NRSP occasionally produces action-research publications which describe innovations or assess the impact of an intervention. Some recent examples are described here briefly. Link are provided to the full texts.

The MER sector wrote and produced a video documentary on the karez in Balochistan. The latter was presented to the Asian Development Bank and was shown in the ADB booth at the South Asia Regional Water conference in Dhaka in November 2002. The full study was presented at the Asian Development Bank’s ‘Water and Poverty’ session at the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto in March 2003.

Network Study

This study was commissioned by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) based in Kathmandu, Nepal. It documents a unique model of social capital development in the form of Local Networks. These Networks have evolved from the Community Organizations (COs) fostered by Pakistan’s largest NGO, the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) in the last 6-8 years in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The Networks are excellent examples of communities joining forces with each other to address development issues. The case study examines (1) the socio-political characteristics of these mountain communities in relation to Network formation and operation (2) the role of NRSP in enabling these Networks to function effectively (3) the degree to which the Networks are able to accomplish their goals (4) the degree to which the Networks have been successful (5) the reasons for the Networks’ success or relative lack of success and (6) the degree to which their work has an effect on the poverty-alleviation and ‘development’ policies of the Government of AJK.

The basic ingredients of a successful network formation strategy are (1) inter-dependent mountain communities (2) the National Rural Support Programme, which has lengthy experience in participatory development in mountainous areas (3) mature and effective Community Organisations (4) dedicated and skilled activists and (5) human and financial resources from governments, donors and other sources.

The Study argues that the Networks function as a form of ‘social capital’, empowering community members to become involved in resource allocation and decision-making.

Link to full text