Akshara network

infobox software
name = Akshara Network


caption = Akshara Network's logo
website = http://www.aksharakriti.org/

Akshara Network (known as Akshara or Akshara Network for Development Support Services) is a not-for-profit development support organization working in India, is initiated by practicing development management professionals to fulfill the need for affordable and timely professional support to individuals and organizations in livelihoods [livelihoods means how people make their living in addition to the needs to have reliable sources of food, income, and employment.] development sector.

Akshara has contributed to the development sector the LEAP Process which is a methodical and complete process for development project evaluations and the Livelihood Framework that explains how development process must function in order to succeed.

Akshara's head quarters is located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh India, but operates through out India.

Mission

To promote, support, sustain and offer appropriate support services to development organizations/ groups/individuals and government organizations for the purpose of contributing to professionalism in the development sector, integrated human development and ecological integrity/security.

Core Philosophy

Application of management concepts, tools and techniques to development in general and Livelihoods Enhancement for the Poor, in particular and working towards Livelihoods Management as an independent discipline.

Focus & Values

Our focus and Values can best be summarized as follows:

Organization

Composed of Four Units

*Akshara Gurukulam is a school that offers various programs on Livelihoods Management. It aims at sourcing, creating, nurturing and developing the development management professionals with clear bias towards the poor to improve their livelihoods and livelihoods options. The curriculum comprises classroom segment + field work.

*Akshara Livelihoods Private Limited is a Consulting arm of Akshara Network. Its consulting focus areas include Visioning, Strategic Planning, Project Design for Poverty Reduction and Livelihoods Enhancements Projects, Custom-made trainings, Module Development, Handholding Support, etc.

*Akshara Jobs focus is to offer job/employment to rural youth by linking up with various employment opportunities. This happens by matching employers' job specifications and the individual's capabilities, skill -building for the individual where required, matching employer’s need with individuals’ collective/ organization etc.

*Akshara Books is a new initiative with focus on Livelihoods Framework, livelihoods concepts and trends, application of management concepts in livelihoods and poverty reduction efforts.

Mentoring and Facilitating Roles

*Akshara Sakthi is a campaign to mobilize livelihoods volunteer force comprising various individuals and organizations into livelihoods management agenda to contribute towards enhancing the livelihoods of the poor in their own way. Currently 1000 volunteers are part of Akshara Sakthi.

*Chelama LPC (Livelihoods Professionals Collective) provides a platform for solidarity, security and learning for the livelihoods professionals/workers. This organisation offers services like savings, mutual aid, e-mail, web space, refresher trainings and sourcing work for professionals etc.

*Endogenous Tourism at Pochampally in partnership with GOI, UNDP, Andhra Pradesh Tourism and Nalgonda District Administration. As a software implementing partner Akshara is promoting weaving and tourism based livelihoods. Chenetha Gurukulam is also coming up.

*Community Livelihoods Facilitators Forum is an organisation of community level animators with livelihoods facilitation/support skills in general and at the grassroots level in particular. The Community Livelihoods Facilitators (CLFs) offer livelihood support services to required programs/organizations.

*Magazines - Jeevanopadulu (Telugu) / Livelihoods (English) - is aimed to fulfill the need for authentic knowledge, inputs and updates in livelihoods domain in particular and development sector in general. The magazine features case studies, livelihoods concepts, issues, options, interventions, current/changing trends and impact on livelihoods, interviews from social entrepreneurs, activists, career options etc

*Livelihoods Support Organizations (LSOs) receive visioning, institution building, strategic planning, capacity building, project evaluation and monitoring and other mentoring support from Akshara Mentors. LSO franchisee arrangements are supported. LSO networks with shared livelihoods vision are facilitated. Of the 10 LSOs that received support three became self-reliant.

*Field Projects/Partnerships are established with community based organizations (CBOs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and PRIs for experimentation, shared learning and praxis.

Livelihood Framework

Akshara Network interventions focus on improving the livelihoods of the poor by increasing their stock of and access to Six Capitals natural, physical, social, human, financial and spiritual and by bringing appropriate changes in the Four Contexts ecological, techno-economic, distribution, and income-expenditure pattern that result in Four Arrows- Increased income, Decreased expenditure (cost, time, energy), Increased Employment and Opportunities, Decreased/ diversified risk(s). [ [http://www.aksharakriti.org/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_download/gid,17/Itemid,31] Livelihoods Framework detailed report(pdf)]

LEAP Process

Livelihoods Enhancement Action Plan (LEAP)A livelihoods intervention must be based on the appreciation of the current reality with respect to the four arrows, six capitals and four contexts of the households, the community, village and surrounding areas. This needs to be done in a participatory manner so that the assessment, analysis and planning is done by the villagers. The process also should lead to the identification of the knowledge/skill/resources that are outside the community and need to be explored further. Where required, the process should also lead to the identification of the community organization required. To achieve this, the first step in the LEAP processes is general discussion with the community about the existing socioeconomic and physical environment of a village. This also includes a transect walk and appreciating the techno-economic context, including the markets and their access. For deeper understanding of the available assets and resources of the community, the following participatory exercises (often called LEAP tools) are used:Social map, Livelihoods analysis and prioritization, Resource map, Value-chain analysis, Traded-in & traded-out, Income & Expenditure pattern

In addition to the above, farming systems analysis, local market analysis, analysis of emerging opportunity in wider markets, institutional analysis, etc., are also undertaken.

