BEES Annual Report 2007-08 edited by Anirudha Alam

8/7/2019 BEES Annual Report 2007-08 edited by Anirudha Alam

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IDA International Development

Agency

IDC Information and Development

CommunicationMATS Medical Assistance Technology

SchoolMCH-FP Maternal and Child Health-

Family PlanningME Micro Enterprise

MFMSF Micro Finance for Marginal andSmall FarmersMFTS Micro Finance and Technical

SupportMMR Maternal Mortality RateMO Medical OfficerMOPME Ministry of Primary and Mass

EducationNEARS Network for Ensuring

Adolescent Reproductive Rightand Services

NGO Non-Government OrganizationNID National Immunization DayNNP National Nutrition ProgrammeODA Official DevelopmentAssistanceOSD Occupational Skills

DevelopmentPAP Poverty Alleviation ProgramPKSF Palli Karma Sahayak

FoundationPLCEHD Post Literacy and Continuing

Education forHuman Development

PNC Postnatal CarePS Program SupervisorRDP Rural Development ProgramREM R esearch, Evaluation and

MonitoringRLF Revolving Loan FundRMC Rural Micro CreditROSC Reaching Out of School

ChildrenRPF Rural Production FarmRTI Reproductive Tract InfectionSAP Social Assistance Program

SDF Social Development FoundationSIPP Social Investment Program

ProjectSM Social MobilizerSRLP Socio-economic Rehabilitation

Loan ProjectSTD Sexually Transmitted DiseaseTB TuberclosisTBA Trained Birth AttendantTOT Training of TrainerTT Tetanus ToxoidUM Unit ManagerUP Union ParishadUPP Ultra Poor ProgramUMC Urban Micro CreditUN United NationsVDC Village Development

CommitteeVG Vulnerable GroupWATSAN Water and SanitationWGM Weight and Growth MonitoringWI Winrock InternationalWUSC World University Services of

Canada

IEC Information, Education and

Communication

IFR Infant Mortality Rate

IGA Income Generating Activities

IUD Intra Uterine Device

ABCN Area Based Community Nutrition

ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution

AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency

Syndrome

AM Area Manager

ANC Antenatal Care

ARI Acute Respiratory Infection

ATTP Agricultural Technology

Transfer ProjectBARC Bangladesh Agriculture

Research Council

BCC Behavioral Change and

Communication

BEES Bangladesh Extension

Education Services

BKB Bangladesh Krishi Bank

BMI Body Mass Index

BNFB Bureau of Non-Formal

Education

BP Blood Pressure

BPHC Bangladesh Population and

Health Consortium

BRDB Bogra Rural DevelopmentProject

CAR Contraceptive Acceptance Rate

CBD Community Based Distribution

CBHP Community Based Health

Project

CC Clinical Contraceptive

CDD Control of Diarrhoeal Disease

CE Continuing Education

CIDA Canadian International

Development Agency

CNC Community Nutrition Centre

CNO Community Nutrition

Organizer

CNP Community Nutrition PromoterCRWRC Christian Reformed World

Relief Committee

DAE Department of Agricultural

Extension

DFID Department for International

Development

DMF Diploma in Medical Faculty

EPI Expanded Program for

Immunization

ERP Education Resource Provider

ESP Education Service Provider

FO Field Organizer

FSP Financial Services for the

PoorestGOB Government of Bangladesh

GMP Growth Monitoring and

Promotion

HIV Human Immune Deficiency Virus

HNPSP Health, Nutrition and

Population Sector Program

HPSP Health and Population Sector

Program

HRD Human Resource Development

HSA Health Service Activities

AcronymsAcronyms


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Note of theExecutiveDirectorThrough a development lens, scaling up life skill in dealing with challenges is the

prime precondition of self-sustaining livelihood. In view of that, BEES set about in

1975 as a project of Christian Reformed World Relief Committee with a dynamic

spirit to protect the disadvantaged and poor community people from undesired

destitution as a whole. Since then, we have been going the miles for unlocking the

value of neglected human resources. Being well-equipped with timely and demand

driven approaches, BEES has been fueling progress in improving the livelihoods of

more than 40 lac disadvantaged people in 31 districts of Bangladesh. Nowadays in

its thirty third year of existence, it has been translated into a thriving gateway to

sustainable development.

With a long term presence at community level, BEES' programs tailored to specific

development needs is being fine-tuned for producing optimum social benefits. Over

the reporting period of July 2007-June 2008, BEES was successful on a great scale

to ameliorate the sufferings of the needy people through a concerted and

coordinated action by themselves. We walked away with desired attainment

through trial and error a period of learning and developing alternative user-friendly

means acceptable to the target audiences. Though BEES encountered a range of

predicaments including staff dropout and some fund constraint situations

achievement of this year reached up to a satisfactory level as per the outright plan.

Presently, BEES well-managed and well-resourced is sailing ahead constantly to

make commitment and endeavors tied to specific targets for reducing development

disparities. It is grappling with challenges to navigate prosperity and catalyzing

efforts towards establishing strong and equitable society consecutively. In the

reporting year, collaboration with the stakeholders especially the community

people was a driving force behind its mission that they became aware of enjoying

their rights to health, education, equity and protection in true sense. The aftermath

put the concerted effort on track to reach key goal by the target date coping with

recurring and unceasing hindrances.

BEES has been marshaling the awareness over the years that there is no effective

development unless it is sustainable. Sustainable development is a paradigm that

includes integrated approaches to poverty reduction by building long-lasting

human capacities at all levels of community. Shouldering this philosophy to fight

back poverty collectively, BEES is advancing ahead to motivate and organize the

target beneficiaries towards broad-based participation. Thus the wider section of

the underprivileged community of rural and urban areas, i.e., marginal farmer,

landless people and poor women are being geared for formulating development

solustions through well-coordinated local resource mobilization.

7 BEES REPORT 07-08

Deve lop ing l i ve l i hood t h r o u g h

gear ing des i re S teer ing changes to w ard ssus ta inab le f u t u r e


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8 BEES REPORT 07-08

BEES is very much aware of empowering women resources through its towering performance for doubling the

development of the nation. As an effective engine of reaching the unreached, thus we are contributing to halving

the proportion of people in poverty by 2015. It is an essential fact that poverty and its net of deprivation lie at

the heart of the social issues like vulnerability to ignorance, illiteracy, ill heath, malnutrition and so on. BEES

identifies the bottlenecks of development at community level under the stewardship of local resource

mobilization. It has been mapping out means and ways into its core plan for tapping potential of local resources.

Every development program should be committed thoroughly to work with and for the poor that they are madealleviate their poverty by way of achieving a higher degree of self-reliance. Mulling this pivotal point over, BEES

fosters its intense philanthropic beliefs and principles into its core strategies that the neglected, unskilled and

deprived people have available access to financial and social assistance. Their inner beings are being stimulated

through promotional activities phenomenally successful such as training, orientation, courtyard meeting,

community convention, workshop, exchange visit and the list goes on. Paving the way to strengthen community

ties, thus their life skill is being developed catering to them. To bridge the gap between aspiration and action

for turning the target towards reality, BEES is syndicating the people into cooperative groups.

Ensuring planned services properly, we successfully helped the beneficiaries increase their income by providingnecessary knowledge, technical know-how and much needed credit during the reporting period. TheMicrofinance Program and the Micro-enterprise Development initiative were continued to help acceleratedemployment and income generation. Health and nutrition activities with racing start covered a tremendousachievement addressing the health and nutritional status especially of women and children. The activities

implemented and lessons learned during the session have prepared the platform for the next few years ofsuccessful operations and expansion of activities.

Since its inception, BEES is centering upon a participatory and an ever-growing social praxis for making thetarget group identify, analyze and invest realistic solutions to their own problems through series of servicesunder the programs of capacity building, easy microfinance, credit plus services through Seba Package, water& sanitation, quality education, legal aids, reproductive health literacy, protecting environment, building marketlinkages, advocacy, network building, inclusive interpersonal communication and so on. Linking povertyreduction with employment generation, its multi-pronged effort is promoting programs related to agriculture &social forestry, poultry & live-stock, women empowerment, group development support, crop storage,maintaining disaster resource fund and so forth. In this way, the BEES is sharing with the community people forsteering their own development.

