VERC Annual Report File 1 - · PDF fileProfessional Profile of General Council Members 76 ... also go to the NGO Affairs Bureau, ... 2015 reflecting VERC activities/outcomes in the

Annual Report

VILLAGE EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER B-30, Ekhlas Uddin Khan Road, Anandapur, Savar, Dhaka-1340, Bangladesh

2014-2015

Compilation & Editing:

Shaikh Abdul HalimYakub HossainQuamrul IslamShahnaj Parveen

1. Message from the Chairperson 5

2. Remarks of the Executive Director 6

3. About VERC 7

4. Program Locations 9

5. Highlights of July 2014 to June 2015 11

6. Education 15

7. WatSan and Technology 30

8. Health and Environment 40

9. Livelihood Development 52

10. Capacity Building 62

11. Research, Evaluation & Documentation (RED) 65

12. Administration & Finance 68

13. Lessons Learnt and Challenges 73

14. Visits and Special Events 74

15. Board of Directors 75

16. Professional Profile of General Council Members 76

17. Senior Staff Members of VERC 78

18. Acronyms 79

Contents

3

4

I am delighted to present the Annual Report of VERC 2014 - 2015 on the progress, achievements and highlights of the future growth. The year had been a challenging one to cope with the overall squeezing trend in overseas partner support. To keep on the process of supporting the program sectors envisioning directions for growth and consolidating its role to contribute more to the national development initiatives VERC had to make desperate effort in building new partnerships in sectors. We recall with deep appreciation that promising partnerships continued with FAO, Unicef and WaterAid in the reporting period. We acknowledge the generous and dedicated support of Save the Children, WaterAid, Cordaid, TdH Netherlands, Unicef, water.org for continuing their partnership with VERC in carrying out innovative people empowering process in the country. The year had been a special one to VERC in terms of expansion of micro-credit program in new areas across the country and continuing the trend of supporting health service delivery for the disadvantaged women and children, stipend for poor students, support to preprimary and primary levels encouraging the community people to come forward and invest more on education in a collaborative manner. We thankfully acknowledge and highly appreciate the support that we received from PKSF and Micro-Credit Regulatory Authority in the form of constructive guidance in consolidating our expansion drive with quality and dimensions of innovation in respect of agriculture and fisheries.

I, on behalf of the management, appreciate the General Council Members of VERC, the Board of Directors, the Executive Director and staff members of VERC for their relentless efforts in making VERC efforts people oriented. Special thanks go to the partners supporting us in our mission of being with the people struggling to attain success and sustainability through concerted efforts. Special thanks should also go to the NGO Affairs Bureau, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, for its continuous administrative support to VERC in its efforts towards upliftment of the poor across the country.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Alauddin, VERC General Council Member has kindly offered his professional guidance to the VERC team in improving the Annual Report presentation reflecting target and indicator wise sectoral achievements. The Board and the staff are thankful to him.

It would be highly obliging that you all would continue to support us making meaningful contributions to supplement the development efforts and help attaining sustenance in future.

Nurul Islam Khan ChairmanBoard of DirectorsVERC

December 2015

Message from the Chairperson

5

It is a pleasure that the Annual Report 2014 - 2015 reflecting VERC activities/outcomes in the project areas spreading across the country has been prepared and was presented in the last Board meeting. The year 2015 had been a struggling one to address the challenge of gradual withdrawal of overseas technical and financial support caused by transforming global politico-economic perspectives. We are still thankful to our donor/ partners for their generous support harmonizing everything to keep pace with the new generation challenges. VERC recalls with great appreciation the expansion of intervention areas during the year with financial and technical support of overseas development partners in the areas of pre-primary and primary education, WASH, livelihood, technology promotion, health, local governance promotion, institution building and income generating activities to benefit more and more people. Strategic emphasis on promoting good governance through capacity building of Local Government bodies, service providers remained as focus issues. WaterAid, HYSAWA Fund, water.org, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA continued to support Community Based Organizations and local government bodies attaining targeted success in line with commitments made by the government. VERC contributions to public health, education and employment generation continued through effective partnership with line departments of the government in reviewing the past and targeting issues in view of SDG commitments.

The year had been successful in respect of rights based activities in the country which will be contributing in establishing rights of women and children. TdH Netherlands supported project on child rights issues have undergone a meaningful change in its course of actions. We recall with deep feeling the decades long partnership with Cordaid that supported innovating dimension of collaboration with the government especially the Community Clinic project initiated and enabling VERC to put up invaluable findings so as to make the project a success.

The pre-primary and primary education program in Sonargaon is retaining its quality and potentiality to sustain the good example of activities addressing the of Early Childhood Development needs through its committed volunteers and generous contributions from communities concerned. Significant progress has been made in respect of micro-finance program in the country with PKSF support and VERC's own fund by adding new intervention products in view of SDG targets.

The year had been a significant one for VERC in revisiting the past and looking ahead through strategic planning process under guidance of high profile development experts and the outcomes would definitely be contributing in the days to come. Development priorities have been identified properly by VERC program personnel, stakeholders at various levels along with the knowledgeable General Council members would make future efforts more effective and outcome oriented. In addition to regular project activities, innovations in WatSan, climate change adaptation mechanism, agriculture, and livestock are mentionable. VERC is indebted to the development partners including the government, the community people in general for their relentless support in continuing the planned activities. Before concluding, I would recall the contributions made by the Board of Directors and the General Council of VERC for their very useful support to our development efforts. VERC conveys thanks to the friends and professionals from across nations for their interest and encouragement shown to VERC. The dedicated staff members at all levels deserve special thanks for their untiring efforts and supplementing the development needs of the country.

Shaikh Abdul HalimExecutive DirectorVERC

December 2015

Remarks of the Executive Director

6

VERC started its journey as a project of SCF-USA back in 1977 with an aim to provide process consultancy to the internal projects of SCF-USA for ensuring effective participation of community people in implementing the projects effectively and efficiently. The organization has performed the assigned role by maintaining high level quality in delivering its services to achieve the goal of SCF-USA projects. VERC became a separate local organization and continued almost similar role up to 1989 not only for SCF-USA but for the whole NGO sector in Bangladesh. The historical evolution of VERC shows different shifts in its approaches and role with a range of providing high technical consultancy role but no implementation role to vey high project implementation role but very low technical support role. Currently, VERC is focusing more on implementing different development projects and providing comparatively less technical support to other NGOs. It might be noted that VERC has been acknowledged as a pioneering organization in the field of Non Formal Education (NFE) and Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programs. In order to be a learning organization as defined by a respected management author Peter Senge (1990 wrote The Fifth Discipline) "organizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning to see the whole together", VERC has always been focusing on strategies its course of action based on Strategic Planning. This current Participatory Strategic Plan (July 2015 – June 2020) also shows the commitment of VERC to chart out its development direction based on well thought Strategic Plan. This PSP document has been developed by following a "Strategic Planning Framework" jointly developed by the external consultant and VERC's senior management. A number of steps were followed to give the PSP a final shape. The significant achievements of VERC in the last ten years (2005 – 2014) were identified and analyzed which has helped to define the future strategies. A SWOT analysis was done in an unconventional way to understand the internal and external context in which the organizations operates. All aspects of SWOT were again looked into from two different perspectives like organizational and programmatic. The stakeholder analysis was done very thoughtfully. The primary stakeholders are Beneficiary/community, Staff, Board of Director, General Council, and Partner NGOs while the supportive stakeholders are Donors, Local Government (UP), Upazila Parishad, Pourasova, City Corporation, Small NGOs, Media, NGOAB, CSOs, CBOs, Networks, and Universities, and Academic/Research Institutions. An analysis was also done in terms of their interest and power.

VERC's Vision, Mission, Goal, Core Values and Core Competencies revised and reformulated as:

Organizational Societal Vision:A self-reliant and enlightened society based on justice, equity and sustainability where every human being has equal opportunity to maximize their potentials.

Mission Statement:Establishing and promoting a dynamic and participatory sustainable process towards human development and providing humanitarian assistance towards empowerment of the people especially the disadvantaged by exploring, generating and mobilizing resources for ensuring wellbeing.

Goals: � Active involvement and empowerment of the disadvantaged; and � Develop human capacity.

Core Values: 01. Participation & Ownership02. Respect03. Environment Friendliness04. Sustainability 05. Innovation06. Good Governance07. Equality

Core competencies:� Innovativeness� Professionalism� Teamwork

About VERC

7

� Participatory Management� Sharing Resources and Services� Networking and Partnership� Learning Organization� Functional Governing Board� Reaching and Working with Hard to Reach People

Programmatic Strategic IssuesThe programmatic issues were clustered into six thematic areas like: social and legal, economic development, environment, institutional, technological, and youth development. Subsequently, strategic issues, objectives, strategic directions and major activities under each strategic direction were identified. Here it follows: Thematic Area – 1. Social and Legal2. Economic Development3. Environment4. Institutional5. Technological6. Youth Development 7. Cross Cutting Issues

Program Interventions VERC has been implementing the following six major programs in its working areas across the country during 2013 - 2014:1. Women's literacy and Children's Education especially for the poor and disadvantages;2. WatSan and Technology3. Livelihood Development4. Health5. Environmental Protection6. Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation

In addition, VERC Training and Communication Unit organizes different need-based training program for its beneficiaries, staff members and also for the employees of different government and non-government agencies. Different support units of VERC for instance Research, Evaluation & Documentation (RED) and Finance & Administration unit provide necessary support for proper implementation of the development programs/projects.

Pioneering ContributionsNon Formal Education: VERC is one of the pioneering NGOs in Bangladesh in the field of children's education program which has later been adapted and replicated by many other development organizations both within and outside the country. VERC has also initiated models of community run schools and audit education including innovative and appropriate education materials suitable for the children.

Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS): VERC introduced CLTS approach in February 2000 as the pioneering organization in Bangladesh. In the process of working with the community at the grassroots level on WatSan, VERC has learned that community awareness and participation could prevent most of the water and excreta-borne diseases. Keeping this in mind, it has been executing "People Initiated 100% Sanitation Approach" since early 2000 with financial and technical assistance of WaterAid Bangladesh supported by DFID. The approach is now called as the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach in Bangladesh and abroad. VERC experience is being also reflected in the national sanitation program strategy.

CLTS was innovated by VERC in early 2000. It is a participatory answer developed to traditionally subsidized sanitation programmes that have not succeeded in getting people to want, build, pay for, and use latrines. The approach promotes 100% open defecation free communities to minimize the risk of contamination for all, breaking the cycle of faecal-oral contamination. Contrary to most conventional sanitation approaches which aim simply at providing toilets, CLTS aims to promote collective behaviour change as the key to sustainable, improved sanitation. Ffacilitators supports communities conduct their own appraisal and analysis of their sanitation situation and take action to become open defecation free. During the process, the facilitators bring attention to sanitation related topics, provides facts (e.g. faecal-oral hazards can only be reduced if open defecation is completely banned from the community as a whole), and provokes a discussion about open defecation and the feelings of disgust and shame associated with it. This triggers change. Total coverage is not always easy: certain members of the community never reach the target or fall back into practising open defecation. Other issues presenting challenges are scaling up the approach and the issue of exclusion or punishment of community members who do not (or cannot) comply with self imposed restrictions.

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Program LocationsVERC ACTIVITY AREAS

Water and Sanitation

IBIG Programs

Education

Health

T & C

Disaster

ICS

Legend

B A Y O F B E N G A L

Panchagarh

Thakurgaon NilphamariLalmonirhat

Kurigram

Gaibandha

RangpurDinajpur

Joypurhat

Naogaon

Bogra

Natore Sirajganj

Pabna

KushtiaMeherpur

ChuadangaJhenaidah

Magura

Jessore

Khulna

Satkhira

Bagerhat

Narail

FaridpurMunshiganj

Manikgonj Dhaka

GazipurNarshingdi

Brahmanbaria

Hobiganj

Moulvibazar

SylhetSunamganjNetrakona

Mymensingh

Sherpur

Jamalpur

Kishoreganj

Narayanganj

Comilla

Chandpur KhagrachariHilltracts

RangamatiHilltracts

Chittagong

BandarbanHilltracts

Cox'sBazar

Lakshmipur

Noakhali

Feni

Shariatpur

Tangail

Gopalganj

Barishal

Perojpur

Jhalokathi

Patuakhali

Barguna

Bhola

Madaripur

Rajbari

Rajshahi

ChapaiNawabganj

9

VERC Programme area districts across the country

Chapainwabganj, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Gazipur, Dhaka, Manikganj, Narayanganj, Comilla, B,Baria, Chittagong, Munshiganj, Narsingdi, Nilphamari (15 districts)

Dhaka, Manikganj, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Dinajpur, Barisal, Jessore, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Chittagong (10 districts)

Dhaka, Rajshahi,Sirajganj, Gazipur, Comilla, B. Baria, Faridpur, Rajbari, (8 districts)

Sirajganj, Bogra, Natore,Pabna Tangail, Gazipur, Manikganj, Dhaka, Narayanganj, Cox's Bazar, Narsingdi (11 districts)

19 199 1080

23 179 2394

12 and(1 City

coprporation)

71 and(2 wards) 1321

51 281 2014

ProgrammeSectors

Name of Districts No. of Upazilas No. of Unions No. of Villages

Education

WatSanTechnology

Health and Environment

Livelihood

Development

*There is overlaping of program interventions in Union, Upazila and in the districts.

10

WatSan and TechnologyVERC has been implementing Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) program since its inception as a component of technology promotion for livelihood status improvement. WatSan activities at the initial stage were mostly carried out in terms of production and distribution of latrine ring-slabs, installation of

Highlights of July 2014 to June 2015

EDUCATIONVillage Education Resource Center (VERC) has been emphasizing on education program since its inception to congregate the purpose to promote and fortify human potentials. The main objective of VERC program is to build up children's potentials and to mainstreaming them in education. Education has been identified as a priority sector in Bangladesh by the government and non-government organizations, not only to exterminate illiteracy, but also for human resource development. Accordingly, VERC has been implementing education program in innovative ways with support from development partners in the sector. The ongoing projects are SHIKHON, SHIKHON Urban, SISIMPUR, PCHL, Piloting in Kaliakoir, ERC and a regular program operated by VERC own fund. The coverage of education program includes 19 upazilas in 11 districts of the country.

Sl.No

Name of the Project

Duration District

Type and no. of School

Student# of Teacher

DonorNFE/ Primary/

Secondary/ Madrasha/ KG

2014 2015

Community with very minimum support from VERC-Micro-Credit program

Save the Children International

TdH Netherlands

VERC support

9

50

653

1070

50

250

52

31

0496B-53G-43

7619 (B -3759,G -3860)

1195(B -549,G -646)

31077(B-15544,G-15533)

39958(B-19989G -19969)

1791(B-856G-935)

198(B-101G-97)

8512 (B -4317,G -4195)

613 (B -248,G -365)

92B-53G-39

8869(B 4489,G -4380)

6835B-3385G-3450

1718(B-809,G -909)

33600(B-17054,G-16546)

15735( B 7919,G 7816)

1515(B-751G-764)

196B-100G-96)

B- 45456G-45603T - 91059

2173B- 34953G – 34472T- 69425

P-330,S-2,M-1

E- 36N-1172T-1208

Total -

Children’s Education Resource Center (CERC) Program

Sonargaon Sustainable Education ProgramREAD

SHIKHON

SHIKHON

Education for Refugee Children

Sisimpur Enhancing Essential Life Skill

Protection of Children from Hazardous Labour Project

Piloting of integrated program in Kaliakoir

1979 – on going

2012 on going

January 2014-December 2018January 2012 to December 2016

2013 to 2014

May 2012 to Dec 2016

January, 2014-Oct,2016

January –December2015

2012 on going

Dhaka

Narayanganj

Dhaka, Manikganj, TangailSirajganj, Natore, Pabna and BograDhaka

Cox's Bazar

Narsingdi

Dhaka

Gazipur ECD-4

ECD-13NFPE-18

Primary-38Madrasha-1 KG-13

Primary-21Secondary-2

NFPE-50

NFPE-1070

Govt. pry.school -270

ECD-15NFPE-29

Primary-1

ECD 4NFPE 5

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Ongoing projects at a glance:

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tube wells for safe water use promotion with limited hygiene education for awareness raising. The widely known Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) was evolved in early 2000. WaterAid Bangladesh (WAB) has been providing technical and financial support to VERC since 1986. The process also influenced in setting national strategies and programs to achieve MDG sectoral goal and has been duly reflected in the Sector Development Plan (2011-2025) of the Government of Bangladesh. VERC efforts in the sector addresses about 3 MDG targets which are more clearly linked with SDG target 6 where Bangladesh government is striving for achieving visible improvements.

A total of 55 of villages have declared as Arsenic safe in sever arsenic concentrated upazilas of Comilla and Brahmanbaria districts. People have got access to arsenic free safe water for drinking and cooking purposes. Many of them are no more suffering from diseases especially from arsenicosis. After national level stakeholder's workshop on Arsenic Safe Village concept now it has been emerged as successful approach and being scaled up in some arsenic hot spotted districts like Comilla, Sylhet and Gopalganj.

Progress of performance at a glance:

Particulars Achievement of Achievement of 2013-2014 2014-2015

No. of Projects under implementation 14 9

No. of Donors 7 6

No. of Districts covered 12 8

No. of Upazilas covered 45 23

No. of Unions covered 184 179

No. of CBOs working with 2,285 1,659

Installation and renovation of safe water facilities 2,019 2,616

Installation and renovation of sanitation facilities 55,593 108,860

Hygiene Promotion events organized 36,779 35,913

Water beneficiaries covered 165,555 89,914

Sanitation beneficiaries covered 298,638 631,879

Hygiene beneficiaries covered 370,000 7,11,005

Beneficiaries covered by Capacity Development activities 11,273 22,420

Community Mobilization activities 1,491 8,743

DAP Coverage with hygienic latrine - 43

Health and Environment

VERC considers health as a basic human right. But the reality is that most of the people in Bangladesh are deprived of such rights. Quality health services are mostly concentrated in urban areas and are not affordable to the poor. Once known the country as an ecologically in the sound belt has turned to an environmentally endangered region and has started facing climate change and challenges linked with new generation health problems and poverty. In view of the situation VERC has given emphasis in addressing health problems and environmental degradation. VERC initiative is aimed at accessing mother and child health services for poor and marginalized and supporting people to cope-up with the challenges of climate change in program areas.

During the reporting year, VERC had been active with interventions under five projects in addition to two hospitals. The projects include – two right based health project, improved cook-stove promotion focused project and two climate vulnerability focused projects.

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Particulars Achievement of Achievement of 2013-2014 2014-2015

No. of Projects under implementation 06 07

No. of Donors 05 06

No. of Districts covered 11 10

No. of Upazilas/ City corporations covered 11 12

No. of Unions covered 68 70

No. of beneficiaries covered 40271 50359

Livelihood DevelopmentVERC Micro Finance Program has experienced a long journey in addressing a comprehensive development need of the disadvantaged and underprivileged poor people living in both rural and urban areas of the country. It is an important program of VERC in reducing the poverty level by ensuring a sustainable socio-economic status of livelihood security for the people in need of external support. To this effect, efficient management system and tools, linkage with financial institutions, identification of alternative micro-finance schemes, approach to address poorest of the poor section and access to the remotest and hard to reach locations has added an extra dimension to VERC Income Generation Program (IGP) under its Institution Building and Income Generation (IBIG) program.

VERC interventions of the program addresses 1,3 and 7 of MDG targets and covers 1,2,5,12, and 13 of SDG targets and supplements national development initiatives.


Particulars Status of 2013-14 Status of 2014-15

No. of Branches 52 60

No. of Districts Covered 15 15

No. of Upazilas Covered 43 51

No. of Unions Covered 192 281

No. of Villages 1,415 2,014

Total No. of Group/Samity 5,533 6,329

Total No. of Members 73,151 84,035

Total No. of Borrowers 63,450 66,824

Disbursement Amount Tk 1,905.31 Million Tk 2,257.77 Million (Tk 190,53,18,000) (Tk 225,77,75,000)

Loan Outstanding (Portfolio) Tk 1,023.68 Million Tk 1,217.35 Million (Tk 102,36,83,832) (Tk 121,73,52,935)

Savings Balance Tk 309.74 Million Tk 373.90 Million (Tk 30,97,48,854) (Tk 37,39,06,791)

Insurance Balance Tk 25.41 Million Tk 28.25 Million (Tk 2,54,19,432) (Tk 2,82,52,727)

Recovery rate 99.91% 99.92%

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As part of corporate social responsibility, VERC supports implementation of services like - health, sanitation, education and agriculture related projects with limited financial resources across different program sectors of the organization in the country considering the priority needs. The contribution amounts to Tk 24, 30,000 for the reporting year and the total of till date contribution stands at Tk.10900,373.00.The amount of contribution is increasing every year.

