Note: This document may not always reflect the actual appropriations determined by Congress. Final budget allocations for USAID's programs are not determined until after passage of an appropriations bill and preparation of the Operating Year Budget (OYB).
BANGLADESH
FY 1998 Development Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $56,305,000 FY 1998 P.L. 480 Title II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,520,000 Introduction
Bangladesh is one of South Asia's poorest, most populous democracies, with a solid record of good government economic performance. Bangladesh also has a good record of support for U.S. positions in international fora, including participation in international peacekeeping missions. U.S. development interest is primarily humanitarian, focused on poverty reduction. However, the large U.S. food debt coming due for repayment and the potential for market development and trade expansion provide further impetus for the United States to foster sustainable development. The need to increase disaster preparedness to reduce the cost of disaster relief provides additional rationale for U.S. assistance.The Development Challenge
Bangladesh is the world's most densely populated agricultural country, with a population base of 120 million and with 830 people per square kilometer. This extreme population pressure on the country's resources, combined with a number of unfavorable socioeconomic factors, makes Bangladesh one of the poorest countries in the world. Some 50 million Bangladeshi citizens live below the poverty line, measured by consumption of less than 2,122 calories a day, the minimum caloric standard for an average adult.In spite of the high levels of poverty, Bangladesh has made considerable progress in a number of social and economic areas in recent years. Surveys show the incidence of rural poverty has steadily decreased from 57% in 1989 to 48% in 1994. Contraceptive use continues to rise, resulting in a significant reduction in fertility rates and demonstrating that even poor countries can restrain population growth. Improvements in emergency response, agricultural policies and related food production increases since 1989 have allowed the country to avert famine during recent droughts, cyclones and floods. Bangladesh also has undertaken a number of reforms in privatizing its agricultural, financial and industrial sectors, which have paid dividends in reducing government budget deficits and lowering food and essential commodity prices. The 1991 and 1996 parliamentary and 1992 local elections were generally considered free and fair. In addition, the new government elected in 1996 has reaffirmed its commitment to a focus on poverty reduction with social justice and other priority development issues, such as an open market economy and reductions in population growth.
USAID has played an important role in Bangladesh's recent achievements. In the agriculture sector, USAID efforts to promote home gardening and fish culture among poor rural families has greatly expanded many families' consumption of more nutritious foods and has allowed them to supplement their incomes by selling some of their surplus produce. USAID support to rural electrification has expanded access to low cost, dry season irrigation through the availability of private electrical pumps which, in turn, has greatly expanded the use of land previously out of production during the dry season. In the area of health and family planning, USAID has played a major role in increasing the use of contraceptives, oral rehydration salts and urban vaccinations, which have directly contributed to the decline in fertility and infant and child mortality rates. USAID's successes in health and family planning are now allowing a transition to a more self-sustaining development program. In the democracy sector, USAID assistance has enhanced the election process, developed cost-effective dispute resolution methods, and strengthened civil society organizations.
Even with its reasonably good record of development performance, Bangladesh is not an early candidate for rapid graduation from traditional development assistance. While substantial progress has been achieved, poverty levels -- with the attendant high levels of malnutrition, illiteracy, and other socioeconomic problems -- remain high. Significant increases in economic growth must be achieved before poverty levels can decline dramatically, allowing domestic production and trade to replace external assistance. Bangladesh has begun to make payments on approximately $700 million it owes to the United States for P.L. 480 Titles I and III food imports. These, as well as other external debts, will reduce the government's economic investments in the coming years.
Other Donors
In September 1996, USAID and the donor community pledged $1.9 billion for development activities in Bangladesh. The United States provides about 4% of all donor assistance to Bangladesh. Other major contributors include: the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the United Nations agencies, and the International Monetary Fund.FY 1998 Program
USAID's strategy for helping Bangladesh reach and maintain lower poverty levels continues to concentrate on achieving sustained replacement fertility levels, improved health status of the population, food security for the poor, and broadened participation by the poor in democratic institutions and processes. Through these combined foci, USAID expects to assist millions of poor Bangladeshis to attain a higher standard of living. Support for family planning and maternal and child health programs leads to smaller and healthier families, thereby reducing pressures on the country's finite land base and resources. Programs that work to increase access to, availability of and utilization of food by the poor lead to reduced hunger, which in turn allows the country to be more productive. Broadening participation in democratic processes is expected to lead to greater attention to the needs of the poor in the distribution of the nation's resources. All of these factors contribute to U.S. national interests in making Bangladesh more stable and self-supporting. This will allow the country to become a better customer for U.S. products and technology.
Agency Goal: Stabilizing World Population Growth and Protecting Human Health
Bangladesh is the ninth most populous country in the world, and rapid population growth is one of the key constraints to development. Three of USAID's objectives in Bangladesh are aimed at reducing the population growth rate.
