Four major partners of the Trust- Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood (CML); Grameen Sahara; Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (RGVN) and Rongmei Naga Baptist Association (RNBA) in association with North-East Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi); National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Small Industrial Development Bank of India (SIDBI) are organizing Convergence 2010- The Northeast Microfinance & Livelihood Summit during March 9-10, 2010 at Guwahati.
Background
The Northeast region of India, comprising of eight states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Sikkim – is one of the economically backward regions of the country as highlighted by many a development indicators. The region is termed ‘beyond the chicken’s neck’ as only 2% of its border is with India and the rest is international border with China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Added to it are the problems of different ethnic groups and the cry for indigenous homelands – finding an outlet in violence. The difficult and sometimes, virtually unknown terrain in which people operate makes it difficult for state level programmes to achieve the desired results, adding to the physical and mental isolation of the people. On the other hand the region undoubtedly has a strong pool of natural resources. A mismatch between resources, the control over resources and scientific management of the same seems to be another issue hindering growth and development of the region.
Given the background, it is encouraging that the social citizen sector, which is today one of the important sector complementing, supporting and facilitating the development process is gradually emerging in the region. However even here lack of flow of information, duplication of effort, weak linkages among the stakeholders, limited capacity support and lack of an overall holistic vision is hindering the growth of this budding sector. It is seriously felt that a deliberation of the concerned stakeholder on a common platform can go a long way in paving the way for a healthy growth of the sector.
About the Summit
It has been long felt that the agenda of development in the Northeast region of India requires a special holistic focus. And in fact there have been many special initiatives and efforts towards this end; however in spite of the efforts from diverse quarters there always seems to be a missing link which stands in the way of achieving the desired outcome. Some of the common gaps has been limited flow of information, difficulty in forging linkages and collaboration both due to lack of information and asymmetric capacities and capabilities, lack of coordination among the stakeholders and limited exposure to mainstream developments and advancements to name a few.
The present summit is an effort towards bringing about convergence in the diverse initiative through an increased report among stakeholders to find common grounds. A common platform for all the concerned stakeholders is expected to help in building up linkages and collaboration based on deliberated consensus.
Objective of the Summit
Convergence 2010 which is envisaged to be carried forward as a yearly event is expected to provide a platform for forward looking debate and deliberation on the key issues concerning livelihood promotion and development of the region.
The specific objectives of the summit are;
»
Bring together all the concerned stakeholders for a better mutual understanding of the different perspectives and apprehensions.
»
Prioritise the development issues and stumbling blocks and put it forth for all to discuss and come up with steps that can be implemented collaboratively.
»
Reduce possible duplication of efforts, initiatives, and resource allocation through increased dissemination of information among stakeholders.
»
Strengthen networks and linkages for better associations and collaborations.
»
Provide a platform to the CSO to raise the ground challenges and hurdles faced during implementation and execution.
»
Come up with the views of government and support organisations and institutions on relevant policy perspectives.
»
Bring about an overall synergy amongst the practitioners for greater integrated efforts towards development.
The overall objective will definitely be to bring about some amount of convergence of efforts and initiatives to address the larger issues of poverty, exclusion and access to basic amenities to lead a life with dignity.
Theme of the Summit
Theme: Promoting Livelihood in the NE – Managing Resources & Promoting Entrepreneurship
Sub-themes
I.
Livelihood Challenges and Opportunity
Issues linked to the livelihoods of the poor are complex, the challenges and the opportunities are diverse and distinct in different region. The northeast region is far from homogenous though communication and connectivity bottlenecks, poor infrastructure, lack of developed markets and marketing linkages, problem of insurgency are some of the common general hurdles that make promotion of livelihood difficult in the region. There are areas where government initiative is inevitable while market and market forces can be more effective in some cases and it is important here to identify the effective role of the CSOs. The challenge is to identify effective interventions that have the potential to raise income and assets of the poor. Scaling up of intervention with a market led perspective remains a challenge. In the Northeast context capability of the grass root intervening institution in scaling up their efforts in a sustainable way needs serious focus. And lastly there is the issue of building up adequate capacity and skills to undertake the complex tasks involved in livelihood promotion.
In this backdrop, this important sub-theme is expected to deliberate upon strategic issues that need to be addressed for effective livelihood promotion. It will be important to see if it is necessary to prioritise the challenges based on available opportunities; also is there a need to re-look at the role of the different stakeholders for better coordination and collaboration?
A deliberated consensus roadmap that can pave the way for aligned initiatives and effort from multiple stakeholders including the government, development support organisations and the CSOs is an overall expect outcome of this sub-theme.
II.
Microfinance challenges in the Northeast
A budding microfinance sector is emerging in the Northeast mainly carried forward by the NGO/NGO-MFIs in the absence of other major mainstream organisations. These grass root organisation has over the years played an important supporting role in carrying forward agenda of financial inclusion as propagated by the apex organisations of the country.
However at the moment there seems to be various emerging issues facing the sector; some of these issues in this context are;
»
Issues relating to legal forms of these microfinance organisations in the light of scalability of the efforts as well as regulation of the sector as a whole.
»
Mobilising funds as the size of these organisation increases in the backdrop of increasing competition form local as well national level organisation has been a major challenge.
