Overview

The Chars Livelihoods Programme (CLP) works with extreme poor households living on island chars in north western Bangladesh, and aims to improve the livelihoods of over one million people. The CLP is jointly funded by UKaid through the Department for International Development and the Australian Government (Australian Aid) through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), sponsored by the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division of the Government of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, and implemented through Maxwell Stamp Plc.

The first phase of the CLP (CLP-1) ran between 2004-2010, and worked on the chars of the Jamuna River in the districts of Kurigram, Bogra, Gaibandha, Sirajgonj and Jamalpur. CLP-1 targeted 55,000 of the poorest households and is estimated to have benefitted more than 900,000 people. Click here for background to the CLP

Objectives under CLP-2

CLP-2 began in April 2010 and follows on from CLP-1, but with a redefined working area. CLP-2 will continue to work in Kurigram, Gaibandha and Jampalpur, as well as the new districts of Lalmonhirat, Nilpharmari, Rangpur, Pabna and Tangail. CLP-2 will run until 2016 with the aim of lifting 78,000 households out of extreme poverty.

The key facts about the Chars Livelihoods Programme are:

Purpose

Improve the livelihoods, income and food security of up to one million extremely poor women, children and men living on island chars in the north west of Bangladesh.

Where we work

Island chars in the districts of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Pabna, Tangail and Jamalpur.

Who we work with

78,000 extreme poor households living on island chars receive the full package of support. The wider chars community also benefit from community wide activities that include access to health services, village savings and loans groups, cash for work etc.

Selection criteria

To be eligible for the programme households must: -Have been living for at least 6 months on island char -Have no ownership or access to land -Have productive assets worth not more than Tk 5,000 -Must not own more than two goats/sheep, or 10 fowl or one shared cow -Not be receiving cash/ asset grants from another programme -Have no regular source of income -Be willing to attend weekly group meetings for 18 months

The core package

78,000 households living on island chars receive: In income generating asset of their own choice valued at Taka 17,500 (approximately equivalent to GBP 146). Access to clean water and a sanitary latrine; Homestead raised on a plinth above the highest known flood level; Stipend payments for 18 months; Access to a village savings and loans group; Access to a social development group (comprising between 20 and 25 other female core participants) comprising a modular course lasting 18 months; Various livelihoods training and inputs; Vouchers to access the CLPs health services

Duration

2010 – 2016

Management agent

Maxwell Stamp PLC

Sponsor and Executor

Sponsored by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. Executing Agency is the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division.

Organisational structure

The CLP contracts local NGOs (or implementing organisations “IMOs”) to deliver services to the chars. Staff in 8 district offices oversee and guide implementation of these IMOs. Management staff, who develop policy and strategy, are located in Bogra at the Rural Development Academy.

Donors

The UKaid through the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

Funding

GBP 78 million (GBP 70 million from DFID and AU$ 15 million from Australian Aid)