Calcutta Society for Professional Action in Development (SPADE) was founded in 1994 by a group of development professionals from a diverse field basically to provide techno-managerial support to other organizations operating in the development sector. Over time, SPADE has emerged as a prominent professional organization having an outstanding capacity in providing consultancy services as well as in conducting various Studies, Researches and documentations related to the field of development. All SPADE people have distinct technical-professional expertise in diverse fields which converged in its work.
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Mission of SPADE is to work in association with others to provide professional support to poor and marginalized communities and advocate policies on their behalf and its vision is that all people are equipped to participate in a sustainable and equitable world.
It is a non political organization and is free from caste and religious biases.
SPADE is registered under West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961 and under section 12 A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and also under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976.
SPADE has been empanelled by the Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Rural Development, Government of India, on and from 8th April, 2013 as a Capacity Building Agency for NRLM in the areas of Staff Induction and Capacity Building, Social Mobilization, Institution Building, Financial Inclusion and Capacity Building of Community Institutions and Cadres.
SPADE has been empanelled as a Vocational Training Providing Institute from April 2012 by the Society for Self Employment of Unemployed Youth, West Bengal constituted by the Government of West Bengal under the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of West Bengal in 2004.
SPADE is member of the NGO Partnership System that has been promoted by the Planning Commission of India as a platform that provides space for interface between Voluntary Organizations or NGOs and key Government Ministries or Departments.
SPADE is member of the West Bengal Self Help Group Promotional Forum – a State level network of Self Help Promoting Institutions in West Bengal since its inception in 2001 and a member of the State Inter Agency Group – West Bengal that was formed in mid 2000 initially to avert the type of devastation caused by exceptionally widespread floods of West Bengal in 2000 and gradually it emerged as a collective effort of promoting the core concept of unified humanitarian response across the state.
SPADE developed its technical and professional expertise in the field of Institution Building, Capacity Building, Livelihood Promotion, Awareness Promotion, Climate Change & Disaster Management, and Environment Management.
SPADE is engaged with National organisations like:
- West Bengal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (WBSRLM) – a Society under the Panchayats & Rural Development Deptt, Govt. of West Bengal,
- West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Limited, Govt. of West Bengal Undertaking – Nodal Ministry: Self Help Group & Self Employment Department,
- Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY) under Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India, and
- CSR projects of Tata Power Community Development Trust, Stock Holding Corporation India Limited, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation Limited,
- National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development – NABARD,
- Irrigation and Waterways Department – Government of West Bengal,
- Energy Swaraj, and
- Women Development Undertaking – Govt. of West Bengal.
SPADE worked with International organizations like:
- Oxfam,
- Action Aid India,
- UNICEF,
- CARE,
- World Vision,
- Water For People,
- Goal Global,
- Barefoot College International,
- CARITAS, and
- UNDP.
SPADE published more than 35 books and CDs on the subjects it worked and is now working.