Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh 
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock 
Report of the Mid-Term Evaluation Committee 
on 
ISMP - Investment Support to Management of Aquatic Ecosystems 
through Community Husbandry (MACH) Project 
January 2005 
1. Mid-Term Evaluation Committee: 
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock formed a Mid-Term Evaluation Committee to evaluate 
the project " Investment Support to the Management of Aquatic Ecosystem through 
Community Husbandry " (ISM) on 9 October 2004. The composition of the Committee is as 
follows: 
I. Mr. Ashraful Islam --------.- Convenor 
Joint Chief, MoFL 
2. Mr. Abdus Sobhan Bhuiyan ---------- Member 
Joint Chief, Planning Commission 
( Forest, Fisheries and Livestock wing) 
3. Mr. AN M Rokon Uddin 
Deputy Director, IMED 
4. Mr. Syed Arif Azad 
Assistant Director, DoF 
5. Mr. Mostafa Kamal 
Assistant Chief 
Economic Relations Division 
6. Mr. S.N. Choudhury 
National Coordinator, MACH 
---.-----. Member 
---------- Member 
----.----- Member 
---------- Member - Secretary 
2. Terms of Reference of the Committee: 
i. To visit project areas. 
ii. To review project documents/works and evaluate the activities. 
iii. To prepare the report. 
iv. To submit report within three weeks. 
The Committee may co-opt any member, if necessary 
3. Purpose of the Mid-Term Evaluation: 
3.1 The purpose of the mid-term evaluation is to assess degree of progress made towards 
achieving the development component specific objectives and tasks of the project. The 
evaluation will focus on whether MACH in progressing towards the achievement of its goals 
and objectives and will assess future directions for MACH, The review will comment on 
whether improvements are necessary to make the program more effective in the years to 
come. 
3.2 Mid-tern1 evaluation is taking place with regard to hlACH's investment Support Project 
included in the ADP. Investment Support to MACH is to support MACH main project and 
both are inter related with each other and supplementary and complementary to each other. 
lniplementation of one is dependent on the implementations of other. In vien. of this, mid￾term e\.aluation of MACH as a whole has been conducted . This will give a clear picture 
about MACH activities. 
4. Methodology 
4.1 The MACH project has included three wetland /flood plain areas in Bangladesh which 
were selected earlier by the Project National Steering Committee. These are Hail Maor, 
Turag-Bangshi and Kangsha-Malijhee river basin. Located in three different districts, these 
sites include 6 upazillas, 26 unions and 341 villages. According to the original project design, 
MACH was obligated by the' agreement to work in one to two sites but eventually MACH 
successfi~lly implemented programs at three separate sites. The Mid-Term Evaluation Team 
visited all three sites. They collected necessary papers , documents and reports provided by 
the Project managenlent and reviewed those. They held discussion with the project authority 
at the HQ and their partner organizations. During field visit the Team held discussion with 
the beneficiaries group members (RUGS), Resource Management Organizations RMOs). 
other wetland and watershed resource ilsers, union Parishad Chairmen and members, Upazila 
government Officials and program staff. In Dhaka the Team reviewed documents and 
discussed with MACH , government officials , program staff and staff of the program 
partners and projects working with wetlands and fisheries. The mid-term evaluation report is 
based on review of relevant documents, collection of data and information , field visit and 
discussion with officials and target groups and general assessment. The team randomly 
selected specific project sites, beneficiaries, management committee and interviewed them. 
5. Limitations: 
5.1 Though the evaluation team visited all three sites but due to time constraints and other 
reasons , it was not possible for the Committee to visit all bvater bodies and to discuss and 
intervie\\ all organizations! groups and beneficiaries . It \vould have been better if the 
Conltrlittee could make field visit to all water bodies and beneficiaries and local 
administration. Within limited time , intensive coverage of the activities of ths RUGs'RhlOj 
in the field through field visits and discussion {vith all cor.cerned may be considered as 
sufficient for the purpose of evaluation. 
6. Background of the project 
6.1 The floodplains of Bangladesh form one of the world's most important {vetlands and 
home to hundreds of species of unique plants, fish, birds and other n.ildlife. The \vetlands 
provide critical habitat for over 200 fish species and thousands of migrating birds and most 
importantly a source of income and nutrition for millions of people in rural Bangladesh. As 
many as 80% of rural households catch fish for food or to sell and about 60% of animal 
protein consumption comes from fish . In addition , poor and marginal households catch 
many small fish that are not included in official statistics or policies. 
6.2 It may be mentioned that the wetlands consist of about 4 millions hectares of open water 
during the monsoon season. In the dry season the wetlands system reduces in extent to form 
of system of rivers . beels and haors. Conservation of the quality and quantity of wetlands 
during the dry season is critical for survival of the fish stocks that provide brood fish for 
spawning in the following wet season. 
6.3 Unfortunately the wetlands of Bangladesh are in decline due to over-use, increased rate of 
sedimentation and habitat loss to agriculture . pollution and urban development. The decline 
in wetlands has resulted in more than 40% of species of all freshwater fish which are in 
danger of extinction . Since 1985, natural carp spawn production has declined by 75% and 
major carp and large catfish have declined by 50% . 
6.4 The floodplain fishery plays a vital role in cushioning rural poverty and supplying animal 
protein and other critical nutrients to the rural poor. Besides, the tangible contributions of fish 
and fisheries are an integral part of the culture and lifestyle of the people and have been for 
centuries. Fish form a logical complement to a staple diet of rice. This fact probably gave rise 
to the Bengali adage "Mache-bhaate Bangali" (Fish+Rice=Bangali). 
6.5 The Management of Aquatic Ecosystem Through Community (MACH) Program was 
formulated to develop new approaches to floodplain and wetlands resource conservation and 
management. The project was launched on a cooperative agreement system under the USAID 
Food Security Team of the Dhaka USAID Mission. The original cooperative agreement 
carried an effective date of July 28, 1998 and was modified eight times, the last modification 
extended the time for completion from October12003 to Octoberl2006. 
6.6 An agreement for the MACH project was signed behveen the governments of Bangladesh 
and the United States in May 1998. In July 1998 a USAID selection committee with 
representation from MoFL selected Winrock International based in Morrilton , Arkansas as 
the guarantee. The Winrock team included three national partner organizations: CARITAS 
Bangladesh, Centre for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) and the Bangladesh Centre for 
Advanced Studies (BCAS). The program started in September 1998 and following an 
inception period, field programs were initiated in Hail Haor in Moulvibazar district and the 
lower Turag-Bangshi River Basin in Kaliakoir Upazila in Gazipur district and part of Tangail 
district in June 1999. A third site at the upper Kongshow Malijhee River Basin in Sherpt~r 
district was started in July 2000. 
6.7 Recognizing the need for new approaches to floodplain and \vetland resource 
management the Governments of Bangladesh and the United States of America have jointly 
developed a program called Management of Aquatic Ecosystem Through Community 
~usbandj - MACH . The on-going or current MACH program has been in operation since 
October 1998 under a grant amounting to US S 9.49 millior. provided by USAID . The on￾going program has been extended upto October 2006. MACH activities are undenvay at three 
field sites. MACH Programs are being implemented by four NGO's namely the US based 
international NGO Winrock International and three national NGOs, the Bangladesh Centre 
for Advanced Studies (BCAS) , the Centre for Natural Resources Studies (CNRS) and 
CARITAS-Bangladesh. 
6.8 The major purpose of the Investment Support Management Program is to support the on￾going field activities of MACH Program. The goal of the on-going MACH program is to 
promote environmentally sound management of wetland resources (fish and other wetland 
products) for the sustainable supply of food to the poor of Bangladesh. 
6.9 MACH since its inception has planned to procure outside funds to conduct large-scale 
physical intensentions . The large-scale physical interventions are needed to support local 
institutions and improve wetland and floodplain fisheries habitat. To meet the objectives and 
targets of on going MACH program , MACH submitted a proposal to USAID for the use of 
GOB -USG 416b funds and USAID agreed in principle to the use of these local (416b) 
currency funds. The proposal was then sent by USAID to ERD requesting their appro\,al . 
ERD agreed on conditio~i that Fund will be released on preparation and appro\:al of a 
supportive project by the government. 
6.10 Then a TAPP was prepared costing Tk. 3456.00 lakh and was submitted to the Planning 
Commission. But since the activities envisaged in TAPP were investment type in nature it 
was later decided that PCPIPP instead of TAPP should be prepared and submitted to the 
Planning Commission. Accordingly a PCP was prepared which was approved by ECNEC on 
25.08.2002. PP of the project was then approved by MoFL . Investment Support to MACH 
project (ISMP) is to provide support to MACH on-going project activities which are being 
implemented outside ADP . Duration of the main MACH project has been extended by 42 
months i.e. from 29 October 103 to October 106. In order to ensure the sustainability of the 
field resource management activities and to support MACH main Project, it is essential to 
extend the implementation period of the Investment Support Project upto October106. By 
extending the project upto October106, it allows for synchronization between the main 
MACH project outside ADP and the Investment Support project to MACH included in the 
ADP. 
7. Project Objectives: 
7.1 The goal of MACH is to promote ecologically sound management of floodplain resources 
(fisheries and other wetland products) for the sustainable supply of food to the poor of 
Bangladesh. 
7.2 The major purpose of Investment s~~pport project is to support the on-going MACH 
project. Investment support to MACH project will share the goals and objectives of MACH 
which remain: 
a) Development of flood plain resources for the sustainable supply of food to the 
poor of Bangladesh. 
b) Awareness building among the local cornmunit). as \veil as in local 
government level regarding the floodplain eco-system management and its 
inlportance. 
C) Creation of eas). passage of fish movement and safe dv season habitat. 
d) Creation of sanctuaries and consenation easements for the presenation and 
production of endangered species as \\ell as otter aquatic species of flora and 
fauna. 
e) Generation of alternate income activities to reduce pressure on floodplain fijlleriss as 
well as agriculture. 
f) As a measure of water preservation , sediment and pollution control, 
construction of sluice gates, check dams and other infrastructures as specific 
location of wetland. 
g) A forestation program in the project area for the protection of soil erosion. 
h) Ensure the sustainability of the various community management organizations 
formed under the project. 
7.3 The major purpose of the program is to demonstrate to communities, local government 
and policy makers the viability of a community approach to the management of natural 
resources and habitat conservation in Bangladesh over entire floodplains . The community 
includes all people in a given area that are dependent either economically or nutritionally on 
the floodplain and/or its products. The program emphasizes and works with poorer groups 
particularly fisheries. It also includes local government as well as the local elite in order to 
make the program truly sustainable. 
8. Location: Project Sites 
8.1 The project is located in three different districts. MACH has focused on the development 
of three major wetland /floodplain areas in these three districts. The sites were selected by the 
National Steering Committee of the project headed by the Secretary, MoFL. The sites are 
Hail Haor, Turag-Bangshi and Kangsha-Malijhee river basins covering three districts which 
include six Upazilas , 26 Unions and 341 villages . According to the original project design 
MACH was obligated by the agreement to work in one to two sites but eventually MACH 
successfully implemented program at three separate sites which are as follows: 
8.2 Hail Haor: 
8.3 Hail Haor in the Sylhet Basin is located in behveen Balichara and Barshijura hills in the 
east and Satgaon Hills to the west. Water originates from the surrounding 350 small hill 
streams (at present only 59 stream are active) and the LunglaIBilashi river. Hail Haor's only 
discharge is the Gopla River which connects it to the main Sylhet Haor and then to the Upper 
Meghna (about 20 km away) . The project site is located in 5 unions of Sreemongal Upazila 
and in two unions of Sadar Upazila of Moulvibazar district. During rainy season wetland area 
is approximately 13000 hectare and dry season area ranges from 3000 to 4000 hectare. The 
population is 172000. 
8.4 Hail Haor is a shallow weedy basin, a large single body of water in the rainy season and 
many small (17 seasonal147 perennial) beels in the dry season. It is surrounded on three sides 
by a chain of tea gardens, pineapple groves, rubber trees and natural forest blocks. Areas 
above flood level are intensively cropped (2-3 crops /year) with rice mono-culh~res .The 
surrounding hills, formerly forested are now cleared and either used for agriculture or tea 
plantation. 
8.5 Fishing activities on the Haor occur year-round. During the rainy season s-ubsistence and 
still net fishers predominate . Larger fish are collected from the drying beels in the dry 
season. 
8.6 Turag-Bangshi Site: 
8.7 The Turag-Bangshi site is located in 7 unions of Kaliakoir Upazilas under Gazipur district 
and in one union of Mirzapur Upazila of Tangail district. This site is typical of a floodplain 
/wetland ecosystem whose water emanates from a major river system. As water rises in the 
major rivers at the beginning of the monsoon, it spills into distributaries and large floodplain 
areas . The water then recedes quickly , leaving small pockets that have nearly dried up in 
recent years . The area of this floodplain is around 4500 hectare is the rainy season 
diminishing to 17 hectare in the dry season . There are 20 beels of which 10 are now 
perennial . The population of the area around the wetlands where the project is working in 
2.26 lakh. 
