Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    1/24

    PROCESS DOCUMENTATION OF

    JOINT ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN OF THE CARE RVCC PROJECT, UTTARANAND PANI COMMITTEE

    CAMAPIGN FOR SALINE FREE DRINKINGWATER IN SOUTHWEST BANGLADESH

    A. K. M. Mamunur Rashid

    Advocacy Coordinator

    RVCC Project, CARE Bangladesh

    CARE Bangladesh Khulna Field Office

    House# 14, Road# 113, Khalishpur Housing Estate

    Khulna-9000, Bangladesh

    Email: [email protected]

    Telephone: 88-041-761250-104

    Date: 27th

    June 2004

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    2/24

    Background and Introduction

    A small coastal country of the south central Asia, Bangladesh is located in the delta of the Gangesand the Brahmaputra in the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent. Bangladesh has an area of143,998 sq. km, and is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The country liesbetween latitudes 20o30 N and 26o15 N and longitudes 88o30 E and 92o15 E. to the south, it has anirregular coastline fronting the Bay of Bengal and is bordered by Myanmar on the southeast. TheIndian states of West Bengal to the west and north, and Assam to the north and east comprise theborder between Bangladesh and India.

    The basic features of climate of Bangladesh are sub-tropical monsoon climate, wide seasonalvariations in rainfall, moderately warm temperatures, and high humidity. Climate generally uniformthroughout entire country. Subject to severe natural disasters, such as floods, tropical cyclones,tornadoes, and tidal bores.

    Bangladesh has one of the most densely populated, low-lying, coastal zones in the world, with 20-25million people living within a one-meter elevation from the high tide level. The coastline in Bangladeshtotals about 735 km, of which 125 km are covered by the Sunderbans - the major natural mangroveforest. The sectors of Bangladesh coastal resources identified as most vulnerable to climate changeand sea level change are agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, forestry, and tourism. The possibleeffects of sea level change are inundation, salt-water intrusion, flash floods, droughts, and stormsurges.

    Though Bangladesh has least contribution to the global climate change but are susceptible to beaffected worst due to its geographical position, high density of population, low-level literacy,agriculture sector dominated national economy, high prevalence of natural disasters, poor per capitaincome and political strife.

    Digital terrain modelingtechniques have been used todisplay the Bangladesh scenarios.

    A three dimensional view of thecountry has been overlaid with thecurrent coastline and major riversand potential future sea levels at1,5 meters.

    Since this scenario wascalculated in 1989, the expectedrate of sea level rise has beenmodified. At present expectedrates, this stage will occur inabout 150 years from now.

    ScenarioLand area'000km2

    Population 1989'000'000 est.

    Population 2030'000'000 est.

    150 cm 22 (16%) 17 (15%) 34 (15%)

    Bangladesh total 134 (100%) 112 (100%) 224 (100%)

    Reduced dry-season freshwater supply from upstream sources resulting from climate change couldfurther exacerbate salinity conditions in the coastal area of Bangladesh (IPCC 1998) [The RegionalImpacts of Climate Change: An Assessment of Vulnerability. Cambridge: Cambridge UniversityPress].

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    3/24

    Fig 2.

    Global water scenario

    If we see the total distribution of the global we knew that grossly 97% water are ocean water,

    and only 3% are other and subsequently these

    are only sweetwaters. Of these 3% sweetwater,

    77% belongs to icecaps, glaciers and inland seas,22% ground water and only 1% are other

    (atmosphere and soil moisture 39%, lakes 61%,

    rivers .25%). Due to climate change, icecaps,

    glaciers are melting and sea water is intrusing

    further to the north, subsequently sweet water

    percentage will be reduced more and more in

    near future. Only good hope for sweet water is the increase of rain. There is a tiny line of

    hope to use rainwater for drinking and other sweet water sources. This problem will be highly

    risky due to increase of population in developing countries who could be the worst sufferer of

    climate change. Before talking more about saline water, we need to clarify a few things; for

    example, what do mean by saline water?

    Table 1: Distribution of Global Water by Percentage

    Water source Water volume, in cubic miles Percent of total water

    Oceans 317,000,000 97.24%

    Icecaps, Glaciers 7,000,000 2.14%

    Ground water 2,000,000 0.61%

    Fresh-water lakes 30,000 0.009%

    Inland seas 25,000 0.008%

    Soil moisture 16,000 0.005%

    Atmosphere 3,100 0.001%

    Rivers 300 0.0001%

    Total water volume 326,000,000 100%

    Source: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Water that is saline contains significant amounts (referred to as "concentrations") of

    dissolved salts. In this case, the concentration is the amount (by weight) of salt in water, as

    expressed in "parts per million" (ppm). If water has a concentration of 10,000 ppm of

    dissolved salts, then one percent (10,000 divided by 1,000,000) of the weight of the water

    comes from dissolved salts. Here are a few parameters for saline water:

    Fresh water - Less than 1,000 ppm Slightly saline water - From 1,000 ppm to 3,000 ppm

    Moderatly saline water - From 3,000 ppm to 10,000 ppm

    Highly saline water - From 10,000 ppm to 35,000 ppm

    By the way, ocean water contains about 35,000 ppm of salt.

    On the basis of above-mentioned scenario, a great

    question comes to us that how much water is usable by

    humans? It is said that only .3% of global water is

    drinkable by human being. Majority of these usable water

    sources is groundwater and a very few are freshwater

    lakes and freshwater rivers.

    Fig 1.

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    4/24

    Bangladesh water scenario

    Bangladesh is popularly known as country of river. Most of the rivers carry sweet water from

    the Himalayans, Manosh Sarobar and falls to Bay of Bangle. In the climate change

    discourses it is now very accepted that Bangladesh will be one of the most vulnerable

    country for climate change. Bangladesh is highly dependent on the regional waterdistributions. Drought, flood and salinity are three aspects, which directly related with the

    water sharing with other countries (mainly with India). During rainy season, when

    Bangladesh need small amount of water, then due to the basin, water of whole basin passes

    through the rivers and due to the siltation the capacity of these rivers has already been

    reduced which subsequently cause flood. During dry season, when Bangladesh needs

    sweet water from north, then the flow is very low, and due to low rainfall during the same

    season, scarcity of water become serious and increases drought. In the same season, due

    to low flow of fresh water during dry season coupled with sea water level increase the

    salinity intruse further to north.

