Empower Women and Children by Livelihood Options

!. Project Title: Empower Disadvantaged Women and Children for Sustainable Livelihood Options

2. Project Area: Island areas of Sadar Upazila (Sub-District) in Kurigram District, Bangladesh

3. Project Period: 05 Years (Subject to availability of funding)

4. Targeted stakeholders: Primary Women, Adolescents and Children, Secondary all disadvantaged peoples in the project areas.

5. Project Objective: The broader objectives of the project are to reduce poverty and vulnerability in communities aiming to empower 500 Women, 200 Adolescents Girls and 900 outreach school Children providing to Health Services to 10,000 secondary stakeholders by undertaking Sustainable Livelihood Options at Kurigram Sadar under Kurigram District in Bangladesh by the end of the project.

6. Problem Context: Northwest part of Bangladesh is still acknowledged one of the poorest areas in the country. Kurigram District is located in the Northwest part of Bangladesh. The District with 09 Sub-District, covers 2, 28,800 hectors of land (2290 sq. km) the population of the District is 2.3 million. Landless (cultivating less than 0.50 acres) and marginal (cultivating between 0.51 to 1.50 acre) farmers account for 45% and 19% households respectively. Small farmers (1.51 acres to 2.50 acres) represent a further 11% household. The average size of the household is around 5.7 persons. The labour Force is predominantly/ agricultural and it is as high as 8% this labor force suffers from a high level of underemployment. 

Three quarters of households are completely landless or own less than one acre of land. Most of these households live in chronic poverty and 35% household are hardcore poor. Women and children are the most disadvantaged in condition.The poor usually have to depend on village Moneylenders with and exorbitant rate of interest. As a result they become victim to a downward spiral of continuing marginalization and impoverishment. Therefore agricultural sector and services remain the main source of wage income and employment. 

Village Initiative for Empowerment of Women (VIEW) a women rights focused NGO located at Kurigram District in Bangladesh aimed to address Asset building strategy that increases financial and tangible assets focuses of individuals, families and communities at vulnerable poverty stricken rural areas in Kurigram, Bangladesh. This project is assisted by GlobalGiving from since inception. VIEW plans to 0rganizing 500 women for developing groups' solidarities, 200 Adolescents girls providing life skill training and entrepreneurship training to 200 progressive women and enroll 900 children who are out reach of education from extreme poor families and also building assets for 100 disadvantaged and poor women. VIEW also derived Community Health services benefiting to 10,000 beneficiaries and address emergency responses.

The sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA) is prominent in a development program that aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability in communities engaged in small-scale off-farm activities, micro-entrepreneurship initiatives and various Income Generating Interventions. The project aim to support those who are progressive’s women of the targeted stakeholders fit to start off-farm business like cattle, goat and poultry rearing to earn money out of sale proceeds. It’s also known as wealth building approaches include strategies for saving up financial assets. The project aim to support financial assistance to distress but potential women for their income generation based on their experiences and livelihood culture.

Project Objective: The broader objectives of the project are to reduce poverty and vulnerability in communities aiming to empower 500 Women, 200 Adolescents Girls and 900 outreach school Children providing to Health Services to 10,000 secondary stakeholders by undertaking Sustainable Livelihood Options at Kurigram Sub-District under Kurigram District in Bangladesh by the end of the project.

Targeted Beneficiaries: The target beneficiaries within the project localities will be primarily comprised of female-headed women, Adolescents girls and children households, who are the most affected by poverty stricken has the highest priority of the project. About 50% of the total targeted beneficiaries will be considered as women. The project directly will target 3000 vulnerable women headed households in the communities of which 3000 women, 500 adolescent’s girls and 1,500 children (boys and girls) under the project. The women beneficiaries’ age to be considered ranging from 25-45 years, adolescents girls 14-16 years and children 6+ years.

The project interventions have been started from early September, 2022 and continued according to project plan. Some activities have been started and while others activities has also be taken into consideration to implement the programmes. During the period the progress achieved as follows:

Sl#

Activities

Achievement

Cumulative Progress

During the reporting period

Progress since inception

01

Self-help Group Development: 

25 Nos(500 women)

10 Nos( 500women)

25 Groups Composed of 500 women

02

Savings deposit as an Asset-Building Approach

500 women

Tk.20,000

Tk.35,000

03

Channeling Micro Credit for potential Income Generating Schemes:  

20 Women

30 women

30 women

04

Community Health Services

550 beneficiaries received health services

1200 beneficiaries received health services

1200 beneficiaries received health services

05

Non-Formal Primary Education for Outreach Children:

600 learners enrolled in education

20 School has been opened

20 school

06

Life Skill Training for Adolescents Girls:

50 Adolescents 

50 Adolescents 

50 Adolescents 

07

Advocacy to different Local Service Providers to Linking with Groups:

Local Government Institutions,Private Sectors,NGOs and other relevant stakeholders

20

20 

How to Monitoring the Project:

Once the project execution begins, project monitoring also commences. Project monitoring involves tracking a project’s metrics, progress, and associated tasks to ensure everything is completed on time, on budget, and according to project requirements and standards. During a project, project Coordinator and others staffs concerned are regularly evaluated progress, measured results and track milestones to ensure the project remains within its plan of actions through field visits. Any deviation is found informed to concern field staffs for its adjustment In the staff coordination meeting problems are threshed out, further action are chartered and necessary adjustment is done. Project Coordinator is responsible to Monitoring a project, prepare a reports or periodic and should be circulated to all concern to review. Project Coordinator wills also looks projects approved budget and timeline, ultimately maximizing the profit. Creating a clear strategy for monitoring projects will help the management whether the project are in wright track or not.

Appeal:

This project would not have been possible without the kind support and help of a lot of people. I am highly indebted to my teacher Mr. X for his guidance and constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the project. My special thanks and appreciations also go to my colleague and classmates and all the people who have willingly helped me out with their abilities. We seek your financial support in implement the project as such can be a part of that excitement by supporting our poor and needy women and children leading to healthy community.   

Md.Enamul Hoque

Executive Director