SUS in the year of 2009

Since 1986, Sabalamby Unnayan Samity (SUS) has grown from a small group of like-minded people into a multi-facetted development organisation. SUS’s overall objective is to bring about sustainable development and equality through the organisation and motivation of the local communities.

SUS is currently working in six districts: Netrakona, Sunamganj, Mymensingh, Kishoregonj, Jamalpur and Serpur. SUS has four main programs, the Economic Livelihood Development Program (ELDP), the Rights, Education, Health and Environment Program (REHEP), the Program Support Unit (PSU) and the Finance, Administration and Communication sector (FAC) which are operated through twenty-six field offices.

This annual report is an evaluation of SUS’s work in the last year and illustrates its achievements, impact, limitations, challenges and recommendations. The relevant SUS field staff have collected the appropriate data in preparation for this report.

At SUS we believe that achieving sustainable development is a long and continuous process. We believe it cannot be achieved through financial assistance alone. In order to sustain development, communities need to become self-reliant, through training and education. We also believe that communities’ awareness needs to be raised so that they are able to fight for their rights and demand more from their government. Moreover, the population needs to be able to utilise the natural environment effectively, and this can only be achieved through sustaining and protecting our natural habitat. Overall, sustainable development can only occur when financial resources, social resources and natural resources are effectively managed and integrated, and that is what SUS hopes to achieve.

In 2006, SUS started the Economic Livelihood Development Program (ELDP) with the objective of raising rural incomes through the creation of employment opportunities. The ELDP is encompasses five major projects: The Micro Finance and Micro Enterprise projects (MF and ME); the Women’s Market Corner project (WMC); the Extreme Poor Women Development Project (EPWDP), the Income and Food Security for Ultra Poor project (IFSUP) and the Adolescent Handicraft project.

In 2009, the MF and ME projects continued to be successful. SUS provided 28,925 beneficiaries with not only the capital to establish and maintain their Income Generating Activities (IGAs) but also with the necessary support through training and guidance. In this year, a total amount of Tk.404026000.00 was distributed by SUS and a total of Tk.306480733.00 was collected back by SUS from the group members. Furthermore, 100% of members accumulated savings regularly, around Tk.20-40 per weekly meeting and Tk.46214690.00 of savings were collected overall. In addition, many MF and ME group members received training on crop cultivation, animal rearing and social issues and three days of training were provided for 356 group leaders.

The major initiative implemented in 2009 for the Women’s Market Corner project was the establishment of relationships between women traders and other organisations such as the Union Parishad (UP) Bazaar Committee and the Trader Association. This has given women traders a platform to express their concerns and as a result, more shops have been allotted to women traders and the market places have been cleaned up.

This year, all 52 groups of the EPWDP were running efficiently. 415 members are now involved in mainstream IGAs. The beneficiaries are often involved with multiple IGAs to ensure they earn enough money to meet their family’s expenditure. At present, 100% of members are using safe drinking water and 438 members are using sanitary latrines. Furthermore, all the extreme poor families and 3118 community people had their 4118 cows and 322 goats vaccinated with the assistance of the upazila livestock office.

For the IFSUP project, 2009 was a good year. The average monthly profit for each beneficiary was Tk.18842. Each of the beneficiary households received at least five types of IGAs within their budget allocation. All 1600 beneficiaries are depositing weekly savings ranging from Tk.2 to 100.


The handicraft project includes five sections, the Batik Section, which employs 15 skilled workers, the Noshki section, which employs 30 skilled workers, the Sewing Section, which employs 11 skilled workers, the Bamboo and Cane Section which employs 19 skilled workers and the Handloom Section, which employs 13 skilled workers. In 2009, a total of 14,760 products were made by adolescents in the Handicraft sections. SUS handicraft products have been sold in local markets through the SUS showroom. SUS have also sold products in Dhaka through SOURCE and in local Bangladesh markets through BaSE Khulna, HEED Bangladesh and Gazipur. SUS handicraft products have been sold abroad through several organisations including Global Girlfriend-Italy, Fair-Trade-Korea, Shiham Craft Link-Australia and U-landsforeningen-Denmark and have been marketed in countries such as Italy, Korea, Australia, Finland and Denmark. In the reporting period, SUS received 1620386.00 taka from the sale of handicraft products.

The overall objective of the Rights, Education, Health and Environment Program (REHEP) is to create an environment where people can enjoy their livelihoods with rights, honour and dignity. In 2009, through the REHEP Rights and Governance project, 322 human rights violations were reported to have occurred in the working area of SUS and 159 of these violations were minimised by the SUS supported Salishi/arbitration groups. Almost Tk.1720000.00 was recovered in compensation, maintenance and dower. 31 village courts in 31 unions, out of 44 unions are participating in the working area of SUS to mitigate local conflicts. Furthermore, in 2009, at least 3 qualified women leaders were selected in 3 upazilas and will compete in future union parishad (UP) elections. Workshops, training sessions and day observations were held to highlight the importance of issues such as, gender equality, the National Legal Aid Fund, Climate change, acid violence, the Millennium Development Goals, human rights, access to information etc.

