Organization Profile & Registration Certificate

Table of Contents

Acronyms and Abbreviations -

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1. Background -

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2. RUSTIC Philosophy -

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3. Vision -

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4. Mission -

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5. Strategic Objectives and Cross Cutting Issues -

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6. Ongoing Programs -

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6.1 Insitutionalisation Organisation Building and Programme --

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6.1.1: Organisation Building - -

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6.1.2: Local Resource Mobilisation - -

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6.1.3: Cooperative of Farmer -

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6.1.4: Voter Education -

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6.1.5: Local Government Strengthening -

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6.1.6: Networking with Local NGOs -

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6.1.7: Morrelgonj Project-

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6.2 Education and Human Resource Development Programme -

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6.2.1: Adolescent School and Training Centre -

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6.2.2: Non-formal education as part of eradication of

hazardous child labour in Bangladesh -

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Food Security & Livelihoods and Economic Self-Reliance Programme - -

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6.3.1: Sustainable Agriculture Component - -

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i. Integrated Organic Farming and Alternative Agriculture - - 13

ii. Aquaculture -

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iii. Livestock Rearing - -

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iv. Alternative Agriculture in the Saline Water Area - -

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6.3.2: Micro-Entrepreneurship Component - -

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6.4 Resilience against Climate Change Effect and Environment

Protection Programme -

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6.4.1: Reduce Carbon and Protect Biodiversity: The Key Concept - 16

6.4.2: Solid Waste Management -

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6.4.3: Vermicompost and Vermiculture -

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6.4.4: Conservation of Snail Diversity -

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6.4.5: Improved Cook Stove - -

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6.4.6: CEDAB -

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6.4.7: Biogas Plant - -

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6.4.8: Water and Sanitization Programme

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6.5 Rights Protection and Healthcare Programme

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6.5.1: Children’s Rights -

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6.5.2: Old Welfare -

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6.5.3: Primary Healthcare -

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6.5.4: Safe Drinking Water - -

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6.6 Forestry for Carbon Management-

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6.6.1: Objectives-

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6.6.2: Activities-

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6.6.3: Achievement- -

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6.7: Positive Youth Development -

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7. Where and with Whom We Work -

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7.1 Working Area of RUSTIC -

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7.2 Map of the Area of Operation -

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8. Beneficiaries -

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9. Development Partner -

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Organization Profile & Registration Certificate

9.1 Organizational Map of Partners and Activities - -

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10. Bodies of RUSTIC -

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10.1 Human Resource Profile-

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10.2 Organogram of RUSTIC -

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10.3 RUSTIC Profile - -

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10.4 Biography of Executive Director -

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Organization Profile & Registration Certificate

Acronyms and Abbreviations

ADAB

Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh

AM

Area Manager

ASIRP

Agricultural Services and Innovation Reform Project

BADS

Bangladesh Aquaculture Development Society

BCCSAP

Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan-2009

BDT

Bangladeshi Taka

BEMP

Bangladesh Environmental Management Project

BRAC

Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee

C&E

Climate Change & Environment

CBMSWMP

Community Based Municipal Solid Waste Management Project

CBO

Community Based Organization

CDF

Credit and Development Forum

CDL

Community Development Library

CEDAB

Climate Change Effects Defender’s Association of Bangladesh

CEP

Coastal Embankment Project

CIDA

Canadian International Development Agency

DAE

Department of Agriculture Extinction

E&HRD

Education and Human Resource

EC

Executive Committee

ED

Executive Director

F&A

Finance & Administration

GC

General Committee

GoB

Government of Bangladesh

HCP

Hard Core Poor

IGA

Income Generating Activities

IT

Information Technology

GIZ

German Technical Cooperation

KCC

Khulna City Corporation

LGI

Local Government Institution

NFPE

Non-Formal Primary Education

NGO

Non Government Organisation

OBI

Organization Building and Institutionalization

PM

Project Manager

PO

Programme Officer

RLF

Revolving Loan Fund

RUSTIC

Rural Unfortunates’ Safety Talisman Illumination Cottage

SAF

Sustainable Agricultural Forum

SEMP

Sustainable Environment Management Programme

SHGO

Seven Hills Global Outreach

SWMP

Solid Waste Management Forum

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

UPPR

Urban Partnerships for Poverty Reduction

Organization Profile & Registration Certificate

PART 1: BACKGROUND

Bangladesh is a developing country in south-east Asia with a

population of over 148 million. Over 47 million of these

people are living below the poverty line, the most vulnerable

of which being the women and children. The Khulna region,

including Bagerhat, is located in the remote south-western

part of the country. The disaster prone coastal area has

endured at least five major or large scale natural disasters

within last 15 years, including Sidr, Iila, Amphan and

Reshmi- all taking place in the last decade. It also stands at

a distance from the major economic center of Dhaka. The

infrastructure is poor and communication can at times be

treacherous. As a result, the region is vulnerable to socio-

economic

challenges.

Disasters,

both

natural

(the

environment) and man-made (the economy) are the root causes of the issue. Lack of education

and absence of comprehensive data means that these problems are compounded in terms of

deciding the ground reality and set correct course of action.

Despite enormous possibilities (Khulna is the second largest sea-port in the country), rampant

and non-stop de-industrialization adds fuel to the worst case scenario. At least 230 large and

small industries shut down or called lay-offs in the region in last two decades. COVID-19 has

worsened an already fragile situation to say the least. This dealt a heavy blow to an already

under-employed population, especially for the urban or pro-urban populations.

