Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP): The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)-Unlocking the Potential: National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction was finalised and aprroved by the National Economic Council with seven priorities designated for national development. Employment, nutrition, maternal health, quality education (primary, secondary and vocational), sanitation and safe water, criminal justice and local governance are the pivotal tasks set by the National Steering Committee on Final Draft of the PRSP in a meeting held on 1 July 2005.

The Executive Board of International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved $98.5 million as loan for the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and Trade Integration Mechanism (TIM). The weak performance of the energy sector and the state-owned enterprise (SOEs) continue to impede economic growth and pose fiscal risks, commented the IMF Director.

Economy: The government has taken up a six-year project to develop rural road network and marketing facilities for agricultural produces in 23 districts under three divisions -- Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi involving about 280 million US dollars. It is likely to be implemented from July 2006 to June 2012. The ADB, KfW, GTZ and DFID will jointly fund the project, apart from the government's contribution. The project will help generate employment for the rural people, emphasized by LGED Official.

The country’s exports have fetched approximately USD 8.58 billion in fiscal year 2004-05 and USD 7.60 billion in FY 2004. Exports brought a tremendous surge last fiscal fetching around one billion dollars more than the previous fiscal.

India's industrial giant TATA is now ready to come to Bangladesh for a huge investment -- over USD 3 billion -- the highest ever in the country from a single group. According to its investment proposal, TATA will set up a steel plant, a urea fertilizer factory, a 1000 MW power plant and a coal-mining project in Bangladesh.

Human Development: Bangladesh has been ranked 139th among 177 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) by UNDP with success in reducing child mortality and creating scope of education. Although the UNDP report appreciated Bangladesh for its success in some social areas, including expansion of health facilities and income generation for women, the country still ranked the lowest among the seven countries of South Asia, slipping from the 138th position of last year.

Bangladesh ranks seventh among 14 developing countries of Asia Pacific region, according to a survey conducted by the Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education. Bangladesh ranked eleventh in the category of complete basic education, second in state action, 12th in quality inputs; eighth both in gender equality and overall equity.

MDG: Officials of the United Nations (UN) and the European Commission (EC) at a seminar appreciated Bangladesh for achieving some millennium development goals (MDG) and stressed the need for fulfilling other goals. They observed that the country has met the target to enrol equal number of boys and girls in primary schools.

Health At least seventy million people in 32 districts are vulnerable to lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, a debilitating disease caused by the thread-like parasitic filarial worms transmitted by mosquitoes spread the disease and about 3.5 million people of the 32 districts have been suffering from lymphatic filariasis, NGOs are playing a significant role to make people aware about the disease in five high prevalence districts, including Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Lalmonirhat, in collaboration with the district civil surgeon offices.

In the event of continuous adulteration of foodstuff putting public health at risks by the unscrupulous food traders and owners of fast food shops, the government has constituted a number of mobile courts jointly with Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute and different law enforcing agencies against use of toxic chemicals for food colour, flavour, preservatives, fruit ripeners and sweeteners. Different categories of fines and jail sentences were imposed instantly on offenders. This effort of the government would continue for safe food and to protect the people from possible health hazards.

Monga: Clear indication of Monga (lean season employment and food crises), appeared in different northwestern districts of Bangladesh due to absence of farm work and lack of diversifying non-farm work. A survey by Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) revealed that around 65.2 percent of the affected people rely on government assistance to cope with Monga but over 30 pc of government aid does not reach targeted groups.

Political: On 17 August simultaneous the bomb blasts simultaneously across Bangladesh was indeed unprecedented. A good number of Islamic militants including their commanders were arrested and interrogations and investigations continued. In the wake of more bomb blasts, the government high officials, businessmen, expatriate Bangladeshis and judges have appealed for personal security to the Home Ministry. The government has stressed that there was no scope for practising extremism in the name of Islam and assured the countrymen of arresting and punishing the culprits.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has branded Bangladesh as the most corrupt country for the fifth time. TIB has urged the government to sign and ratify the UN Convention against Corruption. The convention, the first truly global tool in the fight against corruption, would be effective from 14 December 2005. So far, 129 countries have signed the convention, many Asia-Pacific countries, including Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malaysia and Thailand, have signed the convention and Sri Lanka has already ratified it. Bangladesh is still to respond in this respect.

Other: Bangladesh contributed one million US dollar as humanitarian aid for the victims of Hurricane “Katrina” that swept over New Orleans in the United States.

2. Programme Development

Federations: RDRS continued its support to strengthen the institutional capacity of Federations (apex body of organized Groups of poor people trained by RDRS) a total of 39 Federations received government registration with the Department of Social Welfare during this quarter to raise the number of total registered Federations to 139.

