Introduction of the organisation
Manab Mukti Sangstha (MMS) started its journey through mobilizing the people of river-basin disadvantaged community to achieve their basic needs and social rights. Side by side, contributed to relieve activities during natural disasters at the Char areas of Jamuna River in Sirajganj. Gradually, it entered in to the areas of socio-economic development addressing the issues of health, education, income generation and humanitarian services for the disaster-prone riverine community. From 2005 onward, MMS moves to upward directions with new dimensions and strengthened the process of capacity building of the grassroots. At the same time, MMS undertook the humanitarian program as one of the major interventions to address the issue of CCA-DRR. Starting in a small scale in January 1984, MMS is now entered into the wider span of development arena with a professional workforce with wider vision having high reputation and acceptance to the community and development partners. MMS works in two major areas of changes in the Char community which are; 1. Livelihood development of the vulnerable Char dwellers and 2. Capacity development of Char-basin community to cope up with the situation of “Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risks Reduction (CCADRR)”. Also provides humanitarian supports to disaster-affected people.
Manab Mukti Sangstha (MMS) is dual mandate both development and humanitarian organization working for poverty alleviation and sustainable social development and supporting the most vulnerable people who are affected by natural disaster. The organization contribute in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with high quality standard.
MMS implements the development programs with high commitments and tries to enhance the sector-wise development at the community level through implementing different types of programs. MMS considers eights sectors as the most important areas to achieve possible changes through effective program interventions which are; 1. Organizational Development and Governance, 2. Employment creation and Income Generation, 3. Women Empowerment, 4. Education, Child Rights and Child Protection, 5. Health, Nutrition and WASH, 6. Agriculture and Livestock, 7. Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risks Reduction (CCA-DRR), and 8.Humanitarian Responses.
Programmatic interventions
Resilience through Economic Empowerment, Climate Adaptation, Leadership and Learning (REE-CALL2021), The Project REE-CALL started its activities in 2010 with the financial assistance of OXFAM Bangladesh. The objective of the project is, “by 2021, more resilient women, men and institutions are building toge ther wellbeing and more inclusive and sustainable rural economy”. The project is implementing in 4 Unions (Saydabad, Rajapur, Ghorjan and Sthall) of 3 Upazila (Sirajganj Sadar, Belkuchi and Chouhali) in Sirajganj. The project completed its 1st phase (2010-2017) and the 2nd phase of “RECALL 2021” started in September 2017 which continued to June 2022. A total of 6786 households have been covered under this project.
Child Centered Climate Change Adaptation Project, Funded by: Save the Children
The impacts of climate change pose risks to children’s health, safety and survival; education; and family and individual security. However, children are not only passive victims. There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates how child-centered responses to climate change can and do contribute to building the resilience of individual children, their households and their wider community. Children have repeatedly demonstrated that they can be effective communicators of climate risks and information, including communication that leads to behaviors change. They possess unique perceptions of risks, and distinctive knowledge and experiences, and are capable of identifying and implementing viable, locally appropriate adaptation responses. However, barriers remain that can prevent children’s inclusion and full participation in community resilience-building programming. Interventions that fully integrate the whole of community including children would enhance both children’s and their communities’ resilience.
CCA project mainly focus on Climate change adaptation, Mitigation & Disaster risk reduction through inclusive engagement and empowerment of children, youth and community.
The project Goal is “The ability of children and their communities in Sirajganj communities to respond to climate change is enhanced and sustained through strengthened sub-national processes, systems and national level advocacy.”
School Feeding program (SFP), Funded By: World Food Program (WFP). This very innovative project where every day each and every students receive 70g high protein biscuits in Tiffin period. The SFP project has started in chauhali with the assistance of Bangladesh Government and WFP where around 25,283 students of primary school and Madrasha receive biscuit every day. This project highly appreciated by local government, local administration, students, parents and teachers. This project has contributed to increase daily school attendance and will cover 67% of nutrition deficiency of children who are living in char and suffering from malnutrition. The major achievement of the Project are:
- Due to COVID-19 Situation, all the schools were are full closed. During this situation the project ensured protein biscuits distribution to 25,283 students. We visited house to house and provided the protein biscuits.
- Established 34 vegetable garden at School level. We provided technical support to the students, they established the vegetable garden.
Income Generating Program (IGP) financial support of PKSF, MMS and group savings of beneficiaries we have been implementing IGP program since 1990 under Sirajgonj and Tangail district. Main focused area of the program are- Poverty reduction through employment creation; reduce gender discrimination and women empowerment. Total 44,551 families have been benefited from IGP. All the beneficiaries were organized into 2404 groups; each group was formed by 20-25 members. The project has been covering 827 villages of 97 unions under 19 upazilas of Sirajgonj, Pabna and Tangail district. Most of the beneficiaries are Poor, hardcore poor and marginal farmers. Major components are group formation, employment creation through income generation activities, savings fund creation, awareness raising and capacity building and micro-credit support for Ultra Poor Program (UPP), the Rural Micro-credit Program (RMC) and the Micro-Enterprise Loan (MEL). The IGP has been implemented 28 branch offices of the organization. The loan recovery and saving collection rate is 99.36% which is satisfactory
Monsoon Flood-2020 Response: Monsoon Flood 2020 continued for more than three weeks with heavy current that caused huge river erosions, inundated one third area of 6 Upazilas. Damaged 85 % crops in the agriculture fields, homestead vegetables, losses of household assets and stopped sources of income and disrupted mobility. Created food and fodder crisis, breakout water borne diseases, damaged muddy roads and muddy floors of the houses, stopped students’ education and consumable goods were at crisis. In this context, flood affected people were trying to cope with the situation by their won capacity. Especially, the poor people do not have any or stock of food items. So after a few days, they started selling their households assets, lend money from neighbors and goods form shopkeepers. Manab Mukti Sangsta (MMS) took initiative for supporting the most vulnerable people of flood affected areas. MMS received BDT: 1,86,20,076 from UKAid -Start Fund Bangladesh, Oxfam in Bangladesh, PKSF and Save the Children for the response. MMS reached total 30,048 people including 18,271 children.
COVID-19 Response: COVID-19 pandemic created huge vulnerabilities in Sirajganj district among all kind professions. People in this area didn’t have any option to involve in any employment during countrywide lockdown. Most of the people are day labor and fisherman in area, the poor people do not have any or stock of food items and savings for continuing their livelihood. So after a few days, they started selling their households assets, lend money from neighbors and goods form shopkeepers. Manab Mukti Sangsta (MMS) took initiative for supporting the most vulnerable people during COVID situation. MMS received BDT: 11,49,353 from SKS foundation and Oxfam in Bangladesh and BDT: 3,49,214 from individual donation for the response. MMS reached total 2586 people including 1971 children through Hygiene kits support and awareness raising initiative in the area of Chouhali and Sirajganj Sadar Upazila under Sirajganj district.
Future outlook and recommendations
- Increasing households capacity for reducing food insecurity and poverty for livelihood and economic development
- Empowering the women for reducing Gender discrimination and bring Gender equality
- Protecting women and children, specially girls from any kind of violence and reducing Gender Based Violence (GBV)
- Improve health and nutritional status of Mother and Child, improve WASH facilities including hygiene promotion and Sensitizing the community on COVID-19.
- Improve quality Education in formal and non-formal education institute.
- Supporting the most vulnerable families who are affected by disaster
- Establishing a climate resilience environment in the community for adopting the climate effects
- Sensitizing the high way drivers for safe driving and safe road
- Increasing organizational capacity and development and improve Governance system
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