BEES

REPORT
2004-2005

BANGLADESH EXTENSION EDUCATION SERVICES

BEES WORKING AREA

HEAD OFFICE

GAIBANDHA
SHERPUR

JOYPURHAT

BOGRA

MYMENSINGH

NAOGAON

RAJSHAHI

NATORE

NETRAKONA

JAMALPUR

SIRAJGANJ

HOBIGANJ

KISHOREGANJ
GAZIPUR
NARSINGDI

PABNA
BRAHMAN
BARIA

MEHERPUR

DHAKA
COMILLA
CHUADANGA
MAGURA

FARIDPUR

MADARIPUR
GOPALGANJ

FENI

LAXMIPUR
NOAKHALI

30

years beside the poor

Contents
05
07

Note of the Executive Director

Executive Summary

CHAPTER-1
10

Organization Profile

CHAPTER-2
STRUGGLE AGAINST POVERTY-AN EXTREME
DIMENSION OF LIFE
16 2.0
RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
16 2.1
Micro-finance Program
17 2.1.1 Rural Micro-Credit (RMC)
17 2.1.2 Micro Finance and Technical Support (MFTS)
18 2.1.3 Hard Core Poor (HCP)
18 2.1.4 Micro-enterprise Development
18 2.1.5 Financial Services for the Poorest (FSP)
18 2.2
Services under Micro-finance Program
CHAPTER-3
QUALITY SEEDS FOR BLOSSOM OF LIFE
24 3.0
AGRICULTURE PROGRAM
24 3.1
Agriculture and Social Forestry
26 3.2
Agricultural Diversification and Intensification Project (ADIP)
27 3.3
Smallholder Agricultural Improvement Project (SAIP)
28 3.4
Poultry & Livestock Program
EDUCATION: ADDS VALUE TO LIFE
30

3.5

Education Program

CHAPTER-4
HEALTHY CHILDREN FOR PROSPEROUS NATION
34 4.0
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH-FAMILY PLANNING (MCH-FP)
& NUTRITION PROGRAM
34 4.1
Community Based Health Program (CBHP)
35 4.2
National Nutrition Program (NNP)
37 4.3
HIV/AIDS Prevention Program
37 4.3.1 Strengthen Capacity and Knowledge of the CBOs on HIV/AIDS
38 4.3.2 Nutrition Surveillance Project (NSP)
CHAPTER-5
SPECIAL EFFORTS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE
40

5.0

SPECIAL PROGRAM

40

5.1

Urban Poor Development Program (UPDP)

41

5.2

Social Assistance Program (SAP-II)

42

5.3

Advocacy Program (social, financial and legal)

43

5.4

Gender Awareness and Women's Right

43

5.5

Social Mobilization Programs with Vulnerable Groups

44

5.6

Legal Aid Services

44

5.7

Good Governance

44

5.8

Promotional Activities & Interagency Collaboration

45

5.9

Small Rural Infrastructure Development

45

5.10 Water and Sanitation

45

5.11 Relief & Rehabilitation

46

5.12 NGO Network/Partnership Program

CHAPTER-6
48
48
49
50

6.0
6.1
6.2
6.3

SUPPORT PROGRAM
Training
Information and Development Communication
Research, Evaluation and Monitoring

CHAPTER-7
52
52
52
53
54
54

7.0
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
8.0

FUTURE DIRECTION
Sisimpur Program
Women Rights and Gender Equality Program
Establish a Training Center
Integrated Pilot Program
Resource Mobilization

Note of the
Executive Director
BEES entered into the development arena in 1975 with an aim to contribute in alleviation
of poverty and empower the poor of rural and urban areas through a participatory and
dynamic spirit. BEES, since then, has been exhibiting its utmost commitments and
enthusiasms to the destitute in particular women, being the most vulnerable groups in the
society to empower and enable them with self-reliance to achieve sustainable
improvement of their livelihoods.
BEES, through its experience of last 30 years, believes that effective peoples participation
and programmes integration can only contribute in meaningful and sustainable
development. Therefore, all programmes of the organizations need to be carefully
designed and being implemented.
With a dedicated and committed group of development activists, BEES has been extended
its supports to a target population of more than 6,000,000 in 2,465 villages of 72 upazilas
under 29 districts. The organization has become capable enough to offer a wide range of
need based and diversified interventions include micro-finance, micro enterprise
development, education, health, agriculture & social forestry, livestock & poultry, urban
poor development program, advocacy and other social development interventions for
improvement of livelihoods of the targeted populations.
BEES has been providing credit facilities along with necessary technical supports to the
disadvantaged segment of the population including women, slum dwellers and tribal
people for their socio-economic empowerment. More than 57,000 beneficiaries have so far
been received amount of taka 332 million under its micro-finance programme. BEES offers
Sheba Package under Micro-finance Program. One of the components of the package is
Insurance. Insurance policy is a safety net for the beneficiaries to cover the risk of
unwanted death.
In order to promote new businesses and expansion of existing businesses of poor and
marginal beneficiaries, BEES has been providing credit facilities and technical assistance
through its Micro-enterprise Development Program. Beneficiaries under this programme
have the evidence of improvement in their lifestyles.
BEES has been contributing significantly to the agriculture sector of the country through
promoting crop diversification, increasing cropping intensity and introducing modern
agricultural equipment & technologies. BEES assisted the progressive farmers to establish
ideal demonstration plots for replicating in other farmers garden. As an impact of
demonstration, it was reported that most of the farmers could increase their production.
BEES participated in district level agricultural fair and appreciated by sector actors. BEES
also facilitates small, marginal and landless farmers including the tribal (adibasi) population
and char inhabitants by providing loan and technical support through training on IGA.
BEES has proven its excellence in providing education to hard to reach children from poor
communities. Apart from its regular education programs, BEES incorporated the Sisimpur
program to enhance intellectuality and confidence of pre-school aged children through
strengthening basic reading, writing, computing and analytical thinking skills and
introducing idea of developing reading associates. BEES initiated the program in Gaibandha,
Bogra, Faridpur, Madaripur and Gopalgonj districts and planned to establish 300 centers.

BEES 04-05

BEES has been offering essential health services putting highest priority to the pregnant women, mothers and newborns
from the poor families. Considering the health implications and requirement of good nutritional status, BEES set forth its
Health, MCH-FP & Nutrition program.
BEES extends its support through its different programs to reduce the nutritional deficiency among all women including
pregnant, lactating mothers, adolescents and children.
Upon receiving fund from Bangladesh Population and Health Consortium (BPHC), BEES performed emergency flood relief
activities in Dhunot upazila under Bogra district. Emergency packs containing food and essential medicines were
distributed among the flood victims timely along with treatment by Medical team.
Considering the present social context and scenario of family violence, BEES intents to launch awareness raising programs
on violence against women, steps to be taken to prevent women and girl abuse etc. This program will intervene as part
of integrated development project as pilot basis in one particular area of Mymensingh. The advocacy initiatives will
promote good understanding, positive attitude and respect between husband and wife. These couples will be the role
model in the society to bring harmony and happiness in family as well as community.
BEES started NGO network program through discussion meetings, need based training and workshop among NGOs
representatives. BEES believe that NGO network program / partnership will bring coordinated results in the field of
development. In near future, BEES has a strategic plan to expand partnership program activities in Bogra, Gaibandha,
Faridpur, Gopalgonj and Madaripur districts for implementing Non-formal training education in association with local
NGOs.
BEES has a dream to initiate a comprehensive pilot program to improve the livelihood status of poor tribal population.
Considering the poverty level, BEES will start the activities of a pilot program in Mymensingh covering the tribe called
mandi (Garo) initially with its own fund and gradually will seek fund from other interested donors in.
BEES feels urgent need to establish its own training complex to ensure quality training, save money and earn to manage
the operation cost partially/ gradually fully by renting the venue to other organizations. BEES planned to establish a
training center in Gazipur at its own purchased land. The location will be feasible to arrange training for staff as well as
beneficiaries with least cost and it will also be attractive for other organizations to arrange their training as its located is
convenient from any place in the country.
Presently BEES doesnt have adequate fund to invest in construction of a training centre. But BEES is continuing dialogue
with Government of Japan and other donor agencies to negotiate for getting grant to establish training centre. Upon getting
positive response from donors, a quick action will be taken by BEES to equip the proposed training centre. BEES seeks
cooperation from all sector actors towards establishing the training centre.
This report documents the efforts of BEES for the year 2004-2005, the success of which to a great extent to the Community
People who contributed their utmost effort to transform the initiatives into actions, the Development partners who
provided us with the financial and technical assistance, the Executive Board of BEES who contributed to develop the policy
guidelines, and finally the committed Staffs who lead to the accomplishments with their professionalism and sincere
efforts.
This report sincerely documented the program interventions under BEES and highlighted the achievements during 200405 along with different learning points. We hope that the report will be of extreme interest and useful for the development
partners and the valued readers to know about the philosophy of BEES, its programs and achievements.
We express our thankful gratitude to all the stakeholders, development partners and well-wishers for being with us. We
are eagerly looking forward to receive their cooperation, encouragement and guidance to move forward in the days to
come.

Saiful Islam Robin

BEES 04-05

Executive
Summary
BEES (Bangladesh Extension Education Services) started its journey in 1975 with the vision of a just
society where men and women can work together to form institution to attain self-reliance in managing
their own affairs and sustainable standard of living. The mission of the organization is to bring about
changes in the lives of poor, illiterate, neglected, unskilled and destitute people, especially women of the
society, through their empowerment, self-reliance and improvement of life style by its endeavors for
sustainable development.
In order to eliminate poverty among the targeted population of BEES programme areas, continuation of
ongoing programme as well as promotion of innovative and multi-dimensional programmes have been
given emphasis during the reporting period. Such programmes were: Micro-Finance, Agriculture &
Social Forestry, Poultry & Livestock, and Education Program. In addition of these, Maternal and Child Health-Family Planning
(MCH-FP) & Nutrition Program and some other special programs like Urban Poor Development Program (UPDP), Social
Assistance Program (SAP) have been contributing to poverty elimination. The projects/ components of NGO Networking,
Advocacy (Social, Financial & Legal), Relief & Rehabilitation (R&R), Small Rural Infrastructure Development, Water &
Sanitation etc. added value to the performance of BEES.
BEES has been providing services for improvement of livelihoods to a population of more than 6,000,000 people of 2,465 villages,
under 72 upazilas in 29 districts of Bangladesh. The present intervention areas of BEES is planned to be expanded gradually in
remaining districts of the country to address the needs of population who are continuously fighting against poverty.
As of June 2005, BEES covered 57,668 members against the target of 81,646 under its Microfinance component and disbursed Tk.
332.25 million among 45,989 members over the period of July04 to June05. Among the members more than 92% were female
who received 74.45% loan. A total of Tk.56.51 million has been deposited as savings against the target of Tk. 79.80 million. BEES
offers Sheba Package under Micro-finance Program. One of the components of the package is Insurance. Insurance policy is
a safety net for the beneficiaries to cover the risk of unwanted death of any borrower and the extra outstanding of a deceased
person may be adjusted from the insured money.
A total of 15,683 farmers have been provided with training on different agro-based technologies under Agriculture and Social
Forestry Program of BEES. A total of 950 demonstrations were arranged for 44,000 farmers. BEES assisted 270 progressive
farmers to establish ideal demonstration plots for replicating in other farmers garden during the reporting year. As an impact
of demonstration, it was reported that 93% farmers could increase their production up to 7%. BEES participated at 8 district level
agricultural fair in Sherpur, Narshingdi, Gopalgonj, Faridpur, Madaripur, B. Baria, Noakhali and Bogra and appreciated by the
visitors.
In collaboration with Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), a total 450 members were trained on Poultry & Duck
Rearing, Milking Cow-rearing, Calf Rearing, Vegetable & Fruit Processing, Homestead Gardening, Vegetables Cultivation etc.
during the reporting period.
Against the annual target 200,000 a total of 193,130 seedlings/saplings of fruits, forest and medicinal trees have been distributed
among the beneficiary farmers. A total of 6,966 small, marginal and landless farmers from 491 groups under Agricultural
Diversification and Intensification Project (ADIP) received loan amounting about taka 32.13 million during the reporting period
with a recovery rate of 94%.
A total of 24.89 million taka was disbursed among the group members of Smallholder Agricultural Improvement Project (SAIP)
as loan on different income generating activities during 2004-05 with 100% loan recovery and deposition of Tk. 2.78 million by
them indicating their economic empowerment. Through facilitation of training on poultry management and disbursement of
loan amounting Tk. 28.5 million, the livelihoods have been improved of 2,546 beneficiaries.
A total of eight pre-primary schools with 240 students aged between (4+ to <6) are running under BEES with its own fund. After
successful completion, the students will receive certificates from BEES which will facilitate them to enter in formal/non-formal
primary education institutes.
Integrated Nutrition Project (INP) funded by govt. started to reduce the nutritional deficiency among 100% women (pregnant,
lactating and adolescents) and children of Bangladesh. Till June05, services have been provided to 1,550,732 population of
334,748 households.
A total of 1,530 beneficiaries under National Level Nutrition Services (NLNS) programme received loan of Tk. 1.87 million for
poultry rearing. Furthermore, a total of 45,089 Day-Old-Chicks and 52,623 Pullets have been supplied among the beneficiaries
for establishing 6,287 units. A total of 19,778 vials of vaccine on BCRDV, RDV and Gambro were also supplied to the beneficiaries
by June 2005.
BEES 04-05

