A Technical Proposal for services to support community mobilization and related project activities in Khagrachari District of Education Cluster under UNDP-CHTDF.
DELIVERY ARRANGEMENT
Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha (TUS) and Borgang Foundation have formally signed up to a double partite partnership to take forward this project. TUS will be played as lead organization.
Benefits of a Partnership Approach
§ Shared resources
§ Strengthened capacity
§ Shared responsibility/risk
§ Ability to cover a larger geographic area
§ Opportunity to offer a package of services
§ Improved accountability and transparency
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
Project Management Board
A Project Management Board (PMB) will be established to ensure transparency, accountability and effective management. Membership will include the Executive Directors of TUS and BORGANG FOUNDATION, a selected representative from the Executive Committee of each partner organization, the District Project Coordinator. District Project Coordinator will be the focal point for all project activities.
Project Management Team
A Project Management Team will be established to review project activities and will include all staffs.
1.1.0 ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND
Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha (TUS) is established in 1997 by a group of dedicated social activists, with a vision of establishing a society based on the values of social justice, equality and freedom where all people have full and effective participation in the development process. With this vision, TUS successfully has completed more than one decade of its existence as a non-profit and non-political organisation, working in the development sector of Bangladesh. During its years of work, TUS has undertaken various activities to assist the disadvantaged and marginalised communities of the country, especially the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and Khagrachari Hill District. In carrying out its work, TUS has adopts a range of strategies such as building community-level organisations and institutions; awareness raising and skills development trainings; dialogues and meetings; the provision of health services including water and sanitation; the maximisation of economic options and livelihood opportunities; the introduction of new and appropriate technologies; and the development of socio-economic and communication infrastructure.
1.1.1 VISION
A society based on the values of justice, equity and freedom, where disadvantaged and marginalised people have full and effective participation in all stages of the development process.
1.1.2 MISSION
To build up the capacity of grassroots communities, especially the disadvantaged and marginalised sections of people in the CHT, towards improving their livelihoods and addressing other socio-economic development issues in a participatory approach.
1.1.4 LEGAL STATUS
TUS registered with the Department of Social services and NGO Affairs Bureau, Government of Bangladesh bearing registration Nos:
a) The Department of Social Services, Vide No.- Khagra -137/98; and
b) The NGO Affairs Bureau, Government of Bangladesh, Vide no.1860, dated 23/07/2003
1.1.5 STRATEGIC AREAS:
TUS main strategic areas are given below:
- Education and Good governance
- Community Empowerment and Livelihoods,
- Health including Water Supply and Sanitation,
- Natural Resources Management
1.2.0 FINANCIAL STRENGTH AND ITS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The financial turnover capacity of Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha (TUS) for the last two years was as below;
- Financial Year July 2007- June 2008, BDT 11,247,678.99
- Financial Year July 2005- June 2007, BDT 14,849,873.00
1.2.1FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha follows its own financial management policy, called ‘the Financial Management Rules of Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha 2006’ which had been approved at the annual general meeting (AGM) held on December 08, 2006. This Financial Management Rules has been adopted by the TUS General Council under the Article-10 of its Constitution in order to ensure sound financial management system of the organisation by keeping books of accounts and records according to the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and to have a sound internal controlling and financial reporting system. All financial transactions, book keeping, and reporting of the organisation are done following this Financial Management Rules.
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1.2.2 FUND OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE
Fund disbursement schedule is followed as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with donor(s) or organisational rules, if, not mentioned otherwise. The following are some procedures set in the TUS financial management rules for funds operation:
1.2.3 BANK ACCOUNT OPERATION
i. Bank Account: All foreign donations shall be received only in one bank account as per the rules of the NGO Affairs Bureau of the Government. This account shall be considered as mother account. However, for the convenience of keeping the books of accounts, a separate bank account shall be opened against individual project and all fund/money shall be transferred from that account to the project account.
ii. Bank signatory: As per the provision of the Constitution, all bank accounts shall be operated with the joint signatures of the concerned officials (Chairperson, General Secretary and Treasurer). However, cash can be withdrawn from the bank with the joint signatures of any two of three of them.
iii. A Cheque signatory must not prepare Cheques and vouchers.
iv. Cash receipts must be deposited into bank account immediately after the receipt. If cash is received after the banking hours it must be deposited within the next banking day.
v. In the end of every month a bank reconciliation statement shall be prepared, if required.
vi. All passbooks, cheques and other relevant documents shall be kept in safe place by the Accountant or authorised person.
vii. There should not be any cutting or overwriting in the cheque. If necessary, the cheque with cutting or overwriting shall be cancelled by marking CANCELLED, but it shall be preserved in the Cheque book as it is.
viii. Money receipt/acknowledgement letter: For any fund receipt from local/foreign donor, a money receipt or an acknowledgement letter shall be issued in the organization’s letter head pad or a standard format as applicable. As early as possible, the fund is to be deposited into the proper Bank account in bank deposit slip and after the deposit, a Bank credit/transfer voucher with proper information/Bank advice has to be made.
