User talk:Irsp-pakistan

Integrated Regional Support Program (IRSP)
(www.irsp.org.pk)

IRSP is a multi sector development organization working on integrated development approach to bring a sustainable development in the region. IRSP was evolved from Pak-German IRDP and went through many phases of its development.

Before 1994, RDOs were continually working with Pak German IRDP Mardan for social mobilization and support of the VOs and WOs. These RDOs had close coordination with IRDP. During 1994-95, the RDOs realized the need for central coordination, managing and lobbying body of that could replace IRDP at phasing out in December 20000. The RDOs thus jointly decided to form a divisional level body to maintain the socio-economic development in the area in collaboration with Local Govt., external donors and other developmental organizations. Thus RCD was established to manage the RDOs at regional level.

The management of IRSP as an organization was formally structured to replace IRDP after its phasing out in December 2000. Since January 2001 it has been working with this structure under the governance of BoD of IRSP formed from RDOs.

IRSP Vision
IRSP's vision is to bring socio-economic development in the rural and urban communities through integrated development and participatory approaches.

RSP's Mission
IRSP endeavors to empower local communities for pursuing and attaining their own developmental goals.

Organization Structure
IRSP has a unique organizational structure in Pakistan. It has Village Organizations and Women Organizations at Grassroots level and RDO (Regional Development Organizations at Regional Level.

There is a representation from VOs and WOs in RDO. Each RDO nominates 2 members which make the BoD of IRSP.

BoD is the Governing Body of IRSP emerged from grassroots.

BoD has its Chairman who is elected for a term of 3 years. The management structure of IRSP is like other developmental Organizations. It has a Senior Management Committee comprises of Chairman BoD, Executive Director, Senior Program Manager, Program Manager and Manager Admin & Finance. Senior Management Committee is the highest decision making body of IRSP Management.

Executive Director is responsible for overall management of the Organization, who is supported by 4 sectors of organization i.e. Program, Admin & Finance, Planning Monitoring and Evaluation and Human Resources Development.

Program is Head by Senior Program Manager; Admin & Finance is headed by Manager A&F while PMER and HRD are headed by Coordinators.

Each sector has its own hierarchical structure to effectively carry out its activities.

Capacity of IRSP
Being evolved from Pak-German IRDP; IRSP has a potential experience in the field of developmental projects like livelihood, agriculture, irrigation, water supply, sanitation and good governance.

Humanitarian Sector
IRSP has it Humanitarian Section which was developed in January 2009. The humanitarian Sector was developed after IRSP management was trained on Disaster Management by Concern Worldwide and a project of Oxfam GB was launched in Mardan. Before the Humanitarian Sector in organization IRSP response to Earthquake affected area of Batagram with support on UNICEF. During the project IRSP provided relief to 2000 families in terms of Hygiene Kits, NFIs, Water & Sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion.

In August 2008 a flood hit the Peshawar city (some of the UCs). IRSP again gave response to the situation through UNICEF support and provided relief to 2000 families. During the project all the families were given awareness of Hygiene promotion. In August 2008 on request of District Govt. Mardan; IRSP gave response Bajuar and Mohmand IDPs crises in Sheikh Yasin “IDPs Camp” Mardan by providing Water & Sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion.

IRSP has now achieved excellence in WASH and livelihood of the humanitarian sectors. IRSP has completed many projects of WASH and livelihood in Mardan, Swabi, Buner and Nowshehra and extended its suport to 700,000 IDPs of the region. The interventions included FIs & NFIs distribution, provision of WASH facilities in camps, schools and host families for IDPs, installation of hand pumps, rehabilitation of gravity water supply schemes, construction of latrines, street pavement, promoting kitchen gardening through seeds and fertilizer distribution, poultry distribution, cows distribution, cash grants, farm to market roads, bridges and skill development programs.

Water & Sanitation
IRSP has a long and extensive experience in the field of Water Supply, Water Quality and Sanitation. Right from the emergence of the organization it has worked on the Water, Environment and Sanitation with support of UNICEF. In year 2000 IRSP started its work on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene promotion in the rain fed UCs of Mardan. IRSP has long experience in different approaches used for sanitation in different times like Provision of Latrine Material, BYLY (Build Your Latrine Yourself), PHAST approach and recently introduced CLTS Approach.