8.8 The Lower Turag-Bangshi Basin is connected via Dhales\vari Pungli river to the greater 
Jamuna floodplain. At the lower end of the river, it is connected through the Tongi ri\.er and 
eventually connected ivith the Buriganga-Meghna river system. The major feature is the 
Upper Turag/Lo\ver Bangshi ~vhich is the main source of water in the region and flows 
through the site. All associated beels and other floodplain areas are connected lo the main 
river through a series of khals and other channels. 
8.9 This is a deeply flooded area in the low-red soil hills of Madhupur forest . The floodplain 
increases when water flows out of the banks of the Turag Bangshi river. During the wet 
season the lower lying areas become an inter connected sheet of water. By late November 
most of the water recedes and T-Boro rice is planted in almost all of the area. High lands 
within the Madhupur forest itself or on raised earth platforms are the primary settlement 
areas. 
8.10 Kangsha-Malijhee Site: 
8.1 1 This site is located in the north-central part of Bangladesh in Sherpur sadar and 
Jhenaigathi Upazila of the Sherpur district. The area is geographically a part of Garo-Tura 
Hills watershed and includes the catchments of the Upper Kangsha and Malijhee river 
system. This area was once covered with natural sal forest, now only remnants of natural 
forest remain. The wetland Ifloodplaifi has an area of approximately 8000 hectare doring the 
wet season which diminishes to about 900 hectare in the dry season. The floodplain area 
contains 47 beels or low pockets of which 18 are perennial. The population of the project 
working area is about 64 lakh. 
8.12 Topographically a low-lying plain generally stopping from the north-west to south-east, 
this site was once a large lake. The higher land surrounding the site is intensively cropped. 
The entire floodplain area including the connecting khals, streams and rivers are intensively 
fished with a large variety of gears. There has been massive change in the last 20 years with 
rapid and almost complete deforestation of the wetland areas follon.ed by a rapid loss of 
connections due to embankments and increased sedimentation. 
8.13 The basin is part of the old Brahnianputra floodplain and northern piedmont plain. This 
area fonns part of the catchments area of the Kangsha!Sylhet basin All flood\vaters in these 
areas coms from the GarolMegalaya Hills through a number of hill streams mainly the 
Thalang and the Bhugai. These turn eventually and drain through to the Bhugai and on to ths 
Kaliganga/Kangsha which is part of the Sylhet Haor complex of rivers and streams. The sits 
lies within ths new LGED road that rings the area from Sheq-ur to Nalitabari and Xakhln and 
back to Sherpur to\vn. 
A location map of project sites is given at Appendix - 2 at page 39 of the rsport 
9. Project Activities: 
9.1 Major activities of the project include the following: 
a) Wetland Resource Management 
b) Community Development and Supplemental Income generation 
c) Monitoring 
d) Investment Support to MACH 
a) Wetland Resource Management 
9.2 Resource Management OrganizationslCommittees 
9.3 Formation of Resource Management Organization (RMO) and Committees are important 
institutional organ of the project at the local level. These organizations are established after a 
series of awareness and community meeting which involve all users of the resources as well 
as the local government. All activities including habitat restoration, fishing regulations and 
development of sanctuary for a particular water body or stream are based on the request of 
the community . Any intervention is taken place with the support of concerned RMO . Target 
for formation of RMOs was 10 which was later revised to 30 by the project. 
9.4 Awareness Raising 
The basic principles of MACH are equitable , sustainable and environmentally sound co￾management of natural resources. MACH identified a need to sensitize, inform ad educate 
communities, government and staff to these issues, MACH continues to spread messages to 
the communities using different mechanism of awareness raising . These activities are further 
discussed with the communication section of the project. 
9.5 Management of Conflict 
MACH with cooperation of DOF, LGED and other Union and Upazila administration 
manages conflict where it takes place. Conflict on taking over of common wetland area is 
common in Bangladesh and a major reason for the continuing losses of wetland habitats. 
MACH continues to bring about a greater understanding of the importance of the wetland 
resources to the local communities . The main goal of the project is to continue discussion 
and dialogue betweedamong the parties in conflict. When dialogue fails. the communities 
seek the assistance of the local administration including the UNO, UP chairman, UFO and in 
some cases LGED to try to bring people together to reach agreement through discussion at 
the community level. 
9.6 Habitat Restoration. 
9.7 Habitat restoration is a major part of MACH to promote through the community based 
Management Organizations in its sites. The communiries through their Resource 
Management Organizations have developed both long and short term consenration 
management plans for their areas which include habitat restoration activities such as: 
-.--- Physical works that include the deepening of dry season pools and 
increasing the perennial water area of the floodplain and secure habitat 
for wetland plants and animals. 
----- The creation of natural and artificial structure as shelters for aquatic 
animals. ----- The establishment of sanctuaries where no activity takes place and the 
habitat is allowed to come back to the extent possible. ----. Reforestation on previously forested riparian and wetland areas. ----- Restoration of river bank stability through deep rooted grass re￾establishment along rivers, streams and roads. --.-. Re-establishment of river to floodplain connection and connection 
between individual \\.etlands. 
Habitat restoration in MACH is accomplished by the community deciding to set aside certain 
areas as sanctuaries where no fishing or other disturbance occurs within a given area. This 
then allows for vegetation and the habitat to be restored to the level possible ~vithin the entire 
surrounding ecosystem. The community groups also stan planting trees and other vegetation 
for habitat restoration which was historically available on the sites. They then go about 
protecting the newly restored habitats to enhance fish, plant and other animal numbers. In 
addition certain previously perennial wetland habitats have dried up leaving fewer places for 
floodplain resident fish species to be held over the dry season. Community groups have 
chosen to restore some of the critical aquatic habitats from seasonal to perennial. 
9.8 Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement. 
9.9 Sanctuary habitats are one of the keys to conservation and enhancement of biodiversity 
.The loss of habitat in the past has had significant adverse impact on the stanls of biodiversity 
of the project area where MACH has worked. MACH groups are working to ensure that the 
old habitats are not degraded any further and that newly formed habitats are managed 
appropriately from the beginning. When the existing habitat is conserved and new habitats 
are created there will , over time, be an upward trend in the animal and plant diversity. The 
biodiversity conservation and enhancement programs have therefore been conducted and 
nurtured primarily on these premises. Marked improvements in this regard have been 
achieved by creating new habitats both terrestrial and aquatic. However it is realized that 
fruits of this program may not be visible for years. MACH strategy and specific activities in 
this regard are the establishment of small scale seasonal sanctuaries, appropriate number of 
permanent sanctuaries, reintroduction of locally threatened fish species and management 
interventions that include protection of brood fish and juveniles along with the aquatic 
vegetations. 
9.10 Watershed filanagcnient 
9.1 1 Watershed management eftbns are based totally on the solution proposed by cornmunit?. 
groups and approved by local government. They tend to focus on establishing sound land and 
water use to improve flou. and quality of water and reduce sedimentation. This on-going 
special prosram specifically addresses riparian and upper watershed that directly efiect 
siltation of the Hail Haor \vetlands and ths degradation of the \vetland habitat. To ensurr a 
silstainable use of the nan~ral resoilrces of the watershed k1.4CH seeks to: 
- - - - . . - Improve the level of a\varsness on stream . natsrshed, land 
water use and their resultant impact on their own lvatsr supplies 
and that of the Haor and do!vnstrsarn areas. 
- --- - -- Promote stream bank stability and buffer erosive forces through 
project supported community management to restore riparian 
buffer vegetation corridors on selected demonstration chharas. - - - - - - - Improve land and water management in a selected upland 
watershed environment of the Hail Haor. 
- - - - - - - Monitor change in stream corridor vegetation cover, dry season 
stream flow and sediment transport along stream conidors for 
those selected portions of the Hail Haor sub-watershed. 
9.12 Communit) Development and Supplemental Income Generation. 
9.13 MACH activities \vith Resource User Groups include awareness raising, group 
formation, credit and savings to support AIG activities , AIG related demonstrations , group 
and skill training. literacy and health related activities and CARITAS social programs. 
9.14 The main focus of MACH is to ensure equitable access for all community members to 
wetland resources. MACH is working to ensure access to poor and disadvantaged groups who 
depend on these water bodies for nutrition and income. 
9.15 Formation of Resource Users Group (RUG) 
9.16 RUGS are formed with poor and landless fishermen and other resource users who live in 
areas adjacent and around to MACH water bodies, access credit , training and savings 
schemes. Formation of 100 groups was originally targeted in PP. 
9.17 Provision of Credit 
9.18 Credit is one important input for income generating activities. The major cause of the 
decline of the fresh water fishery is over fishing . The main losers in this diminished fishery 
scenario is the poorest members of the c~mmunity who are dependent on wetland products 
for their livelihood . The project provides credit to the RUG members through CARITAS to 
support AIG activities. MACH initially has made a provision of Tk. 10 million as credit. 
9.19 Provision of Savings. 
9.20 The project has made provision of savings as a means for capital formation . Each of the 
group members accumulates at least Tk. 5 per week and receive interest and to develop 
savings habit. Members have accumulated Tk.5.89 million as savings. 
9.21 Training. 
9.22 The project makes provision of training for both members of the groups and project staff 
of MACH-CARITAS. As part of the livelihood, support for group members MACH provides 
both group and skill training for members involved in AIG activities. 
In addition group training participating NGO CARITAS provides a variety of staff training to 
strength the capability of field staff. 
9.23 RUG Related Demonstrations 
9.24 In order to encourage RUG members and others to diversify agriculture, adopt more 
eco-friendly crops or farming methods and demonstrate profitable new crops, MACH 
encourages cany out a variety of aqua-agriculture field demonstrations. This is done in 
cooperation with other USAID programs. 
All agriculture demonstrations include the provision for farmer field days in cooperation with 
the concerned Upazila Agriculture, Livestock or Fishery officer. 
9.25 Monitoring. 
9.26 Monitoring is considered as an important tool in measuring progress over time towards 
the targeted goals and objectives of the project. Trends in progress and impact on the project 
areas are known through monitoring. The project makes provision for data collection of fish 
catch and household fish consumption. In addition the project provides for monitoring of 
\vildlife and vegetation. 
9.27 Development of Ceo-spatial and Kon-spatial data-base. 
9.28 There is proposal for Geographic Information System(G1S) and Remote Sensing(RS) 
technologies to prepare geospatial and non-geospatial database on three project sites. 
9.29 Investment Support to MACH. 
9.30 Physical intervention activities are undertaken to allow the functioning of degraded 
wetland and riparian habitats. At the field level, RMOs will implement physical intervention 
activities with the active involvement of RUGS. Depending on local demand, anticipation and 
acceptance of local community and available resources in the locality implementation pattern 
will be different. 
9.31 All physical inten-entions to be undertaken by the project must meet three basic criteria 
e.g. (i) biologically important and environmentally sound (ii) socially acceptable and (iii) 
technically feasible. The interventi~ns must offer quantifiably significant and positive 
impacts for the concerned wetlands. The potential impacts must be of sufficient size to justify 
the interventions cost. MACH engineers determine the technical feasibility of re-excavation 
and if needed the stnlctures required. MACH requires that if excavation is to take place a 
portion of the area excavated must become a sanctuary through out the year. 
9.32 Interventions are undertaken only on specific requests from RMO's, community groups 
and other local government bodies with the concerned local Union Parishad and the approval 
of Local Government Comn>ittees(LGC). 
9.33 Following are the tpej of interventions to be conducted . The targets are indicative. 
Based on the reality in the field, targets xvill be refixed during implementation. 
(a) Excavation Ire-excavation of 300 ha of khal (canal) to facilitate aquatic anillla1 
movements and water flow into and out of the \vetlands 
(b) 320 ha beel (doba) possibly dua, kum or kur (riverine score holes) \\ill be em\-atcd ti, 
reestablish dry season refugees for fish and other aquatic species. 
(c) 14 sluiceslcheck dams \\ill be constructed to maintain pernlantrlt water or rtCOnncCl 
flood\vater to beel areas. 
(d) 200 sanctuaries and conservation casements will be established for the protection of fish, 
watersheds, wildlife and plants. Community groups with the cooperation of local government 
will establish seasonal or permanent sanctuaries or specific conservation related easements. 
Each will be one hectare. 
(e) At all three sites , a vigorous riparian plantation program will be continued with technical 
and supervisory support from a professional forester. A total 232 ha watershed area will be 
under this program, 
10. Implementation Mechanism and Management Aspects. 
10.1 The MACH project HQ is located in Dhaka. The project is being implemented by the 
Department of Fisheries through US based International NGO Winrock International under 
the administrative control of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. The Investment Support 
to MACH project is meant to support ongoing MACH project activities. The current MACH 
project has management procedures in place which are already approved by the GOB and 
USAID. This current MACH programs are being implemented by the US based NGO 
Winrock International and three national NGO's. Winrock lnternational has been selected as 
the grantee and the partner organizations, CARITAS-Bangladesh, CNRS, BCAS were also 
selected to work with Winrock lnternational . In general management and supervision of all 
activities of this investment program will follow the same procedures as MACH. 
