ANNUAL REPORT

2 0 1 3 Urban Partnerships for Poverty Reduction

Urban Partnerships for Poverty Reduction Local Government Engineering Department

Published by the Urban Partnershipsfor Poverty Reduction (UPPR) ProjectBangladesh

Prepared by: Research, Evaluation & Learning Unit

Design: Md. Zahirul Islam & Silvia Mantilla Santarelli

Printer: Future Vision

Cover photo: Roksana Akhter, We Tell Participant, Tongi

Chapter 1 photo: Shompa Banu, We Tell Participant, Naogaon

Photos: Emdad Islam Bitu, Photographer, UPPR

Md. Kamrul Hassan, Communications and Documentation Expert, UPPR

Silvia Mantilla Santarelli Programme Analyst, UPPR

With the target date for the Millennium Development Goals approaching, 2013 was marked by reflections over progress made in reducing poverty. The debate over the post-2015 development agenda has inspired us at the Urban Partnerships for Poverty Reduction (UPPR) project to reflect on our performance in tackling urban poverty in Bangladesh. We have also considered how our lessons can inform the urban agenda and support the Govern-ment and people of Bangladesh as they plan beyond 2015.

Good progress has been made in Bangladesh. For example, the urban population living below the poverty line is 40 percent less than in 2000, while nationwide gender parity at primary and secondary education levels has been attained. Such progress has been driven by a combination of economic growth and the com-mitment of Government and development partners to improve the living conditions of the people in Bangladesh. However chal-lenges persist. The latest available data shows that 61 per cent of the urban population is still living in slums. Children in urban slums are 2.5 times more likely to be excluded from school than the national average.

If we are to fulfil the Government’s 2021 vision of improving the lives of the urban poor and transforming slums into legitimate communities, we must support Local Government Institutions and communities to work together. Particular areas of focus include improving livelihoods, increasing access to basic services and

expanding tenure security. Given the vast needs of urban commu-nities across Bangladesh, we understand that a single project cannot achieve the full extent of change that is needed. Such pro-gress requires cooperation between the Government, develop-ment partners, civil society, and the private sector. In this regard UPPR is advising on the development of a new National Urban Poverty Programme.

This annual report reflects what our project has achieved in reduc-ing urban poverty since 2008. 2013 has been a particularly good year with respect to implementing our activities and working with communities and local Government partners to achieve sustain-ability. We are proud of our progress and believe that through empowering communities and combining the efforts of stakehold-ers, progress in reducing urban poverty will be multiplied in the coming years. It is our hope that this annual report will stimulate debate over the most effective way to move forward in Bangladesh post-2015.

With our thanks for all of your support in 2013,

Md. Abdur Rashid KhanNational Project DIrector

FOREWORD

FOREWORD & INTRODUCTIONPages 3-8

BREAKING OUT OF POVERTYPages 9-16

MAXIMISING OUR REACHPages 17-21

BECOMING ONE CITYPages 22-25

FINANCIALSPages 26-27

NEW INITIATIVESPages 28-29

With the target date for the Millennium Development Goals approaching, 2013 was marked by reflections over progress made in reducing poverty. The debate over the post-2015 development agenda has inspired us at the Urban Partnerships for Poverty Reduction (UPPR) project to reflect on our performance in tackling urban poverty in Bangladesh. We have also considered how our lessons can inform the urban agenda and support the Govern-ment and people of Bangladesh as they plan beyond 2015.

Good progress has been made in Bangladesh. For example, the urban population living below the poverty line is 40 percent less than in 2000, while nationwide gender parity at primary and secondary education levels has been attained. Such progress has been driven by a combination of economic growth and the com-mitment of Government and development partners to improve the living conditions of the people in Bangladesh. However chal-lenges persist. The latest available data shows that 61 per cent of the urban population is still living in slums. Children in urban slums are 2.5 times more likely to be excluded from school than the national average.

If we are to fulfil the Government’s 2021 vision of improving the lives of the urban poor and transforming slums into legitimate communities, we must support Local Government Institutions and communities to work together. Particular areas of focus include improving livelihoods, increasing access to basic services and

expanding tenure security. Given the vast needs of urban commu-nities across Bangladesh, we understand that a single project cannot achieve the full extent of change that is needed. Such pro-gress requires cooperation between the Government, develop-ment partners, civil society, and the private sector. In this regard UPPR is advising on the development of a new National Urban Poverty Programme.

This annual report reflects what our project has achieved in reduc-ing urban poverty since 2008. 2013 has been a particularly good year with respect to implementing our activities and working with communities and local Government partners to achieve sustain-ability. We are proud of our progress and believe that through empowering communities and combining the efforts of stakehold-ers, progress in reducing urban poverty will be multiplied in the coming years. It is our hope that this annual report will stimulate debate over the most effective way to move forward in Bangladesh post-2015.

