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Development Initiative for Social Advancement (DISA)E/10, Pallabi Extention, Mirpur 11½, Dhaka, BangladeshPhone/ Fax : 88 02 8052812, 01733 219900E-mail : info@disabd.org. Web : www.disabd.org

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Md. Shahid Ullah Chief Executive and Founder of DISA is receiving in 2008 the Plaque of Honor as the best prospective NGO from the then Honorable Chief Adviser (first from right), Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The Selection was made by PKSF.

DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVEFOR SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT (DISA)

2012-13 (FY)Annual Report

Page No

Chairperson’s Statement 05

Chief Executive’s Statement 06

Acronyms 07

CHAPTER ONE : OVERVIEW OF DISA

1.1 Introduction 08

1.2 Major Activities 10

1.3 On going Projects 11

1.4 Present Senior Officials of DISA 12

1.5 DISA at a Glance: 2012-13 13

CHAPTER TWO: GOVERNANCE

2.1 General Body and Executive Committee 14

2.2 DISA Organogram 16

CHAPTER THREE: MICRO FINANCE PROGRAMS 17

3.1. Different Components of MFP 19

3.1.1 Rural Micro-Credit- RMC 19

3.1.2 Urban Micro-Credit – UMC 19

3.1.3 Micro Enterprise - ME 19

3.1.4 Ultra Poor Program- UP 20

3.1.5 Seasonal Loan- SL 20

3.1.6 Emergency Flood Restoration and Recovery Assistance Program- EFRRAP 21

3.1.7 Agriculture Sector Micro Credit - ASM 21

3.1.8 Group Member Savings of Micro-finance program 22

3.1.9 Security and Welfare Fund of group members 22

3.2 Graphical data Analysis 23

3.3 Health, Nutrition and Sanitation Program under MFP 24

3.4 Scholarship Program under MFP 27

3.5 Livestock Treatment and Training under MFP 28

CHAPTER FOUR: OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS & PROJECTS

4.1 Education Program 30

4.2 Aloghar 32

4.3 DISA Technical Training Institute- DTTI 38

4.4 Community Based Dairy & Livestock Development Project (DLDP) 40

4.5 Rural Housing 44

4.6 Handicrafts 45

4.7 SAKTI Project 46

4.8 Climate Change & Agriculture Development 53

CHAPTER – FIVE: Training and Development

5.1 Training and Communication 54

5.2 Establishment of DISA Academy 55

5.3 Participation in International Program 61

5.4 Research and Publication 63

5.5 Human resource 64

5.6 Staff welfare 65

CHAPTER - SIX: Financial Issues

6.1 Audit Report 66

Annexure-1: Photo Gallery 72

Annexure-2 : Progress Chart 80

DISA AnnualReport

2012-13

05

Chairperson’s Statement

During its existence for a period of two decades till now, Development Initiative for Social Advancement (DISA) has been continuing to serve the needs of the rural people, particularly the poor within the area of coverage of the organization. The NGO initially tried its best to meet the credit needs of the poor rural households, but over time it learned by doing that comprehensive development efforts expedite poverty reduction more rapidly. Out of its self-learning, DISA expanded its scope of activities gradually to meet the social development needs of the programme participants With this understanding, the agency undertook projects in the fields of educational, public health and adolescent development, prevention of child abuse, counter trafficking, with the support of a number of national and international partners. Micro credit support to the rural poor together with all these activities helped DISA to qualify for receiving the glorious Palli Karma-Shahayak Foundation (PKSF) award as most prospective non-government organizations (NGOs) in the country in 2007. The award inspired DISA to invigorate its activities further through undertaking other social development interventions, including the recently undertaken Community Based Milk and Dairy Project and an ambitious effort in the field of Training and Human Resource Development. All these have made DISA’s approach almost as a holistic one, though we have to go still a long way. This DISA Annual Report 2012-13 summarily depicts all these efforts of the Organisation.

The years ahead of us are, therefore, full of more challenges, particularly to make our Mission of carrying out economic and social empowerment together of the people served by DISA. The process is expected to assist the extreme poor to look forward towards a sustainable livelihood. These include expansion of the outreach of our existing interventions and undertaking new ones particularly to achieve more intensive and comprehensive package of life skills to enhance the well being of our project participants. We hope to face these challenges with usual confidence, hard work and professionalism. We are confident that all our partners, both home and abroad, well wishers and the project participants will be with us in our way forward.

The publication of this Annual Report is an opportunity for me to express our thanks and gratitude to all concerned; including our great partners, both present and past, the PKSF, the Government of Bangladesh, the Save the Children, BRAC Grihayan Tahbil, CODEC and Stromme Foundation and the private sector banks. Thanks to the DISA Executive Committee, General Body, members of the employees and the program participants for their sincere effort and cooperation to work in a team and bring about a positive change to move closer to a shared Vision of a world free from poverty and exploitation.

