AOSED-An Organization for Socio-Economic Development aosed

1. Kyoto World Water Grand Prize 5th World Water Forum 21 March, 2009 Istanbul, Turkey Title: Grassroots Initiative to solve safe water crisis Presented by: Shamim Arfeen AOSED-An Organization for Socio-Economic Development www.aosed.org

2. WWW.aosed.org The Southwest Coastal Region of Bangladesh is close to the Bay of Bengal and is also the flood plain of the Ganges River. • Unique characteristics of the region: • It is a brackish tidal flood plain; • It is on the basis of this water regime that the sensitive and diverse ecology has developed; • It contains a large mangrove forest with rich floral and faunal biodiversity; • The region is mainly plain land, 2 to 11 meters above sea level; • The habitation, civilization, culture and livelihoods of the people have developed on the basis of its Natural Resources. Mostly human interventions in the name of development have grossly damaged the natural water regime. Hence the region's ecology has been damaged and the lives and livelihoods of the people have become vulnerable

3. WWW.aosed.org Context of the project area: Dacope upazilla (sub-district) is under Khulna district is one of the most affected areas by water crisis in the Southwest Coastal Region of Bangladesh. Its total area: 991.85 square km, Population: around 170,000. The total length of the rivers and canals is 180 km. The mangrove ecology and biodiversity of Dacope is highly sensitive; According to government statistics, 43% of the people have access to safe water, but peoples’ perception is that it is not more than 30%.

4. WWW.aosed.org Problem Statement: • Obstructions in the natural flow of tides; • lack of safe underground water; • Riverbank erosion and silting up of riverbeds; • Increase in salinity; • Climate Change; • Loss of common people’s right on water sources. Most people are dependent on surface water, mainly pond and rainwater. Conserved rainwater lasts for about 3 to 5 months. For the rest of the year, people collect water for domestic use from distant sources, for which they have to walk 2 to 8 km. As mostly women collect water for domestic use, their children left at home remain vulnerable.

5. WWW.aosed.org Due to leasing out of water body to influential people, people have lost their right. The lessees introduce saline water , resulting in the increase of salinity, and the sources of fresh water and ecology are damaged. As a result, women and children become victims of diseases and insecurity, social conflict has intensified and the lives and livelihoods become vulnerable.

6. WWW.aosed.org Actions taken: AOSED is implementing two-year Project, titled: Grassroots Initiative to solve the safe water crises in Dacope Upazilla with the cooperation of SIMAVI. The Project Goal: Ensure the Right of “Safe water for all” through identification of local resources, their sustainable conservation, maintenance and distribution through participatory processes. Main Challenges: Extreme poverty, existing social instability, the excesses committed by influential people, inappropriate implementation of policies, policy gaps, lack of environmental-friendly technology, the degraded natural ecology. Key Strategies: Social Mobilization; Awareness Promotion; Capacity Building; Information sharing, Media involvement; Coordination among stakeholders; Sensitizing policy actors; and Community participation.

7. WWW.aosed.org Major Activities: Developed a database; Formation of Peoples’ Organizations; Skill Development ; Awareness & Media Campaign; View exchange meetings; Formulation of Peoples’ recommendations; Conduct Advocacy and lobbying; and Rehabilitation of damaged water sources. Stakeholders: 4500 vulnerable households and 117 elected representatives of LEBs, leaders of political parties, civil society, and government officials of relevant departments

8. WWW.aosed.org • Achievements: • About 50,000 people aware that safe water is Human and Constitutional Right; • 41 strong and effective grassroots committees formed; • Spontaneous Social movement developed for Safe Water; • Social conflicts have been minimised; • Government's Department of Public Health Engineering -DPHE responded by repairing 40 pond-sand-filters (PSF) and constructing 30 new ones; • Leading Political parties included the water crisis issue in their election manifestos and campaign; • Till end January 2009, AOSED has repaired 80 and constructed 15 new PSFs, excavated 6 new ponds and re-excavated 24 with community contribution; • Workload of about 2000 women in 1352 household for collecting water has been reduced till January 2009.

9. WWW.aosed.org Sustainability: Safe water sources have been rehabilitated by Organized and Conscious grassroots communities. The government, relevant departments and LEBs have been sensitised towards peoples' recommendations for a permanent solution of the water crisis. Initiatives have been taken for joint management of the water sources by them. Political parties have agreed for Policy revision. Hence it can be claimed that the achievements of this project will be sustainable.

10. Thank You All..