The analysis would point to various gaps and opportunities, which would have to be prioritized for further study. The interventions would then be a set of simultaneous, supplementary and complementary interventions at individual, household, sub-habitation, habitation, supra-habitation, cluster or policy level. The institutional arrangements for the interventions need to be worked out and the acquisition of resources planned. Resource may be required even at the planning stage and a case may have to be made to acquire the same. Of particular importance would be the access to technical and professionalservices during the planning stage, to make the process truly community driven. The emphasis needs to be on process and building the capacities of the target communities. Moreover, the processes need to build an environment congenial for cooperation between the target community with those others present in the village and around.

Among LEAP tools, resource map, traded-in & traded-out, value-chain analysis, livelihoods analysis and farming systems analysis can provide insights into the natural capital and the environmental and ecological context.

Activities So Far

* Working with National Organizations such as World Bank and CARE India [ [http://www.careindia.org] Care India web site]

* Working with 100 organizations - CBOs, PRIs, Development Organizations, Donors, Govt Organizations/Projects throughout 12 states
* Inducted over 10000 + individuals (professionals, community leaders, resource persons) into Livelihoods Thought
* Outreach of influence 20 + million poor families though support of various projects

Visioning

Akshara helps organizations to develop visions and their long-term future plans. The organizations supported range from CBOs, NGOs, Networks of NGOs, organizations implementing large Government projects and movements. Akshara has also visioning for Lok Satta.

Project Design for Poverty Reduction Projects

Akshara provides support for multi-lateral and bi-lateral large scale poverty reduction and livelihoods projects including design and preparation of project implementation plans. Support so far includes projects in 7 states (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan) and inducting key staff into the project process in these projects.

Project Design for Livelihood Support Projects

This includes support for MP Local Area Development Schemes, Watershed Development Projects, multi sectoral Drought Proofing Projects, Artisanal Clusters Development Programs, district level livelihoods plans, livelihoods scoping, support for collectives in various sub-sectors/livelihoods etc.

Long Term Support

SERP (Velugu) - Managing Livelihoods Framework and 12 Billion Rupee Community Investment FundUNIFEM-WEEM-IGK, UNDP-ETP, IWMI-Water Sector Analysis in Andhra Pradesh - Handholding SupportHelpAge India [ [http://www.helpageindia.org] HelpAge India website] Tsunami Project for Elders developing institutional networks for the care of the elderlyShristi Baitharini river-basin project understanding and supporting livelihoods around river-basinLivelihoods and NRM support consortium of APRLP MemberNREGA-APREGS Technical support partnershipPRIs, CBOs, field partner NGOs, etc.. Long term partnerships

Consulting

Country Report (with IIMA) Changing Business Environment and Dairy Cooperatives in IndiaMonitoring/Evaluation/Impact Assessment of livelihoods, watersheds, micro-finance, micro-enterprise,tsunami and migration projects; and social assessmentLivelihoods Assessment and Scoping, LEAPs, Value-chain Analyses and Sub-sector AnalysesParticipatory Poverty Analysis contribution to World Development Report 2000/01 [ [http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.worldbank.org%2FWBSITE%2FEXTERNAL%2FTOPICS%2FEXTPOVERTY%2F0%2C%2CcontentMDK%3A20194762~pagePK%3A148956~piPK%3A216618~theSitePK%3A336992%2C00.html&ei=W8pXR-mTM6DqsgKjzNH4CA&usg=AFQjCNHITp_hb0AeaGoOAL1vvwd8PwXghw&sig2=gf4ay4wvlvHrkpPq1sytFw] World Development Report 2000/2001]

Trainings and Module Development

Modules in various aspects of livelihoods including institutions, marketing, micro-credit planning, subsectors,value-chains etc., and trainingTraining in applying management concept to livelihoods and development domainLivelihoods learning programs for community coordinators, livelihoods associates, project managers,resource persons, NGO leaders, community facilitators and community leadersFoundation programs in livelihoods analysis, planning, tools and interventions; Sector/sub-sector trainingTraining in Planning, Monitoring & Learning, Project Management, Enterprise Promotion etc.Training to Capacity Building Organizations of Poverty Reduction and Livelihoods ProjectsInduction to Poverty Reduction and Livelihoods Project Staff

Milestones

1998 - Akshara came into being on October 2 1998
1999 - Akshara Formally registered on March 17 1999 (Registration # 1720/99 under Public Societies’ Registration Act 1350F).
2003 - Akshara Gurukulam a development management school for enhancing the livelihoods of the poor.
2007 - Akshara Livelihoods Private Limited (ALPL) came into existence.
2007 - Akshara Jobs catering to skilled, semi-skilled but uniformed rural youth.
2007 - Chelama LPC registered.

Founder

G.Murali is an Engineer-rural management professional with 20 years of experience. Murali has worked with National Dairy Development Board, Institute of Rural Management, Anand, Girijan Cooperative Corporation, National Tree Growers’ Cooperative Federation, OUTREACH, Naandi Foundation and Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty. Experience is in the areas of Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Institution Building, Tribal Development, Poverty Projects, Livelihoods of the Poor and Application of Management Concepts in Development.

References

External links

* [http://www.aksharakriti.org/ Akshara's web site]
* [http://www.lpc.co.in/ Livelihoods Professionals Collective's web site]
* [http://www.kalanetha.com/ Bhoodan Pochampally's web site]
* [http://www.social-impact.org/resources.asp/ Social Impact's web site]

ee also

* Poverty
* [http://www.undp.org.in/ UNDP India]
* [http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ The UN Millennium Development Goals]