About the organization:
Shushilan, a Bengali name signifying endeavors for a better future, is a national non-government development organization set up in 1991 and holding consultative status of NGO Branch, ECOSOC of the United Nations (UN). The organization came into being in the face of degradation of socio-ecological resources in the southwest coastal region with specific mission to redress the declining natural resource base, livelihoods and food security of the people. To uphold human rights and gender equity for the socially disadvantaged community with the focus on women is another major concern of Shushilan’s development initiatives. Shushilan is a local agro-ecology and right based NGO working in the southwest coastal region for ensuring livelihood security of the resource poor community through promoting sustainable agricultural firming system and environmental health. Wetland resource management with focus on aquaculture is one of the principal components of Shushilan’s development initiatives in the region.
The organization was established by the number of young social workers of the village Benadona and Pania, Satkhira District, Bangladesh. Present Chief Executive Mostafa Nuruzzaman is the founder of the organization. Shushilan is an organization for development of Eco–sensitive community of the Sundarbans and its vicinity. The organization registered from Department of Social Welfare (Satkhira-94/91/98), NGO Affairs Bureau (NGO Affairs Bureau-768/93), Microcredit Regulatory Authority(00 345 – 00075 – 00038) and other available sections and Governing Body consist of EC (7) and General Committee (23).
The organization’s program approaches are transforming over 26 years to improve quality projects for the poor, vulnerable and needy people with especial focus on coastal zone areas. Considering above Shushilan has undertaken five programs which are-
- Socio-economic Development Program;
- Education & ICT, and Health & Nutrition Program;
- Disaster, Climate Change and Environmental Resource Management Program;
- Human Rights and Good Governance Program; and
- Sustainable People’s Organization Program.
Fundamental principles:
- Equality of mankind
- Combat poverty
- Safeguarding interest of future generation
- To uphold national interest and help the underprivileged community.
- Practices of democracy, transparency and Accountability.
Strategic Directions
- Improve livelihoods of vulnerable communities in Bangladesh with special attention to coast, riverbank, wetlands, and hill tracks
- Improve education & health condition of vulnerable people
- Secure human rights and good governance
- Sustainable environmental resources management in eco-sensitive areas
- Reduce disaster vulnerabilities
- Adaptation and mitigation of adverse impact of climate change
- Develop people’s organization and leadership
- Expand Shushilan as an effective development institution to serve the vulnerable community in Bangladesh
Cross-cutting Issues
Development Approaches
- Participatory development.
- Collaboration, partnership and networking with national and international development organizations.
- Community based resource management.
- Indigenous knowledge-based development.
- Right based.
- Grass root democratization.
- Decentralization.
- Gender mainstreaming.
Policy Framework
- Shushilan’s development endeavors principally focus on poorest of the poor-destitute women, outcastes, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities and Hard-Core Poor (HCP) community. The issue of their development is the first priority. Shushilan works to empower resource poor community at all levels-community, social and national levels.
- Shushilan works for conservation of environmental resource base.
- Shushilan takes up development initiatives within the policy framework of Bangladesh Government.
- Shushilan takes up all development initiatives taking gender perspective into consideration.
- Shushilan takes up development programs taking economic, social, political and cultural equity into consideration.
- Shushilan takes up all development initiatives taking sustainability of development partners into consideration.
- Shushilan works to ensure availability of local resources and government facilities in the interest of the resource poor people.
- Shushilan proceeds from project to program.
- Shushilan implements development programs through networking and development partnership.
Throughout the period Shushilan has developed high experience and capacity on those areas especially in agriculture, livelihood, climate change, disaster management, capacity building, women empowerment, water and sanitation, education, fisheries, construction, health and nutrition, relief distribution, resettlement and rehabilitation, school feeding, research projects etc. So far, Shushilan has successfully implemented 323 different projects among those 119 projects on disaster management and currently implementing 42 projects with different donors, government organizations and international development partners. Shushilan origin in Satkhira and the existing projects are in 8 Divisions, 50 Districts, 215 Upazilas and 1453 Unions especially in Satkhira, Khulna, Jessore, Bagerhat, Barguna, Barisal, Patuakhali, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Rajshahi, Naogoan, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram etc.