After Pioneering CLTS approach in Pakistan; IRSP is considered as resource organization for CLTS trainings in Pakistan & Afghanistan. IRSP has successfully built the capacity of various Organizations/TMAs in NWFP, Punjab, Sind and Baluchistan on the CLTS approach with Financial Support of WSP-SA and Water Aid Pakistan. IRSP also carried out the trainings of TEAR FUND Afghanistan on CLTS Approach. IRSP is now going to launch its mega project of “Strengthening Capacity in taking forward Community Led Total Sanitation in Pakistan & strengthening institutional mechanisms for community based water supply schemes” funded by WSP-SA (World Bank). This project will cover all provinces of Pakistan by scaling up CLTS approach and introduce innovations in sectors of Water and Sanitation.

IRSP has also played an active role in drafting the provincial sanitation policy under the National Sanitation Guidelines. IRSP has oriented 58 TMAs on the draft provincial sanitation policy. IRSP has developed its specialty in Water Quality Monitoring and now has established a Water Quality Testing Lab in TMA & RHC Takht Bhai. This water quality monitoring is used for advocacy on local and national level.

IRSP is currently developing its capacity in Solid Waste Management with the Support of Water Aid, Oxfam GB and other donors. IRSP has successfully installed an Incinerator in RHC Takht Bhai for Management of Hospital Wastes.

Hygiene Promotion
Hygiene promotion is all about changing behaviors. Despite this it is often neglected or marginalized in programs which state that they aim to improve hygiene; many these programs place much greater emphasis on the construction of hardware (often prioritizing water supply over sanitation).

IRSP has extensive experience in this sector and has developed IEC material as well as a comprehensive manual for hygiene promotion for trainings of organizations and community activists. IRSP carried out a lot of trainings of community CBOs and volunteers training in its project area. IRSP has its specialty in hygiene promotion in emergencies and carried out many campaigns and of hygiene promotion in different emergencies of Pakistan from 2005 to 2009.

Health
IRSP has also an experience in the field of Health with special focus on “Primary Health Care” and health of “Mothers & Newborns”. IRSP carried out its projects of Primary Health Care, HIV & STDs Prevention, and Health of Mother & Newborn. IRSP has completed its Primary Health Care project funded by NCHD. During this project 4 UCs of Mardan were selected for interventions. The project aimed to reduce 1. Infant Mortality by 33%Free Medical camp 2. Maternal Mortality by 25% and 3. Population Growth Rate to less than 2%

The HIV Aids projects funded by UNICEF and PNAC were completed by IRSP in Mardan district aiming to raise awareness about the HIV and other Sexual Transmitted Diseases among sex workers and general public.

IRSP is currently implementing its project of PAIMAN (Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns) in 5 UCs of Mardan. The project is aims to provide better skills for improved mother and child health care, increased awareness and facilitation of positive MNH behaviors, and improved access to MNCH facilities.

Education
IRSP has an extensive and vast experience in the fields of Education and Literacy. IRSP has launched it project of Universal Primary Education and Adult Literacy in 2002 in Mardan with support of NCHD. With successful implementation IRSP expanded the sP1020098.JPGame project in Mansehra of NWFP, Bajuar Agency of FATA and Rajanpur district of Punjab. During the 2 years time period IRSP has successfully enrolled more than 100,000 Out of School children and literate more than 5000 adults in Mardan, Mansehra, Bajuar and Rajanpur.

IRSP completed its project of “Education of Vulnerable and deprived though Cash Grants” in Mohmand Agency funded by National Education Foundation (NEF). Through this project more than 2500 children were enrolled and got more than Rs. 1 million as monthly stipend.

Political Awareness & Good Governance
IRSP is a non-political entity and became the member of “Free & Fair Election Network” in 2007. IRSP carried out its project of Voter registration, Voter Education, Election Observation and Constituency Relation Project in NA-09, NA-10, and NA-11 of Mardan and NA-36 of Mohmand Agency. During the project NADRA Mobile Registration Vans were mobilized for making CNIC of non-registered Voters and the voter registration campaign registered more than 10,000 non DSC00452.JPGregistered voters. The voters were mobilized to cast their vote as a political change in the country.

The Constituency Relation Project made active groups of the constituencies to make coordination with their Members of National Assembly and have presented their chartered of Demand of the constituency. The chartered of demand gave a vision of the constituency to the elected members. The CRP project is currently extended to 3 years in Mardan funded by The Asia Foundation.

In 2001 IRSP launched it project of “Community Information System” funded by UNICEF to ensure the good governance at Union Council level. The project covered 5 UCs of Mardan which aimed to identify and analyze the village level problems and to ensure their planning and implementation by participatory approach. As a result village development plans were prepared by the community with facilitation of IRSP that leads to the Union Council development plan. This UCDP was presented by UC Nazim in district assembly to divert a rationale flow for funds for the development of Union Council.