Strengthening CBOs for Sustainability [SCFS]

Project Title: Strengthening CBOs for Sustainability [SCFS]

Background

In Bangladesh the society, religion, culture and partially existing law do not allow sex work as profession. As a result, sex workers [SW] are excluded and marginalized in many ways in society. Apparently the society is very much intolerant toward sex work and always considers it against morality and religion but paradoxically it exists in the country.

The project seeks to engage civil society organizations, community leaders, activists, and volunteers to work collaboratively towards mainstreaming female sex workers through reducing inequality and promoting human rights. By combining advocacy, education, and empowerment, creating safer job alternatives, address Gender Based Violence [GBV] and creating GBV leadership, etc. the project aims to foster an environment that respects and protects the rights and dignity of all female sex workers [FSW] through supporting Community Based Organizations [CBO] and its leadership covering Rajbari, Khulna, Bagerhat, Rajshahi and Dhaka district in Bangladesh.

Specific Objectives

Objective -1: Provide technical assistance to five CBOs for obtaining registration from the authority of Bangladesh Government and support for future sustainability and leadership role

Objective -2: Create GBV leadership and manage GBV crisis through forming “Community Squad”

Objective -3: Engage in advocacy efforts to influence policies that promote social justice, equity, and human rights at national level through fostering collaboration and networking among civil society organizations, activists, and stakeholders at national and local

Objective 4: Develop and broadcast media analysis on the successes of CBOs and FSWs to attract other donor’s to support CBOs further

Program Pictures

Major Target & Activities

Name of Activities	Target	Achievement	Remain activity	Remarks
Preparatory Works
Signing Agreement with WFA	1	1
Need Assessment	6	6
Circulate EOI for CBO partners	1	1
Pre-bid meeting	1	1
Ensure co-creation of proposal	1	1		It was achievement during the signing agreement day and over the phone
Sign agreement with the CBO partners and arrange program briefing	1	1		It was achievement during the signing agreement day and over the phone
Ensure staff arrangement	1	1
Objective 1: Provide technical assistance [TA] to five CBOs for obtaining registration from the authority of Bangladesh Government and support for future sustainability and leadership role.
Obtain registration/renewal for CBOs from department of women and children affairs and process NGO Bureau Affairs registration for those CBO who will be eligible	4	1	3	We will achieve this activity after your approval because we need Tk.26200.
Arrange quarterly executive committee meeting of 5 CBOs	15	5	10	Running
Arrange annual AGM for 5 CBOs	5			It will achieve in the end of the project period.
Arrange training on Governance for EC members of 5 CBOs	1	0	1	It will achieve within running quarter
Ensure media coverage in minimum 5-10 renowned national and social media	5	24		24 papers and media coverage the program
Collect video footage for future documentary development		4		We are collecting for the story.
Objective -2: Create GBV leadership and manage crisis through forming two Community Squads in Dhaka North City Corporation [DNCC] and Dhaka South City Corporation [DSCC].
Form 2 Community Squad in Dhaka North and South City Corporation along 2 alliance team and 2 legal support team	2	2	0	Community squad has been developed and meeting will start from this month.
Continue Quarterly Community Squad and Extended Team Meeting	8	0	8	Community squad has been developed and meeting will start from this month.
Ensure Mobile phone for 24 hours GBV services	2	2
Develop and print fliers on GBV hotline services	5000 Nose	0	5000 Nose	Waiting for approval
Develop GBV on line reporting system				On processing
Prevention, Management and Rescue Services	125	13	112
Objective 3: Engage in advocacy efforts to influence policies that promote social justice, equity, and human rights at national level through fostering collaboration and networking among civil society organizations, activists, and stakeholders at national and local level
Organize Round Table Meeting	1	1	0
Take footage of round table meeting for project end documentary	1	1	0
Organize TV Talk-show	1	0	1
Develop policy brief	1	0	1
Advocacy Meeting with Office of Police Superintendent, Dhaka	1	0	1
Lobby policy makers	6	0	6
Ensure OpEd publication by policy makers	3	0	3
Joint Advocacy [Day Observation: World AIDS Day and International Women Day]	2	1	1
Ensure wider media coverage		24	0
Circulate quarterly e-bulletin	4	0	4
Gather success story and develop a e-story book	1	0	1
Submit grant proposal for 1 CBO	1	0	1
Quarterly Routine Monitoring visit by Program associate	4	1	3
Bi-annual monitoring visit by Project Focal	2	0	2
Joint monitoring oversight by UN technical agency, SWASA Country Representative, AAS representative and GOB authorities [ASP/DSS/C&WFA]	1	0	1

