Grant Completion Report

(to be submitted fifteen (15) days following the last day of the Grant Period)

Report Submission

Date:

July 26th, 2016

Project title: Apna Rozgar

Grantee organization: Farmers Development Organization

Grant agreement

number:

SGAFP/2015/AF/146

Period covered by

report:

From: Dec 1st, 2015 To: May 31st, 2016

Activities Targets Achievements Variance Remarks

Orientation of AFP

Project to BOD of FDO

1 Done Nill

Formation of 03 project

committees:

03 Committees:

• Project Management

committee (PMC)

• Procurement Committee

(PC)

• Recruitment Committee

(RC)

Done Nill

Recruitment/deputation

of Project Staff

5 project staff:

• Project Coordinator (1)

• Finance Officer (1)

• M&E Officer (1)

• Field Officer (2)

Done Nill

Grant Orientation of

key project staff by

SGAFP field team

01 event Done Nill

Orientation of staff on

Project Activities,

outputs to be achieved,

project area, code of

conduct and risk

management

01 event Done Nill

Project Opening

Ceremony at Khanewal

01 event Done Nill

Procurement of

Equipment and tool

Kits

190 tool kits

• Tailoring (10)

• Embroidery (95)

• Adda Work (85)

Done Nill

Procurement of

Material for

Test/training as per

approved list

• Material Given to Trainees

for Test (Adda Work)

• Material Given to Trainees

for Test (Embroidery)

• Material Given to Trainees

for Test (Tailoring)

Done Nill

Base-line survey 01 purpose specific survey Done Nill

Hiring the services of

professional training

institute like IRM for

final selection of 190

most competent women

through test.

01 Done Nill

Identification &

Selection of

beneficiaries

190 trainees (Adda work 85,

Embroidery 95 and tailoring

10)

Done Nill

Organizing 6 days long

non-residential training

in Enterprise

Development &

Management for

women

190 participants (08 Batches) Done Nill

Developing business

plan for each trainee

190 Plans Done Nill

Awarding Course

Completion Certificate

to trainees

190 Certificates Done Nill

Distribution of Tool Kit

comprising of all items

required for initiating

business

190 Toolkits Done Nill

Formation of a

Common Interest

Group (CIG).

01 CIG Done Nill

Undertaking Monthly

monitoring by FDO’s

senior staff to the

trainees/enterprises to

assess against defined

parameters, adequate

usage of the skills

taught and tool kit

given

06 Visits Done Nill

Linking trained

workforce with “SEEP”

a social enterprise

based in Multan and to

provide business and

guidance to the trainees,

01 Linkage Done Nill

Linking trained

workforce with

Boutiques and

Garments Shops in

Khanewal.

01 event Done Nill

Organizing 02-day

Meena Bazar with the

collaboration of SEEP

01 Meena Bazar Done Nill

Arranging a Project

Closing Ceremony at

01 Event Done Nill

Khanewal

Stores of Women or

their CIG’s developed

and shared with SGAFP

50 stores

• (25 beneficiary women and

25 for CIGs)

Done Nill

End-line survey &

impact assessment

01 purpose specific survey Done Nill

External Financial

Audit

01 external financial audit Done Nill

Compliance of branding

marking strategy and

publicity plan

• 01 glass plaque

• 01 steel plaque

• 03 Banners/ Flex Skins

• 03 standees for training &

events

• 465 steel plates

Done Nill

Development of

Documentary

01 documentary of 05 minutes In Process In process and

delayed due to

unavailability

of funds.

