1. IRAN (HAMYARAN) LOCAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR IDS-HAMYARAN COOPERATION JULY 2008

2. INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY February 1998: groundbreaking consultation workshop held in city of Bushehr (Iran), between several Iranian NGOs, Iranian Governmental agencies, and international organizations. The participants discussed the role NGOs could play in the country over the coming years, as well as the issues and challenges that may certainly arise. Bushehr Iran NGO Initiative (INI): a cooperative program created to strengthen the role, capacity, and effectiveness of NGOs in Iran.

3. The INI project: law reform; training, management, and capacity building; information and communication; and enabling dialogue between the local NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs). Year 2000: INI evolved into Hamyaran Iran NGO Resource Center, a registered organization focused on capacity building of NGOs – advocacy at the center, cap bldg nationwide. Year 2001: Hamyaran first community based empowerment project.

4. 2003: revise mandate to focus capacity bldg efforts at local level, promote participatory approaches to local development, poverty alleviation through community empowerment. Cooperation with researchers and private sector and philanthropists To date (2008) Hamyaran has initiated 5 community empowerment pilot projects countrywide: –Inner city poverty (7 city districts) –Forest protection and sustainable livelihoods (6 rural / peri-urban sites) –Informal settlement (one) –Rehabilitation after earthquake (one rural / peri- urban, one urban)

5. TODAY Reorganization / redefinition / reorientation: Hamyaran Local Development Resource Center Vision: Bridging the gap between research, policy and practice in the field of community based sustainable development, with focus on poverty alleviation Mission: Promote CE approaches to local development for urban poverty alleviation through institutional capacity building at national and regional (Middle East) levels

6. Goal: Turning CE initiatives into policy and practice at the local, national and regional levels. Strategic priorities: –Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development through community empowerment and good local governance –Capacity building for all local stakeholders within public, civic and private sectors, with a view for promoting participatory approaches to local development in policy and practice –Becoming a viable Knowledge Center in Iran and the ME region on precepts of local / community development and empowerment –Projects in conjunction with other CBOs, NGOs, INGOs and research groups and think tanks, –Promoting community-based approaches to disaster management

7. Core Thematic Areas Urban Participatory Planning Social Inclusion and Access to Basic Services: Women, Youth, Children Microfinance Community-based Disaster and Risk Reduction. Community resilience

8. Crosscutting Activities Research and advisory services Empowerment and capacity development Knowledge building and dissemination Networking, partnerships and alliance building Documentation Policy Dialogue Implementing pilot projects and scaling up good practices Community-based Monitoring and Evaluation

9. Target Groups Researchers Development Practitioners Stakeholders: –Communities –Local government –Central government –Private sector –International development partners

10. In the field Deepening presence in all pilot sites Facilitating realization of community prioritized needs Promotion of good local governance precepts, through already established platforms of dialogue and exchange between community representatives and authorities Networking and knowledge exchange between CBO managers of pilot projects Preparing ground for scaling up successful community initiatives

11. Local Development Institute (ILDI) Local, national, and regional think tanks IDS & other mentors Communities Local & Central Govts. Private Sector (CSR) Philanthropists & Foundations Iranian and international NGOs UN Agencies & International donors

12. Action steps in institution building process Building capacity of (Hamyaran) Iranian Local Development CSO Institute by: Networking with IDS, Sussex and others international centers of excellence through :  Special advisory and technical support  Fellowships  Visiting fellows  Participating in MA courses  Joint studies  Engagement in demonstration projects