EXTREME POOR PROGRAM

1. EXTREME POOR PROGRAM CARE Bangladesh

2. Bangladesh context • Total population 160,000 (thousands) • 40% live below poverty line • 25% live in extreme poverty (40 million) • 85% of them live in rural area • Despite significant economic growth, absolute no of EP has increased • EP are not able to participate in or benefit from economic growth

3. WHY • CARE Bangladesh LRSP (2002 – 2006) • Rights based approach • Focus on poorer & most marginalized populations • Addressing underlying causes of poverty and marginalization • Come up with a mission statement

4. CARE-B Mission “Amplify voices of the poor and marginalized by using grass root level experience and knowledge; and building purposeful relationships with others; influence public opinion, development practices and policies” That led CARE-B to develop long term programs around EP and most marginalized population groups keeping women at the centre of its programming

6. Description of the program • Impact group Extremely poor people in rural areas especially those who are trapped in a set of unequal power relations and whose wellbeing in political, social and economic realms, obtain the lowest ranking. • Impact vision EP people in rural areas sustainably overcome the barriers that prevent the fulfillment of their basic rights, and lift themselves out of poverty.

7. Theory of Change Extremely poor people in rural areas overcome the barriers that prevent fulfillment of their rights by: Active engagement of the poorest in loval gov. & devlopment processes Reduced exploitation and dependence on others Better access to, and use of, resources and services + X

8. Pathways of change • Social mobn. and empowerment (solidarity building) • Economic empowerment (Diversification of livelihood opportunities, linking to markets and skills building) • Strengthening governance structures & processes • Development of human capabilities (education, health including life skills) • Facilitating access to khas land, water bodies, health and appropriate financial services • Advocating for policy and institutional support in collaboration with other actors around selected advocacy issues most relevant for EP population

9. Breakthrougths 5 years • Legislation passed requiring UPs to have representation of EP on most of their standing committees • > 50% of UPs demonstrate accountability and responsiveness to extremely poor people • GOB recognizes UPs with pro-poor development vision as models for others 10 years • >50% of collective demands by EP for access to services and resources (khas land, water bodies) are successful (for 10 years) • Significant reduction in incidence of advance labour sell and/or taking loan from local money lenders

10. Program Impact indicators

11. Process • Series of discussions, meetings and workshops over a period of 1 and half years • Part of wider process of developing a framework for CARE-B programming • Associated with the development of a proposal around extreme poverty • Previous studies, evaluations, SII • Define and Identify Impact group, their characteristics and manifestations of poverty (PPA) • Drew characteristics from study “Exploring dynamics of EP in Bangladesh”

12. Process contd…. • Mapping characteristics/menifestation against UF • Reflection on emerging results • Social exclusion, unequal power relations, political marginalization • Community led approachDefine and Identify Impact group, their characteristics and manifestations of poverty (PPA)

13. Process contd…. • Summary framework • Formation of working groups • Developing ToC, Breakthroughs, Path ways of changes, strategies and approaches • Workshops, meetings • Hiring consultant for consolidation/write up • Produce a descriptive document

14. Challenges • Building common and shared understanding around • program approach • Theory of Change • Breakthroughs Developing path ways of change Identifying and agreeing on breakthroughs Coming up with a small and agreed list of Impact indicators Bringing partners on board