1.3.0 EXPERIENCES IN SUPPORTING COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATION PROJECTS, AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THE FORMAL PRIMARY EDUCATION SYSTEM
Skills and Experience
Overall Institutional Capacity of the Consortium
Each organization will bring different skills and experience to the partnership. The average organizational years of experience to the relevant subproject component of this proposal between 5-7 years. Table 1 below summarizes the institutional capacity of the consortium.
Table 1: Summary of the Institutional Capacity of the Consortium
TUS | TUS has experience in implementing a community based non formal primary education program in Matiranga Upazila, Laxmichari upazila since 2000. The program focused on increasing education opportunities for the children and community mobilization to ensure quality of education. TUS also have experienced resource person in education. |
BORGANG FOUNDATION | BORGANG has experience about 7 years in implementing education program and has been implementing educational activities in Pachari, Khagrachari Sadar and Dighinala Upazila since 2004. The program focuses on community based basic education services including formal and non formal primary education and followed formal primary education system. There is a pool of trainer for SMC, MG, PTA and teachers training. Furthermore, it has involved with Global school Partnership. |
For more information, please refer to Annex 2: NGO Profiles
Since its establishment in 1997 TUS has been engaged in community mobilization and community development in CHT, particularly in Khagrachari Hill District.
1.4.0 EXPERIENCES AND PRESENCE IN RESPECTIVE UPAZILAS
PANCHARI UPAZILA
BORGANG FOUNDATION has been working Non Formal Primary Education Project since 2007. The main purpose of this project is to increase to education for the unreachable children in the remote area. It is a BRAC funded project and Borgang Foundation is implementing this project in the remote areas of Panchari upazila. The target groups are school going age children, teachers, parents who do not have access to education in the remote areas.
TUS has wide working experience in Panchari Upazila. Since its establishment in 1997 it has been working on community mobilization, hygiene education, and natural resource management activities in Panchari Upazila. Community Development project since July, 2005 by the support of Bangladesh Government. Under this project it has constructed school building, literacy center, irrigation drain, school sanitation programme through community mobilization and worked with SMC. Community Managed Water Supply and Sanitation Project has been implementing since 2009 by the support of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Project. TUS provided two types of support, software support provide through community mobilization and hardware support provide through equipments supply and technical assistance. Community Action on Natural Resource Management for Decent Living (CANDL) has been implementing since 2008 by the support of Manusher Jonno Foundation.The nature of activities are Community Mobilization, Income generating activities and technology transfer.
MATIRANGA UPAZILA
In Matiranga upazila, TUS has wide experience on community mobilization activities and educational activities. It has been implemented Non Formal Primary Education Project from 2000 to 2003 by the support of BRAC, In this project, it was formed SMC, MG and PTA to support the quality of education. Community Health Development Programme supported by Human Rights and Good Governance Support Unit (HRGG-PSU) of DANIDA for the period from 01 August 2003 – 31 July 2005. The project was implemented in Washu Mouza covering 10 Paras (village) of Matiranga Upazilla and has been implementing Community Development project since July, 2005 by the support of Bangladesh Government. Under this project it has constructed school building, literacy center, irrigation drain, school sanitation programme through community mobilization. Especially for school building construction have worked with SMC.
MAHALCHARI UPAZILA
In Mahalchari Upazila TUS has been implementing project namely ‘Preparation and Facilitation of socio-economic and Engineering Activities in 10 unions in two upazilas (Khagrachri Sadar and Mohalchri) in Khagrachari district. The project started from October 2010 by the support of Bangladesh Government and DANIDA. Nature of the project activities are community mobilization and hardware support. The target groups are community based organizations- Para Development Committee, Cultural Club and library, Traditional institutions-Karbari, Headman and Circle Chief, Primary School programme – students, teacher, SMC, PTA and MG.
LAXMICHARI UPAZILA
In Laxmichari upazila, TUS has implemented Community Development Project by the support of Bangladesh Government since 2005. It has constructed 7 community school building through mobilizing School Management Committee (SMC). SMC has contributed 10% from the total amount of budget.
