Supporting the most vulnerable before, during and after disasters, while building capacity of the South Asian microfinance sector

2010 saw a continuation of ACTED India’s mandate to assist the most vulnerable communities affected by disasters, with the opening of a project in a new geographical area in the Sunderbans. In parallel, ACTED has also continued supporting South Asia Microfinance Network (SAMN), a regional platform to develop microfinance capacity in South Asia, with a view to consolidating SAMN’s role as the leading regional microfinance network for South Asia.

Post-disaster assistance in the Sunderbans

2010 saw a new phase in ACTED’s operations in India, as we began a project in a new geographical area – the delicate and disaster-prone Sunderbans delta. The 13.5 month-long, European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department-funded project was a response to Cyclone Aila of 2009 and the devastation it caused among rural villages. In partnership with a local organisation, Tagore Society for Rural Development (TSRD), ACTED continued to fulfil its mandate of assisting the most vulnerable communities affected by disasters. The project, entitled “Promoting Recovery and Disaster Preparedness among Most Vulnerable and Remote Flood-Affected Communities in Hingalganj Block, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, following Cyclone Aila” aimed to assist 32,400 people in 17 villages in the sectors of livelihood, water and sanitation and disaster risk reduction. ACTED and TSRD also responded to localised flooding which occurred in September 2010 following an embankment breach with the distribution of food and water.

Coordination with local and district authorities, other European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department partners in West Bengal and Alliance2015 partners, has played an important role in strengthening the project in terms of ensuring a level of sustainability and best practice sharing.

Promoting the South Asian microfinance sector

Initiated by ACTED in 2008, the South Asian Microfinance Network (SAMN) has emerged as the representative regional network in South Asia with the objective of enhancing capacity, investment and regional dialogue in the microfinance sector of South Asia. During the last year, SAMN made significant progress in establishing a strong institutional footing by building a long-term vision of the network. Through benchmarking, identifying market needs and gaps and holding consultations with microfinance stakeholders, including 6 national microfinance networks and associations who are SAMN members, SAMN has shaped its long term strategy in terms of governance and management structure, focus areas and services, resulting in a three-year SAMN business plan for 2011-2013.

Building resilience to future disasters and strengthening SAMN as leading regional microfinance network

Given the high levels of poverty, the inevitable onset of future disasters (namely cyclones, flooding and drought) and the continued vulnerability of villages located in the Sunderbans, ACTED continues support to households living in the Sunderbans. While disaster response and early recovery are still a constant feature of work in this region, focus is shifting towards disaster response and mitigation, by building the capacities of people to prepare for upcoming disasters.

For SAMN, opportunities for new partnerships and strengthening existing linkages are promising exciting prospects, and work continues to source funding for developing SAMN as the only regional microfinance network for South Asia. The 3-year business plan developed in 2010 provides direction for SAMN and its members in strengthening SAMN’s role as the leading regional South Asian microfinance network.