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Six monthly report

For the month of September- 2014 to February- 2015

Project title:

Report Submitted By: Report Received By:

Hiroke Roy Richard Sloman

Project Manager Programme Officer Bangladesh,

CALS-SRDC CAFOD

Climate Adaptive Livelihood Security of Sundarbans

Resource Dependent Community

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1. Project details

Implementing Partner name Centre for Coastal Environmental Conservation (CCEC)

Project title Climate Adaptive Livelihood Security of Sundarbans Resource

Dependent Communities

Project approval reference BAN162/1/1

Grant approved 23,617.00 Sterling

Funding period March 2014 – February 2015

Working Area Dacope & Mongla Upazilla

Project Duration 24 Months

Total project Cost BDT 4867610

Budget Approved by CAFOD BDT 4607610

Name of the organization Centre for Coastal Environmental Conservation (CCEC)

Project stating Date 15 March’ 2014

2. Introduction and Rationale

By the impact of climate change Mongla Upozila, Bagerhat and Dacope Upozila, Khulna are the most

risky and vulnerable area of the costal belt. For this reason The Centre for Coastal Environmental

Conservation is implementing a project on Climate Adaptive Livelihood Security of Sundarbans

Resource Dependent Community (CALS-SRDC) supported by CAFOD in 2 Upazila (Mongla &

Dacope). The primary objectives of this project are- making people’s livelihood more secured coping

with climate, practice the climate change adaptation, to enable community based Sundarbans resource

management through capacity building, skill development and policy advocacy. Under this project we

also implement livelihood support, reduce exploitation and increased solidarity of 200 Sundarbans

resource harvesters, enhanced climate adaptation knowledge, legal aid support. In this six monthly

progress report we have shown the progress done in the month of September 2014 to February 2015.

3. Project Goal: To increase livelihood diversification, food security and climate adaptive capacity

change among vulnerable Sundarbans resource harvesters and their families.

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4. Project Objectives:

Objective 1: To support climate adaptive livelihood diversification and food security through

an ecosystem based approach

Objective 2: To enable community based Sundarbans resource management through capacity

building, skill development and policy advocacy

5. Project Area:

Mongla Upazilla, Bagerhat District Dacope Upazilla. Khulna District

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6. Six Monthly Progress (September 2014 to February- 2015)

Activity 1. Baseline Survey (HH survey using Questioners and dada Analysis)

After completing beneficiary selection we developed a Baseline Questioner. After analyze and correct

the questioner we have completed baseline survey on the selected beneficiaries at the month of October

2014.

By this baseline survey we try to find the present status of the beneficiaries income level, occupation,

alternative livelihood interest, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) interest, Cooperative based

approach, Group/Individual future plan, demand based on needs etc. We provided individual support to

the beneficiaries based on baseline survey.

Outcomes of Baseline Survey:

Concrete house hold information of Beneficiaries and their families are collected and compiled

Identify their interest on diversified livelihoods

List out beneficiaries problems and possible solutions

Activity 2. 14 Monthly group meeting for Mobilization by 30 the project [Budget code:5.1]

A regular monthly gathering is very helpful way to follow up all the group activities and keep

documentation. We have conducted all monthly groups meetings regularly in the 3rd and 4th quarter.

Both male and female beneficiaries participate in the meeting. In these meeting beneficiaries collect their

savings, deposited it into the bank, and documented group works, setup future plan of the project

activities, and follow-up their livelihood supports.

Picture: A monthly group meeting with the Hoglabuniya Group, Dacope

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3rd quarterly monthly group meeting conduction date and participants; Mongla Upazilla:

Group name Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Paschim Cila Group 02/09/14 29 14/10/14 29 17/11/14 30

Kalikabari group 04/09/14 26 15/10/14 37 16/11/14 23

Dakkhin Kainmari 09/09/14 22 15/10/14 29 20/11/14 21

Baiddamari 01/09/14 35 14/10/14 42 15/11/14 24

3rd quarterly monthly group meeting conduction date and participants; Dacope Upazilla:

Group name Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Kalabagi 17/09/14 56 23/10/14 55 24/11/14 56