With our thanks for all of your support in 2013,

Md. Abdur Rashid KhanNational Project DIrector

FOREWORD

FOREWORD & INTRODUCTIONPages 3-8

BREAKING OUT OF POVERTYPages 9-16

MAXIMISING OUR REACHPages 17-21

BECOMING ONE CITYPages 22-25

FINANCIALSPages 26-27

NEW INITIATIVESPages 28-29

Executive Summary

2,588COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENTCOMMITTEES

SLUM DWELLERS816,000

US$5.8MDECEMBERLOANS BY

BY 300,000 FAMILIES

US$6.9MDECEMBERSAVED BY

MemberNot Saving

MemberSaving

CommunityLeader

Empowered

Disempowered

Women are empowered

83%

61%

38%

LATRINES

40,1832013

families

183,3462009-2013

SMALL ENTERPRISES

20,3042013

grantees

108,6882009-2013

WATER FACILITIES

47,0852013

families

213,8112009-2013

APPRENTICESHIPS

trainees

61,1362009-2013

13,8232013

EDUCATION

school years

109,7272009-2013

38,5662013

Access to services and livelihoods is expanded

1 3

4

2Communitiesparticipate

CDCs run their ownsavings & credit scheme

Poverty headcount -Sample of 7 of the 23 towns

28.9%41.7%

20132009

5 Multi-dimensionalpoverty is reduced

Aver

age

scor

e

4

Executive Summary

2,588COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENTCOMMITTEES

SLUM DWELLERS816,000

US$5.8MDECEMBERLOANS BY

BY 300,000 FAMILIES

US$6.9MDECEMBERSAVED BY

MemberNot Saving

MemberSaving

CommunityLeader

Empowered

Disempowered

Women are empowered

83%

61%

38%

LATRINES

40,1832013

families

183,3462009-2013

SMALL ENTERPRISES

20,3042013

grantees

108,6882009-2013

WATER FACILITIES

47,0852013

families

213,8112009-2013

APPRENTICESHIPS

trainees

61,1362009-2013

13,8232013

EDUCATION

school years

109,7272009-2013

38,5662013

Access to services and livelihoods is expanded

1 3

4

2Communitiesparticipate

CDCs run their ownsavings & credit scheme

Poverty headcount -Sample of 7 of the 23 towns

28.9%41.7%

20132009

5 Multi-dimensionalpoverty is reduced

Aver

age

scor

e

4

6 Working with partnersfor sustainability 7 Increasing housing and tenure security

8 Working with local governmentsfor pro-poor policy 9 Expenditure so far

COMMUNITYHOUSING

DEVELOPMENTFUND

$$

$5286,871

urban poorbenefitted

HEALTH

LEGALAID

EDUCATION

SKILLSDEVELOPMENT

joint action plansto instituionalize UPPRtools & approach23

5

$104,712,903

Total Budget Funds Spent

$91,169,071

87%

UPPR’s theory of changeThe urban poor are best placed to judge what their needs are and who amongst them is the most in need of support. By developing the capacity of three million urban poor to plan and manage their own development, the Urban Part-nerships for Poverty Reduction (UPPR) project enables them to break out of urban poverty.

Because poverty is about more than income, a single pro-ject alone cannot achieve all the positive changes that are needed in the cities of Bangladesh. Thus, UPPR supports poor urban communi-ties to establish partnerships with other development actors, government institutions and the private sector. Capitalizing on this collective reach, slum dwellers will be better able to access basic services and the job market. In turn this helps connect them to the city.

This reportUPPR began its work in 2008. Financed by UK aid, it is the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) that hosts and executes UPPR at a national level. In the towns and cities in which UPPR works, it does so jointly with the Municipality or City Cooperation. UNDP manages the implementation of the Project, and UN-Habitat supports the components that work on mobilization and improving living conditions. This report summarizes the results from our work across the 23 target towns and cities in 2013.

The structure of this report allows you to review the overall work done by UPPR while understanding how the approach impacts on the lives of urban poor in Bangladesh. Alongside the overall results of the project, this report features stories from women living in UPPR com-munities who share their experience and how the project has impacted on their life.

The first chapter, Breaking out of Poverty, provides a snapshot of what we call the ‘people’s process’ of empowering the communities to take action. Furthermore, it presents an overview of UPPR’s community grants and the results achieved. The second chapter, Maximising our Reach, shows how UPPR works with partners to improve living conditions in the slums. The third chapter, Becoming one City, explains how we work closely with local governments to institutionalize the people’s process and support slum dwellers to achieve security of tenure. Finally we present a financial overview of 2013 as well as new initiatives which UPPR introduced this year.

6

Slum dwellers connected to the city

Consulting

Needs

INTRODUCTION

7

Sokhina was categorized as extremely poor by her community in 2009. She lives alone and has been working at a rice mill in Dinajpur for 30 years. She works from 5am to 5pm every day. Her husband died 20 years ago. Her daughter lives in Dhaka and works in the garment sector.

Nurufa was categorized as poor in 2009. Today she is a tailor and lives with her husband who works at a restaurant. Her daughter is in the police force while her son has a rickshaw garage. She feels she is no longer poor.

Moyna lives with her husband who is a day labourer along with her daughter (13) and twin boys (8). Four days a week she works at a rice mill and also sells rice to her neighbours from her home. She is proud of how her life has improved.

Shampa lives with her husband and two daughters. She works as an assistant worker at construc-tion sites and is the sole income earner in her family. Her husband has not worked for a number of months due to an injury. She is working to own a house one day.

Rojina is a group leader even though she left school at grade 8. She is married to a truck driver and shares her house with her mother. She saves 10Tk every week, thinking of her daughter’s future.

…we follow five inspiring women who live in a community called Golap in Dinajpur and who work together to break out of urban poverty. By bringing their stories to these pages, we hope to share insights into what the project really means for some of the women we work with. Here is an introduction to each of their lives:

Throughout the report…

7

Sokhina was categorized as extremely poor by her community in 2009. She lives alone and has been working at a rice mill in Dinajpur for 30 years. She works from 5am to 5pm every day. Her husband died 20 years ago. Her daughter lives in Dhaka and works in the garment sector.