    Another big concern in Bangladesh is the contamination. The water specially drinking water

    is increasingly contaminated by arsenic, bromin, magnesium and other trace elements and

    by salinity and industrial pollutions.

    Source: Profile of the District Climate Change Vulnerabilities (Salinity, Water logging and Flood) in Southwest Bangladesh, RVCC Project, 2004

    Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change (RVCC) projects compiled vulnerability profile ofsix districts in Southwest Bangladesh refer that 90% people of Satkhira district, 100% people

    of Khulna district, 100% people of Bagerhat district, 20% people of Gopalganj district, 73%

    of Narail district and 31% of Jessore district are suffering with salinity. The worst suffering

    districts are Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira district (RVCC, 2004). Almost 5 million people

    are suffering with drinking water problem due to salinity in drinking water.

    Taking the above mentioned condition it is obvious that drinking water problem is not just a

    short time problem in the southwest Bangladesh and it could be worst due to climate

    change. Salinity is a salient feature in southwest Bangladesh along with other water related

    problems (arsenic, iron, bromin, magnesium and industrial pollutions).

    Salinity affected population in southwest Bangladesh by district

    87

    37

    45

    12

    16

    63

    42

    19

    57

    20

    13

    10

    69

    27

    80

    3

    0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

    Jessore

    Narail

    Gopalganj

    Bagerhat

    Khulna

    Satkhira

    Distric

    t

    Percentage of s alinity affected population by DistrictsHighMediumLowNot affected

    Fig 3.

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    5/24

    WomenandChi ld

    renaretaking

    respons

    ibility

    ofcollectingsalin

    efreewaterfrom2-5kmfar

    Detail Process of Advocacy on Saline Free Drinking Water

    A. ISSUE SELECTION

    5 million people of southwest Bangladesh are suffering with saline drinking water. The

    scenario of the Shayamnagr, Assasuni, Kaliganj, Debhata, Tala of Satkhira, Koyra,

    Paikgacha, Dacope, Batiaghata, Dumuria of Khulna, Morelganj, Sharonkhola, Mongla,

    Rampal of Bagerhat are the worst suffering Upazillas in southwest Bangladesh, where

    ancients mariners quatation comes truth water water everywhere, no water to drink. RVCC

    project has conducted a vulnerability assessment with the people of southwest Bangladesh

    through 78 FGDs (RVCC, 2003). It was observed that salinity was the one of the major

    vulnerability contexts of the poor people in the three districts: Khulna, Satkhira and

    Bagerhat. It was also reported during the Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior (KAB)

    study (RVCC 2003) that salinity is becoming a daily truth to the people of Narail andGopalganj as salinity is intruising further to the north. Due to reduction of the

    freshwater flow from the farakka, reduction of the rainfall during rainy season and

    sea level rise, the risk of northern districts to the Greater Khulna (Khulna, Satkhira

    and Bagerhat) increases to be inundated by the saline water. A lot more people in

    future will be affected by the salinity in drinking water in this region. In the

    vulnerability assessment this came truth, as the people perceived this as a present

    and well-being aspect that people are

    vulnerable to cope with. Following the

    findings of vulnerability assessment, aParticipatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)

    team started to do some in-depth

    analysis of the issue (drinking water

    crisis in the context of increasing

    salinity in southwest Bangladesh)

    (Uttaran, 2002). CARE RVCC Project

    and its partner NGO, UTTARAN

    jointly conducted 4 Focus Group

    Discussion (FGD), 4 Force Field Analysis (FFA), 4 Mobility Map, and 10 semi structured

    interview in Satkhira District to find out the livelihood problem associated with salinity. Male

    groups were predominantly focused on removing siltation and ensuring upstream flow.

    Female groups predominantly focused on their daily livelihood problem: drinking water

    problem in the context of increase in salinity. Women portrayed their severe problem as they

    have to tackle the drinking water issue based on the traditional household division of labour.

    Women have to collect water from two to six kilometers away from their home. Girls are

    dropping from schools or limited attendance in school due to water collection as their

    mothers have to cook before 12:00 when their husbands will come back from field for taking

    lunch. A common feature in Shayamnagar, Assasuni, Koyra, Paikgacha, Dacope and

    Mongla is that there is continuous quarrel between husband and wife for more time waste forcollecting waters. To avoid this situation, collection of water at night is also increasing, which

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    6/24

    made the women more vulnerable to be harassed by the wicked man on the way of water

    plant to home. Increasingly, women of four or five families go together to collect water and

    wait for the whole group to avoid such insecurity. The ponds from where the women are

    collecting sweet water are not clean, looks very dirty, women believes that through filter,

    these water are becoming purified, which is not. Thus this water cannot meet the standard ofsafe water and causing water borne diseases among the children and other adults. When

    PRA team asks them why are you drinking this water? They replied through another

    question can we drink saline water? RVCC and Uttaran took the question into their account

    and having quick look of the national policies it was found that policy also fails to give this

    answer. Therefore, this question was taken to be dealt as the advocacy issue of the RVCC

    Project.

    Therefore, salinity and its effect on potable water issue was selected as the advocacy issue

    to be tackled. Additional issues identified during the FGDs and FFAs included: shrimp

    cultivation and decrease in freshwater flow from upstream due to siltation. Taking into

    consideration the duration of the project and the priority of females practical needs, CARE

    RVCC and UTTARAN selected the crisis in potable water in the context of increasing salinity

    as the advocacy issue to focus on.

    B. LOCAL LEVEL NETWORKING/ALLIANCE BUILDING WITH CIVIL SOCIETY

    The advocacy partner of RVCC Project, UTTARAN discussed the salinity caused drinking

    water crisis with Pani Committee a civil society organization active in southwest Bangladesh

    where college and school teachers, lawyears, journalists, social workers, and activists work

    together to solve the regional water related problems. They have run a social movement in

    past to remove waterlogging through taking the peoples knowledge into consideration to

    introduce working to remove the water logging in Jessore and Khulna. They also succeeded

    to incorporate peoples identified method (Tidal River Management) into the Water

    Development Boards methodologies to solve the water logging in southwest region.