Strategic Objective 1: Use of Modern Contraceptives by Eligible Couples Increased
Strategic Objective 2: Use of High-Impact Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Increased Strategic Objective 3: Institutional, Programmatic, and Financial Sustainability of Family Planning and MCH Programs Enhanced The total fertility rate in Bangladesh dropped to 3.4 in 1994 from over 7 in 1974 (a decline of over four children per woman). Evidence of further declines is expected when the next survey data are available in the spring of 1997. This rapid decline in fertility can largely be explained by a rise in the contraceptive prevalence rate, which rose to 45% in 1994 from less than 8% in 1974. USAID's contribution in reducing the fertility rate includes support for the commercial distribution of pills and condoms; high-quality and efficient nongovernmental organization (NGO) and government service delivery; efficient operation of the family planning logistics system; enhanced community participation in local government management of the family planning program; comprehensive family planning information, education, and communication; and research leading to higher quality and sustainable family planning programs, policy-making and implementation.
In the health sector, infant mortality had dropped to 88 per 1,000 live births by 1994, down significantly from 128 per 1,000 in 1986. Also by 1994, deaths in children under five years of age dropped to 132 per 1,000 live births, down from 168 per 1,000 in 1986. Further declines are expected to be documented when the next survey data are available in the spring of 1997. USAID is contributing to these reductions through support for childhood and maternal vaccinations, child spacing and family planning, and promotion of oral rehydration salts. By early 1996, 64% of urban infants had been completely vaccinated, up from only 5% in 1986. The Social Marketing Company (SMC), a USAID-funded program, has increased its commercial sales of oral rehydration salts packets to 34.7 million by the end of 1996, up from 4 million in 1986, and plans to be fully self-reliant in the marketing of these packets by 2000. SMC activities were seriously affected by the civil unrest in early 1996 but are expected to achieve their original growth pace by 1998. In addition to policy dialogue programs, USAID has completed baseline surveys, conducted training and developed an information program aimed at high-risk HIV/AIDS groups.
Progress also is being made toward the long-term sustainability of the national family planning and maternal child health program. SMC has increased its cost recovery for the marketing of contraceptives and oral rehydration salts from 52% in 1992 to 74% in 1995. In addition, local communities supported by the USAID Family Planning Local Initiative Program have increased their contributions to the program from zero in 1986 to almost 20% by the end of 1995. Finally, urban municipalities are contributing increasing amounts to the local costs of routine immunizations.
A number of challenges remain for the coming years. For example, mortality and fertility rates have declined simultaneously, meaning that population growth rates have declined only modestly during recent years. Thus, reductions in fertility must be continued. In addition, recent health and family planning achievements need to be made sustainable, which will require making health and family planning services higher quality, better integrated and more cost-effective. This will involve increasing community participation in the financing of services and increasing government budgetary allocations to the health and population sectors. In addition, HIV/AIDS is already a serious problem in neighboring South Asian countries; therefore, although HIV seroprevalence in Bangladesh is presently low, attention needs to be focused on prevention. Progress in the population and health sector to date will be consolidated and future challenges, including financial sustainability, will be addressed in a major new program which is being designed in FY 1997.
Agency Goal: Encouraging Broad-based Economic Growth
With half of its population undernourished, food security is a second major constraint to development in Bangladesh. Accordingly, three USAID objectives support access to, availability of and utilization of food by the poor.
Strategic Objective 4: Diets of the Poor Nutritionally Enhanced Strategic Objective 5: Agricultural Productivity per Hectare Increased Strategic Objective 6: Real Household Incomes of the Poor Increased Per capita GDP increased by 2.4% to around $230 in 1995, while industrial employment grew by 8.7% in the same year. This progress in increasing per capita income and employment is significantly related to the stabilization and structural adjustment program implemented since 1991. USAID has contributed to growth in income and employment in part through investments and policy support over the past several years. Bangladesh is now generally self-sufficient in rice, the primary staple food.
