Samriddhi

Samriddhi Project Document
they show high levels of value addition at producers level, need only little land and can include
also poor and extreme poor by introducing new modalities like service contracts where service
providers make initial investments and render services whereas the poor provide the labour;
eventually the profit is shared accordingly. With a high demand of value added jute products
both on national and international markets, jute crafts still have a high potential of scale. Also
jute handicrafts can be produced by men and women in rural areas with low initial investments
but a high potential of value addition.
For a more detailed rational of value chain selection, the planned value chain analysis, and a
description of the ranking tool see annex 7.
Besides the targeting of value chain interventions, an increased inclusion of the poor and
extreme poor in both social and economic activities will be targeted through sensitisation and
capacity building of community leaders, MSEs and SPAs. The development of human and
institutional capacities also aims at giving poor and disadvantaged members of the society a
voice to be able to take responsibility for their own development by representing and defending
themselves.
Income generating activities (IGAs) have been promoted more for poor and extreme poor who
cannot invest in business but at least can engage in small scale economic activities. The
promotion of IGAs will continue in the first phase of Samriddhi. In order to support the extreme
poor, the project will promote a model of service contract where service providers provide inputs
and training to the poorest, and share a part of the profit as service costs. In line with the IGAs,
the project developed the marketing extension tool, which is now seen as a service to the
producers, and will therefore gradually be phased out in the first phase of the project,
considering that there is now a large number of LSPs that can train groups and MSEs in
marketing.
Enabling environment
It is considered crucial for the sustainability of the achievements of Samriddhi that value chain
and market development takes place within an enabling environment. Similarly, for social
empowerment and inclusion of the poorest into the society, an enabling and empowering
environment is essential. An increased involvement of the communities in local governance is
necessary to achieve this.
Through the focus on human and institutional development, where one important aspect is to
empower the people to lead their own development while at the same time institutions will be
strengthened to make them more responsive, effective and efficient towards the individuals or
organisations they serve. It is estimated that community platforms and UPs will, after a phasing
out process, establish continuous collaboration. However, not only communities are important
actors to achieve an enabling environment, but also local enterprises, i.e. MSEs, and other
market actors, e.g. SPAs. When building the organisational capacities of the MSEs and SPAs,
their role in the local governance system will be assessed and strengthened.
Wherever possible, Samriddhi will work closely together with Sharique and it will also use the
synergies with the Improvement of Local Government Services project (ILGS). See section
alliances for further details.
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