Dear reader,
Hunger cannot wait, not even in the times of pandemics. This is why the Prosperity project has started delivering services at the doorsteps of the extreme poor people, although on a limited scale because of the Covid-19 restrictions.
This has been possible thanks to the virtual platform we created to establish contacts with our partner organisations and, more importantly, the EP households. During the ‘lockdown’, the Project Implementation Unit of PKSF mobilised the PO staff through regular training and meetings on virtual platforms. Thus rejuvenated, our POs set up nearly 200 Prosperity branches across our 15 working districts over the last two months to serve the target EP households.
While this has created a renewed momentum, our free potable water distribution programme for the Cyclone Amphan victims in Satkhira has also gathered pace. Going forward, we plan to roll out the programme activities in full swing in the coming months, as we completed the Inception Phase of the project along with the piloting.
Thank you and stay safe.

Sincerely,
AQM Golam Mawla
Deputy Managing Director, PKSF
Project Director, Prosperity, PKSF

Update on Programme Activities

A signboard showing a branch office of a Prosperity project's Partner Organisation (PO) Grameen Jano Unnayan Sangstha (GJUS) in the Southern district of Bhola.

Prosperity branches established to start the field activities

Prosperity partner organisations have started setting up branches in their working areas to start delivering livelihoods, nutrition and other services to some one million extremely poor people in 15 lagging districts of Bangladesh.
So far, nine partner organisations working in the piloting areas have set up 13 branches – four units and nine subunits – to take the programme interventions to the doorstep of the extremely poor people.
The process to set up another 175 branches (70 units and 105 subunits) is underway, and is expected to be completed by July 2020. Partner organisations in those areas will then start the extreme poor household selection process for the main Implementation Phase in the four Prosperity regions.
Read the full story here.

A snapshot of the virtual orientation organised for the staff of Partner Organisations (POs) for capacity building and programme activities.

The capacity building continues using the virtual platforms

The ongoing restrictions to contain the spread the coronavirus is challenging the poverty reduction efforts globally. So naturally, the ‘general holiday’ announced by the Bangladesh government in late March affected our field activities for about two months. Nevertheless, the Team Prosperity was operational throughout the ‘lockdown’ period, by establishing contacts with all the 19 partner organisations and their 779-strong workforce recruited for the project, funded by DFID and EU. Over the last two months, the Prosperity Project Implementation Unit has been training and holding meetings with the technical staff of all the POs almost on a daily basis on this virtual platform.
While cost-effective, it has resulted in three significant outcomes:

Nearly 200 Prosperity branches have now been established at the PO level to start service delivery;
Service delivery in the 17 piloting unions has now begun on a limited scale; and
EP household identification process for the main Implementation Phase is now underway and is expected to be completed in the next three months.

Read the full article here.

The Prosperity programme has been distributing free drinking water to some of the most affected families in Satkhira district, a Prosperity working area facilitated by its partner organisation Nowabenki Gonomukhi Foundation (NGF).

Amphan victims getting free potable water in Satkhira

The free potable water distribution for some of the worst Amphan victims in Satkhira is gathering pace as more and more people are benefiting from the initiative. Prosperity partner Nowabenki Gonomukhi Foundation (NGF) is carrying out the distribution activities, with financial support from the Prosperity programme.
Starting from 20 June 2020, NGF has so far distributed some 2,05,000 litres of drinking water among the EP households in Gabura and Anulia unions. These two unions are among the worst-hit areas where food and water crisis remains acute even two months after Cyclone Amphan devastated the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Read the full story here.

Field Activities

Field activities are going on for identifying the extreme-poor households alongside counselling them on how to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

Research

Covid-19 Qualitative Research: Key Findings

In May 2020, the PIU of PKSF conducted a qualitative study in the 17 piloting unions to look into the coping mechanism of the EP households during the pandemic. The study, done over the telephone, found that the majority of the 50 households surveyed lost their income and are experiencing acute food shortage. While many have resorted to consumption rationing, others are borrowing heavily from neighbours and relatives or are buying food and other items on credit. The main findings of the study are as follows:

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