Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New

Local Government Division, MoLGRD&C

Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities (SWAPNO)

Bi-annual Progress Report submitted to Marico

January – June 2020

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Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities

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Acronyms and Abbreviations

ADC ADM AVCB AWP BCC BCCTF BDT BIDS BICC CCA CDMP CFF CG CMF COEL CRA CSO COVID DAE DC DMC DPP DRR ESDO FDRWC FYP G2P GED GO GoB GUK HDRC HR IGA IPs JPMF KMC Kg LDC

Additional Deputy Commissioner Additional District Magistrate Activating Village Court Bangladesh Annual Work Plan Behavioral Change Communication Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund Bangladeshi Taka Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies Bangabandhu International Convention Center Climate Change Adaptation Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme Climate Fiscal Framework Community Group Community Mobilization Facilitator Center of Excellence for Leather Skill Bangladesh Ltd. Community Risk Assessments Civil Society Organization Corona Virus Disease Department of Agriculture Extension District Commissioner Disaster Management Committee Development Project Proforma Disaster Risk Reduction Eco Social Development Organization Family Dispute Resolution Women and Children Welfare Five Year Plan Government to Public General Economics Division Government Order Government of Bangladesh Gana Unnayan Kendra Human Development Research Centre Human Resource Income Generating Activities Implementing Partners Joint Programme Monitoring Framework Knowledge Management Consultants ltd. Kilogram Least Development Countries

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LGD LGI LGSP LoGIC M&E MIS MoLGRD&C MoDMR MoWCA MOU MOS MPTF NGO NIM NPD NSSS OM PC PIC PMU PO PSC ProMPT REOPA RMP RO ROSCA RRF SDG SME SWAPNO SC ToR TNA ToT UDCC UNDAF UNDP UNO UP USD

Local Government Division Local Government Institution Local Government Strengthening Project Local Government Initiative on Climate change Monitoring and Evaluation Management Information System Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperative Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Memorandum of Understanding Market Opportunity Survey Multi Partner Trust Fund Non-Government Organization National Implementation Modality National Project Director National Social Security Strategy Operational Manual Project Coordinator Project Implementation Committee Programme Management Unit Project Officer Project Steering Committee Promoting Participatory Training Rural Employment Opportunities for Public Assets Rural Maintenance Program Regional Office Rotating of Savings and Credit Associations Result Resource Framework Sustainable Development Goal Small and Medium Enterprise Strengthening women’s ability for Productive new opportunities Standing Committee Terms of Reference Training Need Assessment Training of Trainers Union Development Coordination Committee United Nations Development Assistance Framework United Nations Development Programme Upazila Nirbahi Officers Union Parishad United State Dollar

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VAW VCA WHO

Violence Against Women Village Court Assistant World Health Organization

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Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 5

Project Activities and key Achievements ................................................................................................ 8

1. Project Inception and Orientation Activities ............................................................................... 8

2. Recruitment of new beneficiaries and wages payment ........................................................... 11

3. Livelihood development activities ............................................................................................. 12

4. Gender and social development ................................................................................................ 15

5. Reinforcement activities in Kurigram continued (Third cycle – At a glance) ........................... 18

6. Crash Programme on Covid-19 .................................................................................................. 20

7. Project Communication Monitoring and MIS ........................................................................... 27

8. Challenges and lesson learnt ..................................................................................................... 28

ANNEXURE .............................................................................................................................................. 30

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Executive Summary

UNDP and Marico signed the second cost sharing agreement in February 2020 after successful implementation of the activities committed in the first agreement and after a couple of rounds of negotiation and revision of the SWAPNO II proposal. Although the agreement signed in February, the project implementation began in January 2020 with staff deployment in new districts and action plan development for the entire project period till June 2021. This report covers progress of first six-months - from January to June 2020, and focuses on the holistic project implementation, including COVID 19 response and the results achieved so far. Since Marico has become a regular donor of SWAPNO, this report is not going to be restricted within the agreement. The project has revised the basic literacy and health and nutrition training modules, developed a number of flip charts for better visualisation, by accommodating changes suggested by the MD, Marico-BD and his team during Kurigram visit. In accordance with the action plan, the project undertook various activities by maintaining UNDP and MARICO procedures to successfully achieve the results laid out in the Project Proposal. The project successfully organised inception workshops at district level with different stakeholders from the Local Government Division (LGD), District and Upazila level government officials, UP representatives, local opinion leaders and project staff. Three new project offices were established in three new districts – Jamalpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha - whereas Kurigram continued with the existing office set-up. Once the NGOs came on board and completed staff recruitment, the project organized orientation training to enable them to fully understand SWAPNO II implementation modalities. The most challenging task for the project was to rightly select 3,564 beneficiaries from 99 unions. Although the project planned to work in 100 Union Parishads (UPs), the Sadar union of Hatibandha Upazila under Lalmonirhat district was declared as municipality after signing the agreement with Marico; therefore, left out of the project. Despite mounting political pressure and ill motives of some UP representatives, the project successfully completed the recruitment process in accordance with the selection criteria with support of the district and Upazila level government officials and community and religious leaders. According to SWAPNO MIS data, 47% beneficiaries are widowed, 27% are abandoned, 18% are divorced and 8% have a disabled husband. Another significant achievement of the project is to get 3564 corporate SIM cards free of cost from Grameen Phone with BDT 200 free talk time with each SIM card. To ensure 100% digital payment from the beginning of the project, SWAPNO II also procured and distributed 3,564 Symphony brand mobile handsets (button phone) to all newly recruited beneficiaries. The project also signed a contract with bKash to transfer wages through mobile wallet.

