climate adaptive livelihood security of sundarbans resource … · 2020. 5. 31. · xii disaster...
TRANSCRIPT
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Climate Adaptive Livelihood Security of Sundarbans
Resource Dependent Community
Final Report BAN162 (March, 2018 – February, 2019)
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Content
Subject
Page No.
Project at a glance 3
Summary 3
Project Goal 4
Project Objectives 4
Project Area 4
Checklist of Work Plan and Achievement 5
Project Progress 6
Monthly Group Meeting 6
Bi-monthly Association Meeting 8
Project Approach (Co-operative Model) as a follow-up of SME
Process Documentation & Study on Cooperatives
10
Sundarbans Bawali-Mawali-Jelley Association 8
Co-operative/Group Approach of the Sundarbans Resource Dependent
Community
11
Examples of SME/Scheme in Mongla and Dacope 15
Legal Awareness on Bangladesh Wildlife (Conservation and
Security) Act, 2012
20
Staff Meeting 9
Travel for Monitoring (Director of CCEC with Project team) 9
Facebook page: Cafod Ccec (Sundarbans project) 22
IEC materials 21
Challenges 23
Initiatives taken to overcome the Challenges 24
Conclusion 25
Annex 1: Project Matrix 26
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Climate Adaptive Livelihood Security of Sundarbans Resource Dependent Community
1. Project at a glance
Implementing partner name Centre for Coastal Environmental Conservation (CCEC)
Project title Climate Adaptive Livelihood Security of Sundarbans Resource
Dependent Community
Donor Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)
Project approval reference BAN162
CAFOD contribution £40000 = 4480518 BDT
Funding period March 2018 – February 2019
Working area Dacope Upazila under Khulna district & Mongla Upazilla under
Bagerhat district in Bangladesh.
Project duration 12 Months
Total Project Budget 4595718 BDT
2. Summary
Since 2014, the NGO CCEC (Centre for Coastal Environmental Conservation) has successfully
completed the project on “Climate Adaptive Livelihood Security of the Sundarbans Resource
Dependent Community (CALS-SRDC)” in Bangladesh and renewed for another one year (March,
2018 to February, 2019) funded by the donor Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
(CAFOD). The primary objectives of this project are: secure alternative livelihoods and to build the
capacity of the Sundarbans resource-dependent community. Over the years, lesson learning was -
how community sensitive ownership is developed. Group Strategic Approach was the key to
success with the formation of association following the rules of co-operative society with the
philosophy “United we stand taller”; how community empowerment is built through decision
making by the target beneficiaries. To date, with the up gradation and changes in the co-operative
policy, the project shapes into a co-operative model for the Sundarbans resource-dependent
community aiming to reduce poverty through SME/scheme operation align with Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). Reducing exploitation and increased solidarity of 320 Sundarbans
resource harvester families are the key to project intervention and policy advocacy.
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3. Project Goal:
To increase livelihood diversification, food security and climate adaptive capacity change of the
target vulnerable Sundarbans resource harvesters and their families.
4. Project Objectives:
➢ To support climate adaptive livelihood diversification and food security through an
ecosystem-based approach
➢ To enable community-based Sundarbans resource management through capacity
building, skill development and policy advocacy
5. Project Area:
Dacope Upazilla. Khulna District Mongla Upazilla, Bagerhat District
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Figure: Satellite image of project sites surrounding Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF)
6. Checklist of Work Plan and Achievement
No. Activity No. of Planned
activities
Achievement
I Staff recruitment - √
II Office set up 3 (2 Field + 1 Head
Office)
√
III Equipment purchase (Motor cycle, Bi-cycle,
laptop, Camera etc.)
- √
IV Monthly group meeting for all 13 groups 156 √
V Association meeting for sharing group
experiences in 2 Upazila
12 √
VI Monthly Staff meeting 12 √
VII Travel for staff and director of CCEC - √
VIII Group scheme support (co-management principle) 12 √
IX Income generation support for 20 women headed
families
20 √
X Training on accounting process, Resolution, cash,
bank, notice book, pass book for
Group/association
2 √
XI BLC support for Sundarbans harvesters 300 √
XII Disaster management campaign/ Day observation
(school level)
20 √
XIII 2000 students and their guardians get conservation
education which promotes their livelihood
knowledge
20 √
XIV Livestock vaccination campaign in two Upazila 2 √
XV Capacity building for project beneficiaries on
legal aspects (Bangladesh wildlife laws and
regulation)
12 √
XVI IEC materials (poster, leaflet, year calendar) 500 √
XVII Report submission 2 √
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7. Project Progresses
I. Staff recruitment
All four field staff (2 from Mongla and 2 from Dacope) was renewed for the continuation of the
project. The vacancy announcement for the position of “Project Supervisor” was advertised via
local newspaper and circulated to notice board of several NGOs for example; Rupantar, LoCOS.
The position was recruited via written examination and Viva Voce and priority was given to be a
citizen of Sundarbans coastal region i.e., Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira. In the middle of this
one year project, two vacant positions were renewed again for “Project Manager” and “Accounts
Officer” following the recruitment guideline of CCEC i.e., written examination and viva voce.
New Accounts Officer was appointed from the month of October 2018 and Project Manager was
appointed from the month of November 2018.
❖ Staff orientation of the project: The staff orientation program was conducted in CCEC
Khulna city office to share information among project colleagues especially new project
staff. A project orientation was arranged in CCEC conference room with the presence of
all field organizers, project manager continued from the previous project, CCEC
executive committee members, core staff including director, CCEC. Objectives, goal,
activities of BAN 162 project, and background of CCEC, Project activity plan, Job
responsibility, Complain mechanism and other related issues were discussed in the
orientation meeting. Again, newly appointed staffs were informed about the project,
project area, beneficiaries, and organizations policy in the monthly staff meeting. II. Office set up
Office rent: Two field office sites are located in Mongla Upazila under Bagerhat district and
Dacope Upazila under Khulna district. Thus, two field offices were rented and set up at Mongla
and Dacope from the previous project and renewed from March 2018. Field offices were
equipped with chair, table, and other required furniture.