Sutarkhali 14/09/14 40 22/10/14 42 17/11/14 42

Doyaner Gate 15/09/14 83 21/10/14 84 18/11/14 81

Hoglabuniya 09/09/14 38 16/10/14 38 19/11/14 36

4th quarterly monthly group meeting conduction date and participants; Mongla Upazilla:

Group name Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Paschim Cila Group 08/12/14 43 24/01/15 29 17/02/15 30

Kalikabari group 04/12/14 40 14/01/15 24 10/02/15 24

Dakkhin Kainmari 06/12/14 29 15/01/15 19 14/02/15 15

Baiddamari 10/12/14 40 25/01/15 26 22/02/15 31

4th quarterly monthly group meeting conduction date and participants; Dacope Upazilla:

Group name Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Conduct

date

Total

Participants

Kalabagi 12/12/14 48 25/01/15 51 15/02/15 50

Sutarkhali 17/12/14 36 07/01/15 35 16/02/15 36

Doyaner Gate 15/12/14 81 24/01/15 82 17/02/15 76

Hoglabuniya 08/12/14 32 26/01/15 33 18/02/15 34

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Outcomes of the Monthly meeting:

Follow up individual livelihood support

Follow up beneficiaries monthly savings

Follow up group activities

Collect SME plan

Develop monthly plan

Activity 3. Upazzila based Association meeting [Budget code:4.1]

3.1 Bimonthly Association meeting at September 2014

We have done the first bimonthly association meeting with Upazila based Sundarbans Stakeholders

Association in 04-09-14 at Dacope Upazilla and 06-09-14 at Mongla Upazilla. In this association

meeting we form an Association Executive Committee of 6 members. We clarify the objectives of

the association formation and the responsibility of the association to the beneficiaries. They

committed to reduce exploitation and increased solidarity among 200 Sundarbans resource

harvesters. Sundarbans Stakeholders Associations are hopeful to achieve the project objectives.

Picture: Bi-monthly Association meeting, Mongla Upazilla

Bi-monthly Association meeting conduction Date and Participants; September’ 2014:

Sl. No. Meeting

date Upazilla Venue

Total

participants

01 04/09/14 Dacope Upazilla Livestock office, Chalna 32

02 06/09/14 Mongla Kanainagar Ayesha Siddika Govt. Primary School 35

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3.2 Bimonthly association meeting at November 2014

Bimonthly association meeting of November’14 was arranged in the local area for more

beneficiaries’ participation. In these meeting CALS-SRDC project lawyer was present there and

discuss about the forest laws, rules and regulations of forest resource extraction, which time is the

ban period for which types of recourse harvesting, how to get BLC, how can victims release from

forest case, how to get legal aid support etc. Sundarbans Stakeholders Service Centre (SSSC) staff

Protul Sarkar provides application form to the victims thus they can easily apply for legal aid support

to the project lawyer. Accounts officer Shibly Bin Habib also Discusses about documentation

system, maintain register, cash book, and laser etc. for operation financial activities of the groups

effectively. We also discuss about the application procedure and required documents needed for

cooperative registration from the government. We encourage the group members for Government

cooperative registration. In the meeting groups share their SME plans and put some

recommendations on it. After that we suggest them to set up a final plan immediately that the groups

can start the small and medium enterprise as soon as possible.

Picture: Bi-monthly Association meeting, Mongla Upazilla

Bi-monthly Association meeting conduction Date and Participants; November’ 2014:

SL No Meeting date Upazilla Vanue Total participants

01 29/11/14 Dacope Kalabogi; Sutarkhali 98

02 22/09/14 Mongla Cila Bazar; Mongla 101

3.3 Bimonthly association meeting at January 2015

In the month January 2015 another two bimonthly association meeting was held in two Upazillas.

Lawyer was present in a meeting in Dacope. Here Association members discusses about the

cooperative registration from the govt. They already submitted application with proper

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documents to the Upazilla cooperative departments. In another association meeting group

members follow-up about the project activities.