Civic Engagement: RDRS is implementing a project titled ‘Exploring Civic Engagement at Grassroots Level for Ensuring Children’s Right to Quality Education in Northwest Bangladesh’ with support from “Manusher Jonno” (a funding consortium). During this quarter, RDRS organised 4 workshops on quality education for schoolteachers, UP members, School Management Committees members, students etc.

During this quarter, RDRS organised 2 advocacy campaigns in Nilphamari and Panchagarh on quality education through discussions and rallies followed by cultural programme performed by school children. There were several public hearings with school management committees, mother groups and teachers.

SUCCEED project: To improve the performance of early childhood and education in primary level through innovative learning model i.e. Early Primary Education (EPE) and Early Childhood Development (ECD) , RDRS is implementing a Project titled SUCCEED. The main objective of the project is to provide education, equity, and technical assistance in the area of disability, gender and ethnicity. During July-September 2005, RDRS finalized the first draft of the following these documents for Education Equity:

	A resource guide of available training opportunities and services.
	An annotated bibliography.
	A contact list of resource persons in the field.

RDRS also initiated the preparation of a National Database of Government policies and Activities on Disability and Ethnicity.

RDRS is implementing the SUCCEED project in 47 Registered Non-Government Schools (RNGP), 4 Madrassah, 1 Community school, 216 Home-based Pre-schools (HBPS) and 84 School-based pre-schools (SBPS) in Saidpur, Nilphamari and Kurigram. A total of 6,420 children (girls 3,378 and boys 3,042) were enrolled. Among them, 65 children (22 girls and 43 boys) are with special needs. During July - September quarter, total 156 child-to-child groups were formed.

World Learning (WL): In collaboration with BRAC University and CAMPE, RDRS is participating a targeted and highly interactive training and exchange programme in 2005-06 under the "Professional Exchanges: Religion, Community, Education, and Political Process: Bangladesh" programme. The goal is to increase parental involvement and advocacy in primary schools in Bangladesh so as to encourage educational excellence and improve student performance in all aspects of education. RDRS has nominated from its programme 1 parent, 1 School Management Committee member and 1 Project Manager to visit the USA in November 2005 for three-weeks.

Tribal Project: Under Empowering the Disadvantaged Tribal Poor in Northwest Bangladesh, RDRS has taken two initiatives: micro-finance and education to raise the living standard of disadvantaged tribal people. Under education it continues with feeder school centre for tribal children, adolescents education and functional literacy for adult advocacy for promoting access to education for the tribal community.

LEGAL: On successful completion of a 3-year project Legal Education and Gender Aware Leadership (LEGAL), RDRS organised a national workshop in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Embassy on 15 September 2005 in Dhaka. The purpose of the workshop was to share the field level experiences of ‘LEGAL” program in reducing violence against women through developing the skills of Federations and building up cooperation and linkages among the community.

Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, MP was present as the chief guest while H.E. Mr. C.S.M. Beemsterboer, Ambassador, of the Royal Netherlands graced the occasion as Special Guest.

Micro-finance: During this quarter microfinance support was extended to 20,601 Group members (18,087 female) through 100 Branches across RDRS working area. To increase efficiency in microfinance operation, 61 staff were trained in microfinance management.

Community Health Programme: RDRS Community Health Program provided antenatal services to 28,970 pregnant women, treated 535 tuberculosis (TB) patients, 52 leprosy and 8916 eye outdoor patients (3,643 female) and conducted 301 eye surgeries.

New projects

3. Regional Development/North Bengal Institute

Research Awards: During this quarter 13 young researchers were selected for conducting research on different fields e.g. Women empowerment, Micro credit, Disaster preparedness and Geographic Information System (GIS), Child education, Health and Agriculture etc. In addition, one was selected for PhD in agriculture under student internship program.

Begum Rokeya Forum: North Bengal Institute (NBI) has formed Begum Rokeya Forum with local elite of Rangpur with an aim to focus her memoirs and philosophy to the contemporaries and to the next generation. As part of its regular activity the forum distributed 89 Begum Rokeya’s Portrait and Books to 89 schools and colleges in Rangpur.

Capacity building for Local NGOs: NBI facilitates and promotes capacity building of local NGOs and CBOs operating in the northern region as well as RDRS working area. During July-September 20 participants from different NGOs were trained on ‘Micro Credit Management’ at Thakurgaon Training Center.

Internship Programme: NBI hosted routine Internship Programme for 2 foreign interns from Norway during this quarter.

Training on Psycho-Social Services in Disaster: As an annual event of Asian Zone Environment and Emergency Cooperation Network (AZEECON), a 5-day training on Psycho-Social services in disaster was held at NBI Rangpur during 10-14 July 2005.

