Inclusion of Persons with Disability in Microfinance Programmes

FINAL REPORT

INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY IN MICROFINANCE PROGRAMMES

INITIATIVE OF HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL, GUJARAT2006-2008

AN EVALUATION

Tara Sinha

Ahmedabad

August 2009

INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY IN MICROFINANCE PROGRAMMES

AN EVALUATION

INTRODUCTION

Microfinance is viewed as a successful strategy for economic betterment of poor families. However, worldwide,there are very few examples of the participation of PWDs in microfinance programmes.[1] In mid-2006, Handicapped International (HI)Gujarat started an initiative aimed at including persons with disability (PwDs) into existing microfinance programmes. The initiative continued till November 2008.

This report presents an evaluation of this initiative and is based on field visits to the implementing partner NGOs and secondary material provided by partner organizations and HI on the initiative. In the course of the initiative HI partnered with five non-government organizations that had ongoing microfinance programmes. Two of the five NGOs dropped out of the initiative due to their internal organizational issues. This evaluation focuses on the three NGOs that remained with the initiative till the end in November 2008.

This report is structured as follows. We first discuss the background of the initiative. This is followed by a section on the activities carried out by HI under the project during the three years. The subsequent section discusses the activities carried out by the partner organizations. We follow this section with a discussion on the achievements of the initiative, and the challenges faced. The final section of the report presents an assessmentof the initiative in terms of the goals and objectives of the initiative.

BACKGROUND

Based on initial investigations, HI Gujarat found that there was minimal microfinance (MF) activity among PwDs. There were a few groups of PwDs in South India that were engaged in MF, but these were groups made up exclusively of PwDs. They were unable to find a good model where PwDs had been included with non-PwDs in a MF programme. In keeping with its goal of inclusionPwDs, HIGujarat was interested in developing a model of MF which included both PwDs and non-PwDs.

The larger goal of the HI initiative in Gujarat was to create a model for integrating PwDs into microfinance programmes which could be used for policy advocacy. To achieve this goal, the initiative had the objective of supporting existing microfinance programmes to include PwDs in their ongoing programmes.

The inclusion of PWDs in microfinance (MF) was expected to increase their access to savings and credit services. In addition, it was expected that this initiative would create a better understanding about PWDs among the partner organizations. This in turn was expected to encourage partner NGOs to include PwDs not only in MF but also in there other programmes. Finally, this initiative would also strengthen the understanding about MF at HI and other disability related actors.

For this initiative, HI wanted to explore how inclusion could work under different settings. Itmet with several organizations engaged in MF to identify partners for the project. Finally it selected two NGOs working in rural areas and two working in urban areas. Further, two of the four NGOs followed the self-help group model of microfinance, while the other two did individual lending.

The initiative was carried out in three phases: i) August – December 2006, ii) April – December 2007 and iii) February – November 2008. At the end of the first phase, one of the NGOs (Baroda Citizen’s Council) exited from the initiative. Another NGO, Lok Vikas Nidhi (VIKAS) was added in phase two. At the end of phase II, ASAG, a partner NGO working in rural areas of Ahmedabaddistrict left the initiative due to internal organizational problems. In the third phase therefore, there were three partner NGOs, Gram Vikas Sewa Trust-Sabarkantha (GVST), SAATH Charitable Trust, Ahmedabad (SAATH) and VIKAS Centre for Development, Vadodara (VIKAS). The first organisation works in rural areas (Sabarkantha district, Gujarat), and the other two are working in urban areas (Ahmedabad and Vadodara city respectively).

HI and the partners agreed that the latter should not start a new set of activities for disabled persons, but should try and integrate them into their existing programmes as much as possible. While the primary objective was to include PwDs into the partner’s MF programme, HI also hoped that the partners increased awareness about this group of persons would encourage them to include them in other activities as well. It was also hoped that the partners’ activities around PWDs should be able to continue in the long term in a sustainable manner.

