USAIDs Development Food Aid Project ‘Nobo Jatra – new beginning’ ISSUE-4 | Jan 2017 - March 2017

Foreword

Nobo Jatra’s January-March 2017 journey at a glance

International Women’s Day 2017

Children’s Day March 2017

World Water Day 2017

Household Mobile Phone Usage: A snapshot from Nobo Jatra working areas

Human Interest Story

Foreword

Interventions across all project responsibilities. components are currently in The unwavering support of all full swing at the field level. our stakeholders, partners and Thanks to our fantastic cadre colleagues has helped us to of frontline staff, we are achieve this crucial momentum consistently reaching our over the last quarter. In that beneficiaries with an integrated spirit, this issue of the Dear Nobo Jatra friends, portfolio of interventions. newsletter celebrates a number The World Vision led, Nobo These include Growth of successes whilst also Jatra-new beginning’ project Monitoring Promotion (GMP) providing a snapshot of our completed a productive first sessions, nutrition counselling, progress. As always, we keep quarter of 2017 contributing activating and mentoring the focus on our valued and further to the overall project Union and Ward WATSAN resilient beneficiaries, with goal to improve gender committees, establishing special emphasis on women, equitable food security, Climate Smart Agriculture children under 2 and youth. nutrition and resilience of plots and a wide range of vulnerable people within trainings on specific AIGAs and Rakesh Katal and Satkhira districts of VDC and UDMC disaster Chief of Party, Nobo Jatra . preparedness roles and World Vision Bangladesh

1 Nobo Jatra’s January-March 2017 journey at a glance

1866 Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) beneficiaries registered 378,530 beneficiaries registered

129 WATSAN Committees (Ward and Union) reformed 385 WATSAN Committees (Ward and Union) mentored

27408 Children under 2 reached through 1728 14 lead farmers and CSA plots established Growth Monitoring Promotion (GMP) sessions 3395 households received nutrition counselling sessions

133 Village Development Committees formed

393 Union and Ward Water and Sanitation meetings organized SBCC groups formed for essential hygiene 89 Alternative Income Generating Activity 8 youth enrolled in Department of 5189 trainings held Youth training actions

2 total across all four . Nobo Jatra launch events In keeping with Nobo Jatra’s remit to work in close The formal launches of the five collaboration with a number of year U.S. Agency for International key stakeholders, the events Development (USAID) Food Aid comprised eminent members of Project ‘Nobo Jatra’ took place the Government of Bangladesh, from March 6-15th 2017. local Government representatives as well as The launch events in each Upazila development partners and were attended by eminent practitioners, international and members of the Government of local NGOs, implementing Bangladesh, local Government consortium partners, local representatives as well as partner NGOs, local media, development partners and leading academia as well as practitioners, international and other influential stakeholders. local NGOs, implementing Adolescents girls, a key target consortium partners, local Programme and Winrock group for Nobo Jatra, also partner NGOs, local media, International. Following the joined the celebrations and leading academia as well as other devastation caused in the participated in discussions on influential stakeholders. south west region by Cyclone the dangers of early marriage Aila, Nobo Jatra is the first and dowry. Ensuring the development of the country. to focus on the prevention of Special guests from the comprehensive and multi involvement of adolescent girls • The Government of Bangladesh early and child marriage Government of Bangladesh sectorial project to launch in and engaging with them to raise has prioritized gender equality in highlighting the practice as an lauded the launch of the Nobo the area covering a diverse awareness on issues that are its seventh Five-Year Plan impediment to the development relevant in their local context is Jatra project in all four Upazilas portfolio of activities designed from local government (2016-2020), setting a gender of the region. critical to Nobo Jatra’s gender and praised the unique to address critical local emphasized their commitment to vision of “a country where men strategy to transform women’s collaborative nature of the challenges such as water, the Nobo Jatra project and the and women will have equal access to opportunities so that partnership between the sanitation and hygiene, goal to bring visible changes to opportunities and rights and they have equal scope to shape Government of Bangladesh, maternal and child health and the lives of 856,116 beneficiaries women will be recognized as their own lives and contribute USAID, World Vision Bangladesh nutrition as well as gender covered across Dacope, Koyra, equal contributors in economic, to their families and and sub grantees World Food inequalities. Representatives Shyamnagar and Kaliganj Upazilas. social, and political development.” communities. • Consistent messages from all • Representatives from the stakeholders emphasized working Ministry of Women and in collaboration with the International Women’s Day 2017 Children Affairs emphasized the Government of Bangladesh, critical ‘role of women’ in the NGOs and the local community