Shushilan is implementing its program activities through 39 offices including head office in Khulna. Moreover, Shushilan has a total of 718 (male: 502, female:216) staff and 554 (male: 91, female: 463) volunteers with multi experienced in Management, Health & Nutrition, Education, Finance, Gender, DRR, Food Security, Agriculture, institutional capacity building, Engineer, Research, Training, etc. who are experienced, high skill and multidisciplinary staff for successful implement of programs Currently the organization is supporting more than 2 m beneficiaries. Shushilan is the member of different network both at local and national level and work for the betterment of the beneficiaries. The organization is committed to focus on holistic development and encompassing management framework with the participation of development Government, partners, donor, NGOs, community and private sectors.
Shushilan has gained good experience in handling funds for more than 323 projects with a total budget ranging from BDT 70 to 80 million per year at a time. Starting from a very small-scale operation from the early ‘90, Shushilan has achieved its successive growth in handling of project budget at an average rate of about 90% per annum.
The organization is always supportive for the humanitarian activities and extend helping hand to the affected people, especially the organization experienced massive humanitarian intervention during 2000 flood in Satkhira. Shushilan performed it support with different recovery and rehabilitation interventions funded by different donor organizations. Shushilan have been worked intensively with disaster response & management activities in Sidr (2007), Alia (2009), Mahasen (2013), Roanu (2016) as well as different years of flooding hazards especially in the coastal belt of Bangladesh and total covered >1,200,000 households with different relief and rehabilitation support.
| Year | Type of Disaster | District |
HH supported |
| 2000 | Flood | Satkhira |
30000 |
| 2001 | Flood &water logged | Satkhira, Jessore |
12133 |
| 2002 | Water logged | Satkhira, Jessore |
4025 |
| 2003 | Water logged | Satkhira |
2487 |
| 2004 | Water logged | Satkhira |
2025 |
| 2005 | Land less conflict | Satkhira |
350 |
| 2006 | Water logged | Satkhira |
2000 |
| 2007-08 | Cyclone SIDR | Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barisal, Pirojpur, Barguna |
208,422 |
| 2008-09 | Cyclone SIDR, AILA & Water logged | Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barisal, Pirojpur, Barguna |
219606 |
| 2009 -10 | Cyclone AILA | Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barisal, Pirojpur, Barguna |
196675 |
| 2010-11 | Cyclone AILA & Water logged | Satkhira, Jessore, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna & Bhola |
201740 |
| 2011 -12 | Cyclone AILA & Water logged | Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna & Bhola |
182400 |
| 2012 -13 | Cyclone AILA, Mahasen &Water logged | Satkhira, Khulna, Barguna & Bhola, Cox’s Bazer |
116780 |
| 2013-14 | Waterlogging and Mahasen | Satkhira, Jessore, Cox’s Bazer |
42845 |
| 2014-15 | Waterlogging, Tidal surge | Satkhira, Jessore, Cox’s Bazer |
38962 |
| 2015-16 | Cyclone Roanu, Waterlogging | Satkhira, Jessore, Bhola & Barguna, Cox’s Bazer |
27655 |
|
Total |
1,288,105 HH |
Partnership & Networking:
Approach to Address Disaster Management Activities of Shushilan:
Shushilan Activities in Disaster Management
Pre-disaster management
- Community Risk Assessment (CRA)
- Participatory Risk & Vulnerability Assessment (PRVA)
- Local Level Planning and Disaster Management Plan
- Local Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plan LDRRAP
- Household Risk Reduction Plan (HRRP) & Demonstration
- Awareness raising through training, pot song, group meeting
- Disaster copping capacity buildup among vulnerable community
- Prepared union & upazilla wise and organizational contingency plan
- Volunteer develop and their capacity building
- Infrastructure building and reconstruction activities
Risk Assessment & Planning Activities Carried out by Shushilan
| Risk Assessment & Planning Activities |
District |
Sub District/Upazila |
| CRA Activities | Satkhira, Sunamganj & Barguna. | Shyamnagar, Dehata, Kaliganj, Dowara Bazar, Amtali and Patharghata |
| LLP Activities | Khulna, Satkhira & Barguna | Dacope, Koyra, Shyamnagar, Assasuni and Patharghata |
| DM Plan Activities | Noagonj, Rajshahi, Bagerhat, Patuakhali & Chittagonj | Manda, Sapahar, Dhomoirhat, Badalgachi, Mahadevpur, Godagari, Paba, Bagaha, Charghat, Bagerhat, Baufal, Galachipa, Dashmina, Mirssari |
During disaster management
- Informed and prepared to the staff, volunteer and Shuvashakti members
- Updated timely information & affected situation
- Opening Information center with control room in District and Head Office level.
