HAASHAR Association Mansehra

Upper Siran Human and Natural Resource Development Project

Funded by: Austrian Development Agency (ADA)Technical Assistance provided

ECOHIMAL, Austria

Started: June, 2004 Completed: June, 2007

Implementation of field operations started in June 2004. Up to October 2005 activities were implemented according to plan and in line with budget allocations.

The earthquake catastrophe of 8th of October 2005 hit the Upper Siran Valley - located in the epi-center - severely and caused about 95% damage to the physical infrastructure including homesteads, roads, terraces, water piped schemes, animals, etc. Thousands of people perished in the debris or were heavily injured. Project activities came to a complete standstill and could only be gradually restarted towards the end of 2006. Due to its role as a functional NGO operating in the area HAASHAR Association became a key player in the immediate rescue operations and continued to focus work on relief and rehabilitation thereafter. Thus HAASHAR had been forced by the earthquake to expand institutionally and volume-wise far beyond Haashar had to divert its attention towards rescue and relief operations, whichresulted, naturally, in slowing down the progress of the project.

The key objective of the project namely to enhance the capacities and capabilities of both the HAASHAR Association and community based institutions (CBOs) was achieved. However, a number of interventions planned in the field of sustainable natural resource management and activities for the reduction of poverty could not be completed or could not be started (eco- tourism, micro credit schemes).

Overall Goal: "Protective and Productive functions of forests and other natural resources are sustainably secured for the livelihood of the rural population-comprising females and males likewise in the mountainous areas of Siran in Mansehra District, North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Pakistan".

According to Logical Framework definitions HNRDP was supposed to contribute towards the "Overall Goal". Besides of drawbacks caused by the earthquake, continued resistance of the forest department to fully adopt the social forestry concept of Joint Forest Management(JFM) reduced chances to achieve the project goal. This constraint will obviously only be overcome once there is a clear cut political will to support and implement Social Forestry concepts. However, active resistance against deforestation at local level remains mandatory for challenging the multifold vested interests to plunder forests.

Project Purpose: "Capacities and capabilities of HAASHAR Association are sustainably enhanced towards facilitating community based organizations (CBOs) for male and female villagers, securing improved livelihood of villagers through sustainable and participatory Natural Resource Management (NRM) and socio-economic development in the Methal, Nikki Mohriand Bantoder areas of Upper Siran".

Overall HAASHAR has been able to strengthen its capabilities and capacities both quantitatively and qualitatively. However, due to the earthquake the impact in regard to the objectives of sustained NRM and sustained livelihood based on enhanced local production and productivity in agriculture and livestock remained lower than planned. On the other hand due to the effective and efficient assistance after the earthquake, HAASHAR is now seen as a leading development organization in the project area. HAASHAR's engagement, its participatory and process oriented approach is widely accepted by the people and is likely to bear fruits in future.

The appendix below shows achievements of the project versus planned activities.

