April 2014 Report How do social safety nets contribute to social inclusion in Bangladesh? Evidence from the Chars Livelihoods Programme and the Vulnerable Group Development programme Omar Faruque Siddiki1, Rebecca Holmes2, Ferdous Jahan1, Fahim Subhan Chowdhury1 and Jessica Hagen-Zanker2 1BRAC Development Institute, 2ODI This study uses a social exclusion lens to analyse the effects of the Chars Livelihoods Programme in the chars and the Vulnerable Group Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. It tests assumptions about the role social protection can play in contributing to social inclusion and poverty reduction. The study used mixed methods and employed a quasi-experimental impact evaluation. The findings show that both the programmes have some positive effects on the immediate outcomes of social exclusion and poverty, particularly in terms of strengthening livelihood opportunities, improving food security, and strengthening social participation. However, limitations to the impact of these programmes on tackling the structural causes of exclusion and poverty are evident. Shaping policy for development odi.org Preface This report is part of a wider research project that assessed the effectiveness and relevance of social protection and labour programmes in promoting social inclusion in South Asia. The research was undertaken in collaboration with partner organisations in four countries, examining BRAC’s life skills education and livelihoods trainings for young women in Afghanistan, the Chars Livelihoods Programme and the Vulnerable Group Development Programme in Bangladesh, India’s National Health Insurance Programme (RSBY) in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and the Child Grant in the Karnali region of Nepal. Reports and briefings for each country and a paper providing cross-country analysis and drawing out lessons of relevance for regional and international policy can be found at: www.odi.org/sp-inclusion. International policy paper, briefing and background note Babajanian, B., Hagen-Zanker, J., and Holmes, R. (2014) How do social protection and labour programmes contribute to social inclusion? Evidence from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal. ODI Report. London: ODI. Babajanian, B., Hagen-Zanker, J., and Holmes, R. (2014) Can social protection and labour programmes contribute to social inclusion? Evidence from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal. ODI Briefing. London: ODI. Babajanian, B., and Hagen-Zanker, J. (2012) Social protection and social exclusion: an analytical framework to assess the links. ODI Background Note. London: ODI. Country reports Adhikari, T.P., Thapa, F.B., Tamrakar, S., Magar, P.B., Hagen-Zanker, J., and Babajanian, B. (2014) How does social protection contribute to social inclusion in Nepal? Evidence from the Child Grant in the Karnali Region. ODI Report. London: ODI. Echavez, C., Babajanian, B., Hagen-Zanker, J., Akter, S., and Bagaporo, J.L. (2014) How do labour programmes contribute to social inclusion in Afghanistan? Evidence from BRAC’s life skills education and livelihoods trainings for young women. ODI Report. London: ODI. Sabharwal, N.S., Mishra, V.K., Naik, A.K., Holmes, R., and Hagen-Zanker, J. (2014) How does social protection contribute to social inclusion in India? Evidence from the National Health Insurance Programme (RSBY) in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. ODI Report. London: ODI. Siddiki, O.F., Holmes, R., Jahan, F., Chowdhury, F.S., and Hagen-Zanker, J. (2014) How do safety nets contribute to social inclusion in Bangladesh? Evidence from the Chars Livelihoods Programme and the Vulnerable Group Development programme. ODI Report. London: ODI. Country briefings Adhikari, T.P., Hagen-Zanker, J., and Babajanian, B. (2014) The contribution of Nepal’s Child Grant to social inclusion in the Karnali region. Country briefing. London: ODI. Echavez, C., Babajanian, B., and Hagen-Zanker, J., (2014) The contribution of BRAC’s life skills education and livelihoods trainings to social inclusion in Afghanistan. Country Briefing. London: ODI. Sabharwal, N.S., Mishra, V.K., Naik, A.K., Holmes, R., and Hagen-Zanker, J. (2014) The contribution of India’s National Health Insurance Programme (RSBY) to social inclusion in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Country Briefing. London: ODI. Siddiki, O.F., Holmes, R., Jahan, F., Chowdhury, F.S., and Hagen-Zanker, J. (2014) The contribution of the Chars Livelihoods Programme and the Vulnerable Group Development programme to social inclusion in Bangladesh. Country Briefing. London: ODI. Acknowledgements Many thanks to all the team members who worked on this report, including Shamal Chandra Karmaker for previous quantitative data analysis; Khobair Hossain for support in the qualitative data entry in MAXQDA and in assisting the analysis; and all field supervisors and enumerators. The authors are also grateful to members of the stakeholder network, who provided valuable inputs throughout the project including Shamoli Samaj Kollan Sangstha (SSKS), Mohidev Jubo Samaj Kollan Samiti (MJSKS), Gono Unnayan Kendra (GUK), Pratay, WASPA and the Chars Livelihoods Programme. Thanks also go to Dharini Bhuvanendra for research support; Munshi Sulaiman (BRAC Africa Programme), Lucy Scott (ODI), Rachel Slater (ODI) and Babken Babajanian (ODI) for their insightful peer review comments on an earlier draft of this paper; to Roo Griffiths and Aaron Griffiths for providing editorial support; and to Nicholas Mathers and Franziska Schwarz for project management, editing and formatting support. We would also like to thank all the respondents and key informants who took the time to make this research possible. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union and the Australian Government. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of ODI and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or the Australian Government. Table of contents Abbreviations iii Executive summary iv 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Overview of the research 1 1.2 Rationale for the research 2 1.3 Structure of the paper 3 2 Analytical and research approach 4 2.1 Analytical approach 4 2.2 Research approach 5 2.2.1 Research questions 5 2.2.2 Research hypothesis 6 2.2.3 Research methodology 8 2.2.4 Description of the sample 9 3 Case study 1: the Chars Livelihoods Programme 12 3.1 Social exclusion and poverty in the chars: an overview 12 3.2 The Chars Livelihoods Programme 13 3.3 Key findings on CLP’s contribution to social inclusion 14 3.3.1 Effects of CLP on economic livelihood opportunities in the chars 14 3.3.2 Effect on household food security 18 3.3.3 Effects of CLP on community participation and social relations 20 3.3.4 Effect of CLP on state–society relations in the chars 23 4 Case study 2: the Vulnerable Group Development programme in the Chittagong Hill Tracts 26 4.1 Social exclusion and poverty in the Chittagong Hill Tracts: an overview 26 4.2 The Vulnerable Group Development Programme 28 4.3 Findings on VGD’s contribution to social inclusion 29 4.3.1 Effects of VGD on economic livelihood opportunities in CHT 29 4.3.2 Effect on household food security 33 4.3.3 Effects of VGD on community participation and social relations 35 4.3.4 Effect of VGD on state–society relations in CHT 38 5 Discussion of key findings: social safety nets’ contribution to social inclusion 43 5.1 Impacts of CLP and VGD on social inclusion 43 5.2 Contribution to addressing the drivers of social exclusion 44 6 Conclusions and policy implications 46 References 49 Annex 1: Research Methodology 53 Annex 2: Propensity score matching results for CLP and VGD 70 Annex 3: CLP descriptive statistics additional tables 75 Annex 4: VGD descriptive statistics additional tables 83 How do social safety nets contribute to social inclusion in Bangladesh? i Figures Figure 1: Map of Bangladesh (research areas) 2 Figure 2: Reponses to the question: Has receiving CLP helped you with financing one or more of the following? (% of beneficiaries) 17 Figure 3: CLP beneficiaries’ perceptions on changes in food consumption patterns (% of beneficiaries) 18 Figure 4: Change in CLP beneficiaries’ perceived participation in social activities as a result of receiving CLP transfer (% of beneficiaries of who reported a positive change) 21 Figure 5: Changes in confidence levels interacting with community members and officials after receiving CLP benefits (% of beneficiaries) 22 Figure 6: How important is the village or neighbourhood welfare for the local / central government (% of respondents)? 23 Figure 7: Beneficiaries perceptions on the government after the introduction of CLP 24 Figure 8: VGD beneficiaries’ perceptions on changes in food consumption patterns (% of respondents) 35 Figure 9: Change in VGD beneficiaries’ participation in social activities as a result of receiving VGD transfer (% of respondents) 36 Figure 10: Changes in confidence levels interacting with community members and official after receiving VGD benefits (% of beneficiaries) 38 Figure 11: How important is the village or neighbourhood welfare for the local/central government (% of respondents) 39 Figure 12: Beneficiaries perceptions on the government after the introduction of VGD (% of beneficiaries) 41 Tables Table 1: Direct and indirect outcomes of safety net interventions (CLP and VGD) 6 Table 2: Outcome dimensions and indicators 8 Table 3: An overview of the research methodology 9 Table 4: Description of the sample 11 Table 5: Income poverty indicators in the chars 12 Table 6: Impact