A total of 330 members of 68 groups under Urban Poor Development Program (UPDP) have been improved their livelihoods
through development of small and medium enterprises. A total of 1,250 slum dwellers received medical advices on curative
health services during the reporting period.
Under Social Assistance Project (SAP), a total of 534 vulnerable groups, 190 citizen watch groups, 190 change agents, 190
adolescent girls groups, 190 adolescent boys groups, 190 sanitation committees, 145 SMCs & PTAs have been formed/ reformed.
SAP achieved 100% enrollment of drop-out children, about 96% fertile couple habituated on FP methods, 30 villages attained
100% sanitation, 99% children brought under immunization, 100% coverage attained for birth, death and marriage registration
in the project area.
Through implementation of 968 training courses, a total of 19,367 beneficiaries received training against the annual target of 20,000
(more than 96% achievement) on Dynamic & Leadership Development, Micro-enterprise Management, Basic Health & Nutrition
Education, Home Gardening, Vegetables Cultivation, Livestock & Poultry Rearing etc. A total of 1,179 staff from different
programs/ projects of BEES received different types of training against the target of 1,300 with an achievement above 90%.
Under the Reproductive Health Services of BEES, a total of 527 women received antenatal care. Adolescent care is a pilot project
for Network for Ensuring Adolescent Reproductive Right and Services (NEARS) supported by UNFPA showed satisfactory
performance in the year. CBHP extended general treatment services to 168 patients during the period. As of June 2005, a total of
15,601 pregnant women, 8,845 lactating mothers, 67,121 adolescent girls, 5,147 of newly-wed couples and 54,297 children (< 2
years) were registered and received health services by the end of reporting period.
During the reporting period, all project staff received a TOT on Capacity Building for operation of HIV/AIDS project. A
training on HIV/AIDS was conducted for 30 CBO executive members. A launching ceremony and dissemination workshop on
HIV/AIDS project funded by UNICEF was held with the participation from GO-NGO representatives, CBO executives, UP
Chairmen, women members, school teachers, local elites, imams, social workers and local journalists etc.
BEES started NGO network program since September 2004 through discussion meetings, need based training and workshop
among NGOs representatives. BEES believes that NGO network program/NGO partnership is a new intervention to achieve
good results in the field of development. In near future, BEES have a strategic plan to expand partnership program activities in
Bogra, Gaibandha, Faridpur, Gopalgonj and Madaripur districts for implementing Non-formal training education in association
with local NGOs.
BEES incorporated the Sisimpur program to enhance intellectuality and confidence of pre-school aged children (3+ to <6 years)
under formal education along with its other development activities through strengthening basic reading, writing, computing
and analytical thinking skills and introducing idea of developing reading associates. BEES selected Gaibandha, Bogra, Faridpur,
Madaripur and Gopalgonj districts to operate the program and planned to establish 300 centers.
Considering the present social context and scenario of family violence, BEES intents to launch awareness raising programs on
violence against women, steps to be taken to prevent women and girl abuse etc. This program will intervene as part of
integrated development project as pilot basis in one particular area under the district of Mymensingh. The advocacy initiatives
under the program will promote good understanding, positive attitude and respect between husband and wife. These couples
will be the role model in the society to bring harmony and happiness in family as well as community.
Upon receiving fund amounting Tk. 702,600 from Bangladesh Population and Health Consortium (BPHC), BEES performed
emergency flood relief activities for 2,560 selected families of Dhunot upazila under Bogra who were severely flood affected.
Family wise packs including rice, lentil, potato and medicines were distributed among the flood victims timely. Medical team
supported for providing first aid to them.
BEES feels urgent need to establish its own training complex to ensure quality training, save money and to earn to manage the
operation cost partially/ gradually fully by renting the venue to other organizations. BEES planned to establish a training center
in Gazipur area in its own purchased land immediately. The location will be feasible to arrange training for staff as well as
beneficiaries with least cost and it will also be attractive for other organizations to arrange their training as its located is
convenient from any place in the country.
Presently BEES does not have adequate fund to invest in construction of a training centre. But BEES is continuing dialogue with
Government of Japan and other donor agencies to negotiate for getting grant to establish training centre in Gazipur. It is expected
that upon getting positive response from donors, a quick action will be taken by BEES to equip the proposed training centre.
Training, Information & Development Communication (IDC), and Research, Evaluation & Monitoring (REM) cells of BEES
provided supports for achieving quality outputs from the programme interventions.
IDC cell published annual report of 2003-2004, desk calendar 2005 and wall calendar 2005. The cell also prepared the script of
popular theatre for Social Assistance Program (SAP) and reprinted the Text Book entitled Kisholay Path (Shishu Bhag) for
education program of BEES during the period.
REM cell prepared annual progress report, provided assistance to finalize KULSUM- a collections of case studies on success
stories of beneficiaries, prepared inception report of SAP, quarterly performance reports of different sectors, conducted several
field trips and shared learning with respective staff and stakeholders.
8

BEES 04-05

cc

hapter- 1

ORGANIZATION
PROFILE

Bangladesh is one of the developing countries in the world. About

half of the populations of the country are living under the poverty
line affecting development of the country. Furthermore, high
population density, scarcity of resources and their improper
distribution, frequent natural disasters and political unrest are
contributing to make the development slow and unsteady.
BEES (Bangladesh Extension Education Services) started its
journey in 1975 with a program named Rural Development
Program (RDP) with believe that "the poor are not the economic
liabilities rather they are efficient resource users". BEES has been
implementing an integrated Poverty Alleviation Program (PAP)
since 1997 with a new dimension, strategic plan and framework.
Though several initiatives have been taken by different
development agencies, the situation has remained nearly
unchanged during the last two decades in rural Bangladesh.
BEES believes that sustainable development can never be
obtained without alleviation of poverty. 'Poverty' is not only due
to lack of income or employment opportunity but also a complex
syndrome manifested in a variety of dimensions. Therefore,
BEES's effort is to promote income or employment generation for
the target beneficiaries through different initiatives like micro
enterprise lending assistance, micro finance, poultry & livestock,
agriculture & social forestry etc. BEES works for bringing the
disadvantaged people of rural and urban areas under the same
umbrella and forming homogeneous groups to facilitate a
sustainable change within the society through social as well as
economic emancipation. For changing the behavior & attitude,
and improving knowledge of the target groups, BEES applies
comprehensive promotional activities including training by using
IEC and/or BCC materials.
Under Poverty Alleviation Program (PAP), BEES has linked up
health care services and human resource development.
Awareness programs on human rights, legal support, gender
equality, women empowerment etc. have been mainstreamed to
the program implementation to make the efforts meaningful and
sustainable.
BEES provides its development services to rural and urban poor
people who own = 0.5 acres of land, and depend largely on the
selling of own manual labor for their survival. Community people
especially mothers & women of 15-49 years, children, and
adolescents are the direct beneficiaries of health, MCH-FP,
nutrition and education programs. In addition to these, men and
women of 18 to 45 years, who have no access on getting loan from
commercial banks or other financial institutions, are offered to get
facilities of micro-credit program of BEES.

10

BEES 04-05

BEES

Vision
BEES has the vision of a just society in which
men and women can work together to form
institution to attain a higher degree of selfreliance in managing their own affairs and
achieve a higher and sustainable standard of
living.

BEES

Mission
To bring about changes in the lives of the
poor, illiterate, neglected, unskilled and
destitute people, especially women of the
society, through their empowerment,
self-reliance and improvement of life
style by its endeavors for sustainable
development.

BEES 04-05

11

Programs of BEES
In order to address the development challenges, BEES
has been implementing a wide rage of diversified
programs with special emphasis to Rural
Development, Micro-finance, Agriculture, Health &
Nutrition and Education. A number of support
programs and special programs are contributing in
achieving the objectives of the main programs as an
integral part of the implementation.

A. Rural
Development
Program

BEES
Programs
at a glance

B. Health,
MCH-FP and
Nutrition
Program

C. Special
Program

D. Support
Program

D.1 Training
D.2 Information and
Development
Communication
D.3 Research, Evaluation and
Monitoring

A.1.0
A.1.1
A.1.2
A.1.3
A.1.4
A.1.5.
A.1.6
A.2.0
A.3.0
A.4.0

Micro-Finance Program
Rural Micro Credit
Micro Finance & Technical Support
Hard Core Poor
Micro Finance for Marginal Farmer
Micro-Enterprise Development
Financial Services for the Poorest
Agriculture & Social Forestry
Poultry & Livestock
Education

Program Approach
BEES believes in participatory and
demand driven approaches with
emphasis to the following:
D
D
D

D
D

Building and Strengthening

Community Institutions
Pro-poor, Gender Sensitive
Interventions
Demand Responsive and
Decentralized Service Delivery
Mechanisms
Promotion of Good Governance
Sustainable Development

Target Population
B.1 Community Based Health Program
B.2 National Nutrition Program
B.3 HIV/AIDS Prevention Program

C.01 Urban Poor Development program (UPDP)

C.02 Social Assistance Program (SAP-II)
C.03 Advocacy (Social, Financial and Legal)
C.04 Gender Awareness & Women's Rights
C.05 Social Mobilization Programs with Vulnerable Groups
C.06 Legal Aid Services
C.07 Good Governance
C.08 Promotional Activities & Interagency Collaboration
C.09 Small Rural Infrastructure Development
C. 10 Water and Sanitation
C. 11 Relief and Rehabilitation.

BEES provides its development

services to rural and urban poor
people who own = 0.5 acres of land,
and depend largely on the selling of
own manual labor for their survival.
Men, women, children, adolescent
and disabled people within the
program area are the target
beneficiaries of BEES with especial
emphasis to destitute women and
hard core poor. Presently BEES is
providing services for improvement
of livelihoods to a population of more
than 6,000,000 people.

Geographical Area
BEES has been working in 2465
villages of 72 upazilas under 29
districts of Bangladesh. The present
intervention area of BEES is planned
to be expanded gradually in
remaining districts of the country to
address the needs of people who are
continuously fighting against poverty.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 2004-05

LEGEND:
GENERAL BOARD

Dhaka Head Office Level

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Field Office Level

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DEPUTY DIRECTOR

CONTROLLER OF
FINANCE & ACCOUNTS

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Training

Education

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Admin & Public Relations

Res. Eva. & Moni

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Agri. & Soc. Forestry

Microfinance

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Health

Info. & Dev. Com

SR. PROGRAM ASSIGNMENT

MANAGER

PROGRAM MANAGER

REGIONAL MANAGER

ACCOUNTANT

AREA MANAGER

AREA MANAGER RLF

FIELD TRAINER

Nutrition

AREA MANAGER (EDU)

MEDICAL OFFICER/AREA MANAGER/

UPZ MANAGER
General Health/Nutrition

FS, AE, UICTO, PARAMEDIC

Agri. & Soc. Forestry

AFS, PTCS
FIELD SUPERVISOR

UNIT MANAGER

INFORMATION OFFICER
DEV. COM. OFFICER

FHWW/CHNW

UNIT MANAGER

CNO

FIELD ORGANIZER

CNP

RESEARCH OFFICER

SECTORIAL SPECIALIST

ACCOUNTANT/
SECRETARY

STOREKEEPER, DRIVER
SERVICE STAFF, PEON
GUARD, COOK

ACCOUNTANT
CASHIER

ADMIN SECRETARY

TTBA

PEON, GUARD

EDUCATION MANAGER

SECRETARY

TEACHER/FACILITATOR

MESSENGER

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
SECRETARY
OFFICE ASSISTANT
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT

CHIEF AUDITOR INTERNAL

CASHIER

AUDITOR TEAM

GUARD, COOK & HELPER

Key:
FHWW
CHNW
CNO
CNP
FS
AE
UICTO
AFS
PTCS

14

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Family Health & Welfare Worker

Community Health & Nutrition Worker
Community Nutrition Organizer
Community Nutrition Promoter
Field Supervisor
Agriculture Extensionist
Upazila Incharge cum Training Officer
Agriculture Field Supervisor
Poultry Technician cum Supervisor

BEES 04-05

ACCOUNTANT

cc

hapter- 2

STRUGGLE AGAINST
POVERTY- AN
EXTREME DIMENSION
OF LIFE

2.0 RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

BEES launched Rural Development Program (RDP) in the name of
Bogra Rural Development Program (BRDP) in 1975. BEES started
this program for sustainable development of rural poor under
Bogra district through integration of community development
approach. It works for the poor, who are illiterate, neglected,
destitute and disadvantaged, especially women of the rural
society.
The goal of RDP was to contribute towards establishment of an
equitable society, in which the poor and disadvantaged group of
people could be united together on the same platform, attained a
high degree of self-reliance for managing their own affairs to
achieve sustainable improvements in their livelihoods.
Its principal target was to gradually extend the approach among
target population to enhance socio-economic status of people
within the program intervention area. With this goal, BEES
adapted a pragmatic approach through participatory
development program. Through participatory approach, BEES is
trying to learn more comprehensively and innovate new
dimensions of development programs those would be more
useful and effective for the target population.
BEES organizes its members into groups and offers a service
package including awareness raising program and skills
development through provisions of credits, technical services,
inputs and marketing facilities.
The major sub-programs under RDP include the followings:

2.1 Micro-finance Program

From the beginning of developmental activity, BEES observed
that the poor were always deprived of getting facilities from
formal banking system, like borrowing, saving or investing
money in any productive sector. From this perception, BEES
started its micro finance activities way back in 1979 through
agreement with Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB). The program
continued till middle of 1988. Since late 1988, BEES extended its
service on credit to the rural poor at a competitive and reasonable
rate so that they can enrich their economic status through
different income generating activities (IGAs).
Micro-finance has drawn the attention of multilateral lending
agencies, bilateral donor agencies, non-government organizations
(NGOs) and the Governments of different developing/ developed
countries.
BEES believes that micro finance program is one of the most
effective ways to eradicate the poverty from a certain community.
From this idea, BEES incorporated the micro-finance program
with its other development activities and received very positive
response from beneficiaries and other stakeholders. Beneficiaries
were happy to save money, get loan with easier terms &
conditions and get insurance facility from the organization.
16

BEES 04-05

Major interventions
To run the program effectively,
BEES facilitates surveys, forms and
mobilizes groups, conducts social
mobilization
activities
and
meetings, collects savings and
manages
credit
through
disbursement
of
loan
and
providing technical supports, select
entrepreneurs, raise awareness on
entrepreneurship and various
social issues. BEES organizes
training on human development,
leadership, skill development on
IGAs including self-employment/
wage-employment; supervision
and follow-up etc. BEES also
conducts different workshops,
community meetings and regular
audit.

Target Beneficiaries
The target beneficiaries of BEES's Micro-finance Program are:

Z
Z
Z
Z
Z

Landless poor people with special emphasis on women;

People who own =0.5 acre of land;
People who earn their living by selling manual labor;
The hard core poor, who live below the poverty line; and
Members aged between 18-45 years.

Micro-Finance Program of BEES includes a number of components to address demand of

the target population in a coordinated and coherent manner. The components are:

2.1.1 Rural Micro-Credit (RMC)

Rural Micro Credit is one of the major interventions of BEES. BEES is now operating these
activities in 28 districts through 68 unit offices. Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation (PKSF)
and other national banks are the major fund providers of it. An amount of taka 927.77
million have been distributed to a population of 41,409 for improvement of their
livelihoods through implementation of income generating activities.

