Community Owned CSP System

Choosing a service provider from within a community and getting the community to own the CSP is slowly gaining acceptance despite some initial reservations and hesitation.

C ommunity Service Providers (CSPs) are village youth, who are trained to render logistic and technical support to the community, especially with a view to assist in the implementation of livelihood activities. CSPs are expected to provide livelihood support in a manner that will enable the local community members to fulfill their aspirations for better livelihoods and lives. CSPs are identified from within the community itself; it is believed that community members will be more willing to learn and take assistance from a CSP, who is one of their own. Furthermore, to ensure accountability as part of the system, part of a CSP’s wage is borne by the community—the ultimate beneficiary of the services provided by the CSP.

The CSP is expected to act in a capacity no less than that of an entrepreneur, wielding expertise in some specific area or sphere that will contribute to the livelihood(s) of his concerned community. Pradan not only identifies the need for CSPs in a given community but also plays the vital role of training them so that they can satisfy the aspirations of the community members. The means by which CSPs are trained and deployed in the community is shown in the following diagram.