There has been significant expansion in the numbers of poor households producing and consuming micronutrient and protein rich foods due to USAID-supported NGO-government activities in pond fish culture and homestead vegetable gardening; in 1991, 5,600 family members benefitted from theproduction and consumption of more nutritious foods, while in 1995, this number had increased to 2,270,000. USAID assistance, including P.L. 480 Title II agricultural resources, has made 5,200 kilometers of rural roads environmentally sound and passable, thereby allowing farmers to more easily and quickly get inputs to their fields and their crops to market. As a result of USAID support for rural electricity, at least 178,000 small rural businesses have generated employment and incomes for at least 5,000,000 people, and at least 45,700 electric irrigation pumps have allowed expanded use of land previously out of production during the dry season therefore increased agricultural productivity. The provision of P.L. 480 Title III wheat has permitted a quadrupling of the Food for Education program, supplying grain to the families of 1.7 million poor primary school students; these resources not only feed many poor families but also allow their children to remain in school. The USAID agribusiness program is assisting banks and other finance institutions to improve lending procedures and practices; through a variety of analyses prepared and discussed with the Government of Bangladesh (GOB), this program is also resulting in a number of reductions in constraints on production, trade and exports. Through a USAID-supported credit program to over 30,000 poor women, more than 70,000 jobs have been generated and almost all borrowers have increased their incomes above the poverty line. Other USAID assistance to small and microenterprises has resulted in over $3 million in new investments, 1,700 new jobs and $5.8 million in added annual income. In addition, USAID-supported disaster preparedness programs -- including disaster management and environmental and nutritional surveillance -- have helped reduce the economic vulnerability of the poor to frequent natural disasters. The success of these disaster preparedness programs was demonstrated during a May 1996 tornado when 20,000 affected individuals received rapid and appropriate USAID assistance.
In spite of recent progress in economic growth and food production at the national level, approximately 50 million poor Bangladeshi families remain food insecure. This food insecurity has a direct effect on the health and nutritional status of these poor Bangladeshis. Because of the tenuousness of their economic circumstances, poor Bangladeshis are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of frequent natural disasters. Additional USAID assistance is needed, particularly in the areas of income and employment generation, nutritional and environmentally sustainable food production improvements, disaster preparedness and reductions in industrial pollution.
Agency Goal: Building Democracy
Through a series of surveys of poor Bangladeshis, USAID has identified transparency and accountability of local elected bodies and access to more equitable justice as the democracy concerns of most importance. Poor Bangladeshis expect government to be fair and equitable in the distribution of public resources and in the administration of justice but feel a widespread lack of influence over decisions about who gets what, when and how. At the same time, they view local associations and the election process as positive channels for greater influence over the decisions that affect them. They emphasize that it is local institutions -- both formal and informal -- that affect them most directly and where they would most like to see positive change. USAID's strategy thus focuses primarily on the local level.
Strategic Objective 7: Enhanced Participation in Local Decision Making
Strategic Objective 8: More Accessible and Equitable Justice, Especially for Women Among the short-term results USAID expects to achieve are: (1) a strengthening in the advocacy of the interests of the poor; (2) enhancing the quality of elections; (3) strengthening of the competence of local elected bodies to identify and meet the needs of the poor; (4) an increase in the awareness of legal rights and obligations by both poor men and women; (5) an improvement in the quality of alternate dispute resolution; and (6) an increase in the capacity of garment workers to bargain collectively.
Widespread strikes by the opposition parties in early 1996 led to the resignation of the Government followed by Parliamentary elections in June 1996. The election turnout was unprecedented, with over73% of the voting public (of whom over 50% were women) exercising their franchise in the 1996 elections. Our challenge will be to capitalize on this high level of participation for USAID funded activities.
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) activities also commenced in 1996. Through the efforts of a USAID funded sub-grantee, the Bangladeshi High Court ruled, in a case of first impression, that a public-interest organization may represent a group of citizens in a class-action law suit. The court's decision will permit civic minded legal groups to file cases on behalf of certain classes of citizens, including the poor.
In the coming year, USAID will increase its activity interactions with local elected bodies. Both poor customers and implementation partners see the need to improve the responsiveness of local government. In the past, efforts to affect the work of local government has been in the realm of the national Government, rather than civil society. As citizen participation and demand for better services from the local government increases, civil society organizations have become more willing to interact with local councils to improve their responsiveness to the poor. With local elections scheduled throughout 1997, USAID anticipates increased campaign management training of the poor, increased numbers of the poor elected to local councils, and ongoing skills development of those elected.
USAID also anticipates a dramatic increase in legal awareness activities. At USAID urging, a Legal Awareness Forum of more than 20 NGOs has been formed that will begin joint legal awareness activities in 1997. By coordinating activities and material development, greater numbers of the poor, especially women, should receive improved information regarding their legal rights.
BANGLADESH
FY 1998 PROGRAM SUMMARY
($000)
USAID Mission Director: Richard Brown
Encouraging Economic Growth Stabilizing Population Growth and Protecting Human Health Protecting the Environment Building Democracy Providing Humanitarian Assistance Total USAID Strategic Objectives 1. Use of Modern Contraceptives by Eligible Couples Increased DA
$20,464
$20,464
2. Use of High-Impact Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Increased DA
$10,000
$10,000
3. Institutional, Programmatic, and Financial Sustainability of Family Planning and MCH Programs Enhanced DA
$8,356
$8,356
4. Diets of the Poor Nutritionally Enhanced DA
$1,000
$3,565
$1,000
$5,365
5. Agricultural Productivity per Hectare Increased DA
PL 480 Title II
$2,600
$1,100
$19,520
$3,700
$19,520
6.Rural household income increased DA
$6,120
$6,120
7.Enhanced Participation in Local Decision Making DA
$1,200
$1,200
8. More Accessible and Equitable Justice, Especially for Women DA
$900
$900
Total
Development Assistance
P.L. 480 Title II$9,720
$42,385
$2,100
$2,100
-0-
19,520
$56,305
19,520
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: BANGLADESH
TITLE AND NUMBER: Use of Modern Contraceptives by Eligible Couples Increased, 388-SOO1
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $19,964,000 DA/Population; $500,000 DA/Health
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY1997
Purpose : Decrease the high total fertility rates through increasing the voluntary use of modern contraceptives by eligible couples.