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Selected women beneficiaries (3,564) got public works-based employment, the UPs, through ward level meetings, selected important public assets, prepared a yearly plan for the beneficiaries and involved the Standing Committee on Family Dispute Resolution, Women and Children welfare to supervise the project. The beneficiaries have already completed 146,124 person days of public works. The government has already released BDT 805,452,000 (USD 9.65 million) to pay beneficiary wages for 15 months. SWAPNO beneficiaries in new districts have formed (Rotating Savings and Credit Associations) ROSCAs to contribute an agreed amount and give it to a member for expanding livelihoods or buying assets. Total 297 ROSCAs groups newly formed in Jamalpur, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat District, total BDT 79,70,400 already saved by beneficiaries. In Kurigram, the beneficiaries were given renewed support to enhance access to market, government and non-government service delivery organisations and start an all-out nutrition campaign to overcome micronutrient deficiencies. A street drama has been developed; a professional group is being hired to perform at Union Parishad level. A set of Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) materials has been developed to further strengthen the campaign, involving educational institutions and local youths. Although the original plan was to continue support of the second cycle beneficiaries (2592 from 72 unions) in Kurigram, some beneficiaries from the first cycle who graduated from the project in 2017, also approached the project to be included in the support mechanism. Therefore, in Kurigram, interested beneficiaries of the first cycle were also brought into the Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs). In Kurigram BDT 32,785,600 (USD 0.386 million) are generated as savings by 2396 women beneficiaries.

The Project completed Market Opportunity Survey (MOS) and Training Needs Assessment (TNA), by engaging independent consultants. Based on the different trades identified by the surveys, the project has designed skills training plan for livelihoods development and formal sector employment for the productive age group beneficiaries. Moreover, the project has redesigned nutrition and agriculture activities, developed local business development model for marketing and Agri-value chain activities (refer concept note as annex 6). Based on the strength of correct beneficiary targeting and transparent implementation image, SWAPNO effectively negotiated with a number of UNDP projects, donors and the private sector to respond in COVID 19 emergency. The project reached to community people in 172 Unions with WHO recommended awareness-raising messages on COVID-19, provided hygiene Kits to the beneficiaries within the first week of April, 2020. With financial support of the United Group, SWAPNO provided food baskets to 5000 poor and extreme poor beneficiaries. The food basket contained 12-kgs of rice, 6-kgs of flour, 2-kgs of potatoes, 2-kg of lentil, one kg of sugar, one kg of salt, a liter of soybean oil, a kg of flattened rice (Chira) and two pieces of soap. The project has also

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provided BDT 1500 as Cash grant through bKash to 6064 women beneficiaries with the financial support from Australian aid.

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Project Activities and key Achievements

1. Project Inception and Orientation Activities

1.1: New contract signing with MARICO: SWAPNO received private sector funding in the earlier phases from Marico Bangladesh. After reviewing BIDS study findings, Marico renewed their commitment to support SWAPNO II in developing market value chain for the beneficiaries and support formal sector employment. The agreement was signed on 17 February 2020. Mr. Sudipto Mukerjee, Residential Representative of UNDP, and Mr. Ashish Goupal, Managing Director of Marico Bangladesh signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a value of 0.31 million USD. 1.2: Government approval: In order to implement SWAPNO II activities flawlessly, the Local Government Division (LGD) issued a Government Order (GO) along with the Operational Manual (OM) to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) to inform listed UPs about their roles and responsibilities in project implementation. In turn, the Deputy Commissioners instructed the UPs and introduced the implementing NGOs. The DC in collaboration with project staff and the partner NGO organized an inception workshop in each respective district, where officials from District and Upazila administration, representatives of Union Parishads along with UP Secretaries, service delivery departments, financial institutions and civil society representatives attended. The National Project Director (NPD) attended all the workshops and highlighted the importance of correct beneficiary targeting and socio-economic empowerment of women to curb multidimensional poverty. The NPD also highlighted digital wage payment to ensure financial inclusion and transparency in financial transactions. Since the NGO ESDO has been the implementing partner in Kurigram since 2015, the support services designed for Kurigram beneficiaries has become very effective due to their long association with the beneficiaries. ESDO has also extended financial and technical support to beneficiaries that want to extend their small enterprises. 1.3: Selection of Implementing Partners: The UNDP procurement unit selected implementing partner NGOs through a rigorous and transparent selection process. The entire process took

Fig 1: Contract between Marico and UNDP

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around four months to complete. It took longer than expected, since in response to the first call, UNDP received applications for Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts while no application was received for Jamalpur. From the first call Gano Unnayan Kendra (GUK) and Eco Social Development Organisation (ESDO) were selected for Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts respectively. UNDP had to go for re-tendering for Jamalpur and Kurigram districts to ensure a competitive process and value for money. In the end ESDO won the contracts for both Kurigram and Jamalpur. 1.4: District project office set-up: After contract signing, three new district offices were set up, while Kurigram continued with existing office facilities. Address and contact numbers of district offices are shown in annexure 2. 1.5: Project staff recruitment: In accordance with the project proposal, UNDP recruited and re-designated project personnel through a competitive selection process. The NGOs also conducted staff recruitment at district level. All staffs are now on board and contributing to project implementation. 1.6: Staff orientation: After the recruitment, partner NGO staff were given orientation by SWAPNO district and Head Quarter team members. The orientation covered: goal & objectives of the project, roles & responsibilities of different stakeholders, Project Coordinator (PC), Project Officers (POs) and Union Workers. Emphasis was given on correct beneficiary targeting and the steps needed to be followed by the UP during the selection process. At the end of this orientation session, project staff reached a common understanding of the implementation modalities of SWAPNO II which clearly resulted in selection of public assets suited for disaster risk reduction and correct beneficiary targeting.