“Let us pledge - Do not marry daughters at a child age, - Do not support child marriage and Do not tolerate child marriage.” Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Dacope With a clear goal to ‘improve gender equitable food security, nutrition and resilience of vulnerable people within Khulna and Satkhira districts in Bangladesh’ Nobo Jatra celebrated International Women’s Day 2017 on 8th March across all four project Upazilas. Colorful processions, interactive discussions, speeches and an oath against early marriage and dowry formed the crux of Nobo Jatra’s recognition of International Women’s day with more than a thousand participants joining in

3 total across all four Upazilas. In keeping with Nobo Jatra’s remit to work in close collaboration with a number of key stakeholders, the events comprised eminent members of the Government of Bangladesh, local Government representatives as well as development partners and practitioners, international and local NGOs, implementing consortium partners, local partner NGOs, local media, leading academia as well as other influential stakeholders. “Bangladesh is going to be Middle Income Country by 2021 and Adolescents girls, a key target women have made huge contributions to achieve this milestone. group for Nobo Jatra, also Most of our garment’s workers are women. We must treat men and joined the celebrations and women equally in all works and opportunities. ” participated in discussions on Upazila Chairman, Dacope the dangers of early marriage and dowry. Ensuring the development of the country. to focus on the prevention of involvement of adolescent girls • The Government of Bangladesh early and child marriage and engaging with them to raise has prioritized gender equality in highlighting the practice as an awareness on issues that are its seventh Five-Year Plan impediment to the development relevant in their local context is (2016-2020), setting a gender of the region. critical to Nobo Jatra’s gender vision of “a country where men strategy to transform women’s and women will have equal access to opportunities so that opportunities and rights and “We will make a movement to stop they have equal scope to shape women will be recognized as early marriage from Kaliganj and Household Mobile Phone Usage: A snapshot from Nobo Jatra working areas their own lives and contribute equal contributors in economic, we will be succeed anyhow with the to their families and social, and political development.” help of GO, NGOs and others communities. • Consistent messages from all concerned institutions”. Upazila • Representatives from the stakeholders emphasized working Nirbahi Officer, Kaliganj Ministry of Women and in collaboration with the Children Affairs emphasized the Government of Bangladesh, critical ‘role of women’ in the NGOs and the local community

Children’s Day March 2017 ‘Today’s children are leaders of the collaboration, celebrations were sessions also held throughout future. So we have to give them held jointly with each respective the day. Free medical check-ups With a clear goal to ‘improve gender equitable opportunity and guidance in the right Upazila Administration, the were also organized by local food security, nutrition and resilience of vulnerable direction, so that they can utilize their Department of Primary and Government authorities for people within Khulna and Satkhira districts in capability.’ Secondary Education, children and this initiative was Bangladesh’ Nobo Jatra celebrated International Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Shyamnagar Department of Women Affairs hugely appreciated by local Women’s Day 2017 on 8th March across all four and Shushilan (a local partner communities as shown through project Upazilas. Colorful processions, interactive Nobo Jatra celebrated Children’s NGO for Nobo Jatra). Art the large numbers of children discussions, speeches and an oath against early Day on 17 March 2017, across competitions were convened for who availed the serve on the day. marriage and dowry formed the crux of Nobo Dacope, Koyra, Shyamnagar and children from different schools Jatra’s recognition of International Women’s day Kaliganj Upazilas. True to Nobo across each Upazila with mass with more than a thousand participants joining in Jatra’s spirit of partnership and gatherings, rallies and discussion