Capacity Building VERC is one of the pioneering institutions in social development in Bangladesh. Strengthening of Local Government is a key strategy for sustainable development involving the local government and community people at large. The Section not only develops the capacity of VERC program staff, it also plays a key role in capacitating relevant government staff, LGI representatives and other NGO staff in order to contribute in the development sectors, particularly in the fields of Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion; Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation of programme; Governance; Gender and Equity; Human Rights; Child Protection; Climate Change Adaptations; Disaster Preparedness and Management; Community Management Aspects; Education; Advocacy and Process Promotion; Micro Finance and Small & Medium Scale Entrepreneurship Development.

The Section has imparted training support to different VERC projects as part of regular task. During the period 18230 participants received training on various program capacity needs. A total of 530,711 participants received training since inception of the organization.

Participatory Strategic Plan (PSP): VERC Participatory Strategic Planning exercise was carried out in different slots in 2015 and the duration of the plan covers – July 2015 to June 2020. The exercise was facilitated by the eminent development expert and Vice Chancellor of Green University Prof. Golam Samdani Fakir, Ph.D..



Contract Training 1222 participants 786 participants

VERC projects training 29,078 participants 18230 participants

Research, Evaluation and Documentation (RED)Since its emergence VERC undertook different types of research and innovative activities. Later on RED Section has emerged within VERC for conducting action research and piloting different new initiatives which are documented and disseminated among the partners, stakeholders and donors. The studies are usually carried out by VERC itself and by engaging external program experts in consultation with donor agencies. In addition, VERC extends support to interne students of graduation and post-graduation levels to carry out studies on development issues for academic purposes and sharing the findings with respective program sector staff of VERC. Following are some activities of the reporting period:-

� Three studies were carried out by external consultants: The studies were meant for capacity assessment of organization, determining the baseline status of program areas, final evaluation by end of project implementation process.

� Six studies done by intern students: During the year, we have guided 8 interns' undertaking program impact level studies as accomplishment of their academic assignment. They were from one Varsity College and from a Private University under a collaborative understanding with VERC.

� Internal studies: Two studies done by VERC staff members working under different projects for tracking and re-planning of project interventions

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With the purpose of fostering and strengthening individual potentials, VERC has been giving emphasis on education program since its inception. This is the era of social development where education has been recognized as the most precedence sector by all the developed and developing nations as well as the government of Bangladesh. Education is not only to eradicate illiteracy but also to form knowledge based society which will help our country to be a developed one. To this effect, VERC has been piloting and implementing education program in innovative ways with technical and financial support from development partners, GoB and using its own resources. The strategic dimension has been useful to specifically address the growing education needs of children and women in the country. VERC membership with networks growing at stages and in dimensions has been contributing to mainstreaming to primary education efforts of the Government. VERC supplements the government efforts in addressing 2 MDG Goals and four SDG concerns.

TdH Nl supported project came to its closure in December 2011 in Sonargaon and since then a total of 45 schools are running in the area with community support. Community people bear 89% of the program operation cost and VERC supports the ongoing program in the area by extending technical support. In addition, GoB Education department is providing monitoring and administrative support to the initiative.

Under SHIKHON Urban project effective community mobilization has ensured continuation of 50 NFPE centers in parts of Dhaka and Gazipur district despite sudden discontinuation of project support by end of April 2015. The centers maintain a total volume of 1100 students in the area.

A total of 480 ECD centers that were running Under Proteeva project with GoB primary schools up to December 2014 are still active with community support in Dhaka, Gazipur, Tangail and Manikganj districts on closure of the project.

EDUCATION

15

During the reporting period, VERC has implemented 8 projects across different areas in the country. The projects are SHIKHON, SHIKHON Urban, READ, Sisimpur and ERC covers the districts of Pabna, Sirajganj, Natore, Bogra, Dhaka, Manikganj, Narayangan, Gazipurj and Cox's Bazar. In the projects, VERC implements non-formal education (NFE) and works with the government primary schools, KG schools, Madrasa for quality education and mainstreaming the dropout students. A total of 91059 students (Boys-45,456, Girls-45,603) are prosecuting study under the program. VERC works with 322 govt. primary schools (GPS) for quality education through READ and Sisimpur projects. In addition to that a total of 36 ECD 1172 NFPE centers and 1 model primary school with project and community support where VERC also provides limited resources and these are running well because of quality and mainstreaming of drop out students.

Further to mention here that VERC is implementing 21 primary schools and 2 secondary schools in two Ruhingya Refugee camps in Cox'sbazar district where 7618 children are enrolled as students for education as per GoB curriculum with special attention on Burmese language proficiency. In response to the practical need of continuity of education, VERC has been successful to create provision for class VI and Class – VII with the support of Camp Administration and Education department.

VERC-Micro-Creditprogram

Piloting of integratedprogram in Kaliakoir

2012–on going

TdHNetherlands

January-December2015

Savar Dhaka

Kaliakair. Gazipur

Teknaf, Ukhiya Cox's Bazar

Raipura Narsingdi

Savar Dhaka

Education forRefugee Children

May 2012 to Dec2016

Sisimpur EnhancingEssential Life SkillProject

SHIKHONURBAN 2013 – 2016

Belkuchi,Kamarkhand,Royganj, Gurudaspur,Baraigram, Chatmohar, Dhunat,

Sirajganj, Natore,Pabna and Bogra

January 2012 toDecember 2016 SHIKHON

READJanuary 2014-December 2018

Dhaka, Manikganj,Tangail

NarayanganjSonargaon2012–on goingSustainable Education Program

Children's Education 1979–on goingResource Center (CERC) Program

Savar Dhaka

Donor Name of the Project

Duration Upazila District

Community and VERC

Community and VERC

Save theChildren

January, 2014-October 2016


Children's Education Resource Center (CERC)Since 1979 VERC is implementing own funded education program in Savar area with four ECD centres and five NFPE (Non-formal Primary Education) centres running with 196 students. Four of the ECD centers are used for testing out innovative learning materials to enrich the education for the pre-primary level learners in addition to regular curriculum so that the findings can be shared with stakeholders of the same nature of program in the sector and preparing the children as learners for the primary level.

Protection of Childrenfrom HazardousLabour Project

Savar, Shibalaya,Harirampur, Daulatpur,Saturia, Ghior, Mirzapur

16

SL No

Type of Activities

No. of Union

No. of UnionNo. of

CenterNo of

TeacherNo. of

Children

No. of Center

No of Teacher No. of Children

boys girls Total boys girls Total

1

4 4 58 43 101

1 Union and 1 Munici

pal

4 4 56 45 101

5 56 42 98 5 5 55 45 100

9 9 100 96 9 9 101 97

Int. LiteracyDayObservation

Non-formalPrimaryEducation(NFPE)Centers

EarlyChildhoodDevelopment(ECD)Centers

Progress(2014-15)Progress (2013-14)

1 Unionand 1

Municipal

� A total of 101 ECD children got admission in VERC NFPEs in Class – I in Jan 2015, NFPE learners of Class – I No. 98 got admission into Class – II in govt. primary schools and other schools in Jan 2015.

� Positive aspects are – attendance rate is 96%, monthly refreshers are held regularly and all the teachers are trained, good performance of students and the success rate in exams is 98%.

� Community people bear 24 % of the programme cost (Community Tk.48,000 and VERC – Tk. 2,00,000); Cost per student amounts to Tk.1,240.00 approx.

VERC run NFPE centers are to support the primary level education needs of the children of the marginal income group families living in the municipal areas of Savar. The Govt. primary schools are not within easy reach of the families and these are already over pressured. Marginal families are mostly from different areas of the country seeking employment opportunity for survival. They live here with family members and they want to get their kids attending school for being educated and securing a better life in course of time. It is difficult for the children to attend schools located at a distance of about 2 kilometers everyday as a result the children remain out of school. For lack of required number of schools in the township that suit their level of income and livelihood pattern, they are bound to find alternatives and VERC NFPE schools are a good means to that end. The housewife mother being new in township find it difficult to take the kids to the school and bring them back requires extra time ignoring the pressure of household tasks. The NFPE centers are suitable to the families for the reasons like – easily accessible in neighborhood, needs no expenditure for transportation and children are less vulnerable to the risk of traffic accident and the children can contribute to family needs in absence of the bread earner etc. Mobility in the township is expensive as well as risky for the children. The earning members of the households cannot take the kids to the govt. school spending time school feel safe to give due attention to the children when they are need of support for schooling in primaries since they need to make earning for survival of the families. The children mostly in these families rather left at home to take care of the household while the parents are out for earning at day time. In addition, the timing of formal primary school is not friendly to the children of these type of families. The timing, basic curriculum and teaching method all are accommodative to the needs of the noted families.

During July 2014 to June 2015 period, the following achievements have taken place as outcome of multiple stakeholder involvement showing the potentiality of self-management mobilizing local resources and monitoring

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Outcomes� Monthly refreshers are held regularly and all the teachers are trained, performance of students good

and the success rate in exams is 99%.� All of the 85 students attended in Primary School Certificate (PSC) Examination and 100% students

passed the exam.9 students got GPA 5 and 4 students got scholarship� All of the 85 PSC passed students got admission in Mugrapara and Jampara High School for higher

education� Community people pays regular visit to the schools to keep things on track

15 15 246 267 513

29 29 406 436 842

01 6 168 188 356

7 Unions and 1

Munici-pality

15 15 234 227 461

26 26 383 366 749

01 6 149 154 303

7Unions and 1 Munici-pality

ModelPrimarySchool

Non-formalPrimaryEducation(NFPE) Centers

EarlyChildhoodDevelopment(ECD) Centers

1

2

3

SL No

Type of Activities

No. of Union

Progress (201314)- No. of Union

Progress(2014 -15)

No. of Center/School

No of Teachers

No. of Children No. of Center

No of Teachers

No. of Children

boys girls Total boys girls Total

Sonargaon Sustainable Education ProgramThe 5th and last phase of TdH Netherlands supported project completed its three years duration in December 2011. Village Education Resource Center (VERC) has successfully implemented the project in 7 Unions of Sonargaon Upazila under the district of Narayanganj. Aminpur, Pirojpur, Mograpara, Boidder Bazar, Barudi, Naogaon and Jampur are the unions.

The project had been successful in demonstrating the effects of ECD and NFPE in children of the seven noted union areas and as outcome of the project a visible interest in community people of seven unions helped to sustaining the activities. During the project period, VERC along with the people of Mundirpur in Jampur Union under Sonargaon upazila also established a model primary school as there was no primary school for the children in nearby villages. A well-off person donated the required amount of land in response to the request of community people and the school was established. The school is running well.

When VERC brought down its support to a minimum level on closure of the project in 2012, the community people felt that the good quality pre-schooling and a newly established primary school should not die down; it should rather be continued in the area at the interest of their children as such they sought for limited technical support from VERC and they mobilized local resources. Local administration as well as the Union Parishads also took interest in supporting the people's initiative to keep on the efforts. Presently, a total of 45 schools are running in the area with community support.

During the reporting period, the following achievements have taken place as outcome of multiple stakeholder involvement showing the potentiality of self-management, mobilisation of local resources and monitoring –

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� Community people bear 89% of the programme cost (Community Tk.24,74,400 and VERC – Tk.3,00,000 ) Cost per student amounts to Tk.1622 .00 approx.

� Education department officials of the government pay regular monitoring visit to the schools that helps as encouragement to contributions made by the community people ensuring wider coverage intended by the government.

Reading Enhancement for Advancing Development (READ)Background:Bangladesh has achieved unimaginable success in Basic Education especially in access and equality with the assistance of development partners and non-governmental organizations under strong leadership of ‘Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh’.

But the success of education in access and equality weakness was still found to achieve competencies in Bangla of the students of grade III and V at National Competency Test in 2011. From this evaluation it is found that especially reading skill is gradually decreasing from grade III to grade V. If this situation continues the foundation of Bangla language of some students will gradually weaken and later on, this weak foundation of reading skill of students may influence negative impact on overall education system.

Government of Bangladesh has prepared an integrated action plan named Third Primary Education Development Plan to eliminate these obstacles. Speeding up the endeavor of government is for developing the quality of Primary Education through ‘Reading Enhancement for Advancing Development (READ).

VERC is implementing READ project with the collaboration of the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) with a view to sustain the READ activities after phasing out of READ project. The key objective is to increase reading competences among grade 1-3 students in READ- supported Primary Schools in the selected districts of READ. This project is implementing by the financial support of USAID with the technical support from Save the Children International.

Coverage: A total of 270 government primary schools (120 newly nationalized primary schools and 150 government primary schools) in 10 upazilas under 3 districts. About 61 concerned GoB Officials, 270 Head Teachers, 540 Assistant Teachers and 39,958 students have been covered during the reporting period.

The major activities of the project-� Master Trainer Training on Reading Instruction and Assessment (RIA) and teacher basic and

refresher training on RIA� Academic Supervision Training for Head Teachers and training on instructional adjustment tools for

Assistant Teachers� Orientation of SMC members

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� READ Provided 20,790 leveled story books to the selected school as well as 5790 Supplementary teaching learning materials produced so as to make class room environment child friendly for better learning

� Parents gathering for awareness regarding how to assist children acquiring reading skills� Community Reading Camp to encourage children to acquire reading skills� Assessment of students performance level

Outcomes of the period-� A total of 32,668 students were assessed out of 39,958 students. The students were assessed in the

areas of reading elements such as Phonemic Awareness, Letter knowledge, Vocabulary, Reading Fluency and Comprehension.

� For grade I only measured the reading elements Phonemic Awareness and Letter knowledge. Total participants 11131 participated in IAT exam among them 32% Mastery level, 34% developed level, 34% need improve level got in Phonemic Awareness and 74% Mastery level, 18% developed level, 8% need improve level got in letter knowledge.

� For grade II only measured the reading elements Phonemic Awareness, Letter knowledge and Vocabulary. Total participants 10976 were participated in IAT exam among them 38% Mastery level, 35% developed level, 27% need improve level got in Phonemic Awareness; 82% Mastery level, 14% developed level, 4% need improve level got in Letter knowledge and 45% Master level, 24% developed level, 31% need improve level got in vocabulary.

� For grade III only measured the reading elements Vocabulary, Reading Fluency and Comprehension. Total participants 10561 were participated in IAT exam among them 70% Mastery level, 21% developed level, 9% need improve level got in vocabulary; 28% Mastery level, 27% developed level, 45% need improve level got in Reading Fluency and 48% Mastery level, 25% developed level, 27% need improve level got in Comprehension.

Note: IAT = Instructional Adjustment tools.

Mastery level = Students can answer 3 question out of 3.

Developed level = Students can answer 2 question out of 3

Need to improvement = Students can answer 1or 0 question out of 3

� The Master Trainer group developed can conduct Bangla Teachers training on Reading Instruction and Assessment including project staffs, Upazila Education Officials and Instructor of Upazila Resource Center (URC).

� A total of 540 Assistant Teachers have gained knowledge and skills on Reading Instruction and Assessment. Now they have conducted Bangla classes based on acquired knowledge and skills. As a result, students learnt their lesson faster than earlier in joyful learning environment/print

� A total of 270 Head Teachers participated in the Academic Supervision Training and acquired further knowledge and skills on academic supervision. Having training on academic supervision, the Head Teachers can conduct academic supervision and provided feedback to the Bangla Teachers for enhancing their lesson delivery skills. As a result, students can prepare lesson with new tools and techniques and acquired learning outcomes smoothly

� A total of 2,950 SMC members have received orientation from READ project. They are now aware of their roles and responsibilities. They have gained knowledge on READ activities, how to prepare SLAP budget as well as use of SLAP budget for developing students reading skills. After receiving the orientation they plays more positive role in school so that the attendance rate of the students is better in the classroom and reduced the rate of absence.

� A total of 39,958 Parents are now aware on ways to assist their children acquire reading skills.

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� Various teaching materials developed by the project in printed manner have created rich learning environment in the selected schools of grade I, II and III classrooms. Now, the students can understand lessons easily and student's reading fluency has increased.

SHIKHONThis project aims to contribute to the achievement of Bangladesh‘s development goals and to a national basic education framework by providing proper education to children and building awareness on the necessity of education in the society and other issues namely health-hygiene education for the children, conducting parenting session to enhance the capacity of parents especially for supporting their children as guardian. VERC SHIKHON has been working in 718 villages under 107 unions of 16 Upazilas of four districts in Rajshahi division. Total 670 NFPE schools, 400 EPE centers and 229 SHIKHON Clubs are running under the project. SHIKHON activities have been implemented through 149 regular trained staff and 1299 trained volunteers under seven field offices and one regional office. In total 31077 (g-15533, b- 15544) children are reading in class I, II, III, IV and V.

Objectives of the project -

1. Increased access to cost-effective non-formal basic education for hardest to reach children in targeted communities;

2. Increased efficiency and quality of non-formal basic education services using holistic approaches for children to succeed in school; and

3. Increased collaboration between the formal and non-formal primary sectors to promote sharing and adoption of best practices

The major activities of the project -

Capacity building of staff and teachers, organize SMC/CMC meeting, Learner assessment, School visit by others community, School health & nutrition, Day observation

Outcomes of the reporting period –

1. Proactive SMC/CMC

Each school/Center has School Management Committee (SMC) and Center Management Committee (CMC) consisting of 11-13 members including two students from class four particularly in case of NFPE schools. Each committee has a grade wise School Improvement Plan (SIP). They organize a meeting once in a month, discuss about their performance and document their decisions as per agendas. In the year, 1,2674 meetings were organized. VERC SHIKHON representatives normally attend the meetings to facilitate the meeting but agenda and decision comes from members of the committee. Now, the committees look after their schools regularly and take initiative for further improvement particularly regarding repair maintenance, student and teachers timing, material distribution among the children and ensure water and sanitation. Moreover, feeding Vitamin A capsule and Iron tablet, de-worming tablet to cover all the children by communicating with union health workers as well as with the authorities at Upazila Health Complex.

Community action is also visible in terms of distribution of jute mattress, old cloth, straw etc. during the intense winter days. Parents and civil society takes part in reconstruction of road for students, committee members conduct session in absence of teachers all these actions indicate community ownership.

2. Enhanced Parenting capacity

Total 12710 parenting meetings organized in this year. Through the parenting education sessions, the guardians have become aware about their daily life and get knowledge of their children with performances of the students in the school. They are sending their children regularly and communicate with schoolteachers to know the performance of their children.

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3. Better Exam result

All activities of SHIKHON program are student focused where target is achieving good result. EPE learners will take admission in class 3 in govt. primary schools after completion of grade-2 (class-2) from SHIKHON EPE centers. Through evaluation the weak learners are identified so that they can be supported to improve the performance.

4. Improved local level accountability

In the reporting period SHIKHON schools were visited by different officials like - UNO, UEO, AUEO, Head Teachers, Assistant Teachers of primary schools, UP Members, Chairman and Upazila Chairman, Health Assistant. They followed up the teaching learning processes, model test; Grade end exam, follow up of health and hygiene. Their comments and recommendation is very much helpful to implement the activities.

The attendance target rate is 90% in the 670 running Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE) schools, the outcome of efforts have almost achieved. The staff regularly follows up and makes home visit to irregular students and assign duties among the potential parents and SMC members who are very careful to regularize the student to improve attendance rate.

Rasidul Islam Fighting for Education

Rasidul Islam is a student of Class four of Alipur SHIKHON School under Chatmohar field office. He could not have access to education in early childhood for lack of educational institutions in greater Chalon Beel area. People of the area are mostly poor and are engaged in various seasonal works. Level of awareness and importance of education in the people are visible in minimum number of schools.

Rasidul's father Md. Mozid Sarker is a day labour. He maintains his family with hand to mouth. Manual labour sale is his main source of income. Sometime, he needs to sale his

labour in advanced to meet up daily requirements of the family. Between gaps of daily labour he earns some money from additional sources like driving local vehicle ‘Nossimon’.

Rasidul could not go to school due to poverty but he had a passion for education. In the mean time SHIKHON program established NFPE School in that area. This was a great opportunity for Rasidul Islam. The Learning Facilitator while looking for suitable learner in the area, by the by Rasidul's mother could know about SHIKHON school. His mother discussed the matter with his father. His parents agreed to admit him in SHIKHON School. Rasidul became very glad getting the chance and resumed studies. In the last Grade End Exam Rasidul Islam obtained A+ and now he is reading in class IV. Ummey Kulsum is a very much supportive teacher in this school. She likes him as a regular learner of the school as well as a good performer. For the support and love of teacher Rasidul feel more interest in education. He dreams of higher education and do something for society in future. Though his father is very poor, but Rasidul is determined to overcome challenges attaining higher education. Rasidul helps his father to drive Nosimon in leisure time. The income of his father from Nosimon is not sufficient to maintain

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the family. For this reason Rasidul's father shifted his family to Dhaka for more income. But Rasidul has not come to Dhaka for continuing his education in SHIKHON School. Now he is alone at his village home. He cooks his food, cleans own dress and also does home works on his own. Rasidul takes breakfast in the morning and goes to school carrying lunch. After coming back home from school he drives Nosimon which his father left at home before going to Dhaka. He drives it up to evening for earning money for food and bearing other costs. Besides, Rasidul operates a shallow machine at night of a rich farmer for extra income in the irrigation season. Now, Rasidul does not take money from his father for livelihood. In the evening Rasidul goes to shallow machine shed to operate it and read in its light. Early in the morning he finishes his work and returns home. On return home, he prepares food, takes breakfast and goes to school and take his lesson in the school. Regular education awareness program and by attending parenting meeting in SHIKHON school, Rasidul acquires knowledge on awareness raising and education.