Background: Bangladesh is the most densely populated agricultural country in the world. Population density and growth affect the country's ability to feed itself, create jobs for all, and provide health, education and other public services. For Bangladesh to develop, it must slow its population growth rate. Increased modern contraceptive use is the most effective means to reduce fertility.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: The USAID program in Bangladesh has already demonstrated that sustained support for family planning information and services can contribute to measurable reductions in fertility despite continued low economic and social indicators. The challenges to further increased use of modern contraceptives include enhancing the quality of clinical family planning services and improving the counseling of potential family planning clients, especially men. USAID has been a major partner with the Bangladesh Government (GOB), the World Bank, the United Nations UNFPA, and other donors in the National Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health (FP/MCH) Program. Under this strategic objective, USAID supports family planning service delivery through local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and local governments; social marketing; information, education, and communication; operations and survey research, and quality assurance. In total, these programs have contributed to a rise in the contraceptive prevalence rate of all methods from 30% in 1986 to 45% in 1994. This has resulted in the fall of the total fertility rate from 5.6 in 1987 to approximately 3.4 in 1997. Further declines are expected to be documented when the next survey information becomes available in April 1997.
Description: USAID's work focuses on four activity areas: (1) increasing access to family planning information and services through local NGOs and through support to local governments; (2) improving the quality of family planning clinical and non-clinical services; (3) improving access to non-clinical family planning methods through the private, non-profit Social Marketing Company; and (4) improving information, education and communication programs aimed at family planning clients and service providers. Through these activities, USAID provides family planning sub-grants to approximately 115 local NGOs and about 100 sub-district family planning committees. The USAID-funded Social Marketing Company works through approximately 110,000 retailers to market oral contraceptives and condoms at subsidized prices. USAID also provides support to implement the National Family Planning Program's national information, education and communication strategy.
Host Country and Other Donors: Since 1987, USAID and the World Bank consortium including nine bilateral and five multilateral donors have each provided about one-third of all funding for the National Family Planning and Health Program. The GOB provides approximately one-third of the total investment costs of population programs in Bangladesh.
Beneficiaries: Approximately 12 million eligible couples, who have access to or receive family planning information or services, will be the beneficiaries of this objective.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID implements activities through U.S. private firms, NGOs and universities; local NGOs; and a private, non-profit Bangladeshi company.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline TargetContraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) - All Methods Increased 30% (1986/87) 50% (1997) Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) - Modern Methods Increased 23% (1986/87)1 43% (1997)
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: BANGLADESH
TITLE AND NUMBER: Use of High Impact Maternal and Child Health Services Increased, 388-SOO2
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $ 10,000 DA/Health
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 1997
Purpose: To reduce current high levels of infant and child mortality by increasing the availability and use of key child survival and maternal health services.
Background: Infant mortality in Bangladesh is high. There are constraints to increased use of maternal and child health (MCH) services, including inadequate coordination of health and family planning services within the public sector and between the public and nongovernmental sectors.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID's support includes urban vaccination, social marketing of oral rehydration salts (ORS), and other MCH programs. As a result, full vaccination of urban infants rose from 5% in 1986 to 64% in 1995. Private sales of ORS packets rose from four million in 1986 to 34.7 million in 1995. USAID activities contributed to reducing infant deaths from 128 per 1,000 live births in 1986 to 88 in 1994, or about a 30% decrease in eight years. Similarly, mortality for children under five declined by about 20%, from 168 to 132 per 1,000 live births in the same timeframe. Documentation of continued reductions in these trends is expected when the next survey's results are available in April 1997.
Description: USAID focuses on four activity areas: (1) increasing and sustaining vaccination rates for urban infants and women of reproductive age; (2) improving access to and quality of nongovernmental (NGO)-delivered MCH services and information; (3) promoting further use of ORS for diarrheal disease treatment; and reducing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Under its municipal immunization program, USAID supports routine immunization programs, improved disease surveillance, and special immunization initiatives such as the three year campaign to eradicate polio through national immunization days. USAID also supports a private, non-profit company for the social marketing of ORS. By the year 2000, this company is expected to be self-reliant in the marketing of ORS. In addition, USAID-supported NGOs are supplementing family planning programs with MCH interventions such as antenatal and postnatal care.
