Women development program (on going)

Project Title:

Gender Responsive Approach to Women Human Rights and Economic Empowerment (GRAWHREE)

Project Description

  1. Background and rationale of the proposed project:

Over the years GoB and NGOs have undertaken variety of socio-economic programs to empower women and reduce poverty. Despite these efforts women could not enter into mainstream economy. However, micro-credit extend the scope for women to get involved in economic activities. A large number of organizations are providing micro-credit to women to generate self-employment. It is experienced that micro-credit has abated the pressure of poverty temporarily but could not develop women as entrepreneur and as a result their subordinate positions remain unchanged. The key factor of this failure is that women receive credit money but ultimately it goes to their male counterparts as they predominantly control family economy. It happens because both women and men are insensitive to gender and guided by the patriarchal values. Moreover, the social rule of division of labour by sex forbid women to get involved in economic activities. At these unfavorable circumstances women are unable to get empowered through conventional process of micro-credit program.

It is also evident that in many cases women credit borrowers become victim of violence in the hand of their male counterparts. They usually receive credit as a representative of the males. Sometime men compels women to receive loan from credit giving organization. In each case, the credit money are snatched away by the husband or son or son-in-law or other male relatives. At this backdrop women fall in to a critical situation of the time of repaying the installment but men do not pay heed to the matter. If women approach repeatedly become victim of violence. A few women work with micro-credit are vulnerable to domestic violence. Males feel threatened if women intervene in economic sphere as they believe that their control over economy is absolute. This absolutism latent psychological antagonism and power conflict incites in them which is exposed in the form of violence against women. 

Recognizing the devastating social and economic impact of violence against women USHA has taken this issue as an inseparable organ of the project and committed to challenge and address and deter its effect on women’s access to earnings and economic productivity.  

Project Goal, Objectives/Outcomes:

  • The Goal and Purposes of the proposed project

Goal: Poor & vulnerable women enjoy an improved social and economic status resulting in contribution of gender responsive enabling environment (at both local and national levels) and realization of their rights                                 
Or
Goal: Poor & vulnerable women enjoy an improved socio-economic status and rights by enabling gender responsive environment both at local and national level.

Purpose: Building, revitalizing and sensitizing potential social institution on gender equality and make them proactive on women human rights and economic empowerment

Objective : 1

Activities

Output

Strategy

1. Improved social status of targeted women through measurable reduction of different forms of violence and creating their better access to the quality services and resources

1.1) 320 courtyard assembly (Issues of discussion: gender based division of labor, VAW, UP services, women’s economic empowerment, women’s rights)

1.1)12800 women and men (GET recipients women, their counterparts and family members) are sensitized on division of labor by sex, adverse effect of VAW, available services of UP and benefit of women’s economic empowerment and women’s rights.

Involvement of male counterparts and family members to avoid patriarchal hindrance

1.2) 160 Follow-up of courtyard assembly (Issues of discussion: gender based division of labor, VAW, UP services, women’s economic empowerment, women’s rights)

1.2) 12800 women and men reanimated their previous learning

 

 

Involvement of male counterparts and family members to avoid patriarchal hindrance

1.3) 96 Day Observation (International Women’s Day, International Human Rights Day, Rokeya Dibosh, International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women)

1.3) 19200 participants attended and mass awareness increased on the significance of International Women’s Day, International Human Rights Day, Rokeya Dibosh, and International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women.

Involving cross section of people (women and men) in different programs of Day observation

1.4) 16 Orientation to VAW for Nari Nirzaton Nirodh Committee of Union Parishad

1.4) 160 participants orientated, activated and intervened against VAW.

Revival and activate NNNC at Union Parishad to prevent and protect from different forms of VAW

1.5) 227 Bi-monthly meeting with NNNC 

1.5) 16 NNNC are able to deal with VAW cases properly.

Revival and activate NNNC at Union Parishad to prevent and protect form different forums of VAW

1.6) 04 Gender Sensitivity Training for LGEB and SSG members

1.6) 80 participants from LGEB & SSG are  sensitized on gender & VAW

Involving LGEB and SSG to create gender friendly environment and women’s access to services.

1.7) 04 Assertiveness Training for Female Members of UPs and SSGs

1.7) 80 female participants from UP & SSG are vocal, confident and assertive in establishing their rights

Use of female members from UP & SSG as vanguard to deal with gender based discrimination, women’s access to services and VAW. 

1.8) 144 Meeting on Social Support Group formation

1.8) 144 SSG formed and functional

Involve progressive civil society representatives and LGEB members in SSG. 

1.9) 48 Workshop on the Role of SSG for Women’s Economic Empowerment & Resisting VAW

1.9) 144 Social support groups played proactive role in favor of women’s economic empowerment and resisted VAW.