Fig 2: Staff Orientation at District Level

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1.7: Project Implementation Committee (PIC) Meeting: The 6th Project Implementation Committee (PIC) meeting was held on 22 January 2020 at the SWAPNO office in Dhaka. The meeting was chaired by the National Project Director with participation of relevant high-level GoB officials and district colleagues, including project representatives. The Ministry of Local Govt. principally agreed to submit the next phase of this project named ‘SWAPNO Plus’ to the Project Steering Committee. 1.8: District level inception workshops: In order to disseminate the project objectives, operational procedures, beneficiary selection and wages payment procedures and roles and responsibilities of the district and Upazila level officials, district level workshops were organized in Jamalpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts. The DC and DDLG coordinated the workshop and invited a wide range of stakeholders to ensure similar understanding. All UP chairman and UP Secretaries were also invited to the workshop. About 150 participants including Civil Surgeon, Deputy Director (Agriculture), Deputy Director (Social Services), Deputy Director (Youth Development), Deputy Director (Women Affairs), District Livestock Officer, District Fisheries Officer, Additional District Magistrate (ADM), ADC (General), Upazila Chairman, UNO, Assistant Commissioners, Freedom Fighter, Bank Managers, Union Parishad Chairman, Union Parishad Secretary, Journalists, UNDP officials, Partners NGOs representatives and other local NGOs and civil society representative of each districts were present at the inception workshop. Mr. Md. Emdad Ullah Mian, Additional Secretary, LGED and the National Project Director, SWAPNO and Mr. Kajal Chatterjee, National Project Manager, SWAPNO jointly conducted the district inception workshops and shared the pathway of graduation from extreme poverty of the destitute and vulnerable women creating productive employment, enhancing employability and skills. 1.9: Orientation session with Union Parishad: In order to create ownership, ensure community demanded public asset selection and right targeting of beneficiaries, all the UPs were given orientation on implementation methodology of SWAPNO II. The District colleagues along with PC of partner NGOs conducted the sessions. District wise attendance were as follows: Jamalpur 450; Lalmonirhat 303; Gaibandha 153. 1.10 Project Steering Committee (PIC) Meeting: The 4th Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting was held on 22 June 2020 at the SWAPNO in virtual modality. The meeting was chaired by the

Fig 3: Project Implementation Committee Meeting

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Senior Secretary, Local Govt. Division and attended by representatives of seven ministries. Apart from the National Project Director, Resident Representative, Assistant Residential Representative and Head of Poverty and Urbanisation of UNDP participated in the meeting including project manager and representatives. The Project Steering Committee approved the 2020 work plan and endorsed to the no cost extension of SWAPNO till December 2021. The PSC also decided to request Marico to extend the present contract from June 2021 to December 2021 with added financial contribution.

2. Recruitment of new beneficiaries and wages payment

2.1: Selection and recruitment of new

beneficiaries: The project selected 3,564 new beneficiaries in Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Jamalpur districts. The selection process was led by the Union Parishad in close facilitation of partner NGOs and the community. The selected beneficiaries are women who are widowed, abandoned, divorced, separated or have a husband with disability who is unable to earn and maintain the family through mass awareness and publicity, primary selection through open lottery and individual house visits, (refer graph I for beneficiary status).

The selection process was led by the Union Parishad in close facilitation of partner NGOs and the community. The process was facilitated by the following steps:

• Orientation to UP and SC on beneficiary selection and recruitment process;

• Consultation meeting with the representatives and local/community leaders at ward level to finalize selection date, time, and venue.

• Mass campaign and advertisement to enrol the beneficiaries.

• Beneficiary selection through the lottery.

• Household visit to cross-check for final selection and UP approval.

Abandoned27%

Divorced18%

Married (Disabled Husband)

8%

Widow47%

Graph I: Marital Status of Beneficiaries

Fig 4: Beneficiary Selection process

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2.1: Account opening for new beneficiaries and wage payment: UNDP procured 3,564 mobile handsets (button phone) for newly recruited beneficiaries in three districts through a competitive process. The phone sets with SIM cards have already been distributed among the beneficiaries on the day (12 January 2020) and they have started the public work. A collaboration with Grameen Phone has been developed to get corporate SIM for the beneficiaries. The MoU with bKash has been extended and signed on 28 February 2020 to pay beneficiary wages through mobile wallet. As a result 3,564 poor and extreme poor women from 99 unions have been conducting digital financial transaction through mobile wallets.

2.3: Promote group savings (ROSCA): SWAPNO-II women in the new districts have formed (Rotating Savings and Credit Associations) ROSCAs to contribute an agreed amount and give it to a member for expanding livelihoods or buying assets. Total 297 ROSCAs groups newly formed in Jamalpur, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat District and generated BDT 79,70,400 savings from 2214 new beneficiaries. However, older beneficiaries of Kurigram is maintaining their existing ROSCA savings and generated BDT 32,785,600 from 2396 women.

3. Livelihood development activities

3.1: Market Opportunity Survey (MOS) and Training Needs Assessment (TNA): UNDP hired two independent consultants to conduct Market Opportunity Survey (MOS) and Training Needs Assessment (TNA). The MOS is completed and the report is attached herewith as annex 3. MOS was conducted in Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Jamalpur districts on the following criteria:

➢ Demand for the products and services in the local market and outside area ➢ Skills require to run the trade ➢ Fund and resources (equipment, time and space) required ➢ Opportunity and scope for marketing of products by the women.

Fig 5: SWAPNO beneficiary withdrawing money from nearest bKash point (left), received cash using mobile wallet (right)

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➢ General risk assessment for perishable and slow items and seasonal impact. ➢ Profitability of the products and yearly turnover.

Through the MOS, 44 trades are identified by the respondents which might be suitable for beneficiaries. The trades are clustered into three categories i.e. high priority (above 50%); average priority (from 50% to 25%) and less priority trades (below 25%). Majority of the women preferred poultry and tailoring as their first choice, since these poultry products are in high demand in the community, local market, at district and national levels. Similarly demand for tailoring is high at community levels and local market. Rural women believe “one size does not fit all” thus, prefers to make customized dresses from the local women tailors whom they can easily communicate with trust and confidence.