Host Country and Other Donors: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) supports rural immunization, control of diarrheal diseases, and acute respiratory infections programs. The World Bank provides nutrition, immunization, diarrheal disease control assistance and support for other MCH services. The Bangladesh Government (GOB) supports the delivery of MCH services through its rural network of health and family planning field workers, family welfare centers, sub-district health and family planning facilities and MCH clinics in urban areas.
Beneficiaries: Children under five years of age and women of child-bearing age in Bangladesh represent 35% of Bangladesh's population, or about 42 million people. USAID-supported programs reach about half of these beneficiaries.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID implements activities through a U.S. firm, a private non-profit company, and U.S. and local NGOs.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline Target Infant mortality per 1,000 live births 128 (1986/87) 83 (1997) Child mortality per 1,000 children under 5 years 168 (1986/87)1 120 (1997) Percentage of urban infants fully vaccinated by 1 year 5 (1986/87) 75 (1997) Private sector sales of ORT packets (in millions) 4 (1986/87) 35 (1997)
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: BANGLADESH
TITLE AND NUMBER: Institutional, Programmatic, and Financial Sustainability of Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health Programs Enhanced, 388-SOO3
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $8,356,000 DA/Population
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 1997
Purpose: To increase the institutional, financial, and programmatic sustainability of the National Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health FP/MCH Program.
Background: Bangladesh has been characterized by high fertility and infant and child mortality, although these figures have been declining in recent years. The long-term future of family planning and health service delivery depends upon sufficient financing and institutional capabilities. Accordingly, increased emphasis is being placed on such issues as cost-effectiveness, efficiency of management systems and services, reducing administrative and programmatic redundancies, decreasing dependence on donors for recurrent cost financing, and user fees.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID aims to improve the institutional, financial, and programmatic sustainability of NGO and public sector FP/MCH programs; the Social Marketing Company; the national contraceptive logistics system; and the municipal immunization program. Measurable progress is being made toward the long-term sustainability of the National Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health (FP/MCH) Program. The USAID-funded Social Marketing Company has increased its cost recovery for the marketing of contraceptives and oral rehydration salts from 52% in 1992 to 74% in 1995. In addition, local communities supported by the USAID Family Planning Local Initiative Program have increased their contributions to the program from zero in 1986 to almost 20% in 1995. The annual stock-out rate of the national contraceptive logistics system has been systematically reduced from 23% in 1989 to about 4% in 1995. Finally, urban municipalities are contributing increasing amounts to the local costs of routine immunizations.
Description: USAID supports activities that: (1) improve the efficiency of organizations that provide family planning and MCH services; (2) find ways for providers and program managers to become less dependent on donor financial and technical assistance; (3) improve the institutional capabilities of service delivery organizations; and (4) enhance the capability of indigenous organizations to design, conduct and apply survey and operations research. The USAID-supported Rural and Urban Extension Programs test alternative management and service delivery models in several project sites using the existing government service delivery system. USAID also supports periodic demographic and health surveys and other programmatic research. In addition, USAID supports a technical assistance program to develop in-country capacity for contraceptive logistics management, including the capability to forecast commodity needs, monitor the distribution and utilization of contraceptives, and maintain a functional management information system.
Host Country and Other Donors: USAID works closely and coordinates its assistance with the World Bank consortium (consisting of nine bilateral and five multilateral donors) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The Bangladesh Government (GOB) is supporting this effort by contributing increasing funds to the family planning sector, by supporting a new health economics unit in the Ministry of Health, and by endorsing new policies aimed at introducing user fees and community financing of FP/MCH services.
Beneficiaries: Approximately 12 million eligible couples who have access to or receive FP/MCH services, will benefit from this program.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID implements activities through a U.S. firm, a private non-profit company, and U.S. and local NGOs.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline Target Percent of Overall Recurrent Costs of the Family Planning Program Funded by Donors Reduced 70% (1993) 60% (1997) Percent of Aggregate Costs of USAID Funded NGOs Covered by Program-Generated Revenues Increased 3% (1991) 9% (1997) Local Government and Community Contribution to the Family Planning Program Increased 0% (1986/87)2 20% (1997) Percentage of Social Marketing Company Operating Costs Covered by Program-Generated Funds Increased 24% (1986/87)290% (1997)
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: BANGLADESH
TITLE AND NUMBER: Diets of the Poor Nutritionally Enhanced, 388-SOO4
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $3,565,000 DA/Health; $1,000,000 DA/Econ. Growth; $1,000,000 DA/Environment
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY2002
Purpose: To nutritionally enhance the diets of the poor.