Bi-monthly Association meeting conduction Date and Participants; January’ 2015:

SL No Meeting date Upazilla Venue Total participants

01 20/01/15 Dacope Chalna Upazilla, Dacope 33

02 26/01/15 Mongla Cila Bazar; Mongla 27

Outcomes of Bimonthly Association:

Beneficiaries know about the forest law, rules and regulations of forest resource extraction; get

legal aid support from the project lawyer

Groups developed its capacity in documentation

Sharing intra group activities and plan in the association meeting

Activity 4. Group/SS association formation and meeting [Budget code: 4.1]

We formed two Upazilla based Sundarbans Stakeholders Association with 220 beneficiaries. Those two

associations are divided into 8 groups. Each groups has own bank account and groups are operated by an

executive committee. Each group purchased a set of resolution, cash book, laser book etc. according to the

suggestions of cooperative departments. Groups submitted their required documents to the Upazilla

cooperative departments for Govt. Cooperatives registration. All cost for submitting documents bears from

the project. Application procedure is completed but unfortunately govt. stops new cooperatives registration

for a certain time. After that we hope our 8 cooperatives will get govt. cooperative registration.

Outcomes:

Groups submitted their application for Cooperative registration directly to Upazilla cooperative

officer and relation build up with Upazilla cooperative departments

Groups keep accounts of the cost and expenditure.

Maintain resolution and meeting minutes

Activity 5. Diversified livelihood (fish, crab, duck, sheep, vegetable and Rice) support for 220

stakeholders [Budget Code: 4.2]

As part of the project support for diversified livelihood to the beneficiaries we try to find their interest.

The livelihoods were selected based on baseline survey. Besides we collected beneficiaries’ opinions

from the monthly group meeting, individual family visits. Then we cross check the selected livelihoods

items with the beneficiaries and finalize it with the consent of Group Executive committee. The inputs

were provided to the beneficiaries by directly purchased by the group executive committee members

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with the presence of project staff. Beneficiaries choose their inputs from local market then it was

purchased with the presence of the group executive committee members and project staff. In general the

types of inputs are Poultry, Duck Rearing, Sheep, Goat, Crab Fattening, Materials for installing Shop,

pig farming, Tailoring, Cloth Shopkeeper, Honey marketing, etc. Besides we contact with the Upazilla

Fisheries, livestock, Agriculture, forestry department to know the Govt. strategy for diversified

livelihoods in the project area which are adaptive to climate change.

Picture: Handover goat to a widow person by

Hoglabuniya Group executive committee members

Diversified livelihood support selection process:-

Baseline survey

Crosscheck livelihood support inputs by person to person contact

Sharing in group meeting and finalized by group executive committee

Livelihood Support items- Mongla Upazilla:

Sl No. Livelihood Item Number

1. Poultry(hen rearing) 38

2. Pig Rearing 18

3. Crab fattening 16

4. Goat Rearing 13

5. Commodities for Shop / Small business 13

6. Duck Rearing 8

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7. Vegetable Gardening 7

8. Fish Culture 4

9. Sewing machine & Cloth (Tailoring by women) 3

10. Pigeon rearing 2

11. Rain water reservoir (Earthen ware) 1

Livelihood Support items- Dacope Upazilla:

Sl No. Livelihood Item Number

1. Crab fattening 27

2. Goat rearing 26

3. Poultry (Hen rearing) 13

4. Duck Rearing 10

5. Honey business 10

6. Sewing machine & Cloth (Tailoring by women) 9

7. Rain water reservoir (Earthen ware) 6

8. Vegetable gardening 6

9. Commodities for Shop / Small business 5

10. Shrimp (fresh water) culture 3

11. Rice/ husked paddy business 2

12. Shari (women cloth) business 1

13. Swan (Big duck) rearing 1

14. Crab business 1

15. Atol (Crab gear) business 1

16. Sheep rearing 1

17. Pigeon rearing 1

18. Sewing machine 1

Note: Some of 220 families choose more than one item.

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Monitoring and follow up individual livelihood support inputs:

After provide livelihood support inputs we monitoring and follow-up profit and loss of the inputs

regularly. We develop a monitoring sheet for 220 individuals and field officer fill it and documented by

door to door visit. We also monitor and discus about the outcomes of the support items in group meeting,

association meeting and filed visit. In some cases livestock items was partially damaged for different

disease. But when it was informed field officer try to link up the victim beneficiaries to the Upazila

livestock department and try to arrange vaccination campaign. Beneficiaries sometimes took suggestions

from Upazila livestock officer over phone. Above all maximum inputs are improved and beneficiaries

benefited for hard working and take care. We documented the successful stories from the project and

encourage others to improve.