Table 1: List of trades identified in MOS

Potential Trades identified by FGD participants

Lalmonirhat (12)

Gaibandha (6) Jamalpur (15)

Total (33)

Percent (%)

High preferred trades

Poultry rearing 12 6 13 31 94

Tailoring 10 6 14 30 91

Grocery shop 9 6 13 28 85

Cow rearing 12 0 13 25 76

Tea stall 9 5 11 25 76

Vegetable cultivation 5 6 13 24 73

Goat rearing 7 6 6 19 58

Moderately preferred trades

Betel leaf shop 7 1 8 16 48

Cloth business 5 4 6 15 45

Cosmetics shop 1 1 13 15 45

Egg selling 2 4 9 15 45

Cow fattening 5 6 1 12 36

Nokshikatha 0 2 10 12 36

Nursery cultivation 4 2 5 11 33

Fish culture 0 1 11 11 33

Handicraft 2 0 7 9 27

Based on the finding of MOS and TNA, the project designed skills training plan for the selected beneficiaries for formal sector employment areas. 3.2. SWAPNO Local Business Development Model: Based on the MOS and TNA survey, SWAPNO has redesigned its nutrition and agriculture activities. Objective of this initiative is to improve the enabling environment of local business that encourage inclusive business for SWAPNO

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beneficiaries (refer annex 6 for the concept). Core strategies of this local business development model are:

• Pro-poor service and inputs market development for SWAPNO beneficiaries through activating the linkage with govt. line departments, private sectors actors, and local service providers.

• Increase production and income through improved technology and existing local business model for the landless farmers.

• Promotion of inclusive business model for pro-poor forward market development to ensure sale of surplus production at homestead.

3.3. Vegetable cultivation in Sack method and developing Kitchen garden: The Project Officers & Union Workers of SWAPNO discussed with the SWAPNO women beneficiaries at the field level and advise them to cultivate vegetable in Sack method and develop Kitchen garden. Many of the field level beneficiaries enthusiastically accepted this and started cultivating. About 3689 SWAPNO women beneficiaries from 73 unions of 9 Upazilas of Kurigram district started cultivating vegetables using sack method and kitchen garden cultivation. Many of them have become economically self-sufficient by cultivating vegetables in the Sack method and Kitchen Garden.

Fig 6: Local Business Development Model for SWAPNO

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Below table shows the details of vegetable cultivation in cluster sack method and kitchen garden cultivation:

SL # Name of Cluster Total women beneficiaries

# of Sack # of Kitchen Garden

1 Kurigram Sadar 678 2446 451

2 Ulipur 932 1730 609

3 Rowmari 555 1078 555

4 Nageswari 721 1551 469

5 Bhurungamari 803 1410 494

Grand Total 3689 8215 2578

4. Gender and social development

4.1. Hiring of training organization and conduct life skills training: Apart from employment, SWAPNO provides life skills training to 3564 beneficiaries to develop their knowledge, skills, and attitudes on different subjects. This begins with leadership development, gender development, rights and entitlement, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, health and nutrition, self-learning on easy accounting and basic principles of small business management.

Fig 7: Vegetable cultivation in Sack method

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In order to ensure better organization and best value for money, UNDP has employed a consultancy firm (consortium of Promoting Participatory Training-ProMPT and Knowledge Management Consultants (KMC) Ltd, well known in the training and development in Bangladesh. The consortium has submitted the training plan and started the intervention from 17th of June. After revising life skills training modules, all NGO staff were given Training of Trainers (ToT) for five days. In this residential training, the participants learned facilitation techniques along with contents of the modules. Extensive mock facilitation was organized to enhance their facilitation skills and learn to keep beneficiary motivation high throughout the training period. Name and duration of 7 life skills modules are given below: Table 2: List of seven life skills

Name of course Duration, days

Leadership development 1

Health & Nutrition 2

Gender Development 1

Rights & Entitlement 2

Climate Change Adaptation & Disaster Risk Reduction 2

Self-Learning - Easy Accounting 2

Basic Principles of Small Business Management 3

Implementation of Life skills training: Life Skills Training implementation has begun on 17th June 2020 at 99 unions of Jamalpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts. This training will continue up to 25th August, 2020. In accordance with the WHO guideline on COVID-19 pandemic, all sorts of safety measures are taken by the project, which includes maintaining social distancing, hand washing facilities at the venue, wearing mask and temperature detection at entrance. In Lalmonirhat, Mr. Rafiqul Islam, DDLG, Lalmonirhat inaugurated the training and spent the day with the beneficiaries. In Gaibandha, Mr. Abu Rayhan Dolon, UNO, Fulchari Upazila and Mr Liton Mia, Chairman, Kanchipara UP inaugurated the training session. In Jamalpur, most of the union representatives either chairman or members attended the training.

Fig 8: View of Dry run session on Life Skills module at Gaibandha

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4.2. Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) materials development: Total 15 types (3,345 pcs) of Flip Chart, 3 types of Poster (26,800 pcs) and 3 types of Flyers (640 pcs) were developed as BCC materials to boost nutrition campaign, particularly on homestead gardening, vitamin A, importance of food and nutrition, supplementary food for 6-23 months old children, Iodized salt, care for pregnant and lactating mother, and adolescent health and behaviour.The package also includes constitutional rights of women in Bangladesh and their right of access to different service delivery organisations. 4.3. Observance of International Women’s Day: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. As the lead UN development agency, UNDP is well-placed to help implement the goals through our work in some 170 countries and territories. The 17 SDGs are integrated that is, they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability. Through the pledge to Leave No One Behind, countries have committed to fast-track progress for those furthest behind first. SWAPNO is pursuing eight Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its development activities. Among eight, SGDs Goal # 5 is Gender Equality. To celebrate International Women’s day-2020, with the lead of gender and social development specialist of SWAPNO- UNDP. SWAPNO project took different programs in coordinating with its four field offices (Kurigram, Jamalpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha district). SWAPNO district office celebrated the IWD with local administration, SWAPNO women beneficiaries and took different events like: Rally, Discussion women’s rights, Gender equality issues.

SWAPNO Dhaka office organized discussions meeting with SWAPNO staffs, and also participated joints events with UN organization at BICC on 5th March 2020 and also participated in “Unstoppable Women Awards 2020 at Hotel Sonargaon invitation from Business Standard and UNIC Bangladesh to mark the International Women’s Day-2020. 4.4. Gender Marker: The Gender Marker is a tool to improve the gender equality and women’s empowerment at work and home. Considering the set criteria of UNDP, SWAPNO project reviews its Gender maker based on the criteria and analyse its activities with evidence.

