Detailed Narrative Description of the project:

The Seeds of Survival (SoS) program in Bangladesh will strengthen household food security, improve nutrition and increase incomes through promoting organic, diverse vegetables by investing in the skills and resources of young women in the vulnerable northwest of the country. The ultimate outcome of SoS Bangladesh is that the lifelong skills to grow and save seeds from organically grown, diverse vegetables, be available for all future families and be a foundation for rebuilding a families’ situation if they face a high level of vulnerability. The core strategies are: (1) maintain a focus on young women who are more likely to skill build on home based, ecological, diversity based vegetable production and seed banking/ provisioning; (2) move towards young farmers selling surplus vegetables and some inputs, (high quality compost) and eventually seeds in their local market via careful value chain assessments; and (3) work directly with PNGOs which are socially connected, grounded to the complexities of each community.

Focus of the project: Agro-biodiversity, climate change adaptation & mitigation and economic growth in rural communities

Objectives of the Assignment:

1. Increased availability of food in quantity and quality, for women, men and youth Increased diversity and productivity of smallholder agro ecological systems
2. Improved economic security, nutrition status for rural women, men and youth
3. Development results scaled up through collaborations with government agencies, NGOs, farmers’ organizations and national and regional networks
4. Improved capacity of community-based enterprises to market seeds and other high value agro biodiversity products
5. Improved capacity of community-based enterprises to market seeds and other high value agro biodiversity products
6. Strengthened leadership, economic empowerment and access to resources for rural women and youth
7. Improved capacity of women, men and youth farmers, local partners, and USC to document, analyze and share innovations and best practices

Expected Result:

• Increased diversity and productivity of smallholder agro ecological systems
• Improved capacity of community-based enterprises to market seeds and other high value agro biodiversity products
• Strengthened leadership, economic empowerment and access to resources for rural women and youth
• Development results scaled up through collaborations with government agencies, NGOs, farmers’ organizations and national and regional networks
• Increased social awareness on early marriage, violence against women, human rights, personal hygiene and sanitation.

Activities of the Project:

HHs survey, CAP preparation through PRA method. HHs visit, Organize and conduct court yard meeting, Farmers training on homestead gardening, seed conservation, leadership development, entrepreneurship development, food & nutrition, gender & rights etc. PVS workshop, PVS Setting, Farmers Field Day, Community Seed Mapping, Established Community Seed Bank, Arrange Annual Seed Fair, Established Seed Model Farmers, Training, GO-NGO farmer collaboration workshop, Organic Fair, Eco Fair, Organic homestead gardening, demonstration practical nutrition etc.

Location of the project:

Upazila- Thakurgaon Sadar, Dist.- Thakurgaon, Upazila-Boda, District-Panchagorh.

No. of Project Participants: 6,700 youth women farmers.

Project duration: Since May 2016

Project Budget: 1,69,29,861.00

Financed by: USC Canada.