10.2 Winrock International: 
10.3 Winrock lnternational , the grantee is a world leader in sustainable agriculture and 
natural resource management . The organization has considerable experience in management 
and execution of USAID-funded projects worldwide . Winrock is a nonprofit , non￾governmental organization (NGO) . The organization has been working in some 40 countries 
on more than 100 projects / programs. In Bangladesh , Winrock is responsible for overall 
program and financial management and provision of specific technical inputs in geographic 
information system (GIS) , fisheries biology and watershed management .Winrock's 
headquarters in the United States provides overall program and financial support. 
10.5 CARITAS- a large national NGO that has worked in Bangladesh since 1972 was 
established by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Bangladesh as a non profit organization. 
Through its activities CARlTAS works for integrated human development and welfare that 
contributes to national development. For MACH, CARlTAS is responsible for community 
development and alternative income generating activities (AIGAs) . For IGAs and socio￾economic development of poor wetland resource users, CARITAS is responsible for 
awareness campaign , formation and mobilization of Resource User Groups (RUGS), training 
and skill development for groups, credit support for AIGAs, agricultural demonstrations, 
education, healthcare and nutritional activities. They work closely with CNRS in the area of 
awareness raising and the development /formation of comnlittees. 
10.6 Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) 
10.7 BCAS, a non profit research NGO is one of Bangladeshi's leading environmental 
research and policy institutes. Formed in 1984, BCAS has been an experienced NGO 
contributing to establishing community open water fisheries management. The center is 
among the major contributors to the current National Environmental Management plan which 
forms the basis for environmental regulation is Bangladesh . It also provides policy support, 
local coordination for MACH, short term specialist in policy reform as needed and support 
services for GIs, hydrology, fishery biology and other special areas. 
10.8 Centre for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) 
10.9 CNRS is a non-go\emmental development organization which \\,as formed in 1993. It 
focuses on ecological management of floodplain ecosystems through community based 
management approaches with a mission to restore, conserve, enhance and tvisely use of 
natural resources supporting and influencing governnient strategies and initiatives. The 
centre has demonstrated a variety of field interventions to\vards developing sustainable 
wetland and fisheries management approaches with due consideration to environmental and 
socio econonlic issues. For MACH , CNRS is responsible for management of \vetland 
resources through forming community based RMOs, helping them to determine biological, 
physical and social areas for development. CNRS is also responsible for generating 
environmental awareness and biological and sociological monitoring of project activities. 
10.10 Since this is a special type of project being implemented by Winrock International in 
collaboration with the DOF and MoFL, an officer from MOFL in the rank of Deputy 
Secretary has been designated as Project Director for release of fund and its adjustment only. 
10.1 1 Project Steering Committee 
10.12 At the national level a Project Steering Committee has been formed with the Secretary, 
MoFL as its Chairman. The Committee is represented by the menibers from MoTL, MoL, 
Planning Commission, IMED, ERD, Finance Division, Ministry of Environment and Forest, 
DOF, USAID and Winrock International. Winrock represents the National NGO partners at 
the Steering Committee. Representatives from the MACH COP with the assistance of DOF 
representatives act as the Member-Secretary to the Committee . The Committee meets at least 
once a year or as and when necessary. Ths Committee provides policy guidelines and advice 
to MACH on management of programs. It also reviews project activities and approves annual 
work plan and budget etc. 
10.13 Local Government Committee (LGC): 
10.14 As each site there is a Local Government Committee at the Upazila level. It is the most 
important committee at the site or local Ievel. The committee is chaired by Upazila Nirbahi 
Officer and members are concerned UP Chaimian, other upaziia level officials, MACH 
representatives , RMO representatives, others as appropriate and upazilla Fishery Officer 
serving as Member-Secretary . The Committee meets on quarterly basis as nceded . I.GC is 
the apes conirnittee at the Upazila level for integraring the community based organization5 
(RMO) with all other nation building departments. The committee revies physical 
intervention activities undertaken and offers support and guidance as needed. 
10.15 The committee has a positi\-e impact as a local levsl planning bod!. and has besn 
responsible for niany of MACH'S successes in resourcs rxanagemenr of critical \vetland 
contest. 
10.16 Results Package Team (RPT): 
10.17 Result Package Team consists of a USAID-Bangladesh chairperson and members from 
MOFL, DOF, Winrock International and its partner organizations BCAS, CNRS and 
CARITAS. The team meets monthly throughout year and guides MACH operations and 
management . It has authority and responsibility to guide and monitor implementation of 
decisions. It acts as a self-directing and self monitoring team to formulate implementation 
strategies and monitors and reviews progress. 
10.1 8 Functioning like the RPT a Project Management Unit exists for implementation of all 
project activiries of the Investment Support to MACH Project. Members of the PMU are the 
same as the RPT. PMU makes decisions to be implemented by Winrock International. PMU 
meets regularly to oversee projects implementation and as \\,ell as project activities. 
10.19 A Project Management Team (PMT) has been formed for internal planning and direct 
oversight of the project. Members of this PMT are representatives from Winrock, the DOF, 
project NGOs and other concerned project officials. Under the direction of the PMU , the 
PMT is responsible for reviewing , drafting and overseeing program plans and activities. In 
addition there are field operational and management guidelines for approval of the PMU as 
needed for the smooth operation of the program. 
10.20 Deputy Director (Planning ) of the Department of Fisheries with the help of MACH 
project officials submits the progress reports to the MOFL for monthly ADP review meeting 
detailing physical and financial progress. The project also from time to time submits reports 
to IMED,ERD and MOFL. 
Total Project Management may be seen at Appendix - 3 of page 40-41. 
11. Achievements of the Project (Upto October103 since inception). 
11 .I Annual physical targets are approved by Steering Committee of the project in April of 
each year. 
11.2 Area under improved management: 
11.3 A total of 19688 ha has been covered under improved management against the project 
target of 15800 ha .This area includes both water and land where intervention was made to 
improve the management of all types of resources. Plans are in place in these areas. The 
actual wet season impact area is much larger and in excess of 25000 hectares. 
11.4 Resource Management OrganizationslCommittees. 
11.5 A total of 16 wetland RMOs has been formed around water bodies with a \vet season 
impact area in excess of 25000 hectares. Eight stream-based RMOs have been created around 
streams in the Hail Haor and Kangsha Malijhee sites and a total of 18 KumiDoha based 
committees have been formed to manage critical deep water habitat in certain areas. Ne\vly 
formed RMOs at present have as many as 70% of their members made up of poor resource 
users largely fishers. 
11.6 Awareness Raising 
11.7 Through a variety of awareness raising mechanism MACH continues to spread its 
environmental and project message to the communities. Performance of dramas with 
environmental themes have become a MACH awareness raising tool. MACH awareness 
programs with local songs and videos were presented to communities School art and quiz 
competitions along with classroom awareness session have been held. Knowledge -sharing 
meetings were conducted and environment days were observed by holding rallies, practical 
sessions and workshop. A project \idea , is complete and is now being used both at MACH 
sites and natoinally as an awareness tool. Since inception over 3,60,000 people ha\.e attended 
MACH a\brareness activities organized by MACH-CARITAS and MACH-CA'RS. 
11.8 Conflict Managenlent. 
11.9 MACH with the support of DoF, LGED and other Union and Upazila administration 
support is successfully managing a conflict over Kali Doha beel in the MACH Turag-Bangshi 
site. The beel lease was handed over by the government to the RklO for sustainable 
management with the participation of the community living in and around the beel. 
Influential people illegally put barricades across an open water course which threatened fish 
movement and the livelihood of many living around kalidaha Beel in Kaliakoir. RMO of 
Mokesh Beel and LGC resolved the conflict through legal frameworks and open discussion at 
the community level. The passage of fish and boats is open and free and the conservation and 
enhancement efforts continue at the community level. 
11.10 Habitat Restoration. 
11.1 1 The project has developed both long and short term conservation plans for the areas. 
Community groups have restored some of the critical aquatic habitats from seasonal to 
perennial . Since inception 600 hectare of aquatic habitat have been converted from seasonal 
to perennial. 
11.12 As part of habitat restoration a total of 72 sanctuaries has been established. These were 
deepened through re-excavation. All the sanctuaries were marked and labeled by placing 
signboards, motivating slogans, bamboo fencing and red flags. The marking has been used as 
a technique that has been effective. 
11.13 One of the original targets of the project was the deepening /re-excavation of canals 
that connect floodplains with the rivers and beels. MACH only takes up these schemes by the 
community that do not result in less wetland habitat. Each scheme is suneyed for probable 
results of the excavation \vith the goal being not only improved connectivity but also 
improved dry season wetland habitat conditions . The meters of canal rehabilitated by the 
community are 27032 since inception. 
11.14 Reforestation and re-\.egetation: 
I l .I5 A total of 18057 lo\vland and \\.etland hizal trees \Yere planted along a section of Turag 
river as part of reforestation program, 120000 tillers of vetiver were reintroduced ro fonu 
erosion protective hedges along the riverbank and dholkolmi shrubs \Yere allo\\-ed to 
regenerate . In upper ivatershed areas, an estimated I40000 tillers of vetiver grass ha\-e been 
introduced in the Turag Bangshi site. In the Kon,osho\v-Malijhee site, a total of 461 000 tillers 
of vetiver have been introduced along the Malijhee river and 200,000 tillers at Hail Haor site 
Bamboo and vetiver grasses are also being planted at critical erosion points with community 
participation . A total of more than 537,913 wetland and upland trees have been planted since 
the inception of the project with a potential value in the hundreds of million taka in 12-15 
years. With reforestation and revegetation program the project seeks to demonstrate the 
restoration of wetland and wildlife habitats. 
11.16 Siltation: 
I 1.17 Unplanned and aggressive exploitation of aquatic vege~ation and swamps forest trees, 
bank erosion , industrial pollution and agro chemicals, severance of habitat connectivity etc. 
have resulted in water scarcity during dry season. 
11.1 8 Consistent with the project's prime objective of habitat improvement, rehabilitation of 
the degraded habitat continued to receive attention in the MACH program implementation . 
Because of the ground breaking works and motivations done by the project in the past years, 
the user communities and RMOs demonstrated greater interest in the habitat restoration and 
rehabilitation programs. 'These included re-excavation of beels and khals, regeneration of 
riparian and swamp plantation, river and stream bank stabilization through earthwork, tree 
and bamboo plantation, vetiver hedgerowlsoil binder grass establishment and enrichment of 
homestead groves and institution plantations. In the realm of habitat improvement through 
tree plantation , 113765 swamp plants have been planted since inception . The swamp species 
included Hijal, Koroch, Pitali, Barun, Jarul and Arjun. 
11.19 Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement. 
11.20 Species diversity has diminished in wetlands habitats. MACH has supported the 
communities in re-introducing selected species of native fish into the beel and river sanctuary 
habitats. Brood fish of 5 threatened species have been reintroduced into sanctuary habitats of 
Turag -Bangshi site. Fingerling reintroduction of lost species continues at the !xo other sites. 
Selective stocking of threatened or endangered species will be continued where sought by 
the community groups. Reintroduction of locally threatened fish species as a means to 
enhance the biodiversity has continued. 
11.21 Watershed Management. 
11.22 MACH has started to generate a three tier canopy in riparian zones with the vetiver, 
shrubs and trees in selected chharas of Hail Haor. Eight kilometers of riparian habitat has 
already been planted with about 25 species of trees. The improvements are intended to 
promote erosion control , hold water for dry season discharge through the chharas to the haor 
and develop a secure wildlife corridor from the hill to the haor. The demonstration ~vatershed 
restoration plan also includes improved pineapple and lemon orchard. Thirty five 
demonstration orchards ivere developed. Monitoring to capture the changes in the sediment 
load and bvater discharge is continuing. MACH is seeking to reestablish linkages behveen the 
Kushiyara river and Hail Haor to increase fish yield and species diversity. 
11.23 Community developn~ent and Supplemental Income Generation. 
11.24 RUG Formation: 
11.25 Originally there was a target to form 100 groups. But so far MACH has organized 246 
groups with 5194 members. Average membership per group is 21.0ne third of the members 
are women. 
11.26 Credit : 
11.27 In order to provide credit to the group members to take up alternative income 
generating activities, an amount of Tk. 10 million \vas provided as loan. Credit is provided 
for one year . After recovery funds are again disbursed for further loans. Total disbursement 
till today amounts to over 56.74 million taka. Recovery rate is 97%. In real terms the project 
has no\\ more than 18 ~iiillion taka revolving in the project areas. Interest rate is I?'?".,. 
Number of loan provided is 9506 while number of RUG members recei\.ed loan comes to 
4123. 
11.28 RUG Savings. 
11.29 All members, of the RUGs contribi~te at least Tk. 51- per week. In case of necessity 
members can withdraw their optional savings amount . So far members have been able to 
accumulate a total of tk. 5.89 million as savings. Highest amount (Tk. 2.48 million) was 
accumulated in the Hail Haor area followed by Kangsha-Malijee area ( Tk. 2.38 million ). 
11. 30 RUG Training. 