Background: Bangladesh has the highest child malnutrition rates in the world, with two-thirds of all children undernourished. Malnutrition exacerbates poor health, inadequate education, and the relatively low productivity and income-earning potential of the poor. Reducing malnutrition improves health, income-earning potential, and productivity in agriculture and other sectors. Malnutrition is best reduced by enhancing the diet and increasing food availability and income.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID has supported protein-energy related programs for many years, working with the Bangladesh Government (GOB) and other partners to shift foodgrain distribution programs towards the needs of the poor. With USAID Title III policy conditions and technical assistance in food policy, the GOB has reoriented its large public food system away from competing with the private sector and towards helping the poor with safety net food programs the private sector cannot provide. As a result, the relative weight of these effective programs has shifted from approximately one-third going to the poor in 1992, to almost two-thirds of public food resources today. In addition, USAID has supported home gardening and fish culture activities which are allowing over 2.3 million poor people to produce and consume more nutritious foods. These and other nutrition-related activites have lead to a decline in stunting, a measure of long-term nutritional deprivation, from 71.4% of Bangladeshi children in 1991 to 62.6% in 1995.
Description: USAID focuses on two intermediate results. These are (1) to increase the production and consumption of micronutrient and protein-rich foods by poor households; and (2) to increase the effectiveness of targeted food programs. Activities to promote the first intermediate result involve nongovernmental organizations and international organizations developing and then disseminating productive techniques and seeds to poor people in the areas of fish farming and homestead vegetable production. Activities to promote the second intermediate result involve technical assistance programs with the GOB to provide foodgrains to the poor and to help better orient GOB food policy towards the food needs of the poor.
Host Country and Other Donors: Most micronutrient programs and other nutrition programs are undertaken by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh. The one exception is the new combined GOB, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and World Bank nutrition program focused on improving nutritional behavior and knowledge of the poor. Foodgrain programs are supported by most major donors through the GOB, although traditionally USAID has taken the lead on food policy and on reorienting the public food system. The GOB provides significant foodgrain and other resources in support of these foodgrain programs.
Beneficiaries: Poor households, in particular women and children under five years old in those households whose diets are improved, will benefit from this program.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID implements this strategic objective in partnership with one NGO, a private firm, and two public international organizations working with a network of NGOs.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline Target (1991) (2000) Wasting Decrease for children 6 - 59 months 14% 9% Prevalence of Nightblindness Decreased for children 24-59 months 1.68% 1.00%
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: BANGLADESH
TITLE AND NUMBER: Agricultural Productivity per Hectare Increased, 388-SOO5
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998 : $ 2,600,000 DA/Econ. Growth; $1,100,000 DA/Environment; $19,520,000 PL 480 Title II
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2002
Purpose: To increase agricultural productivity per hectare.
Background: Food insecurity is a major problem in Bangladesh. One of the several reasons for this food insecurity is the lack of availability of food due to lower agricultural productivity and lack of access to markets for both agricultural inputs and farm products. While overall production levels have grown impressively over the past two decades, productivity has stagnated and must be increased to accommodate the needs of the poor for food and income.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID has supported improvements in agricultural productivity, through policy reform and technical innovation, through agricultural research, and through rural roads and electricity for irrigation and food processing. The result has been a remarkable evolution in Bangladesh from a famine-prone country in the early 1970s, to a country capable of handling food emergencies by the 1990s. Food production has doubled since Independence in 1971. Productivity in fisheries, vegetable production, livestock, forestry, and other high potential agricultural subsectors has grown rapidly over the past several years. Unfortunately, both drought and flooding in 1994, combined with GOB policy errors in the fertilizer sector in 1995, have lead to some declines in the rice sector in recent years; in spite of these set-backs, the prospects for long-term productivity growth in the rice sector remain strong.
Description: USAID focuses on three intermediate results: (1) increased farmers' use of more productive, environmentally sound technologies, involving a private firm and the Bangladesh Government (GOB), using Development Assistance and P.L. 480 Title III generated local currency, to develop and disseminate new technologies increasing the value of agricultural production; (2) policy changes to increase farmers' access to inputs and output markets, involving private firms and the GOB in policy dialogue and analysis to improve policies affecting farmers' productivity; and (3) improved, environmentally sound rural infrastructure, involving a private voluntary organization (PVO) making extensive improvements in key rural road networks linked with agricultural productivity, and a contractor providing assistance to the GOB in expanding the rural electrification program for expansion of the use of electricity for irrigation pumps.
Host Country and Other Donors: The GOB, local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and Bangladeshi farmers and firms are concerned about agricultural productivity and have invested in a broad array of activities to increase production. Many of these efforts are supported by major donors. USAID plays a leadership role among donors in agribusiness, agricultural policy, rural roads, and rural electrification.