Project Signboard: Two signboards with project summary, contact information were placed in
front of two field offices at Mongla and Dacope Upazila. The signboards are a communication
tool to help people/ passer-by to understand CCEC_CAFOD project on Sundarbans involving
Sundarbans Resource Dependent Community, the Bawali-Mawali-Jellay community.
IV. Monthly Group Meeting
This reporting period of the project is March 2018 – February 2019. All monthly meetings were
held regularly with every group in order to address the issues related to the project. 84 group
meetings in Dacope Upazila and 72 group meetings in Mongla Upazila have been held within the
project period (March 2018 – February 2019). There were a number of issues raised in the
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monthly group meetings such as the follow up of the Scheme/SMEs, review new application for
scheme support, monthly income generation and bank deposits, verification of Pass Book
deposits, bank statement, group saving status, follow up of BLC support, capacity building on
legal aspects, Observation of environmental days, CCEC participation in CMC meetings by FD
and Monthly NGO Coordination Meeting organized by UNO. The meeting is a participatory
process to follow up all the group activities and keep records for documentation. Both male and
female beneficiaries participated in the group meeting. In the monthly group meeting,
beneficiaries collect their savings, deposit money into the bank, and document group works,
setup future plan of the project activities, and follow-up their Scheme/SME & livelihood support
in order to strengthen co-management approach align with Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
Considering the sustainability of the project, local village school teachers were tagged as
advisors (volunteer) of the project and phone numbers of the teachers are shared with the
beneficiaries. Participants of the Monthly Group Meetings also include the Members of the Co-
Management Committee (CMC) formed by the Forest Department (FD), members of Union
Parishad (UP), teachers. Project beneficiaries have been linked with different projects especially
FD projects such as Sundarbans Management Project (SMP/GIZ); “Expanding the Protected
Area System to Incorporate Important Aquatic Ecosystems Project (EPASIIAEP/UNDP)” and
NGOs (CNRS, CODEC) working on Sundarbans implemented by the Forest Department. CCEC
always tries to introduce project beneficiaries (through formal letter/ oral discussion) with the
development projects as the most vulnerable communities of the coastal zone. At the same time,
CCEC upholds their success stories and cooperative model to the new development
organizations. In consequences, many development
organizations invite CAFOD-CCEC beneficiaries to
their meetings. For example, Forest Department (FD)
invites the CAFOD-CCEC project staff for attending
CMC (Co-Management Committee) meeting
eventually raising awareness on the current activities
(dolphin conservation by UNDP) of the on-going
development projects among the beneficiaries
enhancing social capital and Sundarbans management.
A list of teacher advisors in Dacope and Mongla UPZ:
Dacope Upazila
SL No. Name of the Group Teacher Name School of the teachers
01 Doyaner Gate Abdullah-al-Mamun (Assistant
Teacher)
Sutarkhali Kowmiya
Madrasa
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02 Sutarkhali Mijanur Rahman (Super) Gunari Dakhil Madrasa
03 Kalabogi Subash babu (Assistant Teacher) Kalabagi Pandit Chandra
Primary School
04 Khalisha Ruma Rani Roy (Head
Mistress)
Khalisha Govt Primary
School
05 Nalian Abdul Sattar Mostofa Kamal
(Head Teacher)
320 No. Govt. Nalian Forest
Primary School
06 Pankhali Sheikh Mahibur Rahman
(Head Teacher)
Pankhali Momtaj Begum
Primary School
Mongla Upazila
SL No. Name of the Group Teacher Name School of the Teachers
01 Kalikabari Ambik Mayttra (Head
Teacher)
Bangladesh Govt. Primary
School
02 Paschim Chila Poresh Banarjee (Assistant
Teacher)
Chila-Bangladesh Govt.
Primary School
03 Dakkhin Kainmari Ambik Mondal (Assistant
Teacher)
St. Marish Primary School
04 Baiddamari Shamol Biswas (Head
Teacher)
South Haldibuniya Govt.
School
05 Purba Chila Milon Mondal (Assistant
Teacher)
Registered Primary School
06 Joymoni Anil Krisno (Assistant
Teacher)
St. Marish Primary School
During the ending months of the project, group members and CCEC staffs discussed the
sustainability of scheme operations. Groups and associations decided to close all existing scheme
operation in the month of December and start new schemes from January and February 2019.
However, few schemes were not ended during the deadline, due to seasonal variability and
extension of the schemes. Groups and associations decided to run the scheme operation for the
next three years following the current guidelines. Sundarbans Stakeholder Association decided to
take the responsibility to continue scheme operation after the end of the project via supporting
from the association bank account. The association bank savings will be used for monitoring
schemes, purchase passbook, cash book, Upazila office set up and other costs.
V. Bi-monthly Association meeting
The Association is an apex body composed of several groups exists in a particular Upazila (sub-
district). The Mongla Association is consist of 6 groups and Dacope Association is consist of 7
groups. Each of the Association is composed of 160 members thus 320 families are the direct
beneficiaries of the project in two UPZs under two districts. Bi-monthly association meetings
were held periodically during the one year project. Association members meet in a place to share
the present activities, experiences with each other, raise the demand of the concerned group and
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Association consensus is taken with the approval of the majority. Selection of SME/ Scheme
operator and its application approval is the main discussion topic in the Association meeting.
The project has developed the capacity of the disadvantaged forest people/group members to
speak out loudly and enable to bargain/negotiate about their rights “we are the most victim and
vulnerable to climate change and we deserve the
climate fund such as climate resilience fund,
climate trust fund, green climate fund”. Making
the project innovative, the generosity of donor
CAFOD is remembered with gratitude for the
continuation of the fund for four years. The
Sundarbans Bawali-Mawali-Jellay (SBMJ)
association now in the list of Upazila
administration (UNO) by contributing money from
their own fund as a Community Based
Organization (CBO) for the observation of Victory Day (16th December) and plan to attend all
National Days ahead like other NGOs. The inclusion of local school teachers as the advisor to
the adjacent group and their participation in group and association meeting is a milestone for the
sustainability of the project.