Details Achievement

Need Assessment Report: Ashar Alo Society (AAS), funded by Women Fund Asia (WFA), is leading a 1-year initiative called “Strengthening CBOs for Sustainability (SCFS)” that began on August 1, 2023. Through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), AAS has partnered with six community-based organizations (CBOs) as project activity partners: Badhan Hijra Sangha, Durjoy Nari Sangha, Shondhi Nari Sangha, Alokito Nari Unnayan Shamity, Alor Michil Nari kallyan Sangstha, and Shacheton Hijra Odhikar Jubo Sangha. This project aims to provide technical assistance to these CBOs for their capacity building to sustain being CBO further. And part of that a need assessment conducted from November 9 to December 23, 2023 with the objective to identify key areas where the organization needs improvement and to develop recommendations for addressing those needs.

Signing Agreement with WFA: An MoU of ‘The Ashar Alo Society’ has been signed with six community-based organizations working to improve the quality of life and empowerment of third-gender and sex workers today at the office of Ashar Alo Society. The organizations are Durjoy Nari Sangha, Sandhi Nari Sangh, Alor Michile Nari Kalyan Sansthan, Alok Nari Uyana Samiti, Savan Hijra Adhikar Youth Sangh, and Badhan Hijra Sangh. Bangladesh said, ‘Capacity building of small organizations in Bangladesh is now the most important thing that will create resources within the community to support the community. He also hopes that their true empowerment will take them forward, said Dr. Saima Khan, Country Director of UNAIDS. At that time, Jannat Husna, Country Coordinator of Swasa Bangladesh, said that This project would help to provide technical assistance in building sustainable leadership at the community level and raise awareness about social justice, equality, and human rights at the national level. UFPA representatives Dr. Rahat Ara Noor and Dr. Roksana Yasmin, Deputy Executive Director of Ashar Alo Society K. S. M. Tarique, and representatives of 6 other organizations were present at the signing ceremony.

Circulate EOI for CBO partners: Ashar Alo Society circulated an EOI to select the six community-based organizations as implementing partners on 4^th September2023. More than fifteen CBOs applied and among them six organizations were selected finally such as : Badhan Hijra Sangha, Durjoy Nari Sangha, Shondhi Nari Sangha, Alokito Nari Unnayan Shamity, Alor Michil Nari kallyan Sangstha, and Shacheton Hijra Odhikar Jubo Sangha.

Ensure staff arrangement: AAS recruited four staff for this project. Among them Project Focal person, Media Manager and Finance officer are partial staff and Program Associate is the full time staff. Besides partners organization Badhan Hijra Sangha was recruited three staff such as GBV Coordinator and two GBV staff part-time.

Obtain registration/renewal for CBOs from department of women and children affairs and process NGO Bureau Affairs registration for those CBO who will be eligible: The SCFS project will ensure little grant as part of TA support activities for CBOs. The project is providing support for developing/revising constitutions and internal regulations for 3 CBOs. During the reporting period AAS has provided this support to one CBO named Shacheton Hijra Odhikar Jubo Sangha. During the period we will provide this support to Sandhi Nari Sangha, Alokito Nari Unnayan Shamity.

Arrange quarterly executive committee meeting of 5 CBOs: AAS provided support to 5 CBOs for conduct quarterly executive committee meeting for their capacity development. During the reporting time five meeting of 5 organizations were done in first quarter.

