Part A - CONCEPT NOTE

1. Relevance of the Action

General Problem Statement
Covering an area of 144,000 sq km, Bangladesh is sometimes described as the largest delta in the world having
a high density of population (nearly 1000 persons/sq km), with high exposures of climatic hazards. The
development efforts demonstrate a progress in social indicators, particularly in education, health, gender and
agriculture sectors. However, the progress is beyond enough than the expected indicators. Poverty moderately
declined by 1% per year in the past decade, but the number of people living in absolute poverty remains at the
same level as one and half decade ago. Various studies estimate that nearly 41 million (or 48%) of the rural
population in Bangladesh live in absolute poverty. Inequality between the poorest and richest groups, between
regions and between sexes remains very high. Poverty reduction and rural socioeconomic development remain
the greatest challenge for the country, and these constitute the key development priorities for the government.
Southwest is one of the potential regions for food production as this region is flood plain and has supplied major
vegetables of the country. The climate change and disaster risks along with human induced hazards are now
increasing in the area and posing new stress on the overall food production. The governance of Bangladesh
bureaucracy particularly three major service sector rural inhabitants: agriculture, education and health is critical
for rural poverty reduction. The general observation indicates that most of the rural poor people are not getting
their service entitlements from GoB service providers and thus their household efforts are in many cases failed in
reducing poverty.
A four tiers local government are existed alongside of the central government with the responsibilities of dispute
resolution, service delivery, participatory planning, protection and social mobilization, among which two existing
forms of local government in rural areas are now functional: union parishads, upazila parishad by
democratically elected personnel. Moreover, numerous non-government and private initiatives exist throughout
the country offering education, health, agriculture, and micro-credit services . Recognizing the deficiency of
public delivery system the NSAs, in particular the NGOs have been promoted as an alternative institution for
delivery of social services. The roles of the NSAa are to supplement the GoB’s gap as well as to act as a
catalyst actor between poor people and state in ensuring the governance at all stage.
Despite sincere efforts on the part of NSAs including NGOs, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs),
community based organizations (CBOs) and local authorities including local state agencies and local
government institutions, the poor a n d ma rg in a li ze d groups could not yet be reached with basic financial
services. As a result, they remained loosely integrated into the economic progress and were unable to
improve their poverty situation. Factors behind this situation include incapability of local authorities in delivering
quality services and poor collaboration and partnership between NSAs and LAs.

Specific problems to be addressed

AID has conducted several studies and thus identified numerous problems need to be addressed for whole of
poverty reduction of rural poor. The proposed project will address the following specific problems:
- Lack of entitled services from GoB agencies: agriculture, health and education
- There is poor linkages, mutual partnership and service networking among the Union Parishads’, GoB Offices
(local agriculture, health and education office) and NGOs services
- Capacity building of Union Parishad in strengthening enabling the standing committees for agriculture, health
and education
- The poor people, local youth clubs, CSOs, NGOs and Union Parishads are generally ignorant about the way
the corruption is made in agriculture, health and education sector and thus they cannot link the corruption with
their persistent poverty
- The local authority is not capable enough to provide sustaining services and partnership with local CSOs and
NSAs for poverty reduction
- The NSAs, CSOs and Local Governments are not aware about climate change impacts and other external risks
and not capable to deal such risks.
- The poor people cannot raise their concern at national level to influence policy decisions

Brief description of target groups and final beneficiaries

In agriculture sphere, marginal and poor farmers will be the final beneficiary as well as the primary stakeholders;
whereas the NGOs, CBOs and Union Parishad will be the secondary stakeholders and agriculture department
and government of Bangladesh will be the tertiary stakeholders. In health sphere, people living in poor income
households will be the final beneficiaries as well as the primary stakeholders; whereas the NGOs, CBOs, Union
Parishad and educational institutions will be the secondary stakeholders and health ministry, union and upazila
health complex, medical practitioners will be the tertiary stakeholders. In education sphere, the students and
thus whole of farming community will be the primary stakeholders; whereas the school, union parishad, guardian
association and teachers association will be the secondary stakeholders and the education ministry, local
education administration and upazila parishad will be the tertiary stakeholders.
As a whole, The socially excluded, less- empowered poor, specially destitute and divorced women, and other
disadvantaged and marginalized groups such as disabled, landless, ecologically vulnerable and
geographically isolated communities will be the primary target of the project and thus primary beneficiaries of the
project. A variety of stakeholders who will join and support the programme, including the GoB policy makers, the
private sector, the local government officials, civil society people and technical staff will also be the intermediate
beneficiaries of the actions.

Relevance of the action in relation to priority needs of Bangladesh and the final beneficiaries
The proposed action is directly linked with Poverty Reduction Strategy of Bangladesh Government. This project
is directly linked with PRSP target 1, 2, 3, and 7. On the other hand, this project is also in line with the MDGs
target 1.
The project is developed based on the practical needs of the final beneficiaries. The farmers require better
services (inputs and risk mitigation) from agriculture department. Similarly, poor and marginal people requires
quality health and education services that can enable them to develop their human resources directly
benefitting their livelihoods and well being.

