The Local Participation and Sustainability Program creates awareness among the communities about the value of participation in making local institutions vibrant and to improve the last-mile delivery of government programs. The program works with communities to incorporate local knowledge and choices in villages plans to support inclusive and sustainable rural development in India, while also collaborating with the government and other agencies to provide pertinent information to rural communities and facilitate access to representatives of these agencies.
The Local Participation and Sustainability Program enables women to participate in village-level institutions and public life. The program provides women with a platform to come together, voice their concerns about community and development issues, and work collectively to address problems that affect their families and their community. Capacity-building sessions teach leadership and communication skills that build their confidence to improve last-mile delivery of government programs, take leadership roles to address development issues, and participate in gram sabha. The program further builds the capacities of women elected representatives (WERs) to collectively tackle problems of the village.
The Local Participation and Sustainability Program conducts structured capacity-building sessions for representatives of village-level institutions such as gram panchayats and village development committees. It supports representatives in identifying and addressing community problems, creating village-development plans, establishing synergies with government departments, and implementing development plans in a transparent manner. It further builds the skills of village-level institutions to conserve natural resources, and maintain public infrastructure.
The Local Participation and Sustainability Program works with rural communities to promote good hygiene and sanitation in villages, improve awareness on preventive and remedial healthcare, and encourage the adoption of safe hygiene practices through behavior-change campaigns.