Recently the journalist of the Daily Ittefaq informed about Rasidul's efforts and interest in education. in an interview of Rasidul about his struggling life and published a feature in the newspaper. After publication of his interview and feature with photograph, he has become inspired and encouraged to continue education. He expresses his future plan and said after completion of higher education he will contribute in education as a teacher. Especially he has weakness to poorest students who are deprived of education. SHIKHON keeps on supporting him in his studies and intends to see him as a great man in the society. He is grateful to SHIKHON obtaining educational support that has turned him up as a potential individual for the future.

SHIKHON-Urban ProgramVERC has been implementing the SHIKHON-Urban project in Dhaka and Gazipur districts under Dhaka division since March 2013. The activities of the project are similar to that of SHIKHON project. Key concern is the diversity in nature is the context i.e., urban area slum dwellers and their children with a diverse nature of drop out problem.

Target groups: These children are from remote, slum, industrial areas and landless families, especially those living in slum areas. They also include ethnic minorities and those with mild and moderate form of disability. SHIKHON Urban started Non-formal Primary school program in June-2013 in Savar, Tongi and Gazipur under Dhaka and Gazipur districts. In total, 1195 children are reading where 646 are girls and 549 are boys in grade IV.

This is the last stage of implementation of the project of four years duration. At this point, the program focus is on results 1, 2 and 3 (Increased access to cost-effective non-formal basic education for hardest to reach children in targeted communities; Increased efficiency and quality of non-formal basic education services using holistic approaches for children to succeed in school; and, Increased collaboration between the formal and non-formal primary sectors to promote sharing and adoption of best practices).

SHIKHON – VERC has made outstanding and significant progress during the reporting period. A total of 1195 children have prosecuted studies in class – IV and hopefully they will complete the primary level schooling by overcoming the barrier of discontinuation / drop-out.

Key Activities � Conduct Situational Analysis of the status of primary education in targeted communities� Establish SMC in each school; � Parenting Education session;

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Teaching quality is frequently disparaged. It has been observed that government school teachers are not as skilled as NGO teachers. Often seen that teachers’ attendance is poor and that they fail to arrive on time or remain in class for the full period. Moreover the quality of teaching is poor, that discipline is negligent, and that the children are allowed to play most of the day. Related to these complaints is the huge volume of enrolment class room size. As a result teachers, can neither control such large classes nor monitor the work of so many students. Besides this, communication of government school teachers with parents and home visit is very poor.

Outcomes of the reported period- Effective community mobilization has ensured continuation of 50 NFPE centers in parts of Dhaka and Gazipur district despite sudden discontinuation of project support by end of April 2015. The centers maintains a total volume of 1100 students

Education for Refugee Children (ERC) project Save the Children (SC) as partner of UNHCR has been managing Education for Refugee Children (ERC) Project in Nayapara and Kutupalong refugee camps under Cox's Bazar district since May, 2012. IKEA FOUNDATION is funding for the project. Currently, Village Education Resource Center (VERC) as implementing partner of SC is providing basic education services to some 7618 children through, 21 Primary and 2 Secondary schools. ERC has skilled staff both in SC and VERC who works for providing quality education to the refugee children. The teachers are the main work forces who are directly responsible to ensure the education services. However, a number of other staff members who support the teachers in the form of training, mentoring, guiding, monitoring and supervising ERC activities to maintain the standard of education. ERC also uses some innovative resources to improve refugee children's education. Along with its own innovative resources, ERC project has also been using the resources developed by SC's other programs (SHIKHON, PROTEEVA and Shishuder Jonno) those includes teacher guidebooks, parents’ education manual, after school curriculum, story books, literacy boost, SHN materials etc.

Outcome Through capacity building training of teacher's, quality teaching /guidance for learners have been ensured. A sound knowledge base is the key outcome of training for all the teachers of the schools in the camps.

Sisimpur Enhancing Essential Life Skill Project This project is under implementation in Raipura upazilas with 38 Govt. Primary Schools, 13 Kindergarten Schools (KGS) and 1 madrasa in Raipura upazila under Narsingdi district (1 pourashava and 4 Unions). and it may possibly be working with madrasa. Under the MOU with DPE (Department of Primary Education), this project is working only on Bangla reading and Life Skill based co-curricular activity in the primary schools highlighting how to be able to read Bangla and be aware on ways to protect oneself in various disaster situations.

Donor : USAIDTechnical support : Sesame Workshop Bangladesh (SWB)Duration : January 2014 to June 2016.Target people : Primary school students – Class I to Class III

Project Objectives 1. Strengthening capacity of government school teachers on Reading focus Bangla teaching.2. Developing educational materials for co-curricular classes on essential life skills like health and

hygiene, social environment and water safety.3. Contribute to national agenda on Early Childhood Development.

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Main Activity – Strengthening capacity of government primary school teachers on guiding children on correct Reading skill of Bengali and with this in view, during this period 85 Para-teachers were recruited who were working in the Government primary, KG schools and madrasa under direct supervision of UEO, URC instructor, the project has imparted skill training to137 GPS Subject Teachers, 52 KG School teachers, 2 madrasa teachers and,85 Para-teachers.

Outcome

Training of Para-teachers has installed capacity in facilitation of classes to ensure class management and life skill. Skill on Bangla alphabet and reading with correct pronunciation is also noteworthy.

Protection of Children from Hazardous Labour ProjectThe noted project is under implementation of Training and Communication Section.Savar Upazila, an industrial hub and satellite town of the capital city Dhaka. Due to its geographical location and industrial character, a large number of slum dwellers, poor and marginalized families are living in Savar. The children of these families are vulnerable and deprived of development and protection rights. They are also victim of abuse, exploitation and hazardous child labour. There is no government support for these underprivileged children. To response the issue, VERC had implemented the ‘Protection of Children at Risk from Abuse and Exploitation and ensure their Development Project’ since January 2012 to December 2014 and with the almost similar objectives, VERC has been also implementing the ‘Protection of Children from Hazardous Labour Project’ since January 2015 is an extended project of previous initially agreement is for the year 2015. The both projects are supported by Terre des Hommes – Netherlands. VERC is working to protect the children and simultaneously, creating a child-friendly environment where they participate in interventions to develop themselves.

Goal: A safe environment for children free from hazardous child labour (HCL) and forced work (FW), abuse and exploitation in Savar Upazila

Specific objective: To protect children engaged in HCL and FW across three Union Parishads (UPs) and in Savar Pourashava in Savar Upazila (UZ).

VERC has identified the concentration areas of slums where most of the poor and marginalized families of the child labourers are living in Savar which include the Bipail, Gypsy Community, Rajfulbaria, Hemayetpur and CRP area, Savar Bazar, Nabinagar, Talbag, Bank Colony and Ananadapur. It is mentionable that as per the survey of the project staff there are about 13709 children are involved in hazardous labour are prevailing in our working areas, of them we are covering only 601 working children involved in hazardous works.

Activities done during the reporting period

Children Access to Education to reduce Hazardous Child Labour:

In this reporting year (July, 2014 to June, 2015) has run 30 centers and presently is running a total of 24 centers at respective communities of Savar Upazila with the purpose to make access to Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE) and ECD. Altogether 1530 working children (aged below 18 years) and children (aged 5 to 6) vulnerable to hazardous work are being taught in the reporting year. Learning materials for the children were provided as necessary.

Orientation on life skills for children during classroom teaching:

Life skills sessions were conducted in each NFPE centers while teachers have taught the classes on monthly basis. The learning was provided by involving children in games, drama, story-telling and different innovative exercises. Life skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life. Teachers have enabled the children on decision making, problem solving, creative thinking, critical thinking, effective

25

communication, interpersonal relationship skills, self-awareness, and empathy, coping with emotions and stresses gradually as per plan.

Children Participated in Annual Sports

VERC collaboration with CPMC (Upazila Child Protection Monitoring Committee) organized annual sports at end of the December, 2014 for all the children of NFPE and ECD centers run by VERC. The annual sports had held at different 16 spots in Savar Upazila. All the children who participated were awarded prize..

Progress of children access to skill training:

During this reporting period, 50 children received skill training on Electrical house wring, Dress Making & Tailoring, Home Management and Cooking, Garments and Tailoring, Welding, Garments machine mechanics, Computer operation and Beauty Parlour Trade.

Progress of making Employers positive to protect children from HCL:

Children involved in hazardous labour are being protected through awareness building of the employers regarding negative consequences of hazardous child labour. The project has been trying to motivate employers to reduce hazards in work place. During the reporting period, a total of 40 meetings were organized (out of 40) with employers of child domestic workers and working children in 10 areas as per the plan during this time. These meetings have covered excellent number of participants where 681 employers attended against the target of 630.

Parents Sensitized on Child Protection through ECD Parenting Sessions:

Total 640 children are at risk of hazardous child labour have pre-primary education through Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme and their parents, guardians are being motivated through parenting sessions to help continue their study. The project has conducted monthly parenting sessions with the parents of ECD children on regular basis. Involvement of parents in children's teaching-learning process is very important to make the process a success. In this the reporting period, the project has organized 120 meetings as plan where a total of 2597 parents, caregivers and guardians of ECD groups have attended against the target of 1660.

Community Leaders are organized and mobilised against Child Labour:

CPMC is a civil society organization called Child Protection Monitoring Committee the most important component of the project to ensure effective education for working children. CPMC has been emerging to act as a safety-net for children who are involved in hazardous child labour.

In this reporting year, 11 CPMCs are active with 181 social elites as pressure, advocacy group with local govt., business people and employers as per plan, of them 10 is Area Based CPMCs and one is Upazila level CPMC. Area Based CPMCs have sat bi-monthly and Upazila level CPMC sat quarterly meeting regularly. The CPMC members have decided to improve the working children lives. They have visited the employers to improve the children's safety level and to eliminate harsh working situations. It is worth mentioning that the CPMC has become a self-started civil society child rights activist group to protect the children from child labour, exploitation and abuse. They arranged different wellbeing events for the children. In this reporting period, they have arranged a day outing for socializing the children of the project in Savar on 07 March, 2015. There were 85 children in this trip. The children have passed a very joyful event throughout the day. The children were entertained with games & plays, singing & dance and rich lunch.

National level advocacy & lobbying organized for Elimination of Hazardous Child Labour

VERC and CPMC, Savar jointly organized a national level seminar on Hazardous Child Labour

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Situation of Savar Upazila and National Child Labour Elimination Policy Implementation: Our Role to Eliminate Hazardous Child Labour on 23 December 2014 at the National Institute of Local Government Agargaon, Dhaka. Mr. Md. Fazle Rabbi Miah MP, Honorable Deputy Speaker, Bangladesh Parliament, attended as chief guest. Mr. Mahmudul Kabir, Country Director, Terre des Hommes, Netherlands was present as special guest and electronic media personnel. Recommendation on the said issues like – taking initiatives to circulate the National Child Labour Elimination Policy, domestic work to be included in the hazardous child labor list, ensure budget allocation to implement major strategic areas of policy, some intervention that not require money should start as early as possible i.e. sensitizing relevant government agencies on the NPA, formation of the National Child labour Welfare Council at different levels like national, divisional district and Upazila level, coordination with government and non-government agencies and private sectors, ratify 138 clauses of ILO convention. The recommendations have been submitted to the ministry of Labour and Employment.

Formation of Agrogamee Shishu Parishad to raise voice against child labour:Large scale children's voices under the banner of Agrogamee Shishu Parishad have risen widely against child labour in Savar Upazila. A total of 5 Child led Organizations (CLOs) have been running with a total 400 children where 109 executives members are working to reduce hazardous child labour in the project areas throughout different actions. In the meantime, they have sat their regular meetings and had developed a yearly action plan. They have also formed 5 cultural teams to perform dramas to make the people aware on child labour issues. In this regard, an external expert from Jahangirnagar University (Drama and Dramatic section) has contributed to write script and rehearsal the CLO cultural team. The members of Agrogamee Shishu Parishad have made some visits to the child labour sites to observe the child labour situation as they could make a report and talk to the employers and Labour Inspector to reduce child labour.

Dialogue with UP, Pouroshava and Upazila Administration to reduce child labourIn this connection, the UPs and the Savar Pourashava have started taking part in monitoring of informal child labour spots together with the project staff of VERC to ensure the child rights.

World Day Against Child Labour – 2015 Observed

Tough the observation of World Day against Child Labour – 2015, jointly with the CPMC, on 12 June, 2015 at Savar Upazila about 1200 people including 400 children took part in the event and that helped raising awareness on consequences of child labour in the society. It has supplemented the government plan to eradicate HCL by 2016.

Capacity of staff members of TdH Partner NGOs enhanced on Child ProtectionTwo batches of follow up training on Child Abuse, Exploitation and Parenting (CAEP) organized for teachers and supervisors of SEEP and VERC at VERC Training Complex, Savar. A total number of 42 teachers and supervisors have been participated from SEEP and VERC against the target of 45.

Joint Evaluation Conducted: In the 3rd quarter of 2014, a joint evaluation was conducted by TdH-NL and VERC on the project progress. For collecting some information and to measure the output of this project a joint evaluation team conducted FGDs (13) with different stakeholders, students, parents and employers in different locations to draw the observations properly.

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Findings from this joint evaluation are as follows:

Savar is highly child labour concentrated area and the project provided support to less than 10% working and vulnerable children only.The project faced a big problem with migration of working children along with their parents/ guardians. Employers are happy with the development of the target children. The children can calculate, measure and communicate easily after getting admission at NFPE centers;

The code of conduct has been put on display in formal factories and this has succeeded to stop use of slang and physical assault to children. School is also a recreation source for the working children and this project has created this opportunity for them.Parents of ECD children did not have any career plan for children regarding education but now they want to continue their kids continuing study at any cost and ready to invest major portion of their income for education.

Outcomes of the period

� The NFPE schools and ECD centers have contributed the children involved in hazardous child labour and the children at risk to be involved in child labour to enroll in education and had opened a window to escape from HCL, force work, abuse and exploitation. The NFPE schools and ECD centers are playing vital roles to reduce children labour in Savar. A total of 303 of children (boys 133 and girls 170) have been saved from hazardous work, of them 192 (boys 76 and girls 116) have withdrawn from child labour and admitted to mainstream schools as regular students and 111 children (boys 57 and girls 54)have moved to light work in the reporting year against the target of 150;

� Through NFPE program, children involved in domestic work are raising their voice, claiming rights and providing better service to the employers. Some of the employers increased salary and some have been reduced heavy work. CDWs are now receiving BDT 1000/- per month other than their food and clothing

� A very good relationship has been developed with the employers and they all participated very effectively in regular meetings. The meetings have discussed children's development and roles of the employers. They have given emphasis to send children regularly to the schools and monitor their progress. The employers expressed their contribution and facilities ensured for the betterment of children. This process is helping the project to motivate employers and have taken significant initiatives to reduce hazards i.e. providing safety devices at work place, reducing working hour, started following code of conduct (stopped using slang and beating), providing first aid facilities at work place and ensured schooling and entertainment

� The project has mobilised people, civil society, local government and administration, concerned people are coming forward to extend their support and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Savar gave 138 blankets for the child students of 5 VERC school as a mark of support to the children.

Azim dreams to continue StudiesMd. Azim Hossain (13), a student of grade 5 of Talbag NFPE Center at Savar Upazila dreams to continue his education to pursue a better life in future. Village Education Resource Center (VERC) is running 17 NFPE Schools including Talbag in Savar for the children involved in child labour aiming to make a safe environment for children free from hazardous child labour and forced work, abuse and exploitation. It is worth mentioning that 424 working children have been enrolled in NFPE Schools, of them 174 are boys and 250 girls.

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Azim had travelled 277 miles from Poradoh of Kustia district with his family in 2013. They had found shelter in a shanty-town in Savar Upazila. The four members’ family of Azim was bound to leave the village due to debt burden. Due to family migration, Azim dropped out from school. He was then a student of class 3 in a local primary school. In Savar, Azim was sent to work to earn for survival of the family. He started to work in an electronics workshop as a helping hand only for food.

In the same year, 2013 the VERC project staff enrolled Azim (green dress) in Talbag NFPE center consulting with the employer and father of Azim to continue his education. At the end of 2014, while Azim was a 4 grade student, he was provided 3-month long short course training on Electrical House wiring. This training made him savvy to do something individually instead of long hours bonded job. Azim left the job and concentrated his mind to study in VERC NFPE center and he also keeps on his work in his free time. Azim also earns some money with his very relax work that helps his family and continues his education.

This year 2015, Azim is in class 5. He will appear at the PSC exam this year. After passing PSC exam, he will get admission in high school and he will continue his education to get a better job for better life.

Azim said, ‘VERC has helped me to get back in school and also saved me from bonded child labour. Now, I am happy to continue my education. I wish to be an Engineer in future.’

Piloting of integrated program in Kaliakoir:

VERC undertaken integrated project on pilot basis is aimed to replicate the best learning so that a ground for sharing can be installed in the easy to reach location for others. The area is located within the distance of one hour's drive from VERC head office. After completion of ground works 4 ECD centers have been activated in collaboration respective SMCs of Govt. primary schools, WatSan CBOs and IBIG groups. After selection and orientation of teachers, the centers have been running based on local resources and initiatives. VERC is extending staff support from IBIG for facilitation and resource mobilisation to carry on this innovative project.

The centers have been successful to mainstream 53 boys and 39 girls in January 2015. Presently, 53 boys and 43 girls are attending class in the centers.

Stipend for Education: VERC has introduced offering stipend to poor beneficiary off-springs in 2009 who obtains GPA-5 or A (+) in SSC exam and decides to continue education further. Under this program each student receives Tk. 500 (five hundred) on monthly basis for two years. This will continue as regular activity. The students can collect their stipend from the nearest VERC office. Through this program in the last financial year (July’14 to June’15) Tk. 0.59 million Tk. 5,94,000 (five lac ninety four thousand) has been offered from the service charge of its micro-finance program for 68 students. The amount of allocation is increasing annually to bring more students under coverage. As of 30th June, 2015, the cumulative amount of Tk. 21,22,845/ has been offered as stipend for the total of 216 students.

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Bangladesh with a population 150 million has made significant progress towards providing water supply and the sanitation in the last two decades. According to the Joint Monitoring (JMP) report 85% people have access to safe water and 57% people use hygienic sanitation facilities. However, still there remain significant challenges if Bangladesh wants to ensure safe, affordable, reliable and sustainable services for all that requires a multi-prolonged approach. This needs to address challenges posed by hard to reach areas and vulnerable people. It also needs to tackle the emerging issues like the negative impact of climate change and meeting the demands for services due to rapid pace of urbanization, as well as strengthening sector governance through building the capacity of institutions to ensure quality, accountability and transparency. Considering the above reality WASH is still one of the focus program areas of VERC. The key objectives of the program is sustainable improvement in WASH and reduction of related risks of the poor and marginalized through effective mobilization and capacity building of community and local government. Over the reporting year VERC has implemented nine projects with the support of six donors.

The projects cover 179 unions, 23 upazilas and 8 districts across the country. The key activities under the projects were community mobilization through CLTS process promotion, improving WASH facilities in community, schools and public places, Arsenic mitigation, capacity building, Improved Cookstoves (ICS) test, technology installation linkages building networking etc.

During the reporting period, VERC has implemented 9 projects with six donors. The WASH projects cover Rajshahi, Comilla, B. Baria, Sirajganj, Faridpur, Rajbari and Gazipur. The WASH projects cover 89,914 people with improved access to safe drinking water, 711,005 people reached through education on hygiene and health, 631,879 people gained access to adequate sanitation, and 80,357 students gained access to adequate sanitation and 22,420 people including LGI representatives, Teachers and SMC members covered through different capacity building training and orientation.

WatSan and Technology

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Visible outcomes:

� School WASH facilities improved with school environment has created a better learning environment benefitting students especially the girl students. School toilets are now having running water facilities and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) facilities operate successfully by the students and school authority.

� A total of 55 of villages have declared as Arsenic safe in sever arsenic concentrated upazilas of Comilla and Brahmanbaria districts. People have got access to arsenic free safe water for drinking and cooking purposes. Many of them are no more suffering from diseases especially from arsenicosis. After national level stakeholder's workshop on Arsenic Safe Village concept now it has been emerged as successful approach and being scaled up in some arsenic hot spotted districts like Comilla, Sylhet and Gopalganj.


Detail of projects under implementation:

Community Initiated Sustainable 100% WatSan and Hygiene Behavior Change projectThe third and last phase of 27 months long Community Initiated Sustainable 100% WatSan and Hygiene Behavior Change project supported by water.org will be ended in January 2016.

General objective of the Project: The overall objective of the project is to provide safe drinking water and sanitation facilities in the project area empowering the community to improve public health and sanitation.