Relevance of the action in relation to the objectives priorities of the call

The proposed action is very much linked with the objective number i and ii, and very much responsive to the
following priorities of the call: (a) enhance linkages, partnerships and networking between NSAs and LAs for
improved delivery of services, (b) improve dialogue and cooperation on national development priorities as well
as interaction between state actors and NSAs, (c) support the capacity building of NSAs networks on pro-poor
responsive democratic governance of key services and (d) promote awareness building on corruption and its
impact on poverty

2. Description of the action and its effectiveness

Objectives, Expected Results and Outputs
Overall objective: The overall objective of the action is “to increase accessibility of poor and marginalized
groups, to quality and improved agriculture, health and education services of GO-NGOs in Southwest
Bangladesh by 2012 .
Specific Objectives: There will be three specific objectives of the action.
a. To strengthen the capacity of farmers organizations 1 and other NSAs and Union Parishad in ensuring
better governance in agriculture, education and health services
b. To promote a wider awareness among the farmers, guardians, health seeker and students and teachers,
and Union Parishads on linkages of corruption in agriculture, health and education services and their poverty.
c. To promote dialogue amongst final beneficiaries (primary stakeholders) organizations, agriculture,
education and health ministries, parliament standing committees of the above ministries, policy research
institutions and electronic and print media for a more pro-poor responsive governance in agriculture, health and
education services.

Expected Results:
The action intends to achieve following specific results.
1.1 180 farmers organizations, and 180 citizens forum and 20 Union parishad is well informed, capable and
proactive in making the agriculture, education and health services well-governed.
1.2 10000 farmers and 100000 poor people are capable in improving their livelihoods from better agriculture,
health and education services.
1.3 A trust fund is established in 20 Union parishad to create leverage for poor farmers and households required
agriculture, health and education services
2.1 At least 1 million people of Jhenaidah and adjacent districts are fully aware about corruption in agriculture,
health and education services and poverty linkage in their daily life.

1
The farmers organization are formed under Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) funded project in 2008 and these
organizations will be strengthen as well functioning CBOs through the proposed action. After the proposed action, MJF second
phase will continue the functioning of these CBOs
3.1 Policy recommendations are accepted by parliamentary standing committees and bring to the parliament for
action.

Outputs: 1. 180 existing farmers organizations are well informed, capable and proactive in making the
agriculture services well-governed in concert with Union Parishads.
2. 180 citizens forum are formed and are well informed, capable and proactive in making the education and
health services well-governed in concert with farmers organizations and Union Parishad.
3. 20 Union Parishads are well informed, capable and proactive in making the agriculture, education and health
services well-governed and highly responsive to promote a long term partnership with NSAs.
4. A trust fund is established in each of 20 Union Parishad to create leverage of creating more funds to address
the needs of poor and vulnerable households in relation to agriculture, education and health services.
5. An extensive learning and capacity development strategy is implemented among the farmers and poor people
in improving their livelihoods from better agriculture, health and education services.
6. An extensive awareness campaign is implemented in Jhenaidah and adjacent districts to aware people about
linkages of corruption and poverty linkage in their daily life.
7) A policy advocacy campaign is organized from grassroots to national level on different service entitlement
issues in relation to the agriculture, health and education service improvement for poor people.

