Sustainable Agriculture and Production Linked to Improved Nutrition Status, Resilience and Gender Equity (SAPLING) Quarterly Performance Report April to June 2020

The project is led by Helen Keller International (HKI) and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). SAPLING's goal is to increase household availability, utilization, and access to nutritious foods and income, enhance maternal and child health and nutrition, and improve resilience of families threatened by natural and human-induced shocks and stressors. SAPLING is implementing activities in the upazilas of Ruma, Bandarban Sadar, Lama, Thanchi, and Rowangchhari, targeting a population of 285,118 people from 11 minority ethnic groups and Bengalis. The project is working closely with the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In the third quarter of FY 2020, SAPLING faced unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The country initiated a lockdown, which disrupted all activities and interactions, including in Bandarban District. To address the situation, SAPLING staff began working remotely, and contact with key stakeholders and participants shifted to virtual and telephone-based support. The project was approved to redirect activities and current funding to COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures and was granted a 10-month cost extension. In response to the pandemic, SAPLING prioritized activities such as distributing a three-month supply of soap and disinfectant to public service provision points, reviewing the functionality of water supply and handwashing facilities, installing handwashing stations, and repairing water systems. The project also distributed megaphones to Red Crescent Youth volunteers and Urban Community Volunteers to disseminate COVID-19 prevention messages, produced videos for frontline staff and participants, and distributed masks and gloves to all staff. Biweekly Situation Reports on COVID-19 conditions and activities were prepared for USAID. Despite the challenging context, SAPLING was able to consolidate its union and upazila offices into eight administrative zone offices in April 2020 and initiate the phase down of programs. The project continued to support the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and improving the lives of vulnerable people in the CHT region. SAPLING's activities are designed to increase household availability, utilization, and access to nutritious foods and income, enhance maternal and child health and nutrition, and improve resilience of families threatened by natural and human-induced shocks and stressors. The project is working closely with local stakeholders, including the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, to achieve its goals and improve the lives of vulnerable people in the CHT region. The project's approach includes implementing activities such as farmer training programs, infrastructure development, and market linkage facilitation. SAPLING is also working to enhance maternal and child health and nutrition through activities such as growth monitoring and promotion, and social behavior change communication. The project's resilience-building activities include disaster risk reduction and management, and community-based disaster risk management. SAPLING's geographic focus is on the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh, which is home to 11 minority ethnic groups and Bengalis. The project's target population is 285,118 people, who are vulnerable to natural and human-induced shocks and stressors. SAPLING's activities are designed to improve the lives of these vulnerable people and help them achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The project's timeframes are from September 30, 2015, to September 29, 2020, with a five-year cooperative agreement from USAID. SAPLING's budget is supported by USAID, and the project is working closely with local stakeholders to achieve its goals and improve the lives of vulnerable people in the CHT region.