Changes in Livelihood of Ultra-poor through NGO Interventions

Abstract

Understandably livelihood means the capacity of the people to afford productive and non-productive assets, human and management skills required for subsistence in a household as well as community sustainably. In Bangladesh the most livelihoods insecure persons/ households include the ultra-poor, the landless, and the vulnerable people who can hardly cope-up with shocks and disasters. The ultra-poor in general have very limited access, availability to social, financial, human, natural and physical capitals for livelihoods. Moreover, they have very limited access to extension service providers, start- up capital and social safety nets. The purpose of this study was to observe the changes in the livelihoods of the ultra-poor through NGO interventions in Bangladesh. There had been a number of NGO projects that worked towards improving livelihoods of the ultra-poor implemented by international/national NGOs along with local partners. This study was conducted in two European Union funded projects implemented by the CARE International and Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra at Khaliajuri upazila in Netrokona district. This study was intended to examine two selected projects namely VGDUP and FSUP implemented at Khaliajuri upazila of Netrokona district to identify the impact on food security and livelihood in the Haor1 areas of Bangladesh. Further this study also indicates the socio-economic challenges and geographical vulnerability of the people living in haor area. Finally, this study advocates some recommendation based on the five livelihood capital i.e. social, financial, human, natural and physical capital. Both quantitative and qualitative information were collected and used in this research. Primary data were collected from the direct beneficiaries of FSUP and VGDUP project. Household survey was conducted at 360 randomly selected respondents for quantitative analysis and six Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), ten in-depths interview and six case studies were conducted for qualitative analysis. The overall objective of the study was to identify the changes in livelihood of ultra-poor through NGO interventions. However, the specific objectives of the study were (a) to understand the socio-economic and geographical vulnerability of the people living in haor areas of Bangladesh; (b) to identify the interventions of different NGOs and development partners implemented projects on the livelihood and food security; (c) to make some policy recommendations to improve service delivery system which will lead to improvements in livelihoods and food security of the ultra-poor in future.