11.31 The project has provided 16642 people with group and skill training. Five group 
development training are provided according to standard CARITAS practice while 15 
different type of skill training courses were given based on requests and need by the RUG 
members.ln addition, the project is providing literary training for group members. Till today 
2100 members participated in this training program. This innovative training provided by the 
project requires that graduates train others after graduations from the course. Besides, training 
of the group members, MACH provides training to the staff. 
11.32 RUG Related Demonstrations. 
11.33 MACH has encouraged RUGs to conduct a variety of agriculture related 
demonstrations. This is done to encourage community to diversify agriculture and find out 
profit oriented IGAs. All agricult~~re demonstrations include the provision for famier field 
days in cooperation with concerned Upazila Officials. Demonstration have been conducted in 
a variety of areas for commercial vegetables. potatoes, nlaize, \vheat, fish culture ( cage. 
ponds, pen, nursery) and the use of granular urea. Since inception more than 534 farniers 
lia\.e taken part in demonstration activities ill an area of 3275 areas of land. 
11.34 hlonitoring Fish Catch. 
11.35 Fish catch monitoring aas conducted in all thres sits from the start of the projsst 
actkities in the site. The first year of collected data is considered as the baseline with ths 
subsequent years as impact years or periods where project interventions may have influsncsd 
, The results of data collection in all three project sites at pre and project interventions 
situation show a rise from baseline conditions to the current season. Species diversih. 
increased at all three sites. MACH continues to promote wetland conservation strategies 
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which include habitat restoration , community motivated sanctuary establishment, restriction 
on fishing gears and reintroduction of locally extinct or threatened species. 
11.36 Consumption Monitoring: 
11.37 Data collected shows fish intake has increased for both poor and rich at the project 
sites. 
11.38 Wildlife: 
11.39 Number of species obsened has been higher compared to the baseline number of 
species. 
11.40 Development of Geo-spatial and Pion-spatial Data-base. 
11.41 Geographic Information System (GIs) and Remote Sensing (RS) technologies are 
being used to prepare geospatial and non-geospatial database on three project sites. The 
noteworthy activities that have been canied out are detailed land use surveys of proposed 
permanent sanctuary as well as collecting of ownership and lease related information . In 
addition identification of the area under improved management through meeting with field 
staff and RMO members has been canied out. Based on the WT recommendation the project 
activity database is updated every six months.Performance monitoring document activities 
were undertaken to prepare necessary maps and database. 
11.41 Investment Support to MACH (MACH-11): Period November12003 to 
October12004 
11.42 Investment support to MACH involves physical intervention activities which are site 
specific and based on community requests through RMOs . Activities include earthworks, 
excavation Ire-excavation of Beel and Khal, establishment of sanctuaries Tetra-PodiPipe 
construction, demarcation of pillar1 Signboard, spar construction , scheme selection, khas 
land identification , plantation etc. The achievement during ISMP is provided below: 
11.43 Fish Production: 
11.44 As a result of project intervention, there has been tremendous increase in fish 
production . Average production of fish is all three sites was around 200 kgha in the first 
year of the ISM which increased to 217 kgha. Fish production has increased on average by 
39% (from 144 kg/ha to 200 kgha) from 2000-2003 where it previously was in decline . 
During 2003-04 the increase was 50% over the base year figure when MACH started (from 
144kglha to 217kgha ). Fish consumption has also increased and both production and 
consumption are showing up\vard trends improving nutritional intake. 
11.45 Area under improved management: 
11.46 A total of 19688 ha \\as brought under improved management through MACH 
activities upto OctoberiO3. At the end of 1st year of ISM a total of 820 ha of new area mostly 
in Turag-Bangshi site (780 ha) was brought under improved management through 
introduction of some norms, practices and execution of restoration activities. About 40 ha 
was established in the Hail Haor area. Target for the year was 800 ha. Total area brought 
under improved management stands at 19688 ha. ?he actual wet season impact area is much 
larger and in excess of 25000 hectares. 
11.47 Aquatic habitat: 
11.48 As a result of restoration through deepening of beels and canals a total of 367 
waterbodies against the target of 200 ha have become fully perennial waterbodies from 
seasonal waterbodies. 
11.49 Sanctuaries Establishment: 
11.50 The total number of sanctuaries is 72 ivith an area of 32.67 ha . On average the 
percentage of handed over jalmahal area as permanent sanctuaries is about 5% . Ministry of 
Land has given 122 acre of jalmahal in Hail Haor area as a national level sanctuap to be 
managed by the RMOs on a nominal lease money of Tk. 501 ignoring its previous lease value 
of Tk. 80001- per year. During the first year of ISM 6 sanctuaries against a target of 5 were 
established to conserve and re-establish fish bio-diversity on Turag -9angshi and Kangsha￾Malijhee sites . Total area of them is about 2 ha. 
11.51 In the year 2003-04, MACH had an ambious program for earth work. Various RMOs 
requested support to implement 17 beel schemes and 12 canal (khal) schemes for 
in~plementation . Overall progress was 95% of the 29 schemes , only four schemes could not 
be implemented due to land disputes. All others were completed. 
11.52 Riparian and Swamp habitat improvement: 
11.53 Reforestation is one of the tools for the improvement of wetland and riparian habitats. 
During the first year of ISM a total of 204876 saplings of approximately 45 different riparian 
and swamp tree species have been planted on 102 km and about in 10 ha land. Of the total 
sampling of 204876 about 73000 are of the deep water or swamp variety. 
11. 54 Water bodies leased to RiiOs: 
11.55 So far 24 water bodies were handed over to RMOs . At the end of 1st year of ISM 12 
water bodies were allocated to RMOs in Hail Haor site. In those 12 water bodies 9 have been 
formally handed over to RMOs while remaining 3 are in the process of being handed over. 
11.56 Awareness Activity : 
11.57 To make the community based organizations sustainable the entire village community 
surroundi~~g the water body is to be made a\vare of the resources under management of rhs 
RMO, consemation and the responsibilities of the RXIO. In view of the public awareness 
activities i.e. folkdrama , rallies, village meetings, day observance etc. \\.ere continued and a 
total of 54370 individuals were made aivare in the 1st year oCISM against the target of 30 
000 individuals. 
11.58 Resource Management Issues discussed in LC nlcctings: 
l I .59 This activity is being continued to keep ths local government authorities involved in 
the resource management activities by the communitS. based management organization. A 
linkage has also been established between RMOs and the local government authorities that 
will hopefully lead towards the sustainability of the approach. During 1st year of ISM several 
resource management issues were discussed in 130 local govemment meetings against target 
of 100. 
11.60 Adoption of key regulation: 
11.61 An additional 10 committees have adopted key regulation related to wetland resource 
management in the newly established area. Target was 8 communities. 
11.62 Re-introduction of fish species: 
1 1.63 A total of 172276 fingerling of three different indigenous species were reintroduced in 
the wetland s during ISM 1st year period . Re-introduction was affected due to severe flood 
in 2004 . The program will continue in the next year. Since inception of the project a total of 
almost 970 000 fingerling of 13 different threatened species were introduced in wetlands . 
11.64 Pineapple Cultivation in contour system : 
11.65 15 demonstration plots of 15 ha area has been brought under contour pineapple 
cultivation in the hills at Sreemongal site in the 1st year of ISM. This cultivation practice has 
been very effective for reducing soil erosion and increasing leaf cover and pineapple yields. 
11.66 Achievements bv Activity MACH-I1 
I. Area under improved 40 
management (ha) 
2. Establishment of -.--- 
sanctuaries (no) 
Activity 
3. Reforestation of 9193 
Riparian , roadside 
institution homestead and 
Patch Forest trees (no) 
Kongshaw￾Malijhee 
4. Reforestation of swamp 34598 
trees (no) 
Total 1 Hail-Haor 
5. Re-excavation of beel (ha) 2.37 
Turag￾Bangshi 
6. Re-excavation of 4106 
Khal (meter) 
7. Waterbodies alloted to 12 
RMO 
8. No of communities follow 4 
fishing norms 
9. Awareness programs 20199 17130 1674 1 54370 
(no of participant) 
10. No of new RUG formed 3 11 7 2 1 
Total 1 1 Activity Hail-Haor 1 Turag- Kongshalv￾1 I. Ne\v member start AIGA 167 75 123 365 
1 Banpshi 
12. Skill Dev. Training (Parti) 212 156 130 508 
Malijhee 
I!. Pineapple demonstration lj -.-.- -... l 5 
Program 
11.67 Strenethenine of Rh.10 s 
11.68 Out of 16 wetland RMOs, 15 have been registered with the Social Welfare Department 
and the remaining RMO-Goalia has submitted documents this year for registration. 
According to their need and experience the RMOs have made the required amendments in 
their existing constitutions and those were approved at their General Body meeting. The 
revisions are based on experience and mainly relate to newly added rules. The whole process 
including approval by the registration authority will be completed by Januaryl2005. 
11.69 The RMOs are trying to establish and strengthen institutional links with elected local 
government councils. The Union Parishad Chairmen have invited RMO representatives to 
attend UP meetings and so far half of the RMOs are sending their representative to attend the 
relevant UP meetings to discuss and explain their activities. 
11.70 Coverage of Communities by RMOs: 
11.71 A total of 106 villages is represented by 16 RMOs and their members are 1335. The 
number of members per &\I0 varies from 40 to 142. On an average per village there are 13 
representative members in the RMO. 
11.72 In order to raise the membership of poor fishers and women in the decision making 
process of wetland management, new poor fishers and women have been included. This is in 
response to a decision that in all RMOs at least 25% of GBmembership and 2056 of EC 
membership should be \\.omen. 
11.73 Representation of RI'Gs in RJIOs: 
1 1.74 In almost all RMOs the GB members comprise at least 60% representations from the 
project formed RUGS. This is the main \yay that poor \vetland users are bscornin: 
empo\versd to raise their voice in the decision nlaking process. But the proportion of officc 
bearers in the EC who are members of RUG is still lo\\.. T!is project \\.ill continue to help 
more RUGS representative5 dsvelop thsir capacit) and become offics bearers of the 
RYlOs.There are 545 professional fishers out of 1335 total members in 16 RhIOs. 
11.75 Land for RiiO offices: 
11.76 Out of 16 RMOs, 6 have managed to obtain lznd for construction of their office 
building . The rest of the RMOs are in the process of arranging land. 
11.77 Waterbody within RiMO jurisdiction: 
11.78 A total area of 16605 ha is under improved wetland management by the RPAOs. In 
addition 3081 ha are being managed by the RUG and other committees under MACH 
Within this area , management activities are more intensive in the jalmahals that have been 
handed over for management by the RMO, this number stands at 36. During the year out of 
12 allocated beels, 9 ha\.e been handed over to RMOs and remaining 3 are under process. 
11.79 Strengthening of RUG: 
11.80 CARITAS has formed 21 new groups with 596 members out of which I I are at 
Kaliakoir site, 7 at Sherpur and 3 at Sreemongal site Upto 2002-03, 225 groups with 4598 
members were organized. 
11.81 AIGAs: 
1 I .82 A total of 2609 loans have been disbursed to 2609 RUG members for 31 different types 
of AIG activities. A total of 365 new members came under loan service out of 2609 members. 
11.83 MACH has taken initiatives for large scale enterprise development , increase in normal 
loan amount and skill training to increase supplemental income, provide better service and 
benefit to the RUG members. AlGAs have enabled the poorest families to increase their 
income by 47% (more than Tk. 80001-) in some areas while reducing pressures on wetland 
resource. During ISM, their average supplemental income increase was Tk. 35 18.00 . A total 
of 2609 RUG members have received Tk. 18.52 million ascredit services for AIGAs. RUG 
members have accumulated savings of Tk. 1.93 million . Amount of savings upto 2002-03 
was Tk. 3.962 milliion. 
11.84 Training : 
Type wise training imparted during the years is as follows: 
Group Dev: Batch 337 29 
Participants 6580 541 
Resource: Batch 220 16 
Awareness Participants 4087 315 
Skill Dev. Batch 170 33 
Participants 2689 508 
FRUG Dev. Batch ------ 12 
Participants ------ 218 
Total : Batch: 814 90 
Participants: I5057 1585 
Type of training 
and 
batch participants 
Upto October103 During November103 
to Octi04 
11.85 Literacy Courses: 
11.86 MACH has identified literacy as a major factor in empowering economically 
disadvantaged wetland resource users. The plan is to cover more than 50% female RUG 
members under this program. As per plan a total of 480 illiterate RUG members attended 
training through 24 courses. Out of 480, 260 were female members. Considering the very 
poor literacy rate and poor facilities for children MACH has started two children schools at 
Sherpur site. Around 100 poor children are receiving education at these schools. 
11.87 Demonstration Activities: 
11.88 So far the project demonstrated wheat, maize and improved vegetable cultivation that 
all use less water that boro rice and 371 farmers participates in the demonstration. During the 
period the participated farniers ivas 163 in pond culture, pond nursery, niadrazi o\val katchu, 
year round vegetable, jujubee budding and fruit garden covering an area of 5 16 decimals. 