Beneficiaries: All Bangladeshis benefit from the increased availability of food. Poor farm families and farm laborers' families using improved agricultural techniques benefit from improved agriculture-related policies. Small entrepreneurs, using roads, electricity and new agribusiness opportunities, also benefit directly.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: A U.S. firm, a U.S. NGO, and a public international organization work in partnership with USAID and the GOB to implement this strategic objective.
Major results indicators: Baseline Target (1991) (2000) Value added in agriculture Taka 193,421 million Taka 255,322 milion
ACTIVITY DATA SHEETPROGRAM: BANGLADESH
TITLE AND NUMBER: Real Household Income Increased, 388-SOO6
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $6,120,000 DA/Econ. Growth
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2002
Purpose: To increase the real household incomes of the poor of Bangladesh.
Background: Food insecurity is a significant problem in Bangladesh. One major reason for food insecurity is the lack of ability to purchase food due to insufficient income. Given the high rate of population growth, the labor force has been growing faster than the rate of job creation. Therefore, approximately one-half of the population of Bangladesh lives below the poverty line on annual per capita incomes of $230, while approximately 30% live in abject poverty. Expanding non-farm employment opportunities, particularly through micro- and small business development, contributes to increased household incomes. In addition, the poor in Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones which can destroy a poor family's life savings and means of livelihood in a matter of moments.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID's support has included the provision of technical assistance, training, and commodities to improve the (a) operating efficiencies of Bangladeshi financial institutions and private businesses; (b) access to credit for the rural poor (predominantly women); (c) disaster preparedness activities; and (d) access to improved rural infrastructure. As a result, over 100,000 individuals in the banking sector have been positively impacted through the provision of technical assistance to facilitate appropriate modern banking and financial technology transfer. In addition, over 26,000 poor families (an average of five persons per family) have benefited from increased access to credit. Also, more than 7 million people now have access to safer shelters during times of disaster through nearly 5,200 kilometers of road reconstructed through USAID activities. Finally, 15 million people now have access to electricity which also has directly generated 5 million jobs in the rural areas.
Description: USAID activities focus on: (1) an enabling environment within which small and microentrepreneurs can operate profitably; (2) improved business efficiencies through policy change, skills training, introduction of better technologies, and nontraditional credit availability; and (3) improved levels of disaster preparedness to mitigate the amount of property and related income loss caused by disasters.
Host Country and Other Donors: USAID resources are joined with those of the World Bank to support reforms in the financial and industrial sectors, with those of the Asian Development Bank to support market reforms in the agricultural sector, and with those of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and British Overseas Development Administration (ODA) to support administrative reform. UNDP, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), ODA and other donors are contributing to disaster preparedness activities. The Bangladesh Government contributes to implementation of the activities through provision of counterpart resources and logistic support.
Beneficiaries: The beneficiaries are employees in newly created or more productive jobs; small loan recipients; entrepreneurs who receive technology and business information and who benefit from policy changes; and Bangladeshis in disaster-prone areas.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID implements these activities in partnership with ministries of the Bangladesh government and related parastatal organizations, U.S. and local private voluntary and nongovernmental organizations, and U.S. consulting firms for the provision of technical assistance.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline Target Per Capita GDP increased. 4,466 (1991) 6,227 (2000) Industrial sector employment increased. 4.6 (1989) 8.5 (2000) (in millions) Agricultural sector employment increased. 21.3 (1989) 31.1 (2000) (in millions)
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: BANGLADESH
TITLE AND NUMBER: Enhanced Participation in Local Decision Making, 388-SOO7
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $1,200,000 DA/Democracy
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000
Purpose: To enhance participation in local decision making.
Background: During the spring of 1995, USAID conducted extensive interviews among the socially and economically disadvantaged people of Bangladesh to determine their democratic needs. These interviews revealed that the poor valued democratic participation highly but lacked effective means for making their interests known locally and for holding local officials accountable. This program supports activities: to strengthen the advocacy skills of local associations; to carry out voter education programs; to increase the number of women elected to local government bodies; to increase the level of interaction between elected officials and citizens; and, to promote greater transparency in local government.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID sponsored sub-grants for voter education, awareness, and election monitoring during the 1996 Parliamentary elections have been very successful in ensuring free and fair elections and in encouraging citizens to vote. The election turnout was unprecedented with over 73% of eligible voters (over 50% of whom were women) casting ballots in the 1996 elections, both records. The electorate, the GOB and the general public all credit massive NGO voter education efforts for this large turnout.
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) activities also commenced in 1996. Through the efforts of a USAID funded sub-grantee, the Bangladeshi High Court ruled, in a case of first impression, that a public-interest organization may represent a group of citizens in a class-action law suit. The Court's decision will permit civic minded legal groups to file cases on behalf of certain classes of citizens, including the poor.