Outcomes of Diversified livelihood support:

Practiced diversified livelihood besides Sundarbans resource harvesting

Small amount of profit achieved by the beneficiaries family

Livelihood Inputs create working opportunity for the beneficiaries wife and they also

contributed in family income

Activity 6. Mangrove based SME (Nypa, honey, crab, fish) supports (net, boat, gear, atol) for 8

groups [Budget Code: 4.3]

At first beneficiaries set a business plan according to the group interest. We provided a form which is

likely a business plan. After that beneficiaries groups fill it. In some cases one group is divided into

several sub-groups as per different interest or business plan. Thus they decided to split the group money

between the sub-groups. The types of enterprise they decided are: honey enterprise, pigeon farm,

transport & tourist boat, rice storage, betel-nut storage etc. After submitting a business plan they apply

for transferring Project SME allocation to their bank account. Then the SME money has been provided

to their group account from project account. Every group has an operational committee to do the

enterprise work. The operational committee started to do initial works for the enterprise.

Outcomes:

After transfer SME allocation to the group account the beneficiaries are encouraged to conduct

enterprise

In some cases season dependent SME plan are changed unanimously.

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Activity 7. Boat License Certificate (BLC) and pass permit support via Association (Camera,

Photocopier) for 200 Sundarbans Stakeholders [Budget Code: 4.4]

BLC (boat license Certificate) support has been provided all beneficiaries to increase solidarity among

them. Sundarbans Stockholders Service Center (SSSC) list out some criteria for getting Boat license

Certificate (BLC) from the forest department and beneficiaries followed it. SSSC collected notification

from the forest department for renewal old BLC and for New BLC. From the proper information’s

beneficiaries developed knowledge about the criteria for getting BLC. Forest department committed to

cooperate them. Beneficiaries are located in the remote area and electricity is not available there thus

SSSC provide them beneficiaries passport size photographs, photocopy of old BLC & National ID card,

attestation from UP chairman as Sundarbans professionals etc. required documents. Besides project

lawyer discussed with them about forest act and rules, regulations in different group & association

meeting. Overall 200 Sundarbans stockholders of Dacope and Mongla Upazillas got BLC support.

They are hopeful to protest against the bribe of forest department in future. They also committed to

follow the rules and regulation while harvesting forest resources.

Picture: Distributing BLC money in Group Meeting

Two (2) persons got new BLC (Boat license Certificate) by the help of project stuff from 200

beneficiaries. Other beneficiaries renew their BLC for the year 2014-2015 periods.

Name of the New BLC holders:

Sl No. Name Fathers name Group Name

01 Md. Sukur Ali Shekh Late-Hamid Ali Baiddamari Group, Mongla

02 Jakir Hosen Sardar Ruhul Amin Shardar Baiddamari Group, Mongla

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Outcomes of BLC and pass permit support:

Increased solidarity among 200 Sundarbans resource harvesters

Beneficiaries are really helpful from the Photocopy of BLC, Photographs, Certification from

Union Parishad etc. thus they stay in remote area.

Uniform application by the group/association made them priority from the forest department

People can use the BLC support money for repairing boat, purchasing net etc. before going

Forest

Activity 8. Lean period livelihood support [Budget code: 4.5]

The project has a plan to support the beneficiaries during lean period. But at the time of CAFOD

monitoring and evaluation visit the beneficiaries demand to increase SME amount. Cause the amount of

Small and medium Enterprise (SME) was not sufficient for Running SME. During that time

beneficiaries, Project stuff and CAFOD representative planned to merge the lean period budget with the

SME support. On the other hand, advocacy networking is ongoing. We request the local level govt. and

non govt. authority to link those vulnerable people with different employment scheme.