2.1.2 Micro Finance and Technical Support (MFTS)

BEES started Micro Finance and Technical Support (MFTS) program for marginal and
small farmers with a view to increase income and improve their livelihood status. Through
this program, beneficiaries receive different technical supports as well as financial
support. PKSP is providing financial support for this program.
BEES started MFTS project in January, 2004 for the marginal and small farmers of B.Baria
Sadar of B.Baria district and Madhobpur upazila of Hobigonj district with a view to
increase family income of target beneficiaries and improve their livelihood and food
security. The major activities under the project are group meetings, savings collection and
credit management, skill development training and technical supports on poultry, duck,
cattle, goat rearing for their employment generation, supervision & follow-up, etc. Based
on implementing experiences, BEES extended its MFTS activities in Nobinagor, Sarail &
Nasirnagar upazila of B.Baria district, Chunarughat upazila of Hobigonj district and
Muksudpur upazila of Gopalgonj district.
As of June, 2005 through this project, BEES organized 339 groups with 6,175 target
beneficiaries, provided skill development training to 2,094 beneficiaries on poultry, duck,
cattle and goat rearing, mini hatchery and disbursed loan of Tk. 25.22 million among the
target beneficiaries for their income generation activities.

BEES 04-05

17

2.1.3 Hard Core Poor (HCP)

BEES started Hard Core Poor (HCP) program with a view to develop sustainable models
for reducing the number of extreme poor based on effective use of micro-credit, and other
financial & technical services to enhance their income and improve their livelihood status.
During the reporting period, a total of 8.10 million taka has been disbursed to 3,299
members for improvement of their livelihoods through undertaking income generating
activities.

2.1.4 Micro-Enterprise Development

BEES has formally started Micro Enterprise Development (ME) activities since July, 1997 to
support rural and urban population who are already been involved or interested towards
Micro Entrepreneurship to overcome their sufferings due to scarcity of capital investment.
This initiative of BEES helps to promote their business as well as creates employment
opportunity in rural and urban areas. A total of taka 280.38 million has been disbursed
among 2,919 beneficiaries under this program.

2.1.5 Financial Services for the Poorest (FSP)

BEES started Financial Services for the Poorest (FSP) project for the
hard core poor people with a view to develop sustainable models
for reducing the number of the extreme poor based on effective
use of micro-credit and other financial and technical services to
enhance their income and improve their livelihood. A total of taka
11.56 million have been disbursed to 3,095 members under this
program.

2.2 Services under Micro-finance Program

The Micro-finance program of BEES offers three types of services
to its group members. These are:

Z
Z
Z

Credit
Savings
Sheba Package

Credit
As an initiative of income generating activities, BEES provides credit to its beneficiary group members. Members are
eligible to get loan those who have some savings in BEES. Credit operations are carried out through a Revolving Loan Fund
(RLF) in a systematic process which consists of donors' fund, PKSF's fund, bank loan, members' savings and own fund of
BEES. It needs to be mentioned that 1% loan reserve is kept to cover the risk of bad debts. Higher amount of loan used to
be disbursed to them whose repayment records were found to be smooth after taking loan from BEES in the past. In Micro
Finance Program, an Area Office is supposed to become self-sustaining in its credit operation at the end of its second year
in operation.
Key Features of Loans:
Z Loan range: Tk. 4,000-20,000;
Z Interest rate: 12.50% flat;
Z Repayment mechanism: equal weekly installments; and
Z Loan products: general loan, sectoral program loan, micro-enterprise development program loan.
General loan can be taken for employment and income generating activities, while sectoral program loan can be taken for
micro enterprise development like poultry, livestock, agriculture and small business and trade. Loan size upto Tk. 10,000
is given to beneficiaries by Unit Manager. Approval is required from Area Manager for loan in excess of Tk. 10,000 upto
50,000. But upto Tk. 80,000 of loan size the approval from Program Coordinator and in case of excess of Tk. 80,000, the
approval of Deputy Director, Microfinance is required. Credit is allowed for a maximum period of 45 weeks.

Savings
In case of credit operation, individuals get credit facility based on their own savings. So, to get loan from credit program,
s/he needs to save certain amount of money in their credit fund. Regular savings of a group indicates better obedience
towards the credit program - it's the findings of RDP. Investment capacity of a person increases with the increasing of
18

BEES 04-05

his/her savings. As a result, ability grows to fight against the external shocks, and cope
with different diversified environment.

SHEBA Package
Credit is more effective when other services are integrated with it. The beneficiaries can
attain sustainable development through integration of both of credit & services. From this
point of view, BEES introduced SHEBA Package for its valued beneficiaries. Under the
SHEBA Package, BEES provides services: a) Insurance b) General & Reproductive Health,
c) Training and d) Input Delivery. Thus the beneficiaries enhance their knowledge & skills
on those and contribute for themselves as well as for the communities.
Followings are the detail of SHEBA Package received by beneficiaries through BEES
during the reporting year:
Insurance: It's a great achievement of BEES to operate the insurance facility for its
beneficiaries. Insurance policy is a safety net for the beneficiaries to cover the risk of
unwanted death of any borrower. Any extra outstanding of a deceased person can be
adjusted from his/her insured money.
General and Reproductive Health Services: As a continuous effort to maintain better
health of the group members, BEES has been implementing Health Service Activities
(HSA) since 1st July 2002 under SHEBA Package.

Vasectomy

Ligation

IUD

Injectables

Condom

Pill

Percentage

The overall objective of this service is to assess the need of beneficiaries and analyze
scopes, benefits, opportunities and limitations to offer better services related to preventive
health care, essential drugs, limited curative care and referral system. Under these health
services, BEES provides support to antenatal & postnatal care, safe
delivery, curative care, free diagnosis & prescription and medicine
Contraceptive acceptance profile among the
supply to the target groups and counsels on family planning &
beneficiaries
adolescent health and; motivates in participating EPI, observing
national & international health days like National Immunization
12
Day (NID), World Health Day, World AIDS Day, etc., raising
awareness for personal hygiene, nutrition & population control,
10
referral services for STD/RTI and HIV/AIDS.
8
6
During the reporting period, out of total registered cases, 5.67% for
4
Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), 4% for diarrhoea, 2.33% for
2
malnutrition, 7.67% for worm infestation, 4% for skin diseases and
0
40.67% were treated along with other health problems which include
fever, headache, anaemia, hypaeracidity, asthma, general weakness,
allergy, low back pain, leucorrhoea etc. Among all the cases, 6% and
20% received Ante-natal Care (ANC) and Post-natal Care (PNC)
respectively. About 20% cases were immunized by Tetanous Toxoid
(TT). Among contraceptive methods users, about 11% adopted pills, 4% condom, 4.6%
injectables, 1.33% Intrauterine Devices (IUD), 0.33% ligation and 0.33% vasectomy as
recorded.
Training: To improve the beneficiaries' knowledge and skills, BEES organizes different
types of training mostly on agriculture, health, education, leadership development and on
different IGA activities. During the reporting period improved cultivation method of fruits
& vegetables, poultry farming, cattle rearing & fattening, paddy-fish production
technology, agro-forest nursery management, primary health care, maternal & child health
and family planning, adolescents' health, food & nutrition, group formation and
leadership development, group dynamism were the major focus areas as training topics.
Input Delivery Services: After providing different technological trainings BEES also
provides seed, seedlings, saplings, fertilizers, pesticides and other necessary inputs to the
beneficiaries so that they can implement their knowledge easily.
During the period of 2004-05 BEES distributed seed, seedling and sapling among its
beneficiary farmers. In summer, 238,528 packets of vegetable seeds were distributed
among 38,000 beneficiaries while in winter 245,875 packets were distributed among 39,401.
Moreover, BEES distributed 91,394 saplings of different fruits like jack fruit, mango,
lemon, coconut, blackberry, litchi and timber trees like sissoo, mehegoni, shegun among
the beneficiary farmers.
BEES 04-05

19

2.3 Achievement
BEES is well equipped for its microfinance program considering the skilled and dedicated staffs, trustworthy beneficiaries,
and satisfactory financial support, so the microfinance program of this organization is running very well and expanding
rapidly.
BEES categorizes the target beneficiaries based on some specific criteria and provides them support accordingly. It provides
technical and non-technical training to be capable to undertake various income generating activities for the proper
utilization of given loan. For Micro-credit Programs a total of 20-25 members are considered for the group and for Microenterprise development program only 5-10 members are considered for intensive monitoring support.
As of June 2005, BEES covered 57,668 members through 3,746 groups under the Microfinance component where the target
was for 81,646 members composing 4,340 groups. The achievement was 71% and 86% for members and groups respectively.
Among them a total of 854 new groups were formed comprising of 23,930 members against the target of 1,060 groups and
the achievement was about 81% against the target during the period of 2004-2005.
Table: Component-wise group members, disbursed loan, recovery, outstanding and savings
balance as of June 2005
Total Members

Disbursed
Amount
(in million)

Total Recovery (in

million)

Outstanding
Amount
(in million)

Savings
Balance
(in million)

RMC

41,709

927.77

816.48

111.29

54.65

ME

2,919

280.38

365.05

32.33

13.44

467

21.23

17.47

3.76

FSP

3,095

11.56

7.13

4.43

0.68

MFTS

6,179

133.37

113.44

19.94

9.45

HCP

3,299

8.10

0.65

7.45

0.20

Total

57,688

1382.41

1320.21

179.20

78.41

Name of
Sub-Programs

SRLP

BEES disbursed a total of Tk. 332.25 million among 45,989 members over the period of July 2004 to June 2005. Among those
members, female beneficiaries were 42,475 consisting more than 92%. Female and male beneficiaries received loan from
BEES which amounts Tk. 247.37 million and Tk. 84.88 million respectively, marking female beneficiaries received 74.45%
while male beneficiaries received 25.55%.
Tk.179.20 million was found as outstanding during the reporting year. On the other hand, in regard to recovery status of
the disbursed loan, data shows better performance and over 98% loan recovery of the total disbursed amount during the
20

BEES 04-05

last year. In respect of savings over the last one year, Tk.56.51 million
was found to be deposited by the clients as savings against a target of
Tk.79.80 million which indicates about 71% achievement. As of June
2005, Tk.78.41 million was found as savings balance deposited by the
clients.
Respective field workers of BEES organize meeting once in a week to
collect the installment against disbursed loan and individual savings.
Different technical issues are also discussed in the meeting; like family
planning, social awareness, various IGA activities and proper utilization
of indigenous resources.
Program staffs provide assistance to the beneficiaries to enhance their
occupational skills. During the reference year, a total of 1,776
beneficiaries received training on different aspects like poultry farming,
enterprise development & management and small trades & marketing
system.
Table: Number of beneficiaries who received different types of training
Sl.
No.

Type of assistance

No. of beneficiaries received the

training

Training on poultry farming

866

Training on enterprise development

& management

328

Training on Small Trades & Marketing

System

582

SUCCESS
STORY OF AN
MICROENTERPRENUR:
AN OWNER OF
RICKSHAW GARAGE
Md. Ali, son of Alhaj Samsuddin was
born in 1960 in Gazipur district. He
was the only earning person of his 15
member family. It was too tough for
him to fulfill the need of so a huge
family. He always tried for diversified
business to make more money to meet
his huge demand. Besides the
businesses, he had 3-4 rickshaws which
he gave to others on rental basis for
adding some money in his family. But
he became very much tired to manage
required earnings. He was always
searching for alternatives to contribute
more to his family.
Once he had a great opportunity to
meet a field worker of BEES. It was the

Besides providing technical assistance, BEES also makes linkage among

the enterprises, different money lending institutions, raw material
suppliers, buyers, shopkeepers, salesman and other GO/ NGO
stakeholders.
BEES disbursed loan among the beneficiaries in different sectors like
stationery & grocery, clothing & tailoring, and shoe business etc.
Maximum amount of loan was disbursed on stationary & grocery, small
business and clothing & tailoring which were 25.40%, 17.20% and
11.25% respectively and the lowest disbursement shows in hotel
business which was only 0.50%.

Table: Micro Enterprise Loan in Various Sectors

Sectors
Stationary & grocery
Small business
Clothing & Tailoring
Readymade garments
Medicine
Shoe business
Jewellary
Poultry& Livestock
Workshop
Fisheries
Hardware
Cosmetics
Furniture
Hotel
Telephone and Studio
Others

% of Total Disbursement
(July'04-June'05)
25.40
17.20
11.25
7.40
5.90
5.75
5.30
4.80
3.42
2.50
2.25
2.00
1.50
0.50
0.80
4.03

BEES 04-05

21

turning point of his life. Taking

assistance of BEES worker, he became
a member of a business association on
July 5, 1999. Being an association
member, he took loan of 10,000 Tk. for
the first time and purchased three more
rickshaws.
At that time, he had 7 rickshaws
including the previous ones. He repaid
the loan to BEES and again took
15,000 Tk as loan and purchased 5
more rickshaws. In such a way he
gradually took loan of Tk. 20,000;
25,000; 30,000; 35,000; & 60,000 and
made his garage prosperous with 110
rickshaws till now.
Md. Ali is now the owner of a garage
with 110 rickshaws. He recruited three
permanent staffs for working in his
garage. Now his total investment is
Tk. 500,000. His yearly average
income is Tk. 180,000 which was only
80,000 before being a member of BEES.
It is brining surprising change in his
life.
Now he is an asset and respectable
person in his community. Community
people always call him in their
moments of sorrow and pleasure.. He
always tries to stay besides his
community people to resolve their
personal or societal problems.
He is also the most valuable person in
his family. For his great contribution
all his children are getting facility to
study in schools.
For this tremendous development in
business, he is now an economically
solvent person. Not only that, a total of
110 rickshaw pullers and 3 makers in
his workshop are also earning money
and contributing for their family
members through this business.
Comparing all of these to the past days,
Ali is thinking himself as one of the
most successful persons. He is ever
grateful towards BEES which turned
his life.

22

BEES 04-05

Under the micro-finance program, other planned activities such as

internal audit, annual audit by the external audit firm and monitoring &
supervision of programme activities were found satisfactory through
out the year by BEES.

2.4 Constraints faced executing the micro-finance

program during the reporting year
Natural Disaster
Chuadanga, Meherpur and Magura area were affected by flood in this
year. Crops and other properties of beneficiaries damaged and they had
to pass a critical period of time. Recovery rate was disappointing as the
beneficiaries were unable to pay the installment against loan at that
period.
Social Barrier
Dowry is the major social problem in our society. During the fiscal year
2004-05, many beneficiaries were suffered from deterioration in
economic condition due to payment of dowry. Recovery rate from those
families was not satisfactory for the specific months who gave dowry.
Treatment
It was found that for treatment purpose of beneficiaries or their family
members, they had to spent money from their cash/savings. As a result,
they could not continue their installments smoothly and it affected in
the recovery rate.
Overlapping
Overlapping was another problem to run micro-finance program
smoothly. Overlapping means to take the credit facilities by a
beneficiary from more than one organization at a time. In such cases, the
beneficiaries may not utilize the borrowed money in appropriate sector
for which one particular organization provided them with loan. In some
cases, the beneficiaries took credit from one organization to give
installment by that credit to another organization.

