About Us – REPID

Organizational Background:

Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development (REPID) is a non-profit, non-political, and non-religious and nongovernment organization registered in 2007 with the Government of Pakistan under the Social Welfare Act 1961 and Allowed to Work Status from Ministry of SAFRON to operate all over Pakistan. The organization is struggling to provide a peaceful environment to all human beings where they can utilize their potentials for Sustainable evelopment. It involves general public, organizations and individuals and operates under Pakistani law without discrimination on the basis of religion, race, color, ationality and ethnicity. REPID grew up from the grassroots level of local FATA based Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and spread out its operations across the country. Presently more than 40 CBOs are members of REPID across the country and REPID is leading a network of CBOs Economic Development Network EDN and they are providing their services voluntarily whenever required. The basic aim of this association, mainly comprised of expertise from local, national and international levels, was to mobilize and equip the local resource thus to attain status-quo in socio-economic indicators. The major interventions of this ssociation are Youth Empowerment, Persons with disability,
Community Physical Infrastructure, Livelihood, Human Rights, Relief and Rehabilitations, Health and Nutrition, Advocacy, Democracy and Reforms, Primary Health Care, Child and Gender Protection, Shelters, Basic and Non-Formal Education, Water and Environmental Sanitation, National Resource Management and Human and Institutional Development as the corner stone of the organization.

REPID at a Glance:

REPID (Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development), strives for partnership with community to develop a society
based on three core values of sustainable human development: self-esteem, freedom of choice and tolerance; a society where everyone has equal access to opportunities and justice irrespective of gender and status. REPID has worked on several projects where it has, and is helping girls to complete their education and is employing women as teachers. It helped public institutions in implementation of decentralization, to facilitate human development across the country. A key objective of decentralization is to improve the delivery of public services. REPID has undertaken many projects to involve youth in healthy initiatives, where they are given an opportunity to learn, hence their capacity is built. REPID seeks to involve the local communities in the development of local level infrastructure important for the socio-economic uplift of the communities. REPID has worked upon many national and focused projects.

OBJETIVES

To facilitate linkages for increasing effective coverage of development process.

Building social capital by mobilizing communities for poverty reduction, livelihoods and sustainable development

To build institutional capacity at local level focusing women for sustainable development.

To build institutional capacity of REPID for effective and efficient functioning of organization.

To raise funds for self-reliance of REPID for sustenance of REPID vision and mission.

To arrange, hold and provide for workshops, lectures, meetings, classes, conferences and other things reasonably necessary for the advancement of the aims of Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development.

To undertake and execute any charitable trusts for the welfare of women and children which may be lawfully established by Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development.

To undertake and execute any charitable trusts for the welfare of women and children which may be lawfully established by Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development. o undertake and execute any charitable trusts for the welfare of women and children which
may be lawfully established by Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development.

To collect or otherwise acquire information relating to the aims of Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development and to collect, communicate process, translate, print, publish or disseminate the same.

To sell, manage, lease, mortgage, exchange, dispose of or otherwise deal with and turn to account all or any part of the property of Rural Empowerment and Institutional
Development , whether movable or immovable, with a view to the promotion of its aims or any of them;

To invest and deal with any monies of Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development not immediately required for use in connection with any of its aims in the purchase of
funds, securities, or other investments or property movable or of whatsoever nature, and situated anywhere in Pakistan..

Geographic Outreach:

To facilitate linkages for increasing effective coverage of development process.

Building social capital by mobilizing communities for poverty reduction, livelihoods and sustainable development

To build institutional capacity at local level focusing women for sustainable development.

To build institutional capacity of REPID for effective and efficient functioning of organization.

To raise funds for self-reliance of REPID for sustenance of REPID vision and mission.