4 World Water Day 2017: Why waste water?

actions to target care-givers and other family members, along with large scale construction of new and rehabilitation of existing water facilities and latrines to improve the overall WASH scenario for project beneficiaries. Nobo Jatra celebrations to mark World Water day were convened across all four project Upazilas in collaboration with stakeholders such as the administration, Khulna WASA, the City Corporation, Upazila administration, journalists, academics and civil society. Special Every year on 22 March, World Bangladesh. Deficiencies in emphasis was placed on school Water Day is globally celebrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene going children to raise awareness to raise awareness about water conditions in Khulna and on WASH related issues through crisis’s and overcome the Satkhira heavily influence quiz events and an art competition. challenges associated with nutritional outcomes in local To increase buy in from all parties accessing safe water, both communities. Leveraging a family and also raise the profile of the critical challenges in Nobo and community-centered celebrations, rally’s and interactive Jatra’s working areas in the approach, Nobo Jatra uses discussions were also organized south west coastal region of SBCC on essential hygiene throughout the day.

Household Mobile Phone Usage: A snapshot from Nobo Jatra working areas

As part of a comprehensive Previous results from A short quantitative survey was Maternal Child Health and Bangladesh have shown designed in house with a sample of Nutrition portfolio of improved health behaviors, 400 pregnant women (100 per interventions, Nobo Jatra including higher rates of Upazila) to capture key information addresses chronic malnutrition exclusive breastfeeding, delivery on mobile phone ownership, access, by targeting 23,600 pregnant in clinics or with skilled birth usage and purpose. women with monthly attendants, adherence to •99% of respondents indicated that Conditional Cash Transfers recommended pre- and they have a mobile phone in the (CCT) of BDT 2200 to meet post-natal care visits, and household immediate nutritional needs, recommended vaccinations for •93% stated that that they had used while improving nutritional mother and child . the mobile phone for phone calls intake, access, and availability for As of January 2016, the within the previous three days of the long term. Hand in hand with Bangladesh Telecommunication the survey. the CCT, are mobile health Regulatory Commission Of the 29.9% or 120 participants messages that will be used as a estimates 131.956 million who responded yes to receiving critical channel by Nobo Jatra to mobile phone users across the promotional messages, an deliver vital health information country and the Government overwhelming 95% had received to new and expectant mothers of Bangladesh is increasingly SMS’s, with 8.3% receiving Voice and their families that will committed to integrating digital Messages and 7.5% of respondents subsequently promote nutrition health into their portfolio of admitted to receiving both SMS and behavior change. activities. Voice Messages.

5 flooding compounded with natural became the community focal remarkable achievement given A young mother’s journey to become an disasters such as and point for 200 general producers the prevalent social norms in climate change effects including within her jurisdiction. Not rural Bangladesh that rarely icon for female farmers erratic monsoons and a rise in sea taking this responsibility lightly, recognize women as farmers let levels. Neelima began to passionately alone exalt them to a position as Neelima’s confidence is palpable teach others what she herself leader and role model. The especially when speaking about all had learned, effectively preparing producer group led by Neelima is the new knowledge acquired the next line of farmers. As a growing seasonal vegetables for through the training. leader of a producer group their own consumption and also ‘We learned to use organic fertilizer comprising 25 members, 12 of selling these products in the local instead of the chemical variety that whom are female, Neelima is market bringing in a regular we had been using all along. We also truly a beacon of hope and source of income – truly a huge understood how to select and buy possibility to both men and reward given the lack of good quality seeds that would give us women in her community. sustainable income opportunities the best crops. Before we had no idea In her new role, Neelima in the region. and just went with what everyone else organizes group members for Yet another shining light in did including our own parents and trainings, has already started to Neelima’s unique story is grandparents.’ facilitate training sessions and Haridash’s unwavering support in It gets even better, once completing will gradually lead sessions her journey. With Haridash’s help the training, Neelima effectively independently. This is a and encouragement, Neelima

