CNI - About Us

The Organizational Perspectives

Resource Sharing Partnership
In response to the emerging perspective and to remain relevant and contextual, SBSS initiated organizational development process by consciously incorporating findings and suggestions of the evaluation. This OD process has carved new roles and responsibilities for different partners. This means from now on, the zonal offices of SBSS will focus specifically on issues given below and will specific and focused attention on the same.

Livelihood and Food Security
Tribal Concerns and Indigenous Rights
Dalit Studies
Land Rights
Peace and Reconciliation
Action Research

This will make SBSS and its zonal offices a resource for the Church. SBSS wherever and whenever required will do a constructive monitoring of programmes of the partners. As a resource-sharing partner, with specialized skills, SBSS will ensure required support to its partners.

Knowledge Management
SBSS, in engaging with people’s struggle to realize their hopes and aspiration, adheres to the process of learning and unlearning. It puts great faith on the use of information and knowledge sharing, and knowledge bank in realizing and actualizing the vision of the communities. The staff of SBSS constantly tries to learn from the reference communities and redefine their own understanding of the issues and approach to the problems, for this they remain grateful to the communities.

This learning and managing knowledge include the culture of free and fast flows of ideas, thoughts, responses and suggestions. With an appreciative enquiry and new approach, organizational goals, policies and processes will be aligned and methods to incorporate acceptable ideas will be taken, while keeping high priority for public good. With a Development Communications Unit, Research Desk, Process Documentation, and MIS, the institutional memory and knowledge management will be processed effectively.

It would be appropriate to define the concept of development communications and research desk. For achieving conscientization, organization, and politicization, Development Communications, as a strategy believes that communication in development process is always people centered, where knowledge at the level of grassroots is shared horizontally between two actors. The paradigm is participatory where endogenously directed quest to maintain control over basic needs is planned through various tools to create a climate of mutual growth.On the other, the Research Desk will, apart from helping the process documentation will bridge the gap between reality and theory and ultimately make SBSS be the resource for the Mission Engagement.

Resource Management
SBSS will transform itself from mere funding agency to resource sharing partner. To ensure smooth availability of funds to DBSS and autonomy to design their programmes as per the need of the context, it will move from grants approach to cost reimbursement approach.

Implications and Transitions

SBSS will accompany its partners in executing the programmes. In this process, it plays the role of an enabler and facilitator.
Its role will transform from mere sensitization of issues to active involvement (initiatives and action).
Besides facilitating resources for the partners, it would like to see every DBSS becoming autonomous institutions with ability to plan, intervene, initiate and evaluate their own work independently.
To evolve an internal self-regulatory mechanism in partnership.
To encourage and support innovative and creative interventions.
Evolve a common platform for the concerns of CNI and human development agenda.

Institutional Perspectives

Creating space for dialogue and equal partnership among various stakeholders i.e. DBSS, Diocese, CNI-Synod, and communities to build up greater ownership and accountability in community development programmes. In this regard making Bishops co-creators of the development agenda of the Church in decision-making.
Building greater coherence and coordination among various programmes of CNI in order to fulfill its vision and Mission.
To work together with CNI and other institutions for pro poor changes in policy and practices.

Emerging Perspectives
From village committees to peoples organization to people’s movement From general interventions to issue specific and thematic initiatives From funding agency to resource sharing partner From monitor to enabler, accompanier and facilitator From grants approach to cost reimbursement approach