Fig 9: Celebration of International women day

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4.5. Gender Action Plan (GAP): Based on the Annual Work Plan (AWP) a Gender Action plan was developed and disseminated to the field.

5. Reinforcement activities in Kurigram continued (Third cycle – At a glance)

In Kurigram district, 5184 women beneficiaries were graduated from 1st and 2nd cycle. In this reporting period, Important activities include: Nutrition Campaign, Cooking Demonstration, IGA-wise Group formation, Cluster meeting, etc. Women beneficiaries are presently, doing different income generating activities, vegetable cultivation in sack method and kitchen garden, goat rearing, poultry rearing, small business (grocery shop, tea stall) with the ROSCA savings. Major activities accomplished in this reporting period are the following: 5.1. Life skills and livelihoods training follow-up: As per follow-up plan, the project developed a comprehensive guideline on livelihood training follow-up among 216 women beneficiaries’ small groups within 72 Unions in Kurigram. Union Facilitators/Group Leaders facilitated the courses according to the follow-up guideline. 5.2. IGA using the ROSCA savings: Around 90% of 1st and 2nd cycle beneficiaries have started different IGAs using ROSCA and individual savings. Every participant is trying to find out two or more sustainable IGAs for increasing regular income. Vegetable cultivation in sack method and kitchen gardening, goat rearing, poultry rearing, small business are few examples of beneficiaries Income Generating Activities (IGAs). In this reporting period, the project has motivated women beneficiaries to do kitchen gardening using sac/pot/tray which is a flood resistant technology best suited for low lying areas and char lands of Kurigram. Piloting of flood resistant and environment friendly technology already started and significant improvement of beneficiaries in Kurigram District is evident. The project collected 3689 women beneficiary’s data on vegetable cultivation those have been using sac/pot/tray, data revealed that women becoming full fill household level vegetable demands, not to depend or buy vegetable from market, and many of them have economically self-sufficient.

The table below shows the vegetable production at beneficiary households, total 8215 sacks and 2578 kitchen gardens vegetable produced, as immediate results beneficiary households consumed vegetables, distributed to neighbours and relatives, and sold to nearby markets. Total market value of this vegetable cultivation was around BDT 33,01,518 (average BDT 895 for each household). Table 3: Last three months vegetable cultivation (sack method and kitchen garden cultivation):

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SL #

Name of Cluster Total

women # of Sack

# of Kitchen Garden

Consume (BDT)

Sold (BDT) Distributed (BDT)

Total (BDT)

1 Kurigram Sadar 678 2,446 451 345,020 241,740 105,340 692,100

2 Ulipur 932 1,730 609 542,460 362,790 71,425 976,675

3 Rowmari 555 1,078 555 243,780 125,050 24,825 393,655

4 Nageswari 721 1,551 469 257,360 211,870 59,915 529,145

5 Bhurungamari 803 1,410 494 476,480 179,403 54,060 709,943

Grand Total 3,689 8,215 2,578 1,865,100 1,120,853 315,565 3,301,518

5.3. Nutrition Awareness Campaign 2020: During this reporting period, ESDO has taken the following initiatives to conduct the Nutrition awareness campaign 2020:

• School based essay competition and debate.

• School based “Health and Nutrition awareness team/group”.

• Community level popular drama show.

• Community clinic and Community Group (CG) visit.

• Coordination meeting with CG and SC (FDRW&CW).

• Courtyard meetings.

• Participated in Union Development Coordination Committee (UDCC) meeting with nutrition issues.

• BCC sessions and

• Cooking demonstrations.

5.3. Cooking demonstration: Traditional cooking in rural villages is associated with washing vegetables after cutting, overcooking and eating similar types of food almost daily. These habits adversely effect on the food quality and creates micronutrient deficiency among the beneficiary and community households. The project has taken steps towards raising awareness of the rural population on ideal cooking education/ demonstration. Each Union Parishad organised ideal cooking demonstrations for women, adolescent girls and community people. Totally 72 cooking demonstrations were conducted. Number of participants is stated in the graph 3.

3264

446

665

712

5087

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

WOMEN

ADOLESCENT GIRLS

CHILDREN

OTHERS

TOTAL

Graph 2: Number of Participants participated in cooking

demonstration

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5.4. Community clinic and Community Group (CG) visit: This initiative was taken to visit the Community Based Health Care Centre to involve the service providers with the nutrition campaign. In this connection, a Union Facilitator visits a community clinic in each Union in a month. Union Facilitators have visited 216 Community Clinics to enhance participation. A total of 57,006 women received nutrition related from Community Clinics; among them 4,683 were pregnant and 4,613 were lactating mothers. 5.5. UP-Standing Committee (SC) meeting: In accordance with the Union Parishad (UP) Act – 2009 the UPs should form 13 standing committees to actively work on different issues and make decisions through a monthly meeting. These committees are formed to ensure good governance and community participation in UP activities along with elected members. SWAPNO works with the SC on Family Disputes Resolution, Women and Children Affairs (FDR&WC) and ensures monthly meeting to discusses progress and problems related to project implementation and provide flawless support to beneficiaries. This committee is headed by an elected women member. In the reporting period, 73 meetings were organised where 375 members participated in these meetings. 5.6. Courtyard meeting with community people including SWAPNO women beneficiaries: The SWAPNO project has community groups that worked with women beneficiaries and have been playing a vital role to organize courtyard meetings at their communities. About 216 groups in 72 Union Parishad completed 216 courtyard meetings. Meeting agenda was

• Importance of nutritious food.

• Low cost food, high level nutrition.

• Consequence of child marriage.

• Personal health and hygiene.