Proposed Activities and Its Effectiveness

Management Activities:
0.1 Overall project responsibility, coordination and management
0.2 Staff Recruitment
0.3 Capacity Building of the Staff in line with project needs
0.4 Project Inception Workshop
0.5 Interim and end of project review
0.6 Procurement
0.7 Visibility
0.8 Project Ending Workshop (accountability back and capturing lessons learned)
Objective 1: Result 1.1
Activity 1.1.1: formation of 180 citizens forum and meeting of the forum
Activity 1.1.2: capacity assessment of already formed farmers organizations, citizens forum and union parishads
Activity 1.1.3 develop training modules and capacity development strategy based on needs assessment
Activity 1.1.4 impart training and refreshers to the farmers organizations, citizen forums and union parishads
Activity 1.1.5 produce information, education and communication packages on agriculture, education and health
services entitlements and way to get the entitlements including risk factors like climate change impacts and
disaster risks
Activity 1.1.6 Make the union parishad standing committee on agriculture, education and health more functional
and regular in ensuring downward accountability of these services to the beneficiaries
Activity 1.1.7 coordination meeting under the leadership of union parishad regarding agriculture, health and
education services
Objective 1: Result 1.2
Activity 1.2.1 needs assessment of farmers, poor households and vulnerable households for sustainable
livelihood links to agriculture, education and health services.
Activity 1.2.2 development of different skill training on different livelihood options based on needs assessment
Activity 1.2.3 impart training to 5000 extreme vulnerable households on feasible livelihood options
Activity 1.2.4 assessment of efficiency of the training and develop future livelihood development strategy
Activity 1.2.5 linking at least 10000 farmers households (who were not receiving services due to their
marginalization) to agriculture departments services and 100000 poor people with health and education services
for quality inputs from the service providers.
Objective 1: Result 1.3
Activity 1.3.1 conduct needs assessment and visioning study for trust fund
Activity 1.3.2 develop a guiding principles and operation manual of the trust fund
Activity 1.3.3 train union parishad on operation of the trust fund
Activity 1.3.4 wider dissemination of the trust fund to ministry of agriculture, ministry of health, ministry of
education as well as different donors and INGOs for the purpose of creating leverage.
Activity 1.3.5 assessment of efficiency of trust fund and provide recommendation to the wider funding
stakeholders and local government support project of LGD
Objective 2: Result 2.1
Activity 2.1.1 develop an awareness campaign based on needs assessment and media assessment
Activity 2.1.2 implement the awareness campaign using different communication media and materials
Activity 2.1.3 assessment of the efficiency and efficacy of the communication campaign in bringing change
Objective 3: Result 3.1
Activity 3.1.1 review of major policies regarding agriculture, education and health in line with the needs and
problems people faced on ground
Activity 3.1.2 develop a clear cut advocacy strategy run from grassroot level to national level and develop a
comprehensive advocacy campaign based on the strategy
Activity 3.1.3 develop different advocacy tools and implement the tools through workshop, round table
discussions, policy briefings, public hearing, memorandum submission and other tools
Activity 3.1.4 organize meetings, round table discussions and policy briefings for the MPs of the Jhenaidah,
Kustia, Chuadanga areas and Parliamentary standing committee on agriculture, education and health
Activity 3.1.5 Publish a popular but strong advocacy newsletter on different practical and strategic needs of the
poor people likely to be addressed by the service providers

Involvement of any implementing partners, their role and relationship to the applicant.
Please decide very carefully

Stakeholders and their roles and attitudes to the action

Union Parishad and different CSOs are consulted in designing the project concept. They will also be involved in
designing the full proposal if concepts are approved. If the project is approved, the stakeholders will be fully
involved in the inception workshop process to ensure that their needs and aspirations are not left out. Before
inception workshop, stakeholders will be intensively consulted on their expected role and the cutting edge should
be that this is a project of the stakeholders, not AID. All these stakeholders will participate in different project
events and provide available assistance and information they have. They possess positive and action and
attitude qualities towards the action.

3. Sustainability of the action

Risk Analysis and Subsequent Contingency Plan:
The major risks may be faced are presented in the following matrix:
Risks Contingency Plans
Currency Adjust by 10% budget flexibility and contingency provisions in budget. Also closely monitor
Fluctuation the currency fluctuation and adjust work plan six monthly in consultation with EC
Staff turn over Recruitment of committed staff with positive action qualities and providing attractive
remuneration
Political unrest at Preparation of plan avoiding political programme that may hamper the activities and
the national level developing friendly relationship with political parties
Irregular fund Ensure all actions and deliverables which are mandatory requirement for releasing fund in time
release
Bureaucratic Understanding the bureaucratic nature and culture of all relevant offices, fulfilment of the
complexity requirements of the relevant offices in time and development of good working relationship with
them.
Preconditions and Assumptions (during and after implementation)
Preconditions Assumptions
During Implementation: During Implementation:
Good facilitation skill and resources available in If the capacity of NSAs and LAs developed, they work
the project team together and can better utilize trust fund, there will be
Trust fund is utilized very efficiently and local tangible outcome in the poverty reduction
government remain proactive in lifting the fund If an advocacy and awareness campaign run very efficiently
There is democratic environment persist in the and MPs remain in side of the people, policy
country recommendations will be accepted by the parliament
After Implementation: After Implementation:
Project is part of a broader strategy of AID and The project activities will continue as there is possibility of
thus continue beyond project niche Manusher Jonno funding in second phase to support the
The relationship with stakeholders continues farmers organization
No conflicts raise with any stakeholders AID takes effort in continuing working with Union Parishad
and its trust fund mechanism
Sustainability Strategy
After completion of the stipulated period, the action will be sustainable. The contribution of the local level
stakeholders will be helpful to sustain the action through an innovative process. The non state actors and their
network will be strengthened and enough motivated to make the action sustainable with their contribution. The
strengthened local authorities will continuingly utilize their knowledge to implement their activities after the
completion of the action. At the proposed area of the action, AID has permanent office and relevant program
with manpower to provide back-stopping support to go on with the activities of the action. With this support, all
the organizations of this partnership will include the project in their regular program. As a result, a small but
separate management structure will be developed to continue the activities. This management will be
established at different levels including upazilla, district and Head Office levels. There is several projects which
can support the trust fund mechanism, upholding the farmers and citizens organizations and union parishads
beyond project period. Manusher Jonno funded project on agriculture is likely to support a second phase, which
might start in third of the proposed this action and therefore, continuation of critical elements will be achieved.
The efforts given in the 3 years will generate a lot more capacity among the NSAs and LAs to continue beyond
project area. Trust fund is one of teh strategy which will create ownership of LAs in sustaining the efforts.