Placing a blueprint for the most far-reaching livelihood development activities for neglected people, BEES is

fervently supplementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is always in position for mountingvehement attack on poverty counting on collective action engendered from intensive social mobilization. BEESraises a clarion call to its target groups for being organized under its development umbrella forming homogenousgroups. Thus it is facilitating pragmatic changes through out disadvantaged community contributing to theirfinancial and social emancipation comprehensively. In the course of implementing different developmentprograms over the period of July 2007 to June 2008, we are certainly satisfied that a markable number of thedisadvantaged people became successful to translate their vicious circle of poverty into the virtuous circle ofprosperity.

In moving the pro-poor development programs ahead, the BEES has been showered with mammoth blessingsfrom the Almighty. The devotion, intensive interest and perseverance of all members of BEES-family for carryingout the programs and projects successfully over the last year were the pivotal source of the desired achievementhighlighting its goal and objectives. Our development partners and other stakeholders were being helpfulwholeheartedly providing necessary financial, ethical and timely backing to our core operation. I amdeterminedly grateful to our esteemed donors for whom it has been possible to initiate the programs and

projects at field level lucratively shaping well being of the target groups. Alongside, we are very much thankfulto the Policy Formulating Body of BEES who contributed with mission to forward our adventurous and challengingendeavors towards the sustainable achievement. Simultaneously, I would like to thank them who have workedsincerely and diligently in the several stages to bring documentary report into light.

In the end, I am hoping this initiative to publish the report on the overall achievement will be of enormousinterest to the distinguished readers to be known of BEES' community based interventions as well as will beextolled by them as a whole.

Saiful I s lam Robin


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9 BEES REPORT 07-08

Executive SummarySharing through collective action

Daring to win the war on poverty

Emerging in 1975 as a project of Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, BEES has been performing witha great commitment to beat off bitter poverty making the disadvantaged people knit their livelihooddevelopment. But there are no magic bullets to provide quick solution to the complex challenge i.e. winningthe war on poverty. So, BEES is devotedly striving to yield opportunity for the poor, illiterate, neglected,unskilled and destitute people, especially the women of the society, for scaling up their life skill all along. Itis assembling different visions towards poverty alleviation steering mission for sustainable developmentthrough their empowerment, self-reliance and improvement of lifestyle. At present, BEES is a successful,prosperous and wide-reaching development organization supplementing to fulfilling Millennium DevelopmentGoals (MDGs). It has been executing different programs and projects over 33 years for socio-economic upliftof the greater majority of the rural and urban poor people letting them to gain the firmer footing on to theroad to self reliance. BEES is very much strong-minded to establish a just society in which men and womencan work together to form an institution to attain a higher degree of self-reliance in managing their ownaffairs as well as to achieve a higher and sustainable standard of living.

BEES has been unlocking the value of neglected human resources through its growing diversifieddevelopment activities and stimulating their knowledge for dealing with social challenges. Participatorydynamics and empowerment strengthens the capacity of the disadvantaged people to take charge of theirown development at the group and community level. BEES works to bring them under the same umbrella ofdevelopment and form homogenous groups to facilitate social pragmatic change through social and economicemancipation. Any kind of destitute, displaced and deprived people are by and large the target group of BEES.Coping with the time as well as in response to the existing problem, needs and demand, BEES has to makechanges in the criteria of selecting target group. The objectives and goals set for initiating new programs andprojects to cater to the need of the beneficiaries covering wide range of population under its developmentfold often make BEES bring about changes in the criteria of target group.


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10 BEES REPORT 07-08

All BEES' development activities well-equipped with timely policy, strategy and holistic approaches are toaddress closely linked issues of reducing susceptibility to illiteracy, ignorance, ill health, malnutrition andoverall impoverishment for sustainable future of destitute people. Its development initiatives spread to 3,400villages of 84 upazilas in 31 districts of Bangladesh. Now it is mapping out plan to enhance its developmentefforts to new areas for shaping golden tomorrow in favor of neglected people. Having concrete effortstowards the target of community empowerment in true sense, BEES has been carrying out a wide range ofdiversified programs with special emphasis to Micro-finance, Agriculture and Social Forestry, Health andNutrition, HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education. A number of support as well as special programs undertaken

are contributing to achieving the objectives of the main programs.

Easy finance comprising savings, favorable access to credit and insurance facilities encourages the poor toinvest money in productive activities. Consequently, they get enough confidence to manage their risks better,build their assets gradually, develop their own micro-enterprises, enhance their income earning capacity andultimately enjoy an improved quality of life. Keeping this key point in mind, the Micro-finance Program ofBEES helped to promote economic growth and development by creating a self-sustaining credit service amongthe poor and hardcore poor over the reporting period. BEES provided three types of products and services toits group members under the Microfinance Program:

i) Credit, ii) Savings, iii) Credit Plus Services through Seba Package

i. Credit

BEES provided credit to its group members to initiate different income generating activities. Credit operations

were carried out through a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) in a systematic process. It provided credit to itsbeneficiaries through such subprograms under Microfinance Program as Rural Micro Credit (RMC),Microfinance and Technical Support, Ultra Poor, Financial Services for the Poorest (FSP), Microfinance forMarginal and Small Farmers, Urban Micro-Credit (UMC), Micro- Enterprise.

ii. Savings

Savings opportunities with BEES provided members with fund for consumption, children's education,improved nutritional status and other investment. Income from savings generated greater capacity for self-investment, and enhanced the ability to face external shocks by the group members. It also provided securityfor old age and served as a contingency fund during natural disasters when income level fluctuated.

iii. Seba Package

With a view to ensuring sustainable future through integrated empowerment, BEES incorporated SebaPackage in its credit activities to make the microfinance program more rich, creative and effective. BEES

provides Credit Plus Services entitled Seba Package to the target groups so that they can move to a higherdegree of self-reliance with a sustainable growth. BEES believes that parallel to financial support, peopleneed to widen their periphery of knowledge, skill and fulfill social requirements in a pragmatic manner.Therefore, BEES arranged Seba Package to link credit facility with the following essential services toaddress these issues:

Insurance General and Reproductive Health Services Agricultural Support Services Funeral Cost Pre-school Incentive for Pregnant Mothers (having maximum two children) Training.

During the reporting year 2007-08, a total of 1,03,535 members consisting of 5,839 groups received support

from BEES through microfinance program. BEES disbursed a total of Tk. 853.46 million among thebeneficiaries through different components considering various types of IGAs and the cumulativedisbursement was Tk.3902.31 million. By the end of the reporting year Tk. 465.12 million was found asoutstanding money and the recovery rate was over 98%, reveals a better performance.

If we cultivate properly we may multiply our prosperity certainly though harvesting golden tomorrow. UnderAgriculture and Social Forestry Program, BEES is implementing a range of agriculture oriented programs andactivites. Over the reporting period 2007-08, it distributed summer vegetable seeds among 1,12,902beneficiaries against the target of 1,16,200 and winter vegetable seeds among 95,000 beneficiaries againstthe target of 1,02,050 during the reference year. BEES trained its beneficiaries about some agro-basedimproved technologies during the year. A total of 265 demonstration plots were set up in 265 farmers' field.


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BEES distributed 98,200 different types of fruit trees, 29,330 timber plants and 10,425 medicinal plantsamong its beneficiaries for plantation throughout the year.

Under BEES' poultry and l ivestock program, disadvantaged and enterprising people are receiving differentfinancial and technical assistance to be self-reliant. It provided a number of services to its beneficiarymembers, like training on poultry and livestock rearing and management and on other technical aspectsas per requirements, ensured credit facility as well as vaccination facility to run the program in aneffective manner.

Education lights up life through making the right a reality. It provides far-sighted view to us bringing aboutpragmatic change in knowledge. So realizing the importance of education, BEES is implementing differenteducation programs over the years. During the reporting period 2007-08, BEES operated Post Literacy andContinuing Education for Human Development (PLCEHD-1) and Reaching out of School Children (ROSC)under its education program. Under PLCEHD-1 project, the number of centers was 30 and the total numberof learners was 1,800. ROSC program was operated with the age of 7 to 14 years old learners enrolling 25to 35 students per class. BEES established 12 schools and it also formulated 12 school managementcommittees. Under Pre-Primary Education as Early Child Development Program, BEES operated 3 centers withits own technical & financial resources at Sreepur of Gazipur district during the reporting period.