HI made it clear to the partners that the objective was to develop an inclusive model – they should therefore not change any of the rules for the MF programme to accommodate PwDs.

HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL’S ACTIVITIES

HI’s Activities – Phase I

Identifying partners: In the first quarter of 2006, before the start of the initiative, HI Gujarat met with several NGOs engaged in microfinance to better understand their programmes and to identify three or four partner NGOs for the initiative.HI decided to support this initiative in the Public Health Project Districts[2] because it was familiar with these areas and with the NGOs working in these districts. The selected partners had to have microfinance as one of their core competencies, be professionally managed and adequately staffed. HI also ensured that the selected partner had credibility in the communities it worked in.

Orientating partners to issues around disability:HI conducted a three-day residential Training of Trainers in September 2006 to orient the partners on disability issues and help them make their action plans for including PwDs in MF.

Holding coordination meetings: Early in this phase, HI made field visits to the partner organizations as and when needed.Three coordination meetings were held between September and December 2006where all the partners met together and exchanged their experiences. Later HI started organizing these coordination meetingsin rotation in office/field areas of different partner organizations. These meetings also provided an opportunity for inter-organizational learning and experience-sharing.

Providing technical support: HI provided technical support to the partners on an ongoing basis.

Developing monitoring indicators: HI developed a set of monitoring indicators to be used internally and by the partners for measuring the progress on the initiative.

HI’s Activities – Phase II

The emphasis in this phase was on i) retention of PwDs who had been integrated into the initiative in the first phase, ii) identification of new members and iii) further integrating PwDs into MF programmes.

Orientating partners to issues around disability: HI conducted a three-day residential Disability orientation and sensitization workshop in April 2007 in Gandhinagar toorient the partners on disability issues and help them make their action plans for including PwDs in MF. This training included new partner organisation (VIKAS) and new team members of existing partner organisations (SAATH, ASAG, GVST). The workshop aimed to promote a human-rights approach towards integrating disability into all development activities.

Disability and Rehabilitation workshop: As part of its capacity building activities, HI conducted a two-day rehabilitation workshop in May 2007. This was a need-based training for the partners to help them integrate PwDs into the MF programmes. It aimed at helping participants make early identification of PwDs and refer them to the appropriate agencies. HI also conducted a one-day workshopon the subject for group leaders and active membersof SHGs promoted by GVST at their request. The training included both PwDs and non-PwDs.

Exposure visit: In November 2007, team members from HI and the partner NGOs went for an exposure visit to People’s Education and Development Organisation, an organization doing MF in Mada, Dungarpur, Rajasthan.

Setting up Coordination Committee: A coordination committee with project leaders from HI and the four partner organizations was set up.The coordination committee was responsible for steering the MF initiative and guiding the activities of the partner organization. The committee also developed indicators to measure progress of the initiative.

Providing material to partner organizations: HI provided material on disability to the partners to help them in their task of mainstreaming PwDs and integrating them into their MF activities. These included audio-visual material, posters, stickers, leaflets and resource directory on organizations working with PwDs in the different areas.

Advocacy: HI invited the partners and PwDs from their field areas to participate in a number of events to promote the cause of the disabled. These included advocacy workshops at the district and state levels, state level convention for PwDs, and celebration of World Disability Day.

Monitoring Visits: HI visited the partner organizations during this phase to understand how the work was taking shape on the ground. Discussion during these visits included reviewing past activities and planning for those to come.

HI’s Activities – Phase III

Support to partner organizations: In the third phase, HI continued supporting the partners as and when needed.

Review Meetings: HI held four review meetings in 2008. The first meeting was held at HI’s office in Ahmedabad. The other three meetings were hosted by each of the three partners, viz., GVST, VIKAS and SAATH in their respective offices. Each of these meetings was followed by a visit to the NGO’s field area.