    Following the discussion with Uttaran, Pani Committee showed interest to work with Uttaran

    and CARE RVCC voluntarily for grassroot mobilization and advocacy for saline free drinking

    water. Pani Committee then started to visit the saline affected areas in Khulna and Satkhira

    districts. After visiting the salinity affected areas, Pani Committee and Uttaran agreed anddecided to work in 8 Upazillas: Shayamnagar, Kaliganj, Asasuni and Debhata in Satkhira

    district, and Koyra, Paikgacha and Dumuria in Khulna district. Though, Dacope, Batiaghata

    in Satkhira district, Mongla, Rampal, Morelganj and Sharonkhola in Bagerhat district are also

    affected by salinity and people of these Upazilla are also suffering with saline drinking water,

    but RVCC project is pilot in its nature and Pani Committee and Uttaran has existing work in

    the mentioned 8 Upazillas, the area was limited for advocacy work. Pani Committee

    reformed their central committee taking three members from each of 8 Upazilla and other

    professionals and reputed social workers a total of 41 members. Previously, there was no

    Upazilla level civil society platform to work on water issue. One of the needs was to formUpazilla Pani Committee in 8 Upazilla. Responsibility was given to the three members of the

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    7/24

    respective Upazilla in the Central Body to form a full committee in Upazilla level. The

    committee was formed through a public meeting in the respective Upazilla. The Central

    Committee along with Upazilla steering committee (three members representing the Upazilla

    in the central Pani Committee), a public meeting was called in each Upazilla. Interested

    social workers, activists, journalists, farmers, teachers and other non-political people werecalled in the meeting and Upazilla Pani Committee was formed. The Upazilla Pani

    Committee held 6 workshop in 6 Upazilla: Shayamnagar, Assasuni, Debhata, Kaliganj,

    Koyra and Paikgacha. The objectives of the workshop was to share the PRA findings and

    took the opinion of the different stakeholders on the problem, possible solutions, possible

    sources of sweet water and possible actions to be done. Central Pani Committee sits

    bimonthly and reviews the activities of the period. Upazilla Pani Committee sits quarterly and

    review the progress of activities in their respective Upazilla and report back to the Central

    Committee. Central committee considers the findings and recommendation of the Upazilla

    Pani Committee and in critical situation of social movement supports the Upazilla Pani

    Committee. Major responsibilities of the Upazilla Pani Committee are: to organize the rally

    and submit memorandum to the Upazilla Nirbahi Officer (UNO), to dialogue with the local

    Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and UNO regularly regarding the problem,

    aware the mass people on the problem, facilitate the students and others to write letter to

    the Prime Minister, help or support the students water forum in their respective area to

    organize discussions and debates on water in their annual ceremony or in any special

    occasion. The major responsibilities of the Central Pani Committee are: to coordinate the all

    Upazilla Pani Committee, support them when they need for grassroot mobilization and

    memorandum submission, to give representation to the policy makers, do the media

    campaign, facilitate and organize the seminar, roundtable discussions, to aware the

    influential persons about the water problem. The Central Pani Committee also liaison with

    other civil society organizations active in the region and at national level to make more

    people involved with the social movement for solving regional water problems. Central Pani

    Committee has made such good linkages with Greater Khulna Unnayan Sangram

    Coordination Committee. They helped Pani Committee and Uttaran to organize the Seminar

    in Khulna on the Salinity in Drinking Water and Policy Responses. The following are the

    brief description of the activities for the local level allience building and capacity building of

    Advocacy Campaign Partners and other RVCC PNGOs.

    B.1. Meeting and workshop with the NGOs and Civil Society organizations

    Uttaran sits bi-monthly in the Pani

    Committees meeting. To date 5 meetings of

    Pani Committee held (20/07/03, 22/08/03,

    30/12/03, 11/02/2004 and 9/05/04). Major

    decisions of these meeting and follow up

    were following.

    (1) Formation of Upazilla Pani Committeethrough public meeting.

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    8/24

    (2) Organize the Upazilla level workshops.

    (3) Organize Satkhira and Khulna Seminar.

    (4) Formation of Students Water Forum

    (5) Include women members in the central committee and during formation of Upazilla Pani

    Committee include female members as much as possible.

    Following the decision of Central Pani Committee meeting, 6 workshops held in 6 Upazilla to

    take the peoples opinion about the drinking water problem in context of increase in salinity

    in their respective Upazilla. These workshops held in Shayamangar (10 th September 2003),

    Assasuni (16-17 September 03), Debhata (18 September 03), Kaliganj (19 September 03),

    Paikgacha (24-25 September 03) and Koyra (25 th October 03). The local Pani Committee,

    Central Pani Committee and Uttaran organized all these workshops. In each workshop

    average 55 people attended and provided their opinion about the issue. The structure of the

    workshops was first to grasp the problem

    associated with drinking water (but during

    workshop it also extends to the use of saline

    water in other livelihood aspects), second what

    could be the possible solutions for saline free

    drinking water and finally what need to do if we

    want to achieve the solutions. Suffering people,

    teachers, local journalists, social workers, Union

    Parishad Chairman and Members, NGO

    workers, political workers, civil society members, government officials and PaniCommittee

    members attended the workshops. The workshops were very successful and findings of the

    workshops were considered during the design of advocacy campaign. One of the big

    benefits of these workshops was to get other people involved and committed to work on this

    issue. All participants (other than suffering people) committed that they will help the social

    movement for saline free drinking water in their Upazilla. Government officials also showed

    positive attitudes to help the civil society best possible from their end. Major findings of these

    workshops are summarized in bellow table 1.

    Pani Committee sits regular for developing strategy to make the nationalwater related policies more pro-poor through social movement

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    9/24

    Table 1: Summary of Findings of 6 Workshops Held on Potable Water Issues

    Livelihood Problems Associated with Saline Water PossibleSolutions

    ActionsSuggestedSocial Environmental Physical/Health Economic

    Neighborhoodrelationships arebecoming weak

    and quarrelsincreasing

    Decrease in trees,plants, herbs andvegetation

    Women andchildren have towalk average 3-5

    kilometers at least 2times per day. Thismakes them weakerbecause they carryheavy water pot

    Loss of at least4 working hoursin a day

    Localgovernment totake necessary

    actions forformulatingprojects ondrinking water

    Locate sweetwater sources inthe region andplan to utilizethose sources

    Control shrimpcultivation - ifpossible, stop it

    Build more PSF,

    RWHP, reservedponds and ruralpipelines toensure saline andarsenic-freedrinking water