Attempts to increase the agricultural yield and protect human settlements from cyclone and tidal

surge embankments led to the construction of the Coastal Embankment Project (CEP). Yet

since the 1960s, this government intervention has had an adverse impact on one of the most

complex and biologically productive ecosystems in the world; almost permanent drainage

congestion and water logging have endangered traditional agriculture and livelihood in the

region. Moreover, much of the agrarian land is becoming permanently or partially barren

because of saline water due to indiscrete cultivation of so-called shrimp and shrimp-fish

polycultures.

Since

1988,

social

activists

began

raising

awareness, giving suggestions and providing

financial, technical and mental support in order to

find a possible solution to the population’s

problems. They intended to establish a formal, legal

and workable organization to ensure safe water

and sanitation, conserve bio-diversity, enhance

human rights, and eradicate illiteracy, superstition,

and the hypocrisy of religious fundamentalism from

the society. Therefore, RUSTIC emerged as a

voluntary social development organization for the

helpless to establish themselves financially, socially

and culturally. RUSTIC targets the poorest of the

community irrespective of race, cast or creed for an

integrated development.

PART 2: RUSTIC PHILOSOPHY

Bangladesh is not a poor country by tradition and instead is a treasure trove for agricultural

resources. Despite this fact, it is considered to be one of the poorest nations in the developing

world. Natural disasters, lack of formal education, slow industrialization, and lack of democracy

translates into people having little voice in the governance of their own country. The dream of

building an egalitarian society is gradually fading away. Lack of transparency and accountability

in the management of wealth means a few people getting hyper-rich and most being pushed to

the sidelines. The poor are unable to break out of the vicious circle of poverty for a cause not of

their own making.

It is time to find an

effective way to give

hope for the survival

and development of the

left out majority. RUSTIC

has emerged to instill

this dream into the left

out majority. It is a non-

profit and non-

government volunteer organization, that works towards socio-economic

and environmental development and bio-diversity conservation in

Bangladesh.

PART 3: VISION

RUSTIC’s vision is an equitable and just society facilitated through self will and empowerment; it

seeks to create a dignified and poverty free society that would make no distinction to race, color

or creed.

PART 4: MISSION

“Poverty alleviation is well-known to the poor - only assistance is required.” It is essential to

mainstream sustainable development to

the backward, deprived, vulnerable, and

affected men, women and children.

PART 5: STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND CROSS CUTTING ISSUES

Strategic Objectives

RUSTIC developed five strategic objectives to achieve its vision and materialize its mission:



Organization Building and Institutionalize Grass-Roots People



Education and Human Resource development



Food Security and Economic Self-Reliance



Resilience against Climate Change Effects and Environment Protection



Rights Protection and Healthcare of the Poor

RUSTIC utilizes its organizational resources to have a maximum

impact on the organizational activities. It follows a two-fold strategy to

improve access and enhance the supply of resources and services.

First, in order to create local institutions it must develop needs-based

awareness through individual or group approaches. These

institutions will take an unequivocal stand for enhancing rights and

empowerment. Regarding demand satisfaction, however, institutions

intervene at three levels:

a) At the micro (community) level i.e. as formal and non-formal institutions to make a social and

political space for the poor, especially for the women;

b) At the meso (district) level as service institutions; and

c) At the macro (national) level for policy advocacy.

Secondly, RUSTIC provides need based quality resources and services to the poor, vulnerable,

and marginalized section of the population. It mobilizes and utilizes internal and outsourced

resources for the effective management of knowledge.

To strengthen mechanisms for better service delivery among the poor, RUSTIC develops

partnerships, forums, alliances, networks, coalitions and the like to ensure the representation of

a diverse range of institutional skills.

Cross Cutting Issues

For programme interventions, RUSTIC considers four issues:



Women’s Rights: ensures gender equality, economic self-reliance of poor women, and a

congenial atmosphere for women in the family, society and state.



Child’s Rights: ensures four basic principles: the right to live, to development (i.e. the

right to education), to safety, and to participation.



Safe Environment: means taking steps in all the spheres of life and livelihood to reduce

the risk of climate change effects, lessen carbon emissions, and decrease the global

temperature. Locally, the risk reduction also means adaptation capacity.

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

Poverty Reduction: means ensuring minimum standards of basic-human rights like

nourishment (food, cloth), shelter, treatment, education and recreation to improve the

standard of living. Development of skills, access to resources, income, employment, and

dignified social status are also indicators of the issue.

A main objective of all the works implemented or underway by RUSTIC is to support these cross

cutting issues.

PART 6: ONGOING PROGRAMMES

RUSTIC sets five major programmes to reach its five Strategic Objectives:

6.1 Organisation Building and Institutionalisation Programme

6.2 Education and Human Resource Development Programme

Food Security & Livelihoods and Economic Self-Reliance Programme

6.4 Resilience against Climate Change Effect and Environment Protection Programme

6.5 Rights Protection and Healthcare Programme

Part 6.1: Organisation Building and Institutionalisation Programme

6.1.1: Organization Building

RUSTIC

executes

the

programme two steps: (1)

enhancing groups of poor;

and (2) building unity of

local development initiators

(NGOs, CBOs, etc.)

The primary target groups

of RUSTIC are the isolated

poor and hardcore poor

grassroots families. This

programme

helps

unite

people at the grassroots

level and strengthen their

capacity.