To achieve the objectives of the project has the following key activities undertaken during the reporting period: Community mobilization initiatives through CBO's, Community Action Committee (CAC) and LGI were nurtured regularly. A total of 2003 CBO meeting, 153 CAC meetings, and 188 WatSan committees meetings were organized. Training support provided in 3 batches on Leadership and Advocacy for CAC, 3 batches on Monitoring and Reporting for CAC, 3 batches Training to CT for

Gazipur

Rajshahi

Rajshahi

Sirajganj

Faridpur and Rajbari

Dhaka

Nationwide (Advocacyfocused)

November 2013 - January 2016

Rural WASH

WaSH Result

Donors

water.org

unicef

unicef

Save the Children

BMGF via NVF

Name of the project Duration District

Creating Arsenic safe villages with sustainable improvement of WASH in Monoharganj upazila, Comilla and selected unions of Banchharampur and Sarail upazila, Brahmanbaria

Promoting Safe Water and Sanitation access and Hygiene Motivation among rural poor in Northern Bangladesh

Community Initiated Sustainable 100% WatSan and Hygiene Behaviour Change, Kaliakoir, Phase-III

Rehabilitation of SHEWA-B installed arsenic affected water points

ICT & innovative partnership Project

Fresh Water Action Network-South Asia(FANSA) August 14-Sept. 16

July 2014 -June 2016

February 2013-September 2015

May 2014-March 2018

April 2013-March 2017

April 2011-December 2015

May 2014-January 2015

August 2012-January 2015

Comilla andBrahman baria

Comilla and Brahmanbaria

HYSAWA-SO HYSAWA-FM

WaterAid-Bangladesh

WaterAid-Bangladesh

WaterAid-Bangladesh

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new water point, 01 batch Training for Skill mechanics on O & M of WP and 01 batch refreshers Training for Skill mechanics on O & M of WP Training conducted for the community people's Capacity development. 01 batch Refreshers Training provided for project staff. For safe water supply provision a total of 45 Tara-II tube wells were installed and a total of 135 tube wells were renovated. 30 DAP friendly toilets installed for 30 physically challenged people who were facing problem to use normal toilet. Through the community mobilization process a total of 5872 household level latrines were installed and renovated in different communities. Three public toilets were renovated in three working unions. One School toilet has been constructed and four school toilets have been renovated in five different schools.

Visible outcomes:The project has made improved environmental health situation in the target area of the project in Kaliakoir in terms of better WASH facilities in communities, schools and public places that are bringing benefits in terms of improved access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene behaviour and reduced disease burden. A total of 5472 water points, 39462 sanitation installation and hygiene practice adopted by 40889 people.

Creating Arsenic Safe Villages with Sustainable Improvement of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Monoharganj Upazila, Comilla and selected unions of Banchharampur and Sarail Upazila, Brahmanbaria District in Bangladesh

This is a 29 months project with the overarching objective to declare arsenic safe model villages in severely affected areas with effective sanitation and hygiene promotion.

Major activities:� A total of 406 CBOs ignited following CLTS approach and prepared CAP for implementation of the

project activities. As part of that facilitated 2483 CBO meetings, 6392 Hygiene promotion sessions (courtyard meeting, health campaign, day observations etc) at different levels including school, to enhance the knowledge and practice level on WASH both

� Increase arsenic free safe water coverage in 20431 people through Installation of 89 new safe water options (DTW-79, RWHS-6, Mini pipe water supply system-4) and renovated and upgraded 34 DTWs from suction mode to force mode at community level. Water quality is one of the important issues to ensure safe water supply during this reporting period a total of 242 water samples have been tested under this project. 15 batches of caretaker training for new water options and 3 batches of orientation on pipe water system for management committee has been conducted

� At institution level covers 3555 students through Installed of 5 arsenic free safe water options (DTW). Five School Toilets installed and 11 repaired which covers a total of 5487 students and teachers. A half yearly WinS reflection workshop held at Upazila level. .

� A total 318 Ward Sanitation Task Force meeting, 26 Union Sanitation Task Force meeting, 2 Upazila Sanitation Task Force meeting held.

Visible outcomes:� Repair of 2 public place sanitation blocks in two different spots in Monoharganj with effective

operation and management system in place has changed the WaSH situation around the spots. The Market place committee is managing the installations as it is practicing use and pay system.

� Covers 20431 peoples using safe water for drinking and cooking purposes, decrease in the number and severity of Arsenicosis patients’ visible impact as per the community people's reflections. A total of 55 villages have been declared as Arsenic affect free. This is a joint declaration along with Upazila, UP, community and other actors working in the community

� A total of 31588 community people including hardcore poor covered through 4712 house hold level hygienic latrines

� A total of 57 DAP has come under access to hygienic latrine use at household level in the area.

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Arsenic is no more a panic to Shafiqur Rahman

Shafiqur Rahman aged 65 years is from Baishgaon union under Monoharganj upazila of Comilla district. He has six children – three sons and three daughters. One day he noticed some spots in his hand and chest, others couldn't make him clear about this. Sometimes he felt feverishness and pain. Intensity of the trouble was increasing day by day. He took some medicine prescribed by quack as treatment. After some days he felt formation of some blisters in his hands and legs. Pus started growing in the blisters. Day by day he became very much sick and he was taken to the hospital for better treatment. Despite hospital based treatment and medication, his situation remained unchanged. Gradually, he deteriorated further.

Doctors released him from the hospital. As he was in hospital bed for long, he became bed-ridden even he couldn't go to the toilet on his own. His family members had to help him in anal cleaning. VERC's WASH Project in Monoharganj identified him as an arsenicosis patient in 2010. By that time he had lost his finger and toe. VERC and Union Parisad jointly selected his area and installed Arsenic free Deep Tube-well in this community and one multiple connection Tube Well in front of Shafiqur Rahman's house. He and his family as well as his community people have been using Arsenic free safe water for drinking and cooking purpose from the water point for the last two years. Now, Shafiqur Rahman is feeling better than previous. Now, there is no blister in his body. He is getting stronger and more energetic than the past. Now, he can move in his community and do activities. Arsenic free water had helped him to return from death.

Rehabilitation of SHEWA-B installed arsenic affected water point's projectThis is a nine months project with the goal of reducing the health risks associated with the drinking arsenic contaminated water from SHEWA-B installed water points.

The key activities of the project are:� Conducted Feasibility assessment of SHEWA,B wells with adjacent wells which covers of 290

SHEWA.B well and 1541 adjacent wells. Formation of 167 user groups and conduct orientation on tube well maintenance and water safety plan (WSP). A total of 167 TWs sites selection done through social mapping (user family). Installation and Platform construction completed of 158 Deep Tube wells (Tara-ii) which covers 15,633 population. Two Rain water harvesting system installation at School level instead of 02 SHEWA,B wells which covers 1,010 beneficiaries. Sixteen Rain water harvesting system installation at household levels instead of 06 SHEWA,B which covers 85 beneficiaries. Eight Sono-filters installed at household level instead of 01 SHEWA,B which covers 48 beneficiaries. Switching to 18 SHEWA,B wells to adjacent PEDP-3 safe well or private wells which covers 6,252 beneficiaries. Repaired 04 TWs which covers 613 beneficiaries. Selection of 352 TW Caretaker and provide orientation (Male-184- Female-168) on O & M. User group orientation conducted to167 batches that's covered 3,448 participants ( M-1532 and F-1916). Sample collections from 109 Arsenic safe water points for lab analysis.

Visible outcomes:A total of 23641 people who were using arsenic contaminated water from SHEWA-B installed water points, are no more vulnerable to arsenic contamination in terms of easy access to safe water coverage for drinking and cooking. Vulnerability to related diseases has reduced in terms of reduced number of Arsenicosis patients.

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Rural WaSH, Bagmara, RajshahiThe project is more focused on rights of poor and excluded people. The major outcomes of the project are, poor and excluded people are able to demand sanitation service, establish their access to sustainable WASH facilities. Policy makers, LGI & Service agencies are sensitized regarding WASH rights. Ultimately all the outcomes contribute for achieving national WaSH goal as well as MGD's. This is a 4.9 years project and will be ended in December 2015.The goal and objective of the project are as follows

Goal: Contribute to the achievement of national goal of WASH through context-specific and scalable water supply, sanitation & hygiene services in hard-to-reach areas.

Objective:� Improve rights and access to safe water to the rural poor communities with special attention to the

marginalised, vulnerable and excluded people.� Increase access to the improved sanitation with special attention to the ethnic, tribal, disabled and

poorest.� Increase hygiene behaviour practice at personal, household, public place and institute level. � Introducing best practices from learning of piloting activities considering sustainable issue.

Major activities carried out during the reporting period:� A total of 1086 CBO ignited following CLTS approach and prepare 1086 CAP for implementation of

the project activities. As part of that facilitated 3402 CBO meeting, 23 (11 on WSP & 12 on core hygiene).mass campaign held with cultural performance to increase the Hygiene promotion practice at different level including school, which enhance the knowledge on WASH both at community and institution level

� Increase safe water coverage among 6932 people through Installation of 145 new safe water options (Tara-II extractable model) and renovated 200 water points at community level. A total of 4443 beneficiaries cover through installation of 787 House hold level Hand washing devices. Benefiting 688 students through installation of two safe water options at School

� Increase hygiene sanitation coverage among 29785 peoples by installation and up gradation of 5316 hygienic latrines. Community dug 183 pits for hygienic management of the faecal sludge at community level. Household level waste water and solid waste management situation also improved.

� Capacity building on WASH rights, participatory planning and advocacy held in 104 batch for CBO and 17 batch for LGI the total attendees were 2816.Open budget exercise facilitated among 10 Union Paris had

Visible outcomes:Develop a networking and coordination mechanism among CBO leaders, CAC member and LGI bodies regarding WASH program follow-up and monitoring, LGI & Service agencies are sensitized and responsive regarding WaSH rights. The project support has contributed in terms of increased access to safe water coverage among 6932 people and hygiene sanitation coverage among 29785 peoples.

Promoting Safe Water and Sanitation access and Hygiene Motivation among rural poor in Northern Bangladesh

This is a three years project and will be ended in April 2016.The goal and objective of the project are as follows:

Goal:The overall goal of the project is to contribute to improved human well being and dignity of disadvantaged people in Durgapur upazila under Rajshahi District through WaSH access.

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Objective:

� Poor and excluded population will be able to demand context specific water supply and sanitation services.

� Poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable population in selected areas will be established their access to sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

� Policy-makers, local governments and service agencies will be sensitized and respond effectively in promotion of sustainable water supply, sanitation & hygiene.

Major activities carried out during the reporting period:

� A total of 104 CBO (village based) ignited following CLTS approach and prepare 104 CAP for implementation of the project activities. As part of that facilitated 1248 CBO meeting. A total of 527 Hygiene promotion sessions (Interactive popular theatre-IPT,women group, adolescents, campaign and day observance events) to increase the Hygiene promotion practice at different level including school, which enhance the knowledge on WASH both at community and institution level covers 3320 peoples.

� Increase safe water coverage among 9986 people through Installation of 61 new safe water options (Tara-II extractable model) and renovated 290 water points at community level. A total of 16262 beneficiaries cover through installation of 3388 household level Hand washing devices. Benefiting 1850 students through construction and renovation of three school sanitation blocks with running water facilities.

� Increase hygiene sanitation coverage among 18988 peoples by installation and up gradation of 3967 hygienic latrines. Community dug 2518 pits for hygienic management of solid waste management system. Household level waste water and solid waste management situation also improved.

� Capacity building on WASH rights, participatory planning and advocacy held in 4 batches for CBO and 2 for LGI.

Visible outcomes:School WASH program creates effective learning environment especially school toilets with MHM facilities have increases girls attendance during the menstruation period.UNO Durgapur advice the other actors in the area to follow the VERC working procedure and design of School Sanitation Block.

A total of 9986 poor and marginalized people are getting safe water and 18988 beneficiaries brought under hygiene sanitation coverage including 14 Differently Able People (DAP).

WaSH Result:

This new project is being developed to contribute improvement of human well being and dignity of poor and excluded population in entire Royganj upazila (Nine unions) through context-specific and scalable WaSH access. The Four years project (1st April 2014 – 31st March 2018) will mainly focus on the vulnerable, marginalized, poorest of the poor community people especially women, children and the ethnic minority. The project will have important focus to accelerate present sanitation coverage of the area which is relatively poor compared to the national sanitation coverage. The uniqueness of this project is provision of 27 months follow-u, capacity building, advocacy and networking provision. The hard ware will be completed by end of December, 2015. Key objective of the project is to contribute improvement of human well being and dignity of poor and excluded population in Raiganj upazila through context-specific and scalable access to WASH.


� A total of 729 CBO (Word based in 81 words) ignited following CLTS approach and prepare 729 CAP for implementation of the project activities. A total of 1409 Hygiene promotion sessions (Interactive popular theatre-IPT, women group, adolescents, campaign and day observance events) to

35

increase the Hygiene promotion practice at different level including school, which enhance the knowledge on WASH both at community and institution level covers 54105 peoples.

� Increase safe water coverage among 12319 people through Installation of 335 new safe water options (Tara-II extractable model) and renovated (platform construction) 706 water points at community level.

� Increase hygiene sanitation coverage among 41635 peoples by installation and up gradation of 11511 hygienic latrines. Household level waste water and solid waste management situation also improved.

� Capacity building on WASH rights, participatory planning and advocacy held in 116 batches for CBO and 90 for LGI.

Visible outcomes: � Increased safe water coverage among 12319 people and quality sanitation coverage for 41635

people is visible. Unhygienic latrines renovated not only by VERC support and other NGOs but also by the community people themselves .People adopted hygiene practices e.g. proper use and maintenance of household latrines, washing hands with soap etc.

HYSAWA-SO

This is capacity building project for UP on WASH. HYSAWA fund provided technical support to Support Organization (SO) for implementation of the project. VERC work as SO for two district to provide capacity building support on WASH in 30 UPs in two districts.

The goal of the project is to contribute to achieve MDG-7 through empowering local governments, ultimate contribution to reduction of poverty. The key objectives of the project are:� LGIs' Capacity strengthened for service delivery in water supply and sanitation in the intervention

areas. � Hygiene behavior improved in the intervention areas. � Access to hygienic sanitation and safe drinking water improved in the intervention areas.


� A total of 420 UP representatives of 30 Union Parishad are the key stake holders for capacity strengthened for service del erage among 8532 people through Installation of 200 new safe water options (DTW) water quality (Arsenic) test done for this 200 water points.

� Increase hygiene sanitation coverage among 303453 peoples by installation and up gradation of 67434 hygienic latrines. Household level waste water and solid waste management situation also improved. One public toilet and two school toilets constructed and 164 school toilets renovated that covers 73920 peoples.

� Capacity building on WASH rights, participatory planning and financial management held in 284 batches for CBO and 9 for LGI.

� The UP and ward participated in reviewing meeting. UP and Word analysis the present situation to improve the situation. Within the reporting period 277 UP and 832 Wards updated the situation reviewing the plan accordingly.

Visible outcomes: � The Hygiene awareness level of the intervention unions and community has increased. The total

environmental sanitation scenario and peoples behavioural pattern has changed through community mobilization.

� A good number of UP chairman and secretary are now capable in fund management in line with PPR. UPs are capable to implement development program by selecting PNGO and contractors.

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ICT & Innovative Partnership ProjectThe noted project is under implementation of Training and Communication Section. Insufficient water and sanitation facilities are among the reasons for increased poverty as identified in the second and seventh Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). More than 50,000 children die from diarrheal diseases every year in Bangladesh. About 40% of these deaths can be avoided through the practice of hand washing. The WASH situation in many schools in Bangladesh is deplorable. A consultation with children carried as part of this proposal development on the general situation of the WASH facilities confirms the overall picture of complete absence or very limited access to toilet facilities, no or limited access to clean water, broken locks and lighting, inappropriate location of facilities and no maintenance or regular cleaning of the toilets (often contrary to the teacher's toilets, which are often cleaned by the students). A survey done by a project partner as part of the proposal development of WASH facilities in the schools in the project area reveal that while all schools have water sources on their premises, drinking water equipment is unhealthy or non-existing and toilets facilities very unhygienic. This situation heavily affects children's, in particular girls', ability to learn and hinders their attendance.

Objectives:-Improved WASH facilities in targeted schools through the use of ICT and innovative partnerships with children, youth and their organizations

Targeted Group:

� Students of 30 secondary schools in Savar, 30 School Management Committee Members.11 member's National Children taskforce (NCTF) Upazila committee and 11 member's NCTF National committee and Additionally the project will target approximately 50 local, district and national level decision makers e.g. Upazila and district education officers, standing committee members, members of Parliamentary Caucus, Parliamentary Standing Committee and Ministry of Education. Journalists will also be targeted as part of a media campaign.

Key Activities:

� Conduction of baseline study and policy analysis, Study on accessibility and Scope of use ICT by the children

� Capacity building on ICT for 60 NCTF members and 31 SMC members and teachers� Formation of 30 NCTF school committees and 01 NCTF upazila committee� Orientation for 330 NCTF members on roles and responsibilities� Training on the convention of the Rights of the children (CRC) and Hygiene Practices Promotion for

329 NCTF members� Training on Advocacy & Monitoring for 180 SMC members and teachers

Outcomes of the reporting period:

� Students are participating in decision making process regarding school annual development plan, provisioning of separate WaSH budget. Strengthened accountability of school authorities regarding worse WaSH situation discussed in SMC meeting and committed to allocate separate budget to improved WASH facilities.

� National Children Taskforce (NCTF) is advocating with school authority to address WaSH including menstrual hygiene management facilities in the school toilets

� Students participate directly in monitoring the WaSH situation of schools and students are collecting and sending information to school authority and other stakeholders on WaSH situation of schools by using ICT. Ensuring and practicing governance at school through National Children Taskforce (NCTF) & Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and feel an increased sense of empowerment for sustainable improvement.

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Story of Shimulia S. P. High SchoolICT & Innovative Partnership project is being implemented in 30 secondary schools in Savar upazila under Dhaka district. Shimulia S. P. High School is one of the schools where we are implementing activities of this project. Before the intervention the school authority expected some solid materials gains from the project and had been with a negative attitude. During the baseline survey poor WaSH situation was determined. Also found unhygienic toilet facilities and have no opportunity to use soap after defecation also there is no scope to maintenance of menstrual hygiene. During the menstrual period, girls do not attend school for lack of facilities. There is no responsible teacher for creating awareness among the students. VERC organized a meeting with SMC and teachers for sharing baseline study findings and during the meeting the school authority realized the school level WaSH situation. The SMC has given commitment to overcome this situation within short time. NCTF executive committee provided formal orientation on their roles and responsibilities under this project. Different types of training provided to NCTF members on convention of the rights of the child (CRC), Hygiene promotion practices and researcher training to children. Now the NCTF executive committee is taking different types of development initiative by discussing with the school authority. In April 2015, NCTF decided in its monthly meeting to prepare school wall magazine and discussed with the Head Teacher and hanging the school wall magazine under guidance of a responsible teacher. Reflection of School WaSH situation and talent of students are reflected in this wall magazine. Also the SMC has created provision for menstrual management in toilets of the school.

School level change

VERC is implementing ICT & Innovative Partnership project in 30 secondary schools in Savar upazila under Dhaka district. During the baseline survey, we found worse WaSH situation in all the 30 schools. Most of the toilets were not usable at all. There was no budget allocation for maintenance of the WaSH facilities. Though the students try to clean the toilets once in a week but they cannot clean the floor and toilet pan properly for want of washing ingredients, running water, equipments and for lack of proper awareness. There was no opportunity to use soap after defecation in maximum schools. There is no budget provision for maintenance of WaSH facilities. NCTF executive committee formed and provided formal orientation on roles and responsibilities in all the 30 schools. After receive this orientation NCTF executive committee raised voice with the school management committee (SMC) and they discussed with the school authority about the situation of school toilets. School authority has taken different initiatives to improve the WaSH situation. NCTF school committee has taken responsibility for cleanliness of sanitation facilities headed by a responsible teacher. 02 school authorities have established running water system in toilets and purchased soap, harpick, mug, bucket with lid, brush etc and this is now being done on regular basis and allocates separate budget for WaSH

School authorities has establishment of drinking water source for students

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Freshwater Action Network South Asia-Bangladesh (FANSA-BD)Freshwater Action Network South Asia-Bangladesh (FANSA-BD) is a major network of civil society organizations implementing and influencing water and sanitation policy and practice. Since 2001, FAN has been building national, regional and global alliances which are now gaining institutional strength. There are consortium of CSO networks in Global level with focal points in Africa, South Asia, Mexico, Central and South America. FAN South Asian regional network members - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Maldives. FANSA-Bangladesh was established in 2008 led by FANSA.

Goal: To ensure equitable WASH rights for all especially for vulnerable population by facilitating advocacy at policy level through linkage with grassroots communities where member organizations work

Objectives

� To build capacity of partners, civil societies and CBOs to advocate at policy level� To strengthen Local government institutions to play their role in ensuring WASH rights for all people� To conduct issue based study on good practices, document lessons learned� To mobilize resources in WASH sector through advocacy at grassroots level� To create scope for access to information on WASH by all.