Description: This program aims at three results: (1) advocacy on behalf of the interests of the poor strengthened; (2) quality of elections enhanced; and (3) competence of local elected bodies to identify and meet voter needs strengthened. Activities related to the first result include programs to assist local voters and community associations to become more informed about resource flows, policies and programs that affect them and to strengthen their ability to interact with local elected bodies over such issues. Those related to the second result include programs to make voters more aware of polling procedures, their voting rights, and the campaign standards to which they can hold political actors and election officials accountable. Activities related to the third result include programs to enable locally elected officials to be better informed about, and more responsive to, citizen interests and to encourage more women to stand for election.
Host Country and Other Donors: Activities will be carried out primarily through nongovernmental or private developmental organizations. Accordingly, it will be difficult for the GOB to provide financial support for the program. The government, however, will be expected to provide appropriate approvals to the organizations conducting program activities. In 1996, USAID and eight bilateral donors collaborated to support domestic election observation activities. It is expected that such collaboration will expand as the activities under this program become more widely known.
Beneficiaries: Ultimate beneficiaries are the approximately 50 million socially and economically disadvantaged Bangladeshis who, by becoming better informed about democratic processes, institutions, and issues, will be better able to exert their influence over public policy decisions and the allocation of public resources. Intermediary beneficiaries include members of local associations who are trained inadvocacy techniques, locally elected officials who are introduced to new ways of interacting with voters, and women who are encouraged to stand for election.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID implements activities through The Asia Foundation, the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, a Bangladeshi NGO, and sub-grantees of these organizations.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline Target Number of women candidates for local elected bodies increased 155 (1992) 300 (1997) Number of advocacy associations in target communities increased 0 (1995) 20 (1997) Number of local elected bodies using "best practices" increased 0 (1995) 1000 (1999)
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: BANGLADESH
TITLE AND NUMBER: More Accessible and Equitable Justice, Especially for Women, 388-SO08
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $900,000 DA/Democracy
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000
Purpose: To make justice, especially for women, more accessible and equitable.
Background: During the spring of 1995, USAID/Bangladesh conducted extensive interviews among the socially and economically disadvantaged people of Bangladesh to determine their democratic needs. These interviews showed the poor valued equitable justice highly and preferred to seek it through informal dispute resolution mechanisms because they were blocked from seeking legal redress through the formal court system by inadequate knowledge of their legal rights and limited incomes.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID support has encouraged over 20 NGOs providing legal awareness training to form a network to jointly develop materials, coordinate activities and undertake nation-wide awareness programs. Because the legal knowledge gained through legal awareness programs often cannot be used due to the resistance of local elites, two NGOs have developed training programs that equip local human rights activists and legal workers to more effectively engage local elites on legal awareness issues.
Two NGOs that have received USAID assistance to train their own staff in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) have established, with USAID assistance, training centers offering their knowledge and experience to other NGOs undertaking ADR activities. This is allowing improved ADR training on a nation-wide basis.
USAID supports the newly-formed Bangladesh Independent Garment-Workers Union (BIGU), the first independent, democratically organized union in Bangladesh with a membership of approximately 40,000 workers (90% of whom are women) . Evening literacy classes and health clinics have been established in response to members' requests. BIGU is charging members a small fee for these services, generating income to pay recurring costs. Organizations such as BIGU contribute significantly to the development of a democratic civil society.
Description: This strategic objective encompasses ways to spread understanding and respect for the legal rights of the socially and economically disadvantaged on a nationwide basis, and broaden the availability and use of local channels to resolve disputes fairly. Activities related to this strategic objective include: (1) nonformal education on human rights and legal affairs for the poor and those elites involved in resolving disputes locally; (2) nonformal mediation skills training for those involved in dispute resolution at the local level; and (3) technical guidance on the organization and operation of an independent, democratic union for garment workers.
Host Country and Other Donors: Activities will be carried out primarily through non-governmental or private developmental organizations. Accordingly, it will be difficult for the GOB to provide financial support for the program. However, it will be expected to provide appropriate approvals to the organizations conducting program activities. The ILO and UNICEF are involved with child labor issues in the garment industry.
Beneficiaries: The ultimate beneficiaries are the approximately 50 million socially and economically disadvantaged Bangladeshis whose understanding of their legal rights and access to redress will be increased. Intermediate beneficiaries include those individuals who receive training in mediation skills andalternate dispute resolution techniques and members of the Bangladesh Independent Garment-Workers Union.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID implements legal awareness and dispute resolution activities through The Asia Foundation, the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, a Bangladeshi NGO, and sub-grantees of these organizations. Activities related to collective bargaining are carried out through the Asian-American Free Labor Institute.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline Target Number of village mediation councils using "best practices" increased. 0 (1995) 5,000 (1999)Percentage of registered marriages in target communities increased. TBD 80% (1999) Number of BIGU members increased. 40,000 (1995) 100,000 (1998)
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