VI. Staff Meeting
CCEC arranged monthly meeting in the first quarter of each
month. Here the project team shares monthly progress of the
project activities. CCEC also arrange weekly staff meeting in
Khulna head office and inform necessary decisions to the
project staff, discuss monthly activity plan and specific job
responsibility of all staffs. CCEC has completed 12 monthly
staff meeting from March 2018 to February 2019.
VII. Travel and per diem for Monitoring
CCEC director Mr. Mowdudur Rahman conducted several field visits with the project team for
monitoring and evaluation purposes. He also attended group and association meetings and
Association name
/Upazilla
Date Number of
participant
Dacope 25/04/2018 47
24/06/2018 45
26/08/2018 51
18/10/2018 50
23/12/2018 44
17/02/2019 55
Mongla 09/04/2018 40
14/06/2018 37
06/08/2018 45
16/10/2018 44
22/12/2018 42
19/02/2019 50
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interacted with the project beneficiaries both in Mongla and Dacope Upazila. The field visits
were very helpful for decision making and make the project sustainable. Besides project
assignment, Mr. Rahman also attended several meeting for advocacy purposes with Forest
department, GOs and NGOs.
VIII. Group scheme support (co-management principle)
During January 2018 i.e. within the last Six Monthly Report BAN162 (March 2016 – February
2018), the SME process documentation and study on Co-operatives ended up with an
observation that there was a remarkable change and up gradation in SME operation. The SME
operation renamed as Scheme operation which is also known as group approach Co-operative
Model.
The project is unique in its innovation because it is the only organization working directly with
the Sundarbans resource-dependent community through the formation of groups and association.
Working for the community who raised Governments economy through forest revenue for last
150 years despite sun heat, rain and who faces challenges of tigers on the land and crocodile in
the water, above all take risk of their life in the forest resource harvesting. The organization
CCEC is dedicated and works solely with the most vulnerable community as repayment of debt.
The implementing agency CCEC is always an inspiration for the ownership building of the
groups encouraging the beneficiaries for money savings and increase the volume at their own
bank account to run climate adaptive business fits in the saline environment with “learning by
doing” exercise. “Learning by doing” in Group Approach was a major decision for them to
emphasize more on operating “individual scheme” compared to group SME operation. Currently,
109 scheme operations are ongoing. Following the business principle, the season based scheme
operation and timely money withdrawn from their own bank account by the group decision leads
them making the scheme profitable and sustainable and to become self-reliant. By now, the
groups have raised a good amount of money through savings. Estimated bank deposits (bank
statement) and the amount of money engaged in Scheme Operation is above 2500000 BDT
(approx.) in 13 groups (6 groups in Mongla and 7 groups in Dacope). The project has initiated to
link the CALS_SRDC project beneficiary groups with “SHURAKKHA” an upcoming
development project jointly be implemented by Palli Sanchaya Bank and Forest Department by
involving 50000 people living surrounding Sundarbans whose livelihood depends on Sundarbans
resources. This project aims to formulate 40,000 associations with Sundarbans resource-
dependent people and gradually shift them towards alternative livelihoods, which is very similar
to CAFOD-CCEC project objectives. Low rate interest loan money is to be provided to the target
associations thus CAFOD-CCEC project beneficiaries have high chances to get involved with
the “Surakkha” project. CCEC keep continuing to liaise with FD and Palli Sanchay Bank.
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During the month of November 2018, CAFOD-CCEC project supported 13 groups for scheme
operation by providing an amount of 600,000 BDT. With this support, individual beneficiaries
started poultry farming, duck rearing, climate resilient vegetable gardening, crab fattening, and
extended existing schemes. They took decision to follow the co-operative based group approach
model and run it in a cyclic order.
❖ Co-operative / Group Approach Model of the Sundarbans Resource Dependent
Communities facilitated by CCEC & CAFOD
The model follows the principles of Co-operatives, the government of Bangladesh. Key members
of 13 groups were brought under Co-operative training. “Unity is Strength” is followed in
group/association approach that’s why the model is called Co-operative Model. Small &
Medium Enterprise (SME)/ Business Scheme by the interested individual /group members comes
through an application and evaluated in three steps; first by the group of their own, secondly by
the association and thirdly by the project implementing organization. Visiting the proposed
scheme site by the evaluation, team members are mandatory for releasing funds. The business
model is continuous learning and changes over time with the decision of the group members
that’s why the model is called the Group Approach Model.
1. Make the process Community-led by establishing Group and Association.
2. Encourage every beneficiaries for individual savings (BDT
100/month/person/family).
3. Ownership is given to the community by opening the bank account in their name for
example "Climate Adaptive Kalikabari Sundarbans Bawali-Mawali-Jellay Group" in
Mongla under Bagerhat district and "Climate Adaptive Sutarkhali Sundarbans
Bawali-Mawali-Jellay" in Dacope under Khulna district.
4. Open Bank Account jointly operated by the Climate Adaptive Sundarbans Bawali-
Mawali-Jellay (president/secretary) group and Executive Committee members of the
implementing organization.
5. Both the savings of beneficiaries and project support are being rotated among group
members as SME/individual business scheme according to the decision in the
monthly group meeting. Several processes was taken for receiving the capital for
operating the business scheme, for example; application by the group member
interested for business, verification by the project team and disburse the money for
the business scheme for a period of 10 months following the decision of the group.
6. Empower the women with small scale project support for example; vegetable
growing, livestock rearing (hen, duck, and goat).
7. Livestock training for the women in cooperation with UPZ livestock offices.
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8. By now 13 groups (7 in Dacope and 6 in Mongla) have been formed and raised funds
of their own and operate project funds in cycles through different business scheme
according to the group decision.
9. Two Associations now functioning as Community-Based Organizations (CBO). One
in Dacope UPZ and another one are in Mongla Upazila.