11.89 Habitat Restoration through plantation: 
11.90 The habitat restoration activity envisaged planting of 277700 saplings in the riparian, 
watershed and wetland situations, and institution precinctsihomesteads. Against the target a 
total of 204876 sapling were planted. Plantations were affected due to floods during the 
period 
11.91 Pollution Abatement Initiatives 
11.92 MACH has taken initiatives on pollution abatement. The overall goal of this initiative 
is to improve the quality of wetland ecosystem and thereby the livelihoods of the people who 
use them. The project has several components to achieve this. These are pollution 
identification and an assessment of thz health impacts of the pollution ; leading to options to 
optimize industrial process to improve efficiency and reduce pollution , technical support to 
industries for pollution treatment options, training of factory staff to build capacity in 
clearance production options and effluent treatment and awareness raising . 
11.93 The project is working on how to solve the pollution problem which will continue. 
Different initiatives including dialogue, studiesianalysis of collected data with technical 
support with the industries in the Kaliakoir area have been taken. 
11.94 Preparation of Gcospatial and Non-geospatial Database: 
11.95 During the period field sulyey, discussion vith field coordinarors, meeting \\-ith other 
partner organization and de\-eloping maps. map on nen. resource managenienl, map 011 re￾excavation of schemes, on Bilashi and Barfilnia Chora, updating of maps of AIACII 
indicators and activity database, hydrological analysis and central sanctuary maps and 
analysis were carried out. 
I?. Estin~ated Cost and Financing: 
12.1 Total cost of Investment Support to MACH ivas approved at an estimated cost of Tk. 
3156.00 lakh. Funds for the project are derived from monetized wheat provided to the GOB 
by USG program 416(b) via the United States Department by USAID. This project is 
included in the ADP while MACH main project is outside ADP. Out of the total cost of Tk. 
3456.00 la!&, an amount of Tk.836.68 la!& was utilized upto October 2004 which is 24% of 
the total cost. Financial progress is behind the schedule. 
13. Field Visit: 
13.1 As part of the mid-term evaluation the committee visited all three sites of the project. 
The committee tried to inspect the project activities in the field by way of as much visits as 
possible . Within the limited time, the committee made field visits to schemes of different 
types covering 5 Upazilas. During field visits the Committee held discussion with hVO and 
RUG members, local go\.ernment officials, NGO representatives and project staff. Names of 
the schemes \vith location {vhere field \.isits \yere undertaken are provided below : 
Date Location Activitv Visited 
13-12-04 to Hail Haor Site Short briefing on site 
15-1 2-04 in Sreemongal activities, field visit to see 
permanent sanctuary at 
Borogangina, swamp 
plantation and discussion 
with RMO and RUG 
membe at HazipurIBaruna 
and Kalapur visit to Fish 
sanctuary at Agri 
Pineapple garden visit at 
Fayezabad, Chhara 
plantation visit at Alia and 
Joitra.Discussion with 
members of executive 
committee of Balla RMO 
and UNO, Sreemongal. 
20- 12-04 Turag-Bangshi 
Site 
From 25- 12-01 
to 
27-12-01 
Sherpur 
Kh4 Site 
Site briefing at Taltoli 
in Kaliakoir office, visit 
to see plantation, water 
pollution, fish sanctuaries 
and discussion with 
Senabaha RUG and 
Mokosh RMO, visit to 
river sanctuary and 
discussion with Gopinpur 
RUG. 
Briefing on site activities, 
meeting with DC,Sherpur, 
visit to female RUG at 
Chengunia village, 
Jnenaigathi and male 
RUG group at Haoraniz. 
Sherpur Sadar to see their 
AIG activities, visit to 
Katakhali Sanctuary, 
riparian plantation at 
Katakhali and Paglarnukh, 
MACH nursery at Ghagra 
Kamarpara,Bogadubi 
canal excavation in 
Jhenaigathi Upazila, 
Meeting with Bailsha 
NO at Kamduli 
village in Jhenaigathi visit 
to Gojni to see MACH 
plantation in the base of 
Garo Hill. 
13.2 During field visit the evaluation team niet Depuy commissioner, Sherpur and officials 
and concerned persons who have termed MACH as a successf~~l project which has benefited 
the cornrn~lnity people and the poor fishers with increase in fish production and raising 
income and nutritional sti~tus. 
14. Impact of the project on the areas : 
14.1 In order to see the impact of the project on areas , it is necessary to have an impact study 
through survey . Impact study is time bound and it is a long process involving several years. 
So it was not possible for the evaluation team to conduct any independent impact study due to 
time constraints and other reasons . But the project carried out baseline survey in the 
beginning of the project and the impact study to see the impact after a few years of 
implementation. The team physically visited all three sites , talked to the people and the 
beneficiaries and held discussions with local officials and project staff. The impact study , 
monitoring report, field observations and discussions with the beneficiaries show positive 
sign of improvements in the project areas. 
14.2 The impact study of the project sho.~ that a major impact on the areas has been the 
increasing trend in fish production at all three sites .This is reflected in the monitoring data of 
fish catch and in year to year anecdotal evidence from fishers and community people. Based 
on the catch survey it appears that fish catch has gone up during the short life of the project in 
some cases quite significantly. Based on monitoring done by the project and anecdotal 
evidence provided by local fishers, provision of sanctuaries, restricted fishing during critical 
periods , securing increased dry season water availability and reintroduction of lost species 
have contributed to increased fish yields and consumption in the three areas. The increases 
have been on average more than 70 kg. of fish per hectare per year for the three sites resulring 
in as much as 1.80 million kg. of new fish produced. In the Turag-Bangshi site in certain 
areas of Mukesh beel aquatic plants are proliferating for the first time in many years due to 
the restricted netting imposed by the community on themselves. This has increased habitat 
which likely has allo\ved for better sunival of juvenile fish and shrimp. Blooms of certain 
species that benefited from this were seen in both the catch da!a and from observation of the 
general trend. Overall fish and plant diversity has also impacted the yields as \\.ell as 
increased fish available for consumption . Fish consumption has increased in the areas which 
hea\:ily benefits the poor nith protein. The poor are reaping .nore than 60% of the benefits. 
14.3 There has been has been positive impact due to reforestation programs and stocking of 
indigenous and often beel resident stocks that have been lost. More than 3,30,000 tress have 
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been planted which will provide significant wood yields and habitat benefits in the years to 
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14.4 The project has been able to demonstrate an approach that brings the community based 
RMOs together with local government authorities in an integrated planning and 
implementation framework. This co management between government and local 
communities is a model through which integrated resource planning can be conducted 
successfully . A good example of the impact of this coordinated planning at the local level 
has been in conflict management and resolution and establishing permanent sanctuaries in 
each of the sites. 
14.5 More than 5194 of the poorest families through its AIGs have been benefited from the 
project. They were provided with training and credit which helped them to take up income 
generating activities. The group members were able to accumulate savings , their literacy rate 
increased, health and sanitation conditions improved. Agriculture demonstrations had a 
positive impact on the farmers. Improving trends in the fisheries have positively impacted the 
attitudes of the communities for continuing their management role. Average income of RUG 
members has increased up to MACH-I since inception 40.34 to 52.02 over the base income. 
The average income for individuals within the groups was found to be on average a 47% 
increase . The target set originally was for a 50% increase in supplemental income . During 
MACH-I1 individual RUG members increased Tk. 35 18 over their base income and reduce 
fishing pressure 0.94hrs/day/fishers and total reduction of fishery hours is 2495hrslday. 
14.6 Changes in diversity generally take years to change on the upward side. Through habitat 
restoration efforts particularly in the riparian areas, 15-20 years will be required to see 
impacts on bird and mammal species. Sanctuary and other improved habitat will also yield 
diversity benefits but overtime. The project through restoration of habitat and efforts at 
repopulating lost species has resulted in early returns to the diversity pool. The project has 
seen an upward trend in diversity at each of sites with a total cumulative change in an upward 
direction. 
14.7 MACH has provided guidance in development of strategies to be followed in the future 
in open floodplain resources. MACH has had major impacts on water body leasing policies 
and procedures of the government through its awareness and knowledge sharing campaigns. 
Because of MACH'S successful approach the NGOs working with MACH are exporting the 
ideas to other programs of a similar nature in which they are involved. 
15. Sustainability of the Project Activities: 
15.1 MACH will end in Octoberl2006. After completion project activities should continue 
and sustain. Sustainability has become the concern of both GOB and Donor. Sustainability 
means that organized groups or individuals of the groups will be able to operate 
independently self employment IGAs rendering return on such levels that they can sustain the 
family either as main income source of the family or being supplementary to other 
employment . The Resource Users Groups!RMOs will have access to necessary capital either 
from bank or from their own groups capital or endowment fund and IGA return. They will 
ha~e access to other inputs and extension services required to operate the IGA, access to 
required technology and to the market and they will have acquired the necessary skills to run 
their enterprises profitably. 
15.2 By achieving such levels of sustainability for the RMOs and RUGs it is expected 
MACH can phase out its assistance to the RMOs and RUGs by the year 2006 leaving behind 
mainly a credit intervention which will be financed by funds to be transferred to them and the 
endowment fund. 
15.3 It is envisaged that with the full force of intenentions from MACH reaching out to the 
organized groups , the project will by then have empowered the group members to manage 
their IGAs largely on their orvn. From the perspecti\,e of the group, phasing out will . however, be gradual starting from 2004-05. The group members \vho have reached economic 
sustainability of their enterprise a.ill from then onwards be "graduated" i.e. MACH n-ill 
reduce and finally discontinue its assistance to such members. The graduated entrepreneurs 
will continue to remain group members and they \\-ill be used to promote the development of 
other members. 
15.4 MACH from the very beginning has taken steps so that RMOs and RUGs sustain. A 
sustainable wetland ecosystems management model is being followed by MACH. Over the 
last four years MACH activities have been implemented through community based RMOs 
and RUG organizations . On the question of sustainability of MACH activities Resource 
Management Organizations and Resource User groups activities have been incorporated at 
the local govemment level, namely Union Parishad and Upazila. Based on the MACH mid￾term review conducted by a team that included MOFL and DOF personnel MACH has 
prepared exit strategies. As a result Union based conlmittees have been formed and these 
committees will watch over RMO activities for sustainability . All RMO activities are now 
incorporated in the Union Parishad as well as the Upazila planning process. Further at the 
grass roots level Resource User Groups are involved in all decisions. The fundamental 
elements of MACH are awareness capacity building, organizational development and 
sustainability , maintenance of physical infrastructure, wetland resource management etc. 
These activities are of complex nature. However activities of the last few years indicate that 
the approaches envisaged in the beginning seem to be valid for sustainability . Nevertheless it 
will take some more time for the orgsnization to be self reliant. At the grass-root level, 
RMOs, have been formed with the cooperation of entire resource user community . These 
organizations are registered with the Social Welfare Department and in every case these 
organizations work through local govemment Comminees that include Upazila level 
govemment officials. So an administrative structure will be formed pem~anently at the field 
level so that administrative follow-up of the RMO activities will be possible. In this way an 
official relationship exists behveen the resource user organizations and go\.ernment 
institutions that ensures future sustainability. The LGC meetings are held quarterly. This 
meeting reviews the last three months activities and determines the next three months 
activities. After review and through discussion they make recommendation and offer ad\.ice 
on various issues. 
15.5 Financial Sustainability: 
15.6 R'etlands in the area \\-ill be leased to the 5\,lOs where sancruaries ivill be established 
Funding of RMO will come through tax collection by Rh.10 from those ~vho catch fish in ths 
non-sanctuar). khathas. In addition h\IO funds \vill be generdted vis planted saplings in khas 
lands, chara~hara, wetlands, roadsides which will also prwide funds. Loans from KGOs or 
project will be considered as a source of funding for hVO. Ko\v the organizations tr-ill 
undertake activities utilizing these funds. CAFUTAS providss credit funds for income 
generating activities for poor fishers and other poor resource users as part of the overall 
project goal of reducing dependence on scare natural resources. After the completion of 
MACH project, the revolving credit fund will remain with beneficiaries and be deposited 
with the Apex committees as agreed by the government. Organizational expenses will be met 
by earning money through a service change. As the organization formed by MACH are 
closely associated at the Union and Upazila levels the GOB will always keep in touch and be 
able to provide advice and guidance to the organizations. 
15.7 Endowment Fund for sustainability: 
12.8 Endowment fund will be created for sustainability of the management of the investments 
made during the project period. Without this fund sustainability afier completion of MACH 
cannot be secured. The sustainability of MACH institutions at the site and national levels 
requires that the Upazila level and future RMO and RUG activities continue after completion 
of the project. For this some funds are necessary to help support the institutional structure set 
up and provide fund for continued improved resource management by the committees. An 
amount of Tk. 520.00 lakh has been provided in the project as endowment Fund. This has 
been created to ensure that funds are available in the long run for a variety of wetland related 
activities. Overall control of the fund will receive with the government. 
15.9 The principal amount of the fund will be under the control of DOF. This fund may be 
shifted to other areas for similar services by the government if any mismanagement of fund is 
reported and local bodies do not require at some point of time in the future. 