Outcomes:

Enterprise support is increased for adding lean period money

Activity 9. Legal Aid Support for Stakeholder via SSSC [Budget code: 4.10]

In the month of September’ 2014 the Project lawyer was appointed by Sundarbans Stakeholders Service

Centre (SSSC). In the Year-1 project lawyer with SSSC Staff received 38 applications from the victims

(who are involved in harassmental forest case). After judging those applications SSSC selected 20 cases

in which 47 victims are involved. We focus on the vulnerable poor people who are linked with these

harassmental cases. The numbers of cases ongoing in the court are 3.

After CAFOD representative visit we are agreed to emphasize on awareness built up to the beneficiaries

than new forest case collection. Under awareness built up SSSC lawyer will go to the field more

frequently to provide information about forest act-1927, Environmental conservation Act -1995, Wildlife

(conservation & safety) act 2012, Sundarbans management plan (2011-2020), ban period for resource

harvesting etc. rules and regulations. In the year-1 project lawyer conducted 10 times visits in the field.

Project lawyer also attend the monthly progress meeting of the project. Two signboard are set up in two

Upazillas including lawyer’s phone number and SSSC contact information.

Outcomes:

People aware about the forest law, rules and regulations that saves them from the punishment of

illegal forest resource harvesting.

Poor victims got legal aid support from the SSSC

Poor victims feel trusted that someone (CCEC) stay besides them in such a conflicting issue.

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Figure: Project lawyer discuss about the forest law, rules

And regulations in association meeting, Kalabogi, Dacope

Activity 10. Training for Beneficiaries [budget code: 5.3]

In the month December 2014 & January 2015 we arrange beneficiary training on diversified livelihood

of agricultural, fisheries and livestock’s. Local resource person from Upazilla or other NGOs trainer

trained beneficiaries. We arrange a one day training session with husband and wife of the Sundarbans

dependent family thus they can both contribute in their family income. We arrange 9 training session for

8 group members. One group has large number of beneficiaries thus we split the group members into

two sub groups. Beneficiaries got weeding hook, vegetable seeds and fertilizer from the training. We

choose the vegetable seeds and fertilizer from the suggestion of Upazilla agricultural department. The

vegetable seeds are climate adaptive and salinity tolerant. In the mean time some Beneficiaries starting

to get vegetables from the seed plant.

The topics are discussed in the Training:

Germination and plantation process of the distributed vegetable seeds

When used which types of fertilizer, Insect controlling, weeding etc.

Climate adaptive & salinity tolerant fish culture

Disease symptoms and vaccination process of livestock’s

Open discussions, Problems and Solution in practical life’s agro-fisheries-livestock practices

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Picture: Beneficiaries got agricultural equipments, seeds, fertilizer after training session

Beneficiaries Training venue and Date:

Upazilla Name of the Group Venue Conduction

Date

Number of

Participants

Mongla

Kalikabari Group Kalikabari Shishu bikash kendra 07/01/15 47

Dakkhin Kainmari St. Marry Praimary School 08/01/15 36

Paschim Chila Chila Market 19/01/15 54

Baiddamari Chila Union parishad 20/01/15 63

Dacope

Sutarkhali Sutarkhali Shoshipara Praimary

school

27/01/15 43

Doyaner gate Doyaner gate 18/01/15 45

Doyaner gate Doyaner gate 31/12/14 45

Kalabogi Kalabogi 20/01/15 60

Hoglabunia Chalna Upazilla 28/01/15 38

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Outcomes of beneficiaries training:

Practical knowledge on agriculture, fisheries and livestock farming obtained

Beneficiaries can clarify their indigenous knowledge by asking questions to the trainer

Relation build up with govt. resource persons (Upazilla Agriculture, Fisheries & livestock

officers) and beneficiaries

Got agricultural inputs ( Equipments, seeds, fertilizers)

Both men and women from the Sundarbans dependent family got diversified livelihood training

Beneficiaries already starting to get pumpkin, lady’s finger, papaw, red pumpkin gourd and stalk

of a plant

Picture: Sukur Ali Shekh’s Wife making vegetable garden

in her yard with the Project supporting Seeds; Baiddamari, Mongla

Activity 11. Advocacy, Networking and Dialogue with FD/CMC, Porjotan Corporation, DMC,

MOF & DM and Coast Guard [Budget Code: 5.4]

We communicate with Forest department, Co-management committee, Porjoton Corporation, Union

Parishad (UP), Disaster management committee (DMC), Coast guard, Mongla port authority for

different issues like the vulnerable Sundarbans Stakeholders employment opportunity, more patrolling in

the forest, give priority in different schemes of Union Parishad (UP) etc. In the mean time total 26

project beneficiaries or their family members are linked with different Schemes of Union Parishad (UP)

work , Mongla port (Silo). It’s a major achievement of the project.

