Description
Eco-Conservation Initiatives (ECI) was registered in 1999 under Societies Registration Act 1860 No. RS\ICT\319. It is a national NGO with headquarters in Islamabad and field units throughout Pakistan ranging from Skardu in the North and Hyderabad in the South. Recently, ECI has won the certification award from Pakistan Center for Philanthropy for its internal governance, financial management and program delivery. ECI is basically concerned with farming communities and grassroots group including both the men and women in under developed areas.
In near past, the present team of ECI has been operating a large number of development projects with the financial support of national as well as international donors including Government of Pakistan, USAID, Asian Development Bank, World Bank and private entrepreneurs at the local level. The sole objective for establishment of ECI is to widely implement environment friendly approaches for the cause of agriculture and sustainable development taking into account the aspects of environmental conservation. In the last three years, ECI has successfully enhanced capacity of Sugar Mills in IPM and helped almost 12 Sugar Mils to establish their own biological laboratories. As a result, they had saved huge amount of resources by adopting this approach.
The major objective of ECI is enhancement of quality of life, conservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity through environmentally sustainable approaches utilizing natural renewable resource base with the active participation of communities. ECI has a seven-member Board of Governors comprising eminent professionals and intellectuals who support conservation of the environment and provide guidance and advice to run programs of the Organization. ECI is administered by an Executive Committee who is responsible for its organization and management. At present the main source of ECI funding is the private sector as well as donations through philanthropy.
ECI possesses necessary infrastructure for carrying out research and implementation programs in any part of Pakistan as well as in other countries of the world. The present team of ECI has a track record of capacity building of training personnel from the government, national and international organizations and the farming communities, by holding training of trainers and farmer field schools in different areas.
ECI has professional staff as well as a resource of volunteers of international repute with expertise in integrated crop management, agricultural economics and environmental conservation. They have in-depth skills and experience in implementation of integrated development projects, and have published a very large number of scientific papers and reports of their findings. They have wide experience in organizing training of trainers, farmer field schools, mass awareness campaigns, workshops, symposia and seminars.
ECI has established successful partnerships with Human Development Foundation (HDF), Green Circle Organization (GCO), National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and the sugar industry at large.