- Preparation of transport like trawler, boat, track, motorcycle, life jacket etc
- Disseminate and communicate for early warning among the union level vulnerable communities.
- Communicate with UP chairmen, members, PIO, Upazilla Chairmen, UNOs and relevant District Officials.
- Immediate rescue and taken stranded vulnerable community in the nearest safe place
- Emergency coordination with different cell of the Organization and different vendors
After disaster management
Rapid assessment & collect damage situation with report from GOB
Joint Need Assessment (JNA)
Emergency relief operation
Dry food items
Food package items (Baby food, Drinking Water
Nonfood items (Polyethene sheet, Clothes & Hygiene & Family kits box)
Rehabilitation activities
WASH activities i.e. construction or repair the latrine, drinking water facilities
Embankment repairing activities
Restoration the communication facilities
Cash For Work (CFW) & Food For Work (FFW)
Shelter construction & repairing activities
IGA support
Agricultural promotion activities
Awareness building activities
Nutritional support babies & women
Shushilan Performance in Different Hazards
Shushilan has been implemented different projects in Sidr, Alia, Water logging, Mohasen, Roanu affected areas of Bangladesh. Different activities like construction of school cum cyclone shelter, human resource centre, developed flat soiling road, construction of house, reconstruction of embankment, construction of water and sanitation structures e.g. pond sand filter, rain water harvester, tube well installation, latrine set up, relief and rehabilitation activities, Killa maintenance, cannel reconstruction, homestead rising, school field rising under the cash and food for work program. Shushilan has carried out livelihood enhancement activities e.g. nursery development, agricultural plots, kitchen gardening, poultry & livestock rearing, grocery shop, small trade, handicraft etc.
| Supported Items | Covered HH/Area | Remarks |
| Food Package Items distribution | 6,67,440 HH | Rice, pulse, oil, ORS |
| Dry Food Package Items | 4,30,000 HH | Chira, Molasses |
| Non Food Items (NFI) | 3,66,860 HH | Cloth, Cooking materials, plastic sheet, soap, rope |
| Nutritional Interventions (NI) | 2,31000 HH | HEB, Suji, Suger, Baby food, WSB |
| Construction or repair the latrine | Construction: 19300; Repair: 430 | Latrine construction materials |
| Drinking water facilities i.e. PSF, RWH | PSF: 78; RWH: 463 | Hard ware support for PSF, TW, RWH |
| Livelihood recovery support activities | 108935 HH | Different IGA related CG & kind support |
| CFW support | 100200 Participants (app) | Infrastructures rehabilitate with cash flow |
| FFW support | 123000 Participants (app) | Infrastructures rehabilitate with food flow |
| FFT support | 12000 Participants (app) | Awareness building with Food & Cash |
| Plinth raising, homestead raising | 10330 HH and 12 cluster | Infrastructures rehabilitate with cash flow |
| Shelter materials distribution | 21500 HH | Partly shelter support i.e. plinth, bamboo |
| Shelter provide | 3845 HH | Different types of shelter |
| Awareness building session | 64000 Session (app) | Training on DRR, WASH, IGA etc |
| Road Repair and maintains of road | 207 KM. | Infrastructures rehabilitate with cash flow |
| Canal, pond cleaning, pond reconstruction | Canal: 47.3 KM; Pond: 206 Nos. | Infrastructures rehabilitate with cash flow |
| Field raising of growth center | 102 | Market, school field, cyclone field |
| Habitat village develop | 203 HH (2 villages) | Both hardware & software support |
Vision:
A society congenial to economic and socio-cultural development of socially underprivileged community.