    More researchinto possiblesolutions

    Raise awarenessof mass peoplethrough educatedpersons living inthe rural areas

    Raise awarenessamong all levels ifpeople about the

    problem

    Raise peoplesvoice to thegovernment to solvethe issue

    Appeal to politiciansand the PrimeMinister for kindattention to theproblem

    Hold a publicmeeting in everyUnion and Thana

    Change the rules ofshrimp cultivation

    Reserve/protectsome pondsthrough communityinitiatives

    Appeal to UPChairman toallocate more waterplants in the area

    Decrease ofagriculturalproducts

    Somehouseholdshave to pay forwater carriedfrom distantplaces

    Quarrel increasesamong husbandand wife Contamination of

    freshwater sourcesWomen andyoung girls areharassed duringcarrying of waterfrom distant place

    Inadequate waterintake is commonwhich has healtheffectsLoss of freshwater

    speciesCannot beinvolved inincome

    Household andpersonal hygiene isbecoming tough tomaintain

    Students' (mostlygirls) education isinterrupted due toresponsibility ofcarrying drinkingwater

    House structuresbecoming lesssustainable

    Generatingactivities

    Skin diseases,diarrhea, dysentery,fever, headacheand weakness areincreasing

    Increase inmarketdependencybecause ofincreasedsalinity1

    Migration isincreasing Women and

    children aresuffering frommalnutrition

    Males are facingdifficulty to getsuitable wifebecause parentsliving infreshwater areasdo not want togive theirdaughter inmarriage to aman living in asaline water area

    Loss ofemploymentopportunity

    Pregnant womenface moredifficulties

    Increase ofpoverty

    Cleaning clothes isalmost impossible

    Loss of animalhusbandry

    1 Examples: farmers cannot grow rice seedlings in saline soil; people need to buy fish because public water bodies have beentaken over for shrimp production

    Uttaran has its previous NGO network namely SHONJOG (which has been formed with 40

    local NGOs). At the beginning of the campaign, 20 of these NGOs are interested to work

    with the potable water issue. Consists of Executive Directors and Coordinators of these

    NGOs a Climate Change Awareness Committee (CCAC) was formed. The CCAC sat once

    and after that meeting it came to the realization that the main purpose of the committee is to

    aware the rural people about climate change and

    its effects on drinking water. As Uttaran prepared

    a drama and solo folk song to aware the masspeople, and a few members of CCAC is also

    included in the Pani Committee, therefore, this

    issue was discussed during two days campaign

    design workshop, and decided not to continue

    this committee as this is not much effective for

    social movement than to go with civil society but

    they will remain as campaign partners for saline free drinking water and will assist and help

    the Upazilla Pani Committee to build awareness among mass people and organize rally and

    procession.

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    10/24

    Uttaran has build good rapport with national level organizations like IUCN, SPARSO,

    Geological Survey Department, Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (BCAS), NGO

    Forum, Federation of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB) and provide regular

    information to them through sending of reports, articles, booklets, still photo and newsletter

    (prepared by Coastal Development Partnership (CDP), a PNGO of RVCC). Uttaran alsoprovide information to the advisory committee of the RVCC project via its representative on

    the committee.

    B.2. Capacity Building of RVCC Partners and Advocacy Campaign Partners

    It was realized that to carry out advocacy activities

    for saline free drinking water, campaign partners

    need to build capacity on doing advocacy.

    Training was a direct input for awareness raising

    and skill development for advocacy campaign

    partners. Uttaran has organized two batches

    training (on advocacy for capacity building of

    RVCC PNGOs staff members and Advocacy

    Campaign Partners staff members including

    Uttaran staff. A total of 50 staff are trained through

    3-day training sessions.

    8 PNGOs, other than advocacy campaign

    partners, have some work in community level. Thiscommunity level initiative needs some advocacy

    skills. Uttaran provided the training to the 8 PNGO

    staff on art of advocacy and that helped them to understand the complex of strategies at

    community level even to the regional and national level. Gained skill from advocacy training

    of Uttaran, PNGO will be able to handle their advocacy issue at various levels.

    C. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

    C.1. Shallow Aquifer StudyA shallow aquifer survey was conducted in

    Satkhira and Khulna Districts to identify

    possible sweet water aquifers. The Pani

    Committee and Climate Change Awareness

    Committee proposed this study. The study was

    necessary for doing advocacy to know the

    possible alternative sources of arsenic and

    saline free drinking water in the saline zone.

    Before, perusing the drinking water agenda to

    the policy makers, Pani Committee and Uttaran need to know the shallow level aquifers

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    11/24

    condition. The The study was limited to secondary literature review, satellite image of the

    condition of aquifers and only 4 experimental borings in two Upazilla (Shayamnagar and

    Tala). The Deputy Director of Bangladesh Geological Survey Department Mr. Reshad

    Mohammad Ekram Ali conducted the study. The draft of the study was review by the RVCC

    Project and Utatran and the comments made that the boring was very limited, to reach tomore comprehensive conclusion, more boring should be done. It was therefore,

    recommended that due to limitation of fund for study in Utatran, this will be recommended to

    the Bangladesh Geological Survey Department to conduct more studies on the shallow and

    deep water aquifers in the region for finding out possible sources of saline and arsenic free

    drinking water.

    C.2. Policy Review

    Ahsan Uddin Ahmed, Technical Advisor of RVCC Project, has conducted review of 5 policies

    related to drinking water issue (Ahsan, 2004b). In addition, he also reviewed 12 relevant

    national policies (Ahsan, 2004a) whether these policies are addressing climate change

    adaptations or not. The following policies are reviewed intensively for drinking water

    purpose.

    National Water Policy

    National Water and Sanitation Policy

    Proposed Integrated Coastal Zone Policy

    Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper

    National Water Management Plan (draft)

    The policy review is expected to be published as a separate document by early September

    2004.

    This policy review will be used by UTTARAN to finalize policy recommendations. During

    policy recommendation, they will also consider the findings of the aquifer study, Focus

    Group Discussion (FGD) and Force Field Analysis (FFA) findings, and Upazilla level

    workshops. Based on those policy recommendations, UTTARAN will submit memorandums1

    and papers with policy recommendations to different fora (Parliamentary Committee forWater, Parliamentary Committee for Local Government and Rural Development, Department

    of Public Health Engineering, Water Board, Water Resources Planning Organization,

    Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, etc.)2. The policy review is now in

    draft form and Pani Committee has asked for a summary of the report in Bangla that all 350

    1 Memorandum is similar to a petition in the Canadian context. In Bangladesh, a memorandum(petition) signed by large number of people is submitted to a Deputy Coordinator or higher GoBofficial, after a rally or procession is held.2

    The advocacy tools finalized by UTTARAN and Pani Committee include: letter campaign,representation to the policy makers, memorandum submission to UNO and Prime Minister, seminar,round table discussion, newspaper articles, public meeting and lobbying.