Exposure visit to Bangalore: HI organized a training and exposure visit for the partners to some organizations in Bangalore working with PwDs. The objective of the visit was to learn how PwDs can be involved in income generation activities in rural and urban areas. The field visit was preceded by two-day training on “disability and livelihoods”. Experts from on the issue of livelihood opportunities/options for PwDs were resource persons at the workshop. The focus was on formal and non-formal employment opportunities. The partners visited Mobility India, TrimurtiRuralDevelopmentCenter and Grameen Adhyodaya Seva Sansthan.

PARTNER’S ACTIVITIES

Partners’ ActivitiesPhase I: August – December 2006

The partners’ activities in the first phase focused on identifying PwDs in their project areas and spreading awareness in the community around issues of disability. They also attempted to link PwDs with their microfinance programmes and provide them with relevant trainings.

Identifying PWDs in project areas: The partner NGOs identified PWDs in their project areas and short-listed those that were eligible for joining the MF programmes.

Training NGO staff on disability: The staff of the partner NGOs which had attended the TOT on disabilityheld training sessions with other staff members in their organization. The various categories of persons who worked in close contact with the community such as aaganwadi workers and health link workers were oriented to issues around disability. This orientation helped them identify PwDs in their work areas and also facilitate their access to schemes and services.

Awareness-raising in the community:The partner NGOs also held awareness raising meetings with members of the community in the project areas. The partner NGOs used a variety of methods for this purpose. For example, SAATH staff members conducted home visits, street meetings, and focus group discussions to orient the community about disability. GVST held 11 meetings which included panchayat members, teachers, village leaders, SHG members and PwDs.

Certification and other benefits: Once the NGOs started working with PwDs, there was a demand from them for other basic types of services. For example, families wanted help in getting PwD certificates, or referral services for treatment of the disability.

Public awareness programmes: The partner NGOs participated in various activities like the India Social Forum in New Delhi in November 2006, the state convention of PwDs on December 1 and 2, 2006 at Koba, Gandhinagar and World Disability Day on December 3, 2006.

Exposure visits: SAATH organized an exposure visit to Akshardham, Gandhinagar, in which 28 PwDs participated.

Film on disability: SAATH produced a film on disabilitythrough its community video unit, which it used in its orientation programmes.

Integration in MF programme: The partner NGOs had ongoing MF programmes and existing savings and credit groups. Where possible, PwDs were enrolled as members in existing groups. More commonly, however, the partners promoted new groups and ensured that these included PwDs. Where the PwD was a child, they included the parent of the PwD.

Table 1: Partners’ Activities Phase I

ASAG
rural / BCC@
urban / GVST
rural / SAATH
urban
D & D TOT participants / 7 / 4 / 4 / 3
Area of work / 4 villages;
2 talukas / 3 slums / 22 villages; 1 taluka / 7 slums
Method to identify PWDs / Home visits
PRA /

• Survey
• Home visits
• Group meetings
• Focus Group Discussions

/

• Survey
• Home visits
• Group meetings
• Focus Group Discussions

/

• Survey
• Home visits
• Group meetings
• Focus Group Discussions

No. of PwDs identified / 108 / 87 / 192 / 45 earlier;
55 now
No. of awareness raising sessions / 12 / 1
(Health Mela) / 11
(676 persons, 177 PwDs) / 8
No. of PWDs helped with certificates / 25 / N/A / N/A / N/A
Other activities / PwDs participated in Indian Social Forum;
state level convention / N/A / N/A / Film;
Camp with 28 PWDs
No. of PwDs integrated into MF / 60 / 50 / 192 / N/A
No. of SHGs formed with PwDs / N/A / N/A / 34 / N/A

@ Exited after Phase I

N/A – Data not available

Partners’ Activities Phase II: April – December 2007

They trained their existing field staff in other programmes such as the link workers in the health programme and the aanganwadi teachers workers in disability issues so that they could help identify PwDs as they went about their work in the communities.

Training NGO staff on disability: This activity started in Phase I continued in Phase II. This training was especially important in the case of VIKAS, which joined the project in this phase. It was also useful for GVST because there was high employee turnover, and the new staff had to be trained for this initiative.

