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Community Coordination Initiative |
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A Coalition of Indian Muslim NGO’s Promoting Civil Society |
An introduction and Strategic Plans 2007-2008
Background:
India has long prided herself as a champion of democracy and religious-cultural pluralism. The Sachar commission has shattered the myth of Indian democracy, religious-cultural pluralism and communal harmony. Muslims, India's largest religious minority is among the most marginalized communities in India in terms of economic and educational conditions and political empowerment. "They constitute India's new underclass. Muslims are worse off than the rest of the population in respect of access to public services, literacy, education, income, social mobility and jobs”. They live in ghettos and deprived of electricity, roads, health facilities, and municipal services”. They are the target of systematic exclusion and discrimination at multiple levels and face institutionalized religious prejudice. “The Muslim community exhibits deficits and deprivation in practically all dimensions of development”, says the Sachar Commission Report.
In the last few years a new kind of awakening has started among the Muslim community. Many Muslim community leaders feel that corrective policies and programs must be undertaken the governments. But, more and more Muslim community activists strongly feel that, Muslim themselves have to take the destiny in their own hands. They feel that the community has to shift its discourse from cultural identity, communalism and security to development and empowerment.
Many Muslims stress the need for steps to be taken jointly by the community organizations, government agencies and civil society NGOs to promote inter-community interests. There is a strong feeling to focus on the social, economic and educational problems of the community. There is a need for community leaders to liaison with state agencies and access to information on various development schemes. Muslim leaders must set up more non-government agencies for community development and develop co-operative ventures with secular NGOs.
Most of the Indian Muslim NGOs (IMNGOs) are working with smaller funds raised from local community. Benefits from the existing government schemes and corporate donations haven’t reached to them. IMNGOs have not taken advantages of wealth of information, training programs, networking and partnership building. They have to pay a special attention to development of infrastructures or capacity building. There is an urgent need for IMNGOs to modify their visions, priorities and practices. They need to sharpen their skills and make better use of resources. They must network with the three major players of the civil society i.e. secular NGOs, government agencies and private sector.
Community Coordination Initiative (CCI)
Under the aegis of All India Council of Muslim Economic Upliftment (AICMEU) a one-day conference on Networking of NGOs of India was held in Mumbai in July 2003. 65 Muslim NGO representatives from the 14 states attended it. One of the major decisions taken at the consultation was to pay attention to the urgent need for coordination of IMNGOs. Hence CCI.
CCI was established and registered in 2005 by 10 founding NGOs representing diverse regional and sectoral interests. Founding members constitute a board of directors. Seed money is contributed by the founding member NGOs. Currently CCI office is operated from the AICMEU, one of the lead and founding member NGO with head office in Mumbai. AICMEU is also providing logistical support to CCI. Dr. Rahmatullah, the President and Dr. Zaki Kirmani is the Secretary General and Hameed Shaikh, the Director Planning and Programmes It is expected that an office with an administrative staff will help in accelerating CCI activities in 2007.
CCI Vision (draft)
“CCI, an Indian Civil Society organization is dedicated to enhancing social justice, human dignity and sustainable development for the people of India in general and marginalized people in particular irrespective of race, gender and religion. “
Mission Statement (draft)
“CCI’s mission is to improve upon the living condition of poor and marginalized people, and to act as a forum of advocacy, alliance building and coordination of Muslim NGO’s engaged in community development and volunteerism.”
Strategic Plans for 2007-2008
Following goals are established for the following year which will focus on the development of basic services and infrastructure development of CCI with the assistance from Indian and international NGOs, funding agencies and civil society practioners.
Goal # 1: Develop a resource database and undertake a needs assessment survey on Indian Muslim NGOs to transform them into civil society organizations
Objectives:
Create a comprehensive Indian Muslim NGO (IMNGO) database
Undertake a needs assessment survey with the goal to transform IMNGOs into civil society organizations and enhance their capacity building
Collect data on secular NGOs interested in partnering with IMNGOs
Goal # 2: Organize capacity building training for Indian Muslim NGOs
Objectives:
Enable Indian Muslim NGOs (IMNGOs) to discover strengths and limitations.
Building overall organizational capacity in organizational development, asset/resource development, community linkages as networking, partnership and Programs and activities.
Facilitate a process of empowerment, to be innovative, imaginative, to dream and to be able to fulfill dreams.
