Pockets of extreme poverty are particularly prevalent in hard-to-reach regions such as haors (wetlands), chars (riverine islands) and plain land indigenous people, where entire communities often lack access to basic services and economic opportunities.
High poverty rates with huge income and wealth inequalities, deprived of mainstream socio-economic development initiatives, marginalised and isolated, ‘hot-spots’ of poverty in Bangladesh, remoteness, poor transportation system, racial inequalities etc.
Our need based holistic intervention aimed to improve the socio-economic conditions and livelihoods of 1.1 million people from indigenous communities and people living in poverty and ultra-poverty from hard-to-reach areas such as haor areas and char (riverine island) regions.
IMPACT
70% of the population was covered through integrated services.
96% participants graduated out of ultra-poverty.
Income-generating activities improve economic conditions of 52% households’
Whatever we do, our sustainable growth will be challenged due to climate change-related issues. Our government can replicated BRAC’s integrated development plan to tackle the impacts of climate changes in haor region.
The concept of integrated development is very effective for hard-to-reach areas. Since I visited some of the IDP covered area and observed their interventions and innovations. I found this ‘holistic’ model have that much ability to make significant positive changes in those remote areas. I also personally believe it will also be a learning material of our government to take longer initiative of development in the context of haor.
BRAC IDP is working in the sub-district of Nawabganj in the district of Dinajpur. There are around 3,000 indigenous families here. We are working with BRAC to develop their livelihood, ensure education, and integrate them into the mainstream development process.
This char was a dessert of Nole Grass (long grass) and sands at that time, nothing was here to eat. We started to cultivate the land for food such as rice, nuts, chili, beans etc. Land was flat and we made house with straw of grass. Peoples who lost their home due to river erosion started to settle here with the deep fear of local gangs. But very soon, BRAC-IDP came here to work and we started to see our hope.
My determination to lift myself out of extreme poverty to a stable financial position. With the support from BRAC and my courage, I became a successful entrepreneur and owner of a grocery and vegetable shop that locally called ‘Bou Bazar’ (Bride Market)
WHAT WE DO
Interventions in haor (wetlands) regions
Improving the socioeconomic conditions of 1 million people living in poverty by 2020
Interventions in char (riverine islands) regions
Delivering essential services to support poverty reduction and climate resilience
Protecting and promoting indigenous cultures, building leadership capacity and advocating for indigenous peoples’ issues
Supporting the communities in the areas surrounding the gas fields in the greater Sylhet region through building leadership capacity and value chain development
HOW WE WORK
Women empowerment
Ensuring women's participation in decision making and representation in power structure process
Enhance access to basic services
Providing quality education, essential healthcare, legal aid support and improved water and sanitation practices
Diversified and sustainable livelihoods
Promoting agricultural farming, disaster preparedness, livelihood security, access to finance and micro-enterprise as means of income
Advocacy for strengthening development efforts
Knowledge management and dissemination with relevant actors and the government of Bangladesh
WHY IT WORKS
Tailored services
Providing needs-based support and services following careful analysis of each community
Single frontline staff
Trained persons ensure a holistic approach that delivers a comprehensive set of services
Closing the gap
Serving the most marginalised communities that otherwise have no access to basic services
