Sustainable Agriculture and Production Linked to Improved Nutrition Status, Resilience and Gender Equity (SAPLING) Quarterly Performance Report January-March 2019

The initiative 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 who are under constant threat of natural and human-induced shocks and stressors. SAPLING is implementing activities in the upazilas (subdistricts) of Ruma, Bandarban Sadar, Lama, Thanchi, and Rowangchhari, targeting a population of 280,792 people from 11 minority ethnic groups and Bengalis. The initiative is working with the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In the second quarter of 2019, SAPLING continued to focus on strengthening the capacity of frontline staff through bi-monthly targeted refresher sessions and learning and sharing meetings with community health service workers. Early Childhood Development (ECD) messages and activities were incorporated into the courtyard session curriculum for pregnant and lactating women, and a training of facilitators was conducted with master trainers. Integrated Enhanced Homestead Food Production (IEHFP) sessions involved pilot testing and beginning the roll out of visioning exercises to create household activity plans. Households made pictorial productive diagrams detailing what they wanted their future gardens and livestock rearing to include and identified constraints to achieving their goals. Completion of the plans is a requirement of the conditional cash transfer (CCT). To increase local human capital as part of the sustainability strategy of homestead food production, vegetative propagation training was provided to Learning Center Leaders (LCL). This training enables them to produce seeds and saplings for future harvests and support their group members in uptake of these improved agricultural techniques. Similarly, establishment of vermicompost in learning centers (LC) continued. Income generating activity (IGA) participants initiated business plan development training to identify markets, competition, and risks, and estimate resources needs, production targets, and sales. Consistent with the Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) recommendation, each participant will receive a one-time CCT to support implementation of their plans once completed. Technical and business training was provided for 11 ring slab producers in the "plainlands" and 26 grocers in the highlands. Additionally, papaya saplings were distributed to the remainder of papaya IGA participants, two lead coffee producers were provided with de-pulping machines to support the post-harvest processing needs of the coffee producers in their areas, and training began with mini-poultry hatchery owners. A linkage event was also held for weavers with buyers, input suppliers, the Bandarban Women's Chamber of Commerce, and Rowangchhari Cooperative Samity. SAPLING continued to focus on strengthening the capacity of frontline staff, conducting bi-monthly targeted refresher sessions and learning and sharing meetings with community health service workers. Early Childhood Development (ECD) messages and activities were incorporated into the courtyard session curriculum for pregnant and lactating women, and a training of facilitators was conducted with master trainers. The initiative also continued to support the establishment of vermicompost in learning centers (LC) and provided training to Learning Center Leaders (LCL) on vegetative propagation. The SAPLING initiative is working to improve the lives of vulnerable people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region of Bangladesh by increasing household availability, utilization, and access to nutritious foods and income, enhancing maternal and child health and nutrition, and improving resilience of families who are under constant threat of natural and human-induced shocks and stressors. The initiative is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is led by Helen Keller International (HKI).