BEES makes it possible for more than 45 lac poor people to enjoy their right to general health care, nutrition,food security, water and sanitation in a sustainable way within their communities. It has been conductingvarious health related activities at field level. It has been continuing the activity of Community Based HealthProject in Adamdighi and Dhunot upazila of Bogra District since January 2005 by its own fund. A total numberof 78 satellite clinic sessions were organized in the project area. Through satellite clinic clients receivedgeneral treatment, medicine with low price. About 78% pregnant women received the Antenatal CareServices during the year. They received the services on safe delivery, ANC checkup, awareness building aboutchild care after birth and breast feeding, and receiving Iron and Folic Acid tablet. During the reporting period,more than 98% children received all required vaccine and vitamin-A for immunization, 100% pregnantwomen and 75% other women of 15 to 49 years old received TT.

Banking on vision towards nutrition for all, BEES has been conducting community based nutrition programswith the mission towards sustainable development. During the reporting year 2007-08, BEES provided thecore Area Based Community Nutrition (ABCN) services in 6 upazillas (Tungipara, Gopalgonj Sadar,Muksudpur, Bhanga, Sadarpur and Madaripur Sadar) under 3 districts (Gopalgonj, Faridpur and Madaripur)through area package # 10 of the National Nutrition Program. BEES has been implementing the activities inthose areas from December 2003. BEES has commenced to implement another package # 13 of NNP fromMay'08 in 4 upazilas (Fatikchhari, Hathazari, Anwara and Bashkhali) of Chittagong district. The main activites

were mostly related to birth weight measurement and growth monitoring of children less than 2 years,promoting exclusive breastfeeding, weight monitoring of pregnant women, ANC, care to lactating women &micronutrient supplementation, providing assistance for pregnancy weight gain and pattern of deliveryassistance, reducing maternal and infant mortality rate, behavior change communication (BCC) forums, useof safe drinking water, iodized salt and sanitary latrine and so on.

Fostering its development principles into its own policies, BEES has undertaken a number of initiatives in thename of special program to promote and protect human rights at community level. BEES as a participatingorganization has implemented the Social Assistance Program (SAP), phase-II and III, a sub-component of'Social Investment Program Project (SIPP)' in collaboration with Social Development Foundation (SDF) for thehard core poor and vulnerable group members in 264 drought and disaster prone villages of Gaibandha Sadar,Sundarganj and Sadullapur upazilas under Gaibandha district during the reporting year. Over this year, socialmobilization, advocacy program especially on health, education and dowry related issues, legal aid services,institution building in village level, occupational skill development training and employment assistance and

capacity building in the community were the major activities of the program.

Unlocking the value of neglected human resources is one of the main preconditions of sustainable development.Training is an inbuilt activity within the programmatic aspect of BEES that social and human capital generationis brought about in a pragmatic way. Under the training program BEES provided two types of training which wereHuman Resources Development (HRD) training and Occupational Skills Development (OSD) training during thereporting year. A total of 41,794 trainees received training against the annual target of 50,000. Training courseswere organized on different topics like credit and savings management, cow and goat rearing, chick and duckrearing, beef fattening, parent breeder, mini hatchery, broiler and layer rearing, mushroom cultivation, cropproduction, nursery production, fish production, human and leadership development, community operationalmanual, tailoring, tissue cultured banana production, social mobilization, Development communication,advocacy, interpersonal communication behavior change communication, accounts management, monitoring


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and supervision, kitchen/homestead gardening, office and personnel management, annual planning andbudgeting, refresher's training for CNP,CNO, FS, WGM, member selection and group formation, BDS/MDAservices, agro-technology etc. for the target beneficiaries and staff of different programs.

Communication for development is not the simple transmission of information nor the teaching of skills, butthe search for a common ground, where people can agree on how to attain a decent standard of living. BEES'Information & Development Communication activities are contributing to sustainable human development(SHD) comprehensively through raising awareness, bolstering life skill, providing technical know-how,

developing livelihood, building vision, advising on policies and so on being associated with the core programs.During the reporting period, IDC Cell edited and published Annual Report 2006-07; published Desk Calendar2008 containing month planner, exclusive messages and photos highlighting its projects and programs, WallCalendar 2008 containing exclusive photos and highlighting the program/project activities, New YearGreetings Card, Impact Assessment Study report of Financial Services for the Poorest; developed website andpower point presentations titled 'BEES at a Glance', 'An Introduction to Development Communication','Musing on Leadership' and 'Counting on Collective Action'; organized intensive network through buildingconsortium involving more than 20 development organizations with a view to establishing promisingpartnership for submitting development programs; contributed to desingn 4 project/programs; conductedand facilitated different trainings and workshops as per programmatic need and so on.

Making programs guided for taking target towards sustainable attainment, Research, Evaluation &Monitoring (REM) cell is working competently providing necessary findings, guidance, feedback etc. intime. REM cell conducted several activities with an efficient streamlined management during the referenceyear. The main activities were mostly related to preparing the organizational annual progress report of2006-2007, conducting impact analysis on Social Investment Program Project (SIPP-II), executing casestudies and so on.

Under the stewardship of gender awareness, women empowerment is the promising platform to establish aright-based and equitable society. BEES established the Gender and Rights cell in 2006. During the reportingperiod, the Gender & Rights cell organized a 3-day workshop on 'Gender Analysis and Planning' for its seniorlevel staff. The cell finalized the gender policy incorporating the suggestions and comments. The gender policywas also translated into Bangla for intensive sharing and dissemination. Gender and Rights cell developed ahandbook on gender to raise basic and common understanding on gender related issues as well. As a regularactivity, the cell facilitated different sessions on gender sensitivity for the newly recruited staff generally forField Organizers and Unit Managers during the reference year.

BEES established on the strength of a long and successful history has been making positive impact throughits development interventions at community level to improve the lifestyle of the disadvantaged people. As

part of its commitment, BEES is pioneering behavior change communication and social mobilization in thevery participatory way taking a twin-track approach - empowering women to double the development andmaking the poor alleviate their poverty. It learnt the lesson over the reporting period that an array ofconcerted approaches is necessary - involving both the application of all the existing knowledge, tools andresources that are available and intensive interpersonal communication to help discover new knowledge andtools and to learn how to apply them in different development contexts and settings. By way of integratingall core programs, approach and methods to expand the scope of social pragmatic change, nowadays BEEShas been translated into a unique example of gateway to human resource development.


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Organization Profile

BEES (Bangladesh Extension Education Services) has been experiencing from the date of its emergence - knittingchanges for progress and prosperity towards human resource development is the very practical and overarchingway for easing vulnerability to chronic hunger and deep-seated impoverishment. The tragic reality is that povertyis a life-threatening fact for most of the people in our country. They dwelling in very distressed condition both in

rural and urban areas have not minimal access to opportunity for developing life skill to cope with their poverty.Unlocking this poverty trap is the key for pro-poor economic growth. Bearing at the very heart of the developmentgoals, BEES is arraying staple prosperities widely to expand the scope of development all along.

With special emphasis on community driven activities for sustainable development in a number of innovative ways,BEES set off in 1975 as an integrated development initiative entitled Rural Development Program (RDP) in BograDistrict. It has been implementing Poverty Alleviation Program (PAP) since 1997 well-equipped with 3 key pillarsof its development approach, such as - enhancing the scope of social mobilization, community empowerment andeffecting long-term change. With the passage of time, different development initiatives have been taken by BEESone after another for serving the illiterate, destitute, deprived and indigent people over the years.

BEES' experiences over the years have shown that poor people and their institutions are assets and potential partnersin the search for sustainable solution to development challenges. With enough access to information & knowledge,appropriate capacity and financial support, poor people can effectively organize in order to identify community prioritiesand address existing problems. Thus, they are geared up to make stride in livelihood development. Therefore, BEES'

effort is to promote income or employment generation through life skill development for the target beneficiaries. In viewof this, counting on collective action it is conducting different programs and projects like micro enterprise lendingassistance, micro finance, poultry & livestock, agriculture & social forestry, education and so on. Bringing thedisadvantaged people of rural and urban areas under the same umbrella, BEES works to form homogeneous groupsto facilitate a sustainable change within the society through social and economic emancipation. For changing thebehavior, attitude and practice as well as improving knowledge and awareness among the target groups, BEES isinitiating inclusive promotional activities comprising training, behavior change communication, interpersonalcommunication, advocacy, networking and comprehensive social mobilization constantly in the basis of need.