»
There is the question of the suitability and sustainability a large number of NGOs entering the arena of microfinance.
»
In the Northeast context there is also the need to think beyond the standardised models and systems so that these local organisations can remain viable and effective in supporting the larger issue agenda of financial inclusion.
This sub-theme is expected to deliberate upon these emerging issues in the light of the overall experience gathered from the phenomenal growth of this important sector in the other regions of the country.
III.
Technology adoption for the social sector in the Northeast
The rapid technological advancement in diverse frontiers can play the role of a big catalyst in the development sector. Especially in an area like the Northeast the role of technology cannot be undermined to compensate for the remoteness, difficult terrain and sparse population in many of the areas. Experiments in technology have been quite limited in this region. It is felt that it will be important to highlight the available technologies in various areas. The practitioners in the ground need to be oriented and the support organisations also needs to come forward to support technological initiatives in similar direction.
This sub-theme is expected to highlight the available technologies and the role that technology is playing in the development sector. Experience sharing and suitable orientation of the practitioners is expected to help in forging out associations and collaborations for technological initiatives and experiments.
IV.
Challenges in Micro-enterprise development
There are various challenges of promoting Micro-enterprises and we cannot deny the fact that it is the next logical focus area as we graduate in livelihood promotion. The problems of the poor accessing markets have been always paradoxical. Major success stories in micro-enterprise development in this region has been limited, also there has been quite limited large scale interventions as well. Poor production standards, overdependence on government support and subsidies, failure in market assessments are some of the common basic pitfall hindering the growth of micro-enterprises.
This sub-theme is expected to deliberate upon the challenges of Micro-enterprise development in the Northeast context where a low level of monetisation, weak market and marketing linkages and non-availability of key inputs in many regions makes it an even more daunting challenge. Experience and learning from other parts of the country is also expected to throw light in this area.
Program Schedule
Program Schedule: Convergence 2010: The Northeast Microfinance & Livelihood Summit
DAY - I
9 March, 2010
(8.30-9.30)
Registration
(9.30-10.30)
Inaugural Session
(10.30-11.00)
Tea/Networking
(11.00-1.00)
Business Session I: Livelihood Challenges and Opportunity
(1.00 - 1.45)
Plenary Session I
(1.45-2.45)
LUNCH BREAK
(2.45-4.15)
Business Session II : Technology adoption for Livelihood Promotion
Breakaway Sessions
Business Session III: Challenges in Micro-enterprise development
(4.15-4.45)
Tea/Networking
(4.45-6.00)
Plenary Session 2 & 3
Breakaway Sessions
DAY- II
10, March 2010
(9.30-10.30)
Plenary Session 4
(10.30-11.00)
Tea/Networking
(11.00-1.30)
Business Session IV: Microfinance Challenges in the Northeast
Registration fees can be paid through Demand Draft/Crossed cheques at par in favour of Centre for Microfinance & Livelihood payable at Guwahati. The registration form with the details of the payment can also be emailed to cmlghy@gmail.com.
Registration fee covers admission to summit sessions, lunch and refreshments during the summit and Summit kit.
Spot registration facility will be available at the summit venue from 8 am on 9 March, 2010.
Please note that early confirmation will ensure confirmed participation.
Centre for Microfinance & Livelihood (CML) is a support umbrella organisation for capacity building, research, collaborative interventions and policy advocacy in the social sector. CML was established in 2008 under the active support of Tata Social Welfare Trust an allied of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Mumbai and presently functions in a project mode under Grameen Sahara a ngo based in Assam.
Rashtriya Gramin Vikash Nidhi (RGVN) was set up in April 1990 to bridge the gap between the poor and financial institutions and provide access to credit for self employment. RGVN was also conceived with the idea of grooming grassroot level organisation for development interventions in difficult locales. It was felt that in areas which are isolated from the mainstream, credible people’s organisation can step in and help in financial inclusion and mainstreaming. All of RGVN’s Programmes thus aim at building and developing community collectives at the grassroots and involving people in participatory development.
Collaborators/Sponsors
RNBA (DEVELOPMENT & RELIEF DEPARTMENT): D & RD is a sub-department of RNBA (Rongmei Naga Baptist Association) formed by the Baptist Churches of Manipur and Assam. RNBA was established in 1985 at Tamenglong District of Manipur as a social, religious, non-political and non-profit making organisation. With holistic and inclusive development approach RNBA works for the empowerment of the poorest, the disadvantaged and women in particular. Key focus issues of RNBA are environment development and management, Microfinance (Taobei Credit Project) , Livelihood and Food Security, NGO Building capacity.
RNBA (DEVELOPMENT & RELIEF DEPARTMENT): D & RD is a sub-department of RNBA (Rongmei Naga Baptist Association) formed by the Baptist Churches of Manipur and Assam. RNBA was established in 1985 at Tamenglong District of Manipur as a social, religious, non-political and non-profit making organisation. With holistic and inclusive development approach RNBA works for the empowerment of the poorest, the disadvantaged and women in particular. Key focus issues of RNBA are environment development and management, Microfinance (Taobei Credit Project) , Livelihood and Food Security, NGO Building capacity.