Nurufa was categorized as poor in 2009. Today she is a tailor and lives with her husband who works at a restaurant. Her daughter is in the police force while her son has a rickshaw garage. She feels she is no longer poor.

Moyna lives with her husband who is a day labourer along with her daughter (13) and twin boys (8). Four days a week she works at a rice mill and also sells rice to her neighbours from her home. She is proud of how her life has improved.

Shampa lives with her husband and two daughters. She works as an assistant worker at construc-tion sites and is the sole income earner in her family. Her husband has not worked for a number of months due to an injury. She is working to own a house one day.

Rojina is a group leader even though she left school at grade 8. She is married to a truck driver and shares her house with her mother. She saves 10Tk every week, thinking of her daughter’s future.

…we follow five inspiring women who live in a community called Golap in Dinajpur and who work together to break out of urban poverty. By bringing their stories to these pages, we hope to share insights into what the project really means for some of the women we work with. Here is an introduction to each of their lives:

Throughout the report…

Introducing Golap, DinajpurIn order to create a spatial overview of the settlements where it works, UPPR supports the urban poor draw a social map. Using paper and markers, the participants map their community, including their homes, water sources, schools and hazards in the settlement. This is the social map of Mis-treepara, the area where the Golap community is situated in Dinajpur.

The five women who shared their life story for this report live in Dinajpur, a district in Northern Bang-ladesh. With a tropical wet and dry climate, the economy mainly depends upon agriculture based production, including ‘Katharivog’ rice, which some argue is the best produced rice in Bangladesh.

Since 2009, UPPR has been supporting urban poor in Dinajpur across a range of activities, from infra-structure to socio-economic interventions that reflect on the multi-sectoral nature of the project. By including life stories of women from this town, it is our hope that our reader can get a glimpse on how we help communities tackle poverty in all its forms.

BREAKING OUTOF POVERTY

BREAKING OUTOF POVERTY

To create the space for slum dwellers to make decisions over how to improve their living conditions, UPPR supports them to form Primary Groups, each comprising of around 20 households. In turn, these groups form Community Development Committees (CDCs) which assess the community’s physical and socio-economic needs and develop plans to act upon these. They also undertake a participatory identification of the poor (PIP) to decide who in their community is most in need of help. Aside from the funds provided by UPPR, members operate their own savings and credit groups. From their pooled capital, they grant loans to community members for microenterprise activities, housing and infrastructure repairs, and emergency situations.

The people’s process

30,000PRIMARY GROUPS

26,020SAVINGS &

CREDIT GROUPS

2,588COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENTCOMMITTEES

2,329ACTION PLANS

PARTICIPATORYIDENTIFICATION

OF THE POOR

A group of households affected by extreme

poverty comes together to improve

their living conditions

Each household saves at least tk 10 a week

with their group. From this pool of funds,

families in need can take a loan.

Representing about 200 households, CDCs plan and contract the necessary works to

tackle poverty. 90% of the leaders are

women.

Plans can include self-help activities as

well as those that require support from UPPR or other service

providers.

The CDC agrees on the characteristics of pov-

erty and then identifies which households are extremely poor, which are poor and which are

non-poor.

10

Rojina was born with a skin condition and her father, worried it would be difficult to marry her off later in life, left her mother when she was only three months old. Rojina and her mother then moved in with her grandfather until he was killed in a bus accident. Alone once again, her mother started to work at a rice mill and Rojina had no choice but to leave school when she was only 13.

In 2009, Rojina joined the Golap Primary Group alongside 19 other women who wanted to work together to improve their lives. The Golap Primary Group has since become the axis of Rojina’s life.

Soon after joining, her friends encouraged her to become their group leader and help manage UPPR funds as well as their own savings and credit group. In return, her neigh-bors give her a percentage of their annual profit made from the savings & credit activi-ties.

Rojina is so good at her role that she has gone to also become the treasurer of the CDC under which Golap falls. For this support, she also receives a monthly retribution from the community members.

Average scoreper category

Distribution of scoresacross groups

Num

ber o

f com

mun

ity m

embe

rs

Rojina’s story

With women playing the central role in leading our community structures, in 2013 UPPR engaged groups’ members to develop a women empowerment

index. This measures five dimensions with indicators proposed by the women: status, personal development, economic, group participation and agency.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT STUDYSAMPLE STUDY | 5 EMPOWERMENT CATEGORIES

160

120

80

40

0

PersonalDevelopment

Social Status

Agency

GroupParticipation

EconomicConditions

20

15

10

5

0

Less than 10 10 to 19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 More than 90Scores on the empowerment index

PG members (Saver) CDC leader(Saver)

CDC leader (Saver)PG members (Saver)Member (Non-Saver)

11

Member(Non-Saver)

Low empowerment High empowerment

To create the space for slum dwellers to make decisions over how to improve their living conditions, UPPR supports them to form Primary Groups, each comprising of around 20 households. In turn, these groups form Community Development Committees (CDCs) which assess the community’s physical and socio-economic needs and develop plans to act upon these. They also undertake a participatory identification of the poor (PIP) to decide who in their community is most in need of help. Aside from the funds provided by UPPR, members operate their own savings and credit groups. From their pooled capital, they grant loans to community members for microenterprise activities, housing and infrastructure repairs, and emergency situations.

The people’s process

30,000PRIMARY GROUPS

26,020SAVINGS &

CREDIT GROUPS

2,588COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENTCOMMITTEES

2,329ACTION PLANS

PARTICIPATORYIDENTIFICATION

OF THE POOR

A group of households affected by extreme

poverty comes together to improve

their living conditions

Each household saves at least tk 10 a week

with their group. From this pool of funds,

families in need can take a loan.