The broadest and most encompassing view of BEES' Poverty Alleviation Program (PAP) includes the social safetynet that shapes widespread support towards participatory development. It is building the bridge across many adevelopment activities like health care services, human resource development, income generating activities,livelihood development and so forth. Awareness programs on human rights, legal support, good governance,gender equality, women empowerment etc. have been linked up to the program implementation to make the effortssignificant, potential and well-groomed.

Community mobilization is very much important to organize and improve community participation. It is the firstbuilding block in bringing about participatory development. BEES motivates all community members that they areprovided with the opportunity to utilize a range of skills and abilities, which improves ownership and increasespotentials among them. Keeping pace with time and existing problems, it has been ensuring its developmentservices through demand driven approaches for making them take the lead in development process. Thus, BEESgives community the opportunity to analyze and discus their local situation in systematic fashion, identifycommunity needs and implement action plans. Its participatory planning processes help build and strengthen thecommunity social capital. The methods, tools and techniques needed for community participation are not new, andincludes participatory rural appraisal (PRA) like village mapping, venn diagramming, focus group discussion (FGD)and the list goes on. This development process generally embodies such steps as diagnosis; identification ofpriorities; problem and solution analysis; elaboration of action plans; ensuring fuller participation of vulnerablegroups; bolstering community organizations; and strengthening community based accountability.

With a vision to win the war on poverty as a whole, its pro-poor programs are designed properly to cater to thebeneficiaries covering the wide range of population in light of the Millennium Development Goals. Its target groupsare well-defined by the policies and strategies of each individual project committed to self-sustained development.For instance, community people especially women of 15-49 years, children and adolescents are the directbeneficiaries of health, MCH-FP, nutrition and education programs. In addition, men and women of 18-45 years whohave no access to get loan from commercial banks or other financial institutions are offered to accept facilities frommicro-credit program of BEES. The definition of the target groups has been mentioned categorically under eachprogram presentation in this report.


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Programs of BEESBEES is the such organization dedicated exclusively to reducing any kind of poverty at community level. Itaims in improving the understanding of community driven development approaches and their role inpoverty reduction. Having social and moral imperative to help poor respond to their existing challenges inan effective way, it has been implementing a wide range of diversified programs for empowering the

disadvantaged communities. BEES placed human resource development at the centre of the developmentagenda over the reporting period 2007-08 through orchestrating the development activities mostly relatedto Microfinance, Agriculture & Social Forestry, Health, Nutrition, Food Security, Quality Education and so on.


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Organizational Structure 2007-2008


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2.0 Social Development P rogramSince the inception in 1975, BEES has been conducting Social Development Program (SDP) entitled BograRural Development Program (BRDP) banking on holistic participatory approaches for making poor alleviatetheir poverty. Organizing the neglected people of Bogra District into cooperative groups, the goal of theprogram was to step up life skill of deprived people to identify, analyze and devise creative solutions to their

own problems. Consequently, the target groups have been able to journey towards their dreams withconfidence and dignity for achieving self-reliance and bring about sustainable changes in their lives. SocialDevelopment means investing among Community people in a meaningful way. Through the SocialDevelopment Program, BEES has been striving to better the life style of the disadvantaged people that theycan reach their full potential.

Capitalizing on the unique and significant strategy like Group Approach, Social Development Programensures contributory and active involvement from each of the stakeholder groups, promotes social equityand bolster a base of education for the community people towards establishing a thinking society. In thecourse of implementing this program, BEES created means and ways that the target groups can gain agreater degree of success in realizing their needs, basic rights and potential to come out with innovativeideas to survive in the society. Making its members get together into groups guided by the forward-looking participatory approach, BEES has been providing a service package comprising awareness raising,

human resource development, and livelihood &life-skill development through provisions of

credits, technical services, inputs and marketingfacilities. Under Social Development Program,following flagship programs and activities arebeing implemented:

Micro-Finance

Agriculture and Social Forestry

Poultry and Livestock

Education

2.1 Micro-finance ProgramPoverty a chronic deprivation of resources,capabilities, power, choices and security is very

common phenomena in our country. It is alwaysplaguing our development potentials with ruthlesshunger, unemployment and different socialdiscriminations. Under this grave and drasticcondition, poor are being deprived of access to basicrights, productive resources like land, credit and soon. They are excluded from the formal bakingservices related to borrowing money, saving andinvesting in productive activities. Thinking over thisvulnerable situation as a whole, the micro-creditprogram of BEES is contributing to reducing povertythrough initiating human resource development,income generating and other promotional activitiesin true sense. Presently, this program has been able

strikingly to make the underprivileged people havenecessary access to credit for their livelihooddevelopment in its intervention areas. As a result,thousands of poor men and women are achievingself reliance to bring about positive changes in theirlives every year. Receiving credit at a reasonablerate, they are getting involved in different incomegenerating activities and thus turning their livestowards financial and social empowerment.

Starting micro finance activities way back in 1979through agreement with Bangladesh Krishi Bank



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(BKB), BEES strengthened its Rural Development Program to mount effective attack on poverty countingon collective action at community level. At present, BEES is receiving major fund from PKSF andconducting Micro-credit program in 30 districts of Bangladesh. It is also providing the training and otherlogistic support depending on the requirements of the program/projects. Under the Microfinance Program,the other interventions cover the services related to micro-enterprise development, education, institutionbuilding, legal rights; health, MCH-FP, nutrition, environment, sanitation, disaster preparedness; womenemployment generation and human resource development i.e., training. The target groups of BEESMicrofinance Program are landless poor people focusing in women, people who own


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a) Rural Micro-credit (RMC)

Rural Micro credit is one of the major interventions of BEES. Presently Micro credit program of BEES is ongoing in 28 districts covering 140 upazilas throw 90 unit offices. Under this program, a total of Tk. 188 crorehas been disbursed as loan and about Tk. 167 crore has been realized. The recovery rate was 99%.

b) Micro Finance and Technical Support (MFTS)

Apart from micro credit facilities, BEES provided necessary technical support to its group members. PKSF isgiving financial support of this program. The members received the training on modern agriculturaltechniques, livestock and poultry development through this program to enhance their skill. Presently thisactivity is running in three districts. Under this program, a total of Tk. 36.59 crore has been disbursed asloan, and about Tk. 32.52 crore has been realized. The recovery rate was 99%.

c) Ultra Poor Program (UPP )

Micro-credit programs of BEES covered 25 million people through 5.0 million households. But many ultra poorare still out of coverage of this program. Neither the government, nor the NGOs' micro-credit programsbecame able to extend the services towards them satisfactorily. BEES has kept the step to assist those peoplefor getting access in micro-credit services. The poor who have no land or house of their own, have to livehand to mouth and are far away from mitigating the basic needs remaining out of the reach of credit supportand savings behavior - are covered under the initiative. BEES has presently undertaken to assist the ultrapoor to take following income generating activities:

Cottage industry based on indigenous materials, e.g., bamboo or bamboo cane, hogla, cane, mat etc.; Livestock and poultry rearing;

Tailoring;

Nursery development project;

Vegetable cultivation & seed production;

Small shops to sell retail products;

By-cycle and rickshaw repairing shop;

Other feasible activities as and when required.

Moreover, BEES has been providing credit to the ultra poor with motivation and skills development trainingso that they can become self-employed on a sustainable basis. A total of 450 beneficiaries received training


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on beef fattening, goat rearing, poultry & duck rearing, cow rearing and tailoring during the reference year.Under this program, a total of Tk. 39.11 crore has been disbursed as loan and about Tk. 32.86 crore has beenrealized. The recovery rate was 100%.

d) Financial Services for the P oorest (FSP)

BEES started FSP project in July 2002 for the hard core poor people of Madhabpur upazila of Hobigonj district.Its view is to develop a sustainable model for reducing the number of the extreme poor based on effectiveuse of micro-credit and other financial & technical services to enhance their income and improve theirlivelihood. Under this project the major activities are group formation, social mobilization, group meeting,savings collection and micro credit management, awareness raising on social issues, human development andleadership training, skill training on various IGAs for self-employment and wage-employment, technicalsupport in the field of IGAs etc. BEES organized 197 groups and enrolled 4,177 target beneficiaries with thesegroups; provided human development training to 3,749 beneficiaries and skills training to 645 beneficiaries,organized 3 workshops, disbursed loan Tk 59.05 million to 3,649 beneficiaries through this project.

e) Micro Finance for Marginal and Small Farmer (MFMSF)

This program has been taken to support the marginal and small farmers to provide with credit facilities aswell as technical support. Initially PKSF has extended financial support to undertake the activities in Sherpurand Netrokona district. In near future this program will be extended in the other parts of the country. Underthis program, a total of Tk. 5.25 crore has been disbursed as loan and about Tk.3.98 crore has been realized.

