Wrap-Up Debriefing: Delhi

Introduction
  
This video can be viewed in its entirety or via short video clips sorted along themes (blue underlined) which emerged during the debriefing. This debriefing was organized by the Knowledge and Learning Group as part of AFTQK's knowledge sharing and learning services. The wrap-up debriefing was conducted on June 29, 2004.

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I. Identification of Lessons Learned. Main lessons to influence the action plans, introduced by Country Team (3:36 min).

II. Clarification of Wrap-up Agenda by Group. (1:17 min)

III. Country Team Presentations: WDIP, MASAF and TASAF. 15 min per country, 10 min per person (50:07 min).

a. Overview of Women's Development Initiative Project in Ethiopia (WDIP) - Tadelech Debele. The main gaps there are to fill for WDIP are currently in the area of marketing, and in the area of capacity building through needs assessment and training. WDIP would like to diversify their activities and move beyond a focus on one core activity for each project group. This can be coordinated by their Central Coordinating Unit to i) further facilitate the marketing of women’s groups products, ii) focus on quality production, and finally to iv). Introduce savings and credit programs as a sideline activity (9:25 min).

WDIP Team Input. Other strategies they would like to pursue include a more holistic approach, with the help of other donors, a capacity building approach and needs assessment, inter-regional linkages of different business activities and between similar activities. There also needs to be a champion for women’s issues (3:53 min).

b. Overview of Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF) - Sam Kahkobwe. The main lessons that the MASAF team has taken with them from the South South Learning and Exchange are in the area of grassroots socialization and mobilization that enhance project sustainability. An example of successful mobilization at the grassroots level in India that may be replicated include i). standardized record-keeping ii). diversification of interventions, and a system which involves the iii). training and needs assesment of differrent institutions.

An additional area that MASAF would like to advance involves its system of monitoring and evaluation. Specific areas of M&E that need improvement include: i). developing inputs, indicators and expected outputs, ii) skills training for human resources iii). increased focus on project prioritization. MASAF intends to conduct an environmental assesment at home to determine which values are compatible with comparable organizational practices in India.

The biggest challenge involves the way that MASAF will secure financing for the projected activities "we are fitting these inputs into the existing budget". The way forward should involve follow-up visits with sites of particular interestsuch as BRAC and Grameen Bank - these should take place beforer the next South-South tour (13:46 min).

MASAF Team Input (6:59 min).

c. Overview of Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) – Joseph Magingo. TASAF needs to develop a Terms of Reference for developing baseline data in Tanzania. TASAF would also like to facilitate the formation of Self Help Groups, similar to those found in India. This includes: i) the promotion of a savings culture in communities, and the ability to ii) institutionalize a savings culture among community members.

The way forward should include an exchange visit to Bangladesh for more insight into the development of Grameen Bank. This should take place before the next South-South exchange (7:20 min).

• "When we get back we should share this visit with other stakeholders which are also key players in IK"
• "Continued networking with groups like SEWA is very important - and maintaiing linkages for when we prepare our action-plan"

Specific linkages would be useful with: i). technical groups and institutions, ii). between TASAF and WDIP towards the creation of a women's group similar to Women's Development Initiaves Project iii). work with partners in developing progress indicators

TASAF Team Input (10:14 min).

IV. .Reflections on Cultural Issues of Adaptation and Fit. What is the role of culture in the success stories we have seen? (3:44 min).

IV. Feedback on South-South Exchange Tour (17:13 min).

Things to carry forward: 1) the debriefings - "an excellent source of reflection and reaction" 2) tour program - was" relevant and useful"

Things to change or improve: 1) The program was too full - too many project sites visited in a short span of time 2). Provide an overview of MASAF, TASAF and WDIP to the project sites to begin with, to facilitate better mutual exchange across visting teams.3). Allow for time, do not rush the communities.

V. Preparation for Visit by India Country Director, Michael F. Carter (1:08 min).

VI. Introduction to India Country Director, Michael Carter (44 sec).

a. MASAF Country Team Presentation - Kristine Kamwendo with input from Michael Carter (7:02 min).

Lessons learned in India may be rooted in culture and adherence to culture and tradition by the communities. Systems development in India is also very advanced - this is something that should be kept in mind when we are discussing the pssibility of replication.

b. WDIP Country Team Presentation - Letifah Abajobir Abadulla with input from Michael Carter (13:12 min).

SEWA is a good example of the ability of an organization to organize local groups to facilitate economic security for women. WDIP would like to replicate some of the approaches SEWA has taken in this area. Two other areas that WDIP would like to replicate include diversification of ecomnomic activities and suataionability of the scale-up interventions. One lesson learned is that in this process, it is very important to have the commitment and deication of a champion in the organization who can lead the process.

c. TASAF Country Team Presentation - Tatu Mwaruka with input from Michael Carter (5:03 min).

We need institutions that can give technical suipport and awreness and have the ability to control quality of the IK products. "Need to start with the savings culture, which atracts donors and government - this is very important - we will initiatie this in our country. "

Response by Michael Carter: Thesavings culture reinforces empowerment. This is where it needs to start. Small groups come together and support eachother and gradually borrow from the bank. It actually showed that "poor women are actually more credit worthy than the less poor - thats the safest loan you can make - the Indian banking system isnt grabbing this opportunity."

Additional Input from Uganda Country Representative, Suleiman Namara: We need champions to bring about any lasting change. Development also needs women, "We have seen the impossible made possible through dedication, hard work and time". They started with a good vision, began small, thought big, and step by step through peaceful struggle they have become more secure economically and have gone to influence government to change policy."

Response by Michael Carter (paraphrased): Without this leadership, it may not have happenned, the Chief Minister is a visionary leader. Other politicians try to interfere and are not in line with the objectives - they are out for their own self-interest. there needs to be a greater consensus around the need for good governance. However this also demonstrates that even in an imperfect environment you can achieve tremendous amounts when you have the right leadership. "you need to have a champion, it has to have a kick-start this way"

VII. Concluding Remarks to Michael Carter (13:03 min).

Lessons learned include the necessity of bringing services back directly to the people. Social capital is key, and economic services should help to solve social interventions.It is important not to over-design project interventions. Home-grown programs are the only ones that work.

VIII. Coordination & Plans for Follow-up to South South Learning and Exchange (10:15 min).