Goal # 3:Micro credit financing and entrepreneurship development
Objectives:
To provide orientation, training and network to the IMNGOS on micro credit financing and entrepreneurship development
To share successful and effective NGO micro credit financing and entrepreneurship development experiences and approach with the NGOs with respect to its replicability
To encourage future growth for micro credit financing and entrepreneurship development and greater involvement of IMNGOs
To help establish a Multi State Credit Society for furthering the cause of Micro Finance among Muslims in India.
Goal # 4: Publication of e-newsletter
Objectives:
Publish a quarterly e-newsletter covering major developments and issues in the field of community and volunteer development, NGOs and government programs and policies.
Create an e-newsletter to stay in regular touch with people who subscribe to CCI objectives
If required, make print copies and mail to interested parties.
Increase the frequency to monthly publication as soon as possible
Collect e-mail addresses to collect contact information and database.
Goal # 5: Development of CCI web-site
Objectives:
Encourage community participation and engagement
Attract attention of a large number of internet surfers
Provide discussion forums, collaborative work groups, shared document archives, and public advocacy on related issues
Encourage subscription to contact information and database.
Develop Social networks
Encourage reader interaction
Anticipated Results:
CCI’s focus is to build organizational capacities of Muslim NGOs, support alliance building and coordination of Muslim NGO’s engaged in community development. As a result CCI would be able to achieve the following results:
An enabling environment for IMNGO activities empowered the Muslim community and participate in the development of Indian Civil Society will increase many fold.
Promotion and facilitated co-ordination, collaboration and co-operation between the Indian NGO community, the Indian government, donor community and businesses are expected to grow from 0 to 400 t- 500%.
Goals once accomplished will result into advancing the standing of Muslim NGOs as competent, professional and effective change agents of community development.
IMNGO leaders started thinking and acting as social entrepreneurs.
IMNGOs are playing an important role in bringing together people of different communities to work on economic and educational development and empowerment through micro-credit and entrepreneurship programs.
Mobilization and organization of the poor by IMNGOs empowered them, and transform the poorest strata of society from passive recipients of charities and welfare to active participants of planned development.
Initiatives:
Although CCI was registered in late 2005, due to lack of staff and office facilities combined with nation wide spread of its founding members, planning has taken nearly 10 months.
A 3 year Strategic Planning was initiated in June and approved in December 2006.
Establishment of partnership was initiated and CCI representatives met with Dr. Rajesh Tandon, President-PRIA, Mr. Pooran Chandra Pandey, CEO-Voluntary Action Network India (VANI), New Delhi and Mr. Nicholas McKinlay-CEO, Aga Khan Foundation. The meeting was held in November 13-14, 2006.
Mr. Hameed Shaikh and Dr. Zaki Kirmani participated in the International on Civil Society, Security and Aid in India, jointly sponsored by VANI and London School of Economics, held on December 1, 2006 in New Delhi.
CCI was invited by VANI to meet with the Prime Minster for support to advocate against the changes extended for FCRA 2006. Dr. Zaki Kirmani will represent CCI or Indian Muslim NGO interests.
1,1oo NGO and 3,250 individual addresses were added to the data being developed as a part of alliance building and advocacy.
Four members of CCI will attend the annual conference of Sa-Dhan, an association of Community Development Finance Instition, to be held in New Delhi on January 17-18, 2007. It will help CCI in interfacing Muslim micro-financing agencies with the mainstream financial institutions.
The first NGO Capacity Building workshop is planned for late February/early March 2007 in New Delhi. The workshop will also discuss Muslim NGO intervention and Sachar Commission Report and the 15 point progamme for the Welfare of Minorities.
Partner agencies:
1. All India Council of Muslim Economic Upliftment (AICMEU), Mumbai
As a parent organization ACMEU is offering logistical support, initial financial and staff assistance in getting CCI off the ground.
2. Indian Muslim Relief and Charities (IMRC) USA
IMRC is the biggest and the most prominent agency of Indian Muslims residing in the USA, Canada and Britain. In principle IMRC will become a major partner of CCI in offering services to IMNGOs on a long term basis. IMRC is expected to make a major contribution in making CCI the IMNGO coalition.
3. International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF), Toronto
IDRF has made a commitment to become partner by sending a volunteer from Toronto to participate in the Strategic Planning Consultation in June 2005. IDRF will be jointly submitting project proposal for funding from CIDA.
4. PRIA, New Delhi
PRIA would be assisting in the organization of the first consultation, and the development of a Think Tank. PRIYA will also assist in the development of projects and Capacity Building Training Seminars.
5. Voluntary Action Network India (VANI), New Delhi
VANI is the National federation of Indian NGOs. CCI has become an active part of the VANI and looking forward to many joint ventures in the empowerment of IMNGOs.