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    12/24

    members of Central and Upazilla Pani Committee members can read the reviews summary

    and become aware about the policy gap.

    D. DESIGN OF ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN

    RVCC Project, Pani Committee andUttaran jointly organized a 2-day longworkshop (12-13 November 2003) todesign an advocacy campaign focusing onthe potable water crisis in the context ofincreasing salinity in southwestBangladesh. The advocacy campaigndesign of the CARE RVCC Project, Uttaranand the Pani Committee is included inAnnex 1.

    After reviewing the existing nationalpolicies, national multi year plans and Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and using

    the result of aquifer study along with findings of the 6 workshops held at Upazilla level and

    FGDs & FFAs, the campaign partners set the objectives of the advocacy campaign:

    To incorporate drinking water issues in the context of increasing of salinity in southwest

    region to the national water policy and WASTAN policy.1. Before finalizing national water management plan (NWMP) incorporate salinity

    laden drinking water issue into plan.

    In the workshop, after setting objectives following target audience were identified for

    advocacy:

    Prime Minister LGRD Ministry

    DPHE

    Water Resource Ministry

    WARPO-DG

    Local Administration- Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner, Upazilla Nirbahi Officer

    Member of Parliament

    International Donors (UNDP, WORLD BANK, ADB, DANIDA, NORAD, USAID,DFID, CIDA)

    Media (TV, Radio and Press)

    Local Elected Bodies (LEBs)

    Local DPHE Office

    Rich Individuals

    Suffering People

    In the workshop, an important task was to define the key messages of the advocacy

    campaign. This was very important and needed to be clear to all campaign partners. Draft

    messages were developed in the workshop and were reviewed by the sub committee for

    message finalization, RVCC Project, the advisory committee members of RVCC Project and

    CARE Bangladeshs Rights and Social Justice and thereafter it was finalized. The

    recommendation was to make two columns for message, one for key message and anotherfor supplementary message (refer to annex 1). The key messages per actor are following

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    13/24

    Table 2: List of key messages per audience identified as target for advocacy

    Actor Key Message

    Prime Minister Saline laden drinking water problem is overlooked in relevant national policies(National Water Policy and National Water and Sanitation Policy) and thisissue needs to be incorporated in the policies.

    LGRD Ministry Saline laden drinking water problem is overlooked in National Water andSanitation Policy; and this issue needs to be incorporated in the policy.DPHE

    Water ResourceMinistry

    Saline laden drinking water problem is overlooked in National Water Policy;and this issue needs to be incorporated in the policy.

    WARPO-DG Potable water issue in National Water Management Plan is only addressed forKhulna City but the worst sufferers are the rural poor people adjacent to thecoast of sea. This overlooking should be reconsidered and rural peoplesproblem due to increasing in salinity issue need to be incorporated in theNational Water Management Plan.

    Local Administration The practical problem of people needs to forward to the ministries for properattention of key policy decision makers.

    Member of

    Parliament

    The problem of your own constituency needs to raise properly in the

    parliament and to influence the parliament to incorporate salinity issue inrelevant national policies and action plans (ex. National Water ManagementPlan)

    International Donors Climate Change and its effect on water resources, particularly potable watercrisis in coastal zone of Bangladesh is inadequately addressed in developmentgoals/programs/projects; this issue need to be considered during futuredevelopment strategy formulation or programming.

    Media (TV, Radioand Press)

    Broadcast or project the issue to the larger audience in a sensitive way thatdifferent people became positive and proactive regarding this issue.

    Local ElectedBodies (LEBs)

    Raise the salinity caused potable water issue to the Member of Parliament.

    Local DPHE Office Distribute the water facilities to the poorer and most affected people.

    Install the water plant in a suitable location, which is accessible to the most ofthe users; for doing so, area could be identified through PRA with the intendedusers.

    Rich Individuals Please raise or donate fund for ensuring community fresh water supply for therural people.

    Sufferer People Raise your voice to the LEBs, MPs, Local Administrators and Local ServiceProviders.

    The following tools were finalized for the advocacy campaign up to the March 2005. Based

    on experience during this time, Pani Committee will determine other tools in necessary in

    future.

    Grass-roots Mobilization (awareness raising through cultural activities, posters,

    stickers, booklet, group session, public meeting and procession, rally, school session

    and wall writing)

    Persuasion and Lobbying (representation to the ministers and government high

    officials, memorandum submission, public attention advertisement in newspaper,

    writing articles in newspaper and popular journals, letter campaigning, workshop,

    seminar and round table discussions)

    Media Campaign (press-conference, field visit of journalists and reporting on visit,

    talk show in TV, talk show in Radio)

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    14/24

    E. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ADVOCACY TOOLS DEVELOPED IN CAMPAIGN

    E.1. Awareness Raising Program: Material Development, Cultural Activities

    This program is helping for awareness raising of mass people, community leaders, socialvolunteers and NGO staff. Details are given below:

    Material Development: A booklet is developed by Uttaran

    and Pani Committee on In Search of Potable Water: In the

    context of climate change and increase in salinity. Three

    thousands copies of this booklet was published. This booklet

    will be distributed among political parties, civil society, locally

    elected bodies, journalists, government officials,

    academicians, NGOs, schools and colleges, Pani Committee

    members, students water forum members, Member of

    Parliament, WARPO, DPHE, Water Board, Press Clubs,

    national newspapers editors and senior journalists,

    parliamentary committee members for Water and LGRD

    ministries, and senior government officials. This booklet

    contains the global and regional drinking water contexts, causes of water problems,

    livelihood problems of women and children due to water scarcity, possible solutions to the

    problems, policy responses to the problem and call of social movement for the saline free

    water rights. A flip chart draft is finalized (developed and field tested) and will be printed

    soon. This flip chart will be printed for using at different stage of the project for program

    running support. For example, for providing orientation at the grassroots level particularly

    NGOs staff and organized group levels so that information on saline drinking water and

    related problems reached to them easily.