For ensuring the responsibilities are handed
over to the associations and groups, CCEC
has taken a number of initiatives such as i)
conducted training for the key group
members (secretary & treasurer) and guide
them for maintaining accounting process,
resolution, cash book, bank statement, notice
book, pass book for group/ association
eventually increased their capacity to manage
documents and accounts. ii) Keeping the
sustainability in mind CCEC formed advisers
by involving & selecting local teacher
adjacent to beneficiary community schools
thus 12 teachers have been selected who also
cooperate them in SME operation. iii) CCEC
has introduced the association as a
Community Based Organization (CBO) and
deposited money both in Mongla and Dacope Upazila like other NGOs and got recognition as
CBO and received invitation to attend the Monthly NGO Coordination Meeting by the Upazilla
Nirbahi Officer (UNO). iv) CCEC facilitates opening association bank accounts both in Mongla
& Dacope Upazila and has deposited money into the association bank account from the group
profit for sustainability. The sustainability money will be spent for monitoring, purchase of cash
books, passbook, bank register, and travel for attending UNO meetings after the end of the
project and ensures all money is handed over to the associations to maintain control in the future.
As part of CCEC initiative, “learning by doing” approach led by the Sundarbans resource-
dependent community, a number of up-gradation have been suggested and on the process by the
community members for sustainability are as below;
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Co-operative/Group Approach Model
- The SME/Scheme/Business should be introduced as co-operative/co-management based
Sundarbans bawali-mawali-jellay (SBMJ) SME/Business scheme operation because the
decision for SME/Scheme/Business operation is made by Group/Associations members.
- Both the invested capital of the SME/Business Scheme and profit will be deposited to
group bank account monthly to complete the business cycle in 10 months and create
future scheme operation.
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- 10% profit will be deposited to group bank account according to group’s decision and the
rate of profit may change over time.
- 6.5% profit will be deposited to the Association bank account for sustainability of the
scheme operation such as monitoring groups, purchasing cash/ledger/notice/pass-books
in future (Rate of profit may change over time).
- Each SBMJ SME/Scheme operation will run for 10 months.
- The profit of the cooperative business will be calculated once in a year preferably in
December including bank interest and bank charge.
- The Group/Associations member themselves take the decision for any changes,
moderation, inclusion, and exclusion in the policy-making aspect that’s why it is also
called Group Approach Strategy.
SME/ Scheme/Business types:
- Poultry
- Vegetable gardening
- Fish culture
- Crab fattening
- Livestock
- Salt tolerant rice
(BR-23, BR-28) cultivation
- Pigeon rearing
- Pig rearing
- Honey business
CCEC provided flexibility to the groups to enjoy their freedom of decision thus groups revamp
their guidelines of businesses several times based on their convenience. In the beginning, groups
took decision to deposit a 16.5% profit in their group and association bank account along with its
capital. Later, they decided to reduce the profit into 12% to raise the willingness of all
beneficiaries in scheme operation.
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❖ Examples of SME/Scheme
i) Poultry- firming: The poultry-firming is an option as an alternative
livelihood for the Sundarbans resource harvesters and
has been successfully becoming a leading industry in
Bangladesh. This industry can provide various
opportunities to increase livelihood pattern through
food security as well as ensuring self-employment,
create purchasing power and reducing poverty at a
large scale. Allowing importance of the poultry
industry in order to ensure sustainable economic development it is now high time to step forward
for the better accumulation of resources available from this industry. Providing economic help to
the local industry and protect safeguard to the local entrepreneurs of the poultry industry.
Vaccine, vaccinations services, an alternative to vaccine services, antibiotic feed additives and
other inputs and services have been supported by the project to different poultry firms and
individual cases at beneficiary's villages.
ii) Pig-rearing – An way of sustainable livelihood and hope for a better life: Kalikabari is one of the six groups in Mongla Upz where
200-250 Hindu, Christian family lives among them 70-80
family is engaged in pig rearing. Out of 31 group
members, there are 15-16 people doing pig rearing
traditionally. The adoption of these business trends
increases after the rising cases of fishermen kidnapping
while they harvesting resources in Sundarbans Reserve
Forest (SRF). Under the scheme operation, the project supported seven beneficiaries for pig
rearing. Pig rearing is a good income generation activity. Usually 1 -2 months pig baby is
purchased in a rate of Tk. 3500 (female) and male (4500-5000), and rearing in an earthen-
wooden cage for about 10-12 months when it grows up to 35-40 kg and sold in the market of
15000-16000 BDT. During this period, food cost is about 4000-5000 BDT, thus profit is about
5000-6000 BDT from each pig. During the festival like marriage ceremony, birthday party,
religious occasions they sell it in the village market @ Tk. 400/kg (approx.) when they also
consume 1.5- 2 kg/family. Again a female pig gives birth two times in a year and 8-10 babies at
one time. There is a tradition to purchase a baby pig while selling an adult pig. Freshwater
scarcity is the main problem for pig rearing in Kalikabari village otherwise it could be more
profitable mentioned by the scheme beneficiaries Mr. Sunil Bagchi and Mr. Krisnapado Podder.
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iii) Crab-fattening: Crab fattening has been a profitable climate adaptive
livelihood option in coastal areas of Bangladesh. Crabs are
collected from shrimp farms and natural sources i.e. rivers
and river channels around the Sundarbans. The CALS-SRDC
project has supported 7-8 schemes at Nalian village group.
