The “Food Security and Livelihood (FSL)” sector program aspires to boost the income and nutritional security of marginalized communities via technology, capacity enhancement, and market linkages. Embracing themes such as Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture, Capture Fisheries, Off-farm activities, Employment generation, and Value Chains, the program seeks to provide diversified food sources, introduce eco-friendly technologies, and ensure equitable value-chain returns for sustainable community well-being. Below are the program-specific objectives:
- To augment crop diversification by facilitating the adoption of optimized cultivation patterns, advanced technologies, and skill enhancement.
- To elevate access to diversified and nutritious food sources for vulnerable communities and cultivate sustainable livelihoods to ensure their long-term well-being.
- To promote the adoption of climate-smart and eco-friendly technologies in strengthening community resilience and enhance ecosystem services.
- To augment value chain efficiency, minimize wastage, and guarantee equitable returns, ensuring that all stakeholders within the food value chain benefit fairly and sustainably.
Key Highlights of Food security and livelihood
- 2,340 people received IGA/input support.
- 11,431 people received unconditional grant support (Tk. 1000-4500/per person).
- 13,420 people has received Cash for Work support.
- 9,309 beneficiaries received a start-up investment grant worth 8,000 BDT.
- 3,759 people received production kits.
- 3,759 people received self-reliance support.
- 9,693 people received skills training on different IGAs.
- 9,295 BHHs received orientation on Business Planning Skills.
- 200 people received training on value chain.
- 42 people received input support and training on ecotourism.
- Under CNRS microcredit program, 12,510 group members received Rural Micro Credit (RMC) loan, 109 people received Micro Enterprise (ME) loan – all of the recipients were women.
- CNRS established three vegetable collection centers in three strategic locations in the Teknaf upazila of the Cox’s Bazar district.
Livelihood activities of CNRS cross cut with its other projects. Under the Suchana project, 9,309 beneficiaries have received a start-up investment grant equivalent to 8,000 BDT (US$ 102) along with relevant technical training, business development skills training, and market linkage support. Orient 9,295 BHHs on Business Planning Skill with a view to link the IGA BHHs with local markets in the presence of input and output marker actors. A total of 44,942 BHHs were mobilized in 2402 VSLAs who accumulated savings amounting to BDT 61,43,823 in this reporting year which is almost double that of the annual target.
Under the UNHCR project, different types of livelihood support were provided to the project participants of refugee camps and host communities of Cox’s Bazar. Among the project participants, 2,018 people received input support and 3,759 people received production kits or inputs for agriculture/livestock/fisheries activities. A total of 3,759 people received continued self-reliance support within the camps. CNRS established three vegetable collection centers in three strategic locations in the Teknaf upazila of the district of Cox’s Bazar.
The PROKRITI project of CNRS worked for job creation focusing on ecotourism in Tanguar Haor. The project facilitated the training of local tourist boat drivers and tour guides. It also conducted an orientation session to ensure smooth operation of tent management instruments, and subsequently handed over 2 sets of tents to community people.
Beneficiaries of CNRS Livelihoods Opportunities for Host Communities through Environmental Rehabilitation project received an intensive five-day training on AIGA and “Sea Safety”, the beneficiaries also supported with some inputs by the FAO.
The CEIP-1 project of CNRS conducted a training session on value chain, producer group/cooperative, market linkage, and the supply and demand system for 8 batches with total participants amounting to 200 from the Dacop upazila of the Khulna district.
CNRS microcredit activities are leading to self-employment of poor rural women and helping them transform their socioeconomic status positively. During the reporting period, a total of BDT 350 million was distributed among 12,510 group members as Rural Micro Credit (RMC) loan while BDT 15 million was distributed among 109 persons as Micro Enterprise (ME) loan – all of the recipients were women.
Projects have primary focus on food production, agriculture and nutritional aspects. Such as, Suchana project has key focus on nutrition. HFMLIP-LGED focuses on both capture fisheries management and aquaculture while HFMLIP-BWDB focuses on horticulture, rice and wheat under CC & DRR scenarios. Food security and diversity are crosscutting agenda of these projects.
Under the G4CR-II project, local farmers were trained in climate/salinity tolerant crop varieties (rice, vegetables, wheat, and mustard), which was facilitated by field officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). Rice, wheat, mustard and vegetable seeds were distributed among the farmers. The project restored one silted up canal to drain excess rainwater and to create a rainwater reserve for farming and fishing. The project also supported farmers (men, women, and youth) for practicing climate smart agriculture using water from restored canals. To promote smart agriculture, a Power Tiller was distrusted to a farmer group of the Munshiganj union in the Shyamnagar upazila of the Satkhira district.
Utilizing the project support, the beneficiaries of the SRCCP project were able to enhance their family’s total protein consumption and income than that of the past. It was measured by the Food Consumption Score (FCS), a tool to scale up the consumed food quality. The average pre-support food consumption score is 29.37 and the average post support food consumption score is 37.54. Thus, the support increased average food consumption score by 8.17.
The Suchana project of CNRS played a significant role in reducing the rate of stunting. The end-line survey conducted by ICDDR’B revealed that the prevalence of stunting (35.5%) has been reduced to a satisfactory level considering the RFLI (46.3%) and baseline (52.6%) targets. According to the end-line survey, among 20 upazilas in the Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts, a reduction of stunting of over 6% was observed in only five upazilas, and among them, the top three are from the Moulvibazar (Barlekha, Moulvibazar Sadar and Sreemongal) district, which is the working area of CNRS. The Suchana project also has been playing a significant role in the nutrition governance issue. To keep promoting the scaling-up of nutrition governance, CNRS supported 37 Unions Parishads and GoB line agencies (like DGHS, DGFP, DAE, DLS, DoF, Women Affairs Department, Youth Department, DPHE, and Education department) at upazila level to prepare their respective Multi-sectorial Nutrition Action Plan.
Case STudy
In 2018, the Suchana Project started its activities in the Islampur union (Phase 2). Ms. Alima was a 15-year-old adolescent girl who was involved with Suchana. In the IGA assessment, she expressed interest in traditional handloom because they have a handloom machine, but due to a financial crisis, they were unable to start production. Eventually, with the support of the Suchana project, they started production. Nowadays, she can produce 8-12 sharis every month. The approximate market price of each single shari is BDT 1,200-1,500, depending on design and color. Recently, Suchana’s consortium partner, iDE, opened a training center to improve the design quality of Monipuri handicraft,