15.10 UWRiiC Support Fund: 
15.1 1 MACH will form a group at the upazila level that will continue to meet regularly to 
oversee activities of RMOs and RUG apex groups. This group wilVreplace the existing 
MACH LGCs. In addition the committee will provide recommendations on wetland activities 
to the UDCC. This fund of Tk. 40.00 lakh is for the logistic support of this committee. The 
UFO will be the member-secretary of the committee and responsible for ensuring regular 
meetings take place. It is suggested that UFO therefore has control of the interest on the fund 
and that fund release will require a joint signature of UFO and UNO. 
15.12 UWRMCIRMO Fund : 
After the completion of MACH the RMOs will need to continue and 
improve wetland management activities. These may include excavating beels and khals , 
planting wetland or riparian trees or even stocking lost species and other relevant physical 
activities. MACH estimates that each upazila involved could have activities amounting to a 
total of Tk. 3.00 lakh per year. MACH suggests that the endowment fund be made available 
to provide this level of annual funding to support wetland management proposals approved 
by the co-management setup. RMO will submit proposal to be reviewed, approved and 
funded by UWRMC. Not every RbiO will have activities every year. Activities \\.ill be 
overseen by the UFO. Activities will require the approval of UiVRMC and the signature on 
the check of the UFO and UNO. Provision for fund will be Tk. 240.00 lakh. 
13.13 CBO Yetnorli: 
15.14 The GOB IPRSP, the policies of DOF, USAID and others support cornmunit)- 
management of wetland resources. There is a need for the community based managers of 
those wetland -heels, baors and river sections-to communicate with the government . As a 
result , all of the various DOF supported wetland programs in the country are considering 
joining to support the formation of a national wetland CBO net\\,ork. The formation of these 
organizations is under consideration as a paint of the exit strategy of the project. 
15.15 A provision of Tk. 240.00 lakh has been kept as CEO-Wetland Nehvork Fund. A 
committee may be formed comprising members from government and CBOs to oversee the 
operation of fund regularly. This fund may also be withdra\vn by the government if any 
misuse is reported. 
15.16 Operation of Fund: 
15.17 MACH recommends that the endowment fund be deposited in a nationalized bank 
branch in the four Upazilas as a fixed deposit. Users at the upazila level \\.ill only have access 
to a portion of the interest. 90% of the interest ivill be available for activities u.hile the other 
10% \\.ill go back into the fund as a hedge against inflation. The funds \vill be released based 
on approval of the Upazila Wetlands Resource Management committees previously the LGC 
and under the signature of the UFO and UNO. 
16. Case Studies: 
1G.l Case studies of 5 RUG members were conducted. The particulars of the case studies 
with regard to the beneficiarics from different schemes are given at Appendix - 4.These 
studies show how the project helped in changing the economic and social status of the n~ral 
poor fishermen and vulnerable groups. 
17. Findings and Observations: 
17.1. MACH project consists of two parts-MACH main project and Investment Support to 
MACH . Both are simultaneously under implementation. MACH main project is being 
implemented outside ADP under an agreement with USAID while thc Investment Support to 
MACH project is an ADP project supported by USAID. So virtually two systems are 
followed for one project . This is not consistent with the planning discipline .This is 
contradictory and it has affected the project progress. One uniform system should have been 
follo\ved in order to avoid that. As specialty in the execution system of MACH the ISMP part 
could be operated in the sanie way as that of initial MACH project. 
17. 2. MACH main project is due for completion in Oclober 2006, while tlie Investnie~it 
Support project will end in June12005 as per approved PP. Both projects are interrelated and 
implementation of one is dependent on the implementation of the other. These two projects 
are complimentary and supplementary to each other. The targets set for the acti\.ities 
envisaged in the PP cannot be conlpleted within the stipulated time of June!2005 due to deb!, 
in the approval of the PP and finalization of modallties for release of fund through GOB fund 
release system resulting in late start of implementation of investment Support project. SO ill 
order to complete the inconiplete ivorks and to bring synchronization between the tiyo 
projects , it is necessary toestend iniplenlentation period of 1ni.estrnent Support project upto 
the time the main project has beenextended i.e, upto October!Z006. 
17.3. It is obse~ed that thc targets set in the PP \Yere indicative and these asre anibitious and 
overestimated. The targets were not based on actual needs and realities in the field. The52 
cannot be completed within the remaining period of project implementation. Progress up to 
October 2001 is only 35% of the targets. The targets should be made realistic and set in such 
a way that these can be implemented within the revised project period. The activities which 
can be implemented within the project period may be seen at Appendix-5 . 
17. 4. The project was approved at an estimated cost of Tk. 3456.00 lakh.An amount of Tk. 
836.68 lakh was utilized upto October 2004 leaving a balance of Tk. 2619.32 lakh to be spent 
during the remaining period of the project. No additional fund will be required for this period. 
Only some adjustments and interhead changes within the total cost and components will be 
necessary 
17.5. The project identified wetland management areas around which Resource Management 
Organizations (RMOs) are organized. RiiO is created by villagers living within the \vetland 
management area. RMO is responsible for the management of the wetland resources and 
implementing the physical intervention such as establishment of sanctuaries, excavation of 
silted area of beel, plantation etc.The management intervention include total ban on fishing in 
sanctuaries, ban on fishing with certain types of gear and for specific species in all areas 
during late dry season /early monsoon, stop on de-watering etc. Some RMOs are collecting 
fees from fishers through collection of toll on fishing . This earning is used for the operation 
and management of the organization to some extent. There is no regular source of revenue to 
tun RMOs affairs. Nor they are provided with loans . They depend on fishing on the beels 
where fishing is allowed. So far 16 RMOs have been formed. They are in the process of 
consolidating their activities. They have not yet been able to become financially viable. They 
are required to meet the office maintenance cost, meeting cost, conservation of sanctuaries, 
travel cost, katha setting, employment of guard, audit fees etc. RMOs sources of income are 
subscription from members, collection of tolllfee from fishermen for use of different types of 
fishing gears, income from selling of RMO's resource e.g sale of katha, fish, tree etc. Income 
from these sources is not sufficient to meet the operation and maintenance cost of the 
sanctuaries. Therefore, to support RMO's activities after completion of the project, a fund 
may be created under the Endowment Fund of MACH project. Special provision should be 
made for Chapra-Magura-Jaduria permanent sanctuary that consists of 122 acres of land and 
will face great financial crisis after completion of the project. RMO of Borogangina beel is 
lacking fund to bear the management cost of this sanctuary. An exercise may be worked out 
for all RMOs including Borogangina by MACH about the requirement of fund for their 
operation .A mechanism should be developed by MACH for operation and management of 
this Fund. 
17.6 The mid-term evaluation is taking place in the middle of 3rd year of the ISM. MACH is 
working with a new approach of managing wetland resources by the community people in 
partnership with local government. The approach includes raising awareness of the 
community people for change with the expectation that this will bring benefits for them . So 
far the approach is concerned , it seems to be valid and is progressing well in achieving the 
objectives. Success ofthe project depends on the development of strong instihltion to manage 
the wetland resources after the completion of the project. Without appropriate institution 
/organizations, over exploitation of wetland resource is likely to resume. That is why MACH 
is giving emphasis on the development of strong organization /institutions at the local level 
The organizationsJgroups that have been organized are working well. The evaluation team 
got evidence of this during field visit while discussing with RMOs and RUGS. But they need 
support and guidance from the project for some more time for stabilization .There is still 
about hvo years to go before the project ends in October/2006. Now MACH is working for 
consolidating group activities with a view to withdraw support from the project gradually. 
The groups will be left to work independently and where they are stuck up the project will 
come up with help. 
17.7 Training on activities relating to AIGAs was provided to the RUG members. It has been 
clear to the committee during field visit and discussion with all concerned that training given 
by the project was presented well by the staff and received well by the beneficiaries. Training 
is critical input for income generating activities . The provision of training and skill 
development is very popular among the group members as the training can bring more 
benefits for them. It enhances knowledge and skill. Timely provision of appropriate training 
increases the capacity of the group members about group activities and to repay the loans. 
Skill development and vocational training are in high demand from the group members. But 
the project could not provide the required training according to their demand. So training 
should be need -based and skill development should be given priority by MACH. These 
training facilities sho~~ld be provided for both RMOs and RUGS members evenly. 
17.8 Credit is considered an essential input to develop IGAs. Generally members of a group 
became eligible to receive credit for IGA about 5-6 months after fomiation of the group. 
Interest is paid on annual basis and the current interest rate is 129'0 which is lower than the 
rate of many other NGOs. The loan is repaid in 45 installnients. Still some of the group 
members are outside loan coverage . First installment should start after several weeks when 
return from loan investment starts . Recovery rate is over 97% which should be maintained. 
More member should be covered under the credit program, provided the group members 
maintain group discipline and abide by the project rules. Credit is available on demand. 
Processing of credit application does not take more than two weeks. No bureaucratic obstacle 
causing delay has been reported during the field visit. A credit operation manual has 
beenshould be prepared by the project. The process of transferring the credit fund to the 
organization should be started by phases. Initially the process should be started on pilot basis 
with one organization in each site. 
17.9 Group members are encouraged and motivated for regular savings. From the very 
beginning group members are being made aware through motivation of the importance and 
utility of savings which has been identified as a means for capital formation .Throiigh regular 
habit of savings groups members can demonstrate their involvement with active participation. 
It represents a process which enables people to have more coiifidence on themselves. Each of 
the group members contributes at least Tk. 5.00 per week. A total of Tk.5.6 million has been 
accumulated as savings which can be considered as a sizeable amount This can be used for 
the purpose of providing credit, if necessary . For utilization of savings fund a saving 
operation plan is being prepared by the project. 
17.10 The project carried out a variety of demonstration in the field of agriculture related 
activities to encourage group members and others to undertake AIGAs and make them more 
productive and profitable . After completion of each demonstration activity an awareness 
raising program (Farmer F~eld Day) helped to disseminate usefill aspects among interested 
famlers. The project provides inputs such as fingerling, seeds or fertilrzers and technical 
assistance and the beneficiary households provide the labour and the land. During field visit 
the hITR comniittee observed that the demonstration were tvell accepted by the people and 
the demonstration are having widespread impact. It has a positive impact on incomes. 
production and environment . Through demonstrations, vegetable gardens and plan1 nurseries 
have been made popular. The overall results hai'e been er.couragin,v . Psople around rhs 
agriculturs field \vcre encouraged to see the good results a:hie\ed by demonstration . Ths! 
tried to adopt the program. This was due to sincere efforts of CWRS-CARIT.AS staff and the 
cooperation of the panicipating farmers. The practice of demonstration may continue, on the 
basis of necessity as far as possible . It is a key activity in diversifying agriculwral related 
activities 
17.1 1. Most of the beneficiaries are illiterate . They do not know how to read and write . Illiteracy of the group members makes them dependent on others which can be avoided if 
education can be provided to them . MACH among others has identified literacy as a major 
factor in empowering economically disadvantaged wetland users. As a result of literacy 
program participants have been able to a limited extent to read and write Bangla and maintain 
their day-to-day accounts. The achievement in the literacy program has been encouraging 
which should continue during the remaining period of the project. The project should educate 
all illiterate members. If resources do not permit at least a few members of each group should 
be given facility of education. 
17.12 In order to maintain sustainability of the management of the investments made through 
the project, it is necessary to create an Endowment Fund . Without this fund sr~stainability of 
the project activities after completion cannot be secured. Endowments will be established to 
ensure that funds are available in the long run for a variety of wetland related activities. The 
Endowments will be established in such a way that MoFL and DOF will maintain ultimate 
control of the funds . This fund will be used for support of UFC, RMO activities, permanent 
sanctuaries and CBO wetland Network. The idea of creating this fund may be considered as 
pragmatic considering the issue of sustainability. But a mechanism for strong and secured 
management of this fund should be developed by MACH before the end of the project. 
17.13. The project was designed to ensure direct access of the poor fishers to wetland 
resources and their sustainable management . The fishers are very poor and have no or very 
little agricultural land for cultivation. Fishing was their main profession and they used to live 
on fishing and fisheries related activities. MACH project has been able to bring direct 
benefits to the communities whose members are enhancing incomes, getting access to 
resources including credit, training and social services and gaining rights over fisheries and 
expertise in managing these fisheries on a more sustainable basis. The fishers have been 
organized into groupslcommittee. In the initial stage of formation, they needed guidance , 
advice and close supervision. It takes times to develop leadership and managerial capabilities 
to run group activities. Several years are required to reach maturity of the groups. The groups 
need to be supported for several years before it become self-reliant. The project has been able 
to improve their capabilities of providing leadership for group affairs. Management of the 
groups /organization seems to be transparent than before. They follow a regular fishing 
system. The project has been able to raise their awareness and social consciousness . They are 
passing through a process of learning and managing affairs of their own with the active 
support and cooperation from the project. Sustainable use and management of wetland 
resources can only be achieved where the community member are active participants in their 
management. The project has sought to empower fishing communities to become managers 
of these fisheries and thereby to ensure a more equitable distribution of benefits from fishing 
and other income generating activities. It is the general impression that the project is moving 
towards the right direction. 