RUSTIC

focuses

particularly

on

strengthening the capacity

of the groups and making

them self- motivated. To achieve this goal, group members are challenged to critically analyse

themselves. They become involved in necessary skill development, income generating activities

(IGA), and savings management activities. In addition, RUSTIC encourages all the groups to

unite further through federations at village and union levels. Whereas the head of the groups

and federations receive training from RUSTIC on leadership qualities, the rest of the general

members participate in a series of awareness sessions. These include cross cutting socio-

economic and political issues such as Women’s Rights, Child’s Rights, Safe Environment and

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Poverty Reduction. There are frequent exchanges and dissemination of information between

RUSTIC and the groups and federations.

RUSTIC supports about 4,580 underprivileged people through 243 female and male groups.

Each group has an average of 20 members who gather weekly for group meetings and money

saving.

6.1.2: Local Resource Mobilization

RUSTIC is implementing this project with the financial support from Ashoka Innovators for the

Public (USA). RUSTIC will continue organization building activities after phasing out of this

project

6.1.3: Cooperative of Farmer

RUSTIC formed a local-based farmers’ association

to market products and run a small trade of its group

members. This association plays a supportive role to

protect and preserve farmer’s various rights and

privileges. This includes dealing with short-term

capital crises, enhancing awareness of Fair Trade

facts, and ensuring direct supply and fair price of

their products.

6.1.4: Voter Education

RUSTIC believes that voters have a key role in

ensuring and strengthening the democracy of a

country. As a result, RUSTIC, in partnership with

the

development

organization

BROTEE,

has

implemented a project to strengthen citizens’ rights.

The project activities include voter awareness and

advocacy and focuses on vulnerable groups

(women, religious and ethnic minorities, pre- and

post-election

observation

and

monitoring

of

national,

Union

Parishad,

Pourasabha

(municipality), City corporation and bi-elections in

the country). RUSTIC implemented this project at

Fakirhat, Mollahat and Chitalmari Upazilas of

Bagerhat district between 2005 and 2009.

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6.1.5: Local Government Strength

RUSTIC

believes

strengthening

local

government is essential for the sound

contribution to the democratic process. To

achieve its aims, RUSTIC aims to increase

access and involvement of people in the

governance.

6.1.6: Networking with Local NGOs

RUSTIC connects with various local forums, national forums and networks of development

associations to enhance capacity of the development organisations, increase access to

resources, and contribute to the policy planning. The Climate Change Effects Defender’s

Association of Bangladesh (CEDAB network) is a noteworthy achievement as it is currently

composed of 38 NGOs and a consultancy firm since July 2008.

6.1.7: Morrelgonj Project

RUSTIC is currently implementing a three year project in the Morrelgonj area to assist in the

development of vulnerable women. The area was specifically chosen because of its vulnerability

to environmental disasters. For example the area

is still dealing with the effects of a cyclone nearly

three years ago. As a result, RUSTICs efforts are

instrumental in improving the situation in the area

today.

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The project targets the poorest of the population: in particular over 2,800 women and their

families. RUSTIC regional staffs begin by facilitating community meetings. These meetings

facilitate dialogue and enhance awareness. Training sessions occur next, namely in the fields of

environmental and rights protection. Staff members give tips and advice on what to do in case

of emergency. Following awareness training, the women are given practical training for future

income generation. They choose which activity is most suitable to their needs and develop the

skill for this field. After meeting with RUSTIC representatives, the women are eligible for credit

to begin their project.

Though in its early stages, RUSTIC hopes this project will enhance the prosperity of the area

and facilitate development. It will make the women more in control of their finances and provide

an additional source of income for the family.

PART 6.2: EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

RUSTIC believes education is an important tool to fight

poverty. Improvement of socio-cultural and economic

growth opportunities is also integral to improving

overall livelihood. This is especially relevant in

Bangladesh as the adult literacy rate (7 years and

above) is 77.82%. (Source: World Bank literacy survey

2020) and the children dropout rate from primary

school stands at 47% (Source: The New Humanitarian

2007). Although from the outset, these numbers may

look acceptable enough, but the fact is that these

numbers are hugely inflated and grossly of the mark of

the real situation on the ground.

From its inception RUSTIC has provided non-formal

education along with vocational and skill development training to the socially marginalized

sweeper and town-scavenger communities in the neighbouring areas of Khulna City

Corporation- KCC. Under the provision of the project, many adults received non-formal

education through various adult literacy centres in the working areas. After the official end of the

project, RUSTIC continued to operate three centres in the KCC area with its own resources.

The programme has been replicated in other areas and has received support from the NFPE

programmes of BRAC, PROSHIKA and GoBs (1997 to 2002). RUSTIC also implemented

‘Education of Hazardous Child Labour in Bangladesh’ funded by the Ministry of Labour and

Employment during 2006-07. These RUSTIC programs have increased basic literacy levels,

upgraded the skills of the neo-literate, and provided individuals with the opportunity to improve

their quality of life.