Overall Goal / Sector Objective	Project Purpose	Expected Results	Proposed Activities	Achievements	Remarks
Protective and productive functions of forests and other natural resources are sustainably secured for the livelihood of the rural population - comprising females and males likewise - in the mountainous areas of Siran in Mansehra District, North-West Frontier Province(NWFP), Pakistan	Capacities and capabilities of Haashar Association's are sustainably enhanced towards facilitating community based organizations(CBOs) for male and female villagers, securing improved livelihood of villagers through sustainable and participatory Natural Resource Management (NRM) and socio-economic development in the Methal, Nikkimori and Bantoder areas of Upper Siran	Result 1: Capacities and capabilities of NGO Haashar as a planning and support agency for participatory and gender oriented Human and Natural Resource Management programs are sustainably enhanced	Establishing and upgrading logistics of NGO HAASHAR through providing and procuring adequate transport, field- and office equipment and facilities	Two vehicles purchased Requisite furniture and computers purchased
			Recruitment and financing suitable staff for HAASHAR	Required program and support staff hired	Over burdening due to Oct, 2005 earthquake was compensated through a number of other projects and topping up of salaries over and above project budgeting
			Safeguarding and enhancing female representation in the management of HAASHAR NGO and in the execution of Haashar's operational activities	Female representation in BoG, Steering committee ensured Approval of Gender policy by BoG for the Org.	Women representation in BoG, Steering committee ensured. Recruitment of Women Project Coordinators in various projects.
			Providing/securing training for Haashar staff in the field of internal management, financial management, social organizing, cooperation, mediation, conflict resolution, negotiating with donors, government, private and traditional institutions, planning - monitoring and evaluation	17 Women staff trained in safe motherhood, 50 Staff trained in Social Organization, 50 Staff trained in record keeping, 25 staff members trained in conflict management, 8 staff members trained in savings and internal loaning, Support staff trained in office protocols, driving and first aid, 2 staff members imparted training on Gender and Dev. Haashar has until now developed financial management systems, Admin and logistic procedures and Gender policy for implementation of field activities	Haashar has until now developed financial management systems, Admin and logistic procedures and Gender policy for implementation of field activities
			Providing/securing training for human and natural resource management concepts and methods	Three Staff members got foreign training in NRM Staff trainings held in NRM sector from Potato research centre	On job and in house trainings are regular feature of HAASHAR's program
			Public relations work for HRD and NRM through press, radio, TV, theater/drama, publications etc	Printing of 3 annual reports, brochures, hand outs, website launching and updating	More collaborative contacts established with local media
			Networking with other development agencies operating in the region for securing synergies	Attending regularly District and regional level forums, linkages/MoUs with other development organizations	Haashar is an integral part of District and regional level forums
		Result 2: Institutional capacities and capabilities of community based development organizations are increased.	Ongoing provision of advisory services, training, counseling and mediation for community based organizations (CBOs) in the context of negotiations, conflict resolution and cooperation with relevant institutions and persons such as Forest Department, Civil Administration, Courts, Police, Forest Owner Union, Clergy, other Projects and NGOs	MoUs signed with Forest Deptt, Wildlife Deptt, PFI, AgricDeptt, Livestock Department and District government Regular meetings with DCO, District Nazim and other District Govt officials Regularly attending District level coordination meetings	Haashar's repute as a cooperative and collaborative organization at District and regional level is acknowledged by all stake holders
			Identifying and providing legal advice and support to CBOs whenever needed	Assistance to JFMC's in pursuing their case of JFM Plan review and extension, Assistance to JFMC's in stay orders on development works	Haashar has received determination of extending JFM Plans several times from Forest Department but no practical steps as yet
			Increasing and refining number and status of village based organizations	Increases number of Women Organizations from 3 to 12	Women program has gained momentum after earthquake due to general acceptability for NGO's in the region
			Realizing the cultural hindrances to form "mixed" male-female CBOs, parallel to male groups female groups are being formed	As above
			Lobbying for the further extension of participatory NRM and JFM concepts and reforms in the rural and forest sector	Raising voice at workshops on this subject. Meetings with Environment Minister, Secretary environment and other officials on JFM issues	There are opportunities to expand the concept through NGO support as Forest Department cannot take over the job in isolation
		Result 3: "Social and income generating activities for males and females reducing poverty and pressure on natural resources are tested and implemented	Participatory identification of complementary measures related to health and hygiene, infrastructure, agriculture, livestock, education, gender issues, income generation, etc.	Rehabilitation of three Drinking water Supply schemes benefiting total of 290 house hold Construction of one water supply scheme benefiting 40 household Repair and construction of Rural Access road from Methal to Nikki Mohri benefiting 3500 community member Construction Irrigation Channel benefiting 1300 community members Agricultural and Livestock field days Distribution of more than 800 fruit plants and fodder crop interventions	After earthquake, infrastructure development works are on the agenda of every development organization. There is a need to avail this opportunity for institutional strengthening of CBO's through clustering and development of area level civil society organizations so that the development is geared towards sustainanbility
			Gender criteria safeguarding the social and economic requirements of females are to be applied in all steps of planning and implementing of activities. Pursuing the introduction of eco-tourism for national visitors	All the project activities completed in close collaboration with female organizations Gender policy concerns implemented keeping within the socio religious parameters	The planned program for eco -tourism was disturbed by the Earthquake. However it also exposed the valley to a large number of foreigners
			Testing and introduction of cultivating medicinal plants and spices	Podophylumhexandrum, Genaniumwallichaianum, Poeniaemodii, Valerniajatamansii, Bergeniastracheyi, Skimmialaureola, Atropabaladona were successfully demonstrated for plantation in the project area	The intervention was carried through technical support of UNDP GEF under Biodiversity project
			Establishing a revolving fund credit system for financing complementary activities	Establishment of saving system was done and communities imparted trainings on internal loaning A total of Rs.72000 savings with JFMC's and Rs.12000 savings with 11 Women Organizations	The program got disturbed due to earthquake
			Identifying additional donors for complementary support of village communities	After earthquake Misereor, ADA and Carinthia have extended support in completion of several projects	Geographic expansion of the working area is need and demand of local communities
			Initiating local savings systems and linking it with revolving credit funds	Establishment of saving system was done and communities imparted trainings on internal loaning A total of Rs.72000 savings with JFMC's and Rs.12000 savings with 11 Women Organizations	The activity needs some time to get maturity