Context and Rationale

The Self-Help Group (SHG) movement in India has reached an exceptional number of poor households since inception and thus has been recognized as the largest microfinance program in the world.  Since the National Bank for Agriculture and Development (Nabard) initiated the SHG-bank linkage program in 1992, over 2.2 million Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been reached which translates to almost 33 million households.  Today there are more than 3 million SHGs with bank accounts in India. In 2005-06 alone, almost one million SHGs received bank loans amounting to Rs.4,500 crores.

There is a high amount of importance placed on information dissemination of Microfinance materials with websites such as Microfinance Gateway.  Sites such as these have furthered the notoriety of microfinance worldwide.  While the SHGs are a part of the Microfinance movement, they also differ in some significant ways.  The multi-pronged approach taken in India with the SHG movement places a focus on savings and other interventions (political and social empowerment, education, and health) which differentiate it from the strictly Microfinance model.  Thus the movement requires a separate forum for information dissemination to compile academic and professional studies regarding the numerous experiences in the SHG movement.  

SHGs in India represent a diverse set of stakeholders including Self-Help Group Promoting Institutions, NGOs, Government organizations etc. These actors all work towards the sustainability of the approximately 60,000 SHGs in India.  Through discussions with stakeholders in the field and at workshops, a need has been identified for a compilation of SHG resources to facilitate open dialogue between stakeholders, ensure no duplicate studies are done, and finally to contribute positively to the sustainability of the SHG movement in India.

The Role of APMAS

APMAS was established as a support organization for the self help movement in Andhra Pradesh (AP) in 2001. For the past five years, APMAS was supported with core funding from DFID and CARE. APMAS has a strong Board and well-trained staff, which has enabled it to provide quality services to diverse stakeholders in AP.

APMAS has developed quality assessment and enhancement instruments for SHG federations, which has enabled them to provide essential guiding, book-keeping and auditing services to the SHGs. As a support organization, the core business of APMAS is the capacity building of the governmental and nongovernmental implementing institutions to apply quality assessment and enhancement instruments.  The overall qualitative and quantitative impact of APMAS is substantial. APMAS has built a strong reputation as an institution that ensures quality and quality-based progress in self-help banking. Over 350 SHG federations have been rated with rating tools developed by APMAS. To strengthen the SHG movement, APMAS also conducted several studies and organized workshops to promote good practices and to build partnerships between Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to maximize the impact. The support of livelihoods is increasingly being seen as an important area related to microfinance since livelihoods are typically financed by the loans that members received from the SHG.  APMAS has addressed this need by establishing livelihood resource centers in two districts.  These centres concentrate on best practice promotion, piloting models, training of trainers, advocacy mentoring support for livelihood promotion organizations.

APMAS has gained much experience through its experience through its four main practice areas: Quality Assessment and Enhancement, Livelihoods, and Research and Advocacy over the past five years.  This knowledge can be seen in multiple publications and expertise in the SHG industry which can be used to contribute to the establishment of an SHG Resource Centre.

The Identification of a need for the SHG Gateway

There are a number of key players involved in the SHG movement.  In August 2006, APMAS worked with the Indian School of Microfinance for Women and the Friends of Women's World Banking to organize a National Capacity Building Workshop.  Nearly twenty Capacity Building (CB) institutions participated in the workshop.The objectives of the workshop were to identify the needs of the CB sector, develop a strategy to address those needs and to identify areas of collaboration and cooperation to address the needs. There were numerous outcomes, but a recurring theme was the need for a comprehensive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solution address the SHG movement.

There are many reasons for the establishment of an SHG Gateway. Given the level of resources required for SHG activities and the likely participation of several partners, the coordination system needs to be built and strengthened to ensure adequate attention to all areas (sectoral as well as geographical) and to avoid duplicate efforts. Establishment of appropriate knowledge networks and related partnerships will enhance SHG capacity building and planning.It will also support the policymaking process by giving access to know-how, expertise, best practices, etc. Access to knowledge, resources and updated information is crucial for effective long-term planning and implementation.A centrally positioned actor is necessary to enhance linkages between Government and civil society. For fulfillment of the SHG needs, APMAS has taken the first step in the establishment an SHG Gateway.

Strategy

A step-by-step approach will be taken to meet the needs identified by the SHG industry.  The SHG Resource Centres will take two forms - virtual and physical.  The first step in the implementation of a central SHG Resource Centre is the establishment of a virtual Resource Centre - The SHG Gateway (www.shggateway.in).  

