EXTREME POOR PROGRAM

CARE Bangladesh

Bangladesh context

• Total population 160,000 (thousands)

• 40% live below poverty line

• 25% live in extreme poverty (40 million)

• 85% of them live in rural area

• Despite significant economic growth, absolute no of EP has increased

• EP are not able to participate in or benefit from economic growth

WHY

• CARE Bangladesh LRSP (2002 – 2006)

• Rights based approach

• Focus on poorer & most marginalized populations

• Addressing underlying causes of poverty and marginalization

• Come up with a mission statement

CARE-B Mission

“Amplify voices of the poor and marginalized by using grass root level experience and knowledge; and building purposeful relationships with others; influence public opinion, development practices and policies”

That led CARE-B to develop long term programs around EP and most marginalized population groups keeping women at the centre of its programming

Description of the program

• Impact groupExtremely poor people in rural areas especially those who are trapped in a set of unequal power relations and whose wellbeing in political, social and economic realms, obtain the lowest ranking.

• Impact vision

EP people in rural areas sustainably overcome the barriers that prevent the fulfillment of their basic rights, and lift themselves out of poverty.

Theory of ChangeExtremely poor people in rural areas overcome the barriers that prevent fulfillment of their rights by:

Better access to, and use of, resources and services

Active engagement of the poorest in loval gov. & devlopment processes

Reduced exploitation and dependence on others

+ X

Pathways of change• Social mobn. and empowerment (solidarity building)

• Economic empowerment (Diversification of livelihood opportunities, linking to markets and skills building)

• Strengthening governance structures & processes

• Development of human capabilities (education, health including life skills)

• Facilitating access to khas land, water bodies, health and appropriate financial services

• Advocating for policy and institutional support in collaboration with other actors around selected advocacy issues most relevant for EP population

Breakthrougths5 years• Legislation passed requiring UPs to have

representation of EP on most of their standing committees

• > 50% of UPs demonstrate accountability and responsiveness to extremely poor people

• GOB recognizes UPs with pro-poor development vision as models for others

10 years• >50% of collective demands by EP for access to

services and resources (khas land, water bodies) are successful (for 10 years)

• Significant reduction in incidence of advance labour sell and/or taking loan from local money lenders

Program Impact indicators

Economic Empowerment

Social Empowerment

Political Empowerment

Increased income

Measured through increased household expenditure & assets

Reduced distress sale of assets

Control over land and other productive assets by sex

Reduced exploitative

practices:- advance labour

sell- taking mohajoni

loan- sending children

to work

Increased participation & influence in local governance and development process

Participation in UP, local shalish, VAW (Violence and Women) and SMC (School Management Committee).

Process• Series of discussions, meetings and workshops

over a period of 1 and half years • Part of wider process of developing a framework for

CARE-B programming• Associated with the development of a proposal

around extreme poverty• Previous studies, evaluations, SII• Define and Identify Impact group, their

characteristics and manifestations of poverty (PPA)• Drew characteristics from study “Exploring

dynamics of EP in Bangladesh”

Process contd….• Mapping characteristics/menifestation

against UF

• Reflection on emerging results– Social exclusion, unequal power relations,

political marginalization– Community led approachDefine and Identify

Impact group, their characteristics and manifestations of poverty (PPA)

–

Process contd….

• Summary framework• Formation of working groups• Developing ToC, Breakthroughs, Path ways of

changes, strategies and approaches• Workshops, meetings• Hiring consultant for consolidation/write up• Produce a descriptive document

Challenges

• Building common and shared understanding around – program approach– Theory of Change– BreakthroughsDeveloping path ways of changeIdentifying and agreeing on breakthroughsComing up with a small and agreed list ofImpact indicatorsBringing partners on board