Role of FANSA-BD: FANSA-BD works on Advocacy at policy level, Capacity building of member organizations, Strengthening LGIs, Policy research, documentation of good practices and disseminates Networking and work as WASH information hub and Resource mobilization. This year FANSA BD organized Press conference on pre and post national budget, participated CSO meeting organized

before SACOSAN-V held in Nepal, National Sanitation Task Force meeting on Advocacy for Right to Water. Initiate Study on Faecal Waste Management in Small Towns: A Critical Area for Policy Focus and Study on Traffic light paper for SACOSAN-V, and CSO meeting arranged in collaboration with WSSCC-B before HLM

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VERC has been working on health and environment since long with support from development partners and by mobilising its own resources. Main objective of the program is to ensure access to affordable health services for the poor and marginalised along with prevention of communicable diseases giving priority to mother and child health situation in working areas. Environment being an integral part of health, VERC gives emphasis on issues of environmental hazards. VERC initiatives cover MDG goals 4,5,7 and addresses 1,2,3 and 13 of SDG issues.VERC operated two full fledged hospitals in Savar and Mirsarai. People of the said areas especially children and mothers are getting health services from the hospitals. Beyond this, VERC has been implementing two Rights Based Projects to establish health rights of the poor and marginalized people in different areas of the country. The ICS program supports communities with fuel-efficient cook stoves to improve health and preventing the ongoing trend of deforestation. VERC is also active with specific interventions in building capacity across selected climate change vulnerable area people to combat the challenges in a sustainable manner.

Visible outcomes:During the reporting period the total number of patients was 13058 which was 9,546 in the previous year, the total income from these hospital was Tk. 14.13 million (Tk.1,41,36,670); expenditure was Tk.11.79 million (Tk.1,19,79,551) and net surplus was Tk.2.15 million (Tk. 21,57,119).

Under the ERHSA project areas there is a process of replication of best practices of effective Community Clinic management and service delivery system in a sustainable manner being replicated in adjoining unions in the Upazila. The Upazila Parishad and UPs are actively supporting CCs in terms of infrastructure development, improvement of services allocating fund from the annual budget. A meaningful coordination under guidance of the UP Standing committee is established for a sustainable mechanism for service delivery has been visible in the remote area.

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

40

Donors Name of the project Duration Union/Ward

Upazila/City Corporation

District

Dhaka

Chittagong

Narayanganj

Naogaon

Gazipur

Savar

Mirsarai,

Sonargaon

16 Union

2 Union

47 Union

02 Wards

2004 on going VERC Mother and Child Hospital

VERC Own Fund

IDCOL

Building Resilience of the Urban Poor (BRUP) Project

Community Capacity building to Face Challenges of Drought as an effect of Climate Change (CBFDCC) Project

Improved Cook stove(ICS) program

Strengthening the ruralhealth service at grassroot level of Bangladesh

Establish Rights to Health Services through Advocacy (ERHSA) Project

VERC Mother and Child Hospital

VERC Own Fund

Cordaid, the Netherlands

Cordaid via NCB

PKSF-CCCP

CARE, Bangladesh

January 2015- December 2017

February 2014- September 2016

1987 on going

March 2012- February 2015

January2012- December 2015

2013 on going

Abhayanagor, Shivalaya, Chirirbandar and Babuganj

Jessore, Manikganj Dinajpur, Barisal

Dhaka, Gazipur and Rajshahi,

Savar, Kaliakoir, Mohanpur and Bagmara

01 City corporation

Niamotpur04 Union

Reduced smoke related health hazards and indoor air pollution with adoption of ICS. Goat rearing in slatted house has reduced disease vulnerability of goats as such people are now more encouraged in goat rearing as an alternate source of income in the area. Campaign, awareness raising at user level, schools, UPs, has contributed in the increased number of ICS users. Training of Catalysts has been effective in installation and use and making an income for the Catalysts themselves is also visible in the areas. Mother and children in user families feel the health benefits of the technology use in terms of reduced complications of indoor air pollution. Overall impact in terms of fuel use efficiency, Carbon emission, income generation, conservation of forest resources and environment. Production and installation services are available around and people can find alternate technology options that helps them choose the affordable one for their purpose which contributes in retaining the rate of ICS users in the areas.

Community people are aware about their health rights and claiming the same from the clinics. Service providers in the Clinics and the authorities are more responsive in providing the needed service to the clients on time properly Constructions of waste water well with water point contribute ground water recharging as well as protection of the surroundings of the tube-well platform.

BRUP project is introducing effective coordination among the members of Community Development Committee (CDC), CDCs discuss existing problem issues and deciding ways to overcome in the targeted Gazipur City Corporation areas


VERC Mother & Child Hospital, Savar, Dhaka and Mirsarai, ChittagongSince early nineties, VERC had been working on mother and child health with overseas donor support and the then BPHC was one of them. The services were aimed at meeting the MCH service needs that the Government health services could not meet adequately. To this effect, VERC had a coalition with

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the GoB service providers supported by community based trained volunteers across Savar, Singair, Aminbazar etc. The efforts were successful in establishing a reputation of VERC in the area which faced a setback with the phasing out of project focused activities, Later on based on the experience, inspiration of the volunteers and demand for MCH services from the communities, VERC took initiative to organize a mechanism so that the mothers in the noted areas can have access to quality services at affordable cost. To this effect, a Mother and Child Hospital has been established in 2004 and continuing rendering services to the poor and marginalized people in Savar, Dhaka. The hospital based curative services are linked with the communities through a pool of volunteers with experienced of working with VERC for more long. This network helps ensuring ANC/PNC services, safe delivery and treatment support in general ailments. This program is now running in the area in a sustainable manner.

VERC experience and successes as noted above has encouraged VERC to extend similar service delivery mechanism in Mirsarai, Chittagong when an overseas supported health project was phased out in 2013. The present service provisions available with the hospital includes services like – ANC/PNC, normal delivery, caesarean operation, general treatment, pathology, ultra-sonogram, ECG and all kinds of easy to manage surgical operation. Health services are provided to VERC beneficiaries from these hospitals at a subsidized rate and offering grant support to deserving poor patients. To this effect, VERC staff members make a generous contribution to the subsidy fund on a regular basis.

IBIG Section is responsible for planning and managing the program as its corporate social responsibility.

Services available with Savar Hospital

Two MBBS (one consultant and one full time residential medical officer) doctors specially trained on maternal & child health is available to render outdoor services every day. For indoor treatment of patients 10 beds are available with an air conditioned operation theatre, a safe delivery room, an observation room and a post operative care room in the hospital. The hospital has also manager, counsellor, lab technicians, diploma nurses and paramedics to provide counselling to pregnant mothers, postnatal mothers and eligible couples for recommending FP methods. EPI program already started in a collaborative manner with Savar Pourasava through Savar upazila health complex. Besides this free health camps were arranged by the hospital in Savar, Dhamrai and Singair upazilas as regular activity. Every health related international and national days are also observed by the hospital.

Hospital services at a glance

Particulars July 2013 to June 2014 July 2014 to June 2015

Outdoor Services 2,684 2,673

Normal Delivery 45 65

LUCS (Caesarean Operation) 828 831

Other Operation 77 31

M.R. 35 18

D.E & C 89 73

Pathology 1,650 2,749

USG 1,562 1,791

ECG 16 08

Health Card (ANC) 973 1,434

EPI 1,587 1,445

Total 9,546 11,118

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During the reporting period, the total income from the hospital was Tk. 14.13 million (Tk.1,41,36,670); expenditure was Tk.11.79 million (Tk.1,19,79,551) and net surplus was Tk.2.15 million (Tk. 21,57,119). The total number of patients was 11,118 which was 9,546 in the previous year.

Services available with Mirsarai Hospital: The hospital proves both indoor and outdoor services to the patients coming from Mirsarai and adjoining areas. One MBBS doctor specially trained on maternal & child health is available to render outdoor services every day. There are also manager, counsellor, lab technicians, diploma nurses and paramedics to provide counselling to pregnant mothers, postnatal mothers and eligible couples for recommending FP methods.

The hospital at Mirsarai is equipped with ambulance, pathology lab and patient beds with doctors and other supporting staff.

Total Number of 1,940 patients received services during the reporting period. Out of those 1014 rceived outdoor services, normal delivery 49, caesarean operation 31, other operation 161, ultrasonography 341, pathology 291, MR 33 and D&C 20 patients.

Establish Rights to Health Services through Advocacy (ERHSA):

This project is being implemented under the Training and Communication Section with Cordaid the Netherlands support by adopting a right based approach to health services. This project is under implementation in 16 unions of 4 upazilas under Barisal, Dinajpur, Jessore and Manikgonj district. VERC has been working with this project to ensure better health services for the vulnerable people through developing an interlocked and integrated system by mobilizing the Union Parishad (UP) as the key responsible institution. Through this project VERC has capacitated the health service providers in the Community Clinic (CC) and Union Health and Family Welfare Center (UHFWC), UP, UPHSC, Press Club and Community People through training, resource mobilization, workshop and awareness rising activities very successfully in this reporting period. Partner NGOs (PNGO) were engaged to provide facilitation and technical support to the service providers, Union Parishad (UP) bodies and HWC. Health Watch Committee (HWC) has been working as a pressure group. Local press club has been working for lobby and advocacy to ensuring better health services.

Goal: Access of poor people in quality and pro-people health services and system of union level health facilities

Specific Objective-1: Ensure quality health services for vulnerable peopleStrengthen capacity of Health Watch Committee, UP chairmen, UP health standing committees and Upazila Hospital Management Committee to influence and pursue for delivery of quality health services.

Specific Objective-2: Self sustainabilityBuild capacity of the HWC, UP Chairmen, Union Education, Health and Family planning standing Committees, Community Group (CG) and TBA to continue programs after withdrawal of project support mobilizing own resources.

Specific Objective-3: Results demonstrationPursue with policy holders through field demonstration and evidenced base result for policy change at national and local level.

Specific Objective-4: Media for lobby and advocacyEngaged Civil Society/ Media people of local press club for lobby and advocacy to influence policy level for ensuring better health services

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Stakeholder wise major activities carried out during the reporting period:VERC and PNGO Staff:

In this year 01 project briefing workshop for VERC and PNGO staffs has been held where female and male ratio was 16 and 14. Similarly, 1 orientation was held with the VERC and PNGO staff on advocacy techniques and local resource mobilization where female and male ratio was 12 and 14. There were also 8 quarterly meetings held with VERC and PNGOs staff as a regular activity where sharing on project performance and follow-up of action plan, new issues, problems etc. and sharing of best practices took place, the male – female participant ratio was 14 - 14. Yearly coordination meeting was held with VERC and PNGOs project staff with focus on working out the phase out plan, the meeting had female and male ratio of 11 and 14.

Government Health and Family Planning staff: To improve the overall situation of providing health services like attitude of service providers and coordination among service providers to vulnerable people there were some activities in action plan in this reporting period. Considering the importance of coordination between the actors, a total of 2 quarterly NGO coordination meetings were held with: Revitalization of Community Health Care Initiatives in Bangladesh (RCHCIB) for sharing quarterly progress report of the community clinic, findings of the field level including the gaps observed and best practices. 8 quarterly meetings were held with the Upazila level Health and Family Planning staff in this reporting period. A total of 4 quarterly meetings with Health and Family Planning department at district level was held where the experience of working with district level for the first time was shared with best practices,

Union Parishad Health Education, Health and Family Planning Standing Committee (UEH&FPSC) and Health Watch Committee (HWC): During this reporting year; a total of 32 Bi-monthly meetings were held with HWC and UEH&FPSC to share/ review progress on annual action plan and their roles and responsibilities where the female and male ratio was 152 and 368 respectively. In the same way, a total of 48 bi-monthly coordination meetings were held with Union Development Coordination Committee for sharing and review of progress against plan of action, challenges, problems which were faced. During the period a total of 16 orientation sessions were held on coordination and resource mobilization of health Watch committee and UEH&FPSC. Also, 16 open budget declaration meetings were held during the period in the project areas. Project outcomes were incorporated in all of the 16 Union Information Centers for wider information sharing on the services, provisions and progress across the area people in general.

Traditional Birth Attendances (TBA)In this reporting year, TBAs have proved their importance and capabilities in the ERHSA project in terms of services required by the needy vulnerable pregnant women. In total, 240 TBAs were refreshed through 15 batches of training. In all, 320 TBAs attended 80 Monthly meetings for information updating about pregnant and post partum mothers to make them more skilled to support the vulnerable pregnant mothers as helping hand of local level health and family planning staff Family Welfare Visitors (FWV).

Press Club:Media is playing a vital role in promoting good practices and initiatives of development organizations.. In this case, a total of 4 orientations held with local press club members on objectives and outcomes of the ERHSA project, developed plan of action for local press clubs on lobbying and advocacy at local level and quarterly meetings with local press club held where 108 local correspondents were present (Female and Male ratio was 2 and 106).

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Staff correspondent of different media who are also member of local press club has been encouraged to publish success stories and initiatives taken by ERHSA project in their publications.

Mothers Club:Mother's club is a very important stakeholder in this project. In fact, there were many activities undertaken during the project and some of those were directly related to the mothers club. A total of 144 mother's clubs have been formed with 2160 mothers in this period. Monthly meetings were used for holding awareness session on regular basis with the mothers clubs. A total of 5040 mothers attended 720 monthly meetings in this period. This club also assisted 511 post partum women to ensure vitamin- A capsule supplementation. To save money for emergency and delivery period a total of 560 mothers received savings pot through 32 quarterly reception and welcoming events of pregnant mothers.

Community GroupCommunity Clinic is the lowest strata in the health service sector in Bangladesh. So, it was the most effective way to enhance the health services situation and increasing the health rights to vulnerable group under this project. And community group was formed for monitoring and support to the Community Clinics services. A total of 240 monthly meetings held with Community Groups where female and male ratio was 239 and 481. A total of 734 CG and SG members participated in 28 orientations. A total of 48 CC has generated fund BDT-424871.00 in 2014-2015 fiscal year for sustainability of CC.They are using the funds for purposes like - improvement of physical environment of the clinic, plantation, earthwork, purchase of medical accessories, installation of electricity connection (temporarily), buying/replacement of electric fan and bulb to ensure better service to vulnerable people,

Outcomes of ERHSA project during the reporting period:

� Abhaynagar,Upazila Parishad has taken initiative to allocate fund from its annual budget (2015-2016) for development of CCs worth Taka-120, 0000.00 (Labour bed, Oxygen cylinder and Nebulizer machine) for improvement of Community Clinic services through Press Club members advocacy and lobbying.

� Upazila Women Affairs Department staffs conduct awareness session with Mothers Club members organized by ERHSA project on demerits of early marriage, dowry and violence against women. Upazila Women Affairs Officer has been assigned by the UNO for campaigns on the noted issues of social mobilization and other promotional activities in relevant forums across the upazila

� The best practices are being replicated among the others CCs, a very positive impact being observed in outside the project unions. There are very strong and visible positive impacts in Siddhipasha, Shreedorpu , Dehergati and Jahangirnagar Union parishads in Abhaynagar and Babuganj Upazila. These unions CCs are not directly involved with ERHSA project but their representatives regularly attended the Upazila quarterly meeting. As a result in Nauli Community Clinic a total of 18 safe deliveries were performed successfully. Chairman of Siddhipasha and Shreedharpur union parishads provided two Solar panel and fan of two CCs, tube well and boundary wall of four CCs and allocates fund from annual budget on healthcare and for treatment purposes of poor patients.

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A story of an indomitable woman - MasumaMasuma Akter is a struggling woman of Sultangonj village in Dinajpur district. When Masuma was 7 years, she was attacked by a high viral fever. As a consequence of the ailment, Masuma's left leg became paralyzed slowly. Masuma was born in a poor family and her parents could not afford the costs of her proper treatment. Gradually, her friends, family and others began to learn her "disable Masuma ". When Masuma was 20 years old, she got married to Golam Mostafa of the adjoining village. Since she had physical problem, she could not choose her life partner on her own. Since Masuma's husband suffered from ailments very frequently, he could not do any work to support the family by making an income.. She recalled that she did not get proper treatment due to poverty, superstation and for lack of information. She always wanted that every child gets a healthy and happy childhood unlike her own. So, she wanted to do something for health of mothers and children of her village. Society for UDDOG formed a Mothers Club in Nafanagar Union, Sultanpur village under the project - Established Rights to Health through Advocacy (ERHSA) in 2015. Masuma was involved with this project through this club as a member. This club meeting venue was one kilometer away from Masuma's house, but she continued attending the meetings of the mothers club. It was so hard to attend every meeting for her, but she did. She wanted to know about mothers and child related health issues/ problems, health service providers so that she can also deliver that information to her villagers especially to the mothers. She also received refreshers training and orientation. Masuma used to do tailoring for making an income and bear her family expenditure. So, when women or mothers came to her tailoring house, Masuma discussed with them about mothers club, ERHSA project and the activities of the club. She also gave the government health service provider information so that they can get treatment at an affordable cost; delivery related information raised their awareness level. Sometimes, Masuma arranged awareness raising meeting with mothers and children in her courtyard. Based on observation of her efforts, Boro Sultanpur Community Clinic selected her as a member of Community Support Group. Now, Masuma deliver the information and also make the mothers and children aware on health issues and encourage them to obtain services from the Community Clinics, Satellite Clinics as well as from UH&FWC center. With the cooperation of ERHSA project, Masuma planted Basak in her compound. She is also motivating other women to undertake plantation of Basak for income and health benefit. Masuma is going forward continuously doing welfare to the cause of mothers and children's improved health despite her physical, family level and social obstacles. She never let come her physical obstacles in her work. A huge mental strength always gives her courage to serve the poor and helpless people like her.

Strengthening the rural health service at grass root level of BangladeshThe noted right based project is under implementation of WatSan & Technology Section

Project Goal: To establish health rights of rural community through improving governance of community clinics, by increasing access to quality health services and reducing child and maternal mortality.

Objective: � To improve quality, accessibility, availability and affordability of health service delivery by

strengthening the governance of the 6 community clinics management committee and 2 standing committee of the Union Parishad in selected rural areas of Bangladesh

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� To document lessons learned and good practices to disseminate and

� To conduct Lobby-advocacy jointly with other networks on TRIPS and to improve the quality of service delivery of CC to contribute to the MDG Goals 4 and 5

Major activities carried out during the reporting period:� Facilitation of 34 Community Group(CG) meeting were held during the reporting period where 374

participants were present. During the reporting period four meeting organized with active participation of local government representatives, government representatives, local elites, village committee and NGO representatives where a total number of 72 participants were present.

� In the reporting period four sessions of counseling mothers about pre and post natal care and adolescent about SRHR organized at Sonmandi and Pirozpur unions of Sonargan upazila

� An Upazila public hearing program was held at Pirojpur Union Parishad of Sonargan upazila during reporting period.

� To raise awareness program through mass mobilization on 3D i.e. delay in access to information, delay in reaching health care and delay in delivering health care a total number of six Continuation of performance of Folk Talent Groups were held during the reporting period where 840 participants were present

Visible outcomes:

Community people are aware about their health rights and claiming the same from the clinics. Service providers in the Clinics and the authorities are more responsive in providing the needed service to the clients on time properly. A meaningful coordination under guidance of the UP Standing committee is established for a sustainable mechanism for service delivery has been visible in the remote area.

Improved Cook Stoves (ICS) Program

The noted activities are under implementation of WatSan & Technology Section.

Village Education Resource Center (VERC) has been working on Improved Cookstoves Program in Bangladesh since 1987. By the time VERC has been disseminating different types of cookstove models which were developed by BCSIR (government of Bangladesh) and ARTI (India). From our experiences we have found that the Improved Cookstove can save 30-60% fuels compared with traditional ones and make the kitchen smoke free. As VERC intends to introduce improved stoves in our proposed working areas, hence it will reduce a huge amount of CO2 and this amount of CO2 can be traded in the carbon market. So the project will actively be contributed in reducing the poverty and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and where possible achieve other benefit such as improved human health and conservation of biodiversity, in sustainable manner.

Working on ICS since long, VERC has gained a good experience and also developed a skilled working force; therefore VERC is very confident to undertake any kinds of assignment under any circumstance in Bangladesh.

Goal of the ICS program: Disseminate Improved Cooks Stoves to improve health for mother and children.

Objectives:� Reduce IAP for improvement of health especially mother and children � Protect environment by reducing CO2 emissions and deforestation � Mobilize the community for ICS promotion and use

Use ICS - Ensure smoke free kitchen

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VERC-IDCOL ICS project: This is a nationwide project to disseminate 3 million ICSs through partner NGOs by July; 2018.As a partner of IDCOL, VERC was assigned initially for 4 clusters and targeted to sale 12000 ICSs. To address this target VERC has undertaken the following activities to achieve it.

Major activities carried out during the reporting period: � Orientation on ICS for IBIG and ICS team � Construction, distribution and installation of 3506 ICS � Develop IEC and BCC materials on ICS� Established four Production Center in four Clusters� Developed ICS mould and all necessary equipment testing of modified mould and provide mason

training.