The training sponsored by Lutherjhaelpen/Church of Sweden and attended by 20 participants from India, Nepal, Indonesia, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

The training course was meant for community based disaster preparedness in natural and man made disasters psychosocial services, principles and code of conduct and crosscutting issues like gender, HIV/AIDS, conflict resolution reconciliation, site planning and housing, water and sanitation, education, trauma, self care, stress management., team building. Training was followed by field visit to a disaster prone areas in HIV/AIDS and eye care centres.

Workshop on PRSP: RDRS organised a day-long orientation workshop on Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper ’Unlocking the Potential: National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction on 28 July 2005 at North Bengal Institute/Rangpur. The main objective was to provide a basic idea about the PRSP. A total of 22 RDRS staff members attended the orientation workshop. Dr. Kaniz Siddique, professor, North South University and also a member of PRSP writing group facilitated the workshop.

DG of NGO affairs Bureau visits RDRS: Director General of NGO Affairs Bureau C Q M Mushtaque Ahmed visited RDRS working areas during 4-8 July 2005. During his tour Mr. Mushtaque visited RDRS activities in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Panchagah and Nilphamari Districts. Following the field visit, he had made important suggestions for further improvement.

4. Relation with local Partners

International Indigenous Day: Following United Nations Declaration, RDRS organised a mass campaign to celebrate the World Indigenous Day on 9 August 2004 with local government and non-government organizations in Rajshahi Division. The main theme of the day was Indigenous people have the right for self-determination as their human rights’. Thousands of tribal people gathered, held rallies and discussion sessions and finally concluded the day with tribal cultural performances.

International Literacy day: On 8 September 2005, Federations celebrated the International Literacy day through rallies, meetings, and cultural programme etc. with the support of UNSCO. On this occasion Debigonj Federation organised competition for handwriting and poetry recitation. A total of 35 children from government and

nongovernment schools participated in the competition. Socially and politically deprived indigenous people need awareness of their rights and adequate education for establishing their position to get involve in the mainstream of the development, emphasised by the speakers.

Federation Workshop: Bhurangamari Federation held a workshop on Federation activities on 26 July where leaders and grassroots level people were present. They highlighted some of the good works performed by the federation. Many have suggested for further courses of development and open new avenues of interventions for continuous progress.

To celebrate 100% achievement in sanitatation in Bhurangumari upazila RDRS organised a colourful event including rallies, meetings, discussion session and cultural programme. About 1,000 Federation members participated in the event and District Commissioner of Kurigram attended the meeting as chief guest and Union Parishad Chairman of Bhurangamari presided over the function. The event was concluded with folksongs performed by the Harjuri Union Federation Folksong Party.

Good Governance Training: Bhurangamari Federation organised a 3-day training on good governance with 16 leaders from among the Federation members. The leaders hope this training on good governance is likely to bring benefit to all categories of life such as personal level, family level, and community level.

Orientation on AIDS/HIV: On 30 August, Tetulia Federation organised an orientation on awareness of great impending danger from the deadly disease of AIDS/HIV with the elite of the area. RDRS Programme Manager of Panchagarh chaired the meeting and Upazila Nirbahi Officer attended the session as a chief guest. Precautionary measures against the disease were elaborately discussed for awakening the people of this imminent threat to life.

Exposure visit: From 48 Federations of Kurigram and Nageswari Unions, 45 leaders and other members totalling 70 people visited Mamata Mogalhat Federation in Lalmonirhat under the Federation Capacity Building Project. The Chairman of Mamata Mogalhat Federation explained about their development activities and they all shared their weakness and strength among themselves. This sort of visits and opinion sharing would certainly build up cooperation, coordination and a sense of togetherness among the members for their mutual benefit.

5. Organisation:

RDRS Staff Retreat: RDRS is in the process of developing its Strategy 2006 - 2010. For this purpose, over the last 2 years RDRS orgnaised several consultations including focus group discussion, workshop and meeting with different stakeholders (Federation, community, staff etc) at different level. The daft strategy outline has been prepared based on the series of consultations.

The draft strategy outlines were reviewed at staff Retreat held during 29 September to 2 October 2005 in a Tea Garden Resort, Srimangal, Sylhlet. A total of 21 senior staff members participated in the retreat and discussed key strategic issues for the 2006-2010 strategy. There were 14 sectoral presentations followed by the overall programme strategic direction.

Executive Director: RDRS’ Executive Director along with 3 senior staff attended NCA Partner’s Consultation in Colombo, Sri Lanka during 24- 26 August 2005.

Staff Training: During this period a total of 215 (44 women 171 man) staff received in country training while 12 (4 female and 8 male) staff received training abroad.

Visitors: Visitors during the reporting quarter were as follows: