Resilience, Empower, Support and Opportunity for Underprivileged communities to Reduce Climate-Change Effects (RESOURCE) project
Reduce, Empower, Support and Opportunity for Underprivileged communities to Reduce Climate-Change Effects (RESOURCE) current phase project has been implemented by Nabolok with 2,000 direct beneficiaries (Female 1,600+Male 400) in 37 villages under 4 unions namely Shonaitala, Chandpai, Mithakhali and Sundorbon under Mongla Upazila of Bagerhat district. The number of indirect beneficiaries is 8,360 (family members of the direct beneficiaries).
A total of 80 village level groups (60 Female+20 Male) and four (4) Union level People’s Organizations have been functioning since inception of the project. Each village level group is comprised of 25 members. The group has management committee comprises of three members. Each PO is comprised of 20 members (One representative from each village level group).
Mongla Upazila with an area of 1461.22 km borders Rampal Upazila on the north, the Bay of Bengal on the south, Morrelganj and Sarankhola Upazilas on the east and Dacope Upazila on the west. The main rivers are Pasur and Mongla. Mongla town stands on the river Pashur. It is the second biggest seaport of the country. Majority people of the project area are climate vulnerable. Climate induced changes such as extreme cyclone, severe floods, river erosion, excessive or sometimes in excessive rainfall and overwhelming salinity intrusion and scarcity of safe drinking water are the major issues of the project area. Nabolok through the implementation of the RESOURCE project has been trying to improve the adaptive capacity of the target people.
Major Interventions:
Jari & Folk Songs
Total 16 Pot, jari song and Folk Songs has been performed in this period to convey different messages to the community on climate change. These pots have been prepared on 2016 and. All the community of the project area are aware through this cultural shows.
Inter school debate and art competition on climate change impact
1 Inter school debate and art competitions have been undertaken in the reporting period highlighting both manmade and natural reasons behind climate change and its impact among the community children as well as raise awareness among their family member.
Coordination meeting with UDMC members
2 coordination meetings took place by UDMC members of 4 unions to share experience, working method and undertake development plan on climate change and environmental issues.
Climate durable house
Among the people who are in higher risk (as per the risk and vulnerability assessment) has been provided with 40 climate durable houses so that their vulnerability can be lessen.
Community basedRain Water Harvesting System (RWHS)
Total 6 Community based Rain Water Harvesting System has been established in 4 unions. The site has been selected on priority basis where scarcity of safe drinking water is higher and women have to go a long way (3-5 km) for collecting water. 25 families (about 125 people) are getting service from per Community based RWHS plant and capacity is 30000 liter. So total 750 people of 150 families are getting safe water from RWHS who are also responsible for any kind of maintenance. The women of those families will lessen their burden for carrying water from long distances and other community people can replicate this system.
Demonstration farm on Mele cultivation
1 demo farm has been established leasing land of 290 decimal) for mele cultivation. This initiative has been newly introduced as ALO and the community contribution is 20%.
Training on Tailoring for potential women
100 potential women member have received 75 day tailoring training to develop entrepreneurship and adopt as livelihood options in case of voluntary or non voluntary out migration.
Distribution of solar panel for promoting renewable energy
200 solar have been distributed among those families having no electricity connection and having school going children and provide 25% contribution in cash.
Achievement
In the reporting period, risk and vulnerability score of 55% of the high and medium risk households have reduced by at least 8% while 37% cumulative as compared to baseline score/ situation. Beneficiaries have strengthened their economic condition and lessen risk and vulnerability score simultaneously through raising house plinth, planting trees and saving for emergency purpose.
In the reporting period at least 10% while 52% cumulatively of target beneficiary families have convenient access to safe water (for drinking and household uses) and hardship of women in collecting water of 45% target beneficiary families has reduced by at least 3% and 14% cumulatively as compared to baseline situation. Pond excavation and Community based rain water harvesting plant has provided convenient access to safe water and lessen hardship of women by making it nearer to them.
4 peoples organizations have been established but still they cannot be considered as a social force in their communities. Now they are advocating with upazila administration against saline water intrusion in the upazila, against stagnant of saline water and removal of it. Apart from that, they are participating in campaigns as well as programs of the project.