Representing about 200 households, CDCs plan and contract the necessary works to

tackle poverty. 90% of the leaders are

women.

Plans can include self-help activities as

well as those that require support from UPPR or other service

providers.

The CDC agrees on the characteristics of pov-

erty and then identifies which households are extremely poor, which are poor and which are

non-poor.

10

Rojina was born with a skin condition and her father, worried it would be difficult to marry her off later in life, left her mother when she was only three months old. Rojina and her mother then moved in with her grandfather until he was killed in a bus accident. Alone once again, her mother started to work at a rice mill and Rojina had no choice but to leave school when she was only 13.

In 2009, Rojina joined the Golap Primary Group alongside 19 other women who wanted to work together to improve their lives. The Golap Primary Group has since become the axis of Rojina’s life.

Soon after joining, her friends encouraged her to become their group leader and help manage UPPR funds as well as their own savings and credit group. In return, her neigh-bors give her a percentage of their annual profit made from the savings & credit activi-ties.

Rojina is so good at her role that she has gone to also become the treasurer of the CDC under which Golap falls. For this support, she also receives a monthly retribution from the community members.

Average scoreper category

Distribution of scoresacross groups

Num

ber o

f com

mun

ity m

embe

rsRojina’s story

With women playing the central role in leading our community structures, in 2013 UPPR engaged groups’ members to develop a women empowerment

index. This measures five dimensions with indicators proposed by the women: status, personal development, economic, group participation and agency.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT STUDYSAMPLE STUDY | 5 EMPOWERMENT CATEGORIES

160

120

80

40

0

PersonalDevelopment

Social Status

Agency

GroupParticipation

EconomicConditions

20

15

10

5

0

Less than 10 10 to 19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 More than 90Scores on the empowerment index

PG members (Saver) CDC leader(Saver)

CDC leader (Saver)PG members (Saver)Member (Non-Saver)

11

Member(Non-Saver)

Low empowerment High empowerment

Giving communities control over poverty reductionUPPR provides multi-sectoral support by making funds available to communities to meet their diverse needs. The contracts are managed by the community themselves. The Socio-Economic Fund provides grants for families that need financial support. This includes a stipend for the education of children; grants for entrepreneur women that need capital to set up their own small enterprises; and grants for young women and men that want to acquire skills that will help them enter the job market. The Settlements Improvement Fund supports the communities with funds to contract physical works that will improve their living conditions, such as latrines, water points, drains and footpaths.

SETTLEMENTSIMPROVEMENT

FUND

USD25m

USD35m

UPPR providesfunds

Communities manage the funds and contractlocally the works to implement the plans

63,669LATRINES

9,815WATER POINTS

909 kmOF FOOTPATHS

109,727YEARS OFSCHOOL

61,136APPRENTICESHIPS

108,688GRANTS FOR SMALL

ENTERPRISES

SOCIO-ECONOMIC

FUND

12

Nurufa is a tailor. Surrounded by colourful and diverse fabrics on the floor, she can make you a maxi skirt for only 40 Tk. She has been doing this for 40 years.

In 2009, Nurufa’s community categorized her as poor. Her husband did not have a regular job and her home did not have a toilet or place to wash where she felt safe and secure. Their shared toilet had three aluminium sheets for walls and a piece of cloth as the door. In order to wash, Nurufa would use the tubewell in the middle of their house which gave no privacy. While this was very uncomfortable for Nurufa, doing something about it would have cost at least 30,000 Tk. This was money she simply did not have.

With funding from UK aid channelled through UPPR and her community’s support, Nurufa says that her privacy and security is much improved. Her community used available funding to build an improved latrine with brick walls and a proper door. Similarly walls have been built around the tubewell. These rela-tively simple steps have had a very positive impact on Nurufa’s life.

Nurufa’s story

13

In 2013, UPPR undertook two studies in a sample of towns to measure short-term outcomes for households that had

benefited from different SEF and SIF interventions. Water and sanitation outcomes were measured by two indexes that

require households to fulfil several criteria to be considered as having adequate access to an improved source.

SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES STUDIES

trainees with a jobsix months after the

training

grantees still inbusiness six months after

receiving the grant

households withimproved access to

sanitation

households withimproved access to

water

63% 93%

74% 66%

Nurufa is a tailor. Surrounded by colourful and diverse fabrics on the floor, she can make you a maxi skirt for only 40 Tk. She has been doing this for 40 years.

In 2009, Nurufa’s community categorized her as poor. Her husband did not have a regular job and her home did not have a toilet or place to wash where she felt safe and secure. Their shared toilet had three aluminium sheets for walls and a piece of cloth as the door. In order to wash, Nurufa would use the tubewell in the middle of their house which gave no privacy. While this was very uncomfortable for Nurufa, doing something about it would have cost at least 30,000 Tk. This was money she simply did not have.

With funding from UK aid channelled through UPPR and her community’s support, Nurufa says that her privacy and security is much improved. Her community used available funding to build an improved latrine with brick walls and a proper door. Similarly walls have been built around the tubewell. These rela-tively simple steps have had a very positive impact on Nurufa’s life.

Nurufa’s story

13

In 2013, UPPR undertook two studies in a sample of towns to measure short-term outcomes for households that had

benefited from different SEF and SIF interventions. Water and sanitation outcomes were measured by two indexes that

require households to fulfil several criteria to be considered as having adequate access to an improved source.

SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES STUDIES

trainees with a jobsix months after the

training

grantees still inbusiness six months after

receiving the grant

households withimproved access to

sanitation

households withimproved access to

water

63% 93%

74% 66%

Understanding povertyOne approach UPPR has taken to understanding poverty is the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and UNDP. In 2013, UPPR used the MPI to measure multiple deprivations across health, education and living standards among the urban poor in 12 of the 23 towns. The MPI allows UPPR to count the number of people who are multi-dimensionally poor (headcount) and how many deprivations households have to deal with (intensity). The 12 towns included seven towns where UPPR did a baseline assessment in 2009. This allows us to compare snapshots of multidimensional poverty in these seven towns in 2009 and 2013.

MU

LTID

IMEN

SIO

NA

L P

OV

ERT

Y3

D

IM

EN

SI

ON

S

POVERTY SNAPSHOTOF 12 TOWNS IN 2013

Poverty headcount

33.3%are poor

44.5%intensity

of povertythe average is

deprived of four to fiveout of nine indicators

Education

Households with no access to safe drinking water

Households where sanitation facility is not improved

Households cooking with dung, wood or charcoal

Households with no access to safe drinking water

Household not owning more than one radio, TV, phone,bike, motorbike or refrigerator and no car or truck

Households where any adult or child for whomthere is nutritional information is malnourishedHealth

LivingConditions Households with no electricity

Household with a dirt, sand or dung floor

Households where no member has completedfive years of schooling

Households where any school-aged child isnot attending school up to class 8

10

I

ND

IC

AT

OR

S

14

Little by little Sokina has built her house with hard-earned money from working at a rice mill for 30 years. She heads to work before five in the morning every day, where she carries 90kg sacks of rice until seven in the evening. By the time Sokina’s goes home it is already dark. By candle light she has dinner and goes to bed.

Sokina is extremely poor. Since her husband died 20 years ago, she has raised their only daughter on her own. Golap supported Sokina to make sure her daughter could go to school with a stipend to help cover the costs.

Later Golap supported Sokina by installing a new water pump. Before that when she needed clean water to cook or wash herself she had to go to her neighbours’ house.

The community also built a footpath outside her house. This has made a great difference, especially during the monsoon. Before the path would flood and the water could go up to her waist. This is no longer a problem.

Sokina saves 10 taka every week with the Golap savings and credit group. She is saving for her daughter’s wedding but also future medical expenses. From the hard work she does every day and the pain in her legs, she knows she will need this one day.

Sokina’s story2009 - 2013 CHANGING POVERTY IN 7 TOWNS

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

81%

80%

34%

18%

20%

14%

67%

56%

56%

45%

14%

4%

18%

16%

20%

14%

39%

55%

Water

Nutrition

Cookingfuel

Latrines

Assets

Electricity

Schoolattendance

Floor

years ofschooling

15

Little by little Sokina has built her house with hard-earned money from working at a rice mill for 30 years. She heads to work before five in the morning every day, where she carries 90kg sacks of rice until seven in the evening. By the time Sokina’s goes home it is already dark. By candle light she has dinner and goes to bed.

Sokina is extremely poor. Since her husband died 20 years ago, she has raised their only daughter on her own. Golap supported Sokina to make sure her daughter could go to school with a stipend to help cover the costs.

Later Golap supported Sokina by installing a new water pump. Before that when she needed clean water to cook or wash herself she had to go to her neighbours’ house.

The community also built a footpath outside her house. This has made a great difference, especially during the monsoon. Before the path would flood and the water could go up to her waist. This is no longer a problem.

Sokina saves 10 taka every week with the Golap savings and credit group. She is saving for her daughter’s wedding but also future medical expenses. From the hard work she does every day and the pain in her legs, she knows she will need this one day.

Sokina’s story2009 - 2013 CHANGING POVERTY IN 7 TOWNS

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

2009

2013

81%

80%

34%

18%

20%

14%

67%

56%

56%

45%

14%

4%

18%

16%

20%

14%

39%

55%

Water

Nutrition

Cookingfuel

Latrines

Assets

Electricity

Schoolattendance

Floor

years ofschooling

15

Understanding povertyStories from the slum dwellers

As part of its efforts to understand urban poverty in Bangladesh, UPPR launched the ‘We Tell’ photo project, a special initiative to highlight the experiences of girls and women in the slums of Bangladesh.

Thirty women and girls from three slums in Tongi, Khulna and Naogaon participated and documented their lives and those of their communities. Tutored by a professional photographer and provided with digital cameras, the participants explored issues and themes of their choosing.

The results are intimate and striking portraits of families and communities at work and play. The images capture more than the difficulties of everyday life but also its joy and vibrancy.

By putting the camera in the hands of these women and girls, UPPR hopes people will get a new insight into the realities of life in a poor urban settlement from the perspective of women who live there.

“Coming homefrom work”

by Munni, 21, Tongi

“Tea at Crescent Bazaar”

by Liza, 20, Khulna

“Water is anothername for life”

by Shompa, 20, Naogaon

16

MAXIMIZINGOUR REACH

Understanding povertyStories from the slum dwellers

As part of its efforts to understand urban poverty in Bangladesh, UPPR launched the ‘We Tell’ photo project, a special initiative to highlight the experiences of girls and women in the slums of Bangladesh.

Thirty women and girls from three slums in Tongi, Khulna and Naogaon participated and documented their lives and those of their communities. Tutored by a professional photographer and provided with digital cameras, the participants explored issues and themes of their choosing.

The results are intimate and striking portraits of families and communities at work and play. The images capture more than the difficulties of everyday life but also its joy and vibrancy.