The recovery rate was 100%.

f) Urban Micro-Credit (UMC)

BEES has been operating micro-credit activities among the rural poor since 1979. But there is a great portionof people who are dwelling in the urban areas having no minimal basic amenities. A remarkable number ofpeople migrate from villages to the urban areas every year for seeking work. They lead their lives as rickshawpuller residing in the unhygienic environment of the slums in the towns. Some of them are involved inunsocial and illegal activities for earning their livelihoods as well. Considering this over-all situation, BEESthought that it was very much necessary to help those destitute and disadvantaged people ensuring theirrehabilitation and socio-economic uplift. With the help of own fund, BEES has been working for theirdevelopment consecutively over the last the 10 years. Recently PKSF has provided fund to BEES for this


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purpose and the program Urban Micro-Credit (UMC) has been more strengthened with an auspicious mobility.Now BEES is providing credit facilities to 8618 beneficiaries in 17 units under this program. Among of them,PKSF has funded Tk.1.60 crore that has been disbursed to 1173 members in 2 units. And PKSF has assuredto provide further credit facilities in another 19 units within a short time. A total of Tk. 53.53 crore has beendisbursed as loan and about Tk. 47.56 crore has been realized. The recovery rate was more than 98%.

g) Micro-Enterprise (ME)

BEES observed many small entrepreneurs, craftsmen and skilled workers in the rural areas struggling hard

to overcome their sufferings due to scarcity of capital; so, BEES realized that financial support to them wouldhelp promote their business and thus enhance development initiative including subsequent employmentopportunity in the rural and urban areas.

Micro-Enterprise Development Program is not completely new in BEES, though formally started in 1994.Primarily in the early phase of its evolution, the program was initiated with the support of 1 million taka insmall pocket in Sherpur upazila under Bogra district.

The result was very positive, therefore, from July 1997, it was promoted in other potential BEES micro-credit intervention areas to support small entrepreneurs under micro-enterprise development program.The loan provision of this program was from Tk 30,000 to 3,00,000 (US $ 429-4286). Under this program,a total of Tk.57.57 crore has been disbursed as loan and about Tk. 51.07 crore has been realized. Therecovery rate was 99%.

h) Seasonal Loan Program (SLP)Every beneficiary is eligible to receive two loans, one is regular loan and another is seasonal loan. Seasonal

loan is a short term loan for a particular season. Duration of this loan is for 3-9 months. Under this program,

up to the end of the reporting year a total of Tk. 1.53 crore has been disbursed as loan, and about Tk. 1.50

crore has been realized. The recovery rate was 100%.

ii) Savings

The collection of savings is an important part of credit operation; and the regular savings of a group indicate

a better discipline in the group's credit operation. From the members' point of view, savings represent an



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opportunity to save a lump sum amount of money and earn profit for them, which they cannot avail of from

the formal market or any regular financial institution. Savings opportunities with BEES in future will provide

members with fund for consumption, children's education and other investment. BEES members deposit two

types of savings:-

a) Weekly savings

Every member deposit minimum Tk. 20 /- per week as a weekly savings. It is a compulsory savings for the

member. BEES gives 5% interest for this savings. When members are interested to leave the organization

they get back their entire savings.

b) Emergency savings

This is an additional savings for the members. Members can deposit minimum Tk. 10/- every week as an

emergency savings. Members can withdraw this savings in any time and any purpose. By the end of the

reporting year it was found that the savings balance was Tk. 150.32 million deposited by the clients.

iii) Credit Plus Services through Seba Package

BEES provides credit plus services entitled Seba Package through such 4 major components as - a) Insurance,b) General and Reproductive Health, c) Training and d) Input Delivery. Seba Package has been playing an


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important role to make the Microfinance Program more effective and integrated. Through this service, BEESis trying to link credit facility with different essential services like widening beneficiaries' periphery ofknowledge, skill and fulfilling their social requirements in a pragmatic manner. During the reporting periodfollowings were the details about the components of SHEBA package.

Insurance

The insurance provision is almost similar. Any of the group members of BEES are eligible for insurance service.Without an insurance policy the credit program may face problems in recovering the outstanding loans from

the borrower's successors in case of death. BEES has introduced the insurance policy to mitigate this problem,which ensures borrower's scheme and high repayment rates. BEES covers the borrower's death risk and theirhusbands. BEES's insurance service provides a capital some of Tk. 5,000-20,000 (US $ 71-286) to the

nominee of the deceased and Tk. 1,000 is given to deceased member's family as a funeral cost.

General and Reproductive Health Services

BEES has been implementing the Health Service Activities under Seba Package since July 2002 for developing thehealth related issues of beneficiaries and their family members parallel to microfinance loan facilities. Healthservices are delivered through paramedics. BEES has intended to recruit a paramedic at every unit office.Appointed paramedics have been equipped with limited diagnostic facilities at unit offices with a hope to expandits services in future. Paramedic visits groups and provides preventive and curative treatments catering to thebeneficiaries. They provide essential medicine free of cost and other necessary medicine in subsidized rate as well.They refer the case to the local govt. doctors if it is found critical. Every Unit Office where paramedic is workingis treated as a Static Clinic. BEES' implementing staff and their family members have also access to the clinic.

The paramedics of BEES under Seba package are providing following services:

Delivering essential drug based limited curative cares;

Helping for contraceptive selection and adopting birth control method;

Delivering Ante Natal Care (ANC) and Post Natal Care (PNC) for the pregnant women. Identifying

pregnancy related complications and early risk-delivery through routine close follow-up and checking B.P.,urine sugar and albumin;

Motivating to participate in EPI (Expanded Program on Immunization);

To raise awareness for personal hygiene, nutrition, and population control; and

Motivating the beneficiaries to participate in the National and International Health Days like National

Immunization Day (NID), World Health Day, and World AIDS Day etc.

Till end June 2008 a total of 43 paramedics were working in HSA. An MO from BEES central office worked for

2 days in a week in the Static clinic of Urban Area Office, Dhaka and rest 3 days through intensive field visitsto supervise the paramedics at satellite and static clinics and monitor activities therein. During the reportingperiod HSA was implemented among the group members of MF from 2,397 villages/wards of 484 unions of143 upazilas of 26 districts with their family members. At the end of June 2008, a total of 103,535 members(females 97,692 and males 5,843) formed a total of 5,839 groups (5,157 female groups and 682 malegroups) were served by HSA.

During the reporting period out of totalregistered cases 7.5% for ARI (AcuteRespiratory Infection), 8.7% for diarrhoea,11.8% for malnutrition, 6.4% for worminfestation, 9.3% for skin diseases and14.2% were treated as other cases whichincludes fever, headache, anemia,

hyperacidity, asthma, general weakness,allergy, low back pain, leucorrhoea etc.Among all the cases 4.2% and 2.1%received ANC (Ante-natal Care) and PNC(Post-natal Care) respectively. 1.5% of thecases were immunized by TT (TetanousToxoid). For contraceptive methods users16.8% for pill, 9.5% for condom, 4.0% forinjectables, 2.0% for IUD (IntrauterineDevices), 1.0% for ligation and 1.0% forvasectomy were recorded.


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During the reporting period paramedicswere also involved in different voluntaryworks in flood and Sidr (Cyclone 2007)affected people of BEES' interventionareas. Besides, paramedics in a group of8 members' medical team were sent toserve the Sidr (Cyclone 2007) affectedvictims in the worst damaged Soronkhola

upazila of Bagerhat district. This teamworked in 2 phases in this area. Theircourageous role and sincere service to thecyclone victims was appreciated hugely bythe local government authority. Apart fromthese, in January 2008, one MedicalOfficer from BEES head office with the helpof one paramedic in Gaibamdha Sadar andSundorganj upazilas of Gaibandha districtworked in a medical team to serve thepoor people during the program of winterclothes distribution among the poor peopleof those areas.