    Cultural Activities: UTTARAN has gained experience that traditional cultural activities are

    very popular in the rural context. UTTARAN used this media for awareness raising and

    opinion formation at the grassroots level. UTTARAN

    organized folk drama and solo folk song for

    increasing mass awareness on potable water crisis inthe context of increasing salinity as an effect of

    climate change so that people understand the issue

    and think on

    probable

    adaptation

    mechanism and act favorably towards policy change. 17

    shows of folk drama and 32 shows of solo folk song are

    performed to date. A total of 5720 male and 3830 female

    enjoyed the folk drama, and 3880 male and 3820 femaleenjoyed the solo folk song, which was performed separately. The lyrics of folksong and script of

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    15/24

    popular theater is based on potable water crisis in the context of increasing salinity. The script

    and performances has been developed and field-tested and then started to perform.

    UTTARAN organized orientation to the school and college students and teachers as a part of

    awareness raising and capacity building program. Since students and teachers play a crucialrole at the family level and societal level so it would be effective for promoting the issue.

    Moreover, UTTARAN would select some teachers with other civil society individuals or

    representatives for conducting advocacy from the local level to national level for policy

    change, policy adaptation or implementation. UTTARAN selected only one Upazilla

    (Shayamnagar, one of the severe affected area due to salinity) and 15 educational

    institutions as pilot for these activities. To date, UTTARAN organized 6 orientation sessions

    to 6 educational institutions in Shyamanagar Upazilla and a total of 804 boys and 632 girls

    received orientation on potable water crisis. As an outcome of such orientation, students

    water forum was formed with interested senior students (college) who will help Pani

    Committee and other students during letter campaign, which will be started from July 2004

    and will continue upto September 2004.

    E.2. Coordination with Awareness Campaign

    RVCC Project is working with Rupantar for raising awareness about climate change

    vulnerabilities, its causes, and possible adaptation strategies. DDJ and AOSED is raising

    awareness among the school students, DDJ

    is also conducting climate change group

    awareness session in the credit groups andcourtyard groups, GUS is working with 30

    CBOs in Shyamnagar Upazilla to raise

    awareness among the vulnerable people,

    CDP is collecting information and

    disseminating those to national and

    international level audience, Rupantar is

    raising awareness among the rural people

    through Pot Song and Folk Drama, RVCC is developing flip charts, radio spots and also

    going to produce posters on successful adaptation strategies for awareness raising. Uttaranis also benefited to join in the campaign for better coordination between the two campaigns.

    In the school module and easy reading book, water scarcity is portrayed as an effect of

    climate change, in CDPs newsletter, more than one articles are published on water scarcity

    in the southwest Bangladesh, CDP is also going to publish a newsletter on salinity which will

    cover also the potable water issue, DDJ also aware the people of Morelganj and

    Sharonkhola through their group session on potable water crisis and Rupantars pot song

    and drama also talk about the potable water issue. As a whole, there is good amount of

    awareness raising is being done by the awareness partners which is helping UTTARAN to

    mobilize the people. UTTARAN is getting very good support from the GUSs CBO network,

    as this is one of the worst problematic area for saline drinking water. CBOs are supporting

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    16/24

    by rally and procession to the UNO through the Pani Committee. On the other hand,

    UTTARAN is also giving climate change vulnerability messages in their potable water related

    drama and folk song, which is helping people to understand the climate change

    vulnerabilities along with water vulnerabilities.

    E.3. Dialogue seminar with the Civil Society, Local Elected Bodies (LEBs), Media,

    Politicians, and Bureaucrats (at regional level)

    UTTARAN organized seminars in Satkhira and

    Khulna on Drinking Water Crisis and Policy

    Response. In Satkhira Workshop (held in May

    22, 2004), 150 people attended from different

    background (UP representatives, Pani

    Committee members, academicians, journalists,

    political leaders from ruling and opposition

    parties, NGO staff, teachers, lawyers, and

    government officials). The workshop recommended that issue should be raised to the

    political parties and MPs need to be approached with the issue. The civil societies role was

    recommended as important to give pressure to the Member of Parliament. In Khulna

    Seminar (held in 12 June 2004) about 120 people attended. The seminar was very fruitful in

    terms of getting more people with the

    campaign. Greater Khulna Development Action

    Coordination Committee (Brihattar Khulna

    Unnayan Sangram Sammanay Committee) the

    largest civil society platform in the greater

    Khulna assisted the Campaign and also

    committed that they are in full support to this

    campaign, and will continue their assistance to

    the activities to the campaign. They also told

    that they would feel more comfort to working

    with civil society rather than having NGOs name in the banner an organizer or financer.

    These two seminars were very fruitful and a lot of recommendations came from the

    seminars. The Campaign is planning to incorporate the recommendations during formulationof the strategy for the next year.

    E.4. Round Table Discussion/Dialogue with the Civil Society, Media, Politicians and

    Bureaucrats (at national level)

    Nothing happen with this. Should I drop the issue for this period?

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    17/24

    E.5. Media campaign

    UTTARAN hold an orientation

    session to the journalists ofSatkhira district to aware them

    about climate change and its

    effects on drinking water with an

    intention that journalists will

    write more articles on this issue. A

    total of 26 journalists were

    imparted training on the climate

    change and possible effects on

    drinking water. After that

    orientation to date 12 things are

    published in the local newspaper (news and articles newspaper) and 2 things in national

    newspaper (news and articles in the daily Independent). The Pani Committee in Khulna

    Press Club also organized a press conference in 10th December 2003 (Human Rights Day)

    and that was widely circulated in 9 local newspapers (Purbanchal, Janmobhumi, Janobarta,

    Tattho, Gramer Kagoj, Kafela, Proborton, Loksamaj, and Anirban) and 5 national

    newspapers (Prothom Alo, Sangbad, Janakantha, Jugantar and NewAge).