2.5 Initiatives taken to overcome the constraints

To address the flood in Chuadanga, Meherpur and Magura BEES
distributed some relief materials to the affected beneficiaries. The relief
materials for one person consisted of dry rice (5kg), dal (500g), potato (2
kg) and saline (5 pkt). They also received facility to take further loan
from BEES to overcome their critical moment.
To minimize the societal problem of 'dowry', BEES workers always tried
to motivate the beneficiaries to refrain from the dowry related activities.
BEES ensured primary health services by paramedics to the beneficiaries
to reduce their expenditure on treatment purpose.
To address the overlapping problem, workers of BEES always kept
communication with other NGO workers and also discussed with the
individual members about the status of their credit facilities from other
organizations.

cc

hapter- 33

QUALITY SEEDS
FOR BLOSSOM
OF LIFE

3.0 AGRICULTURE PROGRAM

3.1 Agriculture and Social Forestry
Agriculture and Social Forestry is one of the major components to
eradicate poverty. It has also a major role to protect the
environment. Poverty and environment are interlinked with each
other. Better environment and sufficient resources provide better
health and better nutritional status to human beings as well as
other animals. So, in respect of sustainability of the world, it is
vital to pay keen attention to agriculture and social forestry.
Agriculture is the main earning source for Bangladesh for its
fertile land and favorable climate. The intensive use of land can
contribute more for increased household income and reduced
poverty. We should give more concentration for higher
production and intensive cultivation to meet the requirements of
increasing population in the country, alleviation of poverty from
Bangladesh and ensuring better environment for future
generation.
BEES introduced Agriculture and Social Forestry Program under
RDP in 1975 aiming to alleviate poverty and protect the
environment through utilizing all used and fallow lands. BEES
assisted the farmers to promote intensified cropping, cultivate
diversified crop using modernized technology. To ensure these
activities, BEES provided technological support, supplied quality
inputs, provided training and credit facility to its beneficiaries to
increase overall agricultural production.

3.1.1 Objectives
To adopt sustainable agro-technology by target beneficiaries for
enhancing the nutritional status and income level of the most
vulnerable groups in the society and enable them to become
financially self-reliant through crop diversification, to increase
agricultural production and to promote social forestry to bring
favorable ecological balance in the environment.

3.1.2 Major interventions

Group formation, social mobilization, savings and credit
management, agro-technology transfer, establish home gardening,
conduct agro-demonstration at farmer's field, create awareness
related to health, nutrition, personal hygiene & family planning,
conduct training & workshop for project staff and beneficiaries,
distribute seedlings/ saplings/ grafting.

3.1.3 Achievement
During the reporting period July'04-June'05, the total number of
target of farmers were 21,000 under 1,050 groups whereas the
achievement of farmers was 15,683 in 784 groups which was about
75% achievement compared to the target.
About 15,683 farmers received training on different agro-based
technologies like, Vegetable Seed Production, Nursery
Establishment, Agro-forestry, Kitchen Gardening, Mini Orchard
with Fruit Trees, Use of Granular Urea in Vegetables & Field
24

BEES 04-05

Crops,
Use
of
Mixed
Fertilizer
(NPKS),
and
Compost
Making
from
domestic wastage and others,
Rice-Fish
Production,
Integrated Pest Management
25,000
(IPM) in Vegetables & Crops,
20,000
and Vegetative Propagation
Methods for Fruit Trees.
15,000
BEES arranged to receive
10,000
Target
seed,
seedling,
sapling,
5,000
Achievement
pesticide,
fertilizer
and
0
fingerlings from local sources
Farmer
Group
to those farmers. In addition
with
this
BEES
also
distributed seed seedling and sapling among the beneficiaries through agriculture and
social forestry program under SHEBA package.
For
smooth
program
operation, BEES disbursed
Tk. 41.20 million as loan
among 5,644 farmers.
Demonstration
on
improved
Production
Technologies

784

1,050

15,683

21,000

Coverage Farmers in Groups under

Agriculture & Social Focrestry Program

Table: Status on Inputs Received by Beneficiaries

Sl. No.

Type of inputs

Number of
Beneficiaries

Seed

15,683

Fertilizer

15,459

Pesticide

9,876

Seedlings/Saplings

15,683

Fingerlings

2,564

2
A
total
of
950
3
demonstrations
on
improved
production
4
technologies were arranged
for 44,000 farmers. About
5
95%
achievement
was
obtained considering the
total target of 1000 demonstrations.
The major components for demonstration:

Z
Z
Z
Z

Kitchen gardening
Compost preparation
Green manuring
Winter vegetable cultivation

BEES 04-05

25

DESPAIR
REACHES
DESTINY
SUCCESS STORY
OF A HATCHERY
OWNER
Rina Begum, age 31, lives in the
village Bholachang under
Bramanbaria district, with her
husband Md. Dulal Mia and her
three children. The financial
condition of her family was not
sound. Her husband was the only
earning member in the family. He

Z
Z
Z
Z

Rice production specially for Aman and Boro season

Pulses and oil seed cultivation
Wheat cultivation
Fruit tree plantation and management specially for lemon, mango
and litchi

After the demonstration sessions, BEES field staff extended their

support continuously towards the trained farmers. As a result, about
93% farmers could increase their production up to 7% more compared
to the previous year.

Demonstration Plot
BEES assisted the progressive farmers to establish ideal demonstration
plots for replicating in other farmers' garden. In the reporting year, a
total of 270 demonstration plots were set up in 270 farmers' field. To
enhance the nutritional wellbeing through intake of fresh vegetables,
utilization of fellow lands around the homestead as well as idle
manpower and to earn extra - were the major objectives to establish
Vegetable Gardening.
In summer, farmers cultivated red amaranth, stem amaranth, ladies
finger, ridged gourd, snake gourd, bitter gourd, indian spinach, brinjal,
and in winter season they cultivated cabbage, sweet pumpkin, raddish,
tomato, bati shak, spinach, garlic, onion, brinjal, & kangkong. In the
demonstration plot, BEES facilitated the farmers to cultivate root, fruit
and leafy vegetables considering intensive gardening, pest management
and different type of essential nutrition from a variety of vegetables
throughout the year and to ensure economic benefits as well.

Agricultural Fair
BEES regularly participated in the district level agricultural fair. In the
reporting year, BEES participated in 8 fairs in Sherpur, Narshingdi,
Gopalgonj, Faridpur, Madaripur, B. Baria, Noakhali and Bogra district.
The main purpose for participating in the fair is to introduce BEES and
its activities among the vast population attended there. A mentionable
number of people visited the stall of BEES in fair and appreciated its
activities by making valuable comments in the visitor book.

3.2 Agricultural Diversification and Intensification

Project (ADIP)
worked as a day labor and earned
only Tk.3,000 per month. She
had no means of extra earning as
she was a housewife. Therefore,
she had to struggle very hard
with her husband's little income
to manage their five-member
family. She could not even
manage regular meals for the
family everyday.
Every month she had to loan
from her relatives or neighbors.
This situation was quite
unbearable for her. Rina Begum's
life was not only one of a
stretching hardship but also
being treated as insignificant and
neglected in the society as she

26

BEES 04-05

Apart from the aforementioned two Components, Agriculture and

Social Forestry, BEES has been implementing a project entitled
Agricultural Diversification and Intensification Project (ADIP) in
collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE),
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh with the financial
assistance of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
in Narsingdi district since 1999. It's working in two upazilas-Belabo and
Monohordi under Norsingdi district.
The target beneficiaries were encouraged to use their fallow lands
adjacent to their homesteads with the aim-

Z To minimize the malnutrition

Z To enhance their income level
Z To empower women participants through their active involvement
and increasing income

3.2.1 Objectives
The major objectives of ADIP is to diversify agricultural production,
improve nutritional status, adopt sustainable agro-technology, and to
establish & maintain a satisfactory linkage with other agencies through

raising awareness among the target people giving emphasize to women

to improve their socio-economic and health status.

3.2.2 Achievement
BEES organized 491 groups comprising of 6,966 small, marginal and
landless farmers through its Agricultural Diversification and
Intensification Project (ADIP). Among them 6% were male and 94%
were female. Most of the group members received loan facility from
BEES. About Tk. 32.13 million was disbursed among 6,169 members
during the last one year having the recovery rate of 94%. The savings
was Tk. 9.71 million and outstanding was Tk. 21.74 million during the
reporting year.
During July'04-June'05, a total of 450 group members received training
on various agricultural issues like Poultry & Duck Rearing, Milking
Cow-rearing, Calf Rearing, Vegetable & Fruit Processing, Homestead
Gardening, Vegetables Cultivation etc. BEES arranged those trainings in
collaboration with Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Besides, BEES disseminates information on health, nutrition, personal
hygiene practices, family planning, sanitation, women rights,
importance of social forestry and environment among the target
beneficiaries to make them aware and thereby enhance their skills.
The group members received training on nursery establishment and
management to enhance their economical status by earning extra
money. BEES distributed more than 10,000 seedlings/saplings of
different vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants among the
beneficiaries. Taking nominal price, the beneficiaries sold those
saplings/seedlings to other members and community people and thus
benefits of BEES goes from beneficiaries to community level.

3.3 Smallholder Agricultural Improvement Project

(SAIP)
Smallholder Agricultural Improvement Project (SAIP) funded by
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), another
project of BEES is operating its activities in Jhinigati, Nakla and Srihardi
upazilas of Sherpur district. This project started its activities on May,
2001 focusing on the disadvantaged tribal (adivasi), landless, marginal
and small farmers.

3.3.1 Objectives
To improve the socio-economic status of targeted beneficiaries by
promoting food security, nutritional status and agricultural
diversification of the adivasi who are landless, marginal, and small
farmers within the project intervention areas.

3.3.2 Achievement
In SAIP, there were 8,513 members in 498 groups. Landless people,
especially from char & tribal areas and the marginal farmers got
preference to be members of SAIP. Among 8,513 members, female and
male were 7,046 & 1,467 respectively.
A total of 24.89 million taka was disbursed among the group members
as loan on different income generating activities during July 2004 - June
2005. The loan recovery rate was extremely satisfactory i.e. 100%. In that
period they deposited over Tk. 2.78 million as savings.
BEES organized different types of technical trainings to the group
members for effective utilization of their loan. A total of 85,491
seedlings/saplings were distributed among the group members. BEES
also disseminates information on basic health care, nutrition, personal

was poor. So she always thought

how to get rid of this situation
and dreamt of becoming an
earning lady herself.
During this terrible state of
mind, she saw a field extension
worker of BEES at the
neighborhood, who explained
their poverty alleviation program
to the village women. She was
observing this with profound
eagerness.
The field worker marked Rina
and asked to come to her and then
heard Rina's distressed condition.
Hearing the details she suggested
to be enrolled in BEES group.
Rina found the twinkling spark of
hope. For Rina, there was no
hesitation to grab this chance
because she was fully convinced.
She became a group member of
'Bholachang Mohila Samiti' on
8th February 2003. From this
very day, Rina Begum's life took
a turn and has made a rapid
change.
After getting involvement with
BEES group, she received Tk.
4,000 as first loan from BEES
and bought a sewing machine.
She started to earn little which
was added to their total family
income.
The field extension worker talked
to her about many issues relating
Mini Hatchery, and advised her
to receive training from BEES on
this program "and after
completion of one month training
course she can establish a Mini
Hatchery taking loan from BEES.
But to Rina's despair it was not
easy for her to have her
husband's consent. He was not
prepared to let his wife to go to a
distant land for the training.
Everyone was against the idea, so
she had to face all this in silence.
Rina Begum listened to none and
went for training, for one month
at Narayangonj training center.
After her training, she took

BEES 04-05

27

second loan of Tk.7, 000 from

BEES to start a Mini Hatchery
project as advised by the BEES
worker.
Her Hatchery is running well and
she now is breeding chicks by
putting 800-1200 eggs in each
batch through this project. The
knowledge which she gained from
training has helped her to lead it
with self-confidence. Now she
earns about Tk.4,500 per month
from Hatchery project. Many
people now come to visit Rina's
project, and they realized their
misconception about Rina when
she went for training.
Through Rina's technical support
and with the help of BEES, 5 chick
units and one model breeder
project have been established in the
Bholachang village.
Now she has become economically
and socially empowered. They do
not have to face financial
difficulties. Moreover, she is
saving money for future. She has
become economically valuable for
the family. She is consuming a
decent life now and doesn't feel
neglected and inferior any more.
She has achieved much respect in
her locality. Her neighbors often
come to her for different types of
decision.
Involvement of BEES has fully
changed Rina's lifestyle. She
believes that involvement in
similar program like BEES can
bring change of luck to the poor in
the society. So she always
motivates neighbors and others to
follow her path for developing
themselves economically and
socially.

hygiene practice, sanitation, women's rights, social forestry and

environment among the group members.

3.4. Poultry & Livestock Program

The sector poultry and livestock has a great contribution for Bangladesh
towards alleviation of poverty, self-employment, nutritional
improvement and agricultural resource development. With other
domestic work, a person can easily operate the business of poultry and
livestock. Less capital and time are needed to continue the business in
small scale. Women may be empowered by selling milk, eggs and other
poultry products like chicks, chicken etc. and can earn extra money. This
income is usually spent for household consumption like for children's
education, treatment/food for family members etc. About 70% landless
women are directly or indirectly involved with traditional poultry
rearing activities. Through applying the improved technology, they can
earn more by getting more production & reduced mortality rate.
The program is being implemented by BEES with the assistance from
the Bangladesh Government and with the own source of BEES.
The organization makes available the following services towards its
beneficiaries:
Z Training on poultry and livestock rearing & management and on
other technical aspects as per requirements
Z Ensure credit facility
Z Ensure vaccination facility
BEES has been working on poultry and livestock from the beginning
with a broad spectrum of knowledge for operating this program. This
program ensured active involvement of a large number of women in
IGA and made them empowered in their family as well as in
community.

3.4.1 Objectives
To increase income particularly of women, enhance nutritional status
through increasing protein intake of the rural poor, reduce poultry &
livestock mortality, improve the variety of poultry birds & upgrade the
local breeds of livestock through crossbreeding.
28

BEES 04-05

3.4.2 Major interventions

Group formation, social mobilization, savings and credit management, conduct training &
workshop for project staff and beneficiaries, arrange high breed poultry birds and cattle,
arrange vaccine for poultry & livestock.