Based on the success of the virtual gateway and the needs identified, a physical SHG Resource Centre may be established in Hyderabad.  In order to meet the needs of more remote stakeholders in the SHG movement, resource centres would be established based on demand in different states. The resource centres will be linked to national and international networks, acting as a forum for exchanging information among the government, SHPIs, Capacity Building Institutions (CBIs), NGOs, donors and the private sector

Both virtual and physical centres will have information on:

·         Legislation

·         Codes of Conduct

·         Training on Minimum standards

·         Updated government/NGO/multilateral and bilateral agency activity maps

·         Data collection

·         Needs Assessments

·         Organization of event and workshops for dissemination of technology, best practices and recommended approaches.    

Objectives of SHG Gateway

·         To facilitate dialogue and collaboration among all stakeholders on SHG/MF sector or thematic areas.

·         To ensure that there is no duplication of efforts by facilitating a functional and geographical distribution of responsibilities between all agencies (government: state and district level, non governmental agencies, local non governmental agencies and donors).

SHG gateway Target audience:

SHG Gateway is designed to provide the ample information to the community who are striving for Sustainable Self Help Movement in India and the stake holders.   

The SHG Gateway will be the majority wide-ranging resource of information for the inhabitants striving for Sustainable Self Help Movement in India.  The community can contribute News, Highlights, Publications, Events, Queries to the Discussion Groups, CVs of Consultants and Job vacancies.

The Main Features:

·         News: Gathers headlines and announcements of new SHG-related articles, projects, books, technologies, and services

·         Highlights: Short presentation on topics of interest (SHGs in India, SHG banking in other countries, summaries of recent articles, books and seminars published)

·         Provides online documents on all aspects of SHGs, together with reviews and summaries of articles, books and operational tools

  • Resource CentresCollection of the latest publications, case studies, research, and knowledge on important SHG topics. Examples: SHG Regulation and Supervision, Technology, Savings, Donor Information, Microinsurance, Impact Assessment, Audit, Client Targeting, Ratings, and Product Costing

·         Groups Forum for e-mail exchanges on specific topics (including information systems and audits), as well as archives and links to some of the leading e-discussion groups in SHG and related fields

·         Events:Lists upcoming conferences and training workshops around the country

·         SHG Organizations Database Listing separated by regions, states, and type

·         Consultants Database:Profiles and CVs and resumes of specialists

·         SHG-Related Jobs Institutions ranging from SHPIs to banks to relief and development agencies updated daily

Languages Available:

The SHG Gateway is available only in English and Telugu.  Planned to develop in other Indian languages. 

 SHG Gateway  and  APMAS Relationship:

The SHG Gateway is a resource of information related to SHG Movement. APMAS, as a national-level NGO supporting the SHG movement in India, has initiated the establishment of the Gateway and is hopeful to work with strategic partners to establish the SHG Gateway of the Resource Centre.

Expected outcomes:

1.  Coordination mechanisms to be streamlined, building on existing local initiatives and inclusive of all relevant actors (SHPIs/ CBIs/ NGOs, Government, Donors etc); Gaps and overlaps to be identified leading to an overall increased quality of assistance.

2.   Improved information sharing on a continuous basis among stakeholders.

3.   Knowledge exchanged among stakeholders impacting the planning/implementation/policy making.

4.   Central resources that offer information to support civil society activities.

5.   Connections between Government and civil society enhanced.

6.  Network created with accessible directory of INGO, SHPIs, CBIs, NGO, Government, National/International Institutions, and experts.

7.   Greater cross sectoral/ inter-organization learning and capacities of stakeholders on SHG approaches developed.

8.   Cost efficiency and shared initiatives encouraged (e.g. research, evaluations, sourcing expertise etc.)

Assumptions:

·         Adequate resources are secured by donors and other partners

·         All parties participate and take responsibility for their own contribution (provision of information and knowledge resources, HR etc).  Organizations take responsibility for ensuring they have sufficient resources internally to be able to maintain a timely and quality contribution.

Monitoring and evaluation:

·         The project itself will be evaluated after 6 months with recommendations made for future development.

·         Ongoing monitoring of the SHG Gateway will be the responsibility of the APMAS CEO at first, and then with the support from the Advisory Body.