Monitoring &

Reporting • 06 project management

meetings

• 06 project staff meetings

• 01 set of progress reports

(every month)

• 01 detailed program &

financial review

• 05 staff salary certificates

• 01 EDF

• 01 close out plan

• 01 project completion

report

• Project completion report

on SGAFP given format

prepared and submitted to

SGAFP

Done Nill

Beneficiaries

Activities Target Actual

Men Women Men Women

Shortlisting of beneficiaries for practical test

through baseline survey

0 380 0 381

Selection of Beneficiaries through practical and

theoretical test

0 190 0 190

Enterprise Development Trainings of

beneficiaries

0 190 0 190

Provision of Toolkits

• Embellished Work (95)

• Adda Work (85)

• Stitching (10)

0 190 0 190

SGAFP Fund Position Amount (PKR)

Total Project Budget 8,960,700

Amount received under this agreement

Total Expenses

Remaining Balance

Grantee’s Cost Share Position Amount (PKR)

Total agreed cost share 690,000

Total Expenses

Remaining Balance

Activities and Achievements

Describe to what extent the objectives of the agreement were accomplished: Please use additional sheets

if needed

1. Overall Progress of the Project & Impacts- support with the help of numbers, employment generated,

improvement in the status of health/education/infrastructure etc.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund

Program (SGAFP) assists innovative development initiatives falling under USAID’s priority sectors for

Pakistan aimed at improving people’s lives. The Program has two distinct components: Small Grants

Program and US Ambassador’s Fund Program.

The Ambassador's Fund Program (AFP) aims to support community developed self-help projects lasting

up to one year with grants. This component intends to facilitate the U.S. Ambassador in Pakistan to

respond to urgent community needs or opportunities that may arise in Pakistan.

Farmers Development Organization (FDO) is working in southern Punjab, through participatory

principals since December 1996, benefiting hundreds of peasants, women and general communities. The

organization has a history of designing its projects subsequent to conducting Assessments of the problems

of people. Also, the organization has the history of creating and then engaging the local volunteers in the

implementation and monitoring of the projects.

Farmers Development Organization completed the implementation of a grant based livelihood project

named “APNA ROZGAR” in collaboration with USAID under Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund

Program (SGAFP-NRSP) in District Khanewal, Punjab, Pakistan

2. Progress against each objective – please provide details on the progress against each objective

The Apna Rozgar project was a six month’s project funded by USAID under Small Grants and

Ambassador’s Fund Program implementing by Farmers Development Organization (FDO) with

facilitation of Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program (SGAFP) National Rural Support

Programme (NRSP) to improve the livelihood of 190 women belonging to 13 UCs of District Khanewal

by the following three objectives:

Objective No. 1:

Providing training in business development to those women who already stand trained in the trades of

Tailoring, Adda Work & Hand Embroidery;

Progress

Enterprises play a key role in creating productive and decent work that helps meet the economic and

social aspirations of people and their communities. Whether small, medium or large, enterprises –

including cooperatives – they are a major source of growth and employment in all countries. Enterprises

and the entrepreneurs who run them play a crucial role in creating jobs and reducing poverty.

Total eight batches of Enterprise Development Trainings on entrepreneurship comprising of 20 to 25

participants in each were organized with the following objectives:

• To improve the quality of life and empowerment of Vulnerable families by ensuring better

mobility, capacity building through that training.

• To create the economic and social opportunities through Enterprise Development Training.

• To empower the People with the help of their own business and to develop their self-confidence.

• To empower the entrepreneurs for maintaining the records of their businesses and to make it

sustainable after its incubation.

Six days long enterprise development trainings were organized for the targeted beneficiaries to achieve

the above said objectives. During the training the participants were sensitized about the entrepreneurial

skills to initiate and expand their businesses. The trainings were much productive as about 95%

participants were excitedly and actively participated in the trainings and also used their learnt skills in

their practical business field. 190 targeted beneficiaries who were finally selected for provision of

productive assets were trained in Enterprise Development Training.

The methodology of the training was participatory, Demonstration, Group work discussions, role play,

brain storming and self-reflection were used in a majority of exercises to encourage to experience,

understand and contribute towards individual as well as collective training.