Input Delivery ServicesSeed, seedling, sapling, fertilizer and pesticide distribution; fencing, supervision and follow-up etc are theservices. Under Input Delivery Services, quality seeds of 12 types have been distributed twice a year forhomestead gardening during the year.

The target beneficiaries receive the above services and other health related services through group meetingand static and satellite clinics established by BEES making them 'Human capital' in production.

Achievements

During the reporting year BEES stuck to operate its microfinance program smoothly due to happened floodand cyclone Sidr. Beneficiaries lost their crops, wealth, capitals, income generating projects so that they werepassed untold sufferings and were unable to pay installment of loan and to deposit for savings. BEES handledto overcome the situation through its proven experience and dynamic management. During the year a totalof 1,03,535 members consisting of 5,839 groups received support from BEES through microfinance program.

BEES disbursed a total of Tk. 853.46 million among the beneficiaries through different componentsconsidering various types of IGAs and the cumulative disbursement was Tk.3902.31 million. By the end ofthe reporting year Tk. 465.12 million was found as outstanding money and the recovery rate was over 98%,reveals a better performance.

Component-wise Loan Disbursement, Number of Members, OutstandingRecovery and Savings Balance Status as on June 2008

Name ofProgram

TotalMembers

(in number)

DisbursedAmount

(Tk. in million )

TotalRecovery

(Tk. in million)

TotalOutstanding

(Tk. in million)

SavingsBalance

(Tk. in million)

RMC 52548 1886.95 1667.41 219.53 66.00

UMC 10371 535.31 475.63 59.69 20.04ME 3484 575.70 510.75 64.95 24.86

SEASONAL 96 15.31 14.96 0.35 0

SRLP 0 20.32 20.32 0 0

FSP 2082 59.06 54.50 4.56 1.50

MFTS 9547 365.96 325.20 40.76 17.08

UPP 22668 391.13 328.61 62.52 17.57

MFMSF 2835 52.57 39.81 12.76 3.26

Total 103535 3902.31 3437.19 465.12 150.31


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During the reporting period BEES disbursed the loan on different IGAs. Small Enterprise was the highest IGAof micro enterprise disbursed loan.

BEES field workers organize meeting with group members once a week to collect the installments against thedisbursed loan, individual savings and to discuss different social and technical need based issues like familyplanning, social awareness, various IGA activities, plantation, women right's and gender equity,disadvantages of dowry and early marriage, utilization of indigenous resources, etc. BEES also establishedlinkages among the enterprises, different money lending institutions, raw material suppliers, buyers,shopkeepers, salesman, and other GO/NGO stakeholders.

Other planned activities under the micro-finance program such as auditing of the program activities by theinternal auditors, annual auditing by the external audit firm and regular monitoring and supervision of theactivities were found completely satisfactory throughout the year.

IGA w ise Loan Disbursement of Micro Enterprise Component

Sl. No. Name of IGA % of Disbursed Loan

1 Small Enterprise 81.76

2 Poultry Farm 2.563 Milking Cow 3.42

4 Food Processing 1.19

5 Small & Cottage 2.47

6 Agriculture 1.42

7 Fish Culture 1.23

8 Transport 1.95

10 Special Production 0.93

11 Others 3.07


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3.0 AGRICULTURE PROGRAMAgriculture not only tends to feed and nourish the entire population but also correlates and interacts with all

the related industries of our country. Sustainable agriculture integrates three major goals- to ensure food

security, economic profitability and environmental health. Food security prevents starvation which has

traditionally been considered one of the largest problems being experienced by the small developing countries

like Bangladesh. Agriculture is the predominant occupation of most of the working population for their

livelihood in our country. Concurrently, it is the leading way of life, culture and custom in the rural area of

our country. Agriculture and social forestry protect us from degradation of soil environment and ecosystem,

animal and human health hazards as well. If development program is not able to incorporate agriculture

development activities - like accelerating local agricultural expertise - aptly and timely the program may not

be capable to contribute to sustainable development as a whole. BEES has the great inclination to

complement the sustainable development with proper tools to tackle poverty in light of Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) through initiating different agriculture programs. Its beneficiaries - especially the

ultra poor farmers mostly women - are being encouraged comprehensively to be involved in agriculture-based

IGAs for molding their livelihood towards self-reliance.

3.1 Agriculture and Social ForestryAllaying susceptibility to environmental pollution and poverty is an essential precondition of sustainable

development. Agriculture and social forestry is a major component of rural incomes and, at the same time,safeguarding environment. Water, land, livestock, crops and knowledge are necessary for the livelihoods of

the rural people. Through agriculture and social forestry comprising farm forestry, community forestry,

extension forestry and agro-forestry, it would be possible to encourage rural participation in the management

of natural resources extensively. Bangladesh is one of the most suitable countries to involve community

participation as part of a drive towards afforestation, and rehabilitating the degraded forest and common

lands. It has skilled & dedicated farmers and cheap labor facilities. Under agriculture and social forestry

program, if the country utilizes these resources properly it can reach the goal to better environment and lift

the economy of Bangladesh auspiciously.

From the very beginning, BEES has been integrating Agriculture and Social Forestry program with the

mainstream development initiatives. The program under Bogra Rural Development Project (BRDP) was

initiated with dynamic endeavors at the backdrop of a drastic food crisis in 1975. In response to the need of

target groups, it covered such need based activities as research and development (R&D), training of farmers,

input service back up and so on. In the course of time, the Agriculture and Social Forestry Program has been

more integrated and extensive being well-equipped with further effective implementation strategies and

demand driven approach. Through this activity, BEES has been providing support for plantation of different

trees to contribute to environment and ecological protection. In addition to this, the services associated with

modern technology support, financial support as loan, distribution of saplings, supplying seeds and facilitation

of tree plantation were ensured under this program.

3.1.1 Objectives

To adopt sustainable agro-technology by target beneficiaries for enhancing the nutritional status and income

level of the most vulnerable groups in the society and enable them to become financially self-reliant through

crop diversification, to increase agricultural production and to promote social forestry to bring favorable

ecological balance in the environment.

3.1.2 Major interventions

Group formation, social mobilization, savings and credit management, agro-technology transfer, establish

home gardening, conduct agro-demonstration at farmer's field, create awareness related to health, nutrition,

personal hygiene & family planning, conduct training & workshop for project staff and beneficiaries, distribute

seedlings/ saplings/ grafting and other inputs among beneficiaries .

3.1.3 Achievement

With a view to grappling with poverty for trapping hunger, BEES' Agriculture and Social Forestry program

attained a remarkable success in the reporting period 2007-08. As per the schedule activities of Agriculture

and Social Forestry Program, BEES distributed summer and winter vegetable seeds among the target


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beneficiaries during the reporting year. It

distributed summer vegetable seeds including

okra, red amaranth, ridge gourd, ash gourd

and kangkong among 1,12,902 beneficiaries

against the target of 1,16,200 and winter

vegetable seeds including bottle gourd, Indian

spinach, red amaranth, sweet gourd and

radish among 95,000 beneficiaries against thetarget of 1,02,050. BEES arranged training

for staff and beneficiaries based on the

requirements to run well the program

effectively as well as they utilized their

learning for enhancing their economic status.

During the year, BEES organized training for

138 staff and 2,467 beneficiaries on rice,

wheat & vegetable production through the

utilization of modern agro-technology,

mashrum cultivation, nursery management,

tissue cultured banana production and its

demonstration, fish production, supervision &

monitoring and program management. After receiving the training on crop production and differentagricultural issues it was observed that more than 60% beneficiaries were able to increase 7% crop

production from base line production.

Improved Technologies

Under the Agriculture and Social Forestry Program BEES trained its beneficiaries about some agro-based

improved technologies like vegetable seed production, spacing of seed sowing, tree plantation in agricultural

crops, homestead gardening, mini orchard establishment, compost preparation using kitchen waste and

dung, rice-fish production, IPM in vegetables & crops, and vegetative propagation of fruit trees, soil and

fertilizer management during the year.