To undertake and execute any charitable trusts for the welfare of women and children which may be lawfully established by Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development.

trainings of adolescents on life skills, awareness-raising sessions on puberty changes; provision of sports facilities; vocational training; capacity building of parents, teachers, health care providers; HIV & AIDS and Hepatitis.
Health Sector Strategic Plan of REPID is being implemented in a phased manner, reflecting resource constraints. Priorities include hygiene and sanitation; immunization; malaria control; information, education and communication; reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. Under this plan, REPID has abolished user fees in public facilities and upgraded training and enhanced drug availability. As a result, the usage of the health system has expanded dramatically.
2) Livelihood Development
REPID is playing the role at its part by supporting initiatives for socio-economic uplift of the communities through participatory development approaches, inclusion of all sections of the society in the development process. REPID promotes people-centered approach to socio-economic uplift advocating the empowerment of people living in poverty through their full participation in all aspects of political, economic and social life, especially in the design and implementation of policies that affect the poorest and most vulnerable groups of society. An integrated strategy towards sustainable development necessitates implementing policies geared to more equitable life earning opportunities and social protection coverage. It is engaged in advocacy, campaigning, community awareness, mass mobilization, participatory community development, participatory research, and networking on the local, Agency as well as national issues negatively affecting the lives and the livelihoods of the poor communities.
REPID is working with the local communities to build their capacities in properly managing their natural livelihood resources. Under this program the local communities are organized and their skills are developed in natural resource management and sustainable livelihoods including introducing modern and appropriate technologies, strengthening indigenous environment- friendly technologies and practices as well as building the capacities of the local communities in alternative livelihoods.
REPID seeks to involve the local communities in the development of local level infrastructure important for the socio economic uplift of the communities. The communities are encouraged to prepare local level infrastructure development projects and plans with the technical support of REPID team. The communities collect local level contribution for the certain community share of project cost as to ensure their ownership in the project; the remaining cost is made available through grants from the donors or local governments.
3) Implementation of Decentralization
REPID supports the public institutions to formulate effective Pro-poor planning and budgetary policies for sustainable economic growth. It helped public institutions in implementation of decentralization, and to facilitate human development in FATA. A key objective of decentralization is to improve the delivery of public services. Since 2009, the Government has embarked on reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability of the budget processes and overall public expenditure management. REPID has the goal of reducing poverty and inequality. The fiscal capacities of regional governments vary considerably, and many governments in regions with large numbers of poor people have inadequate resources. Effective pro-poor planning and budgeting at the regional level remains a major challenge.
REPID produced poverty maps overlaid with budget information in various Tehsils of Kurram, Orakzai Agencies and Frontier Regions of Tank, DIK and Bannu. It helps local stakeholders visualize poverty and resource issues and budget accordingly. Capacity development for pro-poor planning and budgeting for a wide range of stakeholders was conducted for civil servants, district representatives, members of civil society organizations, journalists. The events have been tailored to the needs of the 2 Agencies and 3 FRs of FATA as well as to the FATA level counterparts.
4) Good Governance and Capacity Building
REPID is promoting good governance through involvement of all in the decision making process and to take initiatives to marginalize deprivation through helping communities gaining access to education, primary health care, water and sanitation; and promoting social institutions and the social capital of vulnerable groups. Good Governance is one of the pillars of development approach of REPID. Good governance facilitates pro-poor sector reforms and state and local government policies, as well as sound macroeconomic management. It ensures the transparent use of public funds, strengthens anti-corruption, encourages growth of the private sector and corporate governance, promotes effective delivery of public services, and helps to establish the rule of law.
REPID conducted a training program for the Political Agents, Assistant Political Agents, Tehsildars and local Malik’s to develop their understanding about the modern local government and administration system. This was to strengthen the capacities of the influential thus for effective governance. For that purpose, creating awareness, organizational management, leadership and project cycle management training was scheduled.
5) Educational Reforms
REPID is playing its role in promotion of education by providing assistance in schools construction, maintenance and supply of educational materials. Primary education has been continuing to expand. The gender gap in most levels of primary education has been eliminated with efforts. However, while the provision of inputs has increased, the retention of children in education remains a serious challenge, partly because of the costs borne by households, and the achieved proficiency of students shows no clear trend. Absenteeism and dropout rates of girls are frequently associated with inadequate hygiene and sanitary facilities at schools. Quality of education remains an important challenge.
REPID took measures to improve the efficiency of primary education, including multi-grade teaching, double-shift teaching, and incentives for teachers in hard-to reach areas. Quality was improved by teacher training, implementing the use of mother tongue in lower grades, and increasing the relevance of the curriculum. Access was improved by the continued provision of schools and classroom facilities, training teachers in social education, and provision of basic education in emergency situations.