In addition to the above noted activities, two types of field trial of selected technology options was carried out at the field level during the period

Commercial pilot and field testing of Multi-Fuel Stove (MFS): VERC with the support of PRAKTI conducted field testing on multi-fuel stove. The ultimate aim of this collaboration on MFS development, field testing, and commercial piloting is to build a foundation for fully commercializing and scaling distribution of improved Prakti cook stoves in Bangladesh.

Pilot Field Level ICS testing in different areas of Bangladesh: With the support of The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstove VERC and Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Limited (RREL) jointly pilot the project at Dhaka Rajshahi and Khulna division. Main objective of the project is to pilot field level ICS testing in different areas of Bangladesh and develop a business model.

Visible outcomes: Campaign, awareness raising at user level, schools, UPs, has contributed in the increased number of ICS users. Training of Catalysts has been effective in installation and use and making an income for the Catalysts themselves is also visible in the areas. Mother and children in user families feel the health benefits of the technology use in terms of reduced complications of indoor air pollution. Overall impact in terms of fuel use efficiency, Carbon emission, income generation, conservation of forest resources and environment. Production and installation services are available around and people can find alternate technology options that helps them choose the affordable one for their purpose which contributes in retaining the rate of ICS users in the areas.

Community Capacity building to Face Challenges of Drought as an effect of Climate Change (CBFDCC) Project: This project is under implementation of WatSan & technology Section with PKSF support.This is a 33 months project started in January 2014 with the objectives of building capacity of the people to combat with drought caused due to climate change by undertaking appropriate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation mechanism

Key objective of this project is to build capacity of the people to combat with drought caused due to climate change by undertaking appropriate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation mechanisms.


� Beneficiary Selection and profile preparation of 2640 people, Group Formation-106, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment-106.

� Capacity building of 7 Staffs on TOT on DRR, Livelihood protection, ICS technology and Participatory vulnerability mapping, Conduct training for capacity building of 313 targeted people on drought risk management and risk reduction. Training for tube well mechanics and care takers to

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17 persons on repair and maintenance of 17 tube wells.. Training and technical support conducted to 149 households on Goat/Sheep rearing by slatted housing system.

� Increase safe water coverage among 1877 beneficiaries by installing 49 Tara pump/Tara dev head

� A total of 855 beneficiaries covered through installation of 80 Sustainable and Hygienic latrine.

Reduction of indoor air pollution and contributes to carbon emission a total of 700 Improved Cook stoves installed benefiting 3360 peoples.

� Provide technical and financial support to 126 Households to build slatted house for goat/sheep rearing.

Visible outcomes:

� Reduced smoke related health hazards and indoor air pollution using ICS. Goat rearing in slatted house has reduced disease vulnerability of goats as such people are now more encouraged in goat rearing as an alternate source of income in the area.

� Construction of waste water wells with water point contributes to ground water recharging as well as protection of the surroundings of the tube-well platform.

Building Resilience of the Urban Poor (BRUP) Project

This project is under implementation of Training &Communication Section with Care BD support

The Building Resilience of the Urban Poor (BRUP) implemented by Village Education Resource Center (VERC) supported by CARE Bangladesh and funded by C&A Foundation under implementation in Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) from January 2015 and scheduled to continue till September 2017. The overall goal of the project is to enhance resilience of targeted urban communities and institutions to get prepared for, mitigation, response to and recover from shocks and stresses. The project is working with people in 06 vulnerable communities residing in 02 wards (Tongi-55 and Konabari-12) of GCC. Some of the key interventions include formation and capacity building of community platform, women groups and children on different issues; formation and capacity building of Disaster Volunteers; risk assessment and risk reduction action plan; strengthening disaster management committees; mock drill/simulation; forum theater; capacity building of Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) personnel; livelihood training and support; research and advocacy on emerging issues etc.

Overall Goal Enhanced resilience of six targeted urban communities and three targeted institutions, reaching a total of 8,000 individuals (directly and indirectly) who can prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from shocks and stresses.

Objective 1: 8,000 urban individuals (direct 2,000 and indirect 6,000) in six communities have enhanced resilience strategies to prepare for, mitigate, respond to and recover from shocks

Objective 2:

300 poor and extremely poor women in the six targeted communities are empowered to become better risk managers at the household and community levels, influencing decision-making related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

Tube well with underground recharging well

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Objective 3: Enhanced capacity and responsiveness of three targeted institutions to provide services to the communities to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from shocks and stresses.

Activities carried out during the reporting period:

Community Mobilization

Since inception of the project when the staffs were recruited, they started rapport building and making communication with the residents of the slums. After rapport building with the communities and GO and NGOs, with the technical support of CARE SALT team, VERC has provided necessary support in developing Risk and Resource Map (RRM) and Well Being Analysis(WBA) by using PRA tools. The Risk and Resource Map (RRM) and WBA of the six slums have been completed successfully. According to the RRM and WBA 29.65% HH is extreme poor, 41.03% poor, 19.11% lower middle class 7.05% middle class and 3.14 represents the rich category. During this period, household profile formats are being filled up in this phase at the field level. In total 1601 HH profiles are completed out of 2098 HHs for 6 targeted slums.

Community Development Committee (CDC):

A prime vehicle and umbrella bodies of the community

This project has build community based leaders who will identify their problem and plan for and respond to natural and manmade disasters. In order to that effect, VERC has mobilized the communities and provided technical support to form the Community Development Committee (CDC) as the core CBO under the project. In total 02 meetings were held for CDC formation in a participatory manner. In total 06 no's CDCs is comprising of 78 members including 44 (57% of total member) women to act as an important part in each of the targeted communities. In total 14 CDC monthly meetings were held in six communities where 151 participants were present.

EKATA (Empowerment, Knowledge and Transformative Action) is women led influential and powerful group at the community level

Women Empowerment is another main focus of the project and addresses this issue EKATA group has been formed in the respective six communities. EKATA (Empowerment, Knowledge and Transformative Action) is another most pro-active group of those women who were poor but most active and influential for the project. Each EKATA group comprise of 30 female. During this reporting period a total of 12 EKATA groups have been formed with 360 members. In total 31 EKATA fortnightly meetings have been organized in this reporting period where 819 members were present. Intensive and participatory discussions about the responsibilities of EKATA members, linkages with other groups, different socio- economic problems and condition etc, were discussed in the meetings.

Information Hub A place of vast information at the community

Within the communities of the project areas a big knowledge gap exists on available services and mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of natural and manmade disasters. Considering the situation,

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VERC has established six information hubs in six communities, which will provide residents with information on service provisions and strategies for coping with risks and vulnerabilities. So, the hubs are acting as various purposes of the community like source of information, female gathering, child gathering etc. as their own. Beside this purpose, this hub is also used as meeting venue of all the groups where the members feel free to discuss issues and feels an ownership.

Ward Disaster Management Committees (WDMC) is act affiliated institute of the City Corporation (CC)WDMCs act as affiliated bodies as the umbrella institution for providing tertiary level support and gradually shouldering the responsibility and the results of the project. To this effect, the project personnel made efforts to build effective relationship with the members of these two committees and finally able to form and revitalizing the WDMC. In this way, to enhance the government initiative during this period a total of 02 Ward Disaster Management Committees (WDMC) have been formed at Konabari (12 no ward) and Tongi(55 no ward) under GCC. Through a participatory process, 50 members (25 in each WDMC) have been selected representing the whole ward.

Day observance: Awareness building event

This event presents an opportunity to create awareness on the themes and significance of each day. During this reporting period the National Disaster Preparedness Day, International women's Day and International Day for Disaster Reduction 2015 were observed with the Gazipur District Commissioner Office in collaboration with all the NGOs who are working in Gazipur district. Before observed this day, preparatory meetings were held with different stakeholders. According to the meeting decisions - the Fire Service and Civil Defense arranged a mock drill on earthquake and fire.

Outcomes of BRUP project during the reporting period:

For effective coordination among the members of CDC, they are organizing monthly meetings regularly. CDCs discussed existing problem issues and made decisions regarding ways to overcome. During this reporting period, different agendas were discussed in these meetings including responsibilities of the members, linkages with other groups, waste management in their residential areas with the support of municipal authorities, etc. They have established powerful linkage and coordination with the other groups of the project like Child Forum, EKATA group (women led group), Ward Disaster Management Committee and others GO and NGOs. CDC members are playing the role of community/social leader for building resilience in urban slum communities

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VERC is implementing Micro Finance Program with the disadvantaged and underprivileged poor people particularly with women as per the program strategy. VERC is also reaching the poor ethnic minority to fulfil the demographic coverage goal with Micro Finance Program for overcoming their helplessness, dependency and deprivation in the society. From the very beginning of initiating Micro Finance Program, VERC is expanding the areas and coverage of people gradually in the remote and isolated areas of Bangladesh with a view to outreach coverage and the sustainability of the organization as well. The program sector is contributing to VERC in attaining self-financing status in terms of contribution from the surplus (Tk. 24,80,000 in the reporting year). Besides, the area expansion and population coverage, VERC is increasing multidimensional lending service delivery system by opening different wings gradually keeping relevance with the market demand and ensuring access to comparatively big size of investment amount in the rural and urban micro economy sectors. It has introduced new dimensions of investment in agriculture with a view to contribute in making agriculture a more dynamic sector of development and emphasizing on health service sector empowering people to demand service from relevant service giving agencies. At the same time, VERC is providing skill development training in agriculture other income generating trades along with leadership development, human rights and awareness raising training to the loan recipients prior to starting income generating activities.

Credit and training support to people in program areas have enabling communities on maintaining environmental hygiene, proper composting in pits, through hygienic disposal of garbage in fixed places so that contamination can be prevented, along with vermicompost skill, pesticide free vegetable production by using pheromone trap, the wastes are now turned into resources contributing to increased crop production and increased income as well as health and nutrition. Large scale extension in the area has made benefits accessible to more and more farmers in the program areas. Insurance coverage is benefiting both the organization itself and beneficiaries in terms of recovery support on unexpected death of beneficiaries and their families, also in case of cattlehead morbidity and death.

LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT

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Goal

To create a community force capable of planning, operating and managing need based development programs to overcome the socio-economic problems associated with poverty and improving socio-economic status.

Objective

To raise the economic status of the poor people by engaging them in income generating activities and consequently make them self-reliant and improving their social status.

VERC believes that without a positive change of the economic status of the poor people all types of development activities will prove to be futile and from this reality based feelings, VERC started Micro Finance program in selected locations of the country in 1982. VERC obtained PKSF Partnership in 1996 and Micro-Credit Regulatory Authority (MRA) awarded membership for operating credit program as per rules of the Government in 2006. VERC operates all of its Micro Finance programs in 2,014 villages of 281 unions under 51 Upazilas of 15 districts in Bangladesh. The program is managed by 563 staffs working under 60 branches spreading across the country.

Main activities carried out in each specific program in brief

Sl No Program Name

1. Jagoron

2. Agrosor

3. Sufolon

4. Buniad

5. Sahos

6. Kuwait Goodwill Fund (KGF) for the Promotion of Food Security in Islamic Countries Program

7. Agriculture Unit and Livestock Unit

8. Enhancing Resources and Increasing Capacities of Poor Households Towards Elimination of their Poverty (ENRICH) Program

9. Developing Inclusive Insurance Sector (DIISP) Project

10. UPP-Ujjibito project

1. Jagoron Program

Jagoron loan provides means for the poor families to take small loans to help them to be engaged in productive activities or to expand their small business. Thus it can help the poor to increase income, build viable business and reduce their vulnerability to external shocks. It is also a powerful instrume nt for self-employment by enabling the poor, especially women, to become income earners and agents of change. The clients of Jagoron Program are low-income persons who do not have access to formal financial institutions. Till June 2015, the number of Members was 66,613 in 4,400 groups; No. of

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Borrowers–45,496; Loan Outstanding (portfolio) Tk. 504.42 million (Tk.50,44,23,466); Savings Outstanding- Tk.236.79 million (Tk.23,67,99,463); and the recovery rate was 99.93%.

2. Agrosor Program

VERC observed that there are many small entrepreneurs, small and medium scale market based businessmen and skilled workers in the rural and semi urban areas in Bangladesh who are struggling to expand their business due to lack of capital. Based on the realization, VERC has been lending Agrosor loan products in addition to its Mainstream Micro Finance to meet the demand of the large number of clients. VERC Micro Enterprise lending products also covers previous borrowers of the Mainstream Jagoron program who have been successful in generating income by establishing different profitable schemes and made their production/scheme responsive to the market who have proven track of successfully passing several loan cycles. The status of members till June 2015 is 7,919 No. of Borrowers- 6,638; Loan Outstanding (portfolio)-is Tk. 360.16 million (Tk.36,01,60,182); Savings Outstanding amounts to Tk. 115.55 million (Tk. 11,55,51,938); and the recovery rate is 99.86%.

3. Sufolon Program

Through the implementation of micro finance activities, VERC has observed that most of the beneficiaries are involved in agriculture based seasonal activities. They face financial crisis for agricultural production purpose. As a result they are not getting expected output. To increase their production and make them financially well off, VERC has initiated to implement the Sufolon program. VERC firmly beli eves that this is a part of multi-dimensional microfinance activities assisting the farmers in due time with positive outcome. Till June 2015, No. of borrowers is 10,839; Loan Outstanding (portfolio) is Tk. 207.20 million (Tk.20,72,04,161) and the recovery rate is 99.92%.

Beef fattening activity is gaining popularity among the borrowers for making income can be mentioned as an outcome of Sufolon program. Eidul-Azha requires supply of a huge number of cattle heads for sacrifice as a result the price of cattle heads escalates in the markets. In the context of seasonal crisis, fattening has become popular across communities and to this effect; VERC offers financial support to interested borrowers to make an income. This is now a popular way of making seasonal income across the program areas and the demand for support is gradually increasing every year.

4. Buniad Program

The people who can't fulfil their basic needs, having no permanent address, with little or no education and health support and not having little access to social benefits are known as Buniad. Most of these Buniad members are floating. So it is difficult to or ganize them as sustainable groups. VERC is trying to identify these people for group formation, supporting them for income generating activities and introduce them to social values since October 2005. Under Buniad program, 2,485 Buniad members received

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training support on various issues. In addition, in order to building up their capacity, VERC imparts training to them on various IGA and social issues. Till June 2015, number of members stood at 5,839; and borrowers 3,851; Loan Outstanding (portfolio) amount is Tk. 26.13 million (Tk.2,61,38,198); Savings Outstanding is Tk. 10.89 million (Tk.1,08,93,434) and Recovery Rate is 99.99%.

5. Sahos Program

The loans that are distributed among the poor families who are affected by man made as well as natural disaster are termed as VERC Sahos Program. Sahos Program means when the loan distributed among the enrolled members from disaster management in response to their demand for disaster preparedness, in times of disaster and for the post-disaster period recovery purposes. A borrower can take further loan as disaster management loan in disaster period though he/she has a regular unpaid or partially paid loan under the program on the condition of no overdue instalment remains pending.

In case of disaster preparedness loans the purposes are preparation for tackling disaster, fulfilling demand for food and basic livelihood related goods, for purchasing life saving drugs, for repairing of damaged house, latrine and for tube well repairing or reinstallation and for rehabilitation activities. After disaster, the borrowers can take disaster management loan. Under this program, beneficiaries can take a maximum of Tk. 10,000 as loan at a time. The duration of this loan is 12 months and service charge is 4% per year. Till June 2015 number of borrowers was 32; Loan Outstanding (portfolio) is Tk. 22,328; and Recovery Rate is 100%.

6. Kuwait Goodwill Fund (KGF) for Promotion of Food Security in Islamic Countries ProgramThe goal of Kuwait Goodwill Fund (KGF) is promotion of food security in Islamic Countries by creating scope of distributing loan as per need for agriculture and agriculture related activities like - food production, preservation and market promotion for food and livelihood security. Its objectives are to make use of modern, effective and sustainable agricultural technology related knowledge and implement it in agriculture sector for increasing production to meet food deficiency reduction targets in the country.

Enrolled members of Jagoron program, Agrosor program and Sufolon program of VERC will be eligible for receiving this loan. This project has two sub components. 1) Loan support, 2) Capacity building and technical support. Till June 2015 no. of borrowers was 4,350; amount of loan outstanding is Tk. 119.40 million (Tk. 11,94,04,600) and recovery rate is 99.98%.

Outcomes

Capacity building training with technology support being offered from VERC in Bholahat, Shibganj, and Singair Upazilas of the country is propmoting USG (Urea Super Granule) for rice cultivation. This has brought down the use of Urea from 35% – 40% ensuring continuity of nitrogen supply and increased production up to 20%. VERC also provides applicator for Urea deep placement in the field in the effort. The activities under the Livestock Unit has ensured reduced mortality rate (33% compared to the previous year .57%) in cattleheads through free vaccination and low-cost deworming. To enhance the capacity of beneficiaries 2 batches tailoring training imparted among 50 female participats. After 30 days training' every participant received sewing mchine, accesories, cash and 20 yeards of clothes. All the participants are earning from home based tailoring activities on customer choice, acts as backyard service providers to Garments factories according to demand placed time to time, sews dress of female customers as per choice and order from the neighbourhood.

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7. Agricultural Unit and Livestock UnitFrom the experience of implementing various agro-based projects and programmes, VERC observed that agricultural production cannot be augmented without channelling technological and capacity building supports along with credit facility to the farmers. With this reality, VERC has established "Agriculture Unit" from October 2013 for extending sustainable agricultural technologies and services to the door-steps of marginal and small farmers with a view to increasing agricultural production as well as ensuring food security. During the reporting period 3 block demonstration has been established by providing 100 porous pipes, 1600 pheromone traps and, 1600 kg Urea Super Granule (USG) to the farmers. In addition, result demonstrations has been undertaken in order to popularize high yielding zinc enriched variety of BRRIdhan 62 and summer tomato. Similarly, a specific method demonstration on compost preparation has been established in order to inspire using of bio-fertilize. 75 demonstrations have been established to enhance native fish culture along with vegetables cultivation.

Livestock unit demonstrated improved technologies on goat rearing, dairy milk production, beef fattening & vermicompost production, fodder production among selected beneficiaries during this period. There were in total 194 demonstrations at Singair upazila under Manikgonj district and Dhamrai upazila under Dhaka district.

Outcomes

The training has enabled community people in 15 Unions of 3 Upazilas (Dhamrai and Singair) on maintaining environmental hygiene through hygienic disposal of garbage in fixed places so that contamination can be prevented, along with vermicompost skill training and they have started using the wastes as green manure through proper composting in pits. The wastes are now turned into resources contributing to increased crop production and increased income. The skill traning and its demonstration impact have aroused interest in significant number of farmers to produce and make use of the manure for increased agricultural production. The other important technology based skill training in the above noted area is for pesticide free vegetable production by using pheromone trap. During the reporting period, a total of 200 in 8 batches have been conducted along with field based demonstration was organized. The outcome includes availability of insecticide free vegetable in the area attracting whole sellers offering better price to the farmers and the pheromone trap technology is also on large scale extension in the area to make it accessible to more and more farmers in the program areas. This is benefiing the consumers as well as the farmers in terms of increased income, health and nutrition. This is also being applied in case of mango orchard in Bholahat and Shibganj areas.

8. ENRICH ProgramENRICH is a program conducted at the grassroots level focusing for overall household development of the poor. The programme targets poor families, working with them to enhance and maximize the utilization of their resources and skills. ENRICH aims to alleviate poverty not only through income generation but through a holistic approach targeting other crucial aspects of human life including health, education, youth development, community development, etc, the goal being sustainable development driven by the people themselves.

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By working with selected households in association with the local government and committed stakeholders, ENRICH catalyses the households' efforts to lift them out of poverty. The overall goal of the programme is to ensure human dignity and freedom by gradually reducing poverty in a sustainable manner, towards total elimination at the household and community level in a union.

VERC is implementing ENRICH program in Laxmanpur union under Monohorgonj upazila of Comilla district. During the reporting period 3 general health camps, a special eye camp, 145 static clinic and 35 sattelite clinics have been organised. Beside this 24 education centers have been set up and 582 students are continuing education in class I and II.

Outcomes

Out of 339 pregnant women 202 received ANC support, 91 had safe delivery support and 83 received PNC support from the project. Besides, the project organized special eye camp through which 124 patients had been offered treatment support and 6 were given cataract surgery support.

9. Developing Inclusive Insurance Sector (DIISP) Project

The project goal is to reduce the vulnerability and improve welfare of the poor through improved access to reliable and affordable institutional risk mitigation services by micro insurance, building upon the existing risk mitigation services. The objective of the project is to protect the livelihoods of poor households, especially women, from risks such as accidents, illness, theft or natural disasters- to secure their welfare and productive or unproductive assets through the development of low-cost inclusive insurance services by micro insurance.

Project activities are divided into four components-

1. Microcredit Insurance: VERC is providing Microcredit Insurance services to the borrowers from October 2013. Under this insurance policy till 30 June 2015 number of 1,30,270 borrower took policy and premium collected was Tk. 19.85 million. Claim paid was Tk. 6.23 million among 375 policy holders and fund balance was Tk.13.62 million.

