Project Partners by Year - 2004 I 2005 I 2006 I 2007 I Financial Administration
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
AMURT places a special emphasis on building a strong relationship with the communities it serves. This relationship has been deemed crucial for the success of any development initiative. Thus the NGO seeks to actively engage the communities in the planning, realization, and maintenance of the project and its objectives. This strategy helps the local community to acquire in a natural way a feeling of ownership and identity with the projects, and has proven to be of extreme importance for the durability of all programs.
 An example of community involvement is the "Community Partnership Contract" which AMURT asks its local partners to sign before starting a project together. The contract outlines the responsibilities and rights of each partner, helps bring about transparence and greater trust especially during conflict-resolution. Signing a contract of partnership is just one of many steps which AMURT takes in order to build the capacity of the local communities to manage the projects as their own.
AMURT adopts the following strategies in reinforcing its local partners:
(1) Facilitate the democratic election of zonal management committees;
(2) Reinforce the committees through regular training and support;
(3) Plan the project through community meetings and forums;
(4) Organize volunteer weekend workdays, and assist the volunteer associations;
(5) Evaluate the programs through community surveys.
AMURT’s community participation strategy follows a five-tier model:
First Level: Information Sharing
Inform the affected communities of the different aspects of the development project, and begin a process of decision-making and public involvement.
Second Level: Consultation
Consult with local community members on key issues, and seek vital feedback.
Third Level: Decision-Making
Involve people in the design and implementation of the project through regular and well-publicized design workshops, visioning sessions, and community meetings, mediating and nurturing a dynamic community participation and support.
Fourth Level: Initiating Action
Encourage people in the different communities to organize themselves to take action and form steering committees, inter-village forums, and cooperative management groups and study sessions.
Fifth Level: Evaluation
Involve the communities in evaluating the projects, seeking the best possible solutions and corrections of existing problems.
|
|
|