Secondary education has expanded because of the liberalization of private sector participation. However, access to secondary education remains very unequal. REPID is therefore seeking to improve the targeting of secondary education by supporting private community secondary schools, introducing student bursaries, and increasing efficiency by double-shift teaching and increasing the teacher-student ratio above 30. Vocational education needs to be well matched with the economy’s needs. A more flexible framework will be developed allowing for modular courses. The Education Sector Plan envisages that vocational education will become an alternative to academic education in the last two years of the secondary level, rather than an alternative to the early years of secondary education.
6) Information Technology in Rural Areas
Information Technology is used as a tool of economic uplift of the communities and to support public institution in bringing about synergy in routine operations. On one hand, the affluent part of the world is hit by unprecedented overflow of information which is fast increasing day by day. On the other hand, millions of people in developing countries have absolutely no effective communication links to the outside world. REPID recognizes that technological advances particularly in the field of Information Technology have been so rapid that it has changed the shape of all economic activities in the world, and in pushing the world towards globalization.
REPID has taken certain initiatives for promoting computer literacy at the grass roots level, promoting Internet and for providing computer access to all sections of the civil society. REPID is aware that ownership must be brought down, from use and control of selective and digital technology of the elite and government regimes to the level of communities and the poor that they serve.
Identifying an urgent need to ensure access to Information Technology in rural areas or disadvantaged communities, REPID is engaged in providing easy access to information technology in rural areas, helping them learning it easily, to disseminate simple, practical knowledge which will save lives, increase awareness and stimulate development. Hence, enable them to meet contemporary challenges of modern life. It will help strengthened behaviors through information on how people of their type somewhere else are handling their situation. It is important not only as part of a strategy for enhancing incomes and employment, but also for avoiding a deterioration in their poverty situation.
7) Primary, Reproductive Healthcare and Nutrition.
REPID has assessed the high rates of Infant Mortality and Maternal Mortality for the area and has researched for the contributing factors. The researches reveal approximately 12.5 of medical consultations for the area are attributed to Water Borne Diseases, however, 26.2% of disease burden is associated with communicable diseases.
REPID has focused healthcare indicators of the area, and has strategized a responsive plan, detailing community hygiene sessions, mass meetings and Focused Group Discussions; promoting hand-washing practices, discouraging open defecation, advocating for community led reforms for appropriate sanitation and waste disposal and capacitating local resources and institutions for adaptation towards healthy and hygienic behaviors and KAP amplifications for preservation of health and prevention of diseases.
REPID is supporting events of capacity building for healthcare supervisors, local TBAs and LHVs in accordance to implement and advocate family planning, scientific ante-natal and neo-natal care, household level health and hygienic techniques and hand-washing practices with inbuilt nutrition.
8) Agriculture Development
Agriculture is the lifeline of the national economy. 65% of the Pakistan’s population is living at rural areas, and are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Yet, there is a serious lack of employable skills and market professionalism. Orthodox methods of agriculture and farming are in practice and most of the yield is focused to accommodate local needs.
REPID is striving to appraise local aptitudes and synchronize local approaches with market dynamism and scientific agriculture and related livelihood activities. Across different villages of the central FATA REPID has established Farmer Schools and has equipped local activists with the tricks of the trade who are assisting local farmers while in adoption of modern scientific techniques of agriculture and commercial farming.
9) Relief and Rehabilitation
Since 2005 Pakistan has been suffering with a series of overlapping crises and natural calamities that led to substantial internal displacement and left hundreds of thousands in need of humanitarian assistance. These events have come at a time when Pakistan is reeling from the effects of the global food crisis, exacerbating an already precarious situation.
Natural disasters and conflicts have affected around 30 million Pakistanis and have raised chances for human tragedies. In accordance to cope with the humanitarian issues that have emerged as a result of the conflicts, earthquakes, floods and torrential rains, REPID has adopted a strategy patterned with participatory approaches. REPID is assisting local communities of FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while in combating vulnerabilities and natural disasters. Besides; assisting basic infrastructure and necessities, REPID is capacitating communities with scientific techniques of disaster preparedness and crises management. REPID has established a network of CBOs, youth associations and community activists and has provided them with the opportunities to enhance their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding disaster management and preparedness. Further; REPID has provided local IDPs with shelters, food, and drinking water and non-food items and is assisting local affectees towards rehabilitation.
10) Youth for Peace
Youth for Peace is an initiative of REPID for a non-violent and peaceful world. REPID is inviting youth to involve them in its peace related activities. REPID youth will participate in awareness activities like seminars, conferences, sports events, exhibition and workshops. The main objective of involving youth in the campaign is to prepare young individuals to play a leadership role in future and to keep them abreast of the global peace and security situations. From the platform of REPID youth, the members will not only interact with friends at local and national level but at the same time they will share information with the youth of other countries and cultures. The overall vision of the initiative is to strive for a non-violent and peaceful society through the active and practical participation of youth.

