 2005-March 2007

Implementing Agency CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS CITEE)

Focus states Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal

Focus sectors Agriculture and Textile & Clothing

Project SnapshotOverall Objective To create long-term capacity of grassroots CSOs and other targeted stakeholders to

address complex issues of globalisation and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and their relationship with economic development and governance in India

State Partners

Maharashtra Samarthan

Orissa  Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD)

West Bengal CUTS – Calcutta Resource Centre (CUTS CRC)

Rajasthan CUTS Centre for Consumer Action, Research & Training (CUTS CART)

Tamil Nadu Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG)

Andhra Pradesh Consumer Guidance Society (CGS)

Uttar Pradesh Network of Entrepreneurship & Economic Development (NEED)

Karnataka Consumer Rights, Education & Awareness Trust (CREAT)

Total Budget Rs. 14,333,000

Relevance of the Project

Project is highly relevant to the setting as:

• A large share of the population lives marginalised from India’s economic growth, and is engaged in informal employment, in agriculture and artisan trades.

• Benefits of economic growth have not percolated to the weaker sections, for various reasons.

• Mainstreaming these stakeholders is a key challenge for India’s economic growth and social development.

• Improving economic literacy at grassroots level will enable stakeholders to see the links between their livelihoods and economic developments, including those related to trade and globalisation.

Relevance of the Project contd..

Sectors are chosen as:

• Agriculture and textiles are the two largest employment/ livelihood sustenance sectors in India.

• Textiles and Clothing is the second largest employment creating sector

• Trade and globalisation especially WTO agreements have impacts on both sectors.

States are chosen as:

• Regional balance• The eight states selected for the project have sizeable

agriculture sectors, and some have sizeable handloom textiles sectors.

• Three states have very low export intensities in the sectors.

Relevance of the Project contd..

State Partners are chosen as:

• Grassroots presence• Convening power and credibility• Some have a history of partnership with CUTS• However, varying levels of conversancy on sector-

specific livelihood issues• Most have limited exposure to trade and globalisation

issues, first exposure for some.

Effectiveness- Target Outcomes

Eight CSOs capable of analysing, articulating and advocating on issues of globalisation

Substantial success

Establishment of National Trade Policy Council and at least 6 State Trade Policy Councils

Partial success

Two pro-poor changes in Foreign Trade Policy 2004-2009

Not attributable

A well-established national

network of CSOs on globalisation issues

Substantial success

Study document on the impact of WTO rules on the chosen sectors in 2 states

Output, not Outcome

Effectiveness - Other outcomes

• Capacity enhancement of partners• Increased articulation by grassroots

stakeholders• Development results for beneficiaries:

– Enhancement of livelihood opportunities

Potential Impact

• Realisation by grassroots stakeholders that their livelihoods have important linkages with domestic policies and international covenants.

• Multiplier effect of the experience gained by partners in creating a stakeholders’ forum for analysis, articulation and advocacy of grassroots concerns

Key gains from the project

• Reachout meetings acknowledged as an effective forum for grassroots stakeholders

• Tangible and attributable benefits for stakeholders through increased awareness and understanding of trade issues

• Increased reporting in local media on trade and WTO issues

• Initiation of interface between grassroots stakeholders and the policy makers

Key gains from the project contd..

• Enhanced capacities of state partners in understanding, analysing, articulating and advocating on issues related to trade and globalisation/WTO issues

• Strengthening of network of civil society organisations that interact and share research and capacities /skills on issues of globalisation

Conclusions and Recommendations

Project Emphasis:• Grassroots stakeholders are rather remote from trade

and globalisation, and their livelihoods are linked more to domestic trade issues than WTO. Project emphasis should be amended.

Sector Scope and Coverage:• Agriculture and textiles are large, complex sectors with

several products/segments, all not having similar pro poor dimensions. Focus of the interventions should be narrowed to a few products common to most states and a few cross cutting themes.

• Project partners do not have adequate level of expertise or skills in both sectors, which skews the thrust of actions across various states.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Capacity enhancement:• Focused training on sector-specific trade and

globalisation issues could not be provided.• Formal training on sector-specific trade issues should

be included in the project. Specialist resource persons should be inducted to bridge knowledge gaps among partners. Some examples already seen in Phase I.

• SMART (specific, measurable, attributable, realistic and time-bound) indicators should be developed for project actions.

Factors affecting implementation

Internal Factors• Staff constraint/turnover

• State partners lacking in-house expertise / sector

conversancy

External Factors • Inadequate engagement with Government bodies

and policy makers • Limited interest of local media • Other unforeseen reasons as delay in the elections

or heavy rainfall.

Project relevance for Phase 2

• Phase 1 has its success and non-success (including deferred success) with regard to its advocacy efforts.

• The Project is the first of its kind at the grassroots level and a base has been created.

• The base has to be nurtured in order to create a sustainable space for the Indian civil society to make citizens’ voices heard on issues relating to economic governance, particularly at the grassroots.

• The space for the Indian civil society to intervene on issues relating to economic governance at the grassroots is limited

• A concerted beginning has been made to make this space expand and be sustainable in the long-run.

• This rationale will take the GRANITE initiative forward in its next phase.

Thank You