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The list of the beneficiaries/beneficiaries’ family member’s who are benefited are given below:-

Sl No. Upazilla Name of the beneficiaries Who involved

in work

Types of work/ Scheme/

program/ allowance

01

Mongla

Showpon Biswas Himself Vulnerable group feeding

(UP)

02 Gour Bisaws Himself DO

03 Shonjit Sarkar Himself DO

04 Liton Haldar Himself DO

05 Porom Poddar Himself DO

06 Ashim Mondal Himself DO

07 Shawpan Biswas Himself DO

08 Bina Banerji Himself 100 days work (UP)

09 Lukas Bachar Himself DO

10 Parom Poddar Himself DO

11 Shahid Bapari Himself DO

12 Powladitta Himself DO

13 Nilima Biswas Himself LGED

14 Kholil Haolader ( Tiger victim) Himself Mongla Port (SILO)

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Dacope

Dipali Sarker Herself Widow allowance (UP)

16 Ruhul Amin Sana Son Disable Allowance (UP)

17 Anjali Sarkar Herself Widow allowance (UP)

18 Monoranjon Mondal Himself 40 days work (UP)

19 Farida Begum Mother Old allowance(UP)

20 Nashima Begum Mother Old Allowance(UP)

21 Gazi Abdul Halim Himself 40 days work (UP)

22 Rahima Begum Mother 40 days work (UP)

23 Rokeya Begum Herself Widow allowance (UP)

24 Gazi Rabiul Islam Mother Old allowance (UP)

25 Mojaffar Sarder Mother Old allowance (UP)

26 Mohidul Sarder Son Disable allowance (UP)

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In the meantime an advocacy meeting was held in 28th February 2015 at Mongla Upazilla with different

stakeholders of the project. Upazilla Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Education, Cooperatives Officers,

CMC members, Union Parishad chairman, DMC members, Forest department, NGO representative,

Coast guard, Mongla port authority, teachers from local schools were participate in that advocacy,

Networking & Dialogue. There we invite beneficiaries from both Dacope & Mongla Upazilla. In total 30

participants was present in the Advocacy meeting. At first we present our project details to the

stockholders then different issues came in front for the betterment of Sundarbans dependent people.

They committed to help the beneficiaries from their own sectors. We appeal to Mongla export

processing zone, Union Parishad chairman, Porjoton Corporation to involve Sundarbans professionals

into alternative works in their authorized sectors. We appeal coast guard for more patrolling, CMC to

work together with our beneficiaries, Forest department for their livelihood security.

Outcomes of Advocacy, Networking & Dialogue:

26 Project Beneficiaries & their family members involved in the local govt.’s employment

opportunity and Mongla port (Silo)

Secondary stakeholders of the project (FD, CMC, Coast guard, Porjoton Corporation, DMC,

MOF & DM) committed to help Project beneficiaries from their own sectors.

Beneficiaries introduced with the Govt. officials and removed their inertness.

Govt. and non govt. organizations known about the project.

Activity 12. Follow-up handicraft training for 20 women [Budget code: 4.6]

In the 4rth quarter we arranged a follow-up training with the women headed and tiger widows persons of

the project. We include another 10 women headed families from Mongla Upazilla in the Handicraft

practices. The groups are now workings in Mongla for handicraft making are consisting of 20 women’s.

We support them handicraft equipments from the project. In the meantime we try to linkage this

handicraft product for marketing in Karamjal tourist spot, Ritu Riju, Daliya Butics etc sectors.

Outcomes:

Follow-up training developed skills of old and new participants.

One unified groups of 20 women from Mongla Upazilla makes a active group for handicraft

practices.