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6.2.1: Sustainable Development of Adolescent Girls through Education and Vocational

Training

Starting in 2007, RUSTIC, with the support from its own and the community, took the initiative to

educate adolescent girls threatened with

social vulnerabilities in the Sonadanga

slum areas of Khulna. SHGO (Seven

Hills

Global

Outreach)

has

been

supporting the project since 2011. This

support enables the project to establish

a new school building and acquire

necessary educational and vocational

equipments. A well composed team has

been developed for the centre operation

including a Program Officer, three

teacher cum trainers, and two support staff. At present, 40 slum dwelling adolescent girls of

Sonadanga are involved with the program. For long-term operation and sustainability, RUSTIC

hopes to develop and facilitate the school centres further with quality and information

technology (IT) based skill development activities, ensuring the sound health and nutritional

status of the target population.

6.2.2: Non Formal Education as Part of Eradication of Hazardous Child Labour in

Bangladesh (2nd Phase)

In Bangladesh, Child labour is a common scene. You will be hard-pressed not to find shops

within the bazar environment where there is no under-aged employee being employed. Worse,

these minors are expected to perform same as an adult failure of which can lead to physical

abuse and mental torture. RUSTIC has been on the forefront to support any intervention that

involves saving the lives of minors.

To that end, in September 2006, through the financing of the Ministry of Labour, RUSTIC

launched a Non-Formal Education initiative in Daulatpur region within the Khulna District. In this

program, two catchments helped educate 360 students each a total of 720 in total.

Our programme afforded to remove these children from the ‘child labour loop’ and helped them

to find employment in better working environment once they completed education and became

teenaged children.

RUSTIC believes that not enough is done for this vulnerable segment of the population and we

encourage donor as well as the GoB to take more and more sustained action to save these

innocent lives.

PART 6.3: FOOD SECURITY AND ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE PROGRAMME

RUSTIC implements this programme in two major components: (1) Sustainable Agriculture

Component, and (2) Micro- entrepreneurship Component.

6.3.1: Sustainable Agriculture Component

RUSTIC considers some factors of ‘Sustainable Agriculture’ as vital issues in materializing the

programme effectively:

a) Innovation and Technology Transfer;

b) Alternative Agriculture at the Water Logging Area;

c) Entrepreneurship

Important activities under the component are described below:

i) Integrated Organic Farming and Alternative Agriculture in the Waterlogged Area

The coastal area of Bangladesh is

one

of

the

most

complex,

biologically rich and productive

ecosystems

in

the

world.

A

previous

Coastal

Embankment

Project

was

implemented

to

increase

agricultural

yield

and

protect

human

settlements.

However, this project had adverse

environmental

impacts

like

enhanced

siltation

of

rivers,

drainage congestion and water

logging in the area. As a result

people started fisheries and other

activities to fulfil their basic needs.

Despite these steps, what the

people really needed was a well-planned and integrated alternative agriculture system to

ensure sustainability. To meet this need, RUSTIC has been conducting similar activities in

this programme.

Integrated organic farming is an innovation by RUSTIC. It provides skill development

training on prawn-fish poly-culture, fish in paddy land, homestead gardening, vegetable

cultivation on the pond banks or boundaries of agrarian lands, use of organic compost to

protect soil quality, livestock, poultry rearing and many more. The programme also provides

skill based training on agro based entrepreneurship such as the development of marketing

and market channels, IGAs, integrated pest management and organic farming. The project

activities include improving motivation and awareness building of its stakeholders through

workshops, seminars, and distribution of posters and leaflets. RUSTIC continues the

programme activities by providing necessary training and equipment support, sharing the

cost between beneficiaries and RUSTIC’s own funding sources after the project’s end.

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ii) Aquaculture

RUSTIC

has

acquired

skills

on

aquaculture

from

the

experience

in

different projects in the waterlogged areas

and with different donors over last 15

years.

Common

objectives

of

these

projects

include

creating

part-time

employment for rural unemployed people

who have access to open water bodies

(like rivers, canals, wetlands) or ghers (an

artificially created catchment of water

exclusively designed for fish-farming),

ponds, etc. Major projects implemented

under the sub-components are:



‘Technology and information dissemination of prawn-fish poly-culture’ in

collaboration with PROSHIKA (MUK), DAE and ASIRP (2001 to 2004),



Cages Aquaculture, experimental technology transfer project, support by CARE

Bangladesh (2002-2003) and



‘Aseptic Culture and Post Harvest Technology of Prawn & Shrimp’ in

collaboration with Fisheries Ministry of GoB.

RUSTIC merged all the activities of above projects with own programmes and funds.

iii) Livestock Rearing

Recently the programme of RUSTIC is extended to

livestock activities, especially with ‘Goat Rearing’

and ‘Beef Fattening’ activities. RUSTIC started a

small farm to gather practical experience and

influence the people to follow GoB manual in this

regard.

iv) Alternative Agriculture in the Saline Water Area

Due to the effects of climate change, more and more

land in this area is affected by salinity. As a result it is

essential to adopt alternative agriculture in the saline

water

area.

RUSTIC

has

been

keeping

close

connection with the relevant GoB departments for their

guidelines on the issue and is currently searching for

implementing partners to materialize those guidelines.

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6.3.2: Micro-Entrepreneurship Component

Since almost half of the population of Bangladesh lives below the poverty line, food security is

vitally important to the poor. The situation in the working areas (Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira

districts) is much worse because of the impact of natural disasters (i.e. cyclones, tidal surges

etc.), saline water (due to shrimp and prawn cultivation), and water logging (due to ill-planned

embankments). While natural disasters devastate lives and permanent possessions, salinity

and water logging snatch away their livelihoods and employment opportunities. As a result,

RUSTIC implements its micro-entrepreneurship component to ensure sustainable development

and bring about a positive change for the poor and hardcore poor.