Ensure media coverage in minimum 5-10 renowned national and social media: Ashar Alo Society is ensuring the media coverage for the every events. During the reporting period more than 24 papers both electronic and print media coverage the program of the project.

Media Coverage Link

Collect video footage for future documentary Development: AAS always collect the video footage for every activity under the project. In first quarter AAS has collected more than, five video footage to develop a documentary.

Form 2 Community Squad in Dhaka North and South City Corporation along 2 alliance team and 2 legal support team: AAS partner organization Badhan Hijra Sangha has developed two community squad, two alliance team and 2 legal support team in Dhaka North and South City Corporation to ensure the support and rights of Sex workers, Transgender community. They will start meeting from this month (Feb’24). Here are the following members of the committees:

Dhaka South City Corporation:

Community Squad Team : Badhan Hijra Sangha-1 person, Srabonti/Robi, Jahanra Akter-GBV Coordinator, Shahnaz Begum- Volunteer, Imran- Volunteer, Rina- ED- Kallyan Moyee Nari Sangha.

Community Alliance team: Salauddin Ahmed, Mozid Bishwas- Staff of Soirya Hospital, Robiul Islam- Brac staff, Sobuz- Brac staff, Ashif- Islamia Hospital.

Community Legal support team: Md. Nazrul Islam- Advocate, Ashis Kumar- DB Police, Shamoli Borua- Legal Aid Member, Hamidur Rahman-Community Leader, Mukdha, Tasnuma-Lawer.

Prevention, Management and Rescue Services: Badhan Hijra Sangha has provided GBV support to the 13 community people. They provided legal Aid support and released from Jail.

Organize Round Table Meeting: The transgender communities in Bangladesh face widespread discrimination and marginalization. They are often denied their basic rights to education, employment, healthcare, and housing. They are also at high risk of violence and abuse. Recently NID become an issue for them for their further development.

Human Rights Day 2023 is an opportunity to raise awareness of the rights of this marginalized community and to advocate for their inclusion and protection. A round table meeting can be a valuable tool for bringing together stakeholders from different sectors to discuss these issues and develop strategies for change. AAS organized this Round Table on 27^th December, 2023 at NHRC conference room. Honorable Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh chaired in the meeting.

Objectives

The objectives of the round table meeting are to:

Reiterate the rights of transgender in Bangladesh
Identify the challenges faced by them
Discuss strategies for promoting their inclusion and protection
Develop recommendations for action to complement ongoing approaches

Target Audience

The target audience for the round table meeting includes:

Representatives from the transgender community
Representative from department of social welfare
Activist [Bandhu Social Welfare Society; Iprobono/Justice & Care]
Donor counterpart [CD-UNAIDS; CD – SWASA, Representatives – ADB/UNCDF, UN Women and UNFPA]
Human rights advocates [ED-Nari pakhakha]
Media representatives [Media Personnel: Mahfuz Anam/President Press Club]
Medical professionals and students [BMSS, DMCH/IDH/NIPSOM]
Academicians and Researchers [Prof. Robayet Ferdous, DU, Social Science; Prof. Nazmul, Dept of Statistics, Jahangirnagar University; Representatives – icddr,b]

Proposed Agenda

Welcome and Opening Remarks
Keynote Presentation: 1 key note presentation on the challenges of Transgender
Panel Discussion: Challenges and Opportunities for Transgender
Generate common action plan
Closing Remarks

Outcomes:

The expected outcomes of the round table meeting are to:

Understanding of the challenges of transgender in Bangladesh reiterated
Concrete steps to promote their inclusion and protection identified
Recommendations for action to complement ongoing approaches developed

Conclusion: A round table meeting on the rights of current challenges of transgender in Bangladesh can be a powerful tool for advancing their human rights. By bringing together stakeholders from different sectors, the meeting can re-emphasize on awareness, and develop strategies for change. In commemoration of Human Rights Day 2023, this meeting can make a significant contribution to ensuring that all people in Bangladesh enjoy their full human rights.