Activity 13: Monitoring & Evaluation (Director of CCEC with Project team) [Budget code: 3.2]

Moududur Rahman, Director of CCEC cooperates with the project activities cordially and conducted

several field visits in September 2014 to February 2015. He discussed with the beneficiaries before

transfer individual livelihood supports. His Communication and linkage with different government and

Non Govt. Organizations creates several new opportunities for the projects beneficiaries. Especially his

reference and communication makes easy to do the project work. He motivates beneficiaries for not

giving any bribe during get BLC or pass permit. He joined with the CAFOD team during Monitoring and

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evaluation visit in the month of November 2014. Above all his cooperation and efforts helps to achieve

project aim and objectives.

Picture: A discussion with CCEC Director and Baiddamari Honey extractor group, Mongla

Outcomes Monitoring & Evaluation (Director of CCEC):

Regular monitoring and field visit of Director encourage project staff and beneficiaries to do

better work

His communication and link up helps project staffs to build relations with different stakeholders.

Activity 14. Monitoring and Evaluation by CAFOD and Field visit

As per monitoring and Evaluation of the project CAFOD representative Mrs. Kulsum has took some

visit in the project area. She cordially communicates with the project beneficiaries and try to find their

present status as part of her view. She also attends in some meetings with beneficiaries groups.

Mrs. Kulsum also collects some case stories from the project beneficiaries with the presence of Project

manager and field officer. Her field visit is very helpful and effective for the project team.

At the month of November 2014 CAFOD team conducted a Monitoring & Evaluation Visit of the

progress of “CALS-SRDC” project with the project team. Mr. Richard Sloman, Programme officer

Bangladesh; Umme Kulsum, CAFOD Programme Coordinator, Bangladesh; Mowdudur Rahman,

Director, CCEC and the project staff were present in the visit. At the time of field visit CAFOD team

conducted 4 meetings with project beneficiaries and also some household visits. After the 3 days visit

(November 10 to November 12) CAFOD team put some recommendations for the betterment of the

project.

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Important Recommendations of CAFOD team after field visit:

Develop a work plan for legal aid support activities (lawyer’s activities); it is better for lawyer to

increase field visits/meeting with the beneficiaries than increasing/collecting new cases.

Maintain a complain register and solve the complains as per the recommended process.

Make a concrete business plan for Small & Medium Enterprise (SME)

Prompt marketing of the handicraft and linkage with different wings

Follow-up and monitoring individual livelihood support

Documented case stories/ Successful stories of the project

Take necessary steps for cooperatives registration

Picture: A meeting with CAFOD team and Sutarkhali Group members,

10 November’ 2014, Dacope

Outcomes Monitoring and Evaluation by CAFOD:

Positive and negative outcomes are came to light by their observations

Need based initiatives are point out

Their recommendations are very helpful for the project

Documents are updated by the monitoring and evaluation.

Encourage the project staffs.

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Activity 13. IEC materials (Reports, Poster and Leaflet) [Budget code: 4.9]

At the end of year-1 we published two types of ICE materials from “CALS-SRDC” project. One is

calendar, in which project activities, project objectives, picture of successful story, environmental days,

Sundarbans professions, which time is ban period for which kind of resource harvesting etc. are

included.

Another is booklet where short briefs of the project, case stories, cooperative activities of the groups,

Sundarbans oil spill, legal aid information’s are included.

Outcomes IEC materials:

Peoples can know about Sundarbans and Sundarbans professionals

Beneficiaries are encouraged from successful case stories

Beneficiaries learn about the rules and regulations of forest resource harvesting, criteria for

getting BLC etc. legal aid information’s.

Activity 15. Monthly Staff Meeting [Budget code: 3.5]

We arrange 2 monthly staff meetings in 3rd quarter and 3 monthly staff meetings in 4th quarter. In these

meetings we have discussed the monthly progress and set monthly action plan of the project. In the

month of October 2014 we failed to arrange monthly staff meeting at CCEC head office because of the

hurry schedule. We cover the gap by field trips and regular contact.

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Picture: Monthly staff meeting in February’ 2015, CCEC office, Khulna

Outcomes of monthly staff meeting:

Follow-up of the project activities and project staffs responsibility

Easy to make monthly Plan

Easy to keep documentation

Activity 16: Beneficiary feedback and Accountability in place

Maintaining beneficiary feedback register: According to the recommendation of CAFOD we maintain

the beneficiaries’ feedback register at two fields.

