From July 04, IC is implementing a coaching and facilitation support to the projects under the mandated programme of the SDC. The mandate is based on four objectives, which are as follows:

1 To contribute to operationalizing the Human and Institutional Development Strategy in the NRM programme.
2 To promote NRM technical competences and develop technical capacities at various levels in NWFP (e.g. PTD, FFS…)
3 To support SDC in maintaining coherence within the CP as well as the positive effects of inter-sector synergies; facilitate and develop transversal priorities within the projects.
4 To contribute to Policy Dialogue in NRM with NWFP Government and Donor agencies.

IC has initiated efforts to consolidate its on going projects with an aim to extract most relevant elements for the future livelihood programme of SDC. This is in line with the change process that SDC and IC are jointly pursuing towards dissolving project boundaries in favour of one Livelihood Programme under IC umbrella (to be initiated in Jan-2008). For this purpose, three IC projects namely Livelihood Improvement (PLI), Community Based Sustainable Resource Management (CBRM) and Innovation for Poverty Reduction (IPRP) will have their phases synchronized to end in December 2007 in order to become part of envisaged Livelihood Programme in the year 2008. The change process towards this programme has begun and involves number of steps. Government partners will be engaged at various levels from time to time in the process. In the subsequent year (2006-07), the change process towards ‘Livelihood Programme’ has been identified as objective 5 under the SDC mandate for IC.

These objectives were identified in a consultative manner based on a number of trends emerging within the programme over a number of years. Following are some of the highlights:

• IC is working with national and meso level NGOs. IC is also engaged in projects working with cluster organizations and local NGOs/CBOs. At the same time, IC has gathered significant experience working with government line agencies and provincial departments. Fairly modest experience has been obtained working with the private sector as well. There is a well-planned effort to enhance partners’ own capacity to acquire more responsibility over time. IC places itself in a facilitating role in this regard. This is not only true at the institutional level. IC is also taking conscious steps to change roles of the individuals. IC is working closely with the Project Coordinators in this regard.
• Another important trend is towards more participatory approaches and methodologies in agriculture extension, forestry and livestock. IC started with highly technical projects and is now promoting innovative tools and methodologies for farmers’ self-sufficiency in close collaboration with GLAs.
• SDC and IC focus on small farmers/self-operators mainly in poverty pockets (rainfed areas). In this context, several women farmers belonging to the poorest social segments of the villages have been engaged in the programme. Women represent about 40% of the staff composition at programme level in different positions including decision-making functions. This has resulted in positive impact at the field level with regard to addressing gender issues in a manner that matches cultural sensitivities and ground realities.
• Market orientation, value addition and enterprise development are systematically emerging in the programme.
• A special emphasis has been laid on the management of drylands in Pakistan as this directly overlaps with extreme poverty in these areas. IC has documented the key recommendations of the national workshop on dryland management (held June 05) and will with the support of partners take them forward with concerned departments /agencies in a structured manner.
• IC has responded to a request of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives Department for supporting them in formulating a strategic plan for effective implementation of Provincial Agriculture Policy. This support, mainly concentrated in a stakeholders’ workshop, has resulted in a greater clarity on the policy contents, a good flow of feedback on the development options and realistic strategic guidelines, which will be taken forward by the department.

In addition to its coaching and facilitation mandate and projects implementation, IC has also extended its full support to provide relief services to the affectees of the natural disasters in Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and Buner. IC supported SDC-Humanitarian Assistance rapid response team in preparing relief operations immediately following the October 2005 earthquake. Currently, IC-CBRM and IC-IPRP are engaged in extending support to earthquake affected communities in Mansehra and Shangla for livelihood rehabilitation with the additional support of SDC-HA and SDC-D respectively.