17.14. During field visit DOF officials at the district anj upazila level informed the 
evaluation team that in the beginning of MACH they were not involved in MACH activities. 
It is true that the DOF officials \\,ere not very much in the initial stage, kept informed of 
MACH activities going on in the field. But this situation has changed At present they are 
actively engaged with the project activities because DOF officials, particularly at the upazila 
level will be the major factor in the sustainability program after completion and they \\:ill 
have to play key role in running the CBO's. In the 1st year there was little interaction between 
them and coordination and liaison behveen them was minimal. In order to establish close 
linkage and better liaison , the DOF officials and MACH staff should continue to share 
experiences and regular exchanges of views. District level DOF officials should be kept 
informed of latest development. DOF personnel should also regularly visit MACH activities. 
Field level DoF staffshould show interest to be involved in MACH activities. 
17.15. Though this is a government project, it is being implemented as a special nature of 
project by a USA based International NGO Winrock International with 3 local participating 
NGOs (BCAS, CNRS & Caritas). Funds for this program are derived from monetized wheat 
provided to the GOB by USA. Wheat monetization funds are deposited by USAID in the 
American Express Bank, Dhaka. According to the ADP allocation, a Project Implementation 
letter is sent by the USAID to ERD for release the fund. ERD then accepts the proposal and 
sends it to the Finance Division for authorization. Finance Division sends the request to the 
Bangladesh Bank. For release of fund, one Deputy Secretary of MoFL has been designated as 
PD whose role is limited to the release of fund and adjustments of expenditure only. O\.erall 
Financial Management of the ISM is being operated as per original MACH system by 
Winrock International. Fund is released on quarterly basis following GOB procedures of fund 
release of other projects. The procedure is time consuming and causes delay. Since this is a 
special nature of project, it needs special treatment and arrangement. Funds provided in the 
ADP need to be released at a time in the beginning of each financial year for the sake of 
better execution of of works. No problem with regard to the fund release of MACH main 
project arises since this is outside ADP project. The problem with regard to release of funds 
at a time on the basis of ADP allocation may be resolved in a joint meeting ivith all 
concerned i.e, USAID, ERD, Finance, MoFL, Planning Commission and MACH authority. 
MoFL should initiate action on this. It is noted that in the PIL signed by both the 
governments they agree to release the entire fund at a time but this has not been follo\ved. 
17.1 For sustainability of RUG'S , financial support has been arranged. Credit funds will 
remain with the groups. Accumulation of savings will continue. So it is quite clear that from 
financial point of view that there wili be no problem of funds. If the organized group can 
manage the resources properly with honesty and sincerely, there will be no problem of 
sustainability. The problem will arise if the groups cannot independently manage the funds. 
Emphasis should be given on the consolidation of groups, management of their 
administration and funds . The measures taken by MACH for sustainability deserve 
appreciation. 
17.17 The project is due for completion in Octoberi06. There are about 22 months to go 
before completion. But sustainability of the groups after conlpletion of the project is the main 
concern of GOB and a great challenge for the program. In the beginning neither groups 
members nor program staff were aware about how the micro credit, group savings and the 
IGAs \spill be operated after completion of the project . A committee u.as fomled by MOFL to 
recommend on how micro-credit and saving fund will be continued afrer the project is ovet.. 
The conlnlittee made several recommendations of this issue which \vas accepted by the GOB 
and activities on the basis of the recommendation ere going on. Results are encouraging. 
After the MACH project period, the revolving credit fund will remain with the beneficiaries 
and be deposited with the Apex Committees (FRUGs) . Organizational expenses \\-ill be met 
by earning income through a semice charge. So the project has taken adequate financial and 
other measures for sustainability . It is clear that there u.i!l be no short of funds to nln ths 
xvhols affairs. The only thing the groups \vill need guidance and advice from someone. That 
measure has been taken and there will be skeleton field staff to guide them and to be paid out 
of the interest recovered by the groups. Some time will be required to see the sustainabilir). of 
the groups after completion without support from outside. So far, the project has been 
successful with regard to the fulfillment of the goals and objectives. Adequate investments 
were made in the areas. There was support from the GOB local government, four NGOs 
worked in the area for a long time. Close supervision and monitoring helped in achieving the 
success during the pilot period. 
17.18. MACH has developed an exit strategy which includes program for attaining 
sustainability of the groups. Sustainability of CBOs is a difficult task and it takes quite a few 
years. The project has 22 months to go before completion. Format of new groups other than 
those which are under process of formation should not be encouraged .Emphasis should be 
given on the consolidation of the group activities rather than forming new groups. 
17.19. It was observed that RUG consists of members \vho are more or less homogenous in 
nature while RMOs include members \vho are heterogeneous. Normally homogenous groups 
work well. It is difficult to work with heterogeneous groups and reach consensus. So far no 
such problem with regard to the RMOs has been reported . MACH has been very much 
cautious about fomation of RMOs. Emphasis have been given on the formation of 
organization with likeminded people having homogeneity as far as possible. 
17.20 Awareness raising activities relating to the potential of natural flood plain resources are 
being implemented by the participating NGOs-CNRS and CARITAS. CNRS and CARITAS 
organize awareness raising activities for the communities living around the beels selected for 
inclusion in the program. CNRS organizes awareness raising activities through cultural 
programs, demonstration and annual rallies while CARITAs organizes awareness raising 
activities at para and village meetings. CNRS concentrates mainly on fomation of RMOs 
while CARITAS concentrates on group formation and management , skill training: 
demonstration and development of IGAs for RUGS. Awareness raising activities may be 
maintained. The awareness raising activities of CARITAS and CNRS should be better 
coordinated closely by the Site Coordinators to ensure that consistent and uniform message 
about MACH activities are disseminated. 
17.21. There is a number of industrial plants in the Kaliakoir project area. The Turag￾BangshiIKaliakoir community identified industrial pollution as one of the major factors 
affecting their wetland resources. Industrial effluents are widely threatening local fisheries, 
wetlands, water supplies and human health. Most of the effluents flow into Ratanpur canal, 
which in turn connects with Mokosh Beel . MACH undertook activities to clear up the 
pollution through a dialogue with the industries. So far dialogue has been partly successful. 
The dialogue should continue with the industrialist to solve the pollution problems. Out of 
these industries, only three have effluent treatment plants. Owners of other industries in the 
area should be persuaded to establish one or two model ETP for demonstration purpose. 
17.22. Success of the project depends on the proper management of the project activities and 
commitment and dedication of the staff. The project is being implemented under close 
supervision of MACH Authority. Adequate investments were made in the project areas. 
There are NGOs and project staff involved \vith the project a.orks. Local administration 
extended their full cooperation for the success of the project. The beneficiaries have sh0a.n 
keen interest for their socio-economic development and are fully cooperating with MACH 
authority. There was no dearth of fund . Project activities were closely monitored. SO there 
was little chance of failure during the pilot period. Beneficiaries have benefited from the 
project. It seems that they will sustain even after the closure of the project. Positive trends 
have been observed in fish production as well as raising income of the group members. 
17.23. This is innovative and demonstration project and not a production project. For 
implementation of the project of this nature and magnitude close supervision, commitment 
and monitoring are necessary .The committee was of the opinion that the project authority 
and the partner NGOs performed their assigned responsibility properly . They regularly 
visited the project sites and monitored the activities. Besides, different local and supervisory 
comminees were formed by the project to supervise and monitor the project . This is evident 
from the reports of the project and other agencies. During field visit the team got evidence of 
this. 
17.24. The project has provision for facilities of social senices like health care through 
supply of tubewells and sanitation. But the provision of fund for social servlces 1s vety 
inadequate compared to the needs of and demand from the beneficiaries . Social service 
activities are very popular among the group members . The facilities ~vhich have been so far 
provided through social services have benefited the beneficiaries. Since this has been a very 
popular activity and useful , the facility should be extended covering more new beneficiaries 
if fund sllows. 
17.25. There are many haors and beels in Bangladesh where management of wetland 
resources is a great problem. MACH has been a successful project and through trial and error 
MACH has finally developed a model for proper management of wetland resources through 
CBOs. This model can be replicated in developing other haors and beels for which similar 
type of projects like MACH may be undertaken . MOFL may take initiative identifying the 
areas. MOFL may have dialogue with USAlD through ERD regarding financing the future 
projects. 
17.26. While the team was discussing with Balla RMO, Sreemongal, it was revealed that 
lease value of Balla beel has raised to exorbitantly high. Due to which the organization has 
been facing financial crisis to run the organization paying the high lease value. This needs to 
be considered by DC, Moulvibazar or MoL. 
18.1. The policy of including one pan of the same project in the ADP and keeping another 
part outside ADP may be avoided in future. There should be uniform policy with regard to 
this issue in order to maintain planning discipline. 
18.2. Implementation period of Investment Support to MACH needs to be extended up to 
October12006 in order to complete the incomplete rvorks and to bring synchronization 
between MACH main project and Investment Support to MACH, as each part of the project 
is supplementary to each other. 
18.3. Physical and Financial targets of Investment Support to MACH should be made 
realistic so that they can be completed within the extended period of October!2006 and the PP 
should be revised accordingly. The realistic targets as recommended by the evaluation team 
are given in Appendix -1, page-38 of the report. 
18.4. Credit should be made available to the beneficiaries with the aim of AIG and po\.eny 
alleviation. Credit operational plan for management of the fund after completion of the 
project should be finalized by MACH-Caritas immediately and the process of transfemng 
fund (revolving and earned interest) to the organization should be startsd on pilot basis in 
each of three sites by June 2005. If possible and feasible, repayment schedule of the credit 
provided to the beneficiaries should be matched with the return from the AIGAs. More 
beneficiaries should be covered under credit program. Credit fund should be disbursed to the 
RUGs expeditiously. 
18.5. An operation plan for management of the savings fund of RUGs after completion of the 
project should be finalized by MACH-Caritas on priority basis and the process of handing 
over to the organization should be initiated on experimental basis in each of three sites . 
18.6. Within available resources of the project more beneficiaries should be covered under 
literacy program. If resources do not permit, at least a few members of each group should be 
provided with literacy facilities. 
18.7. Agro-demonstration activities should be continued on the basis of necessity as far as 
possible. 
18.8 The intensity of awareness raising activities may be maintained to keep momentum of 
development and to enhance knowledge and capacity of the RMOs/RUGs. The awareness 
raising activities should be continued under available fund resources. 
18.9. Endowment Fund for the Upazila Fishery Committee UFC (previously the LGC or 
Local Government Committee) support, RMO activities, permanent sanctuary and CBO 
Wetland Network should be established in order to maintain sustainability of wetland related 
activities. Special provision should be made for operation and maintenance of Chapra￾Magura-Jaduria permanent sanctuary after the end of the project. A strong and secured 
operational plan for management of Endowment Fund should be prepared by MACH at least 
6 months before the end of the project. An exercise may be worked out for all RMOs by 
MACH about the requirement of fund for their operation. The provision of endowment fund 
should be included in the revised PP. 
18.10. Water-bodies should be leased to the RMOs on a token lease value and for longer 
period (initially for 15 to 20 years). The Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock should take 
initiative on this to ensure the longer term lease from the Ministry of Land. 
18.11. Appropriate measures including dialogue with the industrialist in the Kaliakoir area 
should be continued to work towards solving the problem of industrial pollution. The owners 
of the industries should be persuaded to establish effluent treatment plants. BCAS should 
prepare a realistic action plan in consultation with MACH and partners and develop strategy 
for proper implementation. 
18.12. In order to facilitate uninterrupted implementation of project activities, the issue of 
release of fund provided in the ADP at a time in the beginning of each financial year should 
be resolved in a joint meeting with all concerned. 
18.13. Formation of new groups of RUG other than those which are under process of 
formation should not be encouraged. Emphasis should be given on the consolidation 
activities for the groups. 
18.14. Concerned senior Upazilla level Fishery Officer should be actively involved with 
MACH activities. District Fishery Officer should be kept informed of latest development. 
DOF officials should regularly visit project activities and should take more interest in 
35 
collaboration with MACH personnel. A minimum support for TA/DA at Upazilla & District 
level may be provided from MACH for visits to the sites. 
18.15. Emphasis should be given on the gradual phasing out of the project support from the 
RMOs and RUGs so that they can become more involved in the management of local 
resources independently. Whereever they are stuck up, the project should extend cooperation. 
18.16. Cross linkages should be established through visits of one another's work by NGOs, 
groups and fishery officers inter or intra sites. 
18.17. Electronic media and press, folk songs, seminars workshop, rally , drama, 
documentaries, etc. should be used for disseminating ideas and success of co- management. 
18.18. After expiry of the normal functioning of the project the groups/organizations will 
need support, guidance and advice for some more time which should be provided by existing 
local partner NGO consortium as follow-up activities. A provision should be made in revised 
PP for funding follow-up activities. 
18.19. Since MACH is approaching towards completion, the project should not be expanded 
into new areas other than the existing sites. As per exit plan of MACH closing of the project 
activities need to be followed. 