Complain Management: At the date 10th November 2014 CCEC project staffs went to Doyaner Gate of

Sutarkhali Union for monitoring and evaluation visit with CAFOD team. Then some people of the

Sundarbans community complained for not becoming beneficiary of “CALS-SRDC” project and about

beneficiary selection process. They were very excited too. At that time CAFOD representative Mrs.

Kulsum listen their complain very sincerely and explained the limitation of beneficiary numbers. After

that CAFOD and CCEC decided that project staff should meet with the non-beneficiaries in a formal

meeting and clarify their complain. Immediately after the project team arranged a meeting with the non-

beneficiaries at 15th November 2014.

Outputs of the Complain management meeting:

The grief of the non beneficiaries is softened.

Union Parishad member committed that he will help the project activity together with the

common people.

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Challenges:

1. Beneficiary number is less than the number of Sundarbans resource dependent communities

2. Drinking water scarcity

3. Relief and service oriented Mentality

4. The amount of individual support is less to run a good business or alternative livelihood

Initiatives taken to overcome the Challenges:

a. Help support establishing links with international donors (DFID, EU, others) donating money to

Bangladesh Climate Change Funds (BCCCF)for the climate victims because Sundarbans resource

harvesters are the frontlines of global climate change impacts

b. Emphasizes on Climate Adaptive Agriculture practice (Salinity tolerant vegetable, Rice practices).

c. Drinking water reservoir supply or excavation of pond may be a solution of drinking water

problem.

Winding up:

At the end of Year-1 “CALS-SRDC” project achieved some mentionable outputs and hope it will

continue till the end.

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Annex:

Empowering women in “Climate Adaptive Livelihood Security of Sundarbans

Resource Dependent Community” Project

Centre for Coastal Environmental Conservation (CCEC) is implementing a project titled “Climate

Adaptive Livelihood Security of Sundarbans Resource Dependent Community” supported by CAFOD.

The primary objectives of this project are- making people’s livelihood more secured coping with

climate, practice climate adaptive livelihood, to enable community based Sundarbans resource

management through capacity building, skill development and policy advocacy. Under this project we

emphasize women empowerment besides food security and climate adaptive livelihood practice.

Sunderbans Stakeholders of the project create two Upazilla based associations. The main responsibility of

the Sundarbans stakeholders association is reduce exploitation and increased solidarity among 200

Sundarbans resource harvesters. Each Upazilla based Association consist of 110 beneficiaries and 4 groups.

111Each group has an executive committee consist of 7 members. In this executive committee we try to

ensure 60% women participation. Because the male beneficiaries’ are going for a couple of days in

Sundarbans and can’t attend in group activities. On the other hand women are mostly responsible for

their family and can ensure their participation in group meeting. Besides the women are empower by this

leading capacity.

The Activities by which the project tries to Empowered by women are:

Ensure 60% women participation in the group executive committee

Women are the bank signatory and cashier of the group account

Women headed and tiger widow families are focused during beneficiary selection

Women headed and tiger widows are linkage with Sundarbans handicraft making by support

handicraft training and equipments

Both men and women get agricultural, fisheries and livestock training from the project

Livelihood supports inputs are selected based on the women’s opinion thus they can put

emphasizes on it.

Figure: Women participation in Association meeting Figure: Agricultural seeds and equipments are distributed

through women’s after diversified livelihood training.

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In fine most of the achievements of the projects are achieved by the women’s and they got training on

diversified livelihood, Sundarbans handicrafts. Women’s are introduced with the Upazilla Agricultural

officer, fisheries officer, livestock officer, bank officers, Forest department thus their inertness has

broken and they are willing to ask any queries to the Govt. Officials. They established cooperatives in

each group which aim is generate income by productive works like Crab fattening, Poultry, Agriculture,

fisheries, pigeon rearing etc works.

Picture: Ozika Begum working in her vegetable garden whose husband

is a fisherman mostly passing time in the Sundarbans for fishing Figure: Shephali Begum got goat from the

project and it delivered two cubs now