RUSTIC operates this programme group and individual practices. In the rural areas, RUSTIC

provides support in the group approach and facilitates agro-based entrepreneurship.

Conversely, it adopts the individual approach in the urban areas (Sonadanga slum of KCC) to

facilitate trade and product-based entrepreneurship. In both the cases, RUSTIC begins by

providing need base skill development training to facilitate entrepreneurial initiatives. Then it

takes the following steps gradually: accumulation of savings, operating revolving loan fund,

transferring assets among the hardcore poor and facilitating the development of market

channels.

Fig: Beneficiaries of Micro Entrepreneurship program.

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6.4: RESILIENCE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

PROTECTION PROGRAMME

Bangladesh is one of the world’s worst victims of climate change. Even more, RUSTIC operates

in one of most cyclone disaster prone regions of the world. These environmental disasters are

economic issues that impact the poor the most. To take the necessary steps towards climate

change, it is vital to begin reducing carbon emitting activities, increasing adaptation capacity,

making adjustments to the agricultural calendar, and creating alternative income sources. These

steps will help people who have been trying to cope with unpredictable changes in weather

patterns brought on by climate change.

6.4.1: Reduction of Carbon & Protection of Biodiversity: the Key Concept

Reduction of carbon emitting activities is an important step towards controlling global warming.

GoB has recognised global warming as one of the priority issues in the ‘Bangladesh Climate

Change Strategy and Action Plan-2009’. RUSTIC has several innovative and partnership

experiences of carbon reduction with NGOs and donors (including GoB). Some of these

activities are briefly cited below:

6.4.2: Solid Waste Management

Solid waste management is one of RUSTIC’s most impressive programs. Its main objective is to

mitigate methane gas in order to reduce global warming. RUSTIC has been implementing its

Community Based Municipal Solid Waste Management Project (CBMSWMP) since 1997,

collecting household garbage door to door in Khulna City Corporation (KCC). This has been a

comprehensive project between BEMP, RUSTIC and KCC. Even after project duration, RUSTIC

has continued with the project through community supports and its own IGA.

A waste management plant is set up on 47 decimals of land. This plot produces organic fertilizer

that is then disbursed among the farmers. RUSTIC produces 1.6 to 1.8 metric tons of organic

fertilizer and collects nearly 3.0 –3.5 metric tons of solid waste from 4200 selected households

daily. The innovation earned a distinguished recognition to Moral Noor Mohammad, Chief

Executive of RUSTIC from ASHOKA Innovators for the Public, USA.

Fig: Visit Compost Plant

Fig: Collection waste

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6.4.3: Vermicompost & Vermiculture

The ‘Vermicompost & Vermiculture’ project is

another

RUSTIC

innovation

that

is

implemented mainly for recycling organic

solid waste and protection of biodiversity.

Goals of the project include ensuring

favourable water ecology for aquatic flora

and fauna, conserving snail bio-diversity,

supporting

prawn-fish

polyculture,

and

cultivating green vegetables. The project

started with the support from the Bangladesh

Environmental Management Project (BEMP)

and CIDA in the year 2002. It aims to

increase awareness of the farmers, transfer

environmentally friendly technology, and empower rural disadvantaged women through IGAs.

RUSTIC has been continuing training support to the farmers utilizing its own resources.

6.4.4: Conservation of Snail Diversity

Snail diversity is an integral and important element of wetland ecosystems. However, they are

on the verge of extinction because of saline water and their rampant use in feeding during

prawn and shrimp cultivation in the working area. The species acts as controller of water

ecology to prevent water pollution and thereby help conserve bio-diversity and environment. In

this regard, RUSTIC has implemented the project titled “Conservation of Snail Diversity and

Environment through Motivation, Awareness Building and Campaign” with the support of

Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP) financed by UNDP.

6.4.5: Improved Cook Stove

RUSTIC has successfully promoted the improved cook stoves in the working areas as well as

the homesteads of Bangladesh. The cooker not only economizes the use of wood but also

reduces carbon emission by controlling smoke. This project, funded by UNDP/GIZ and

implemented by RUSTIC, is replicating very fast. Similarly, RUSTIC has enlisted the support of

the Ministry of Environment of GoB to establish a Biogas plant.

In KCC-UNDP funded UPPR Project, RUSTIC distributed 6,200 household with Improved Cook

Stove which are economical and environment friendly than conventional cook stoves. The

program included Set-up, Training and maintenance of the stoves.

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6.4.6: CEDAB

In order to raise the capacity of the

local poor and to mitigate climate

change effect vulnerability, RUSTIC

has developed a network titled ‘Climate

Change Effects Defender’s Association

of Bangladesh – CEDAB’. The network

collects needed data, documents, and

conducts research to ensure the formal

organisational infrastructure. RUSTIC,

as

the

lead

organisation,

is

coordinating and maintaining the office

of the network. All the thematic and

technical

support

to

CEDAB

is

provided

by

the

consultant

firm SOHOYOGEE. Fig: Visit different partner NGO.

6.4.7: Biogas Plant

Unclean stoves and fuel emanates toxic pollutants into the environment and endangers the

health and wellbeing of billions across the globe. Household pollutants which put the families

living in the home at risk of several health diseases and even death because of open fires.