Agriculture Fair

For introducing the activities and to reach to the vast population within a very short time BEES participated

in 25 agriculture fairs during the reporting year as its schedule work. These fairs were held in Dhaka,Norshingdi, Gazipur, Fraidpur, Gopalgonj, Sherpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chuadanga and Madaripur district.

Demonstration P lot

Under the program demonstration plots are

established by the progressive farmers with

the aim to enhance the nutritional well

being through intake of fresh vegetables,

utilization of fellow lands around the

homestead as well as idle manpower and to

earn extra money. During the reporting

year a total of 265 demonstration plots

were set up in 265 farmers' field. Aman,

wheat, oil seed, pulses, summer and wintervegetables, heap compost preparation,

green manure, farm yard manure, kitchen

gardening, existing fruit trees

management, orchard preparation were the

items demonstrated for the progressive

farmers. Farmers got required nutrition

from a variety of vegetables throughout the

year and ensured economic benefits as

well. However, a total of 25,350 farmers

were benefited from these initiatives.


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Tree Plantation

For ensuring better environment & better health and enhancing the economic status of the beneficiaries through

plantation, every year BEES distributes fruit, timber and medicinal trees among its beneficiary members. In the

reporting year, BEES distributed 98,200 different types of fruit trees including mango, jackfruit, carambola,

lychee, blackberry, guava, coconut, lotkon and olive among its beneficiary members under its Agriculture and

Social Forestry program. It also distributed 29,330 neem, shishu, mehegoni, akashmoni, shegun, raintree, etc as

timber plants and 10,425 arjun, hartaki, bohera as medicinal plant among its beneficiaries for plantation.

Agricultural Inputs delivery

BEES delivered quality seeds and seedlings/saplings as agricultural inputs to its beneficiary members duringthe year. Under agriculture and social forestry program BEES also disbursed crop credit for its selectedfarmers to produce more crops utilizing agro-technologies achieved from training for improving theireconomic condition as well as upliftment nutritional status. During the reporting year BEES disbursedTk.186.00 million among 46,500 farmers.

3.2 Greater Rangpur Agriculture & Rural Development ProjectBEES implemented a project titled 'Greater Rangpur Agriculture & Rural Development' with the financial

assistance of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) to reduce

poverty and develop a strategy to boost agricultural production. The project was commenced January 2008.

Its location was at Sadullapur upazila of Gaibandha district. The project covered 23 blocks of 44 villages of

11 unions of the selected upazila.

3.2.1 Objectives

The objectives of the project are to improve the livelihood standard of small, marginal and landless farmers

of Greater Rangpur district through crop diversification, improve nutritional status through income generating

activities, small farm establishment and homestead gardening, strengthening of extension services for

different farmer groups and to create employment opportunities.

3.2.2 Major Interventions

Marginal and landless farmers' group formation, small farmers group formation, training on agro-technologies, develop capacity building of target farmers, small farm establishment and homesteadgardening, empowerment of women farmers.

3.2.3 Achievement

In accordance with the project design one project manager and five field facilitators were deployed in the

project area. A total of 50 marginal and landless farmer groups consisting 1056 members and 50 small farmer

groups including 1033 members were formed in the project intervention area. On average 73 percent maleand 27 percent female farmers were included these groups. A total of 200 group leaders taking 2 persons

from each group received training on the project purpose and AEZ based crop technology from the project.

The necessary resource persons for training were hired from Department of Agriculture of the local area. AEZ

based crop technologies were also disseminated to others group members by the trained 200 group leaders

under the direct supervision of DAE and project personnel.

3.3 Poultry and Livestock ProgramIn our country, many people are landless, under privileged, having no land for crop cultivation, education

or formal skills to participate in income generating activities. Within such condition, poultry and livestock

Inputs-wise Beneficiaries' Numbers

Sl. No. Type of Inputs Number of Beneficiaries

1. Seed 95,000

2. Seedlings/Saplings of vegetables 14,832


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may play a very significant role for

income generation and poverty

alleviation for this class mostly for the

destitute women. According to

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS),

19.6% of the people have no cultivable

land, but homestead only. In this case,

Poultry & Livestock Program maycontribute to livelihood development of

this group possessing minimal land, short

capital and not very high skills. With a

great involvement in raising the income

of beneficiary farmers, BEES has been

operating this program since 1980.This

program has been contributing to women

empowerment and nutritional

enhancement at community level on a

great scale as well. Women earn extra

money through selling milk, eggs, chicks

and chicken etc. Besides, family members

consume the products like milk, meat, eggs and chicken, and get nutrition for leading the healthy life, and canreduce the treatment cost. Through Poultry & Livestock Program, BEES provides a range of services to its

beneficiary members, for instance - training on poultry and livestock rearing & management and on other

technical aspects as per requirements, ensuring credit facility as well as vaccination facility to run the program

in an effective way.

3.3.1 Objectives

The objective of this program is to increase income particularly of women, enhance nutritional status through

increasing protein intake of the rural poor, reduce poultry and livestock mortality, improve the poultry breed

and upgrade the local breeds of livestock through crossbreeding.

3.3.2 Major interventions

Group formation, social mobilization, savings and credit management, conduct training and workshop for project

staff and beneficiaries, arrange high breed poultry birds and cattle, arrange vaccine for poultry & livestock.

3.3.3 Achievement

Under this program a total of 16,300 beneficiaries were covered against the target of 17,000, which implies about

96% achievement. BEES arranged several training courses related to poultry and livestock for its beneficiaries as

well as staff. During the reporting period, a total of 45 staff and 7,539 beneficiaries received training on chicks,

keys and model rearing, mini hatchery, poultry management, goat and cattle rearing & farming. During the

Category-wise Number of Trainees Received Training from Different Courses

Training topics

Category wise no. of staff and beneficiaries received

training from different courses

Staff Beneficiaries

Chick rearing 45 100

Key rearing 45 6,849

Model rearing 45 70

Mini hatchery 45 60

Poultry management 45 80

Cattle rearing and farming 45 200

Goat rearing and farming 45 180


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reference year, BEES distributed loan of Tk. 70.7 million among 10,549 beneficiaries. Out of total disbursed

loan, an amount of Tk. 20.29 million was disbursed for poultry farming and the remaining for livestock

rearing and farming. A total of 2,389 poultry farms and 4,162 livestock farms were established, where

38,040 poultry and 13,104 cattle were existing respectively. After receiving training, beneficiaries could

realize the need of vaccination and vaccinated 58,040 poultry birds and 25,300 livestock in their

communities. They could increase their monthly income up to Tk. 2,100-2,400 in average through

involving with poultry and livestock activities.

Rawshanara towards the NewHorizon of Self Reliance

Yearning for being self-reliantEarning livelihood to prosperity

Nowadays Mochhammat Rawshanara Begum 35 years old is a successful breadwinner in her family. But five yearsago, she and her family members often had to starve because of their insufficient income. Her husband SahebAli of Lakshipura village of Joydevpur upazila under Gazipur district was a day laborer. His income was too littleamount to bear all necessary expenses of her four-member family. His monthly income was not more than Tk.1,000. Rawshanara and her family member were just the persons to be teased by their community people as herfamily had been suffering from food insecurity, hunger and starvation. She was one of the thousands ofhousewives in the area who were struggling to live an ordinary life with food, clothes and other basic amenitiesfor their family. She wished to bring a change in their distressed condition. Just during the condition of the family,Rawshanara heard of an organization named BEES with programs for providing skill training, primary health careand loan among the destitute people. She went to them and asked them to provide her assistance.

"They became kind enough and made me a member of BEES-samiti on 29 August 2001. Then I was trained upaccording to my interests and capacities for income generation," says Rawshanara. With the support from BEES,she became engaged to change her luck with great eager. At first, she bought a cow with the loan Tk. 6,000.00from BEES. After repaying the loan in installment, she took 2nd loan of Tk. 10,000.00 for buying another milk-cow. Side by side, she was being provided with technical knowledge and know-how through necessary trainingfrom BEES. She was making profit regularly from her cow-rearing project by selling milk. With the pace of herincreasing income, her confidence was being increased steadily as well. So she was receiving loan one afteranother with more money and was very much conscious and keen in repaying loans timely.

