Bangladesh Country Report to the Global Board Executive Summary During this reporting period, THP-Bangladesh staff and volunteers carried out more than 10,000 bottomup, gender-focused activities in 804 clusters of villages (unions) across 57 of Bangladesh's 64 districts (zilas). This work continues to take place through the dedicated work of THP staff, volunteers, and partners across all seven administrative divisions of the country under a three pillar strategy: Social Mobilization for Self-reliant Action; Interventions for Gender Equality; and Strengthening Local democracy. Across these core pillars THP-Bangladesh runs a series of programs in the following thematic areas: Community Mobilization Gender Equality Village Development Campaigns Youth Ending Hunger Participatory Action Research Good Governance Advocacy and Alliances As part a result of strategic planning process, THP-Bangladesh has re-prioritized the 300 unions where it is currently working and will focus intensively on 80 unions in 2012-2015. With increased resources and integrated mobilization campaigns, the goal is to move these priority unions towards the achievement of the MDGs so they may become models of success. Significant Accomplishments THP-Bangladesh conducted four special Animator Training Workshops with participation of 336 newly elected people s representatives from 30 Union Parishads (UPs). An exciting outcome of the workshops was the decision to adapt the strategy of THP-Bangladesh in a three-way partnership between the UP representatives, animators and THP-Bangladesh with a goal of achieving the MDGs within those unions. A large-scale governance campaign on voter rights and awareness took place in Narayangonj and Comilla. A total of 25 meetings, with nearly 10,000 participants, were organized for the campaign, whose primary goal is to enhance voter education and promote 2009 Right to Information Act. The Bangladesh Election Commission, a THP-Bangladesh Report to the Global Board (April 2012) Page 1 of 6
government institution that works to ensure voters are informed and empowered to elect honest and competent candidates, was a key partner in this initiative. The Women s Leadership Network is expanding, with more than 500 women joining this reporting period. For National Girl Child Day in September, THP partnered with the Women and Children Affairs Ministry of Bangladesh to host more than 400 events around the country with more than 55,000 participants. Total of 2,825 girls and boys were trained as youth leaders through 68 Active Citizens Workshops and three Youth Leadership Trainings. These youth leaders implemented 136 strategic action plans on different social issues such as: illiteracy eradication, prevention of early marriage, sanitation, tree plantation, etc. In addition, 144 self-help groups formed and their total savings has reached Tk. 1,095,682 ($15,009 USD) and an additional 65 self-employment initiatives took place in 69 unions, benefiting 4,279 women and men. Challenges The majority of elected representatives (nearly 90 percent) are carrying out their duties for the first time. THP-Bangladesh has trained representatives in 30 unions (of which 19 men and 59 women chairpersons and 201 general members are new). Moreover, bureaucratic interferences, corruption and lack of required resources are also challenges in making UPs effective vehicles to create MDG Unions. There is still a need to change the prevailing mindset of the UP representatives that UPs are merely extended arms of the central government. Electing trustworthy candidates at all levels of government is a precondition for ensuring good governance in Bangladesh. Providing personal information about candidates in a transparent way has been a very sensitive issue in the past, and violence regularly surrounding political campaigns makes this an ongoing concern. The complexity of the legal system, in addition to the need to further engage voters, has been a challenge for THP-Bangladesh to strategically organize meetings through THP s good governance program. Enrolling members into the Unleashed Women Leaders Network and keeping them focused is a big challenge due to their limited mobility. Many rural women are dependent on their family; they have no permission to venture outside their homes at night. An additional challenge is that most of the women leaders themselves have been victims of different types of social subjugation and often low-levels of education; therefore it is often difficult for them to fully embrace a leadership role in their local networks. Lessons Learned Volunteers need to find a way for better collaboration with government departments, so that they can have access to government resources for achieving the MDGs. There is a need to partner with other civil society organizations engaged in advocacy initiatives focused on women s development issues. THP-Bangladesh Report to the Global Board (April 2012) Page 2 of 6
Because of inflation and the current economic crisis there is a need for increased attention to income-generating activities and to introduce a variety of different skills-development training workshops for community partners. Elected representatives need to be primary actors in creating successful MDGs Unions. Partner Story Road to Success - Mass Literacy Movement in Four Unions of Mymensingh Since I was illiterate, I used to give a thumb impression. I had to receive credit from our local committee, admit my kids into school and all types of activities through thumb impression. It was really reprehensible to me. However, at present I am not ashamed as I can write my name, read the newspaper. Thus I am so glad; it is possible for being learned in Bengali alphabet, said Rahima, a 40 yearold student of mass literacy centre of Khagdahor union. In just 42 days she was able to write the Bengali alphabet and has begun practicing by reading newspapers frequently. This achievement has also been possible for women leader Rokeya and youth leader Shafiq. There are many idols in Mymensing like Rokeya and Shafiq. Many people who were once illiterate are finding their voice in literacy centers like the one in Khagdahor. In the past, when Rokeya and Shafiq had not taken any training