Intervention(s)
The project is implemented by UNDP Bangladesh in the districts of Khulna and Satkhira. This impact study focusses on two interventions of the project: the "adaptive livelihoods" component (LH), and the "drinking water" component (DW).
The DW component consists mainly of constructing rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS), ensuring water supply during the dry season. The use is exclusively directed at drinking water, not at water resources for agriculture, cooking or personal hygiene. The RWHS can be installed in appropriate sizes at the household level, community level or institutional level. The plan is to install 13,308 RWHS at the household level, for which a small co-financing is required (this could also be contributed in-kind by helping to build the RWHS); 228 RWHS at the community level, each covering approximately 25–50 households (e.g. at mosques, temples or other community buildings); 19 RWHS at the institutional level, each covering approximately 75–100 households (e.g. at schools or other government institutions); and 41 pond embankments and filtration systems. At least 20 per cent of target households in each ward should receive a household-level RWHS. Water user groups and water management committees will be formed to ensure sustainable planning and maintenance of the water solutions.
The LH component targets exclusively women. They will be organized into Women livelihood groups (WLGs) of approximately 25 women each, for a total of 1,017 WLGs. Each WLG will jointly select three out of eight adaptive livelihood options, according to their preferences, for which they will be trained as a group. After completion of the training, they will be asked to select two out of the three LHs they were trained on, for which they will receive the necessary input. The eight LH options were selected with the goal of being appropriate for women’s engagement and empowerment as well as suitable for local market conditions. There are three production cycles: for the first cycle, in-kind support for the necessary inputs will be received; for the second cycle, a cash transfer from the Government of Bangladesh (around BDT 20,000 [USD 235] per beneficiary) will be received; for the third cycle, loans can be taken up by a microfinance institution to slowly phase in financial independence.