Adorned in a colorful sari, knowledge on how to effectively wider village community felt that Neelima Rani, 30, has a sparkling grow produce, the family faced she had the good will of the smile and cheerful manner. A an almost daily struggle to feed people and a deep set Household Mobile Phone Usage: A snapshot from Nobo Jatra working areas mother of two daughters, both their two young daughters. motivation stemming from her of whom attend the local village Often times, Neelima reminisces, family’s economic vulnerability school, in Koyra Upazila yields did not produce enough to excel in this new role. (sub-district) located in the for the family to eat, let alone “It was like being thrown a south west coastal region of sell at the local market. lifeline when we had no hope Bangladesh, Neelima is a pioneer ‘My consuming worry was for left. I am forever grateful to in her local community. In large my daughters; how to feed those who felt I can do justice part, this is thanks to her role as them and provide them with and help our village by becoming a lead farmer for a climate smart basic necessities. We struggled a lead farmer” demonstration plot established to exist for so long. ’ Neelima embraced her new role applied her newly acquired skills especially for their daughters. Jatra project, Neelima has been by the USAID funded ‘Nobo In 2016, a glimmer of hope as student, earnestly and the couple began to grow Neelima has ambitions to able to drastically alter the Jatra – new beginning’ project presented itself to Neelima’s participating in training provided tomatoes and okra. establish and run a successful course of her family’s path and led by World Vision Bangladesh. vulnerable family when she was by Nobo Jatra on sustainable “I am proud of my wife. Things agro farm using all the skills and transform into a respected and Rewind one year, and Neelima’s identified as a lead farmer by her production techniques including have changed for us economically practices that she has learned as valuable community leader. circumstances alter drastically. A local community for a Nobo practices and inputs that are and also within the house. a lead farmer. For the first time Beyond her role as a lead farmer, dedicated housewife and mother, Jatra established climate smart climate resilient and promote Something has changed within me ever, Neelima is planning for the Neelima is often consulted by working hard at chores whilst demonstration plot. This was a resource conservation. Climate too – now I help my wife with future, considering how to neighbors on healthcare issues. also trying to help her husband, remarkable and unexpected Smart Agriculture forms the chores that I never would have develop a standard collection Throughout the incredible and Haridash, grow a small amount opportunity as rural Bangladeshi crux of Nobo Jatra’s portfolio of even six months ago. I even help point for wholesale and retailers rewarding journey, Neelima’s of vegetables in the land the women often find it difficult to activities under Agriculture and collect water on the days that to ensure that the produce from sights have never wavered from family own. With the high levels explore roles beyond that of Livelihoods given the south west Neelima has her producer group her producer groups are her children and the future. of salinity in the water conventional housewife due to coastal region’s unsustainable meetings!” marketed at full capacity. symptomatic of south west entrenched social norms. levels of salinity, persistent The couple now look to the With support from World Vision Bangladesh along with limited Neelima’s neighbors and the future with hopes and dreams Bangladesh through the Nobo

6 flooding compounded with natural became the community focal remarkable achievement given disasters such as Cyclone Aila and point for 200 general producers the prevalent social norms in climate change effects including within her jurisdiction. Not rural Bangladesh that rarely erratic monsoons and a rise in sea taking this responsibility lightly, recognize women as farmers let levels. Neelima began to passionately alone exalt them to a position as Neelima’s confidence is palpable teach others what she herself leader and role model. The especially when speaking about all had learned, effectively preparing producer group led by Neelima is the new knowledge acquired the next line of farmers. As a growing seasonal vegetables for through the training. leader of a producer group their own consumption and also ‘We learned to use organic fertilizer comprising 25 members, 12 of selling these products in the local instead of the chemical variety that whom are female, Neelima is market bringing in a regular we had been using all along. We also truly a beacon of hope and source of income – truly a huge understood how to select and buy possibility to both men and reward given the lack of good quality seeds that would give us women in her community. sustainable income opportunities the best crops. Before we had no idea In her new role, Neelima in the region. and just went with what everyone else organizes group members for Yet another shining light in did including our own parents and trainings, has already started to Neelima’s unique story is grandparents.’ facilitate training sessions and Haridash’s unwavering support in It gets even better, once completing will gradually lead sessions her journey. With Haridash’s help the training, Neelima effectively independently. This is a and encouragement, Neelima