3.4.3 Achievement
To enhance average monthly income of beneficiaries, poultry and livestock program was
incorporated with others. For accomplishing that objective, program staffs gave their
Table: Target and Achievement Status under Poultry Livestock Program
SL No.
1

Type of Activities

Target

Achievement

Provided training on Small

Poultry Farm Management
For program staffs

24 No.

18 No.

For beneficiaries

135 No.

112 No.

Provided training on Cattle

farming
For program staffs

8 No.

6 No.

For beneficiaries

25 No.

18 No.

Beneficiaries covered

8,500 No.

Loan disbursement

Average growth of Income for

cattle farming

Tk. 1,500

Average growth of Income for

Poultry Farm Management

Tk. 500

Tk.72.38 million

5,108 No.
Tk.66.60 million
Tk. 1,000
Tk. 300

highest efforts. Thus the growth of average monthly income was Tk.300 in case of poultry
farming and Tk. 1,000 in case of cattle farming where the targets were Tk. 500 and Tk. 1,500
respectively.
BEES organized training for staff as well as beneficiaries. During July 2004-June 2005, a
total of 24 program staff and 130 target beneficiaries received training against the target of
32 and 160 respectively which implies about 75% and 81% achievement.
BEES staff received TOT from the resource persons of Dept. of Livestock Services (DLS) to
facilitate the training to the beneficiary level. About 60% beneficiaries were covered under
this program where the achievement was 5,108 against the target of 8,500.
During July 2004- June 2005, more than 91% loan was disbursed against the annual target
of Tk. 72.38 million. Out of total disbursed loan, an amount of Tk 28.50 million was
disbursed to 3,562 beneficiaries for poultry farming and Tk. 38.10 million was disbursed to
2,546 beneficiaries for cattle rearing & farming.
BEES managed improved breeding of poultry and cattle for the beneficiaries from Dept. of
Livestock Services (DLS) and other private sectors. BEES extended its assistance to the
beneficiaries to set up 54 mini poultry farms and 12 mini cattle rearing farms with
improved breed of poultry and cattle.
After getting training on Small Poultry
Farm Management and Cattle Farming,
trained beneficiaries vaccinated 106,778
poultry birds and 4,355 cattle in their
communities. For getting that training
they realized about the need of
vaccination, and the program staff
assisted them to collect vaccine from
the Government department of Poultry
and Livestock for their community at
upazila level.

Loan Disbursement for Poultry and

Livestock

Poultry
Farming, 43%

Cattle Re aring &

Farming , 57%

BEES 04-05

29

EDUCATION:
ADDS VALUE TO LIFE
3.5 Education Program
An educated person is valuable person for the country and for self as s/he can contribute
more for increasing per capita income of a country, thus the country can advance further.
From this point of view, BEES incorporated the education program since 1984 through
providing Functional Education (FE) to its group members to improve socio-economic
status of rural and urban poor people. BEES pioneered Non-formal Primary Education
(NFPE) program complementing formal schooling system by considering the following
critical factors;

Z BEES designed schools in such a way so that both of rural and urban poor people have
access for getting study

Z BEES covered the maximum number of children within the target area
Z BEES kept the operational cost lower
Z A large number of children are deprived from formal schooling system. To address
most of them BEES linked with other NGOs and GO so that this number can be
reduced. NFE and NFPE project worked for that considering the children, adolescents
and adults.
BEES started Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE) program in 1996 with 20 NFPE
schools in rural, semi-urban and urban areas under Bogra district. After piloting by own
finance, BEES launched 200 schools taking the financial assistance from World University
Service of Canada (WUSC)-CIDA & its own fund. These schools offered the education
facility to the dropped out and non-school going children preferably the girls of poor
landless families.
BEES established 435 centers in different service areas where 13,050 learners enrolled with
the financial support from the government of Bangladesh through Directorate of NonFormal Education (DNFE).
30

BEES 04-05

In 2005, BEES launched another program for infant learners of 4 plus to 6 years named
Early Child Development (ECD). This program gives support to the infant to prepare
themselves to get involvement in formal/non-formal primary education system. There are
8 pre-primary schools under this program where 240 infants are involving with education
system.
Apart from these, BEES has been working on ILO/IPEC-USDOL project for the labor
children especially who are working in tanneries entitled BEES-WFCL program and Post
Literacy and Continuing Education for Human Development (PLCEHD) project through
operating 3 and 15 educational centers respectively.

3.5.1 Objectives
The overall objective of BEES's education program is to improve accessibility of the
people who are deprived from the formal schooling system. And thus BEES dreamt of a
country, which is literate and self-reliant. With this vision, BEES started its education
program back in 1984 by providing formal education only to its beneficiaries. Realizing
the practical needs, BEES started to provide non-formal education through its NFPE
centers as well.
3.5.2 Major interventions
Facilitate non-formal education for children & adolescents, provide infrastructure support
for school, provide education & material support, formation of center management
committee (CMC), impart training to the school teachers and provide primary education
to working children, arrange vocational training, etc.

3.5.3 Achievement
ILO-USDOL Project
BEES implemented ILO-USDOL project at Hazaribagh under Dhaka Metropolitan city
through establishing 3 centers. A total of 321 children enrolled those centers who were
working as labor in different tanneries. The aim of this project is to withdraw the
working children from the tanneries with a view to rehabilitate them through basic
education, vocational training and skill development, alternative opportunities for nonhazardous employment which will empower them to be competitive in the future labor
market.
Basic education i.e. formal schooling system and vocational
skills training are the two types of educational systems those
existed under this project. Basic education program offered the
facilities towards the students to understand, read, write and
keeping account, which are the daily needs to lead a better life.
Alternatively vocational trainings on different technical issues
like various trades were provided to develop skills of the
students in their respective sectors.
Among the total enrolled children, 102 numbers between 5-13
years received Non-Formal Education (NFE), and remaining 219
numbers between 13-17 years received vocational training
courses for 15 to 72 days. These schooling systems started in two
shifts in morning and evening. Students used to attend the class
in three times a week. Duration of a session was for two hours
each time. The duration of NFE was for 20 months including two
months' extension. During vocational training, they learned how
to bind book, wearing of electrical house, repair refrigerator, air
cooler, auto mobile, radio, TV, tailoring, and manufacture
leather goods. A total of 168 children received refresher
vocational training. The project was for 33 months including
four months' extension.
Project activities were supported and cooperated by forming
Program Facilitating Committee (PFC) of 9 members consisting
of Word Commissioner, proprietor of tanneries, local influential

BEES 04-05

31

persons, trade union leaders, teachers and other elite persons. On behalf of BEES, one
Action Program Coordinator (APC) acted as the member secretary.
In this program there were three teachers, two female and one male. There were two
Community Mobilizers who is responsible to advocate, motivate and make awareness
among the parents of potential children in the targeted areas to send their children in
school and for vocational training courses regularly. Attendance was about 69% for NFE
program while 83% for vocational training.

Pre-primary school
Eight pre-primary schools with 240 students are presently running by BEES's own fund.
Each school consist of 30 learner children between 4-6 years. In each school, there is a
school management committee consisting of learners' parents, member of the union
council, local influential persons and teacher. As a member secretary of the committee
respective teacher extend her cooperation to identify the problem, take measure to resolve
that, and aware the parents to send their children in school regularly. It is mentionable that
all teachers are female who received basic training for six days regarding pre-primary
education during the reporting period.
These schools start in any convenient time between 9:00 am to 11:00 am, and continue for
two hours in a day and remain open 6 days in a week. BEES developed curricula for preprimary education and included evaluation procedure for children through oral and
written tests. After successfully completion of schooling, each student receives a certificate
from BEES so that they can get admission in formal/non-formal primary education easily.
Attendance rate of students of these schools is very satisfactory and over 97%.

32

BEES 04-05

cc

hapter- 4

HEALTHY
CHILDREN FOR
PROSPEROUS
NATION

4.0 MATERNAL AND CHILD

HEALTH-FAMILY PLANNING
(MCH-FP) & NUTRITION PROGRAM
Starting from 1979, BEES implemented many health projects
focusing to its beneficiaries belonging to agriculture, landless and
women, program with component of primary health care, family
planning, nutrition, kitchen gardening, cooking demonstration,
growth monitoring, immunization, watsan, arsenic mitigation etc.
throughout its project area around Bangladesh. The projects were
funded by different donor agencies like CRWRC, CIDA, WUSC,
ODA, BPHC and Bangladesh Government.
During the reporting session 2004-2005, BEES implemented the
following health program /projects.

4.1 Community Based Health Program (CBHP)

BEES had been conducting its health and family planning
program through grouping approach until 1992 with the funding
support from CIDA. In 1992, BEES initiated its Community Based
Health Project (CBHP) in 6 upazilas of Bogra District under Bogra
Rural Development Project (BRDP) with the funding support of
BPHC-DFID (previously known as ODA) along with continued
funding support from the Royal Netherlands Government upto
December 1997.
BPHC again continued its funding support to this project from
January 1998 to serve ESP service delivery of HPSP program of
GoB through bidding process. Later on, its activities were
concentrated in Adamdighi & Dhunot upazila of Bogra District
until December 2004.

4.1.1 Objectives
The overall objective of the project was to impart improved
services regarding reproductive health, family planning, child
health and general health to the community people especially
fertile couples (15-49 years), children (0-1 year), adolescents (10-19
years) and treating common ailing patient through static and
satellite clinics conducted by qualified paramedics and skilled
community health workers.

4.1.2 Major interventions

Conduct household survey, create awareness on general health
and MCH-FP topics, provide antenatal care and postnatal
services, receive & distribute contraceptive materials, provide
support to RTI/STD management, prevention & control of
HIV/AIDS, supply vitamins, immunization for children, impart
ORT training, arrange community level kitchen garden
demonstration, establish and operate satellite and static clinics,
purchase necessary medicines, provide sex education & related
reproductive health education to adolescents, undertake research
on qualitative health and related behaviors, create awareness on
WatSan, personal hygiene practice, arsenic mitigation etc.,
arrange training for health staff, supply vita - 'A' capsule to the
community children, motivate community people to keep some
packets of ORS etc.
34

BEES 04-05

4.1.3 Achievement
Considering the impact of the project, BEES has been continuing this project until now by
its own fund generated by Micro-Finance program. During 2004-2005 session BEES has
achieved the following results under this project.

S tatus of different services on Reproductive Health

76.47

90
70
60

28.5
15.53

30
20

9.86

40

10.66

50

47.48

Percentage

80

Target (%)
Achievement (%)

10
0

During the reporting period, a total of 527 women gave birth to their children who
received antenatal care from Reproductive Health Services of BEES attaining an
achievement of more than 76%. In case of Safe delivery, 9.86% delivery was performed by
qualified persons of the project against the target of 10.66%. Achievement was more than
28.5% against the target of 15.5% for the postnatal care (PNC) received by both mother &
baby for 42 days including the referral support to the children for immunization. Without
the above mentioned activities, CBHP was involved with family planning, increasing
clinical contraceptive acceptors, static clinic, community clinic and immunization. CBHP
was also involved with prevention of Vit-A deficiency disorder and adolescent care, where
100% achievement was performed by the project.
It is mentionable that Adolescent care is a pilot project for Network for Ensuring
Adolescent Reproductive Right and Services (NEARS) supported by UNFPA. CBHP also
extended the services towards 168 patients for general treatment, which was more than
95% against the target.

4.2 National Nutrition Program (NNP)

No significant progress was found in Bangladesh with respect to the nutritional status. As
one of the leading non-government organizations, BEES has been working towards the
enhancement of nutritional status of rural and semi-urban poor people since its inception
in 1975. The major activities of its health and nutrition projects are growth monitoring of
children below two years, screening of malnourished children, supplementary feeding
demonstration, kitchen garden demonstration, BMI of 15-49 years women, poultry &
livestock rearing.
Government started implementing the Integrated Nutrition Project (INP) in
6 upazilas of Bangladesh with a view to reduce the nutritional deficiency
among women and children in 1996 which has been now expanded in 59
upazilas. The project has further been expanded in 61 additional upazilas of
BINP by other 10 National NGOs receiving fund from the World Bank.
The aims of this project are to achieve a substantial and sustainable
improvement in the nutritional status of women and children of Bangladesh
by the year 2010 malnutrition. To achieve this goal following considerations
were focused:

Z
Z
Z

Reduction in incidences of low birth weight

Reduction in severe and moderate mal-nutrition among children
Reduction in micro-nutrient deficiencies among women, school-aged
children and adolescent girls
BEES 04-05

35

4.2.1 Objectives
The overall objective of this project is to develop and strengthen the
capacity of communities to assess and analyze the causes of
malnutrition and to make better use of family, community and
external resources to improve the nutritional status of the
vulnerable groups. Within the year 2010 the project will make
coverage all over the country through different phases using
Adaptable Lending Mechanism.
The project has been implementing by four different Ministries
having two major components: i) Service Delivery Component and
ii) Program Support & Institutional Development Component. The
service delivery component has two sub-components which are
Area Based Community Nutrition (ABCN) and National Level
Nutrition Services (NLNS). The ABCN activities include growth
monitoring & promotion, special care for low birth weight babies,
micronutrient supplementation and referral health services in case
of under two years children. In case of maternal health services, activities cover weight monitoring & promotion,
counseling for improved self-care, counseling for improved childcare and malnourished women, micronutrient
supplementation and also referral to health services. On the other hand, for newly married couples the activities include
registration, counseling and home-based weighing for newly pregnant women. Moreover, for adolescent girls, formation
of Nutrition Education Forums, micronutrient supplementation, monitoring weight and de-worming are the major
services. The major activities under NLNS are kitchen gardening and poultry rearing.
The aim of ABCN is to ensure household food security and school nutrition program. The project is being implementing in
6 upazilas of Faridpur, Gopalganj and Madaripur districts.

4.2.2 Major interventions

Provide maternal health services; arrange weight monitoring & promotion, counsel on self-care, childcare, malnutrition and
micronutrient supplementation and referral health services. Registration of newly married couples, arrange home-based
weighting for newly pregnant women, formation of Nutrition Education Forums, information dissemination on
micronutrient supplementation, monitoring weight and de-worming, kitchen garden and cooking demonstration, poultry
rearing, provide iron/foliate tablets, vitamin-A cap & anti-helminthes tablets.