Table 4: Participants’ attendance in the courtyard meetings

Sl

Name of Union Parishad

Participants

SWAPNO women beneficiaries

Community women and girls

Others Total

1 72 8352 241 216 8806

6. Crash Programme on Covid-19

In the very beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, SWAPNO took initiatives to raise awareness of the beneficiary households to maintain personal hygiene, provided awareness-raising messages to the beneficiaries through Union Workers, printed and distributed posters on self-protection for community awareness, disseminated text messages individually to all beneficiaries and staff’s cell phones. But more initiative required to fight against COVID 19 to protect community-level infection since community-level infection increased over the time. Therefore, the project started

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a fifteen day crash program from 4th to 22nd April 2020 on COVID-19. The community mosques are still disseminating COVID awareness related programmes in all the Ups. Major activities of this crash program are as follows: 6.1. Community-level Awareness through Loudspeaker Announcement: From the beginning of this programme, to aware community people on COVID-19 regularly, Imams and Muazzins of around 3,400 mosques in 172 Unions have actively participated in the campaign. In addition, a pre-recorded WHO recommended messages were disseminated in each Union by using auto rickshaw/ rickshaw/engine van carrying two loudspeakers. Rickshaw/Van pullers wore mask, hand gloves for personal protection while using loudspeakers. This campaign covered around 870,000 persons.

6.2. Hand-washing demonstration sessions: SWAPNO provided basic orientation to 172 Union facilitators on the COVID-19 pandemic, in turn the Union facilitators conducted small (5 to 6 women) courtyard meetings in each Union to demonstrate WHO recommended hand-washing process and messages to maintain personal hygiene. Total 2,555 courtyard sessions were conducted in 172 Unions of four districts. They are: Kurigram (73 UPs), Gaibandha (17 UPs), Lalmonirhat (37 UPs) and Jamalpur district (45 UPs). Total 22,989 community people including SWAPNO beneficiaries (56% women, 26% children and 18% men) participated in demonstrations. 6.3. Hygiene Kits distribution: Project has distributed hygiene kits to beneficiary households, which included 04 soaps and 04 masks for each family. Union workers of SWAPNO project distributed the kits to each household in order to avoid the risk of social gathering. Moreover, soaps were kept in Mosque’s Ozukhana for hand washing. Facial masks were distributed to Mosque’s Imam

Women56%

Men18%

Children26%

participants in Handwashing demonstration

Women Men Children

Fig 10: Mass people awareness through loudspeaker announcement (left), awareness message delivered by Mosque

Imam (right)

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and Mouazzin. Total 71,200 hygiene kits (soap: 35,600 pcs and mask: 35,600 pcs) were distributed to SWAPNO beneficiary households and 3,140 to Mosques. 172 Union workers of SWAPNO Project got 02 soaps, 02 facial masks and 02 pairs of gloves to maintain personal hygiene and protect COVID-19.

6.4. Poster, banner and leaflet distribution: SWAPNO developed posters, leaflets, and banner with

important messages to build the mass awareness on protection from COVID-19. The awareness development materials are designed with pictures and important information in easy language. In total, 94,500 awareness development materials (poster: 8,000 and leaflet: 86,500) on COVID-19 printed and distributed. Posters were pasted to maintain utmost visibility at District, Upazila and Union level important places like school-college, hat-bazar (local market), pharmacies, restaurants, hospital compounds, and mosques. Leaflets were distributed to wider community, SWAPNO beneficiaries, Imams and Muazzins of local mosques, District and Upazila parishads and Union parishads. The Imams disseminated the messages to community people using loudspeakers of the mosques.

Fig 11: Informed UNO Bhurugamari, on soap & mask distribution (left), beneficiary level distribution (right)

Fig 12: Distribution of COVID-19

Awareness Posters

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Union facilitators of SWAPNO project read out the leaflets to community people during hand-washing demonstration. As a result, wider community people become aware on the person to person and community contamination from COVID-19 and ways to protect. 6.5. Mass awareness through Community Radio: Most of the working areas of SWAPNO are remote and the Char lands of Kurigram and Gaibandha districts hard to reach. By and large, char land population face communication obstructions to get updated messages and government instructions. Since community radio plays a vital role to disseminate messages in remote char lands, SWAPNO took initiatives to broadcast awareness messages on COVID-19 using this media. The community Radio Sharabela in Gaibandha and the community radio Chilmari in Kurigram Districts were contracted and have been broadcasting WHO recommended awareness messages along with updated govt. news on COVID-19. Broadcasting has been continuing five times daily from the month of April and will continue till the end of May 2020. 6.6. Food package distribution: SWAPNO has provided food basket support to around 5000 poor and extreme poor beneficiaries in Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram Districts. It was possible with the financial support from United Group, the food basket contained with 12-kg rice, 6-kg flour, 2-kg potato, 2-kg pulse, one kg sugar, one kg salt, one liter soyabean oil, one kg flattened rice (Chira) and two pieces soap. 6.6 Cash grants to beneficiaries: The project has also provided BDT 1500 as Cash grant through bKash to 6064 women beneficiaries with the financial support from Australian aid.

Fig 13: COVID-19 Awareness Poster and Leaflet

Fig 14: COVID-19 food basket distribution

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Success Story: I Shiuly sees a ray of hope as SWAPNO aids her during COVID-19 pandemic

Shiuly Begum (38), hails from Kanchipara union of Fulchari Upazila of Gaibandha district, joins SWAPNO this year with a dream to become self-dependent. Having two children, she lives with her mother as her husband divorced her seven years ago. At that time, she was not involved in any job. “I had a hard time nurturing my children. I used to do agricultural work before coming to SWAPNO project. I was totally clueless about my family’s future. After seven years of distress and struggle, I decided to become financially independent and joined SWAPNO.” Shiuly got enrolled in public works program and started to earn money. “I started to gain confidence. SWAPNO helps me to rethink about my life.” Things were going well till the sudden emergence of Coronavirus. One day, while Shiuly was working, heard about Coronavirus pandemic. “We were informed that all activities will be stopped from now as Coronavirus has taken

away lives of many people. I was feeling nervous and think about what will happen to my family.”