Insufficient stove create the use of open fires and insufficient stoves in cooking emits black

carbon and other pollutants, contributes to climate changing, sea ice melting and the

deforestation. Women, in particular are exposed to unhealthy pollutants released by cooking

with biomass fuels, (ex. Wood, charcoal), and out-dated stoves. The time dedicated to cooking

and collecting fuel also interferes with their ability to attend school and generate income. People

in need of humanitarian assistance living in aid camps most often cook using biomass fuels,

exposing them to harmful, unhealthy pollutants and putting them at risk for additional harm.

RUSTIC’s biogas plant transforms waste (like cow dung, kitchen scraps, and human sludge)

into a usable gas and a safe fertilizer. By using a design similar to that of a septic tank, the

biogas plant facilitates the harnessing and storage of gas.

The biogas plant is composed of four main parts. First, there is an above ground round chamber

for initial sludge deposits. This chamber contains a stirring mechanism to break up any large

pieces of waste. Second, a pipe connects the above ground chamber to an underground settler.

Sludge remains underground for about

three

days

to

reach

the

correct

temperature

and

remove

harmful

pathogens.

Third,

the

underground

chamber is connected to an above ground

pit. After being dried, the sludge in the pit

can be used as fertilizer. Finally, a tube

connects the underground settler to

household appliances like cook stoves.

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Fig: Using Biogas Plant in rural house

The biogas thus uses waste to deliver safe, effective, and environmentally friendly gas.

Biogas can be utilized in numerous arenas. Domestically it can be used for cooking, lighting,

heating water, and running refrigerators, water pumps, and electric generators. It can also be

used for drying crops and pumping water for irrigation. After the sludge has been placed in a

drying bed, it can also be utilized as fertilization and a soil composition improver. As a result the

biogas plant not only reduces the pollution of surrounding areas, but it also reduces the need for

chemical fertilizers.

Under the project titled ‘Recycling of Urban Waste and Produce of Power’ (RUWPP), funded

by Rural Polli Kormo Shahayak Foundation- PKSF and monitored by Bangladesh Climate

Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) of the Government of Bangladesh, RUSTIC was able to provide

120 families with home-grown Biogas Plant in 2012. The effects of this have been staggering.

Not only was there positive environmental effect, but it created an alternative source of energy

for households which in effect helped the families in terms of savings both in financial and

material sense.

6.4.8: WATER AND SANITATION PROGRAMME

RUSTIC have been working in the frontlines of the

sanitation activity long before the advent of COVID-19.

Our efforts to educate and training of personal hygiene

was designed to challenge some of the prevalent diseases

such as arsenic, diarrhea and other water and air borne

diseases. Our awareness and distribution supply-chain

meant that when the COVID-19 came along we were

quick to intervene and create awareness regarding the

new trend of the disease.

Some of our work included:

a) RUSTIC provided more than 700 families with Toilet (Eastern Standard) using

environment friendly bricks under the UPPR Project in a joint collaboration with KCC-

UNDP.

b) With the support of Seven Hills Foundation, RUSTIC was able to provide fresh water to

360 target families in KCC.

c) With the support of Bangladesh NGO Foundation, RUSTIC provided necessary funding

and mentoring in rain water harvesting with sanitation to 30 families in the Moralganj

region in Bagerhat District.

d) As mentioned above, RUSTIC launched an intervention immediately after the outbreak

of COVID-19 and long before the government could relocate their assets in fighting the

threat. RUSTIC was able to carry out much needed relief work at the time providing

ration worth up to 15 Days, Facial Mask, Hand Sanitizer and brochure informing about

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the disease and how best to counter it to

dozens of family.

e) During Cyclone Bulbul and Amphan,

RUSTIC was one of the first institution to

respond by providing 360 target families

with 1 week worth of ration and

household repair in Sonadanga area of

Khulna (KCC Ward # 17)

PART 6.5: RIGHTS PROTECTION AND HEALTHCARE PROGRAMME

Most of the citizens of Bangladesh, a third-world country, are vulnerable in regards to human

rights. In this context, RUSTIC considers the rights of children, women and elderly people more

important.

6.5.1: Child’s Rights

Though RUSTIC considers children and

women rights as ‘cross-cutting issues’, it feels

the necessity to implement projects regarding

these two issues. To prevent and eliminate the

worst form of child labour in Bangladesh, it

implemented the project titled ‘Education of

Hazards

Child

labour

in

Bangladesh’

supported by the Ministry of Labour and

Employment in 2006. At present, the activities

of this project are merged with the school

activities of RUSTIC.

Fig: Children of Hazardous Child Center

6.5.2: Old Welfare

The welfare of the elderly people is almost ignored in the practical social work and service

sector in Bangladesh. These elderly people remain neglected in both society and family life. To

mitigate these issues, RUSTIC is implementing an awareness programme on social and civil

responsibilities. RUSTIC seeks to create a favourable and responsive family and community for

the elderly people. It hopes these individuals will find care, nursing, love, and respect.

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6.5.3: Primary Healthcare

There

are

not

enough

healthcare

services and facilities for the poor in the

working areas of RUSTIC. The service is

inadequately provided by the government

and too expensive when provided from

the private sector. As a result, RUSTIC

has

made

provisions

of

primary

healthcare for the women and children to

reduce the health risk and expenditure of

the poor families. RUSTIC is running an

adolescent (education) centre for girls

and expects to enhance its efforts with

extended support from SHGO.

Fig: Primary health support at School and Vocational Training Center.