Joint Advocacy [Day Observation: World AIDS Day and International Women Day]: The World AIDS Day is an international day. The date has been chosen every year since 1988 on 1st December. This day is chosen to raise awareness against the spread of the AIDS epidemic and to mourn those who have died of the disease. Government and health officials, non-governmental organizations and individuals around the world observe this day to raise awareness about AIDS prevention and control.

With the full support of Ashar Alo Society among the National Level Non-Governmental Organizations and with a grant from Strengthening CBOs for Sustainability [SCFS]-(SWASA) through voluntary participation of sex workers at the departmental level by CBOs in association with the Office of the Civil Surgeon, Government of Bangladesh on 01 December 2023 [Community Invitation, AIDS will be Control] The day is celebrated with this theme in mind.

On that day, among the activities of the Civil Surgeon Office, various awareness discussions were held about the current situation of Bangladesh and how to increase the rate of recovery from it in the coming days according to the previous year’s calculations. A total of 20 people from the community including Sandhi Nari Sangha, Majortila, President of Sylhet, respected members of the EC Committee were present. A total of 20 people from the community including Alor Michil Nari Kallyan Sangstha, President of Rajshahi, and respected members of EC Committee were present.

Quarterly Routine Monitoring visit by Program Associate: I, Md. Asraful Islam, left Dhaka on December 08, 2023 to visit Sandhi Nari Sangh Sylhet CBO office and EC committee meeting. Since the organization has no office, it started with a welcome speech by the president of the organization at the president’s residence, and as a representative of the donor organization, I [Md. Asraful Islam, Associate Program Officer] was honored as an executive member by discussing about Ashar Alo Society and the donors [SCFS, SWASA]]. The meeting was held in the presence of 11 members. The period of which is running from 02:00 PM to 03:30 PM. After seeing the documents of the organization and knowing about the situation of the organization after the meeting of the executive members, it is humbly requested to give suggestions for the implementation of the organization again after a long time and to play the proper role of the executive members. After the activity of the organization has been closed for the past 6 years, now the project is going on, the members enthusiastically requested that if any kind of meeting or activity is conducted at the president’s house, the president is repeatedly threatened by the influential people to change the house. In such a situation, they need an office again as before where they can carry out all official activities and meetings.

Discussed and Decisions:

All the members will once again play an effective role in the proper running of the organization and pay regular monthly subscription.
The list of EC members of the organization shall be approved by the Directorate of Women Affairs and submitted to Ashar Alo Society in 01 photocopy.
Submitting photocopies of updated copies of registration and books to donor organizations on an urgent basis after payment of funds by donor organization [Ashar Alo Society] for renewal of organization registration.
Attaching an educated member to the EC committee so that there is no disruption to the functioning of the organization.
Submission of application form for remaining 30% allocated amount after conducting the meeting.

Challenges	Overcome/Mitigation
It was difficult to select the partner CBOs due to Sex Worker Network being blocked CBOs so that they cannot apply here.	AAS management discussed with Sex worker Network and other CBOs and solved this problem.
We faced difficulty in renewing the CBOs registration. Because they did not provide the government fee regularly and more than 6-14 years they did not updated it which will exit the budget line.	We discussed it with the Country Coordinator of the SWASA project and requested approval. We hope we will get approval and solve this problem.
As per MOU AAS will provide 70% money to the CBOs and after completing the activity AAS will provide the rest of money. But most of the CBOs did not agree to bear this cost from their own fund. Because they have no funds in their mother account.	AAS has discussed with Country Coordinator of SWASA project and she suggested us to provide 100% changing the MOU.
It was difficult to develop the GBV Community Squad, Legal Alliance team and Legal Aid Team for the Partner CBOs.	AAS has developed a guide line on the GBV Community Squad, Legal Alliance team and Legal Aid Team. Then they have formed this team.
It was difficult to prepare the papers of CBOs such as meeting minutes, bill voucher due to not available educated person.	AAS is trying to solve this problem and to include the educated person in the executive committee. One CBO has included one educated member in the EC body.

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