1.5.0 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH CHTDF, UNDP
Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha (TUS) have about 6(six) working experiences with CHTDF, UNDP. In 2004, TUS implemented Resources Data Base Directory and Best Practices Project in Khagrachari District and since 2005, it has been implementing community empowerment project in Khagrachari Sadar Upazila. The details information is given below;
Community Empowerment Project (CEP)
Since 2005 TUS has been engaged with Community Empowerment/ Development project in partnership with UNDP-CHTDF. Since then, it has been facilitating Para communities to implement integrated community development projects in 165 Paras (out of total 255 Paras) under five Unions - Khagrachari, Kamalchari, Golabari, Perachara and Bhaibonchara of Khagrachri Sadar Upazila. Considering the local context of Khagrachari, TUS gives emphasis on certain areas such as community institution building like formation of Para Development Committee (PDC), and capacity building of community people towards community empowerment. To this end, it mobilises communities under a representative body – PDC which is constituted with cross section of people including women and youths. Under the leadership of PDC, community people undertake development programs and the community action plan (CAP) for the village. With regards to planning and designing of projects, TUS provides the PDCs with technical supports, and facilitates them accessing extension supports from the government line departments. At the same time, it provides capacity building trainings to PDCs and target beneficiaries on specific areas such as gender, PDC management, and poverty and development.
While implementing CAPs and other community projects, TUS plays a facilitative role in terms of preparing implementation schedules and on-going monitoring plans by the PDCs. With Quick Impact Fund (QIF) of maximum Tk. 400,000, every PDC prepares a proposal, while a PNDG (Para Nari Development Group) can do a proposal with a maximum amount of Tk. 200,000. During whole circle of QIF (as shown in the box below) TUS as a PNGO has to active play along with other facilitating agencies.
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PDC (Project Proposal) » UzST (Technical Feasibility) » UnFC (Project approval) » PNGO (screening and recommendations) » Upazila/District UNDP Office (processing for QIF) » Approval Committee of UNDP-Rangamati Office (finally approves QIF) » QIF transferred to PDC. |
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Throughout the implementation period of QIF supported projects by the PDCs, TUS facilitates building linkages between service providers like the offices of Upazila line departments and communities by organisiing information-sharing workshops, and exposure visits. It also organises skill-based trainings at community level on agricultural and livelihoods-related topics including fertilizer management, cow and goat rearing, fish culture, nursery management and horticulture.
In addition, under the CEP framework, TUS plays roles in ensuring transparency, accountability and responsiveness of PDCs through close cooperation with them. For this purpose, it assists PDCs organising regular coordination meetings between PDCs and community people. To enhance PDCs capacity it provides training on PDC management, financial management/book keeping, minutes and record keeping. It also works to develop the capacity of local elected and community leaders and encourage them to play their roles and responsibilities for community development.
Resources Data Base Directory and Best Practices Project
TUS successfully implemented project namely ‘Resources Data Base Directory and Best Practices’ with partnership UNDP CHTDF in eight upazilas of Khagrachari district from June 2004 to February 2005. TUS was responsible for collecting information from the best practitioner in Khagrachari district to prepare a best practices hand book.
1.6.0 NUMBER OF YEARS IN BUSINESS
TUS have been involved in business about 14 years since its establishment in 1997. It has been engaged in community development through community mobilization in CHT, particularly in Khagrachari Hill District. For the last five years it has been working in eights upazilas including Khagrachari Sadar, Dighinala, Matiranga, Panchari and Laxmichari Upazilla in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), national NGOs, and international development agencies such as CHTDF UNDP and DANIDA, AIPP-Thailand, EED-Germany, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Tebteba Foundation-Philippines, UNVF, ICIMOD, MISSERIOR-Germany and Asian Development Bank .
TUS has gained experiences of implementing Community Mobilization activities in partnership with both GoB and NGOs/international agencies on one hand, it has enhanced its technical capacity about capacity building trainings and workshops for the community people as well as staff members; conducting community needs assessment; developing curriculum and training materials and course evaluation, on the other. To ensure community participation in different stages of development projects, TUS already has gained specialized knowledge on application of participatory approaches/tools such as Technology of Participation (TOP), Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)/(PLA), and Community Planning and SWOT analysis. Hence, over the years through the ‘learning by doing approach’ TUS has gained wide experiences in community development practices and it has been efficiently implementing integrated community development programs including Basic Education in CHT.
Furthermore, Borgang Foundation has about 7 years working experience in formal and non formal primary education since its establishment of 2004. It has been implementing a Formal Primary School namely Sunflower Institute since 2004. It has enrolled 112 numbers of students. This is a joint effort project with the communities namely Sunflower Institute initiated by the Borgang Foundation. This project aims at providing quality education to the upcoming new generation. In order to keep quality education available for the community, this school is established in the sadar town of Khagarchari district and the school will gradually be promoted up to High School in the coming years.