Md. Abdul Quddus(Md. Abdul Quddus)Chairman, DISA

DISA AnnualReport2012-13

06

Chief Executive’s Statement

On June 30, 2013, DISA passed another eventful financial year. The year was of meeting many challenges and accumulating more experiences for all the staff and programme participants of DISA. There are many challenges on the way of materializing our dream of building a Prosperous Bangladesh. The foremost one is the eradication of poverty. On the eve of publishing this Annual Report, I like to highlight some aspects of our present programs towards addressing this giant national problem.

The Micro Finance program of DISA has reached a new height after 18 years of operation. Now we have diversified the program to cover many other areas. We are giving micro-credit for agriculture sector, seasonal business, etc. We have already initiated in a small scale a nutrition and personal health program for the group members of Micro-credit. Also we are providing scholarship to the children of the group members under Scholarship program.

ALOGHOR, one of our pioneering initiatives for community development through spread of educational awareness has become very effective and useful for reading and learning. Children especially are attending it regularly for library service and enjoying so much. ALOGHOR is becoming well known and its remarkable acceptance by the community turned it into a lively learning centre for both children and adult. We have provided scholarship to 100 students and Aloghar members through this intervention. We are trying to develop more connectivity of this noble venture with many educational institutions, both formal and non-formal. Our new interventions include collaboration with the Stromme Foundation for undertaking Social Advancement through Knowledge and Technical Interventions (SAKTI) programme at Matlab (North) upazila with Education and Micro-finance components. DISA’s other recent initiatives at our own include establishment of the DISA Technical Training Institute (DTTI), initiation of the DISA Academy and the community-based DISA Livestock Development Programme (DLDP).

I take this opportunity to extend our thanks and appreciation to the Government of Bangladesh, PKSF, BRAC, Stromme Foundation and others for their continuing support. .

Finally, I would like to thank all my colleagues at DISA for their restless effort to make all the programs successful during the year. I like to thank the DISA Executive Committee (EC) and General Body (GB) members for their time and support for giving policy guideline for smooth implementation of various programme activities. My sincere appreciation goes to all program participants of DISA for their sincere cooperation, participation and hard work to go forward for ensuring a better livelihood of the poor programme participants.

Md.Shahid UllahMd.Shahid UllahChief Executive, DISA

DISA AnnualReport

2012-13

07

ACRONYMS

ADP : Adolescent Development ProgramASM : Agriculture Sector Microcredit BNFE : Bureau of Non Formal EducationCO : Credit Officer CODEC : Community Development Centre CPT : Child Protection TeamCSP : Counseling Service Provider CTI : Counter Trafficking Initiatives DISA : Development Initiative for Social Advancement EC : Executive CommitteeESP : Education Support ProgramEFRRAP : Emergency Flood Restoration and Recovery Assistance Program FO : Field Organizer GC : General CommitteeGoB : Government of BangladeshGO : Government Organization IOM : International Organization for Migration IGA : Income Generating Activities IPM : Integrated Pest Management KSK : Kishory Sanglap Kendra LCS : Let Children Speak LRP : Livelihood Restoration Program LSP : Livestock Service ProviderME : Micro EnterpriseMFP : Micro Credit Program MCP : Micro Credit Program NGO : Non Government Organization NFPE : Non Formal Primary Education PKSF : Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation PO : Program Organizer PM : Program Manager PCSA : Prevention of Child Abuse RMC : Rural Micro Credit SF : STROMME Foundation SL : Seasonal Loan SCSD : Save the Children Sweden-Denmark SAKTI : Social Advancement through Knowledge & Technical Interventions SW : Social Worker SPM : Senior Program Manager UP : Ultra Poor USAID : United States Agency for International Development.

DISA AnnualReport2012-13

08

Sl. No. Registration Authority. Reg. No Date

01 Social Welfare Dept. 544 08/09/1994

02 NGO Affairs Bureau 1024 02/04/1996

03 Joint Stock Company 6294(313)/07 19/09/2006

04 Micro Credit Regulatory Authority 01306 -00480 -00024 05/09/2007

CHAPTER ONEOverview of DISA

1.1 IntroductionDevelopment Initiative for Social Advancement, known as DISA, was established as a socio-economic development organization in 1993 by a group of social workers under the leadership of its founder Md Shahid Ullah. DISA has been working for the rural people, especially women and children of the poor households, with the objectives of their poverty alleviation, violence reduction and empowerment of women to uplift their socio-economic wellbeing.

Legal StatusDISA is registered with the following Government Departments/Directorates for carrying out various types of socio-economic development activities for its program participants in Bangladesh.

VisionDISA envisages establishing a society in Bangladesh which is economically productive and equitable, socially just, environmentally sound and viable.

MissionPromote participatory, self-reliant and sustainable development of the poor and help them to achieve their potential through social and economic empowerment.

Core Values• Commitment to work with the people• Sincerity, honesty and discipline• Participation and practice of democratic values • Transparency, accountability and good governance• Mutual respect, trust and transparency • Respects for all cultures and beliefs• Pollution-free environment• Timely action• Gender Sensitivity