11) Human and Institutional Development
REPID organizes communities into settlement level Community Organizations (COs), village level Village Organizations (VOs) and Union Council level Local Support Organizations (LSOs). REPID build the capacity of COs/VOs/LSOs to access funds and services from different service providers. The COs supports their members through individual level income generating activities by mobilizing savings, and skills training. The COs also implements small scale physical infrastructure projects and health and education initiatives. The VOs mainly implement larger projects and the LSOs act as mini support organizations that provide guidance to the member VOs and COs. This makes the community institutions sustainable as the complete ownership rests with the people themselves. The social mobilization process leads to effective community participation in planning, implementation, monitoring, operation and maintenance of various programs and projects.

Sources of Finance:
The sources of finance of Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development include:

Membership and other fees or dues prescribed by the Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development Board.
Donations or bequests received by Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development.
Contributions from sources acceptable to the Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development Board.
Earnings of Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development, which may arise on account of its working and financial management.
Finances for the organization come from International Humanitarian Organizations/Foundations membership fees, subscription and donations. For projects that are beyond the financial capacity of REPID, the organization depends on national and international donors.

Governance and Management Structure:
Organization of the REPID comprises of Board of Governors (BOG) and Executive Committee. The BOG is the governing body of the organization and is responsible to frame policy guidelines for the organization and monitor its activities. The Executive Committee runs the day-to-day affairs of the organization and is headed by the Chief Executive Officer. Besides, some volunteers perform activities as part time work. Overall activities of the REPID are controlled by the BoG. The Board holds elections every three years from amongst founder members, existing Board members and resource persons to elect new Board for the next three years. The Board consists of seven members i.e., four members from the preceding Board and three from resource persons category.

Financial Management:
REPID has well-established financial and accounts systems, thereby abiding with its registration laws. Its systems are audited by AHLN every year. REPID has been audited by external auditor of UNHCR, KPMG every year and has get fair audit report in all respect. REPID has internal finance control unit which internally verifies and validates each and every voucher with proper UN certified accounting software quick book and EMIS. Finance department is leading by certified charted accountant Finance Manager with 10 years of experience in financial management of international and national NGOs.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
REPID has in place an effective monitoring and evaluation system. REPID M&E system is an integral part of its program implementation and management. The basic function of the M&E system is to provide the information needed for result-based project management, to involve key stakeholders in learning as how to improve project implementation. The M&E system also focuses on strengthening the capacity of project staff and stakeholders to manage the efficient use of resources over which they have decision-making power. At REPID, we have an independent M&E section to ensure compliance to monitoring of all projects as well as tools for reporting, surveys and assessments in order to form project design and produce timely & quality reports. Similarly regular monitoring visits are made to project sites to assess the situation, identify gaps if any, and make suggestions to bridge those gaps. M&E staff maintains proper record of key documents such as M&E tools, tracking sheets and reporting forms, monitoring reports, donor requirements, progress reports and other program related information. Tools and processes are developed as new activities and projects are initiated in line with Organization’s M&E system
Memberships and Networks:

 SUNCSA network
 Pakistan CSO coalition of Health and Immunization PCCHI
 Asia Pacific refugee’s right network APPRIN
 ICVA
 NHN
 PUAN
 ECOSOCS