“After some days, SWAPNO team came and provided soaps and masks to us. They told us to wear masks all the time. They also showed us how to wash hands in a proper manner. We learnt to wash our hands 10-12 times for around 20 seconds. Another information that was new for us is to maintain physical distance from each other – around 3

feet. We have to maintain personal hygiene regularly. SWAPNO team told us that by following these instructions will not only safeguard us against COVID-19 but also from other diseases like diarrhea, cholera, etc. I started to teach my family and people living in my area about these rules. I told them to maintain both cleanliness and social distancing as Coronavirus transmits from one person to another through sneeze, cough, etc.”

“Soap and mask primarily ensure the safety of my family but we faced financial problems as I had no work. Considering our condition, SWAPNO team gave us BDT 1500 in our bKash accounts. With that money, I managed to maintain my family for a while.”

Shiuly was overwhelmed with joy when she came to know about the food relief program of SWAPNO. "We were extremely happy to hear about the food package distribution program. We

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heard that UNDP, in association with United Group, will provide us a food package containing rice, lentil, flour, soya bean oil, sugar, puffed rice, salt, potato and soaps. In this trying times, this was a great help for us” – Shiuly added.

Shiuly had no ambition before joining SWAPNO project. Now she aspires to play the role of both father and mother for her children. “Both of my son and daughter stood first in their classes. I want to create a better future for them. My dream is to become a role model for my children. As SWAPNO stands by me during this hard time, I am hopeful that I can fulfill my dream.”

Success Story: II

Story of Rashida: Confronting COVID-19 with SWAPNO’s relief

Three years back, when Rashida Khatun’s (35) husband disowned her and left her with three children, she had no idea on how she could even survive. Rashida originates from Syampur Union of Jamalpur district. She has joined SWAPNO this year. “When my husband decided to leave me, I was in extreme shock. I had no single source of income. I came to my parent’s house and started

to work as maid servant. But I was not able to feed my three children properly with the skimpy income that I made.” After joining SWAPNO, Rashida started working on public works program. “I started to make a handsome income which helps to run my family”- she added. But on March, while working, she heard from one of the Union workers about the outbreak of Coronavirus. “Union worker told us that due to COVID-19, we can’t work from now. We have to stay home now. She told us that Coronavirus is a contagious disease which spreads through sneeze and cough. We felt

terrified about the outcome of it. I was worried about my children.”

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“After some days, suddenly we got to know that we will get soaps and masks from SWAPNO project. I was so happy to hear this. We not only received the soaps and masks but also got the guideline and demonstration of using those properly. We learnt that we have to wash our hands for 20 seconds minimum before and after cooking, consuming food and using washroom. We have to maintain social distance. We should not share our masks with each other. Seeing the hand washing demonstration, I decided to share my learning with my family and community people. They also became aware and started to follow the rules.”

As public works program was stopped suddenly, Rashida had no money to buy food for her family. “I was in dire need of money. My children were starving. At that time, SWAPNO helped me again. I received BDT 1500 as cash support from SWAPNO which was a great support for us.” But this is not the end of support. SWAPNO again came up with another outstanding aid which is – Food package.

“One day, we were told to go at Union Parishad office to receive food package. Next day, I went to the office and saw that everyone is receiving a big packet containing 12 kg rice, 6 kg flour, 2 kg lentil, 2 kg potato, 1 kg puffed rice, 1 kg salt, 1 kg sugar, 1 liter soyabean oil and 2 soaps. I also received this food package. This is beyond my expectation. With this food package, I can meet the demand of my family easily.”

“When we first heard about Coronavirus, we were scared and worried about our future. But SWAPNO gave us tremendous support which we could ever imagine. I am truly grateful to UNDP and SWAPNO for supporting us during this crisis period.”

Rashida is now following all the instructions provided by SWAPNO and hopes to see a better future ahead. From having a directionless life to a balanced life – Rashida proves that she is not worthless and can be a valuable person for her family and community.

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7. Project Communication Monitoring and MIS

7.1. Baseline Survey: The baseline survey for the 3rd cycle was successfully completed by Human Development Research Centre (HDRC), one of the renowned consulting firm in Bangladesh. The final was report submitted to SWAPNO in May 2020, the baseline report will be an evidence for SWAPNO 3rd cycle base document to measure the results at the end of project cycle (refer baseline report as annex 4). 7.2. Monitoring and Quality Control Mechanism of COVID- 19 Crash Program: SWAPNO strictly followed UNDP procurement Financial Regulations and Rules (FRR) policy. Separate purchase orders were issued to 2 different UNDP enlisted vendors for supplying required items in Dhaka. The items were received in good condition and distributed to respective district offices. In close communication with the District administration, Upazila administration, Union Parishad and Implementing Partners the crash programme was implemented. While the district colleagues and administration followed up the programme regulary, the project office used digital monitoring by using WhatsApp, Viver and talking to beneficiaries over phone. 7.3. MIS data collection: SWAPNO ensures instant and continuous flow of information from union

level to LGD and UNDP through online MIS. This online real time data collection platform includes

updated socio-economic profile of beneficiaries, IGA status, life skills and livelihood skills training

and development, as well as all ongoing project activities.

7.4. Beneficiary Mobile Directory Printed: SWAPNO has published 3rd cycle beneficiary mobile phone directory and available in SWAPNO website. The beneficiary directory included 3,564 beneficiaries name, unique SWAPNO Identification Number (ID) including mobile number (refer beneficiary Mobile Phone Directory annex 5). This published beneficiary directory is one of the examples of SWAPNO’s transparency towards activities with poor and extreme poor rural women. 7.5. Develop Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) materials: Total 15 types (3,345 pcs) of Flip Chart, 3 types of Poster (26,800 pcs) and 3 types of Flyers (640 pcs) were developed as BCC materials to boost the nutrition campaign, particularly on homestead gardening, vitamin A, importance micronutrients for leaving a healthy life, supplementary food for 6-23 months old children, Iodized salt, care for pregnant and lactating mother, adolescent health and behaviour. 7.6. Video documentaries: Three video documentaries were developed on nutrition, cooking demonstration and beneficiary selection processes. These documentaries will be used to create mass awareness and develop a SWAPNO documentary. The project is in the process of identifying a good media house to develop a documentary on SWAPNO II highlighting how the project is being considered as the best suited social safety net for hard core poor women groups by addressing multidimensional poverty.