2. Hospital Cash Benefit Insurance (HCB): Under this component policyholder and his/her insured family members are entitled to receive hospital cash benefit if any insured person is hospitalized for more than 24 hours. In that case Tk. 200 per day is given as cash benefit for a maximum of 30 days, excluding the first day. Policy holder has to pay Tk 250 as premium for one year to obtain a HCB policy. The HCB policy is optional for the members with provision yearly renewal. Up to June 2015, the number of policy holders is 1,020, the amount of premium collected is Tk. 2, 55,000. Amout of claims met amounts to Tk. 1, 24,950 and the fund balance is Tk. 1,30,050.

3. Paramedic Services: Under this component, a member has to pay Tk.80 as premium for one year to get Paramedic Services. Up to June 2015 total number of 4014 benificiaries got treatment, moreover 3262 beneficiaries received services provided by specialized doctors. At that time service charge collected was Tk. 0.71 million.

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4. Livestock Insurance: To obtain this policy the borrower has to pay 0.7% of loan amount as premium to get their cattle insured for the loan period. In the last financial year (July'14 to June'15) the amount of premium collected was Tk. 1.15 million and claim paid was Tk. 0.37 million. Up to June 2015 livestock Insurance fund balance is Tk. 2.65 million.

Oucomes

Organization and beneficiaries are mutually benefited in terms of recovery support on unexpected death of beneficiaries and their families.Opportunities created for the hardcore poor obtaining better treatment from renowned hospital. Health burden reduced as health services rendered by doctors are now available at the door-step at an affordable cost.

10. UPP-Ujjibito project

For reducing poverty and hunger of women headed and vulnerable ultra poor families VERC took initiatives through this project in the selected areas of Rajshahi district. Expected results of this project are: 1) women beneficiary and their families have the means to enjoy a standard of living 2) health and physical well-being of women beneficary and their families has significantly and sustainably enhanced 3) for enhanced empowerment and participation in society of women beneficary and their family members. Under the project, to enhance the capacity of beneficiaries, during the reporting period, VERC has imparted training on vegetable production to 25 members, vermi compost to 25 members, handicrafts to 25 members, tailoring training to 50 members and goat rearing training to 50 members. Besides these, during the reporting period supports have been under this project includes - Seed distribution-60 kgs, Vaccination (Goat) - PPR- 500, Vaccination (Poultry)-RDV-500, Vaccination (Poultry)-BCRDV-500, Deworming-500, Goat rearing firm- 5 and Vermi compost plant-5.

Outcomes

Through the project, poverty and hunger in 496 women headed families .experiencing a gradual reduction. Mother and child health awareness is increasing among the project beneficieries, 98 pregnant mothers received ANC service and 80 mothers received PNC services. A total of 49 malnourished children were identified in the area who were gived counselling support and the nutritional status of 24 has already improved.

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Total Program Implementation at a glance (Up to June 2015)


No. of Branches 52 60No. of Districts Covered 15 15No. of Upazilas Covered 43 51No. of Unions Covered 192 281No. of Villages 1,415 2,014No. Staff Involved (Operation) 463 563Total No. of Group/Samity 5,533 6,329Total No. of Members 73,151 84,035Total No. of Borrowers 63,450 66,824No. of Borrower (Cumulative) 0.52 Million (5,26,651) 0.61 Million (6,13,766)Disbursement Amount (Yearly) Tk 1,905.31 Million (Tk 190,53,18,000) Tk 2,257.77 Million (Tk 225,77,75,000)Disbursement Amount (Cumulative) Tk 9,310.93 Million (Tk 931,09,37,000) Tk 11,564.66 Million (Tk 1156,46,63,000)Realizable Amount (Yearly) Tk 1,767.50 Million (Tk 176,75,00,684) Tk 2,068.66 Million TK 206,86,66,068Realized Amount (Yearly) Tk 1,760.39 Million (Tk 176,03,99,532) TK 2,060.04 Million TK 206,00,40,643Realized Amount (Cumulative) Tk 8,287.25 Million (Tk 828,72,53,168) Tk 10,347.31 Million TK 1034,73,10,065Loan Outstanding (Portfolio) Tk 1,023.68 Million (Tk 102,36,83,832) Tk 1,217.35 Million (Tk 121,73,52,935)Savings Balance Tk 309.74 Million (Tk 30,97,48,854) Tk 373.90 Million (Tk 37,39,06,791)Insurance Balance Tk 25.41 Million (Tk 2,54,19,432) Tk 28.25 Million (Tk 2,82,52,727)Recovery rate 99.91% 99.92%

Yearly Active Member of Total MicroFinance Program

2000

-01

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

2010

-11

2011

-12

2012

-13

2013

-14

2014

-15

2000

-01

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

2010

-11

2011

-12

2012

-13

2013

-14

2014

-15

2000

-01

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

2010

-11

2011

-12

2012

-13

2013

-14

2014

-15

2000

-01

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

2010

-11

2011

-12

2012

-13

2013

-14

2014

-15

90000 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000

0

40000000350000003000000025000000200000001500000010000000

50000000

1.4E+09

1.2E+09

1E+09

80000000

80000000

40000000

20000000

0

12000000100000008500000060000000400000001000000020000000

0

Active Member

Yearly saving balance of Total MicroFinance Program

Savings Balance

Yearly Net surplus of Total Micro

Net Surplus

Yearly Portfolio of Total Micro Finance Program

Loan Outstanding

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Gradually own fund source is increasing with increased surplus fund which is 33%. Member's contribution is also 25%.

Agriculture Advice Center: VERC operated two Agriculture Advice Center at Singair upazila under manikganj district and Dhamrai upazila under Dhaka district to solve farmer's problem instantly and timely informing farmers on upcoming hazards.

Collaboration and networking done during the reporting periodVERC has been taking part in PKSF organized workshops/trainings that are useful in enhancing the level of efficiency in staff members and making interventions more output oriented. Participation in the Exhibition that was held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka was a scope for wider dissemination/exchange of experience of working with the poor and marginalized.

IBIG contribution in terms of CSR: The Micro-Credit Regulatory Authority of the Government of Bangladesh has been asking the NGOs working on micro-credit in the country to make contribution towards meeting the social development needs of the poor and marginalized people. This is necessary to help the poor and marginalized people securing a better living through increased access to employment and income and livelihood support including WaSH, health and education whereby organizational efforts will contribute in achieving the MDG targets. IBIG program of VERC is making contribution from its CSR allocation towards social development in different areas of the country supporting interventions on education, health, ICS and has been supportinga pilot initiative of VERC in developing an integrated total development approach program in a union in Kaliakoir. The contribution amounts to Tk 18,36,000 for the reporting year and the total of till date contribution stands at Tk.87,77,528 (excluding stipend for education progr.).

VERC Sambhar: VERC has started a showroom inside VERC campus with the products of it's beneficiaries who are involved with various IGA project implementation since 2012. The beneficiaries take loan from VERC and they produce colorful and quality products. But they need market access to get right price of their products. In the context, VERC started a showroom for marketing of the products by creating market linkage with the customers and buyers. Tk. 7,00,000 (seven lacs) has been invested from the service charges of VERC micro-finance program as preliminary working capital for VERC Sambhar.

Source of funds up to June 2015

Source Amount (In Tk) Percentage

PKSF 49,89,99,999 33%

Surplus Fund 48,77,50,798 33%

Member's Savings 37,39,06,791 25%

Bank Loan 6,25,00,000 4%

Insurance Fund 2,82,52,727 2%

Others 4,25,18,367 3%

Total 149,39,28,682 100%

SOURCE OF FUNDS UP TO JUNE 2015

StandardBank

Standard Bank

Others

Others

InsuranceFund

Insurance Fund

SurplusFund

Surplus Fund

Member'sSavings

Member's Savings

PKSF

PKSF

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Case Study

Sabina Akter lives in Uttar Kanchanpur - a village under Kaliakoir upazila of Gazipur district. She is a member of VERC Dhamsona branch. Her husband's name is Md. Shawkat Ali. Five years ago Shawkat Ali went to Saudi Arabia through a broker. But he could not stay there for not being able to manage any job and had to come back to his village. He had no income to run the family. Sabina Akter had a hard time raising her family and giving her 6 years old son even a patchy education. To get rid of the crisis,

she and her husband started working in a hat making factory. But the income was so poor that they could not lead their four member's family including an old and sick mother-in-law. After a few months, she hired a sewing machine by Tk.100 per day and started to make hat in her house and her husband started selling them at door-steps. Though her hats were huge in demand in the market but she could not produce as per demand due to lack of sufficient capital.

One day she could know about VERC micro-credit program from a VERC staff

and decided to join as a member of suchana mohila samity by making weekly savings @ Tk. 10. After three weeks of membership she received Tk. 10,000 as 1st loan for purchasing a sewing machine and some clothes. Every month Sabina was able to produce one thousand hats with the new machine and she made a monthly net income of Tk. 10,000. She repaid the loan by regular instalment and weekly savings increased by Tk. 50 per week. On the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th times she received Tk. 25,000, Tk. 40,000 and Tk. 50,000 under jagoron program as credit accordingly for hat production. At last she received the 5th loan of Tk. 1,00,000 for the same business under agrosor program. Now about 5,000 hats are being produced in a month and her monthly income has increased by Tk. 30,000. Ten female workers are working in her factory and all are earning about Tk. 7,000 to Tk. 10,000 as per production capacity. The workers are also making contribute to their families from their income.

Sabina Akter establishes herself as a successful entrepreneur with her hat production business. At present she has eight sewing machines. Her products are excellence in quality and its are being sold in VERC's show room (VERC Sambhar) and reputed shopping mall in Savar and Dhaka. She has a tin shed building, hygienic latrine and a tubewell for safe water in her yeard. Her only son is going to school and reading in class iii. Sabina thinks that in near future it is possible for her to create a big factory and export her products. Three more factory of same product has been situated around sabina's factory getting inspation from her.

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Since its emergence VERC has been emphasizing people's participatory sustainable human development and capacity building of the development actors as facilitators and to institutionalize the lessons learnt from the development process that has been clearly enumerated in VERC's Mission statement and Strategy. In accordance with that the Training Program of VERC has been addressing its mission and strategy.

Training Program set the goal to enhance human potential, change the attitude and develop commitment of development actors at different levels to enable them to contribute in the development sectors. Accordingly, transfer the skill and knowledge, enhance human and institutional/ organizational capacity undertook series of capacity building activities since its inception.

Training Program has not only developed the capacity of VERC program staff, it also plays a key role in capacitating relevant government staff, LGI representatives and other NGO staff in order to contribute in the development sectors, particularly in the fields of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion; Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation; Governance; Gender awareness; Human Rights; Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Basic ToT, Motivation and Facilitation, Child Rights Programming, Child Protection,; Disaster Preparedness and Management; Community Mobilization, Education; Advocacy and Process Promotion; Early childhood development, Non formal Education, Primary Health Care, Nutrition, Micro Finance and Small & Medium Entrepreneurship Development. A total of 532,546 participants received training since inception of the organization. During 2014 - 2015 the Program has covered 18230 participants and the participants have turned into efficient contributors in the development process in multiple ways.

Contract Training during the reporting period:

Training & Communication program staff conducted 04 Refresher training on Hygiene, Sanitation and Water Supply for 124 Community Organizers; HYSAWA Orientation, WaSH and Cross-Cutting Issues

CAPACITY BUILDING

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for 399 UP Members; Refreshers training on HYSAWA Approach, Public Procurement and Accounting for 41 UP Secretaries and 74 UP representatives (UP Chairmen, Secretary and Cheque signatory Female Members) attended Refreshers training on Financial Management financed by HYSAWA Fund Management.

On the other hand conducted Training on Community Mobilization and Facilitation for Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of DAE, Veterinary Field Assistant of DLS and Field Assistant of DoF of government staffs financed by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). A total of 148 participants participated in the course. In total 786 persons received training on contract basis in 32 batches during the reporting period. VERC has developed the 5 days training module on Community Mobilization and Facilitation under guidance and assistance of the Training Consultant of IAPP of FAO for the noted training assignment.

Outcomes of contract training of the reporting period:� The Section has earned an income of Tk. 4,590,695.00 by imparting contract training to partners in

the country during the reporting period and the amount of contribution to the General Fund amounts to Tk 814,622.00.

� The module that was developed for FAO - IAPP supported training for the Department of Agriculture Extension staff is now an outcome to be made available for similar other development extension service capacity building initiatives to be taken up in the country by other actors.

� The training has enabled the GoB department of Agr. Extension to take the innovations of 15 – 20 years to the farmers level that has become visible in actions like adoption of vermi-culture and making use of organic manure for safe crop production, homestead gardening for making substantial income and nutrition at household level

� The effectiveness and other efficiencies could satisfy the objectives of the service seeking organizations which was helpful for VERC to draw attention of the agencies/departments to offer further assignments to VERC

� Union Parishads have become more efficient in making public procurement as per GoB procurement regulations and in holding meetings in effective manner as visible outcomes of the training support it gained through HYSAWA Fund Management training project.

Training support to VERC projects during the reporting period:

During the reporting year, various VERC projects were supported through the capacity building of 17444 staff and stakeholders in 798 batches of various training courses. On WatSan and Technology program 228 batches of training imparted where 4464 participants took part. On various education program issues 304 batches of training imparted and 5539 participants took part. Training on Livelihood program imparted 171 batches of training and 4717 participants took part. Health and Environment program imparted 95 batches of training and 2724 participants have been covered through these training. The noted number of training participants includes 1016 LGI representatives across different projects.

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Outcomes of project training of the reporting period:

� The impact on WaSH interventions across the sector has gained a good facilitation support in promoting hygiene practice as outcome of skills installed in the program staff members through training on program capacity building at the community level and LGIs.

� The visibility of interventions at grass roots level and vibration of grass roots voice for changes at the policy level are the outcomes of VERC program staff capacitated through skill training imparted on community mobilization and community empowerment for sustainable development.

� Staff members engaged in education program has gained the skills that are needed to make interpersonal communication, establish effective linkage with education department officials at the Upazila level, teachers and volunteers to make program interventions successful.

� Training activities in Livelihood (IBIG) Program has visibly reduced the rate of mistakes that were being detected in recent years by Audit farms including PKSF auditors.

� The staff members working under Livelihood Development (IBIG) Program are more integrated with multi-sectoral development interventions as outcome of exposure to integrated program approach compared to recent past.

� Training support to LGIs and members of Education, Health and Family Planning Standing committee has been effective in terms of support to community people in accessing GoB services and improving the quality is now visible n intervention areas compared to the pre-intervention stages.

� Service seeking behavior in grass roots people has undergone change, now they have started turning to GoB service points and personnel for health and MCH services as outcome of training imparted to service providers and CBOs at the grass roots level.

Staff development training in other organizations within the country:

To meet up program management and other conceptual and skill development capacity needs of staff members, a significant number of training in relevant organizations participated by staff members within the country. In all 110 staff members were trained by different sector expert organizations during the period.

The above supports were available from PKSF, WaterAid and Save the Children while BRAC, CDF and INM are other specialized development partner agency sources for staff capacity building. The courses includes ToT on teaching techniques, ToT on MIS, ToT on Survey Methods, Monitoring and Evaluation, Technology based (mobile) MIS, Gender and Women Development, Basic ToT, Savings and Micro-credit management, Accounts and Finance Management, Book Keeping and Accounting and Clients Protection Policy etc. for program staff of different program sections.

Organizational development

Participatory Strategic Plan (PSP): VERC Participatory Strategic Planning exercise was carried out in different slots in 2015 and the duration of the plan covers – July 2015 to June 2020. The exercise was facilitated by the eminent development expert and Vice Chancellor of Green University Prof. Golam Samdani Fakir, Ph.D. Recommendations include routine review of VERC activities in view of the strategy document and assess operational aspects for proper tracking. A committee has also been formed for the purpose.

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Since emergence VERC has been undertaking different types of community development research and related innovative activities. Later on Research, Evaluation and Documentation (RED) Section has emerged within VERC for conducting action research and piloting new initiatives which are documented and shared with the partners, stakeholders and donors. The studies are usually carried out by VERC itself and by engaging external program experts in consultation with donor agencies. It also extends support to interne students of graduation and masters level to undertake study on various development issues for academic purposes and sharing the findings with respective program sectors of VERC. Following are the types of studies carried out during the reporting period –

1. Three studies done by external consultants:

a. Discussion-Oriented Organizational Self-Assessment (DOSA) – PRIP Trust and Save the Children supported in undertaking the assessment of VERC capacity. This is aimed at capacity strengthening

of VERC. The exercise has pinpointed specific deficiencies in VERC like - To take care of capacity initiatives, an Action Plan was drawn for organizational capacity enhancement which was submitted to SCi for required technical and financial support.

b. Baseline Survey of ICT Innovative Partnership project – external consultant (Mr. Enamul Huda) carried out the study for the Training and Communication (Capacity Building) Section – The study was carried out on the existing situation of 30 secondary schools in Savar Upazila.

Key findings are – Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) was found as the most neglected part of the school infrastructures. Students of all schools expressed their highest level of dissatisfaction on WASH

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION

65

facilities. No separate budget allocation was being made for WASH in any of the schools rather it always remained under development head with low priority. About 93% was using deep tube well water lifted by pump and supplied from the overhead tank through pipeline. Though head teachers of all schools claimed that the water of their schools are safe for drinking but they do not drink that water by themselves. Most of the students mentioned that they carry water bottle from home for drinking. Toilet facilities were found worse than other WASH components. All 30 schools have brick made pucca sanitary toilets within or attached to the building. Average ratios of toilets in all 30 schools were found for boys 1:80; for girls it was 1:99; for teachers it was 1:8 and for other staff 1:9. Most of the student's toilets are not usable. About 77% schools have mentioned that they have appointed staff (Sweeper) for cleaning toilets. But in reality none of the schools had simply clean (not hygienic) toilets good for use. In 23% schools Aya (women support staff) were assigned to clean the toilets. No soaps were provided for hand washing in any of the schools. Scope for menstrual hygiene practice by the girls was found absent in all the 30 schools including one girl's high school. No waste disposal system exists in the schools except some schools have occasionally used basket in the classrooms. No separate hygiene session organized by the schools and no teachers appointed for this purpose.

The findings were shared with the Upazila Administration including the Education Department in the project launching meeting.

c. Health Effects of Arsenic-free Water Supply: Evidence from Rural Bangladesh– impact study done by external consultant Dr. Abdus Sabur

Key findings are-Arsenic contamination of drinking water is a serious public health threat in Bangladesh. No treatment is available for arsenic contamination and only measure is using arsenic free water. In Bangladesh, eight major safe water options provide an alternative to contaminated shallow tube wells: piped water supply, deep tube wells, pond sand filters, community arsenic-removal, household arsenic removal, dug wells, well-sharing, and rainwater harvesting. VERC's WASH programme in Monoharganj upazila used some of these options and demonstrated very positive results as evidenced from the reduction of arsenic in urine samples of a cohort, reduction in number of arsenic patients found in CSAs and further observations made in the field as case studies.

After the detection of arsenic in groundwater, the government of Bangladesh, NGO and development partners have conducted various types of activities including studies and mitigation intervention.

VERC's experiences in Monoharhanj once again proved the innovations and strengths that Bangladesh have in resolving problems faced with. This innovation and strength needs to be supported for replications, so that no women become widow and her children become orphan when simple and cost-effective solutions are available!

2. In all 6 studies conducted by Interns as follows :

a. Savar University College – 5 students : The study issues were on Effectiveness of various tools/techniques used in implementing WaSH activities in VERC; Situation of Child Domestic Workers in Savar Municipal areas; Measuring effectiveness of tools/techniques used in VERC pre-primary education; Overall situation of Child domestic workers in Savar Municipal area; Formation, function and responsibility of VERC CPMC s

b. Gono Biswabidyalaya - 1 student : The study issue was - Role of VERC NFPE Center in protection and development of children engaged in hazardous labour

3. One Internal study done by Training and Communication Section In the 3rd quarter of 2014, a joint evaluation was conducted by TdH-NL and VERC on the Protection of Children from Hazardous Labour Project progress. For collecting some information and to measure the output of this project a joint evaluation team conducted FGDs (13) with different stakeholders, students, parents and employers in different locations to draw the observations properly.

66

Publications:

VERC Annual Report 2013-2014 compiled and published

The quarterly publication on VERC programme in Bengali has been duly published as per schedule and they are: i) July – Sept. 2014, Vol – 3; ii) Oct. – Dec. 2014 Vol. 4 for the 36th year; Jan. – Mar. 2015 Vol.1 and April – June 2015, Vol. 2 for the 37th year respectively.