6.5.4: Safe Drinking Water

Safe drinking water (especially to the poor

population) is scarce because of the prevailing

salinity. Sinking tube-wells are too costly for a

poor individual or lower middle class family. The

issue of arsenic compounds the problem of safe

drinking water.

To mitigate these effects, RUSTIC implemented

a project to facilitate the supply of safe drinking

water and sewerage facilities to the poor and

hardcore poor families. Recently SHGO joined

with this programme by sinking a sweet water

tube-well.

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Fig: Safe Drinking water at School and vocational Training Center.

6.6: Forestry for Carbon Management____________________________

RUSTIC, a non-profit organization based in Khulna, has been struggling for more than 20 years

aiming at environmental protection and nature conservation, among other intervention areas.

Forestry for Carbon Management is one of the major programs to check the carbon imbalance

in air with the following 3 objectives in view:

6.6.1: Objectives______________________________________________________________

Objective-1: Avoided deforestation: Avoided deforestation refers to protection of native forest in areas

that would otherwise be cleared for crops or grassland.

Objective-2: Reforestation: Reforestation initiative refers to the natural or intentional restocking of

existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation. Reforestation

can be used to rectify or improve the quality of human life by soaking up pollution and dust from the air,

rebuild natural habitats and ecosystems, mitigate global warming since forests facilitate bio-

sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and harvest for resources, particularly timber, but also

non-timber forest products.

Objective-3: Afforestation: Afforestation refers to the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an

area where there was no previous tree cover. Reforestation is the reestablishment of forest cover,

either naturally (by natural seeding, coppice, or root suckers) or artificially (by direct seeding or

planting).

6.6.2: Activities_______________________________________________________________

RUSTIC has been undertaking a wide range of activities as described below with local, national

and international funding and non-funding assistances:

Activity-1: Mass Awareness Campaign: Meetings are held at the community level at

courtyards of victims communities, local educational institutions (schools, madrasas and

colleges) as the first step towards grassroots level mobilization. Essay competitions and debate

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sessions are organized to make the stakeholders on forestry issues. RUSTIC has Youth Groups

at the local level and a Youth Forum at the regional level.

Activity-2: Advocacy and lobbying with key stakeholders: RUSTIC is in the leading role in

organizing advocacy and lobbying events. Demonstrations, human chain, dialogues are

regularly held with the key stakeholders to persuade the Government to promote environment-

friendly projects and pressurize the Government to refrain from projects that have potentials to

cause damage to the forestry coverage in Bangladesh. RUSTIC is now leading the movement

against the “Coal-based Power Plant” project at Rampal which is sure to case substantial

damage to the Sundarbans mangrove forest. RUSTIC is also very vocal to popularize the

indirect deforestation of the Sundarbans mangrove forest through top dying of many trees due

to increasing salinity.

Activity-3: Afforestation: RUSTIC has undertaken several afforestation projects in the

upazilas of Sharankhola and Mongla under Bagerhat district. A total of 16,500 tree saplings

mehagony, raintree, Chambal

and Pahari Neem) were planted

along 16.5 KM roadside in

1998. About 60% of the trees

have survived even after the

cyclones of Sidr in 2007 and

Aila in 2009. Current value of

the

trees

are

worth

of

Bangladesh Taka 300 million.

USAID provided funding for the

project through the Bangladesh

Government and the project

was

managed

by

CARE-

Bangladesh.

6.6.3: Achievements:_______

Despite

constraints

and

limitations,

RUSTIC

has

achieved the following results:

a)

Indiscriminate deforestation, especially in the Sundarban mangrove forest has been

avoided with sincere Government and NGO collaborations;

b)

Massive reforestation projects have been implemented by the Government of

Bangladesh, especially the Forest Department. The Sundarban mangrove forest have

recovered loss of trees to a great extent;

c)

Popular movements against environment damaging projects have been firmly

grounded;

d)

Afforestation projects have increased the forest coverage in the region from 9% to

14%.

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e)

Affected communities have been financially benefitted through the Afforestation

projects.

f)

Executed a textbook project of tree plantation on roadside which financed by CARE

Bangladesh and coordinated by IFFD in 1998.

g)

In a joint partnership project between LGED and Care-Bangladesh titled, “Integrated

Food for Development Project”, RUSTIC implemented a roadside tree plantation

programme at Sarankhola, Bagerhat and Mongla, Bagerhat in 1998.

h)

Under Integrated Food For Development (IFFD), RUSTIC successfully conducted

another initiative of Tree Plantation on Roadside in the same year.

6.7: Positive Youth Development (PYD)___________________________________________

Seven Hills Global Outreach (SHGO) and Winrock International F2F Program have jointly

contributed to development of RUSTIC’s Youth Group. Positive Youth Development (PYD) is

now an essential cross-cutting matter of consideration in all the above 5 programs of RUSTIC.

SHGO has been providing non-formal education to adolescent girls and training on tailoring,

handicrafts and boutique to young women in urban areas.

.

Winrock International assigned Dr. Gary Lee Heusel under the John Ognowski and Doug

Bereuter Farmer To Farmer Program to conduct a training course for 32 youth during Nov 28-

Dec 6, 2015 to achieve the following objectives:



Increase knowledge and skills of RUSTIC-Youth Program trainers on youth

development;



Increase knowledge and skills of youth in agriculture entrepreneurship; and



Increase awareness of youth about their potential and foster leadership

development.

