LSO representatives determined for maintaining exemplary peace of Chitral at each cost. One day LSO convention concluded.
CHITRAL: A one-day LSO convention was held here in a local hotel organized by Aga Khan rural Support Program (AKRSP) supported by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Farid Ahmad Manager institutional development explained aim and objectives of the convention, which was participated by representatives of some 12 LSOs working in different parts of Chitral. He said that main objective of this convention to strengthen and boost LSO to enable them to stand on their own feet and to motivate them for gross root and sustainable development of Chitral. He said that LSOs were supporting by AKRSP (in management cost) but a Institutional Development for Poverty Reduction fund is closing at the end of this year and they can face some trouble. Regional Program Manager Engineer Sardar Ayub stressed upon all stakeholders to continue their struggle to gain their own means of sources and adopt income-generating schemes to continue this system. The year 2010 is very tough because most of fund were stopped hence it is expected that funds would released by donors in the year 2011 and they will support LSO working under their umbrella he added. He said that they want to jointly work with Aga Khan Health service on child survival project under Pakistan Poverty Alleviation fund. Miraj Khan of AKDN briefed the stakeholders how they can pass journey of success and development. He emphasized on all stake holders to always think constructive and have positive behaviors towards any new project working for development of the area like Chitral Integrated Area Development Program because this is special fund from Norwegian government for Chitral hence the project is launching through Thrive under a contract system but main its main implementers are IUCN, SRSP and AKDN.
During a one day convention of Local Support Organizations (LSO) stakeholders determined in joint declaration and unanimous resolution to maintain exemplary peace of Chitral at each cost. The stake holders through joint declaration unanimously passed a resolution regarding the alarming security situation in the region and stressed on need to promote and maintain Peace and social harmony by all the stake holders social mobilization which are the keys to sensitize and create awareness among the communities thus the LSO need to take special measures to achieve the goal for peace maintaining. They declared that there is a need to include marginalized women, poor and youth segments of society in development process and their participatory in decision-making. Thus all the stakeholders should design interventions focusing on youth so that smooth and healthy transition of development process is ensured. In joint declaration the stakeholders demanded for continuation of local government system and turned out to be a great opportunity to reduce gaps between civil society and public sector organizations through productive partnership and urged on that the system should be continued and the existing faults/loops holes if any may be removed. They also demanded through unanimous resolution that measures need to be taken through building capacities of communities and linking them with market and financial institutions for reducing the poverty in the region. They also demanded for better addressing the organizations and program management needs. LSO capacities need to be further strengthened in good governance organizational management, project planning and management and resource mobilization.
A large number of male and female attended the convention. They were also given the task of group working and preparing their presentation on different issues who delivered it sophistically. They returned with a new spirit and determining to play positive role in addressing problems of people and development of nation and country.
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