Publications of success stories under ERHSA Project – The publication is a reflection of outcomes the project has achieved during its journey with the community clinics, LGIs and UP Education, Health and Family Planning Standing committees, mothers club, Press Clubs across 4 project implementation areas in four districts

Stickers used by ERHSA project for awareness raising . Program brief of ICT and Innovative partnership rojetct

IEC materials

67

The Administration and Finance Section provides financial and various other support services such as personnel management, procurement, logistic support, secretarial services, recruitment and placement, supervision, staff related matters and maintenance of vehicles according to the organizational rules and regulations. The section also keeps liaison with government and other non-government organizations regarding the administrative and financial matters.

All activities are carried out following the Service Rules and Financial Guidelines and other bi-laws of the organization. The Executive Director and Coordinator Administration and Finance are directly responsible for the overall administration of the organization. The Deputy Executive Director and senior officials of the other sections are assisting for smooth functioning of the administrative work and financial management system of VERC.

Management of VERCGeneral Council: The General Council is the highest body in VERC management system. Presently, the General Council consists of 22 members (20 individuals and 2 institutions) from among development workers, university teachers and officials from various types of organizations. The General Council elects the Board of Directors and meets once a year. If necessary it can hold emergency meetings.

Board of Directors: Presently, a 7 member Board of Directors elected by the General Council looks after the governance of the organization and advices the Executive Director in carrying out the organizational responsibilities.

The Executive Office: The Executive Director is responsible for overall administration and program implementation including keeping contact with government and non-government agencies and donors. To discharge his duties, he is assisted by the Deputy Executive Director and a number of professionals who have considerable experience in the field of rural development.

The 41st Annual General Meeting was held on 06th March 2015. The meeting discussed and approved the Annual Report and Audit Report for the period of July 2013-June 2014 and the Annual Budget and Work Plan for the year 2014 - 2015. The meeting also authorized ED for appointment of the audit firm for auditing the accounts of VERC .

Five meetings of the Board of Directors were held during the year as per practice. Important policy matters, vital issues and problems related to VERC's current and future programs were discussed. The Board of Directors reviewed VERC's operations, provided guidelines and direction to make VERC more effective and dynamic in the future.

Coordination Meetings: Staff meetings were regularly held at two levels. These were senior staff coordination meetings comprising the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and others Directors, and quarterly Program Coordination meetings that included all office/field program in charges. These meetings are primarily held to ensure proper communication and coordination regarding implementation of all types of activities for better management.

Physical Facilities/Logistics

Infrastructure: VERC has 7-storied own building on use as its head office, training and resource centre. It has three training rooms and one counselling room and accommodation for 57 persons. Three of the training rooms, one counselling room and 11 hostel rooms are air-conditioned. All the meeting rooms are fully equipped with audio-visual equipments.

The library is maintained with computerized cataloguing system for the books. It is a valuable resource unit of the organization that has more than 3347 reference books and 712 journals and various project documents.

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

68

Vehicles: To ensure smooth running of official assignments, VERC maintains a 5-vehicle transport pool at its headquarters. It also has a fleet of 171 motorbikes for use at the field level.

Office equipment: One hundred forty one computers and eighty one laptops are in use in the program management of the organization. An electronic mailing system significantly enhances communication with donors and other organizations. VERC maintain its accounts with software based accounting system.

Staff of VERC: The organization has a good number of experienced and dedicated staff. In the reported year VERC had a total of 2,044 staff including 26 regular and 2018 project/contract staff. A total of 76 staff are based at VERC head office and the remaining 1968 are involved in the programs that work under the guidance of project/area offices. There are 82 Branch offices at various locations of Bangladesh. During the year 561 staff was recruited and 513 left. VERC has a system of annual performance evaluation of staff by a committee. During this year 28 staff was promoted to higher grades.

Financing of VERCTo ensure transparency and effective internal control systems, all of its transactions are made through bank accounts. VERC receives all of the grants from the donor agencies through its mother bank account of general fund. After receiving the funds, the amounts are transferred to the project bank accounts in respective project areas. The management of the organization has decentralized the signatory authority to the area staff members for smooth implementation of the activities at the field level. The organization mobilizes fund from both external and internal sources to meet up its program implementation costs. The external sources comprise of the contribution from the donors and government while the internal source includes earning from sale of training, sale of facility, services, publication and service charges received from Micro credit, also as voluntary contribution from staff members for infrastructure construction purpose.The source of funds during the year based on the audit report shown bellow

Source Amount [in Taka] Percentage

Donor Fund 342,751,336.00 8.64

VERC Income 322,934,622.00 8.14

Donor Loan Fund 370,000,000.00 9.33

Group Savings 324,217,490.00 8.17

Revolved Loan and other 2,606,498,590.00 65.71

Total 3,966,402,038.00 100.00

Source Amount Taka Percentage

Institution Bulding & Income Generation 3,287,680,835.00 85.92

Capacity Building 59,690,436.00 1.56

Assessment, Planning & Evaluation 1,203,260.00 0.03

Water, Sanitation, Health & Environment 109,019,997.00 2.85

Education & Literacy 114,835,751.00 3.00

Material Development 23,479,549.00 0.61

Disaster Management/Livelyhood 39,896,144.00 1.04

Management cost 138,483,496.00 3.62

Capital Expenditure 52,532,805.00 1.37

Total 3,826,822,273.00 100.00

69

Village Education Resource Center ( VERC )

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

As at June 30, 2015

Particulars

FY 2014-2015

FY 2013-2014 General Fund

Micro Credit Total

Property and Assets:

Non-Current Assets:

Property, Plant & Equipment 23,954,228 24,608,028 48,562,256 44,669,863

Investments : 16,404,726 15,550,000 131,954,726 130,677,356

Loan to Beneficiaries : 1,217,352,935 1,217,352,935 1,023,683,832

Current Assets: 36,934,236 136,417,719 173,351,955 129,915,728

Total Property and Assets: 77,293,190 1,493,928,682 1,571,221,872 1,328,946,779

A. Capital & Reserves:

Cumulative Surplus 14,078,225 440,750,798 454,829,023 355,016,032

Reserve Fund - 47,000,000 47,000,000 40,000,000

B. Long Term Liabilities : 19,820,658 512,691,184 532,511,842 428,152,761

C. Current Liabilities : 43,394,307 493,486,700 536,881,007 505,777,985

Total Fund & Liabilities : (A+B+C) 77,293,190 1,493,928,682 1,571,221,872 1,328,946,779

The annexed notes from 1.00 to 23 form an integral part of the financial statements.

SD SD

Executive Director Director, Finance & Admin

Signed in terms of our separate report of even date annexed.

SD

Date: November 5, 2015 M A Quader Kabir & Co.

Chartered Accountants.

70


Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Own Income

For the year ended June 30, 2015

Particulars

FY 2014-2015 FY 2013-

2014 General Fund

Micro Credit

TOTAL

Income:

Service Charge Realised 263,849,351 263,849,351 224,264,859

Training Income 5,602,516 208,512 5,811,028 828,673

Income from Health Service - 883,928 883,928 680,535

Donation 1,081,334 91,494 1,172,828 1,262,313

Overhead Income 19,845,675 1,290,855 21,136,530 14,473,069

Interest on Bank Account and fixed dep[osit 1,500,507 10,553,223 12,053,730 8,410,875

Other Income 1,898,261 6,128,967 8,027,228 1,686,548

Total 29,928,293 283,006,330 312,934,623 251,606,872

- -

Expenditure:

Service Charge to PKSF - 24,687,916 24,687,916 21,899,377

Operational cost 23,319,674 112,159,516 135,479,190 106,103,044

Training 564,834 2,921,000

3,485,834

7,359,621

Social Development Activities 764,436 2,480,000

3,244,436

2,577,829

Bank and other interest 254,515 27,169,062 27,423,577 16,357,923

Reserve for LLP,DMF and others 1,390,520 10,510,159 11,900,679

8,105,444

Total Expenditures 26,293,979 179,927,653 206,221,632 162,403,239

Excess of Income over expenditure 3,634,314 103,078,677 106,712,991 89,203,633

29,928,293

283,006,330

312,934,623

251,606,872

- - - -

The annexed notes from 1.00 to 23 form an integral part of the financial statements.

SD SD

Executive Director Director, Admin & Finance

Signed in terms of our separate report of even date annexed.

SD

Date: November 5, 2015 M A Quader Kabir & Co.

Chartered Accountants.

71


Consolidated Statement of Receipts & Payments

For the year ended June 30, 2015

Particulars

FY 2014-2015

FY 2013-2014 General Fund

Micro Credit TOTAL

A. Receipts :

Opening Balance 38,875,126 71,086,449 109,961,575 145,599,937

Receipt from Donor 313,404,227 313,404,227 481,140,767

Training Income 8,894,485 171,631 9,066,116 9,050,246

Income from Health Service 14,137,170 808,950 14,946,120 13,501,140

Interest on Bank Account and fixed dep[osit 1,500,507 743,963 2,244,470 8,410,875

Loan Received from PKSF : - 370,000,000 370,000,000 300,000,000

Loan Received from Others: - 144,725,000 144,725,000 104,120,000

Loan Principal Realised : - 2,060,040,643 2,060,040,643 1,748,760,466

Member Savings and Other Collection - 324,217,490 324,217,490 260,047,313

Service Charge Realised : - 263,310,026 263,310,026 224,062,689

Donation 1,081,334 91,494 1,172,828 795,861

Receipt from Operating Income 295,803,864 57,509,679 353,313,543 418,909,173

Total 673,696,713 3,292,705,325 3,966,402,038 3,714,398,467

B. Payments

Loan Refunded to PKSF : - 274,333,334 274,333,334 347,500,000

Training Exp 9,191,930

2,312,894

11,504,824 7,359,621

Social Development Activities 11,160,088

2,394,000

13,554,088 2,577,829

Capital Expenditure 99,000

6,689,374

6,788,374 2,226,185

Loan Refunded to Others: -

172,679,000

172,679,000 18,056,000

Loan Disbursement : -

2,257,775,000

2,257,775,000 1,897,746,000

Member Savings and Other Refund -

234,531,722

234,531,722 187,057,606

Service Charge paid to PKSF: -

24,687,916

24,687,916 21,899,377

Investment 1,227,370

35,050,000

36,277,370 120,210,011

Donor Project Exp 324,714,168

324,714,168

491,937,797

Operating Expenses 293,138,991 176,837,486

469,976,477 507,866,466

Closing Balance 34,165,166

105,414,599

139,579,765 109,961,575

Total 6 73,696,713 3,292,705,325 3,966,402,038 3,714,398,467

72

LESSONS LEARNT AND CHALLENGES

EducationChallenges� Average attendance rate in the camp schools is poor from required target mostly due to children's

engagement in different types of work to support their families. Other than that, preference for religious education, parents' lack of interest to education, teachers' ignorance, teacher turnover are also responsible for poor attendance. The absence of PSC exam creates low motivation in refugee children and their parents, raises question regarding the benefit of attending primary education without opportunities thereafter.

� Most of the children are floating and moving from one place to another. It is a big challenge to keep children in learning centers for the total duration of the course.

� Teacher dropout also a concern that hampers the quality of teaching-learning process in the classrooms.

Learning:� Programmatic Approach is effective in lieu of Project Approach to eliminate hazardous child labour.

WatSan and TechnologyLearning:� Effective management committee is the key to keep hardware functioning in communities� Open budget exercise helps Citizen Action Cmommittee (CAC) raising demand for increased WaSH

allocation� Assigned female teacher is helpful in loking after the management of menstrual hygiene corner in

schools� Micro Finance Institutions (MFI) plays a supportive role in ensuring WaSH promotion and UP

Holding Tax collection� Upazila NCTF committee is directly linked with the schools within the jurisdiction but to make it

more effective it needs to be extended by linking with the district and national level NCTF� Interest generated in NCTF and school authority on the use of ICT based monitoring system� Potential leaders of NCTF accepts challenges in favour of students interest

Challenges: � Arsenic contamination is still increasing in particular areas of the country� Human faeces and poultry littres are being used in fishculture in ponds� People are not feeling comfort in using compost derived from faecal sludge management

Health and Environment Learning:� Involvement of local press and media helps to reach the projects achievement and success among

the mass people effective and rapid. � To sign the MoU with the government helps to implement the project easier and more effective. � Use of interactive BCC materials are more effective in health message delivery

BRUP projectChallenge � It is very difficult to work with households on privately owned land due to privacy and conflict of

interest of the land lord. They do not want to expose information to outside agencies/individuals to avoid interruptions.

Livelihood Development Learning:� Automation in terms of software based accounting and use of cell phones have made programme

management convenient and information more reliable.

73

VISITS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Seminar/workshops attended overseas by senior staff members

Md. Yakub Hossain, Deputy Executive Director,

attended the SWA conference during 18 – 22

February, 2015 in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Md. Yakub Hossain, Deputy Executive Director,

attended Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

organized conference in Nairobi, Kenya (28 July – 2

August, 2014).

Director, WatSan & Technology and Director,

Livelihood Development Program undertook an

exposure visit to India during 10 – 16 May, 2015

under “Enabling People towards Sustainable

Safe Water and Hygiene Project supported by

water.org India.

Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director

and Director, Livelihood Development Program

participated in the 17th Microcredit Summit co-

hosted by the Microcredit Summit Campaign and

Mexico’s Ministry of Economy’s National

Microenterprise Financing Program, Merida,

Mexico during 3-5 September, 2014.

74

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nurul Islam Khan Chairman

Dr. Ahmadullah Mia Vice-Chairman

Mirza Tareq Md. Mamtazur Rahman, Secretary

Abdul Karim Treasurer

Syed Nurul Alam Member

Khondker Rebaka San-yat Member Majeda Shawkat Ali

Member

75

Professional Profile of General Council

Mr. Nurul Islam Khan Chairman Phone-8914439, Mobile: 01713031847 [email protected]

Dr. Ahmadullah Mia Vice Chairman Mobile: 01746192907 [email protected]

Mirza Tareq Md. Mamtazur Rahman, Secretary Phone- 7741295 Mobile: 01721176263, 01942850799

Mr. Abdul Karim Treasurer Phone 8120037 Mobile 01819218117 [email protected]

Ms. Majeda Shawkat Ali Member Mobile: 01819510913, 01713314837 Email: [email protected]

Khondker Rebaka San-yat Member Mobile: 01819213450, 01716001179

Ms.Tahrunnessa AbdullahMemberMobail-01713084024

Ms. Shebika Sarkar Member Mobile: 01712620268

Lt. Col. Muhammad Hussain (Rtd),Member Mobile: 01819528181

Mr. Md. Emranul Huq ChowdhuryMember

Syed Nurul AlamMemberMobile-01711530990 Phone: 88 02 8118465 [email protected]

� Executive DirectorUDDIPAN

� Rtd. Army Officer � Ex- Director, Pathokoli Trust

� Rtd. Govt. Officer � Freelance Consultant

� Deputy Director Swanirvar Bangladesh

� Executive Director Coalition for the Urban Poor (CUP)

� Chief Executive, Naria Unnayan Samity (NUSA )

� Executive Director SAP-Bangladesh

� Rtd. Secretary, Government of Bangladesh � Former Managing Director, MIDAS

� Rtd. Deputy Director Department of Social Welfare

� Rtd. Prof. Dhaka University � Professor and Dean. Faculty of Social Sciences University of Dev. Alternative(UODA)

� Rtd. Additional Director, Social Service, Dptt. of Social Welfare � Senior level Executive UN High Commission for Refugees, (UNHCR) Geneva

� Former Country Representative of ITDG � Founder Member, ABC Secretary and Past President � President, Nijera Kori � Member BSEHR � President, Nayan Action Foundation � Member, TIB � Vice-President, Democracy Watch � Former Consultant UNICEF and now Freelancer � Chairperson or Member of more than a dozen of professional bodies including Associations, Research Boards, Executive Board of NGOs, Expert Technical Committees at National, Regional and International levels.

� Chairman SPED � Member NGO Forum � Member Operajoy Bangla

� Chairperson, Gram Bikash Samity � Vice-Chair, Bangladesh Mahila Samity � Member. ADAB

� Member, BWSC � Member, Gram Bikash Samity

� Ramon Magsaysay Award winner (1978) � Chairperson- SAP � Vice Chairman NGO Forum � Member BRAC Governing Body � Member PKSF Governing Body


� Convenor ATSEC-BD � Executive Board Member CDF

Member or service holder of any other NGO

ProfessionName, Designation and phonenumber and email address

SINO1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.


� Freedom Fighter � Member CDD � Life member Bangladesh Rtd. Govt employees Association.

� Treasurer-SAP � General Body Member, MIDAS

76

Member or service holder of any other NGO

ProfessionName, Designation and phone

number and email addressSI

NO

Mr. Md. Emranul Huq Chowdhury Member Phone office-8115459 Mobile- 01711564826

Mr. Jainal Abedin Khan Member Mobile- 01552339869

Ms. Sofia Islam Member Mobile-01715025780

Dr. Md. Wazihullah Patwary Member Mobile: 01716790567

Mr. S.M. Al-Husainy Member Mobile: 01711523410 Phone-8114338, 8117711 [email protected]

Advocate Nazrul Islam Member Mobile: 01715521795

Prof. Hafizul Islam Member Mobile:-01712612222

Dr. Mohammad AlauddinMember Mobile: 01711409393 [email protected]

Mr. Shahid Hossain Talukder Member Mobile: 01715103677 [email protected]

Mrs. Salma Ali Member Mobile: 01711595203 [email protected]

Swanirvor Bangladesh Organisational Member Phone-9116808 Bangladesh Association for Community Education, Organisational Member Phone: 9345173, Mobile: 01715298053

� Education, Social Mobilization, Skill Development and Vocationa Education

� Sociat MobilizationMicro Cradit and Education

� Executive Director � Bangladesh Jatiyo � Mahila Ainjibi Samity

� Freelancer

� Former Country Representative Pathfinder International

� Retd. Professor, University of Dhaka.

� Legal practice

� Rtd. Govt. Officer � Ex. Chairman, Public Service Commission

� Freelancer

� Rtd. Govt. Officer

� Rtd. Govt. Officer

� Executive Director UDDIPAN

� Convenor ATSEC-BD � Executive Board Member CDF � Chairman BSAF

� Member CDD � Chairman, SANAK, Savar, Dhaka � Member, MM Chaklader Mohila College,

� Retired Dev. Advisor, Canadian High Commission � Member UST § Member RIC

� Chairman, Mohamay Madrasha and Atimkhana. � Ex. Chairman, BDSC � Chair-Finance Committee M.M. New Model UC.

� Chairman, Swanirvar Bangladesh � Member-MIDAS, � Chairman, Governing Council of Independent University etc. � Consultant: ADB, World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, Government of Bangladesh etc.

� EC Member CDD § Secretary General, HRDC § Member, TIB and SONAK Savar � Member, SUS Savar

� Honorary Secretary- FDSR � Governing body Member-UCEP � Member-National Society for the Blind.

� Founder Trustee, University of Asia Pacific, � Founder, Shahatan Nesa-Nayebuddin Academy � Member, BOG, UCEP, FDSR and Gopalpur Upazila Kalyan Samity, Dhaka.

� Chairman, Uddipon

� Member Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association � Member South Asian Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy Watch � Member, Federation of International Women Lawyer

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

77

Senior Staff Members of VERC

Shaikh Abdul Halim Executive Director 01713030863 Md. Yakub Hossain Deputy Executive Director 01713030885 Md. Anwarul Islam Director, Administration and Finance 01711849291 Subash Chandra Saha Director, Training and Communication 01711404538 Md. Mainul Islam Director, Education 01715095711 Md. Masud Hassan Director, WatSan and Technology 01713017064 Md. Azmal Khan Dirctor, Institution Building and Income Generation 01717471479 Md. Quamrul Islam Director, Research Evaluation and Documentation 01716049018

78

Acronyms

ARI Acute Respiratory Infection BSAF Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum CORDAID Catholic Organization for Relief and DevelopmentCLTS Community Led Total Sanitation CtC Child to Child CAMPE Campaign for Popular Education CBO Community Based OrganizationDMC Disaster Management Committee DPHE Department of Public Health Engineering DAP Differently Able People/PersonECD Early Childhood DevelopmentEFA Education for All HYSAWA Hygiene Sanitation & Water Supply HBPS Home Based Pre-SchoolIBIG Institution Building and Income GenerationIGA Income Generating Activities IAP Indoor Air Pollution LC Learning CentreMFMSF Micro Finance for Marginal and Small Farmers ME Micro Enterprise NPA National Plan of ActionNFE Non Formal EdcuationNFPE Non Formal Primary EdcuationPVA Participatory Vulnerability AnalysisPPE Pre-Primary EducationPROTEEVA Promoting Talent through Early Education PTPDI Preschool Teacher Professional Development InitiativePTA Parents Teachers AssociationPSTF Pourashava Sanitation Task ForceRMC Rural Micro Credit SSB Seasame Street Broadcast SMC School Management CommitteeUSTF Union Sanitation Task ForceUP Ultra PoorWaSH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WatSan Water & Sanitation WAB WaterAid BangladeshWSTF Ward Sanitation Task ForceWPMC Water Point Management Committee

79

Documents

VERC Annual Report File 1 - · PDF fileProfessional Profile of General Council Members 76 ... also go to the NGO Affairs Bureau, ... 2015 reflecting VERC activities/outcomes in the