They prepare small pond/gher, often adjacent to their
homestead, put pata (made of bamboo), so that crabs can't
escape from the farm. Rotten fishes are the main food for the
crabs in the gher. Crab fattening takes a cycle of four-five weeks. According to the opinion of Maruf
Gazi, Soleman Shikari, Isha Gazi; beneficiaries of Nalian, mentioned that about One kg small crab, molt
crab are purchased about 150-200 BDT and feed cost is about 120-150 BDT for 4-5 weeks Thus, cost for
crab culture/fattening reaches 300-350 BDT while sell prize is about 800-1000 BDT but sometimes the
price goes down 500-600 BDT thus market price is a crucial factor for crab fattening. The price of crab
market is not stable and sometimes local buyers lie about the price in the international market and give a
low rate for all grades. In the first year, the Nalian Crab SME made a profit of about 30000 BDT
(approx.). 7-8 group members in Dacope and 5-6 group members Mongla Upazila are successfully
fattening crab and selling to the local market/buyer for exporting abroad via Dhaka Airport Market.
iv) Crab Harvesting Gear (ATOL) Making
Since the production of the Sundarbans
resources (Nypa, honey, fish, crab) are
declining and the policy of the forest
department is to divert the harvesters for
alternative livelihood, the project is
motivating the Sundarbans communities and
the target beneficiaries in particular. Men
are the direct project beneficiaries as they
enter into the Sundarbans. Once the income
is stopped by the man, women also look for searching work for income generation for the family.
The project empowers the women and has supported 5 women in Pankhali village group
members for crab gear (atoll) making and marketing an alternative livelihood. Atol is prepared at
home by women and sold to the crab harvesters and shrimp firm owners in Kaliganj,
Shyamnagar, Asashuni Upazilla. Nur Nahar, Rebeka Begum, Ratna Begum and other
beneficiaries of Pankhali village stated in an interview that a woman can make 100 number atol
in 15 days thus earn 3000-3500 BDT. Again the demands of atol purchasing vary year to year
depending on the production and availability of crab in the firms in the southwest coastal
Sundarbans region.
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❖ Way forward:
To facilitate community based approach for climate adaptive livelihood and Food Security of
Sundarbans resource-dependent community, the establishment of Poultry-firming, Crab-
fattening, Crab harvesting gear (Atol) making & marketing and Pig-rearing are the potential
SME/Schemes for poverty reduction of the Sundarbans resource-dependent community
beneficiaries in Mongla and Dacope UPZ under Bagerhat and Khulna district. At the beginning
of the project, emphasize was given to SME establishment but Scheme approach was the
transformation over the years by the group approach. Currently, 63 SME/Scheme in Dacope
Upazila and 46 SME/Scheme in Mongla Upazila are being operated successfully. Two
Association Bank Account set up is one of the key strategies for the future sustainability of the
Group/Association interventions. Noted all the SME/Scheme business profit is deposited to the
Group /Association Bank Accounts. No benefit, profit or interest from the SME/Schemes are
taken by the implementing organization, CCEC unlike other Bangladesh NGOs such as BRAC,
Grameen Bank, ASA, PROSHIKA, SHUSHILAN, UTTARAN, NABALOK and its micro-credit
programme with interest. The groups and associations changed the rate of profit they decided for
scheme operation and bank deposits in the immediate past in order to invest entire fund for
scheme operations. In reality, the beneficiaries decided the percentage of profit in a flexible way
that everyone can afford it based on field context (seasonal variation, business opportunity,
market situation). Although the schemes are running well in cyclic order, there is a need to
increase the amount of the SME/Scheme capital for the sustainability of Co-operative/Group
Approach Model for the Sundarbans communities. Association bank account plays a key role in
the sustainability of the project as it will carry the cost of future group maintenance, documents
purchase, and communication with GO and NGOs. Above all, the Sundarbans Stakeholder
groups and associations will continue their activities as like CBOs (Community Based
Organization).
IX. Income generation support for 20 women headed families
CCEC is playing a significant role in broadening and complementing income-generating
activities of women heading family and has been involved in the trend towards the use of credit
as a key tool, as well as in catalyzing and coordinating profession that supports women’s
productive activities. CCEC has supported Shirin Akter of Sutarkhali union in Dacope Upazila
for sewing and clothing business as well as supports other 19 women with climate adaptive
agriculture, livestock rearing and poultry farming. She has made a significant improvement in
her clothing business and demanded more support to broaden the scope. CCEC is beginning to
acknowledge as an organization that it is the latter action that will bring about fundamental
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changes and sustainable progress in women’s role and status in the women headed family in the
Sundarbans coastal area.
CCEC keeps track on the income generated by the 20 Women through different activities such as
poultry, atol making (crab gear making) in association with rishi (low caste Hindu people skill in
shaping and making the bamboo stick required for atol), bamboo made homestead products
marketing, goat rearing, duck rearing, vegetable growing and sewing. It is estimated that the
women headed target family member earns i.e. make profit 2000 to 2500 BDT yearly (based on
the season) on an average form the income generation support.
X. Training on accounting process, resolution, cash, bank, notice book, pass book for
Group/association
Accounts officer of the project conducted capacity building training in November 2018, with the
presence of three key representatives (President, Secretary, Cashier ) of each group. In this
training, he discussed how to maintain cash book, leisure book, resolution book and other
necessary documents in the groups by themselves. This training makes the group members
capable to maintain documents without the project team support. They are also able to check and
maintain banking activity by themselves. This training helps the rural community people capable
to handle the scheme successfully.
XI. BLC support for 300 Sundarbans harvesters
BLC support has been provided to 300 Sundarbans harvesters in the month of September 2018
(17-09-2018). Beneficiaries follow the legal way to access Sundarbans forest as well as practice
the conservation rules during resource harvesting, especially wildlife protection. They realize by
heart that they are getting support for getting legal access to wild resources thus they should also
have the responsibility to follow conservation rules of the Bangladesh Forest Department as well
the ethical issue to protect the environment for better future.
XII. Disaster management campaign/ Day observation
2000 students, their guardians, and school teachers have been attended in the CCEC organized
disaster management campaign and UNISDR declared International Day for Disaster Reduction
(13 October). The campaign was held in the 1st and 2nd week of October. 10 schools from each
Upazila was selected for the campaign and 100 participants from each school (Student 60,
Guardians - 30, Teacher - 10). In this campaign, the CCEC project team developed disaster
education materials on hazard warning signal, preparedness mechanism and needful actions
during a disaster. The campaign mainly focused on cyclone and flood risk management as those
are the most frequent disaster in coastal Bangladesh. In addition, project team distributed BBC
media action publications on disaster management among the beneficiary groups. The campaign
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conveys the message of Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme-II among the
beneficiary groups.