18.20. Social services activities like health care and sanitation may be continued for the new 
Resource User Groups only. 
18.21. Need based training program to be continued for RMO, RUG members and other 
potential community members. 
18.22. The model developed by MACH should be replicated in developing other wetlands. 
MoFL should take initiative to identify the potential wetlands for co-management system. 
MoFL may also start dialogue with USAID through ERD regarding financing. The future 
strategy of the DoF for management of wetlands and inland fisheries should incorporate these 
approaches. 
18.23. Due to regular increase of lease value by certain percentage rent of some water bodies 
have gone high exorbitantly. These lease value of water bodies leased to RMOs to be 
reviewed and reduced to a reasonable amount. 
18.24. Additional beel should be allocated for Baragangina RMO for meeting the expenses of 
maintaining central permanent sanctuary-Chapra-Magura-Jaduria. 
18.25. Site-wise federation of RMOs may be formed to make them institutionally strong. 
18.26. Lease of water bodies may be fixed by following categories in consultation with the 
Ministry of Land. 
a) Whole beel declared as sanctuary — on a token lease value. 
b) Part of Beel maintained as sanctuary — on proportionate reduction of lease 
value. 
36 
18.27. Final evaluation of the project should be carried out at the end of the project to assess 
the degree of overall success of the project. 
(Mostafa Kamal) 
Assistant Chief 
Economic Relations Division 
and Member 
(AN M Rokon Uddin) 
Deputy Director . IMED 
and Member 
( Abdus Sobhan Bhuiyan) 
Joint Chief, Planning Commission 
and Member 
(Syed Arif Azad) 
Assistant Director, DoF 
and Member 
(S.N. Choudhury) 
National Coordinator, 
MACH 
and Member Secretary 
( Mohammad Ashraful Islam) 
Joint Chief, MoFL 
and Convenor 
Appendix -6 
List of RMOs 
DahaIKum 
RMO 
1. Hail Haor Sanada RMO Alia Chhara RMO . - - - - -. -
Jethua RMO Boula Chhara RLI0 
Ralla RMO Jaag Chhara RkIO 
Dumuria RMO Joita Chhara RMO 
Agari RM0 Ful Chhara Committee 
Kajura RMO 
Borogangina Rho 
Ramaia RhlO 
(Under process) 
2. Turag-Bangshi Mokosh RMO - . - -. - - Naler Daha Committee 
Turag River RMO Moisher Daha Committee 
Alua RMO Burir Daha Committee 
Goallar River RMO Naakhola + Dholi Daha 
(Under process) Committee 
Bastoli Daha Committee 
Golachipa kum 
Committee 
Lalkhar Kum Committee 
Gabtoli Sayedpur Kum 
Committee 
Bamoner Ghuni 
Committee 
Rhangi Danga Daha 
Committee 
Doika Daha Committee 
Boro Daha Committee 
Folimarr! Daha 
Committee 
Dilarhari Daha 
Committee 
Krishnar Hari Daha 
Cornmitee 
Gurerhari Daha 
Committee 
3. Kongshaw- hlalijhee 
Kewta RMO Kalaghosa-1 Bahar Ali Kur 
Takimari-Dharabashia JRMO Committee 
RhtO Kalaghosa-2 Ciaimara Kur 
Dholi-Baila RVO mk10 Committee 
Railsha RhIO Sakshi-hlala 
JRi\IO 
Total (No): 16 S 1 S 
Appendix -7 
List of Leased Water bodies to RMOs 
/K-- I Leased Waterbodies 1 Location 
1. Hail Haor Sanada Bee1 
Jethua Beel 
Balla Beel 
Agari Beel 
Kazura Beel 
Lori 
Arardor 
Jurmehedi 
Laler Doba Beel 
Baragangina Canal 
Barkandi Beel 
Chapra Magura Beel 
Jaduria Bee1 
Budaidoba 
Ramai Bee1 
Medi Beel 
Khaiya Beel 
Borokuma 
Chotokuma 
Chamrdoba and Chatladoba 
Latua-Matra and Kankata 
Dumer Bee1 
Dholidoba 
Patradoba 
Sreemongal 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
2. Turag-Bangshi Mokosh Bee1 Kaliakoir 
Turag River do 
Alua Beel do 
Kalidaha Beel do 
3. Kongsha-Malijhee Kewta Bee1 Sherpur 
Sadar 
Dhali Bee1 Jhenaigathi 
Baila Bee1 do 
Bailsha Beel do 
Awa Baura Beel Sherpur-Sadar 
Maliihee River Jhenaieathi 
Total: 34 Nos. 
These groups are utilizing best resource management practices on more than 1900 ha of rainy 
season wetlands and more than 50 km of streams. 
1. Hail Haor 
(a) Female: 3 1 712 
(b) hiale: 56 llS4 
Sub-total: S7 IS96 
Appendix-8 
Summary Profile of RCGs 
2. Kongsha-hlalijhee 
(a) Female 30 656 
(b) Male 78 1624 
Subtotal: 108 2280 
3. Turag-Bangshi 
(a) Female 17 337 
(b) Male 34 68 1 
Subtotal: 5 1 1018 
Site Remarks 
Total: 246 5194 
Average membership per group: 20 
Xo of groups No of members 
I. Mokosh Beel 9 5.24 
Appendix-9 
Wetland Sanctuaries 
2. Turag River 3 5.80 
Name of the Water-body 
3. Alua Beel 7 12.94 
4. Goliar Khal 4 3.00 
Sub-total: 23 26.98 
Am 
No of Sanctuaries 
B. Hail Haor Site 
Area (Acre) 
4. Sananda Beel 3 0.42 
5. Balla Beel 4 5.06 
6. Jethua Bee1 2 1.04 
7. Kajura Reel 1 0.33 
8. Agari Beel 5 2.64 
9. Baragangina Canal 5 23.53 
10. Dumaria Beel 6 6.63 
Subtotal 26 39.65 
C. Knoesha~r-Maliihee Site 
1 I. Kewta Beel 4 0.92 
12. Takimari-Dharabashia Beel 8 6.28 
13. Balia-Dholi Beel 9 4.91 
14. Balisha Reel 2 2.00 
Subtotal: 22 14.1 1 
Total (A+B+C) : 72, Area (Acre) : 80.74 
Accomplishments of Khal and Beel Schemes uoder ISMP 
Khal Schemes 
Hail ilnor 4 4106 
Sherpur 4 3333 
- Kaliakoir 4 8000 
Sub-total: 12 15739 
Length of scheme 
khals in meterand 
Beels in ha 
Site 
Beel Schemes 
No of scheme 
Hail Haor 6 2.37 83% 
Sherpur 6 4.30 99% 
Kaliakoir 5 9.77 -- 89% 
Sub-total: 17 16.43 92% 
---- 
Total 29 ---- 95% 
Appendix-1 l 
Detailed Target and Achievements 
I. Wetland Resource Management Activities 
Activity Unit Targets ~chievezrl 
Nov!O3 to Oct104 1 No43 to 0cm4 J 
1. Area under Hectare 800 820 
Improved 
Management 
2, Increased Production Kg/ha 195 217 
3. Increased Bio-diversity Fish(no1 1 ----. 
Plant (no) 2 
4. Re-introduction of fish No 850000 472276 
fingerlings 
5. Re-introduction of fish No 4 3 
species 
6. Establishment of new No_ - 5 CL￾sanctuaries Area(acre) 4.00 5.00 
7. Lease of waterbodies to 9 - 12 
RMOs Area(acre) 165.00 185.57 
8. Riparian Habitat 
Improvement 
(a) Riparian Plantation No -- 81 100 -- 46324 
(Chhara, River, Canal) - 35.87 - 10.05 
Area(ha) 2.15 15.58 
(b) Swamp Plantation - No -- 24900 
- km - 0.8 
Area(ha) 4.95 16.89 
(c) lnstit~l~ion ad No 5700 1475 
homestead plantation 
(d) Road side Plantation - 167000 84121 
(wetland) Area) km 169.5 90.30 
9. Habitat Restoration 
Activity 
(a) Beel (Rehabilitated1 Area (ha) - 34.27 16.44 
Re-excavated) No 17 17 
(b) Canals (Rehabilitatedi No - 12 
Re-excavated) Length(meter) 157-13 15739 
Unit 
(c) Aquatic Habitat Area (ha) - 200 
(Beel 8; khal converted No 16 29 
from seasonal to perennial) 
10. Floodplains/Wetlands 
Resource Management 
Organization (RMOs) 
Targets 
Novl03 to Oct/04 
(a) Formation of new Chharal (No) I I 
Jhara/KumlDaho RMOs 
Achievements 
Novl03 to Oct/04 
(b) Potential Resourcc (No) 2 1 
areas for management 
(beellkumlDoha) 
(c) Participatory Community 16 16 
Planning 
----- Resource Planning Meetings (N,J) 13 8 
(d) Plantation Committee Meeting (No) --- 6 
Strengthening and Capacity Building 
of RMOs 
(a) Registration of RMOs No 1 I 
(b) Constitution amended No 15 under process 
or revised 
(c) Constitl~tion for Chhara No 5 5 
(d) Training Module developed for 
RMO capacity building No 6 .... 
(e) RSIO Review ~vorkshop' 
Assessn~ent So 16 16 
(f)Refresher training No 18 ---. 
Activity 
(g) EC Meeting of RMO No 179 136 
(h) GB Meeting of RMO No 7 1 62 
Unit 
(i) CRMO Meeting IDohdKum 
Committee Meeting No 276 109 
ti) Resource Management plan 
implemented No 19 14 
Targets 
Nov/03 to OctiO4 
(k) RMOs Resource Mapping No I2 4 
and Inventory done 
Achievements I 
Nova3 to Octf04 
(1) Community monitoring NO 16 14 
program established 
(m) No of local government No 160 130 
meetings where management 
issues discussed 
Awareness Program: 
(a) PardVillageJUP Program (No) - 833 760_ 
Upazila level Participant (No) 16760 15465 
(b) School Program Program 175 - 126 
Participant 3 700 1508 
(c) DramdBaul Songs/ Promam: 95 3 5 
Video ShowIDayl Participant 34400 259 5 5 
Others 
(d) Knowledge Experience Program (No): 251 407- 
sharing among GOING0 Participant (No) 2645 7865 
IRhlOlCommunity 
(e) A~vareness meeting on Proeram (No1 4 2- 
Watershed Participant (No) 500 577 
(f) No of individuals Promam Mol 3358 1332 
reached by public Participant (KO) 58005 54370 
awareness 
Watershed Management 
(a) Pineapple demonstration No - IS - 15 
plots Area (acre) 37 37.57 
Activity 
(b) Farmers under demonstration No 2 7 
Unit Targets Achievements 1 
(c) Expansion of contour system Area 5 37.57 
of cultivable pineapple (Acre) 
Nod03 to OcW04 
Livelihood Generation 
(a) No of RUG No 20 2 1 
Nod03 to OcW04 1 
(b) No of Members No 505 596 
(c) Group Savings Lakh Tk. 10.90 19.29 
Training 
Group Development. 
(a) Group Management 
(b) Leadership 
(c) Accounts keeping 
(d) Resource Awareness 
Skill Development for lGA . Demonstration 8: Enterprise 
Credit: 
(a) RUG member getting 
loan service 
(b) Total loan disbursed 
(c) Disbursed Amount 
(d) Realized Anioont 
- Batch 25 
Participant 500 
Batch 
-- - 14 
Participant 500 
Batch -- - 12 
Participant 240 
Batch 
-- - 25 
Participant 500 
Batch: - 52 
Participant 800 
KO 2.500 219s 
Lakh Tk. 131.00 185.11 
Lakh n. 110.00 1S1.90 
Enterprise Loan 
(a) Members gening loan No I23 106 
Activity 
(b) Disbursed Amount Lakh Th. 28.35 23.76 
Unit Targets 
Nov103 to Oct/04 
(c) Realized Amount Lakh Tk. 5.30 6.32 
NovI03 to Oct/04 
(d) Suppleniental Income increase Tk. 2500 3518 
Hcalth Care 
(a) Tubewells distributed No 30 -...- 
(b) Pit Latrine Distributed No 150 -.--- 
Education 
Adult Literacy course conducted No 25 24 
Child School No 2 -... 
Demonstration Activities 
(a) Pond CultureIPond nurseryi - No - 77 - 56 
Madrazi owal KatchuNegetable Area 470 516 
(decimal) 
(b) Jujubee buding (Farmers) No 130 101 
(c) Roadside Plantation 
(i) Length of road Km 10 9 
(ii) Sapling Planted No 10000 9035 
(d) Plan1 Nursery 
(i) Farmers engaged No .-.-. 8 
(ii) Sapling Produced No 190000 871 12 
(e) Homestead Plantation 
(i) Members selzcted So 900 400 
(ii) Sapling distribution Xo 4500 l 200 
(f) Fnlit Garden 
(i) Farmers engaged So 15 6 
(ii) Saplings Planted No 300 I05 
Note: There are no specific total targets for the project. Targets are fixed on annual basis and 
approved by the Steering Committee.