Involve progressive civil society representatives and LGEB members in SSG. 

1.10) 384 Social Support Group (SSG) meeting 

1.10) 144 SSG shared ideas, experiences, reviewed progress, identified problems and formulated future course of action.

Holding regular meeting and continuous review contribute in proper function of SSG.

1.11) 08 Experience sharing meeting of SSG (with cultural show)

1.11) 1160 SSG members exchanged experiences, ideas and strong solidarity build among SSG members.

Ensure participation of all social support groups.

1.12) Referral of victims of violence (need based)    

1.12) Victim women are referred to concern service giving institutions.

Support victims with relevant information and linkage.

1.13) 64 Discussion meeting on the issues of eve teasing & early marriage at educational institutions.

1.13) 9600 participants are sensitized on adverse effect of eve teasing and early marriage. 

Motivating school management and teachers to organize programs 

1.14) Sharing  meeting with police, court and health service providers  

1.14) Increased accountability of service providers

Ensure participation of duty bearers.

1.15) Monitoring of the services of  police, court & hospital in relation to VAW (in three project areas: Tangail, Jessore, Chittagong)

1.15) Situation of service delivery properly monitored.

Rapport building with service providers

 

Outcome-1: Social groups and institutions are well prepared and played proactive and facilitative role to protect women human rights and resist VAW

 


Objective : 2

Activities

Output

Strategy

2. Enhanced income opportunities of the poor and vulnerable women by helping them to establish small scale entrepreneurship  and escalating their capabilities

2.1) 80 Gender and Entrepreneurship Training  

2.1) 1280 women are sensitized on gender issues and 800 women developed as small scale entrepreneurs
  • Selection criteria is followed for training participants
  • Use of microcredit as an effective tool to develop entrepreneurship

2.2) 80 Refresher Training on Gender and Entrepreneurship

2.2) 1600 participants reanimated their previous learning and enhanced their capabilities

 
  • Selection criteria is followed for training participants
  • Use of microcredit as an effective tool to develop entrepreneurship

2.3) 16 Formation of Entrepreneurs’ Forum

2.3) 16 entrepreneurs’ forum formed

  • One forum in each union formed by advanced entrepreneurs

2.4) 160 Meeting of Entrepreneurs’ Forum

2.4) 16 entrepreneurs’ active and functional

  • Meeting held every after three months

 

 

2.5) 08 Entrepreneurs’ conference

2.5.1)
a. Conferences participated by 2000 women and men.

b. Positive results of entrepreneurs shared and replicable impact influenced others
  • Each conference organized ensuring  participation of advanced entrepreneurs, GET recipients, representatives from LGEB and SSG covering two unions

2.6)  2256 Meeting with entrepreneurs on gender & VAW

2.6) 2000 participants sensitized on gender issues and VAW and followed up their activities

  • Meetings covered selected issues related to gender and VAW

 

2.7) 48 Sharing meeting with Local Bazar Committee (LGB).

2.7) Developed awareness among 400 LGB members and women’s access in local bazars promoted and widened

  • Sensitizing Local Bazar Committee

Outcome-2 :  Women entrepreneurs are economically self supported on being gender sensitive and increased   family consumption and subsistence level and reduce burden of poverty

 


Objective : 3

Activities

Output

Strategy

3. Influence  Micro-credit Regulatory Authority (MRA) to be pro-active and responsive in formulating gender friendly micro credit system     

3.1) Formation of National Caucus

National Caucus for Women’s Economic Empowerment formed

Involving lead NGOs and eminent personalities from  the civil society

3.2) Meeting of National   Caucus (regular meeting)

 

a. Review of MRA Bidhimala 2009

 

b. Submission of recommendations to MRA

 
  • Reviewed barriers against women’s economic empowerment including MRA Bidhimala 2009
  • Recommendations formulated for gender responsive micro credit system
  • Recommendations submitted to MRA

Meeting held every after four months

3.3) 08 Sharing meeting with local NGOs, |GOB and civil society on gender responsive microcredit at upazila level

800 participants realized the importance of gender responsive micro-credit  system

Ensuring participation of women men from NGOs, |GOB and civil society

3.4) 04 Sharing meeting with local NGOs, |GOB and civil society on gender responsive microcredit at district level. 

400 participants realized the importance of gender responsive micro-credit  system

Ensuring participation of women men from NGOs, |GOB and civil society

 

3.5) 01 Sharing meeting on gender responsive microcredit at national level

100 participants realized the importance of gender responsive micro-credit  system

Ensuring participation of women men from NGOs, |GOB and civil society

Outcome-3 :  The recommendations made by the National Caucus for gender responsive micro-credit system has been considered by the Microcredit Regularity Authority