XIII. 2000 students and their guardians get conservation education which promotes their
livelihood knowledge
Along with the disaster management campaign, CCEC provided conservation education and
conservation ethics among the same audience in the school (Student, their guardian, and
teachers). This action made a network of 20 school's student-guardian-teacher to practice
conservation knowledge which intern supports their livelihood knowledge. CCEC evaluate
knowledge improvement through a structured questionnaire survey for two time period (before
the campaign and after the campaign). The conservation education consists of Sundarbans
resource harvesting laws and regulations for example; Bangladesh Wildlife (conservation and
security), Law, 2012. Students and guardians disseminate this knowledge in their locality and
encourage their family members and neighbors to choose conservation friendly livelihood
options. The student-guardian-teacher network was included in the project as the teachers are
considered to be the ideal of society. People obey and respects the teacher and follow their
words. CCEC representatives attend meetings in Upazila education office, meet them in schools
and conducts sessions involving teacher-student-guardian in schools (20 schools, 20 sessions
covers 2000 teacher-student-guardians in Mongla and Dacope) using leaflets, poster, videos on
conservation education. Once the guardians (Sundarbans resource harvesters) listen to the
messages of conservation ethics from the teacher and again when reflects at home by their
children thus provoke guardians mind-sets and motivated towards conservation eventually
promotes livelihoods by creating opportunities to be regenerated and proliferation of the
resources following the Sundarbans resource harvesting laws and regulations for example;
Bangladesh Wildlife (conservation and security), Law, 2012.
Student-guardian-teacher network provided an opportunity to work together as a team in order to
make awareness into action. Project concern is how Sundarbans resources conservation ethics
promotes parents livelihood via school children. A number of copies book on “Mangrove
Sundarbans Conservation education”/ “Livelihood and Biodiversity of Mangrove Sundarbans”
were purchased from CCEC and distributed among Student-guardian-teacher network with a
particular focus on 20 schools from Dacope and Mongla Upazilla. Each student plays an
important perspective to share with their parent; parents know their child’s personality, habits,
strengths, and weaknesses, so they can guess how they should guide children in the future. The
school gathering creates an opportunity to learn from each other particularly this exercise creates
an ideal environment for learning conservation ethics for the parents from their children. For
example, crab harvesting is ban in Jan-Feb but the parent doesn’t follow the FD regulation but
when their children ask them to follow it touches them. Awareness’s about the livelihood pattern
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of coastal people is also been facilitated by CCEC conservation meetings in schools.
Headteacher Hoglabunia Govt Primary said, “if the children understood the motto of this
meeting, they will be inspired to motivate their parents to change their traditional destructive or
unsustainable practices in collecting resources from Sundarbans for livelihood”. The
conservation knowledge has been assessed through a questionnaire and it increased from 40% in
the initial level to 80% at the end of the project.
XIV. Livestock vaccination campaign in two Upazila
CCEC involved 12 women beneficiaries in the skill development of livestock health safety. The
livestock vaccination campaign was organized in the 1st week of December. The project team
published materials on livestock farming benefits, vaccine dose and response, vaccine
maintenance and application. The skilled women are now acting as a local veterinarian and
provide services for emergency disease occurrence and treatment. The vaccination campaign is
intended to help reducing livestock early death rate levels in Mongla and Dacope Upazila,
especially duck, hen, and goat. The vaccine made available to the family by the family via
Upazila health complex.
The campaign focused on the following disease of livestock:
Diseases Name Victim
Chicken Ranikhet Chicken (3-5 days)
Ranikhet Hen & Duck
Duck Pleg Duck
Cholera Hen & Duck
Gambro Hen & Duck
Foul Pox Chicken
XV. Capacity building for project beneficiaries on legal aspects (Bangladesh wildlife laws
and regulation)
Capacity building of the project beneficiaries on legal aspects was carried out with the
involvement of the lawyer. A leaflet with messages on Bangladesh Wildlife (preservation &
Security) 2012 and Forest Act was distributed among the project beneficiaries and people in the
project area of Mongla and Dacope. Legal awareness of the rules and regulations on Sundarbans
management and conservation was conducted through group and association meetings. The
lawyer has attended 4 associations meeting and 52 group meetings. The lawyer also follows up
the previous FD cases. Records and status of the cases mentioned below;
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Following up the status of FD Cases by lawyer
Serial
No
Case No Crime Type Hearing/
Movement
Status
1 CR - 23/14 Cutting Tree 3 Times Witness with evidence
2 CR - 28/13 Catching Crocodile 3 Times Witness with evidence
3 CR - 127/13 Cutting Tree 3 Times Witness with evidence
4 CR - 168/13 Time period for pass permit is over 4 Times Witness with evidence
5 CR - 244/11 Time period for pass permit is over 3 times Accused Examine (342)
6 CR - 10/12 Pass permit 2 Times Witness with evidence
7 CR - 54/11 Catching Fish (Non-Surrender) 4 Times Argument
8 CR - 69/11 Catching Fish (Non-Surrender) 3 Times Argument
9 CR - 197/11 Cutting Tree 3 Times Witness for last time
10 CR - 53/11 Cutting Tree 4 Times Judgement
11 CR - 70/11 Time period for pass permit is over 4 Times Judgement
12 CR - 238/11 Cutting Tree 3 Times Judgement
13 CR - 480/11 Cutting Tree 3 Times Witness
14 CR - 552/11 Cutting Tree 4 Times Judgement
15 CR - 153/11 Time period for pass permit is over 3 Times Accused Examine
16 CR - 10/17 Entering another canal and catching
Fish
5 Times Trial
17 CR - 16/17 Entering another canal and catching
fish
1 Time Trial
** Case number 16 & 17 are two new FD cases
Ten cases have been concluded since 2014 and 17 cases are still on-going. “Trail” means the
judge listen all the facts of a case (hearing) from the lawyers (accuser & non-accuser) at different
dates and put or keep further dates for hearing by the judge or jury and keeps waiting for the final
decision. On average, two or three people were involved in most of the cases, sometimes more
(based on the number of resource-dependent people found in a boat or in a group). Accordingly,
25 people have been received support to conclude their cases from CAFOD-CCEC lawyer. 18
out of 25 people were released (bail) from the court without any punishments. The rest of the
victims received punishment for 3-6 months custody. The CCEC-CAFOD lawyer appealed
against the judgment of the lower court to high court and fight with arguments and evidence, as a
results court minimizes the length of punishment i.e. concluded in favor of the victims. In total,
based on the FD Cases, 25 numbers of people were released from the Court as the case was
moved and hearing by CAFOD-CCEC Lawyer.
XVI. IEC Materials (Poster, Leaflet, Year calendar)
CCEC published 500 copy booklet on the outcome, challenges, case stories of the "Climate
Adaptive Livelihood Security of Sundarbans Resource Dependent Community" project. The
booklet also consists of a section on the comparison of two different phases of CALS-SRDC
project. Booklets were distributed among the project beneficiaries and other stakeholders (GO
and NGOs). As part of Information, Education & Communication (IEC) materials development
from the project, a poster was designed reflecting photographs of several steps of Co-operative
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model for example maintenance of the pass-book by the beneficiary group members &
verification by the field staffs, livelihood interventions and key messages of the ownership of the
money & bank account belongs to the beneficiaries themselves. The poster was circulated among
the beneficiaries and concerned government departments (co-operative, forest department) and
NGOs via participating and distributing in the Monthly NGO Co-ordination Meetings organized
by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Dacope and Mongla. Posters were mounted in the key
community locations (launch terminal, markets, and shops) for greater communication of model
operated by the Sundarbans resource-dependent community.
XVII. Report Submission
A half-yearly progress report and a yearly final report has been prepared and submitted including
the financial reports. Data has been collected from the field staffs and beneficiaries, also from the
secondary sources of different government offices and finally project manager prepared the
report and reviewed by the director. Accounts officer was responsible for the preparation of the
financial report, it was verified by the project manager and director of the organization.
❖ Facebook Page: Cafod Ccec (Sundarbans project)
A Facebook page has been opened titled “Cafod Ccec (Sundarbans Project)” for sharing the
project activities by uploading photos. Based on the uses of Facebook, a network has been
created among colleagues and friends, nationally and globally (cafod-UK). This allows Facebook
users to know the project intervention well and provide an opinion. Comments of experienced
users are useful. Regular photo upload and comments create enthusiasm among colleagues,
target beneficiaries, project staff, project advisors and implementing organization and donor.
Facebook page link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010047169510
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❖ Comparison between 1st and 2nd phase of the project:
We have developed a structured questionnaire to compare the 1st and 2nd phase of the project.
There are several changes has been made from the beginning of the project to the end. During the
1st project, the proposal did not contain group/association approach to manage project support.
The project supported beneficiaries on an individual base. But during the 2nd phase of the
project, the beneficiaries started a group-based approach to operate individual schemes.
Additionally, the project team worked on Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) operation and
maintenance in the 1st phase of the project however individual scheme operation was initiated
during the 2nd phase of the project. The project fused on Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) no. 1, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17. The beneficiary number has been multiplied in the 2nd
phase of the project compared to the 1st phase. With the increasing number of beneficiaries,
there has been an increase in the project stuff in the 2nd project. In the 2nd phase of the project,
2000 students and their guardians get conservation education which promotes their livelihood
knowledge. This was not included in the 1st phase of the project. Disaster management campaign
is a new activity in the 2nd project. Those two campaigns simultaneously influenced to
developed conservation ethics among the community and practice climate adaptive livelihoods.
Direct legal aid support was provided via the Sundarbans Stakeholder Service Center (SSSC) by
the appointed lawyer in the 1st phase of the project. Later, this activity targeted to build capacity
for project beneficiaries on legal aspects (Bangladesh wildlife laws and regulation). The
livestock vaccination campaign was organized in the field level with the presence of local
people, in the 1st phase of the project. However, during the 2nd project, the organization focused
on skill development of local beneficiaries on livestock health care/treatment.
❖ Challenges:
Riverbank erosion becomes a great challenge for the Kalabogi village beneficiaries in Dacope
UPZ. Nine-ten houses have been washed away into the river during the last couple of month's
especially rainy season (June-July). Recently the Bangladesh Water Development Board
(BWDB) construct the embankment that demarcates, divides and excludes 1000 households
(HH) out of 4000 HH of Kalabogi village. Among 29 beneficiary families of Kalabogi group, 27
families now fall outside the embankment and only 02 families remain inside the BWDB
embankment. Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) is in the process of changing the policy and
planning to divert the resource harvesters into alternative livelihoods. Robbery/pirates,
kidnapping is making fear among the Sundarbans resource harvesters. Water vessels (cargo) are
operated using Sundarbans Rivers and canals violating UNESCO recommendations following oil
pollution in 2014. Installation of Rampal coal-fired power station is always a concern for long
term environmental impact on the Sundarbans while the government is rigid to make it happen.
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The bureaucracy of the government delays releasing funds via NGO Affair's Bureau was a great
challenge.
❖ Initiatives taken to overcome the Challenges:
Communicating with the concerned departments, for example, Bangladesh Water Development
Board (BWDB) which is in the process of undertaking projects for constructing and raising the
height of the embankment in the Sundarbans coastal area/polders and make compensation for the
affected families due to the newly embankment construction. Consultation meeting with FD for
finding the alternative livelihoods options in cooperation with development partners (GIZ).
Meeting with SURAKKHA project might be an option for alternative livelihood for a large
number of population living surrounding the Sundarbans emphasizing resource harvesters.
“Surakkha” is an upcoming government project jointly be implemented by the Forest
Department and Palli Sanchay Bank for the welfare of the Sundarbans resource-dependent
community. This project aims to formulate 40,000 associations with Sundarbans resource-
dependent people and gradually shift them towards alternative livelihoods, which is very similar
to CAFOD-CCEC project objectives. Low rate interest loan money is to be provided to the target
associations thus CAFOD-CCEC project beneficiaries have high chances to get involved with
the “Surakkha” project. CCEC keep continuing to liaise with FD and Palli Sanchay Bank. CCEC
director meets the Chairman of Palli Sanchay Bank in Dhaka and discussed the possible
cooperation. NGO CCEC loan support was useful to overcome the barrier and smooth execution
of the project. CCEC director, Mr. Mowdudur Rahman got chance to meet and interact the fund
releasing issue with the highest authority of the Forest personnel in Dhaka to become a Member
(NGO sector in Bangladesh) of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) of the project
“Expanding the Protected Area System to Incorporate Aquatic Ecosystems Project (EPAIIAEP)”
while attending the meetings in Dhaka. Currently, UNDP is funding the project titled
"Expanding the Protected Area System to Incorporate Aquatic Ecosystems Project (EPASIAEP)”
and NGO CODEC is implementing the project for the period of 2014 -2019 (implementation
phase in the field is late). The number of people shifting to alternative income generating options
that reduce pressure on biodiversity: at least 500 fishers by year 3 and 700 by project end is an
objective.
Sundarbans supports one of the last remaining populations of the Ganges and the Irrawaddy
dolphins and holds the key for their long-term survival on a global level. However, they are
under increasing threat due to the unsustainable fishery; increasing maritime traffic; vessel
collision; unplanned economic development; poaching; land-use change; climate change etc.
EPAIIAEP projects aims to ensure the long-term conservation of these cetaceans.
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Unfortunately, CCEC-CAFOD target beneficiaries were not selected for project support as
because they are located beyond FD criteria for support (within 1 km from the FD Range
location). Considering ban162 project activities, CCEC director is selected as one of the Member
of Project Implementation Committee (PIC) and attended meeting chaired by honourable Chief
Conservator of Forests (CCF) at Dhaka thus put recommendations for the EPASIAEP project
and possible involvement of CALS-SRDC project beneficiaries especially the fishermen fishing
in the dhangmari dolphin hotspot in Passur River. Noted CCEC is the only NGO selected for PIC
Member of the project.
Again CCEC project manager and two field staffs were invited for a daylong meeting and given
booklets those were distributed among fishermen. A big portion of CCEC-CAFOD beneficiaries
is fishermen. Cetacean conservation booklet has been distributed to them in the group meeting
and discusses the importance of the dolphin's role for the aquatic ecosystem in the group meeting
that they do not harm this creature. Fishermen beneficiaries of CCEC-CAFOD are also involved
in reporting about the dead dolphin found and sustainable fishing practices. Finally, it was
helpful to speed up the process to receive the funds through the NGO Affairs Bureau.
Conclusion
Development of the Co-operative model of the Sundarbans resource harvesters is the principal
achievement. The model, scheme operation modality took a long time a couple of years through
changes in co-operative policy and group/association decision. Overall the project has made
significant progress and empowered community-based co-management approach of the
Sundarbans resource-dependent community. The NGO CCEC has facilitated 320 beneficiaries
and builds capacity to interact and coordinate with the government departments such as forest
department, department of agriculture, livestock & fisheries, Directorate of cooperatives
eventually lead them to run as a self-reliant Community Based Organization (CBO) with active
patronization of CCEC funded by CAFOD.
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Annex: 1
Outcomes as defined in Indicators as defined in the Evidence of progress - where are we right
the PSGA Project Matrix PSGA Project Matrix now? - Brief notes to illustrate actual
progress towards this change, assessed
against the defined Indicators
1.Reduced exploitation - Total 13 Group and 2 - 13 Sundarbans resource dependent and increased solidarity Association effective community groups and two associations
of 320 Sundarbans running. have been formed and functioning. resource dependent - 7 members executive committee exists for
community 7 members executive each of 13 groups and for 2 associations.
committee exists for each - Monthly money savings by the project
of 13 groups and for 2 beneficiaries maintaining pass book, cash
associations. book, ledger in the form of cooperative
society.
- Boat Licence Certificates - 13 group STD bank accounts have been
(BLC) received from Forest opened for project support transaction and
Department by resource group savings in Mongla and Dacope.
harvesters.
- BLC support has been provided to 300
male beneficiaries in 2018 with evidence of
old BLC, National ID Card, and Citizen
Certificate by UP chairman.
2.Improved livelihoods Average profit will be
and food security status earned by the each SME by - Approximately 35% beneficiaries adopts
of Sundarbans resource every fiscal year. Scheme/SME operation
harvester and tiger- - Income generation of 20 women from atol
widow families, At least 35% of the (crab harvesting gear), poultry and
particularly women household have increased tailoring/clothing
their income - Following up livestock vaccination skilled 12 women (6 Dacope, 6 Mongla)
CCA adaptive livelihood
- 16.5 % profit is being earned by 109 Scheme operation (poultry, pig rearing,
practice by 320 HH/109 crab fattening, goat rearing, atol, small
Scheme Operator shop, duck rearing, vegetable gardening,
pigeon rearing, honey business, sewing
machine)
- A risk assessment & risk management
3.Enhanced Climate monitoring sheet has been prepared to
-Improved disaster risk improve risk reduction strategies and coping Change
Adaptation
reduction knowledge of mechanisms.
knowledge on agriculture,
CCA by 320 households - CCA knowledge acquired by 320 fisheries, livestock and
households through Group & Association the
Sundarbans
- 78 group meetings, 6 meetings, Legal awareness and using project
conservation
& Association meeting, 26 publications (leaflet, poster, calendar and
management
legal awareness meetings. other conservation education materials) by
four field staffs regularly.
- 2000 students and their
guardians get conservation
education which promotes
their livelihood knowledge
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Annex 2: Financial Report (March 2018 to August 2018)
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29
Annex 2: Financial Report (September 2018 to February 2019)
30