By putting the camera in the hands of these women and girls, UPPR hopes people will get a new insight into the realities of life in a poor urban settlement from the perspective of women who live there.

“Coming homefrom work”

by Munni, 21, Tongi

“Tea at Crescent Bazaar”

by Liza, 20, Khulna

“Water is anothername for life”

by Shompa, 20, Naogaon

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MAXIMIZINGOUR REACH

LEGAL

SKILLSDEVELOPMENT

OTHERS

HEALTH

Connecting slum dwellers to the city

Breakdown of beneficiariespartnerships & linkages

per sector in 2013

18

697Linkagesestablished2009-2013

141Partnerships

established2009-2013

UPPR supports community organizations to establish partnerships and linkages with other service providers. Collaborations with no exchange of funds are termed ‘linkages’ while those where the community organiza-tions pay for the services provided by another entity are termed ‘partnerships’.

Partnerships and linkages are established with the recognition that no one project can meet and address all the different socio-economic needs of poor urban communi-ties effectively. In particular linkages provide a sustainable source of support for commu-nities.

For example, CDCs have established part-nerships with private clinics so medical treatment for their members is provided at a lower cost.

UPPR has also worked with community leaders to increase inclusion of their mem-bers in Government programs such as social protection schemes. As a result CDCs have begun connecting their members with longer lasting Government support.

In the four months since her husband had an accident at the rice mill where he used to work, Shampa has been the sole earner in her household. As an assistant on a construc-tion site, she earns 180 Taka a day. For the last six years Shampa has been working from 8am to 530pm, mixing sand and cement before passing it on to other workers.

From her salary, Shampa has been saving 10Tk every week and has started to pay back a loan she took from Golap in 2013. She has been building her own house. In addition Golap have provided a stipend to help cover her daughters’ education expenses.

Her husband’s accident left him without his right hand finger. When they could not afford the necessary treatment, Shampa relied on Golap and its Community Development Committee (CDC). CDC leaders presented the case to the Medical College Hospital with which they had established a linkage in 2011. Shampa’s husband was finally treated for free at the hospital.

10%

7%

14%

69%

Human rightsFamily lawWomen rights

TailoringHandicraftBeauty parlour

Social protectionEducationInfrastructure

Family planningNutritionInmunization

Shampa’s story

In 2013:

286,871urban poorbenefitted

19

LEGAL

SKILLSDEVELOPMENT

OTHERS

HEALTH

Connecting slum dwellers to the city

Breakdown of beneficiariespartnerships & linkages

per sector in 2013

18

697Linkagesestablished2009-2013

141Partnerships

established2009-2013

UPPR supports community organizations to establish partnerships and linkages with other service providers. Collaborations with no exchange of funds are termed ‘linkages’ while those where the community organiza-tions pay for the services provided by another entity are termed ‘partnerships’.

Partnerships and linkages are established with the recognition that no one project can meet and address all the different socio-economic needs of poor urban communi-ties effectively. In particular linkages provide a sustainable source of support for commu-nities.

For example, CDCs have established part-nerships with private clinics so medical treatment for their members is provided at a lower cost.

UPPR has also worked with community leaders to increase inclusion of their mem-bers in Government programs such as social protection schemes. As a result CDCs have begun connecting their members with longer lasting Government support.

In the four months since her husband had an accident at the rice mill where he used to work, Shampa has been the sole earner in her household. As an assistant on a construc-tion site, she earns 180 Taka a day. For the last six years Shampa has been working from 8am to 530pm, mixing sand and cement before passing it on to other workers.

From her salary, Shampa has been saving 10Tk every week and has started to pay back a loan she took from Golap in 2013. She has been building her own house. In addition Golap have provided a stipend to help cover her daughters’ education expenses.

Her husband’s accident left him without his right hand finger. When they could not afford the necessary treatment, Shampa relied on Golap and its Community Development Committee (CDC). CDC leaders presented the case to the Medical College Hospital with which they had established a linkage in 2011. Shampa’s husband was finally treated for free at the hospital.

10%

7%

14%

69%

Human rightsFamily lawWomen rights

TailoringHandicraftBeauty parlour

Social protectionEducationInfrastructure

Family planningNutritionInmunization

Shampa’s story

In 2013:

286,871urban poorbenefitted

19

Partnerships andlinkages

UPPR works in collaboration with UN agen-cies, NGOs and the private sector. Through partnerships with other service providers, UPPR helps the urban poor access services and achieve sustainable poverty reduction.

Partnerships and linkages can help UPPR in unlocking the potential of urban poor women through skills development. An example of this is the partnership with the Bangladesh Garment Manufactures & Exporters Associa-tion (BGMEA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). With this partnership a large number of poor and underprivileged women from the UPPR communities are trained and connected with one of the 5,000 garment factories under the umbrella of the association.

With the support of partners, UPPR also helps poor children to access education as a way to break free from the cycle of poverty. We work with organizations like the Sheba Foundation, a non-profit organization, which helps com-munities in Chapai to run a pre-school, and Grameen Prodip, which gives support to UPPR community organizations in running an adult literacy programme.

Maximising access tofinancial services

UPPR and Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd. have introduced DBBL’s Mobile Banking Services to UPPRs operations. Starting as a pilot, the services will be used to pay grants to beneficiaries in Savar and Tangail. Once the grant is approved, the beneficiary can withdraw the amount at the nearest UPPR Community Resource Centre (CRC) or from any of DBBL’s bank branches and ATMs.

