Desarrollo de mercados activos en las zonas fluviales de Jamuna, Padma y Teesa (ing)

To reduce vulnerability and increase wellbeing of vulnerable and marginalised char dwellers living in the northern char region of Bangladesh. 


Chars are riverine land, susceptible to erosion and soil deposition, which remain disconnected from mainland either seasonally or throughout the year. Due to this unique geographical positioning, Bangladesh government considers the char region as pocket of poverty and the 7th 5-year plan of the government emphasises poverty eradication in such locations. These chars have huge potential for livestock rearing and crop production, however, char households lack access to quality agro-inputs, production knowledge, information, market linkage, financial and other services. The constraints result in lower productivity and quality which leads to lower income. Limited income and opportunities hinder formation of substantial livelihoods capital (financial, physical, human, social and natural) of char households, which is essential to cope with the vulnerable context (economic, physical, social, political and natural) of the chars.

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bogra, Bangladesch
24.848078
89.3729633
Duración del proyecto
2012 - 2024
Financiado por
  • Agencia Suiza para el Desarrollo y la Cooperación COSUDE
  • Government of Bangladesh, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives

El proyecto

Chars have the potential of becoming a prominent production zone of Bangladesh but the underperforming market system lacks private and public investments. The broader aim of M4C is thus to make private and public actors realize the potential so that they invest in the region as well as provide services leading to enhancement of economic performance of the poor char households.

To realize this goal, the project’s Theory of Change (ToC) follows mainly two major activity sets where one activity stream focuses on facilitating private businesses/ public agencies to expand customer and producer base, improve quality  and/or introduce products and services in chars integrating cross-cutting themes (WEE, governance, CSPM, DRR) and the other activity stream focuses on supporting a relevant public institution to capitalise and anchor char relevant data/experiences (private sector strategies, business models, advocacy). Thus, the major stakeholders of the project are multiple agricultural companies, micro-finance institutions and public sector organizations operating in Bangladesh. 

Char households are the target beneficiaries of this project. Project’s internal assessments and donors’ independent review has validated that char HHs are investing income to intensify/extensify/diversify farm businesses and are continuing to improve their economic performance. This has been largely possible since char HHs are accessing quality agro-inputs, information, markets and financial services.

Important Links

Socios de proyectos

  • Rural development Academy (RDA), Bogra

Resultados

Results and impact until 2021

  • M4C promoted 20 business models and supported 1,700+ service providers e.g., agro-input companies, distributors, retailers, traders, microfinance institutions, etc. to promote 60 services e.g., distribution and promotion of quality agro-inputs, post-harvest/processing information and services, seasonal loans for crops and livestock, etc. 25 of these services were DDR-relevant and 20 services targeted women.
  • Until June 2021, M4C benefitted 1,31,700 char households with an additional income of 21.7 million Swiss Franc which is equivalent to BDT 162.6 Crore.
  • Benefitted char households used the additional income to reduce their vulnerability and improve family wellbeing i.e., house renovation, better consumption, sending children to schools; reinvestment in agriculture and trading, cultivation area expansion, asset/capital accumulation.

Expected results and impact

  • Net additional increase in income of CHF 14.5 million for 75,000 char households.
  • Increase of financial, social and physical capitals of char farming households leading to an increase in natural and human capitals
  • Economic empowerment and vulnerability reduction of women evidenced by changes in women’s income, access to opportunities and resources, women’s role, decision-making, balanced workload, asset and savings formation and income diversification.
  • 100,000 Char households in previous and new target locations use better services to improve and diversify their economic activities and 75% of the households using the services will benefit.
  • 700 national and local service providers expand services on the chars and promote 35 innovative services related to aggregation, ICT, energy, health, etc. among the char households.
  • With the facilitation from CDRC (Cambodia Development Resource Institute) at least 4 Public and private sector actors undertake and/or invest in char-focused initiatives and public and private sector induce favorable policies as well as increase investment in infrastructure and market mechanisms for the chars.
Proyecto y principales logros 2012 - 2019
Una repaso de las dos primeras fases del proyecto (en ingl.).

Noticias

Bangladesh
31.08.2022
Suiza–Bangladesh: 50 años de cooperación al servicio de la prosperidad
Con el propósito de ayudar a la población marginada, se han creado nuevos partenariados con el sector privado. Un buen ejemplo de ello es el actual proyecto implementado en las islas fluviales del norte de Bangladesh (boletín de la COSUDE)