4.2.3 Achievement
National Nutrition Program (NNP) has been designed in such a way that it can cover hundred percent populations within
the targeted areas through addressing each household. It has been working in 6 upazilas under three districts, which are
Bhanga & Sadarpur under Faridpur district, Gopalgonj Sadar, Tungipara, & Muksudpur under Gopalgonj district and
Madaripur Sadar under Madaripur district. Up to June 2005, NNP provided services towards 1,550,732 populations of
334,748 households in these upazilas through Community Nutrition Centers (CNCs). There are total 132 Community
Nutrition Organizers (CNOs) & 1207 Community Nutrition Promoters (CNPs) in the organization. BEES extended its
services to accomplish the following activities through its CNOs and CNPs:
i)
ii)

Weight gain monitoring of the pregnant women & referral for ANC;
Micronutrient supplementation by Iron-Folate tablet for pregnant women, adolescent girls & new-wed couples,
and Vitamin-A capsules for lactating mothers;
iii) Supplementary feeding (SF) to the malnourished children (< 2 years) and for pregnant women & lactating mothers
(BMI < 18.5);
iv) Growth Monitoring & Promotion (GMP) of the children (< 2 years);
v) Behavior Change Communication (BCC) for the adolescent girls and new-wed couples; and
vi) De-worming of the adolescent girls.
All the pregnant women, lactating mothers, children under 2 years, adolescent girls & new-wed couples were the target
beneficiaries. For providing the better services and maintaining regularity CNC sessions were held during 9-11 a.m. six
days a week throughout the year. CNP arranged different sessions and delivered the services to the targeted beneficiaries.
As of June 2005, a total of 15,601 pregnant women and 8,845 lactating mothers were registered in 6 upazilas. Among the
registered pregnant women above 97% women were weighted and more than 81% of them received ANC. More than 93%
of the pregnant women received Iron-Folate tablets. Among the lactating mothers more than 98% & 92% received IronFolate tablets & Vitamin-A capsules respectively.
The activity on Supplementary Feeding (SF) was introduced to transfer the knowledge and skills to the beneficiaries on
preparing SF so that they can manage required feed from their own limited resources, and gradually the rate of SF will be
36

BEES 04-05

decreased as the project becomes older. During the reporting period rates of SF were
5.65%, 30.99% & 22.18% for the children (< 2 years), pregnant women & lactating mothers
respectively under 6 upazilas.
As of June 2005, a total of 54,297 children (< 2 years) were registered in 6 upazilas. More
than 97% children attended the GMP sessions at their respective CNCs. About 29.05% of
the weighed children were found mild and 19.82% moderate & 10.19% severely
malnourished. Among the newborn weighed babies, 99.66% took colostrums, while about
36.03% babies took exclusive breast feedings.
Under BCC activities, a total of 67,121 adolescent girls (13-19 years) and 5,147 of newlywed couples were registered at the end of reporting period. Respective CNOs and CNPs
organized monthly meetings and health education sessions of 20 to 25 members regularly
for the registered adolescent girls and newly-wed couples. More than 94% of adolescent
girls and 91% of newly-wed couples received Iron-Folate tablets and 82% of adolescent
girls received de-worming tablets as per NNP guideline. Various forums/committees
were also formed at district, upazila, union, and village level comprising the govt., local
govt., NGO and private stakeholders for smooth functioning of the project activities.
Different promotional activities like advocacy, counseling etc. using BCC materials were
also an integral part of the project.
A total of 1,530 beneficiaries received loan of Tk. 18.65 lacs for poultry rearing under the
National Level Nutrition Services (NLNS). BEES also provided 45,089 Day Old Chicks
(DOC) and 52,623 Pullets among the targeted beneficiaries for establishing 6,287 units. As
of June'05 a total of 19,778 vials of vaccine on BCRDV, RDV and Gambro were also
supplied to the beneficiaries. In addition these, vegetable gardens were established as
demonstration plot in their community, and the beneficiaries received a number of
training courses on human resources development and occupational skills development so
that they can utilize their knowledge and skills effectively.

4.2.3 Constraints Faced during Executing the Maternal and Child HealthFamily Planning (MCH-FP) & Nutrition Program in 2004-2005
Z
Z
Z

Recruitment: Recruitment process for field staff generally held regionally and in some
cases, local elite persons get chance to influence the recruitment.
Training: More basic training, need-based training or refresher training for field staff
and beneficiaries are required
Advanced Visit Plan: Each field staff should have advanced visit plan to specify their
activities during visit to spend their time
effectively for beneficiaries.

4.2.4 Initiatives Taken to

Overcome the above
Constraints
Z
Z
Z

4.3

Discussed with local management

committee for better recruitment. Weak
staffs were replaced by better one.
Instructed the field staff to discuss with
beneficiaries to identify their specific
training needs.
Provided guideline to the field staff in
coordination meeting to prepare their
advance work plan.

HIV/AIDS prevention
Program

4.3.1 Strengthen Capacity and Knowledge of the CBOs on HIV/AIDS

With the objective to strengthen capacity and knowledge of CBOs on HIV/AIDS in project
intervention area, BEES initiated a program funded by UNICEF. Major strategies were
taken by BEES to train project personnel & CBO members to increase knowledge &

BEES 04-05

37

dissemination skill on HIV/AIDS and raise awareness in the community. This five months project was started from
February 13, 2005 in Dhunot upazila under Bogra district.
As per target to reach the goal of HIV/AIDS program, BEES set up office in the intervention area, recruited 7 staffs,
provided staff orientation, selected 10 CBOs, and arranged several discussion meetings with CBO leaders about the goal,
objectives and outcomes of the project.
BEES organized a launching ceremony and dissemination workshop on HIV/AIDS project funded by UNICEF at Dhunot
Pourashava Auditorium. Different stakeholders including GO-NGO representatives, CBO executive members, UP
Chairmen, women members, school teachers, local elites, imams, social workers, and local journalists from press etc.
participated in the ceremony.
All project operational staffs received TOT on "Capacity Building for operation of HIV/AIDS project" from Marie Stope
Clinic Society (MSCS), Dhaka. A training on HIV/AIDS was organized for CBO executive members of the project.
Late transfer of fund during 1st installment was the major limitation during implementation of the project. To achieve the
desired target smoothly BEES utilized its own fund to overcome that crisis moment.
Respective project personnel of BEES always maintained liaison with other stakeholders related with HIV/AIDS programs
and exchange information for smooth implementation. BEES communicated with HASAB for training, purchase of
necessary IEC/BCC materials on HIV/AIDS from VHSS, BRAC, Nari Moitree, SMC (Surakha Project) and FHI in
consultation with UNICEF and get update on HIV/AIDS.
From the last decades HIV/AIDS has been considered as global concern especially for the vulnerable youth and women.
So, BEES was alert and has been taking initiatives to promote sex education focusing on HIV/AIDS, particularly for the
vulnerable groups. BEES provided services to garment workers, slum dwellers and workers of hotel & tea garden.

4.3.2 Nutrition Surveillance Project (NSP)

Helen Keller International (HKI) has been operating the Nutrition Surveillance Project (NSP) since 1990 in collaboration
with the Institute of Public Health Nutrition of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) and partner NGOs.
Within a short period it became capable to grow confidence among GOB, NGOs and international agencies/donors
through providing authentic information in time. It has been an independent source of high quality data on nutrition &
health, food security, and household welfare in Bangladesh.
The NSP collects information from children aged less than five years, their mothers and households throughout rural
Bangladesh, and in urban slums of six major cities. These data are collected every two months to capture seasonal changes
in nutrition and health status through data collectors of IPHN and partner NGOs.
BEES, one of the partner NGO of HKI, has been working for NSP for the last 3 years. At present, BEES is working with
National Nutrition Program (NNP) and on the other hand it is also assisting HKI in research & development, regarding
data collection for the NSP project. BEES is implementing this project at Dhupchachia Upazila, Bogura District and Sreepur
Upazila, Gazipur District by two teams. Another Dhaka Divisional team is working under BEES, stationed at Sreepur.

38

BEES 04-05

cc

hapter- 5

SPECIAL
EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE
QUALITY OF LIFE

5.0 SPECIAL PROGRAM

5.1 Urban Poor Development Program (UPDP)
In Bangladesh population in urban areas is increasing gradually,
now the population in urban areas is 30 million which will be
increased up to 60 million by 2010.High population rate, frequent
natural disasters and rural poverty pushed the rural mass people
to shift to the urban areas. Due to gradual increasing of
population in urban areas job market are becoming more
competitive here, as the public services and present infrastructure
in the urban areas is not adequate to meet up the unwanted huge
number of new comers. So housing, sanitation, water, energy,
waste disposal and general living style are deteriorating rapidly in
urban areas. To minimize the situation, BEES has been working
for the poor urban people like other development organizations.
BEES is more cordial to work with slum people as they are more
deprived of getting the basic facilities as citizens of the country.
The slums are overloaded by rural migrants and becoming more
and more polluted. BEES started organizing the urban poor
residing in slums of Dhaka Municipality area in 1996-97 and
launched the new program entitled 'Urban Poor Development
Program (UPDP)' in 11 slums of four upazilas under Dhaka
Municipality area. BEES extended its efforts to empower slum
dwellers, especially the womenfolk by providing them with
credit, training, health and basic education. Health care services
(both preventive & curative) are also offered to the slum dwellers
along with motivational and awareness building activities.

5.1.1 Objectives
Through Urban Poor Development Program (UPDP) BEES
promotes and develops small & medium enterprises to generate
self employment and enhance the economic level of urban poor.

5.1.2 Major interventions

Conduct survey, form groups, conduct weekly meetings,
collection of savings, disburse loan, educate children, train staff
and beneficiaries, provide health and family planning services,
distribute saplings etc.

5.1.3 Achievement
The Urban Poor Development Program (UPDP) of BEES worked
with the small & medium new and existing enterprises during the
last year. A total of 6 new groups were formed against the annual
target of 10 groups having an achievement of about 60%. A total
of 22 new members were enrolled in new and old groups. BEES
worked with 68 groups including 330 members under UPDP. As
of June'05, a total of 813 members have been enrolled under the
program of which 483 members left the groups on different
occasions due to change of residence, not paying installment
regularly, having expectation to get more amount of money as
loan, receive bigger loan from other organization, not getting
profit or made loss due to utilizing loan in improper sector.
To reduce the drop out rate BEES created awareness among the
people about the nitty-gritty of the program, gave opportunity to
40

BEES 04-05

pay installments from savings considering the exceptions, gave chance to receive further
loan before recovering all of the installments and disburse more amount as loan for certain
special cases.
A total of Tk. 9.89 million was disbursed among the group members for income generating
activities and subsequently for employment generation against the target of Tk. 17.06
millions during July'04 to June'05. In addition, these group members made savings of Tk.
12.39 million and Tk.2.90 was found as savings balance in the reporting period. The
recovery rate of disbursed loan was nearly 99%.
In the area of health services under the program, a total of 1,250 slum dwellers received
medical advice on curative health services during the reporting period from a post
graduate doctor appointed by BEES. The beneficiaries received advice from respective
doctor on several diseases and got treatment free of charge. Patients in critical conditions
were referred to the hospitals. Besides, the doctor also communicated messages on
preventive, promotional & common curative health; nutrition; family planning; and
provided advocacy & counseling on HIV/AIDS prevention & control. He used to play an
important facilitating role in building linkage with the beneficiaries to services available in
the Govt. hospitals.

5.2 Social Assistance Program (SAP-II)

Less income is not the only reason of poverty, but gender discrimination, lack of power, lack
of access in basic rights etc. are other factors for poverty. So, some leading organizations
came forward with poverty alleviation program through addressing the mentioned issues.
BEES was not exception and became involved in poverty alleviation programs for rural and
urban poor people since 1975. In 1997, BEES has initiated to execute its integrated Poverty
Alleviation Program (PAP) with a new dimension and strategic framework.
The government of Bangladesh has taken a project titled 'Social Investment Program
Project (SIPP)' with the assistance from the IDA, is being implemented by Social
Development Foundation (SDF) and being delivered by private sector & NGO's with
effective community participation. Social Assistance Program (SAP) is a sub-component of
SIPP. BEES as a participating organization has been implementing the Social Assistance
Program (SAP) , phase-II for the hard core poor and vulnerable group members in 190
drought and disaster prone villages of Gaibandha Sadar, Sundarganj and Sadullapur
upazilas under Gaibandha district since January,2005

5.2.1 Objectives
The main goal of the project is to create enabling environment for disadvantaged
community and increase their participation in decision making and thereby decreasing
social exclusion and improving local governance.

BEES 04-05

41

The overall objective of the project is to test and support alternative methods of service provision and financing for poverty
reduction by way of increasing poor people's access to small social and economic infrastructure and social assistance
services delivered by private sector and NGOs with effective community participation.

5.2.2 Major Interventions

The project has six major service packages and these are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Social mobilization, human and leadership training;

Advocacy program on health, hygiene, clean water, sanitation, education, rights and good governance;
Advocacy program on dowry and dowry related issues;
Occupational skills development training and employment assistance
Legal aid services; and
Assistance to tribal population.

5.2.3 Achievement
The Social Assistance Program (SAP) is
implementing a development package of
interventions and after one year of the project
intervention, the activities are running very
successfully to attain the goal. A total of 534
vulnerable groups, 190 citizen watch groups, 190
change agents, 190 adolescent girls groups, 190
adolescent boys groups, 190 sanitation
committees, 145 SMCs & PTAs have been formed/
reformed. Achieved 100% enrollment of drop-out
school going children in primary schools. About
96% of fertile couple have habituated on FP
methods, 30 villages attained 100% sanitation, 99%
children have been brought under immunization,
100% coverage of birth, death, and marriage
registration have been made in the project
intervened area.
It can be mentioned that 12,006 members received human development and leadership training, 4,855 members received
IGAs training, 4,744 VDC and UP members and 13,337 group members received training on rights and laws.
BEES prepared two cultural scripts for village Theatre/Jatra and Jarigan on SAP, social and dowry related issues. Both of
the scripts had comprehensive messages on dowry and SAP issue to aware the target population on social concerns. A total
of 377 cultural shows were organized for twice in each village against the target of 380. It was marked that vulnerable group
members, change agents, adolescent group members, community people, UP members and other opinion leaders as well
as project staff cordially participated and enjoyed the conducted shows in the project area. To aware the target population
about SAP activities, comprehensive messages on family planning, homestead gardening, safe drinking water, nutrition,
immunization, installation of sanitary latrine, divorce, early marriage, polygamy, education, dowry and dowry related
issues and other relevant topics were also enlisted with the scripts.
After completion of Jatra and Jarigan at the project area, it was observed that social awareness has been increased more
among the target population. As a result, many social problems have been decreasing from the project area.