Awareness raising in the community: Partners continued with awareness raising meetings in the community. Most of them used community meetings for the purpose. SAATH also held video shows, PRAs and FGDs. GVST held eight awareness raising meetings for the members and leaders of the newly formed SHGs that included PwDs. GVST also held meetings to give information in the community about government schemes.

Trainings for PwDs :VIKAS especially conducted several different types of skill development trainings for Income Generation Activities (IGA) for PwDs.

Certification and other benefits: The partner NGOs helped PwDs get disability certificates. The partners also referred PwDs to organizations like the Blind Persons’ Association and V-one society for getting aids and appliances.

Integration Activities:SAATH organized a Garba programmeat the Vasna ward URC for the community including PwDs.

Public awareness and Advocacy: PwDs identified by the partners participated in activities of HI, BPA and Disability Advocacy Group. SAATH celebrated World Disability Week from December 3-8, 2007, and organized activities like Mehndi application and drawing. Around 30 PwDs participated in each ward.

Integration in MF programme: In this phase PwDs were integrated into savings and credit programmes, and they started saving and taking loans. The reasons for taking loans included social occasions, health expenditures, house repairs, purchase of food grains, enterprise start up or expansion.

Livelihood programmes: SAATH linked some of the PwDs in its area to UMEED, a livelihood training programme for youth.

Skill development trainings: GVST and VIKAS conducted skill development trainings for PwDs and other SHG members.

.

Table 2: Partners’ Activities Phase II

ASAG@
rural / GVST
rural / SAATH
urban / VIKAS
urban
Area of work / 9 villages
1 taluka / 22 old +3 new
villages / 4 wards / 21 slums
No. of PwDs identified / 101 / 260 / 546 / 135
No. of awareness- raising meetings / 9 / 25
(926 persons) / 13
(469 persons) / 14
(343 persons)
No. of meetings about govt. schemes/bank linkage / 8
(248 persons) / 5
Celebration of World Disability Day / 115 persons including PwDs
No. of Exposure visits / 3
No. of PwDs helped with certificates / 170 / Information not available / 72
No. of PwDs referred to BPA / 3
No. of PwDs linked to livelihood programmes / 6
No. of Skill development trainings / 2
85 persons including PwDs / 2
No. of leadership and communication trainings / 3
(97 persons)
No. of trainings for PWDs and family / 5
86 persons
No. of SHGs organized / 9 / 40 / Individual savings
No. of PwDs integrated into MF / 54 / 214 / 103 / 35
No. of MF leadership training / 4 (79 persons)
No. of MF secretary training / 3 (34 persons)
No. of PwDs in MF leadership position / 50 / 8
No. of PwDs saving / 109
No. of PwDs taking loans / Not monitored / 5
(Rs. 1000-20,000) / 17
(Total of Rs. 71,000) / 35
(Rs. 1000-10,000)

@ Exited after Phase II

Cells are blank where the activities are not carried out

Partners’ Activities Phase III:February – November 2008

In the third phase, the partners’ activities evolved beyond awareness raising and integrating PwDs into microfinance programmes.

Awareness raising in the community: VIKAS organized two workshops to provide in-depth information to PwDs and their families about disability.They were given information about various government schemes. GVST held five workshops in 2008 on awareness-raising. These meetings included village leaders and members and leaders of the village panchayat.

Advocacy Group: GVST tried to set up a disability advocacy group and had a meeting attended by 97 persons. Unfortunately the group did not take off.

Help-Desks: VIKAS set up four help desks in four different neighbourhoods to provide information to PwDs and their families. Resource materials were made available at each of these centers

Survey of PwDs: VIKAS carried out a survey of PwDs in Vadodara’s slums. The survey found that a majority of PwDs did not have certificates of disability. The most common disability is locomotor (67%) followed by mental retardation (12%). The survey provided some basic understanding to VIKAS about the PwDs in their field area.

Health Camp: VIKAS organized a health camp in which both PwDs and others participated.