Objective No. 2:

Giving them required tool kits;

Progress

Following the completion of training and provision of tool kits, FDO facilitated 190 women in

establishing their own businesses by helping them develop linkages with different social enterprises as

well as boutiques and garment shops in Multan and Khanewal. Apna Rozgar has introduced them to a

new world where just skill is not enough. They also need to have the ability to market their products so

that they can directly deal with end-users and earn maximum benefit of their hard work. It has really

transformed their life and in result they are earning a handsome amount on daily, weekly and monthly

basis that has obviously upgraded their position within the family. The productive assets/ business toolkits

were provided to the beneficiaries as per details given below:

Provision of Toolkits

Embellished Work 95

Adda Work 85

Stitching 10

95

85

10

Provision of Toolkits

Embellished Work

Adda Work

Stitching

Objective No. 3:

Creating for them opportunities for income generation

Progress:

A 2-day Meena Bazar was also organized where these women entrepreneurs set up stalls to promote and

sell their products. FDO has also brought these women together in the form of a Common Interest Group

that provides a platform to discuss ideas for innovation and work for collective interest. Also, these

women were linked with local boutiques, wholesalers and different brands to acquire the order works and

to sale their readymade products to them. This was definitely impact in growth of their businesses as

many beneficiaries got the order works during the Meena Bazar activity and in which local public also

much appreciated the work of targeted artisans.

Monthly visits by organization’s staff have also been scheduled to monitor and assess the performance of

trainees in the market.

It was only because of the commitment and unprecedented potential of these women that the USAID

Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program helped FDO to do something focused and result-oriented

for them that is bound to transform their lives. Today FDO proud of these brave women who have set

their foot on the road to entrepreneurship and empowerment, and FDO is committed to helping them

achieve a better future for themselves and their families.

Issues, Recommendations and Lessons Learnt

Major Issues Faced During the Project Implementation

Issues/problems faced Steps taken to resolve the issues

Selection of beneficiaries was delayed due to

already nominated third party (IRM) to conduct

this activity.

The matter was discussed with donor and after

discussing with management of third party the

practical test of beneficiaries was conducted for

the final selection of beneficiaries.

Process of procurement was delayed due to not

receipt of bids against tender.

The tender was re-advertised in newspaper and

potential vendors were also contacted to send the

bids against tender. Finally the three bids were

received after 2nd advertisement of tender ad.

Less participation of shortlisted beneficiaries in

practical test due to the venue in far-furlong area.

As third party was involved in selection of

beneficiaries so as per their suggestion only three

venues were selected in whole district to conduct

the practical test of beneficiaries so it resulted in

less participation of beneficiaries in said activity.

So FDO used the own vehicle for pick and drop

of beneficiaries for test and also re-conduct the

test for absent beneficiaries in first test.

Final installment was received late from donor that

resulted in late payment to the vendors.

Late receipt of final installment from donor was

resulted in late payments to all the vendors. FDO

shifted some amount from other account to

manage the funds so that project activities may

complete timely.

Lessons Learned & Recommendations

The lessons learnt during the implementation of project Apna Rozgar are as followings:

• The exposure visit of beneficiaries in markets of big cities like Lahore, Islamabad, Multan and

Karachi etc give a new mind of thought to expand their own businesses and to prepare the

products as per trend and market demand.

• Residential Enterprise Development Trainings are more productive as compared to non-

residential trainings.

• Capacity Building Training and exposure visit of project staff results in quality work and

organizing the project activities efficiently.

• Involvement of beneficiaries in procurement of business toolkits makes the process transparent

and also the quality of toolkit material as per demand of beneficiaries.

Signature of authorized

representative:

Name of authorized representative:

Pictures of Project Activities:

Project Opening Ceremony:

Enterprise Development Trainings:

Provision of Toolkits:

Meena Bazar:

Media Coverage:

Project Opening Ceremony:

Toolkits Distribution:

Meena Bazar:

https://www.facebook.com/FDO.Pakistan/videos/1024434877610559/ https://www.facebook.com/FDO.Pakistan/videos/1023555344365179/ https://www.facebook.com/FDO.Pakistan/videos/1023395471047833/

Project Closing Ceremony:

Narrative reports must contain, as a minimum:

• A comparison of actual accomplishments against planned objectives, any obstacles should be

included.

• Other information includes analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs.

• Two copies of any publications, including books, brochures, newsletters, bulletins, and single copies

of all other products such as newspaper clippings, project announcements, and audited financial

statements (if available) should be included.