from THP-Bangladesh, the scenario was quite different. They were not stable at all in their positions. Rokeya Akter was a simple homemaker passing through a hard time with her husband. Similarly, Shafiq was only a student who did not feel he could contribute much to his society. After taking part in different trainings from THP-Bangladesh, they were inspired to introduce new ideas not only in their families but also to the larger society. They felt in order to make some change regarding scarcity in their own regions, mass literacy was one of the most important initiatives among so many activities. Presently, they are activists towards making some positive change in their regions. Remarkably, the first mass literacy center was established at Charnilakhiya with the help of youth leaders. In 2008 Protiva a local unit, has been led by a group of 25. Later, they established three additional mass literacy centers. In August, a mass literacy movement was started though a THP project in partnership with BRAC. THP-Bangladesh Report to the Global Board (April 2012) Page 3 of 6
Female Community Partners Trained Community partners trained Country By Numbers Nutrition and Maternal Health 18,000 16,000 AWARENESS BUILDING ON NUTRITION / MEETING 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 NUTRITION FOR PREGNANT MOTHER AWARENESS BUILDUP / MEETING IMMUNIZATION PREGNANT / MEETING 2,000 0 Reporting Period CARING FOR PREGNANT MOTHER AWARENESS BUILDUP / MEETING Women Leaders 20000 18000 16000 WOMEN LEADERSHIP TRAINING & FOLLOW-UP MEETING (1 DAY) 14000 12000 INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY MEETINGS 10000 8000 6000 SELF-HELP GROUP FORMATION 4000 2000 ANIMATOR TRAINING (4 DAY) 0 ADULT LITERACY / MEETING Reporting Period THP-Bangladesh Report to the Global Board (April 2012) Page 4 of 6
Participants Strengthening Local Democracy 45000 40000 35000 30000 25000 FACE TO FACE PROJECTION MEETING 20000 15000 10000 COORDINATION AND FOLLOW UP MEETING (UNION LEVEL) 5000 0 Reporting Period * All data presented herein is taken directly from the internal online Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) System, updated quarterly by Program Country M&E Officers. The Global Office works continuously with each M&E Officer to audit and verify this data. Partnerships, Advocacy and Events THP-Bangladesh is currently engaged in the following partnerships: Australian High Commission: Partnered with THP-Bangladesh to implement a systematic approach to building the capacities of the Upazila Parishads (the middle-tier) and Union Parishads (the last-tier) of local government in Bangladesh. The project will establish a roadmap for making the Upazila Union Parishad function effectively and for greatly improving the ability of the rural poor to access government resources and programs for meeting their needs. British Council: Since September 2009, THP has partnered with British Council to implement the Active Citizen Program (AC). The program is dedicated to engaging youth in community development projects, with the theme locally engaged, globally connected. HYSAWA (Hygiene, Sanitation and Water Supply): Working in partnership to provide Union Parishads with training on project management, water, sanitation and other cross-cutting issues. BRAC: THP and BRAC have entered into a partnership for creating MDG unions in four unions of Mymonsingh District. The initial one-year pilot project ended July, but based on the success and performance of this project, the life of the project has been extended for one year more by BRAC. SHUJAN: Shushanar Janniya Nagorik made its debut in 2002 as an initiative of a group of concerned citizens of Bangladesh with the purpose of promoting democracy, decentralisation, THP-Bangladesh Report to the Global Board (April 2012) Page 5 of 6
electoral reforms, clean politics and accountable governance. As a non-partisan pressure group, it provides an effective platform for people to discover their voices and be heard. THP serves as the Shujan secretariat. Bangladesh Election Commission: Partnered with THP and Shujan this reporting period to host a large-scale governance campaign on voter rights and awareness (entitled City Corporation Election), which took place in Narayangonj and Comilla. Women and Children Affairs Ministry of Bangladesh: Partnered with THP this reporting period to host National Girl Child Day events. Plan Bangladesh, South Asian Partnership, Action Aid Bangladesh, USC Canada, Acid Survivors Foundation also partnered with THP to host National Girl Child Day events. Outreach and Media Coverage In this reporting period, seven different stories and news articles related to THP-Bangladesh programs have been published in various dailies, including an article published by The Daily Samakal on October 4th about increasing investments in Girl Child Day. This article included a statement from Country Director Badiul Majumdar and speeches from the President, Prime Minister, and State Minister of Women and Children Affairs of Bangladesh. Q1 2012 Priorities Community Mobilization: THP will conduct 75 Vision, Commitment and Action (VCA) Workshops and 29 Participatory Action Research (PAR) follow-up meetings, 900 students (girls and boys) will be trained as Active Citizens, and 550 new volunteer animators will be trained. Gender Equality: 62 women s leadership trainings and follow-up meetings will be held, and 30 women leaders meetings will take place at the local level. Village Development Campaigns: THP will host nearly 300 courtyard meetings on MDG issues, 100 WASH campaigns and will organize International Women s Day events in more than 400 communities. Good Governance: Nearly 900 Union Parishad representatives will be trained toward creating MDG unions and 45 meetings with UPs will be held to plan Ward sabhas. Advocacy & Alliances: `Narir Kotha (success stories of women leaders) will be published. Monitoring & Evaluation: An assessment of THP s gender programs is to be conducted in partnership with graduate students from Columbia University s School of International Affairs and staff will participate in training sessions on data collection methods. THP-Bangladesh Report to the Global Board (April 2012) Page 6 of 6