5.3 Advocacy Program (social, financial and legal)

Advocacy is one of the vital components to motivate the people easily. BEES is always concerned about the advocacy
program to execute its activities smoothly and to accomplish its goal. BEES maintains effective alliances under its advocacy
program through meetings, collaboration & coordination with different organizations, media and other stakeholders
including the key persons at the community level and of the private sectors so that it can implement different interventions
smoothly.
Behind the advocacy program, the major objective of BEES is to promote behavior change among individuals, groups and
communities. BEES gives priority to the sensitive issues like human rights, gender equity, child abuse, child labor & child
rights, legal aid services to women, social assistance for tribal population, education, reproductive health, child & general
health, which include addressing safe motherhood, growth monitoring, BMI, RTI/STD management including prevention
of HIV/AIDS, sex education and related reproductive health care for adolescents, gender-based violence, nutrition,
population, arsenic issue WatSan, etc. under different development programs. For supporting the main program different
types of advocacy material packages are developed and distributed.
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BEES 04-05

Meeting, seminars, workshops, campaigns and issue based presentations are the different
activities of BEES with its different stakeholders both government and non-govt.
stakeholders, officials from concerned ministries/departments, community leaders,
journalists from different media, representatives from UN bodies, national and external
support agencies etc. The aim of these activities is to overcome the obstacles towards
achieving a malnutrition and HIV/AIDS free Bangladesh and to fight back all the factors
conducive to poor health, education, unemployment and poverty.

5.4 Gender Awareness and Women's Right

BEES is very sensitive towards human rights, gender and
governance issues. BEES believes that without equal participation
of male & female, real development is not possible. BEES also
believe that both of male and female enjoy the same benefits and
the same constraints etc. Vision of BEES is towards promoting a
just society in which both men and women can work together to
form institution to attain a greater degree of self-reliance in
managing their own affairs. Through its different development
program BEES is always sincere to address several sensitive issues
like human rights, gender equity, child abuse, legal aid services,
violence against women, social assistance for tribal population,
education etc. Women re-productive health, child & general
health, nutrition, population, WatSan, arsenic issue, female
literacy, etc. always get more preference. It is appreciable that
more than 90% beneficiaries are women in BEES, and BEES is also
always careful to enhance the empowerment of women through
establishing their rights in terms of social, political and legal
issues.

5.5 Social Mobilization Programs with Vulnerable Groups

As the poor people have access to their own and social resources as well as rights they
need to be empowered. Social mobilization is the important component to make them
empowered. BEES is always concerned about the alleviation of poverty so that the poor
people can get respect, have access to the resources, can give contribution to the
community as well as nation being empowered.. So it started its Social mobilization
program focusing on institution building as a strategy of inclusion and it always wants to
build strong local women leaders among the poor with their strong local organizations.
BEES provides the service on social mobilization program integrated with its other
components like credit, health and basic education. It provides services through small and
large group meetings, courtyard meetings, village and union level discussion forum,
upazila level workshop, coordination meetings with GoB and NGOs, meetings with
groups of partner NGOs, miking, rally, documentary film shows, postering, hoarding,
street meeting, participation in monthly meetings of DC, CS, DD-Family Planning, DD of
Agriculture and with other stakeholders..
World wide people are concerned about the detrimental effect of HIV/AIDS. Many
organizations have been working to prevent this. BEES also promote the sex education
focusing on HIV/AIDS preferring the youth and women. Considering these BEES has
taken initiatives to empower women, provides services to women vulnerable to HIV
infection, especially those aged between 15-49 years, low-paid industrial (garment)
women workers, general workers (e.g. hotels and tea gardens), and women living in slum
areas. Services include Behavior Change Communication strategies on HIV and sexually
transmitted diseases, condom promotion, referral to reproductive health services,
advocacy to local officials & agencies and; linkages with other development and HIV
prevention activities.
For giving priority of women by several development organizations they are now more
empowered. Now they can protect themselves more from being raped or afflicted with
HIV/AIDS, can refuse to be sold for dowry and now the females are performing more
responsible jobs for their families. BEES played a major role to bring this situation.

BEES 04-05

43

5.6 Legal Aid Services

Women are being discriminated more or less all over the world from the very beginning of the human civilization.
Bangladesh is not an exception to that, even comparatively more discrimination is found here in case of females of all ages.
For real development of a society, females need to come in the mainstreaming group of the society for developmental
activities. In regard to this BEES works to make aware women on their legal rights to protect themselves from being
discriminated and exploited which requires change in the socio-political relationships and power structures within the
communities. BEES addresses the women issue to develop their economic empowerment as well as social empowerment
so that they can get their legal rights in cases of dowry, divorce, early marriage, unregistered marriage, Mohorana (dower),
inheritance and ownership of property, family planning, etc. BEES provide legal assistance through its own support and
also in collaboration with other legal organization. Beneficiaries of BEES are now found more conscious about their legal
rights.

5.7 Good Governance

Good governance is very essential for citizens especially for the poor people as they can not get access to any basic needs
like education, food, security, shelter and other social resources from the society due to lack of proper governance. BEES
has been working for establishing good governance in the society through empowering voices of the poor people,
facilitating their participation in the decision making and informing about their rights and entitlements. BEES creates the
leaders from the poor, makes linkage with local government, and local elite persons as they can present their needs to them.
BEES maintains liaison with local government and other public and private service providers to make the services pro-poor
maintaining transparency and accountability.

5.8 Promotional Activities & Interagency Collaboration

In our country most people especially in rural and urban areas are traditional in their knowledge regarding health,
nutrition, water & sanitation, personal hygiene practice etc. BEES took initiative to enhance their knowledge on those
through implementing the promotional activities with the assistance of IEC/BCC. The activities include production of BCC
materials i.e. printed materials, audio-video materials, etc., conducting courtyard meetings, organizing rally along with
miking, film shows, folk songs, small and large group discussion meetings, seminars, workshops, meetings of different
forums, doorstep visits, etc. BEES was sound to perform these activities along with its skilled dedicated workers and wellequipped communication materials. To aware and motivate the people, BEES also developed and used communication
materials on Arsenic & HIV/AIDS and pasted on the back of the rickshaws containing different messages and pictures on
the effect of Arsenic & HIV/AIDS. BEES publishes Bangla newsletter "Mathchitra" with special features and issues on the
fearfulness of Arsenic and HIV/AIDS.
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BEES 04-05

Alliance through collaboration activities is one of the significant components of BEES's

total program packages. The purpose of interagency collaboration activities is to promote,
consolidate and sustain BEES's integrated Poverty Alleviation Program to empower the
disadvantaged and poor, especially women of the program intervention areas in term of
universal literacy, assessing health care, behavioral change and income generating
activities having along experience in collaboration activities with different government
agencies, UN bodies, and national and external support agencies.

5.9 Small Rural Infrastructure Development

To promote low cost housing among the rural poor BEES initiated to implement the
housing program taking the financial assistance of Bangladesh Bank. BEES constructed 200
tin-shed houses along with ring slap water sealed latrines for the destitute families of B.
Baria district who were the members under this program. During late 1979's BEES
installed more than 4,000 tube-wells in the program intervention areas in collaboration
with the BADC and Bangladesh Krishi Bank.
Since 1979 BEES has been involving with several rehabilitation activities in different
natural disasters. It undertook and successfully completed several rehabilitation programs
in the country during flood in 1991, and in 1998 etc. with the financial assistance of
different foreign agencies. Followings are the major activities done by the organization:

Constructed more than 255 tin-shed houses along with hygienic latrines and hand
tube-wells for the cyclone affected people of Anwara upazila in 1991

About 15 km rural muddy roads were repaired under the food for work program in
the flood affected areas of B. Baria and Bogra district during 1998

provided credit to the beneficiaries for tube-well installation and set-up of hygienic
latrines

5.10 Water and Sanitation

Bangladesh is affected by the world's most severe environmental crisis like Arsenic. Most
of its underground water has been contaminated with arsenic at an alarming level. Tubewell water (<100 feet) contains arsenic with a significantly higher level than the
permissible limit in 59 districts out of 64 and an estimated 75 million people are at the risk
of arsenic poisoning.
BEES gives preference on creating awareness among the community people on water and
sanitation issues. Since early 90s, BEES has been incorporating WatSan activities
exclusively with the assistance of integrated software and hardware support services from
the NGO Forum for DWSS under its collaboration activities. BEES has long term skills and
knowledge in rehabilitation work particularly in WatSan activities after devastating
cyclones. It successfully performed rehabilitation activities, especially on building shelters,
ensuring safe water & environmental sanitation, installation of new tube-wells, repairing
& re-sinking damaged tube-wells, dewatering ponds and constructing of sanitary latrines
with the financial assistance of the World Relief Canada.
BEES continued it's effort in identification of arsenic
affected and arsenic free tube-well, and marked
accordingly as the community people can prevent the
contamination of arsenic. BEES continued its effort to
aware the people on usage of safe water, personal
hygiene practice, disposal of solid waste, and
dreadfulness of arsenic & arsenic mitigation options.

5.11 Relief & Rehabilitation

Over the last 26 years BEES was always alert to make
contribution on several relief and rehabilitation
activities with the financial assistance of CIDA,
CRWRC, USAID, Canadian Wheat Bank (through
CRWRC), World Relief Canada and other donor
agencies as well as its own fund.
BEES 04-05

45

BEES always extends its cooperation to the disaster affected poor people by its own resources like providing medicine,
medical treatment, distributing cooked food and cleaning of broken/destroyed houses, trees, and other infrastructure in
flood, tornado etc.
During the reporting year, heavy rainfall and overflow of river banks created serious flood in 46 districts out of 64 in the
country. Approximately 20 million people have been affected and 1.3 million homesteads have been partially or fully
damaged. To mitigate the urgent needs of flood affected people, BEES distributed dry food, water purification tablets, ORS
packet and protein biscuits to 14,000 flood affected families in Gaibandha, Bogra, Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria and Hobigong
districts by its own fund. Upon receiving fund amounting Tk. 702,600 from Bangladesh Population and Health Consortium
(BPHC), BEES performed emergency flood relief activities for 2,560 selected families of Dhunot upazila under Bogra district
who were severely flood affected. Familywise packs including rice 10 kg, lentil (dal) 1.25 kg, potato 2 kg and salt 1 kg were
distributed timely and properly. Medicines like Tandamol, Medizol, ORS, Amoxicon, Mebel, Scabicon Emulsion, Antanil
were distributed among the flood affected people as per disease identified by the Medical Team. About 500 injured people
received first aid treatment, and cooked food was distributed among 500 flood affected people.
Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Center (BDPC) provided a one week long training on Disaster Management for 20 staff
of different level, which was organized by BEES in October 2005. After attending that training course trained staffs were
more confident to challenge the disaster in future.

5.12 NGO Network/Partnership Program

BEES started NGO network program since September 2004. Under this program BEES organized discussion meetings, need
based training and workshop with a total of 130 NGOs representatives in Gazipur, Kishoregonj, Mymensingh, Jamalpur,
Sherpur, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalgonj, Bogra and Gaibandha district. BEES has been implementing Social Assistance
Program (SAP), a World Bank (WB) supported project in Gaibandha district since January 2005 with the association of two
local NGOs namely Community Development Program (CDP) and UDDYOG. Though BEES has a capacity to undertake
and implement any program/project at anywhere of Bangladesh yet the organization believes that NGO network
program/NGO partnership is a new intervention to achieve good result in the field of development. That's why BEES
started local NGO network program basically for two reasons (a) they are locally established and best known to the people,
understand their problems and can provide continuous support when donor/government support is pulled out (b) cost of
service delivery is much less than large & national NGOs. In near future, BEES has a strategic plan to expand partnership
program activities in Bogra, Gaibandha, Faridpur, Gopalgonj and Madaripur districts for implementing Non-formal
training education in association with local NGOs.

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BEES 04-05

cc

hapter--6

SUPPORT
PROGRAM

6.1 Training
Training is indiscernible for developing one's occupational skills
and knowledge to contribute more in his/her functional areas.
Realizing this fact BEES incorporated training activities as an
integral part in all its programs.
BEES generally provides two types of training, which are human
resources development training (HRD) and occupational skills
development (OSD) training. After the need assessment BEES

20,000

19,367

Training Receiving S tatus S taff and Beneficiaries

20000
15000

5000
0

Staff

1300

1179

10000

Achie ve me nt
Targe t

Be ne ficiarie s

develop and formulate need based training modules, curriculum

and other training materials and tools to conduct different types
of training courses for respective employees as well as target
beneficiaries. Training courses are designed in such a way so that
the trainees can find similarities between the room experience and
practical field. Individual persons can get opportunity to share
their experiences, ideas, opinions due to open discussion in the
training session using the participatory approach.

6.1.1 Achievement
A total of 19,367 target beneficiaries received training against the
annual target of 20,000 i.e. more than 96% achievement during the
reporting period. Among the recipients 90% were female and 10%
were male. Among them a total of 7,346 beneficiaries were
provided a tailored training on gender issues by ADIP and SAIP
project with the financial support of IFAD. A total of 968 training
courses were organized on different topics like group dynamic &
leadership development, micro-enterprise management, basic
health & nutrition education, home gardening, HIV/AIDS
prevention, vegetables cultivation, livestock and poultry rearing,
gender development, social mobilization, advocacy on WatSan,
hygiene, dowry, good governance, human rights & laws etc. for
the target beneficiaries. The courses were conducted by BEES
resource persons and also hiring outside trainers from different
training institutes and government departments.
In regards to development of respective staffs BEES organized
different training program. A total of 1,179 staffs of different
program/project of BEES received different types of training
against the target of 1,300 making the achievement of 90%.

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BEES 04-05

About 57 newly recruited Field Organizers (FOs), 71 existing

FOs received the orientation training on micro-finance, basic
training on micro-finance and refresher's training on microcredit management.
On the other hand, 36 UMs/AM, 3 UM/AMs and 49 FOs/UMs
received refresher's training on supervision & monitoring,
accounting management and vegetables production technology
respectively. Besides, 84 core and field staff of SAP project
received orientation training on social assistance program (SAP)
& PRA, human development and leadership training, advocacy
on SAP issues, report cards, human rights and laws and various
IGAs. Besides these, 14 Upazila Managers & 44 Field
Supervisors received special training on IPCS facilitation &
mother support and one Program Manager received training on
training management, and 275 CNO/CNPs received training on
interpersonal communication. Apart from these, a total of 89 field organizers, 44 Unit
Managers, 16 Area Managers received training on gender and development from the
training cell of BEES. The training was conducted by professional trainers of BEES and
external resource persons from private sectors.