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7.7. Social media and SWAPNO website: Blog posts on significant news, events, meetings are consistently being updated on Social media. The communication team collects information from district officials and updates those in both Social media and SWAPNO website. Not only electronic media, communication team also regularly publish news, successful case stories in print media.

8. Challenges and lesson learnt The project has faced some challenges during the reporting period. But the project could overcome all of them by facilitating different actions and strategic connections.

• Hiring NGOs on time was an impeding factor to start field operation in time. In the first call none of the interested NGOs could successfully apply for Kurigram and Jamalpur due to difficulties in accessing online platform. Re-advertisement, shortlisting and evaluation of NGOs took time on beneficiary selection.

• Since the government has updated their online financial platform which is complex than previous version the finance ministry took a month to release wages.

• Moreover, transfer of National Project Director Mr. Emdad Ullah Khan from LGD to the Cabinet Division in December almost halted all financial activities until the new NPD Mr. Mohammad Mukhlesur Rahman Sarker joined in February.

• Large gatherings or meetings/courtyard session on handwashing demonstration, hygiene kits distribution of COVID-19 crash program could accelerate spreading coronavirus from person to person infection.

• COVID-19 pandemic delayed life skill training for women beneficiaries. Initial plan was to start this training in March but finally started on 17th June 2020.

• The livelihoods of graduated beneficiaries became standstill including garments workers due to COVID pandemic. The project has taken a number of activities to overcome the situation after withdrawal of lockdown.

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Action taken to overcome challenges:

• In order to expedite field implementation and ensure correct beneficiary selection, the project closely liaise with LGD, DCs and DDLGs to put pressure upon the unruly UP Chairpersons to follow selection criteria. The District colleagues also used media as a third eye. The freedom fighters attended district inception were also vigilant during beneficiary selection.

• Small scale (5 to 6 persons) community courtyard handwashing demonstration were conducted and avoided the large gathering during COVID-19 crash program. They were motivated to maintain at least 3 feet distance from each other, use mask, gloves and using soaps or hand sanitizers throughout the day.

• One hundred women tailors in Kurigram and Satkhira are trained on cotton mask making. The training was provided by MoWCA district and Upazila Offices. Moreover, about 50% of garments workers got back their job back with Ecofab limited after lots of persuasion. Rest will be re-employed, once suspended contracts are activated by their buyers.

Key Learnings:

• Ownership building is the key to obtain community and UP commitment in doing a good job. Since the project has an objective of developing UP capacity, engaging UP representatives in all the activities resulted in whole-hearted cooperation in most of the UP. Formation of beneficiary selection committee also worked well, since the elected representatives’ count electoral opinions, thus refrained from wrongdoing.

• SWAPNO was heavily counting on beneficiary employment in the garments industries. Evolution of fourth industrial revolution along with the global economic recession, and COVID 19 hit, employment opportunity in the sector is bound to hit. The project has been working to re-strategies formal sector employment by inventing new sectors.

• SWAPNO always maintains a waiting list to fill in dropouts. In Jamalpur, few dropout cases were quickly filled in to maintain normalcy at UP levels.

• Safe water is becoming a problem and health risk in all of our project areas. While drinking of too much iron contained water cause kidney, liver and pancreas damage, arsenic contamination in the ground water is the root cause of cancer, hypertension-related cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. Considering these health risk, the project is developing entrepreneurs from among the beneficiaries, who become waterpreneurs and sell pure drinking water to the community with minimum profit margin. SWAPNO is partnering with FloWater, a sister concern of Aga Khan Foundation to install a couple of pilot projects in Kurigram charlands to learn the efficacy and acceptance in the community. The plats will run by solar energy. If the project could be implemented, the project will be able to demonstrate use of green energy, diversified and non-traditional livelihoods and safe drinking water for the community. The project will learn details of operation modalities from the World vision and Wateraid, who have

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already installed a number of water points in the coastal belt. SWAPNO will study the women driven projects before coming to a firm decision.

ANNEXURE Annex -1: Interim Financial Report:

Semi Annual

Report-2020 (Jan'20-June'20).pdf

Annex -2: Address and contact number of SWAPNO II Field Office:

SL Name and Designation Office Address Contract Number & Email

1 MD. AHMADUL KABIR AKON Regional Coordinator

House #: 86 ,Hospitalpara, Kurigram

Mobile: 01730336795, 01714118094 Email: [email protected]

2 MD. MAHMOOD HOSSAIN District Manager (Jamalpur)

Kacharaipara, Battola, Jamalpur


3 MOHAMMUDUL HOQUE MUKUL Financial Monitoring Associate (Lalmonirhat)

Taluk Khutamara, ESDO-ETRC, Banvasamore, Lalmonirhat


4 MD. ZAHIDUL HAQUE Financial Monitoring Associate (Gaibandha)

Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK), Nasratpur, Gaibandha

Mobile: 01709309775 Email: [email protected]

5 MD AMIR ALI Financial Monitoring Associate (Jamalpur)

Kacharaipara, Battola, Jamalpur


6 MOHAMMAD MASUM MIAH Financial Monitoring Associate (Kurigram)

House #: 86 Hospitalpara, Kurigram


Annex -3: Market Opportunity Survey Report

Market

Opportunity Survey Report.pdf

Annex -4: SWAPNO 3rd cycle baseline Report

Report on Baseline

Survey of SWAPNO II_10 May 2020.pdf

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Annex-5: SWAPNO Beneficiary Mobile Phone Directory

SWAPNI II

Beneficiary Mobile Phone Directory.pdf

Annex-6: SWAPNO Agri-Value Chain Concept note

Vegetable Value

Chain for SWAPNO.pdf

Documents

Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New