Democracy and Governance Programme
Project Title:
An alternative programmatic intervention to develop grassroots women leadership in union Parishads.
Funded By:
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Project Duration:
July -2007 to June-20010
Total Project Fund:
Tk. 3,68,32,065.00 (2007-2010)
Project area:
Khulna district in two upazilla-Boteaghata in seven union & Dacope in nine union another district Bagerhat in two upazilla-Rampal in ten union & Mongla in six union.
Project Introduction:
The project “An Alternative Programmatic Intervention to Develop Grassroots Women Leadership in Union Parishads” is on-going since October 1998 and is continuing with its 3rd Phase that started in July and will continue till June 2010.
The project aims at developing women leadership at the Grassroots level so that they can participate in local level decision making process through their interaction with the local government (Union Parishad and Upazilla Parishad) and local level service providers. The women empowerment at the grassroots level will ensure reduction of violence against women and gender discrimination.
Project Goal:
To promote/facilitate active participation of women in local decision making process that contributes to improved living conditions for the women and the communities, especially the poor.
Activity
- WC Monthly meeting
- UCC monthly meeting
- UzC Quarterly meeting
- Quarterly meeting of the adolescents groups at WCC level
- Training on Social analysis and Organizational development (New area)
- Training on legal rights and family law for UCC leaders in(new area)
- Publications to raise awareness on various issues including Gender
- ToT for WCC leaders
- Mobilization of male support at WCC through orientation meeting with spouses and other males on women issues in new area
- Yearly cultural program for UCC (Issue based) Theatre and cultural workshop for UCC Cultural team
- Dialogue with local level service providers at Upazilla level
- Orientation of women leaders on functions of Union Parishads and local service providers (new area)
- Orientation of the LEBs on their roles and responsibilities and improving local level services with follow up training
- Orientation of the LEBs on citizens’ rights - and ensuring local governance with follow up training
- Dialogue meeting of UCC leaders with LEBs and Citizens
- Orientation of women leaders on functions of Union Parishads and local service providers (new area)
- Orientation of the LEBs on their roles and responsibilities and improving local level services with follow up training
- Orientation of the LEBs on citizens’ rights - and ensuring local governance with follow up training
- Dialogue meeting of UCC leaders with LEBs and Citizens
- Quarterly staff meeting
- Cultural Training for Organizer
- Visit to the project area by the electronics and print media personnel
- Orientation wo0rkshop for adolescent on gender, Rights and local government at union (New area)
Project Challenge:
- Male supports for the Women organizational activities need strengthening.
- Cultural activism linked with social action and motivation needs strengthening.
- Many of the local LEBs, especially those who want to keep the women and the poor class suppressed are antagonistic to the project activities.
- The women leaders who are going to contest in the next UP/Upazilla elections are treated as direct rival by the male counterparts. They are also considered opponent by all political parties at UP/Upazilla level.
- It is required to search out ways and means for the sustainability of the WCC with Income
- Generating Process and other economic activities.
- The social and political violence are hindrance to the project activities
- Religious fundamentalism hinders project activities in some areas.
- Some remote project areas become difficult to cover due to poor road and communication facilities.
Project Learning:
- Women community can emerge as strong socio-political force if properly supported and nourished
- Community support, especially from the male is essential for women empowerment.
- Adolescent girls need to be carefully nourished for developing them as future women leaders.
- Women leaders must be careful from their rivals and should have the capacity to identify friends and foes.
- The women leaders need to move with measured steps for the next UP election.
- The workshop/dialogue with Local Government institutions and local service providers are assistive to the community in getting better services and support.
Project Recommendation:
- The sustainability of the organizations and women leadership is directly related to the financial sustainability of the women and so they need to have their access to livelihood opportunities.
- The local government institutions should take care of enhanced services and securities for the women communities