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OXFAM IN BANGLADESH
OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015
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Snehal V. Soneji
Country Director
Oxfam in Bangladesh
I believe that we are well on our way to meet this deadline. It will also allow us to put women at the heart of all we
do more clearly and to make our programming more evidence based. We will be able to demonstrate better, how
the issues of youth, middle class, urbanisation and technology are integral to all our programming. It also puts us on
a good path to raise funds by tapping into large opportunities presented by Tenders and Bids. As the external
context of Bangladesh changes, we need to gear up to keep our programmes relevant to the needs of the country.
The challenge ahead of us is to build on the great heritage that Oxfam has in Bangladesh. I can feel that we as a
team are ready to be on the cutting edge of development in the country and move out of our comfort zones. After
all, we have to do something that we have never done to get something that we have never had impact at large
scale relevant to the poor of Bangladesh today. We are ready for it! Happy New Year once again!
The CBO Convention was started with the National Anthem of Bangladesh
The Inspiring Session gave opportunities the local representatives to informally share and openly discuss the
experiences in improving their conditions. Open discussion was held mainly with the people and representatives
coming from Charlands (riverine islands) and interactive discussions were organized with CBO representatives.
Advocate Sultana Kamal, Executive Director, Ain o Salish Kendra, Khondokar Ibrahim Khaled, Deputy Governor,
Bangladesh Bank, Ayesha Khanam, President, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Shaheen Anam, Executive Director,
Manusher Jonno Foundation, Mostafa
Jabbar, ICT specialist were the
notable persons presented in the
session. Open discussion with Char
people informed the audience that
education, safe water supply,
development of disaster shelters,
communication systems, violence
against women, women friendly
market facilities and management,
land management in charland areas
where erosion and accretion is active,
CBO registration issues are some
areas where attention is required for
Oxfam in Bangladesh Country Director Snehal V. Soneji spoke in the inaugural
improvements through government
and closing session
and non-government efforts. The
Create area specific development plan and allocated necessary budgets in order to ensure rights and
entitlements of the poor and marginalized people living in Haor, Charlands and Coastal areas of
Bangladesh.
2.
Provide registration of CBOs working in remote locations of Bangladesh and facilitate them so that they can
engage in income generating activities and also allow them accessing necessary resources in this regard.
3.
Provide support from government and private sectors (like develop policy, create markets, put in place
market monitoring processes etc.) to ensure proper value of the product (with necessary profit) produced by
women.
4.
Recognize women as farmers who are engaged in agriculture sector. Create provisions that support and
promote womens participation in family level decision making process, increase capacity and extended
opportunities and ensure womens control over asset/resources
5.
Enhance the services of Agriculture Extension to develop women friendly agriculture technology and tools
and facilitate the use of these technologies by the women farmers
6.
Ensure special credit facilities with low interest rate for agricultural production (crop production, raising
livestock and poultry, fishery development). Develop service center in the local area and so that these
centers can provide necessary support for protecting and promoting livestock resources
7.
Take measures and allocate necessary financial resources to reduce mother and child mortality. Supply
river ambulance and create provisions like makeshift hospitals for giving better health facilities. Develop new
and rehabilitate the existing community health care centers (clinics) for better treatment facilities and engage
both government and private sector resources in this regard
8.
Take measures that ensure arsenic mitigation and supply safe drinking water. Ensure proper sanitation
facilities for the communities living in remote and isolated locations of the country
9.
Create education facilities for children, provide transportation facilities where communication difficulties
create hindrances for children to access to school
10.
Develop cyclone shelters with necessary modern facilities in coastal island areas. Develop strong
relationships with Bangladesh water Development Board (BWDB) so that they pay attention in constructing
and rehabilitating coastal embankments that will protect people and resources from cyclone and salinity
impacts
11.
12.
Ensure access of poor and marginalized communities to public land, water and forest resources. Take steps
that will help women to enjoy more privileges in receiving leaseholds for share-cropping farming exercises
13.
Take necessary measure to improve the life and livelihoods of fisher-folk communities
14.
Take actions to stimulate the activities Haor development Board and create similar kind of board for Coastal
and Islands (river and offshore) areas
15.
Ensure good governance at grassroots level for protecting rights and entitlements of marginal people under
the leadership of elected representatives. Take steps to end the interference of central government into local
government processes and functions
16.
Develop and implement labor law for the people working in informal sectors of the economy
17.
Take necessary measures that will ensure corruption free operation of social safety net and peoples
empowerment projects.
16 days of Activism
Oxfam with 18 partners of GWL programme celebrated 16 Days of Activism all over the country with the UN
theme of this year ORANGE THE WORLD STOP ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND
GIRLS. Oxfam also organised national level events with WE CAN and SANGAT (South Asian Feminist Network).
Along with this Oxfamily also celebrated the 16 days of activism at country office level. Here is some picture of the
activism:
TEN MINUTES WITH Dr. Larry Stillman and Dr. Tom Demision
Dr. Larry Stillman and Dr. Tom Demision from Monash University visited Bangladesh on OctoberNovember 2015 for PROTIC, a participatory action research intervention of Oxfam and Monash
University. The objective of PROTIC is to empower the community voice using digital scope of
knowledge sharing specifically on agriculture for resilience. We asked them about the challenges and
possibilities of working in Bangladesh
How long have you been coming to
Bangladesh and what brought you to
Bangladesh this time?
I first came to Bangladesh in April last year as
part of a needs assessment for the PROTIC
project. This was my 5th visit to Bangladesh.
This visit was to conduct consultations with
villagers and other project partners and engage
in intensive planning as part of the PROTIC visit.
What stage are you at with the PROTIC
project?
Dr. Larry Stillman and Dr. Tom Demision from Monash University
Given the change in security, how did you work around that, especially since you had to cancel your field
trips?
We held meetings this time in Dhaka, which was very disappointing, because rural Bangladesh as everyone knows,
is a completely different place. It is so beautiful, like nothing one can imagine from Australia. But we got a lot of
work done with rural village leadership and NGO representatives. In fact, we probably got more done than usual
because we could not go anywhere! We also got taken out a few times, thank goodness, as I have some favourite
shops and markets.
What are some of the challenges, as well as strengths, of working in Bangladesh?
Of course, the security situation and political instability is always a challenge, but we are guided by what Oxfam and
partners inform us what is possible. Coming to terms with a different culture and language is not too much of a
problem for me, nor is the reality of extreme inequality. I am used to this sort of situation, and in some ways, I thrive
on needing to be extra sensitive to different ways of seeing the world and doing things. That is what makes action
research so interesting.
There have been several strengths for me.
The first is the talent and skills shown not just in the Oxfam office, but the other NGOs we come in touch with, as
well as the universities. There is a longstanding history of Participatory Action Research (key to the PROTIC
project), and it is a wonderful thing to be able to learn about it. As well as that, the skills of village people
themselves are impressive and we have been learning a lot. I also learn a huge amount from the locally published
development literature, and people are very willing to share their viewpoints with us.
But a challenge is to come to terms with a more traditional and hierarchical and traditionally gendered culture. As an
outsider, I really don't have any right to interfere in the ways things are done. All I can do is make suggestions and
try to gently influence. It is a very delicate balance, and of course, at the same time, the local culture influences my
thinking on many things, such as the nature of change, gendered relationships and so on.
OXFAM is the recipient of the Bangladesh Freedom Honour award for its
contribution to the country in the Liberation War in 1971. In 1971, OXFAM
implemented a relief programme for up to 600,000 of the ten million refugees
who had fled from Bangladesh to India and were staying in many of the over
900 refugee camps in the border areas of India and Bangladesh. Oxfam also
published the Testimony of Sixty that aimed at appealing to the world leaders
to stand against the atrocities, oppression and genocide operated by Pakistani
army during our war of Independence in 1971.
Find the article of Julian Francis was the responsibility to lead the relief
programme in 1971 in the link:
http://opinion.bdnews24.com/2012/03/25/receiving-the-bangladesh-freedomhonour-some-emotions-and-reflections/
Find the Testimony of Sixty here:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/130825631/The-Testimony-of-Sixty
Bulbul Akter
Age: 25 years
Husband Name: Ansarullah
Address: Srimura Village, Chakmarkul Union
of Ramu Upazilla, Coxs Bazar
The flood water came so surprisingly that
Bulbul Akhter and her husband could not
realize what they should do. As the water level
rose so quickly they had to move from their
house to a safer place leaving all their
household belongings. For the next 20 days
she and her family stayed in the nearby
cyclone centre. When they came back they
saw everything was abolished. Only the pillars
of their houses were standing.
Bulbul Akter with her daughter in front of her home
Dilbar Begum
Age: 30 years
Husband Name: Md. Selim
Address: Srimura Village, Chakmarkul
Union of Ramu Upazilla, Coxs Bazar
In the flood Dilbar Begums house has
been inundated three times. The flood
water hanged about a month. Hence,
Dilbur along with her husband and 6
children took shelter into the nearest
cyclone shelter of Ali Hossain Sikderpara
village of Chakmarpul union. When the
water was declining they went to see the
condition of the home. They became really
distraught to see that their small grocery
shop was damaged and her hens and
ducks flooded away. Dilbar lost all her income generating activities through which she maintained the maximum
expenditure for flooding and education of her children. Her husband was working in a tea stall. He was unable to
manage all of the expenditure of the family. They were passing the most hurtful days for Dilbars family. She got
chira, muri and 8 kg rice only from Union Parishad as relief.
However, Dilbars bad days did not last long. With the support of
Oxfam she managed to overcome her loss within 2 months. From
the RESPONSE project she received 9000/- as unconditional cash
grant support by two instalments of mobile money transfer (MMT).
With the cash support she brought 50 kg rice, pulses, sugar, oil and
vegetables by using 2000 tk; three hens and one duck by 1500 taka
and betel nut by 1500tk. Besides, she invested BDT 4000 in her
grocery shop. With the additional earning of Bulbuls investments,
her family life is just about reinstated now. Dilbar said, Since the
cash grant did not have any condition on how would I spent, I used it
in income generating activities. She added, Now I firmly believe
that women are generally capable of making their own decisions and
they do it considering the best interests of themselves, their children
and their families.
Kulsum Akter
Age: 30 years
Husband: Abdul Khaleq
Location: Mithachari Union of Ramu Upazilla, Coxs Bazar
Kulsum Akter can still remember the smile on her husbands face when he first saw their sons face. After
consecutive 3 girls, Ashraful was their first boy. Thats why, he was the most adorable child of his parents.
Ashrafuls father decided to send him school and make him educated. But he was a carpenter. The family was
passing their days in poverty with numbers unfulfilled dreams. But, there were peace in their life. The only reason
was Ashraful and his presence. This year he became 4 years old. So, Kulsum and her husband started to save
money for Ashraful to get admission at school.
But, the flood blew up all of their long cherished dreams. The flood water entered into their home. However, they did
not shift from their home. Their kids were enjoying playing in the water. One day, Kulsum was sewing and her
husband was at work. Suddenly, their eldest daughter came to her. She was shouting with scared face, Mother,
Mother... the flood water is taking away Ashraful! Kulsum went to the river side to find out Ashraful. But it was too
late. Kulsum and her family are still waiting for Ashraful despite of knowing that he never come back anymore.
The full family was fallen into deep grief. Both Kulsum and her husband knew that Asraful was their only hope for
their future. The family had 3 other girl-children also. But girls will no longer be with their parents after marriage. So,
Kulsum had nothing to do except mourning for Ashraful.
http://jamunanews24.com/2015/10/13/52649.php
System-5 presentation
Oxfam team celebrated the GROW Week with supporting the rights and recognition of women
farmers in Bangladesh in October 2015. Our Country Director Snehal V. Soneji showed his
solidarity with GROW Week in Bangladesh and across the world.
Change in matrix and direct reporting line is taking time to be well adopted. Sometimes its become difficult
to the team to understand the process, especially for some positions those are under matrix management,
therefore ways of working should be more defined and clear.
Lots of open discussion and supportive atmosphere is needed in the team to create a better work platform.
Change process carrying some legacy, which will take time to embedding with the new system.
Some new managers or new roles are struggling to get acceptability and adapt with the process. Individual
leadership helped to do faster work in many cases. Flow of information used to be better in the team for that
reason change process got a mixed reaction, it needs time to be well adopted.
Improvement Areas and Recommendations:
To make the one programme concept more operational, more active participation, open communication and effort is
needed. Country level induction is required on better understanding of one Oxfam goal.
Matrix management issues are to be cleared with specific direction on reporting line, performance management,
ways of work to be established to get better outcome. People management issues should be given concentration
like supportive supervisory role to create enabling environment.
To contribute and know more about other teams - joint field visit, integration of programme can be done.
Gender sensitiveness should be embedded in the culture. Appreciation and celebration to success should be done
widely; sense of shared responsibility should be created for any success and failure.
All staff meeting should take place bi-Monthly or Monthly with reporting to their contribution to the organizational
goal, OSAB should sit with all the staffs regularly.
Top level (CLT) has to motivate the team and follow up One Oxfam and country objective.
Work should be delegated, challenge others ideas, capacity and create opportunity to improve. Well planning,
flexibility in approach, continual improvement is needed.
Initiate to capacity building and management plan to find gap between expected competency level and existing level
also to fill up those gaps in proactive manner. Additional need of human resources should be considered, due to
increased volume of workload and ensure proper monitoring.
Leaders should present themselves as role model, treating all in the same manner and organizational wide practice
of not maintaining hierarchy should be more focused.
Oxfam need to focus on rebuilding its image in next couple of years. We need to generate ideas on how to be more
public focused on new programme design, innovating third generation programme, more dynamic partnership
approach and single theory of change. The change formula should be applicable to all programmes which will
create greater acceptability.
Volunteer
Nuzhat Niaz
Muhammad Al Amin
Bayezid Khan
Monira Shamsunnahar
Roai Ranan
Subarna Shaha
Nazmun Nahar
Gender Manager
Priodarshine Auvi
Shamim Iftekhar
Pulak Chakma
New position/promotion
Project Coordinator - ICT &
Tapas Ranjan Chakraborty
Development
Sultana Nasrin
Sr. Program Officer
Md. Mostafa Ali
Ashish Barua
Anindita Sarker
Secondment
Murshida Akhter
Monisha Biswas
Team Away
Separation
Saikat Biswas
Project Coordinator
Abdul Awal
Project Officer
Ferdousi Akter
Project Officer
Md. Nimul
Maksuda Begum
Shah Alom
Finance Officer
Volunteer
(Communication)
Office Attendant
Sanjida Islam
Volunteer-HR
Tasha Black
23 25 February 2016
Contact: Bubul Ahmed
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