2nd Quarter Report, FY2016: Sustainable Agriculture and Production Linked to Improved Nutrition Status, Resilience and Gender Equity

The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP) and is implemented by Helen Keller International (HKI) in partnership with Caritas Bangladesh and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The project's primary objectives are to increase equitable access to income and nutritious food for both males and females, improve the nutritional status of children under five years of age, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls, and prepare institutions and households to respond effectively to shocks. To achieve these objectives, the project will implement a range of activities, including farmer training programs, infrastructure development, market linkage facilitation, and social behavior change communication. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2016, the majority of activities undertaken by the SAPLING team were administrative in nature, focusing on recruiting and on-boarding staff, negotiating the Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA), and setting up project offices in Bandarban Sadar and three satellite upazila offices. The team also developed key project documents, including the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), a revised Theory of Change (TOC), Log Frame (LF), and Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT). The SAPLING team participated in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and baseline workshops facilitated by Food for Peace (FFP) and contributed to the finalization of the baseline study to be led by a third party contracted directly by USAID. The team also contributed to the USAID-conducted resilience study and accompanied the consultant hired to conduct research on his visit to the World Vision-managed FFP program implementation area in southwestern Bangladesh. By the end of the quarter, the majority of staff recruitment processes were complete or coming to fruition, with key positions filled, including the Chief of Party, Purpose 1 manager, Purpose 2 manager, and environmental specialist. The consortium members provided brief organizational and project orientations to newly recruited staff and developed an on-boarding and technical training program for all staff, which will begin in April 2016. Although a significant level of effort was involved in drafting and negotiating the HCA, it was still not signed by the end of the reporting period, preventing the initiation of field-level activities. However, the preparatory work was well underway, and will support a quick rollout of activities as soon as the HCA is signed. The SAPLING project will focus on the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region of Bangladesh, which is one of the most vulnerable areas in the country, prone to natural and human-made disasters. The project will work with local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to implement a range of activities aimed at improving food security, nutrition, and resilience among families in the region. The project's implementation will be guided by a detailed implementation plan, which will be developed in the coming quarter. The plan will outline the specific activities, timelines, and resources required to achieve the project's objectives. The SAPLING team will work closely with local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that the project is implemented in a way that is responsive to the needs of the target population and is consistent with the project's objectives. The SAPLING project has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of families in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. By improving food security, nutrition, and resilience among families, the project can help to reduce poverty and improve overall well-being. The project's focus on gender equity and social inclusion will also help to promote more equitable and sustainable development in the region.