6. 2 Information and Development Communication

Information and Development Communication (IDC) cell performed comprehensively
with a view to ensuring social mobilization, lobbying, networking and utilization of multi
channel media through behavioral change communication (BCC) and advocacy during the
period of 2004-2005. IDC cell utilized the optimum effort to transfer the ideas, messages,
skills, information to the target beneficiaries and to change their attitudes and practices by
way of fruitful documentation and dissemination activities.
The IDC cell prepares operational guidelines/manuals, publish annual report,
organizational brochure, month planner, publish quarterly newsletter 'Mathcitra',
purchase & collect magazines, reports, development related books, promotional materials,
script writing for organizing popular theatre, develop photo-bank, collaborate with massmedia, continue inter-agency collaboration, prepare communication materials and other
necessary printing materials etc.

6.2.1 Achievement
During the reference period IDC cell published the Annual Report 2003-2004 which
reflects the overall contribution of the organization through different project/ program/
components. This report focuses on target versus achievement on the activities of different
projects/ programs according to respective plans.
This cell published Desk Calendar 2005 as an advocacy and BCC material containing
month planner, exclusive messages and photos highlighting its projects and programs.
The calendars were distributed to national, international agencies, UN bodies and other
govt., non-govt., stakeholders.
IDC cell published wall calendar 2005 highlighting the program activities through colorful
photographs as well. A total of four issues of Newsletter entitled "Mathchitra", Advocacy
Manual on Social Assistance Program (SAP-II), posters on 15 different issues of SAP-II,
flyer-sticker-handbill/leaflet on SAP etc. were published by IDC cell in the last year.
IDC cell prepared the script of popular theatre for Social Assistance Program (SAP-II)
highlighting its objectives and key issues to make aware the community people on health
& sanitation, nutrition, child education, women rights, good governance etc. The cell
reprinted 1,000 copies of the Text Book entitled "Kisholay Path (Shishu Bhag)" for
education program of BEES during the reporting year.
Under inter-agency collaboration activities, the concerned personnel of cell participated in
different national and international meetings, seminars and workshops arranged by the
government, non-government and UN agencies during the reporting period with a view
to strengthen the relationship for alliance with them.

BEES 04-05

49

6.3 Research, Evaluation and Monitoring

Without Research, Monitoring and Evaluation a project/ program or an organization can not perform its activities
smoothly to attain the goal. From this realization BEES incorporated the research activities from the very beginning of its
inception. It launched the formal Research, Evaluation and Monitoring (REM) cell in 1997. This cell was involved in various
development aspects including poverty alleviation, socio-economic development, agriculture, nutrition, health, population,
education, environment, gender and related fields.
The REM cell conducts research/study on socio-economic & demographic aspects, conduct baseline survey on different
issues, carry out physical monitoring and computerized monitoring, prepare semi-annual and annual progress activity
report, prepare organizational work plan, conduct case-study etc.

6.3.1 Achievement
During the reporting period REM cell of BEES was involved with the following activities:

Prepare annual progress report

Provide assistance to finalize the 'KULSUM' a collections of case studies regarding the successful beneficiaries of the
organization

Prepare inception report of SAP

Prepare quarterly performance reports of different sectors like National Nutrition Project( NNP) under the health
sector, Social Assistance Program (SAP-II)

Conduct several field trips

Share the learning from field with the respective person and with other stakeholders

Findings from REM cell are shared with different stakeholders like internal management, donors, field staffs and policy
makers so that they can contribute more towards achieving the goal. Research findings are disseminated through different
documents like annual progress reports, inception reports, impact assessment report, case studies, different survey reports
etc. Research unit prepares the report based on the data of different sub sectors and directly contacting with field staff and
project/program beneficiaries. The qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed with pre-set target in preparing the
annual or progress report. Different constraints, successes were brought up in the reports which were observed during
implementation of on going projects/programs.

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BEES 04-05

cc

hapter- 7

FUTURE
DIRECTION

7.1 Sisimpur Program

BEES incorporated the Sisimpur program to enhance
intellectuality and confidence of pre-school aged children (3+ to
<6 years) under formal education along with its other
development activities.
This program will help to strengthen basic reading, writing,
computing and analytical thinking skills and introduce idea of
reading associates so that the children can increase their skills by
learning from each other. Children will learn their lessons in a
joyful environment under this program. Books and
supplementary teaching materials will be distributed among the
teachers/students. Training will be provided to teachers and field
level implementers to use these materials effectively to support
the children's learning. School management committees and local
parent-teacher associations will be formed under the program.
Family and community support also will be mobilized through
these committees for quality learning.
BEES primarily selected Gaibandha, Bogra, Faridpur, Madaripur
and Gopalgonj districts to operate the program. BEES selected
those areas as its health interventions have been there for a long
time and most of the beneficiaries are female and children.
Therefore, BEES has a scope to operate its activities more
efficiently. BEES planned to establish 300 centers to run this
program within the selected districts. There will be 30 learners
and one teacher in each center.
Nayantara Communication is an NGO which extends services to
other NGOs to develop teaching materials and facilitate the
stakeholders to run the Sismpur program. BEES already engaged
Nayantara Communication to develop relevant materials and to
provide training to the teachers and field level implementers.

7.2 Women Rights and Gender Equality

Program
The people are living in a patriarchal society where female's view
and decision are always controlled by male. Women in
Bangladesh respect and cherish their family as the highest priority
of their life. But they still suffer from violence and economic
deprivation. Due to lack of economic inabilities, power exercises
and other social & political factors, women are yet to receive
justice and equal attention from the society and family.
Considering the present situation, the scenario of family
violence, BEES intents to launch awareness raising programs on
'violence against women', 'steps to be taken to prevent women
and girl abuse' etc. This program will intervene as part of
integrated development project as pilot basis in one particular
area under the district of Mymensingh. To reach the goal, BEES
will be implementing necessary advocacy programs for
injecting the idea of having good understanding, positive
attitude and respect between husband and wife. The advocacy
programs will be implemented on few families by forming peer
groups. BEES hopes this group will be the role model in the
society to bring harmony and happiness in the family as well as
the community.
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BEES 04-05

7.3 Establish a Training Center

BEES promotes substantial cooperation in all strata of development, including rural and
urban institutions building, awareness raising, resource & social mobilization, human
development & leadership, basic education, creation of economic base for beneficiaries,
human resource development training, occupational staff training, nutrition, general
health, MCH-FP and reproductive health services, agro based technology transfer, poultry
& livestock development, good governance and legal aid services and other support
services.
BEES expanded its developmental initiatives in 2465 villages of 72 upazilas under 29
districts, and continuing support to more than 18 lac rural and urban poor people
preferably women and children. In order to upgrading the staff's skills and knowledge on
different innovation, new technology & practices and other related experience in the
development field, BEES provides training to them. It also provides training to the
beneficiaries on social, economical and environmental issues to enhance their knowledge
and skills as they can contribute to implement the project activities in effective way for
enhancing their socio economic status.
At present more than 2,250 staff are working in BEES. This number is gradually increasing
every year with the expansion of micro credit program and other development programs
/ projects undertaken by BEES. Different project staff (short / long term) received
trainings as per need of the project. Besides, regular trainings were arranged round the
year for the project beneficiaries to facilitate them to implement their learning in practical
field confidently. BEES has a few small training venues which are not fully equipped to
conduct the training program to its large fleet of staff and beneficiaries. At present, it has
to depend on rented venues which usually lack training environment, proper training
equipment and residential arrangements. BEES feels urgent need its own training complex
to ensure quality training, save money and to earn money to cover the operation cost
partially/ gradually fully by renting the venue to other organizations.
BEES management planned to establish a
training center in Gazipur area in
organization's own purchased land
immediately. The location is only 38 miles
away from Dhaka. It will be feasible to
arrange training for staff as well as
beneficiaries with least cost and it will also
be attractive for other organizations to
arrange their training as its located is
convenient from any place in the country.
Followings are the major objectives to
establish a training center of BEES:

Ensure improved training facilities

with
well-equipped
training
environment

Arrange regular training to staff of

BEES to enhance their knowledge and
skills and to beneficiaries to improve their level of knowledge and skill for improving
their livelihood.

Ensure venue and accommodation for training, workshop, conference and discussion
meeting organized by other organizations (NGOs, private and Govt. sector) along
with other facilities/

Utilize the centre properly conducting tailored training/ special training for local
NGOs, CBOs and other stakeholders for improving their capacity.

BEES now has not sufficient fund to invest in construction of a training centre. So BEES is
continuing dialogue with Government of Japan and other donor agencies to negotiate for
getting grant to establish training centre in Gazipur. It is expected that upon getting
positive response from donors, a quick action will be taken by BEES to equip the proposed
training centre.
BEES 04-05

53

7.4 Integrated Pilot Program

BEES has a dream to initiate a comprehensive pilot program which will address Education, Health, Agriculture & Forestry,
Poultry and Livestock area to improve the livelihood status of rural poor preferring the tribal population. Primarily BEES
has thought to work in four upazilas under Mymensingh district. Considering the poverty level, Mymensingh is an area
where huge populations belongs to poor category including the tribal called 'mandi (Garo)' who are neglected, deprived
and destitute in the society. BEES will start the activities of pilot program immediately. Initially it will operate this program
by its own fund and besides, it will also seek fund from interested donor agencies.
Specific objectives of the program:

Z
Z

Provide support to the tribal and other rural poor people of Mymensingh district

Provide the services for sustainable improvement of nutritional health of the people especially poor women and
children

Obtain better quality of agricultural production and establishment of sustainable environmental and ecological
protection

Provide technical assistance to increase income and nutritional enhancement of the target beneficiaries and agricultural
resource development of the country

Ensure occupational skill training and micro credit support for their employment

Extend assistance to the national efforts to achieve universal primary education and establish an illiteracy free society
in the country

8.0 Resource Mobilization

Proper utilization of resources is the vital part for sustainable development of a society, it's also very essential to be
sustained for an organization. BEES always considers these things and progress accordingly. It utilizes its human and
financial resources in such a way as optimum outputs can be attained. BEES ensure good governance for ensuring the
sustainable development. It is always cautious for preparing and implementing the realistic strategy.
BEES always recruits right people for the right position, and provides clear job description mentioning the specific roles
and responsibilities. To enhance their professional skills BEES provides formal training and on job training to its employees.
Organizational sustainability is the major goal of BEES. For achieving sustainability, it is marching forward with confidence.
The organization has now been able to reduce its financial dependency on donors to a great extent. Service charges earned
from revolving loan fund are contributing to BEES to become self-reliant. Moreover by reducing overhead cost and making
the programs/ projects more cost effective through decentralization and delegation of works among the staff members has
played a vital role to gain its organizational viability and becoming self-reliant organization gradually and smoothly.
54

BEES 04-05

BEES (BANGLADESH EXTENSION EDUCATION SERVICES)

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30TH JUNE,2005
2004-2005

2003-2004

Auditor: S. F. Ahmed & Co. Chartered Accountants, Dhaka.

Auditor: J. R. C & Co. Chartered Accountants, Dhaka. Govt. Auditor.
(Auditor's appointed for different Fund.)

BEES 04-05

55

BEES (BANGLADESH EXTENSION EDUCATION SERVICES)

INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 2005

PARTICULARS

2004-2005
Taka

2003-2004
Taka

INCOME
Donation received:a) ADIP,SAIP,HIV/AIDS,PLCEHD, SAP, HKI

6,624,265

3,521,623

69,270,396

18,026,490

Group Members' Admission & Renewal Fees

368,370

318,670

Sales of Pass book,forms, etc.

938,205

542,113

1,524,224

1,895,882

44,355,856

36,428,434

62,248

54,164

3,821,256

1,321,783

314,199

230,074

Project Income

5,252,879

1,858,913

Training Income

1,366,680

Reimbursment

3,038,636

b) NNP

Miscellaneous Income
Service Charges
Bank Interest
Management Cost
House Rent Income

Interest on DMRI

78,820

Interest on DMFI

736

Interest on FDR

15,511

531,422

366,147

137,548,192

64,579,804

34,674,363

23,000,924

Travelling, Conveyance and Allowances

2,785,940

1,476,215

Office Rent

2,917,930

3,155,438

Office Supplies

1,861,115

1,647,491

Utilities

597,860

613,938

Telephone,Telex, Fax, Internet etc.

546,724

581,939

Running of Vehicle

911,738

855,130

Repair & Maintenance

277,230

304,982

Vehicle Maintenance

241,349

477,743

Consultancy Fees

141,100

326,944

86,514

317,634

Bank Charges

317,062

162,999

Entertainment

234,985

222,017

Audit Fees

180,000

150,000

1,040,873

253,220

Training Expenses(NNP)

22,539,235

7,857,259

Vehicle Registration fees

15,291

15,400

Interest on BSRF

48,000

48,000

1,483,709

1,505,430

252,000

329,761

Total
EXPENDITURE
Salaries and Benefits

Meeting & Seminer, Workshop

Misc. Expenses

Interest on Borrowing (P.F, Gratuity)

Interest on Individual loan
SAP Expenses
56

BEES 04-05

5,000,000

BEES (BANGLADESH EXTENSION EDUCATION SERVICES)

INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 2005
PARTICULARS
Group Savings Interest
Contribution to FSP
Contribution to ILO US DOL
Sonali Bank Service Charge
PKSF Service Charge
Bangladesh Bank Service Charge
Service Charge Remission
Loss on Discard (Fixed Assets)
Income Tax
Postage &Telegram
Cleaning & Washing
Casual labour
PLCEHD Expenses
Nutritions Expenses
Administrative and Logistic support(NNP)
HIV/AIDS Expenses
HKI Expenses
SAIP Expenses
Bag Purchases
ILO US. DOL. Expenses
Land revenue
Legal Fees
Carrying Charge
Hotel Rent
5%Service Charge to GDF
Contribution to SAP
Tsunami Contribution
Provident Fund Contribution
Gratuity Contribution
DMRE
DMFE
Advertisement
Jamalpur Expenses
Relief operation
Depreciation
Total
Surplus/(Deficit)

2004-2005
Taka
3,881,869

981,830
3,388,735
19,643
274,244
134,759
10,745
35,959
4,576
187,467
36,379,374
539,265
1,100,000

2003-2004
Taka
3,438,786
300,000
2,505
440,458
1,006,850
25,774
60,088
13,358
77,239
24,474
41,701
49,540
571,563
1,300
1,031,075

11,225
120,000
1,320,373
18,400

287,805

1,700
4,600
22,239
3,051,023

233,623
100,000
891,103
1,290,875
2,808,068
143,571
163,908
86,969
159,474
417,754
129,813,034

818,644
1,353,078
601,682
3,092
36,550
91,204
18,140
485,434
58,206,159

7,735,158

6,373,645

Auditor: S. F. Ahmed & Co. Chartered Accountants, Dhaka.

Auditor: J. R. C & Co. Chartered Accountants, Dhaka.
Govt. Auditor. (Auditor's appointed for different Fund.)

BEES 04-05

57