The linkage will not only result in smoother running of UPPR’s financial operations but will enable the urban poor to further access financial services. Beneficiaries will have access to banking services (including services such as utility payments and the topping-up of phone credit) without any annual fees. It will further allow beneficiaries to access savings and loan products through the formal banking sector.

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UPPR has supported communities to establish Community Resource Centers (CRCs), where slum dwellers can access NGO, private sector and government information and services, such as job applications and health and agricultural extension service information. At the same time, the Government of Bangladesh, supported by the Access to Information (a2i) project, has been establishing Pourashava Information and Service Centers (PISCs) throughout Bangladesh, which provide e-services, such as birth registration, university admission, passport and citizenship certificate application, and mobile banking, apart from the informa-tion on government circulars and notices. The centers also provide citizens with computers, internet and telecommunication services.

In an effort to streamline the service provision of the CRCs with the Government-run centers as well as to upgrade them to enable e-services, UPPR and a2i are working together to upgrade the CRCs to PISCs.

UPPR, the Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and Sobar Jonno Pani Limited (SJP) work together with the communities in Bhashantek to con-nect these to the city water supply. Following the expansion of the water network to Bhashantek, fami-lies are connected in their own houses to the WASA pipelines. WASA supplies clean drinking water to Bhashantek and communities commit to paying for the water, while SJP the responsible entity before WASA, collecting payments at the household level for water plus an additional charge to cater for the management, maintenance and operation of the local water network. With time, it is envisaged that the community and DWASA will become the main stakeholders of SJP in Bhashantek.

Expanding accessto basic services

Increasing accessto information

21

UPPR has supported communities to establish Community Resource Centers (CRCs), where slum dwellers can access NGO, private sector and government information and services, such as job applications and health and agricultural extension service information. At the same time, the Government of Bangladesh, supported by the Access to Information (a2i) project, has been establishing Pourashava Information and Service Centers (PISCs) throughout Bangladesh, which provide e-services, such as birth registration, university admission, passport and citizenship certificate application, and mobile banking, apart from the informa-tion on government circulars and notices. The centers also provide citizens with computers, internet and telecommunication services.

In an effort to streamline the service provision of the CRCs with the Government-run centers as well as to upgrade them to enable e-services, UPPR and a2i are working together to upgrade the CRCs to PISCs.

UPPR, the Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and Sobar Jonno Pani Limited (SJP) work together with the communities in Bhashantek to con-nect these to the city water supply. Following the expansion of the water network to Bhashantek, fami-lies are connected in their own houses to the WASA pipelines. WASA supplies clean drinking water to Bhashantek and communities commit to paying for the water, while SJP the responsible entity before WASA, collecting payments at the household level for water plus an additional charge to cater for the management, maintenance and operation of the local water network. With time, it is envisaged that the community and DWASA will become the main stakeholders of SJP in Bhashantek.

Expanding accessto basic services

Increasing accessto information

21

BECOMINGONE CITY

Becoming one city

To support our communities to establish a dialogue with its Government representatives, UPPR works with Local Government Institutions (LGI) to increase their awareness of the needs of the urban poor and their capacity to address them. UPPR is a project of finite duration. By mainstreaming our best approaches into the LGI’s ways of operating we can ensure our contribution to urban poverty reduction continues.

Strengthening institutionsUPPR looks to build the capacity of LGI staff to take over its work. UPPR is working closely with the Pourashavas and City Corporations to provide the necessary orientation to council members and relevant staff of LGIs, including Slum Devel-opment Officers. In 2013, all Municipal Town Planners and Engineers in the 23 towns were trained on the Settlement Land Mapping (SLM) methodology and how SLM can be used for city planning and community development work.

Institutionalising UPPR approachesUPPR has developed Joint Action Plans with local govern-ment institutions in the 23 towns where it operates. The plans outline the transfer of responsibilities from UPPR to LGIs, like the monitoring and backstopping of the savings & credit groups. Further, they elaborate on the provision of focused and targeted support for LGI staff to perform functions previously undertaken by UPPR town teams.

Influencing policy2013 was an appropriate time both to reflect on the work of UPPR and look beyond March 2015. As the Government of Bangladesh and partners plan for a new generation of poverty reduction programmes, UPPR has been supporting the national dialogue by sharing its experience and lessons learned. In particular, UPPR is advocating for a multi-sectoral approach where communities and local government institutions jointly take the lead.

Making services sustainableMaterializing LGIs commitment to address urban poverty is critical. By the end of 2013, there was evidence that Pourashavas and City Corporations are willing to co-finance the implementation of UPPR activities in 2014. As demand for infrastructure activities was greater than the remaining budget, towns were invited to contribute funds. Four towns agreed by December and 13 further towns are due to make commitments in January 2014.

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Mapping poverty in urbansettlements

COMMUNITYHOUSING

DEVELOPMENTFUND

$$

$

Housing &tenure security

UPPR has a two-track approach to improve tenure security. Firstly, it works for inclusive urban planning. Using Settlement Land Mapping (SLM), UPPR helps slum dwellers to map the low income settlements and plots of vacant land in the wards in which they live. Trained community members assess the poverty level of each settlement using sixteen indicators which include access to water, electricity and roads. Details on the vacant plots are recorded in case a settlement is destroyed or is in danger of being evicted and alternative living space is needed. UPPR works with Mayors to endorse the maps and include them in the Town Plans.

Secondly UPPR supports the development of new models of security of tenure. For example where communities are at risk of eviction, UPPR supports them in negotiating with landowners in order to find a solution which safeguards the community. UPPR also works with communities to develop-ment Community Housing Development Funds from which the urban poor can take loans for housing purposes.

