Prevalence of poverty in Bangladesh is high[1], and for most of the people, it is very difficult to secure water, food, fodder, medicine, shelter, clothing and the capacity to acquire above necessities working either individually or as a group by using endowments (both human and material) for meeting the requirements of the self and his/her household on a sustainable basis with dignity. From its experience, LH has identified a number of factors limiting livelihood security i.e. livelihood shocks (price hikes and natural disasters, for example); Social, Economic and Political Context; and limited resources for livelihood. More particular causes of disadvantaged people’s livelihood insecurity includes: a) inadequate scope to determine their own future as well as to access financial resources and influence institutions and decision making process; b) limited access to appropriate skills and technologies; c) limited access to, and control over, natural resources; d) inequitable access to food and labor markets; and e) vulnerability to disasters, both short and long term, including climate change. In response to the above context, LH wants to ensure sustain wellbeing of the community, especially women-led households and enhance their economic development.
Considering the situation of the constituents, for reaching the above mentioned goal of the sector, LH identified five (5) major challenges i.e. i) Accessibility to financial resources, appropriate skills and technologies for the targeted constituents; ii) Accessibility to employment and income generating activities for the sexual minority groups, socially excluded communities, ethnic minority communities, PWDs, acid survivors, victims of human trafficking, and disadvantaged rural women; iii) Availability of information related to livelihood for the targeted constituents; iv) Sound supply chain of quality agro products, ensuring fair prices for both the consumers and the producers; and v) Empowerment of individuals with the essential skills of numeracy, communication and problem solving. Under this SP, LH will initiate the following strategic interventions for overcoming the above challenges.
- Providing micro-credit, training and post training supports for undertaking production, self-employment and income generating activities.
- Encouraging enrolment of women in technical and vocational education and creating such opportunities for them through appropriate facilities extended by LH and other public/private service providers.
- Forming and strengthening cooperatives for livestock development including cattle raring and beef fattening.
- Undertaking programmers on vermi post, composting organic farming and biogas production from cow dung poultry droppings and organic wastes; through piloting and promotional activities.
- Developing and strengthening women led SMEs by taking an appropriate Selective approach to SME development; supporting the entrepreneurs in overcoming structural bottlenecks pertaining to physical and infrastructural facilities, energy, and technology; supporting in accessing to necessary inputs including credit and market information; and creating skilled human resources through technical and vocational education.
- Influencing legislature for determining specific objectives concerning needs and concerns of ethnic minority people and sexual minority groups in mainstream policies of relevant ministries/ divisions.
- Making information on agricultural and other livelihood services available for the targeted constituents through grassroots outlets of LH.
- Developing agriculture value chain through cooperatives by promoting cooperative entrepreneurship, forming cooperatives and linking those with Cooperative Training Institutions, providing support to direct marketing of agricultural products, awareness building and motivational activities for cooperative members on different aspects of production including quality and hygiene.
- Influencing legislature for Reforming Bangladesh Cooperative Bank and Central Cooperative Banks; rebuilding central cooperative banks for its optimum use, and for making necessary amendment in cooperative act and law.
- Fostering social changes through NFE especially literacy and continuing education for adults and youths including life skills & livelihood skills development.
[1] Incidences of poverty and extreme poverty are respectively 24.8% and 12.9% among the population, in 2015, according to the 7th FYP.