2nd National Convention of Federations of Community Organisations | 11th -12th December 2009 – Marriott Hotel, Islamabad The Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN) organised a two-day “2nd National Convention of Federations of Community Organisations” on the 11-12th of December 2009 in Marriott Hotel, Islamabad. The event was to highlight the successes and achievements of federated Village Organisations and Union Council-level Local Support Organisations (LSOs) fostered by the Rural Support Programmes (RSPs) across Pakistan. The event was supported by the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID). Representatives of these Federations presented their achievements in areas such as supporting IDPs and promoting peace and security, poverty targeting, women’s empowerment, resource mobilisation, development of children and developing linkages with government eg for social protection programmes such as the BISP. The Convention was attended by over 300 participants, with 200 participants coming from rural communities all across Pakistan; from districts such as Kohat, Multan, Tharparkar, Ganche, Skardu, Ghizer, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Haripur, Khanewal, Mastung, Turbat, Karak, Chakwal, Mianwali, Sialkot, Gujrat, Mardan, Swabi, Attock, Malakand, Gwadar, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rawalpindi, Kashmore, Jhelum, and Chitral. Representatives from the Federal Government, Provincial Governments, international organisations and donors participated in the Convention. Mr. Muhammad Ismail Qureshi, Secretary Establishment Federal Government of Pakistan kindly agreed to be the Chief Guest at the inauguration of the Convention. After watching the LSO Danyore (Gilgit) documentary and listening to nine presentations by LSO representatives, the Chief Guest said that the government was taking actions to tackle rising poverty rates in the country and highlighted the launching of the largest social protection programme, i.e. the Benazir Income Support Programme and its use of the Poverty Scorecard in identifying the poorest. The Scorecard is being used independently by many LSOs who have tracked poverty changes in their villages. The Chief Guest also appreciated the work of RSPN and the RSPs in helping to alleviate rural poverty, particularly regarding their work in social mobilisation across the country. He noted that there was immense potential for people’s own organisations (such as those community organisations and its Federations attending the Convention) to play a greater role in their own development through working with various stakeholders; including government, civil society and the market. Chief Guest highlighted the need of developing partnerships between government and RSPs, for it is only with government support that poverty can be reduced. Finally, the Chief Guest appreciated RSPN’s initiative of holding annual Convention of Federations of Community Organisations. Dec 11, 2009
Dec 12, 2009 |
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