    D.5. Persuasion/lobbying

    UTTARAN and Pani Committee started to lobby with the different actors from local level to

    national level particularly policy level actors to pursue them for taking alternative peoples

    demand in formulating and/or amending existing policy and procedure. Pani Committee hold

    a dialogue with Mr. Hossain Zillur Rahman and Mesbah Kamal who were actively involved in

    preparing the IPRSP. RVCC Projects Advocacy Coordinator made good linkages with the

    chairman of Parliamentary Committee for LGRD Ministry and chairman of Parliamentary

    Committee for Water Ministry. Following this linkage, Pani Committee will give

    representation to the two committees in October to December quarter 2004. The Pani

    Committee also visited the campaign of water in the southeast region lead by Chittagong

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    18/24

    Citizens Forum and funded by ActionAid Bangladesh. This cross visit made the Pani

    Committee more confident to pursue the issue to the national level and through this process,

    good linkages also made with ActionAid Bangladesh and they showed positive interests to

    join in the advocacy campaign for saline free drinking water.

    The Pani Committee also organized three rally in three Upazilla (Shayamnagar, Debhata

    and Assasuni) and submitted memorandum to the Prime Minister through UNO. UNO of

    these three Upazilla received the memorandum and subsequently forwarded to the Prime

    Minister through DC office. One rally was held in Shayamnagar during observation of

    International Water Day 2004. In that rally, more than 1000 people attended and following a

    public meeting in the Sahyamnagar Upazilla Complex, memorandum was submitted and the

    UNO give him speech to the public meeting that he will forward this letter to Prime Minister.

    He also become wondered that for water crisis such a big rally is organized and he felt that

    this is a burning issue for Shayamangar.

    Conclusion:

    This process documentation is interim in its nature. Majority of the activities are yet to be

    accomplished. This process documentation will be finalized after March 2005 (tentatively

    May 2005). This document is a mere process of progress of the advocacy campaign not the

    assessment of effectiveness of the campaign. In the final documentation, an assessment of

    the efficiency of activities and strategies will be included.

    References:

    Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change (RVCC) Project. 2003 (a). Report of a

    Community Level Vulnerability Assessment Conducted in Southwest Bangladesh.

    Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change (RVCC) Project. 2003 (b). Peoples Knowledge,

    Attitudes and Behavior Regarding Climate Change: Result from a Baseline Study in

    Southwest Bangladesh.

    Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change (RVCC) Project. 2004. Profile of the DistrictClimate Change Vulnerabilities (Salinity, Waterlogging and Flood) in Southwest Bangladesh.

    (not published)

    Ahmed, Ahsan Uddin. 2004 (a). Review of Current Policy Regime in Relation to Climate

    Change Adaptation.

    Ahmed, Ahsan Uddin. 2004 (b). Addressing Issues of Salinity in Potable Water in NationalPolicies: Whither Adaptation to Climate Change.

    Uttaran. 2002. In Search of Saline Free Drinking Water: PRA Findings.

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    19/24

    Annex-1:

    CAMPAIGN FOR SALINE FREE DRINKING WATER

    Objectives:After reviewing: the result of the shallow aquifer study commissioned by Uttaran; findings of6 workshops held at Upazilla level; 6 Focus Group Discussions; 4 Force Field Analyses;and. a preliminary review of the National Water Policy, National Policy for Safe Water Supply& Sanitation and the Draft National Water Management Plan (NWMP), the campaignpartners set the following objectives for the advocacy campaign:

    1. To incorporate drinking water issues in the context of increasing salinity in the

    southwest region into the National Water Policy and National Policy for Safe Water

    Supply & Sanitation.

    2. To ensure that the issue of saline drinking water is incorporated into the finalNWMP.

    The above objectives, as well as the campaign design, were finalized by the campaignpartners during a two-day workshop held12-13 November 2003.

    Audience:During the advocacy campaign design workshop, the following target audiences foradvocacy were identified:

    Prime Minister LGRD Ministry

    DPHE

    Water Resource Ministry

    WARPO-DG

    Local Administration- Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner, Upazilla Nirbahi Officer

    Member of Parliament

    International Donors- UNDP- WORLD BANK- ADB

    - DANIDA- NORAD- AUSAID- DFID- CIDA

    Media (TV, Radio and Press)

    Local Elected Bodies (LEBs)

    Local DPHE Office

    Rich Individuals

    Suffering People

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    20/24

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    21/24

    Name ofOrganization

    Brief Description of the Organization Possible Mode of Involvement andCommunication

    UNDESA(U

    nitedNationsDepartmentofEconomicandSocial

    Affairs)

    The United Nations Department of Economic andSocial Affairs was created as a result of theconsolidation of the Department for PolicyCoordination and Sustainable Development, theDepartment for Economic and Social Information and

    Policy Analysis and the Department for DevelopmentSupport and Management Services. The mainobjective of the Department's programme is topromote broad-based and sustainable developmentthrough a multidimensional and integrated approachto economic, social, environmental, population andgender related aspects of development. TheDepartments functions represent a crucial interfacebetween global policies and national action, andbetween research and operational activities, therebyfacilitating the translation of international agreementsto strategies at the country level, and feeding backlessons learned and experiences gained from thecountry level into the international policy

    development process. In implementing theprogramme, the Department also aims atstrengthening linkages between the United Nationsand civil society and at developing innovative meansof cooperation and modes of partnership in areas ofcommon interest.

    Uttaran, on behalf of the PaniCommittee, will contact UNDESAthrough email, information sharing, letterwriting and sending paper cuttings.

    WaterAid

    http://www.

    wateraid

    .org

    .uk

    /

    WaterAid is a charity dedicated to helping peopleescape the stranglehold of poverty and diseasecaused by living without safe water and sanitation.WaterAid works in partnership with localorganisations in 15 countries in Africa and Asia tohelp poor communities establish sustainable watersupplies and latrines, close to home. WaterAid also

    works to influence governments water and sanitationpolicies to serve the interests of vulnerable people.

    WaterAid could be one of the good alliesin Bangladesh for the AdvocacyCampaign. Regular interaction withWaterAid by RVCC Project, PaniCommittee and Uttaran will be beneficialfor the campaign.

    WSSCC

    (WaterSupplyandSanitation

    CollaborativeCouncil)

    http://www.

    wsscc

    .org/

    The Water Supply and Sanitation CollaborativeCouncil is a leading international organisation thatenhances collaboration in the water supply andsanitation sector to accelerate the achievement ofsustainable water, sanitation and wastemanagement services to all people, with specialattention to the unserved poor, by enhancingcollaboration among developing countries andexternal support agencies and through concertedaction programmes.