Mission:
Create opportunities and enable the socially underprivileged community for Sustainable Environmental Resource Management, Adaptation to Climate Change, Education, Health, Secure Livelihoods, Human Rights & Good Governance and Gender-Equity.
Core values:
- Shushilan learn from the people
- Believes in Equality of mankind irrespective of race, religion, caste, creed, gender and age
- Accountable to the development partners and community people
- Quality services out of visionary zeal
- Upholds the family values and secure individual freedom for each and every member
- Development of the most backward, socially disadvantaged and hardcore poor community
Geographical coverage of the organization:
|
Division |
District |
Upazila |
Union |
Villages |
Participants |
|
8 |
50 |
215 |
1453 |
25674 |
More than 20,000,000 |
Governance:
To ensure governance in the organization Shushilan has various committee. The details are as below:
- General Committee:
General Committee is the highest administrative tier of the organization. The General Committee, comprising of 21 to 25 members, is the guardian of the constitution. It elects the Executive Committee for a three-year period. The members of this committee are known as the ‘General Members’ of the organization.
- Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee has effective control of the organization. It is the competent authority for formulations of organizational policies. It approves the accounts, the budget, all policies and procedures, and the organization’s programs. Under the constitution, the Chairman of the Committee is the ‘formal head’ of the organization. The secretary is the chief executive of the organization, who leads the organization. The members of executive committee meet quarterly. The current Executive Committee is chaired by Chandrika Banarjee and others are – Md. Nazrul Islam (Vice President), Mostafa Nuruzzaman (Secretary), Ms. Ela Daby Mowllick (Treasurer) and members are Jafirullah Kutubuddin Muhammod Ibrahim, Ms Ostumi Malo and Ms Fatema Begum.
- Position and Number of the Executive Committee.
|
Name |
Position | Sex | Duration of the Board |
|
Chandrika Banerjee |
President |
Female |
3 years (12July 2017 to 11 July 2020) |
|
Md. Nazrul Islam |
Vice President |
Male |
|
|
Mostafa Nuruzzaman |
Secretary |
Male |
|
|
Illa Devi Mollick |
Treasurer |
||
|
Shahana Hamid |
Member |
Female |
|
|
Jafarullah KutubuddinMd Ebrahim |
Member |
Male |
|
|
Shahely Parvin Jharna |
Member |
Female |
- Internal Control:
Top Management:
The top management of the organization consists of the director, the advisors and the assistant directors of the organization. The top management has the main responsibility to structure the formulated policies for proper implementation as well as coordinate and formulate operational policies and methods. The top management meeting is held monthly.
Implementation Strategic Group:
The implementation strategic group (ISG) includes the members of top management and the heads of the nine cells of the organization. The ISG is responsible for structuring the operation strategies of the organizational activities. The ISG members meet quarterly and in these 4 months there is no separate meeting for top management.
Program Development Forum:
The program development forum (PDF) is the forum of the personnel who are directly related to implementing the programs and projects. This forum includes the members of ISG, project managers and coordinators. The forum meets thrice a year i.e. once in 4 months. The main responsibility of this forum is to discuss and share about project implementation experiences and develop the implementation strategy.
General Management
The general management forum includes all levels of managers of the organization. The general management meeting is the place of strategy dissemination. The general management meeting is held half-yearly. The meeting is the forum learning and sharing of the manager level staffs of the organization.
For more information please see www.shushilan.org