In 2009, the SHARIQUE project (Strengthen Capacity and Establish Good Governance of the Union Parishad) concentrated on strengthening relations with local organisations such as the UP bodies, government offices and NGOs, and a total of ten meetings occurred. A total of nine Local Governance Self Assessments (LGSA) were performed in UPs by SHARIQUE staffs in 2009. In addition, 117 Standing Committees, which focus on improving local governance for poor or marginalised people are now functioning in the UPs, motivated by the SHARIQUE staff. .

The major success of the SHOUHARDO (Strengthening Household Ability to Respond to Development Opportunities) SUS program in 2009 include: 100% sanitation coverage in 69 villages out of 109 villages in the working area; 100% vegetable cultivation in the Haor region; 100% of VDCs now have their own office premises and a significant number of VDCs have been able to generate their own funds and a comprehensive Community Tube Well Arsenic Assessment Report was produced and awareness of arsenic and the importance of a safe water supply was raised.

As a result of the Food Security for the Ultra Poor in Hoar Region (FSUP-H), 55, 000 households now engage with development processes in cooperation with their communities and local level institutions; these households now have additional economic opportunities and incomes, reduced vulnerability to food insecurity, and well as reduced malnutrition due to the improved utilisation of food.

As part of the Education Program of REHEP, the ECD (Early Childhood Development) schools have been successful. 1800 students participate overall, 90% of students can read and write the alphabet; 95% of students can read and write 1-30 numbers; 98% of students can draw pictures and 98% students are very active in co-curriculum activities such as dance, song and rhyme. In the 2009 evaluation, 1472 students were considered very good, 165 considered good and 163 considered medium.
The students of the NFPE (Non-Formal Primary Education) schools are similarly successful. 93% of students attended their classes regularly. 96.83% students attended the first and second year annual examinations. Students can read and write the Bangla and the English alphabet, can make a Bangla and English sentence, can read stories, can read and write 1-100 numbers. They are regular in class, respectful to others, more careful with school equipment, wash their bodies, brush their teeth, cut their nails regularly, and are aware of the use of safe water and how to use the latrines hygienically. The students are now showing an interest in continuous education. The Community Response in Education is a new initiative introduced in 2009 and aims to engage the community with the local educational system, and has so far proved to be successful.

The majority of SUS participants are now aware of health issues and have more access to health services than over before. The participants now use safe drinking water and sanitary latrines. They are more aware of diseases, the importance of good nutrition, the importance of health care for pregnant mothers and infants and the importance of vaccinations. This has been achieved through courtyard meetings and house visits. Access to healthcare has improved through SUS initiatives, such as the provision and static and satellite clinics, the SUS hospital in Netrakona and SUS developing links with other hospitals and clinics.

With regards to disability, SUS is focussed on prevention, care and awareness. Highlighting the importance of pregnant mothers’ health and the correct delivery procedures has reduced the instance of disability in the working area. Caring for disabled people through counselling, physiotherapy, allowing them access to assistive devices and where possible, surgery, has given these people hope for the future. Also by raising awareness that disability is not a curse or something to be ashamed of, a more positive attitude toward disability is noticeable, and disabled children have been integrated into schools and are working on IGAs.

SUS have continued its work with the environment in 2009, conserving local seeds, encouraging organic agricultural methods and motivating participants to establish vegetable and fruit gardens. Furthermore, SUS is also encouraging and supporting the development and conservation of the Hijal-Koroch forest, through Access to Food security and Accelerated Livelihood towards Bio-diversity-AFAL.

The Program Support Unit (PSU) is working to strengthen and ensure the smooth operation of SUS’s core programs. Its activities include training, monitoring and evaluation, study, research and reporting. Training has become one of the major support services for SUS programs as it builds the working capacity of SUS participants and instructs SUS staff on how to perform their responsibilities efficiently. This year, beneficiaries received training on a variety of topics, including: management and leadership, IGA selection, conflict management, health, women’s leadership, governance and rights, gender equality, animal rearing, vegetable cultivation. 356 members of staff participated in workshops and orientations, and a further 255 members of staff received training specifically formulated to help them run their respective programs successfully and efficiently.

SUS continues to work closely with other NGOs and national and local government organisations in order to achieve sustainable development. SUS operations are led by a strong work ethic, the knowledge that community participation is paramount and with the support of an efficient financial and administrative system.