    This is coordinated in Bangladesh byDPHE. The Advocacy Campaign plansto contact regularly DPHE and WSSCCbody in Bangladesh.

    http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wateraid.org.uk/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/http://www.wsscc.org/
  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    22/24

    Actor wise Key Messages:

    In the November 2003 workshop, an important task was to define the key messages of the

    advocacy campaign. The messages needed to be clear to all campaign partners. Draft

    messages were developed in the workshop for review. The draft messages are as follows3:

    Actor Message

    Key Message(s) Additional/Supplementary Messages

    Prime Minister The problem of saline drinking wateris overlooked in relevant nationalpolicies (National Water Policy andNational Water and SanitationPolicy). This issue needs to beincorporated into the policies.

    Salinity intrusion and related drinkingwater problem is not addressed inthe National Water ManagementPlan. It is urgent that the potable

    water crisis in this region beaddressed properly in the NWMP.

    12 million people in the coastal areasare suffering severely from lack of safepotable water due to salinity coupledwith arsenic contamination. It is veryimportant to give proper attention to thepractical needs of poor and vulnerablepeople.

    Poor people (particularly women andchildren) are severely suffering fromsaline drinking water

    This problem will become more severein the future due to climate change.

    Interministerial coordination isnecessary for saline free drinking watersupply

    LGRD Ministry

    DPHE

    This problem will become moresevere in the future due to climateThe problem of saline drinking wateris overlooked in the National Waterand Sanitation Policy. This issueneeds to be incorporated into thepolicy.

    12 million people in the coastal areasare suffering severely from lack ofpotable water due to salinity coupledwith arsenic contamination.

    Poor people (particularly women andchildren) are severely suffering fromsaline drinking water

    Water ResourceMinistry

    The problem of saline drinking wateris overlooked in the National WaterPolicy; this issue needs to beincorporated into the policy.

    Climate Change and its effects willincrease saline intrusion furtherupstream, which needs to beconsidered for the management ofwater resources.

    WARPO-DG Potable water issue in the National Water Management Plan is only addressed forKhulna City but the worst sufferers are the rural poor people adjacent to the seacoast. Rural peoples problems due to increasing salinity needs to be incorporatedinto the NWMP.

    DeputyCommissioner,

    Commissioner,Upazilla NirbahiOfficer

    The practical problems of peopleneed to be forwarded to the

    ministries for the proper attention ofkey policy decision-makers.

    o Please reserve the Zilla

    Parishad owned sweet water sources

    only for drinking water.

    Member ofParliament

    The problem of your own constituency needs to be raised properly in theParliament. As a MP, you need to influence the Parliament to incorporate salinityissue in relevant national policies and action plans (ex. National WaterManagement Plan)

    International Donors- UNDP- WORLD BANK- ADB- DANIDA- NORAD

    Climate Change and its effects onwater resources, particularly potablewater crisis in coastal zone ofBangladesh, is inadequatelyaddressed in development

    Funding for deep-water harvesting needto reconsidered as very few sweet wateraquifers exist in the coastal zone.

    More studies need to be conducted onthis issue to determine better options for

    3 The Project Advisory Committee reviewed these messages in early January 2004. It was stronglyrecommended that only 1 message be delivered per actor.

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    23/24

    Actor Message

    Key Message(s) Additional/Supplementary Messages

    - AUSAID- DFID- CIDA

    goals/programs/projects; this issueneeds to be considered during futuredevelopment strategy formulation orprogramming.

    the people of this area.

    Direct service fund for installingrainwater-harvesting plant or pond sandfilter needs to be increased in this

    region.Media (TV, Radioand Press)

    Broadcast or project the issue to the larger audience in a sensitive way so thatdifferent people become positive and proactive regarding this issue.

    Local ElectedBodies (LEBs)

    Raise the salinity-caused potablewater issue to the Member ofParliament.

    Make the Union WATSAN committeestronger and pro-active.

    Take initiative to protect the limitedsweet water sources from humaninterventions (ex. shrimp cultivation)

    Local DPHE Office Distribute the water facilities to thepoorer and most affected people.

    Install a water plant in a suitablelocation, which is accessible to thelargest number of users; an area couldbe identified via PRA with the intendedusers.

    Rich Individuals Please raise or donate fund to ensure community fresh water supply for the ruralpeople.

    Suffering People Raise your voice to the LEBs, MPs,Local Administrators and LocalService Providers.

    This is not a temporary problem: due toclimate change, this problem will beaggravated.

    Advocacy Tools and Media:

    The following tools were finalized for the advocacy campaign up to March 2005. Based onexperience gained during this time, the Pani Committee will refine the tools as necessary tobe used in the future.

    Grass-roots Mobilization (awareness raising through cultural activities, posters,stickers, booklet, group sessions, public meetings and processions, rallies, schoolsessions and wall writings)

    Persuasion and Lobbying (representation to Ministers and government high officials,memorandum submission, public attention advertisement in newspaper, writingarticles in newspaper and popular journals, letter campaigning, workshop, seminarand round table discussions)

    Media Campaign (press-conference, field visit of journalists and reporting on visit,talk show on TV, talk show on Radio)

  • 8/14/2019 Process Documentation of Advocacy Campaign

    24/24

    Implementation Plan of the Advocacy Campaign:

    The implementation plan of the advocacy Campaign is developed by the participants and the

    plan until March 2005 are as follows.

    Major Activity QuarterJ-M 04 A-J 04 J-S 04 O-D 04 J-M 05

    Development, field test and printing of Campaign Materials(Awareness)-Booklet on salinity caused drinking water issue-Flip Chart on saline drinking water issue-Posters on Drinking Water Problem-Stickers on Drinking Water Problem-Drama on Saline Drinking Water-Solo Baul Song on Salinity and Drinking WaterImplementation of Campaign Materials

    Policy Review

    Wall Writing on Campaign Messages

    Performance of folk song and drama

    Orientation to school and college students (15)Formation of Upazilla Pani Committee

    Quarterly meeting of Upazilla Pani Committee

    Bi-monthly meeting of central Pani CommitteeFormation of Students Environment Forum

    Quarterly Meeting of Students Forum

    District Level Workshop/Seminar

    Round Table DiscussionThana Level Mass Gathering and Memo submission

    District level mass gathering and memo submission

    Letter Campaigning

    Mass Appeal to Prime Minister

    Coordination Meeting with Awareness Campaign Group

    Representation to Different Policy Actors