USAID/Bangladesh Natural Resources Management (NRM) Sector Assessment Report

The sector assessment report, prepared by ME&A, Inc. in December 2019, provides an overview of the current status of community-based co-management (CBM) in the NRM sector. The assessment objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of CBM in the NRM sector, with a focus on the enabling environment, environmental governance, and direct and indirect benefits for communities. The assessment methodology involved key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a mini-survey of USAID-funded NRM sector activities. The report highlights the evolution of the USAID NRM sector theory of change, which emphasizes the importance of community engagement and co-management in achieving sustainable natural resource management. The theory of change is supported by a range of USAID-funded activities, including the Climate-Resilience Ecosystem and Livelihoods (CREL) project, which has made significant contributions to the development of co-management organizations and the promotion of sustainable forest management practices. The assessment found that the current status of CBM in the NRM sector is characterized by a high level of community engagement and participation in co-management activities. However, the enabling environment for CBM is still evolving, and there are challenges related to environmental governance, including the need for stronger institutional capacity and more effective policy frameworks. The report highlights the importance of co-management organizations (CMOs) in promoting sustainable natural resource management in Bangladesh. CMOs are community-based organizations that support co-management in various ecosystems, and they play a critical role in promoting community engagement and participation in natural resource management. The assessment also found that CBM has direct and indirect benefits for communities, including increased income and alternative income-generating activities. The report highlights the importance of continued investment in CBM and the need for stronger institutional capacity and more effective policy frameworks to support the development of CMOs. The report provides a range of recommendations for continued investment in CBM, including the need for stronger institutional capacity and more effective policy frameworks. The recommendations also emphasize the importance of continued support for CMOs and the need for more effective monitoring and evaluation of CBM activities. Overall, the sector assessment report provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of CBM in the NRM sector in Bangladesh and highlights the importance of continued investment in this area. The report provides a range of recommendations for continued support for CBM and the development of CMOs, and it emphasizes the need for stronger institutional capacity and more effective policy frameworks to support the development of sustainable natural resource management practices in Bangladesh. The report highlights the importance of co-management in promoting sustainable natural resource management in Bangladesh. Co-management is the sharing of power and responsibility between the government and local resource users, and it is a critical component of CBM. The report emphasizes the importance of CMOs in promoting community engagement and participation in natural resource management and highlights the need for continued support for these organizations. The report highlights the importance of continued investment in CBM and the need for stronger institutional capacity and more effective policy frameworks to support the development of sustainable natural resource management practices in Bangladesh. The report emphasizes the importance of CMOs in promoting community engagement and participation in natural resource management and highlights the need for continued support for these organizations. The report highlights the importance of continued investment in CBM and the