Using GIS maps, communities mark low-income settlements & plots of vacant land in 29 towns

16 INDICATORS TO DETERMINE POVERTY

22towns

endorsedSettlement

LandMaps

5towns

24

established

Moyna looks at you through one glassy eye, due to a cataract problem, and smiles. One reason she is happy is that we are sitting in the house she bought in 2013. She did so with a loan of Tk 8,000 from the Golap savings and credit group along with Tk 2,000 of her own savings.

Moyna’s life has not always been so cheerful and she still has to work hard every day. She was married when she was 12 and works at a rice mill for four days a week. Sometimes she does nightshifts, working until five in the morning. Moyna’s husband has not worked for some months due to health problems.

In 2009, Moyna was categorized as being extremely poor by her neighbours in Golap. The community gave her a grant to start selling rice at her home. This supplements her income from working in the factory. Today Moyna has already paid half of her loan back to the group.

Challenges remain for Moyna. Access to healthcare is an issue as the local clinic is not equipped to deal with her cataract problem. All the while her income must suffice for the needs of her famliy. Yet when asked about how she feels, Moyna smiles again and says she is proud of how far she has come.

Moyna’s story

HOUSINGTENURESECURITY

&

UPPR supports communities to negotiate better arrangements with their landowner

Maps are handed-over to LocalGovernments for the recognition& inclusion of urban poor

25

15settlements

Moyna looks at you through one glassy eye, due to a cataract problem, and smiles. One reason she is happy is that we are sitting in the house she bought in 2013. She did so with a loan of Tk 8,000 from the Golap savings and credit group along with Tk 2,000 of her own savings.

Moyna’s life has not always been so cheerful and she still has to work hard every day. She was married when she was 12 and works at a rice mill for four days a week. Sometimes she does nightshifts, working until five in the morning. Moyna’s husband has not worked for some months due to health problems.

In 2009, Moyna was categorized as being extremely poor by her neighbours in Golap. The community gave her a grant to start selling rice at her home. This supplements her income from working in the factory. Today Moyna has already paid half of her loan back to the group.

Challenges remain for Moyna. Access to healthcare is an issue as the local clinic is not equipped to deal with her cataract problem. All the while her income must suffice for the needs of her famliy. Yet when asked about how she feels, Moyna smiles again and says she is proud of how far she has come.

Moyna’s story

HOUSINGTENURESECURITY

&

UPPR supports communities to negotiate better arrangements with their landowner

Maps are handed-over to LocalGovernments for the recognition& inclusion of urban poor

25

15settlements

FINANCIALS

Financial review

UPPR’s main donor is UK aid with additionall resources from the Government of Bangladesh and UNDP. We are committed to maximising the impact of each dollar spent to improve the lives of the poor.

2013 Expenditure

SETTLEMENTIMPROVEMENT FUND

SOCIO ECONOMICFUND NUTRITION TRAINING & EQUIPMENT

PARTNERSHIPS MANAGEMENT & PERSONNEL M&E

TOTAL$23,732,372

27

$9,439,084

$207,077 $5,719,016

$6,617,677

$109,209

$960,080 $680,229

$104,712,903

Budget Funds Spent

$91,169,071

Cumulative

FINANCIALS

New initiatives in 2013

Programme to Accelerate Improved Nutrition

In 2013, UPPR started the distribution of iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements to 2,800 pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as 15,900 adolescent girls. De-worming tablets and multiple micronutrient supplements are also supplied to 11,700 children between 12-59 months and 9,700 adolescent girls. This project component will continue until August 2015.

Research, Evaluationand Learning Unit

RELU began operating in 2013 to improve UPPR’s measure-ment and reporting of results. It has carried out four studies including a quantitative analysis of multidimensional poverty and a participatory measurement of women’s empower-ment. RELU has increased the quality and diversity of UPPR’s reporting, delivering a redesigned website; greater use of social media; and the launch of a quarterly newsletter.

28

To ensure high quality delivery of UPPR funds for the benefits of slum dwellers

MAU was established in 2013 to strengthen internal controlsand financial systems in UPPR’s 23 town offices. MAU has reported an improvement in the financial man-agement, governance and risk management systems across the towns. Average compliance with operational rules reached 92 percent in December 2013, up from 72 percent at the end of 2012.

UPPR has been advising the Government of Bangladesh and partners in the development of a national urban poverty reduc-tion program. To realize the Governments long-term plan of achieving greater decentralization to local governments and enable more effective urban governance the envisaged program has a focus on strengthening local government institutions and community structures to benefit 9 million urban poor.

MutualAccountability Unit

National Urban PovertyProgramme

29

MAU was established in 2013 to strengthen internal controlsand financial systems in UPPR’s 23 town offices. MAU has reported an improvement in the financial man-agement, governance and risk management systems across the towns. Average compliance with operational rules reached 92 percent in December 2013, up from 72 percent at the end of 2012.

UPPR has been advising the Government of Bangladesh and partners in the development of a national urban poverty reduc-tion program. To realize the Governments long-term plan of achieving greater decentralization to local governments and enable more effective urban governance the envisaged program has a focus on strengthening local government institutions and community structures to benefit 9 million urban poor.

MutualAccountability Unit

National Urban PovertyProgramme

29

None of our work would be possible without the funding and guidance of our donor, UKaid, and the commitment of the Government of Bangladesh to take forward the fight against urban poverty. The dedication of our staff, the expertise of UNDP and UN-Habitat, and the inspiring communities we work with were behind our impact in 2013.