In 2007, she took 9th loan with great amount like Tk. 70,000.00. Hard labor done by all of her family membershas brought remarkable success for the family. Now there is smile of happiness in her tired face. The increasein income earning has enabled Rawshanara to spend optimally in food and clothing. She can now spend anamount for health service and recreation. Some other expenditure to improve the quality of life has beenincreased. At present, she is able to save enough money for facing any financial and other shock in future.

Apart from the loan received, Rawshanara got a number of necessary life skill training and orientation undercredit plus services entitled Seba Package of BEES, such as general health care, disaster management, familyplanning and welfare awareness and so on. She has also been given vegetable seeds for kitchen gardening toget essential vegetables in family food and also for income earning to an extent. Income earning success withthe help of BEES has changed Rawshanara totally and she has become enthusiastic, active and participatory inthe family and community decision-making and in community events. She also inspires other to struggle andfight for their rights with hard working, so that they also can be successful to stand on their own food.



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4.0 Education ProgramEducation is necessary to develop and use our mental, moral and physical powers. It makes us prepared for

wise leadership and personal achievement and opening our mind to new ideas. Education is generally seen

as the foundation of society which brings economic wealth and social prosperity. There is no doubt that

education is the best investment for a person in her/his life all along. It is recognized as the passport to the

sustainable future. Role of education yields strong families and strong communities. The quality of humanresource of a nation is easily judged by the number of literate population living in it. But it is very much sad

for us that a great number of our people is still susceptible to drastic illiteracy and ignorance. Investment in

human capital, life long learning and quality education help in the development of a society phenomenally.

Keeping the importance of education in mind, BEES has been carrying out different education programs

catering to the target groups at community level.

With a view to helping the disadvantage community people to be equipped with knowledge and skills which

are needed to contribute towards the development of shared values and common identity, BEES was involved

with the education program in 1984 through offering the Functional Education for its beneficiaries. Since then,

BEES is supplementing national efforts of building an illiteracy-free society and productive human resource.

It is conducting its education activities in such a way that both of rural and urban poor people have easy

access to the necessary facilities available in the centers of the target areas. During the reporting period

2007-08, BEES addressed a large number of children deprived from formal schooling system. It maintainedliaison and linkages with other NGOs and GOs for implementing the program in expanded areas intensively

and successfully.

BEES implemented 3 types of projects under its education program during the reporting year which is givenbelow:

1. Post Literacy and Continuing Education for Human Development (PLCEHD-1)2. Reaching Out of School Children (ROSC)3. Pre-primary education as Early Child Development (ECD)

4.1 Post Literacy and Continuing Education for Human

Development (PLCEHD-1)BEES implemented PLCEHD-1 funded by Bureau of Non Formal Education (BNFE) under the Ministry of

Primary and Mass Education (MOPME) of Government of Bangladesh (GOB). The project duration was

designed for 9 months which first 3 months was for Post Literacy (PL) and next 6 months was Continuing

Education (CE). The major objective of PLCEHD-1 was to increase the functional application of literacy skills

by providing post-literacy and continuing education to neo-literates through a more comprehensive and

enhanced system that they can use literacy skills to increase their incomes, improve their families' welfare

and participate fully as citizens. According to the instruction of BNFE, each center was operated 2 shifts

enrolling 30 female and 30 male learners per shift. It was the 5th phase of the project.

4.1.1 Achievement PLCEHD-1BEES operated 30 centers enrolling 900 male and 900 female neo-literate learners at Panchbibi and

Hatibandha upazila of Joypurhat and Lalmonirhat district respectively during the reference year. The age of

enrolled learners was 11-45 years. BEES recruited 2 Supervisors and 60 Facilitators for operating the

activities of the centers. BNFE organized training sessions on 'Master Training' as follows -

i. 6-day long on Post Literacy (PL)

ii. 2-day long on Continuing Education (CE).

In those trainings, 2 female and 2 male BEES staff participated as Master Trainer. Similarly, BEES alsoarranged a 6-day basic training on Post Literacy and 6-day refresher training on Continuing Education forFacilitators and Supervisors. Thirty Center Management Committees (CMCs) were formed, each of whichconsisted of 9 members and oriented them on their role of playing for implementation of centers. Sixtybatches of learners were formed based on identified of listed trade of BNFE for providing skill training


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under Continuing Education course. Among the total batches tailoring was 41, goat & cow fattening was18 and poultry rearing was one. Sixty resource persons were hired for conducting continuing educationcourses. More than 96% learners completed the course and their learning was evaluated after completionof project duration.

4.2 Reaching Out of School Children (ROSC)ROSC is for 5 years project from class one to five with the objective to create scope of primary education forreaching out of school children, to increase quality of primary education in the project school, and increasecapacity & capability of relevant organizations. Among the age of 7 to 14 years old are the students of ROSC,and in one class 25 to 35 students are enrolled under the guidance of one teacher.

ROSC program is operated with the financial support of Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MOPME) of

Bangladesh Government. MOPME also provides the support as to teacher's honorarium, training, school

dresses for learners, teaching materials and grant to NGOs which are treated as Education service provider


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(ESP) and Education Resource Provider (ERP) through Directorate of Primary Education (DPE). Where, BEES

executed the role of ESP. The major responsibility of BEES is to supervise the activities of ROSC schools and

to conduct the meeting of School Management Committee through Field Organizers of respective project.

4.2.1 Achievement of ROSCDuring the reporting year BEES established 12 schools, and it also formulated 12 school managementcommittees. The target of learners to promote in class IV was 346 who studied in class three but it achieved

95% of target. Since the ROSC beneficiaries are drop out or not going to any formal school so that it is difficultto continue them successively. About 5% learners left the school after completion the level three. Theteaching period was three hours in a day and six days per week. Generally the schooling sessions were from9.00 am to 1.00 pm. The SMC meeting was held bimonthly for strengthening educational sessions of theschools. The learning of the students was evaluated through conducting periodic and final examination.

4.3 Pre-Primary Education as Early Child DevelopmentPre-primary Education as Early Child Development project is for the duration of eight months. The major

objective is to stimulate 5 organs of sense at the early stage of children, create the scope of early learning

at the age of 4-6 years, and to prepare mental & physical development for going school by their own interest.

4.3.1 Achievement of Pre-Primary Education

BEES operates 3 centers target to enroll 90 children for providing pre-primary education with its own technical& financial resources under Sreepur unit office of Gazipur district. But due to unavailability BEES has enrolled

81 students. The centers have been started in April'08. The methodology & curriculum of SISIMPUR Outreach

Materials has been followed for the early child development project. Three teachers are recruited and

provided them basic training for three days. Three School Management Committees are formed for running

well the activities of ECD through involvement of local people. BEES expect that after completion the period

of the course the learners will be able to admit to the formal primary school with their own interest.


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5.0 Maternal and Child Health-Family P lanning (MCH-FP) &Nutrition ProgramStarting in the early 1979s, BEES was able to contribute to improve the health condition in its working areasreducing the maternal and child mortality rate with desired success. This impressive gain has been sustainedin expanding intervention areas to the recent years, which exemplifies the strong commitment of BEEStowards healthy future for all. BEES believes that poor health outcomes undermine national and householdproductivity gravely in the existing generation and the next. A well-designed and essential health care servicethat benefits and protects the poor is an investment in national productivity, social inclusiveness and stability.

In the course of implementing multi-dimensional health programs to enhance health care services atcommunity level, BEES is still facing enormous competing social challenges associated with poverty, gender,education, environmental factors and so on. Nonetheless, BEES achieved some very impressive healthoutcomes over the reporting period 2007-08. This is to say that barriers to enjoying essential health care forpoor people often become a source of increasing social unproductivity and impoverishment. To meet theincreasing need & demand in the intervention areas, BEES is responding in a range of ways to help community

people expand and improve their awareness of health providing direct, long or short term developmentassistance like preventive and basic curative health-care services with component of primary health care,family planning, nutrition, food security, homestead gardening, cooking demonstration, growth monitoring,immunization, watsan, arsenic mitigation, HIV/AIDS prevention and so on.


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5.1 Community Based Health Project (CBHP)Under Health & Nutrition program commenced in 1979 in Bogra district with its own fund, BEES makes it possibleto improve the quality of health care and to back up the willingness of communities to take charge of their ownhealth. BEES commenc

BEES Annual Report 2007-08 edited by Anirudha Alam

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Transcript of BEES Annual Report 2007-08 edited by Anirudha Alam