Adorned in a colorful sari, knowledge on how to effectively wider village community felt that Neelima Rani, 30, has a sparkling grow produce, the family faced she had the good will of the smile and cheerful manner. A an almost daily struggle to feed people and a deep set mother of two daughters, both their two young daughters. motivation stemming from her of whom attend the local village Often times, Neelima reminisces, family’s economic vulnerability school, in Koyra Upazila yields did not produce enough to excel in this new role. (sub-district) located in the for the family to eat, let alone “It was like being thrown a south west coastal region of sell at the local market. lifeline when we had no hope “I am proud of my wife. Things have changed for us economically and also within the house. Something has Bangladesh, Neelima is a pioneer ‘My consuming worry was for left. I am forever grateful to changed within me too – now I help my wife with chores that I never would have even six months ago. I even in her local community. In large my daughters; how to feed those who felt I can do justice help collect water on the days that Neelima has her producer group meetings!” part, this is thanks to her role as them and provide them with and help our village by becoming a lead farmer for a climate smart basic necessities. We struggled a lead farmer” demonstration plot established to exist for so long. ’ Neelima embraced her new role applied her newly acquired skills especially for their daughters. Jatra project, Neelima has been by the USAID funded ‘Nobo In 2016, a glimmer of hope as student, earnestly and the couple began to grow Neelima has ambitions to able to drastically alter the Jatra – new beginning’ project presented itself to Neelima’s participating in training provided tomatoes and okra. establish and run a successful course of her family’s path and led by World Vision Bangladesh. vulnerable family when she was by Nobo Jatra on sustainable “I am proud of my wife. Things agro farm using all the skills and transform into a respected and Rewind one year, and Neelima’s identified as a lead farmer by her production techniques including have changed for us economically practices that she has learned as valuable community leader. circumstances alter drastically. A local community for a Nobo practices and inputs that are and also within the house. a lead farmer. For the first time Beyond her role as a lead farmer, dedicated housewife and mother, Jatra established climate smart climate resilient and promote Something has changed within me ever, Neelima is planning for the Neelima is often consulted by working hard at chores whilst demonstration plot. This was a resource conservation. Climate too – now I help my wife with future, considering how to neighbors on healthcare issues. also trying to help her husband, remarkable and unexpected Smart Agriculture forms the chores that I never would have develop a standard collection Throughout the incredible and Haridash, grow a small amount opportunity as rural Bangladeshi crux of Nobo Jatra’s portfolio of even six months ago. I even help point for wholesale and retailers rewarding journey, Neelima’s of vegetables in the land the women often find it difficult to activities under Agriculture and collect water on the days that to ensure that the produce from sights have never wavered from family own. With the high levels explore roles beyond that of Livelihoods given the south west Neelima has her producer group her producer groups are her children and the future. of salinity in the water conventional housewife due to coastal region’s unsustainable meetings!” marketed at full capacity. symptomatic of south west entrenched social norms. levels of salinity, persistent The couple now look to the With support from World Vision Bangladesh along with limited Neelima’s neighbors and the future with hopes and dreams Bangladesh through the Nobo

7 “I want to help all the women in my village and beyond to learn skills and receive training from Nobo Jatra to grow our own produce and stand on our own two feet. All women can have hope that there is a future without hunger and uncertainty. We must all pull together and do this for our children, our future generations.”

For More Information Contact: National Office Address: Rakesh Katal World Vision Bangladesh Chief of Party-Nobo Jatra Abedin Tower (2nd floor) [email protected] 35, Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Dhaka -1213, Bangladesh. Tel : 9821004-11 Fax : (8802) 8815180 Design & Layout: Juliet Mondol, Comunications Dept., WVB This newsletter is is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) . The contents are the responsibility of World Vision Bangladesh and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.