Organised by: Caritas India
July 8-10, 2010.
New Delhi.
With the objective of improving and strengthening our program management during emergencies, the Disaster Management Desk of Caritas India organized a 3 day workshop on ECHO procedures and processes from July 8-10, 2010 here in New Delhi.
Around 18 participants that also constitute the ERST team, took part in the program. The basic purpose of this workshop was to ensure better quality of ECHO proposals elaborated by Caritas India & Germany that would lead to a higher success rate and good quality actions. The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Schmidt Eule Matthias, ECHO consultant with Caritas Germany. He facilitated in helping us draft mechanisms to meet the challenge of a decentralized organization with long lines of communication.
During the 3 days, participants understood ECHO funding mechanism , what does it fund and what it does not fund. The participants were introduced to a list of sectors and subsectors and concrete decisions that fall within the ECHO mandate. This helped the members learn about what ECHO funds. Participants had an opportunity to reflect upon their experiences in elaboration of ECHO proposals. Through analysis of successful and failed ECHO proposals participants were enabled to reflect about their strengths and weaknesses in implementing ECHO program and the usefulness of a strong communication channel. Mr. Matthias then explained the participants how to use the single form and to set up priorities while writing proposals. Specific guidelines on working with a single form was shared and he explained two different stages of the logical framework approach. Members also understood the appraisal process, the importance of sphere standards and the logic of an ECHO proposal that is result rather than input oriented. This workshop was an eye opener and gave us a deep insight on the different stages of ECHO functioning. This learning will enable members to prepare as well as implement the ECHO program effectively.. The workshop came to an end with an understanding that as a follow up, a write shop will be organized to do a mock practice of proposal development in sync with the learning.
-Babita