Youth development topics included: essential elements of youth development and

delivery methods for youth development programs, the organizational structure of successful

youth development programs, high and low context environments for youth, experiential

learning and evaluation of youth development programs.

Leadership topics included: “Models and Styles of Leadership” with an emphasis and

detailed analysis of why people who went to help or serve, often take a leadership role as a

servant-leader.

Entrepreneurship topics included: planning, goal setting, developing the vision and

mission for the business, pricing strategies and marketing the product or service. Product,

Place, Price, Promotion and Passion were discussed throughout the presentation.

The three topics were integrated to show how youth development, leadership, and

entrepreneurship are related. Topics from one presentation were often referenced in

subsequent presentations.

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RUSTIC now has a Youth Group consisting of 2 Trainers, 3 Leaders and 27 agricultural

entrepreneurs. This group is capable of providing training to youth for different agricultural

enterprises like: aquaculture, beef, beetle leaf production, dairy, poultry, rice etc.

RUSTIC is involving youth in program planning to ensure that the program is directed to the

needs of the young people who are participating. This is based on the youth development

segment of the training in which youth/adult partnerships were acknowledged as important.

RUSTIC Youth group is working with the local department of Government Youth Development

office to get training and gain partnerships. They have organized training and meeting to form

cooperative marketing for some commodities. Because the majority of the products are

agricultural produce, so it could be benefitted. This has resulted in more efficient and effective

marketing with greater profit for those contributing products to the cooperative marketing effort.

RUSTIC Youth group is trying to find a fair trade outlet for some of the sewing products. It

should start with a small number of items being provided to a store in one or two locations. The

fair trade store in Lincoln, Nebraska has shared necessary information in this respect.

PART 7: WHERE AND WITH WHOM WE WORK

7.1 Working Area of RUSTIC

RUSTIC has been covering a total of 112 rural villages and 06 urban communities. Such

division has been made simply for the purposes of administrative advantages. The RUSTIC

working area coverage during 2011 is given below:

District/

Metropolitan

Upazila

/Thana

Nos. of

Unions/ Wards

Nos. of Village/

City Community

Khulna

Koyra

Dumuria

Batiaghata

Rupsha

Khulna City

Corporation (KCC)

Sonadanga

Khalispur

Bagerhat

Bagerhat Sadar

Chitalmari

Mollahat

Mongla

Kachua

Fakirhat

Satkhira

Shyamnagor

03 District, 01 Metro

118

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7.2: Map: Area of Operation of RUSTIC

8: BENEFICIARIES

______

The target group of RUSTIC are: (1) the socially neglected men, women and children who live

with hardship, (2) the disaster and climate change affected marginal farmers who have small

access to the cultivation of agriculture, aquaculture and small non-farm income generating

activities for their sustenance, but are not able to act because of a lack of proper guidelines and

logistic support. This group of people are usually found to migrate to urban areas and are partly

responsible for the deterioration of the urban environment (such as uncontrolled and unhygienic

urban slums). The group is not capable to explore and develop their existing inherent potentials

for their sustainable socio-economic and environmental development.

Peoples Group: Female- 212,

Male- 64,

Total: 276

Group Member: Female- 4090,

Male- 1150,

Total: 5240

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Fig: Vocational Training Center

9: DEVELOPMENT PARTNER

___________

RUSTIC has successfully accomplished partnership, collaboration and network with different

national and international NGOs, donors, government bodies (GoBs), research and technical

support providing institutes, public university, local government institution (LGIs), Media,

community based organization CBOs etc. These are follows:

Existing project donor/supporter organization:

Name of Organization

Activity

• Bangladesh NGO Foundation

Solid waste management

• Seven Hills Global Outreach

Education, Water and Sanitation

• Ministry of Forest and Environment Carbon Reduce
• Khulna City Corporation (KCC)

Municipal Solid Waste Management

• GIZ and UNDP with KCC

Improved Cooker Stove

Technical partnership

• SOHOYOGEE Institution development, Documentation, Research

Network and Member Organization

Name of Organization

Position

a. Climate change Effects Defender’s Association of Bangladesh Chairperson

(CEDAB)

Led NGO

b. Proshika Partner NGO Network

President

c. GARNET, (UK) Dhaka

Member

d. Association of Development Agencies of Bangladesh (ADAB), Member

e. Waste Net Bangladesh

Member

f. Sustainable Agricultural Forum (SAF)

Member Secretary

g. Bangladesh Aquaculture Development Society (BADS)

Member

h. Solid

Waste

Management

Forum

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9.1 Organizational Map of Partners and Activities

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PART 10: BODIES OF RUSTIC

10.1 Human Resource Profile

RUSTIC

has

three

principal

management

organs

for

the

decision

making

process.

The

supreme

authority

of

this

organization is ‘General Committee’

consisting of 31 members meeting

once per year. The Executive

Committee (EC) is comprised of 7

members and is elected from the

members of General Committee for

two years terms. The EC is the

supreme policy making body for

execution of projects and programmes of the organization. The Executive Director is the

principal executive officer of the organization. All administrative and project personnel are under

him, and they implement all the projects under his supervision.

Permanent Staff:13 (Male: 8, Female: 5), Project Staff: 21 (Male: 9, Female: 12), Volunteer:

7 (Male: 3, Female: 4)

10.2 Organogram of RUSTIC

GC

EC

ED

Coordinator

Coordinator

PO

PO

PO

PO

PO

AM

Development

PM

PM

PM

Teacher

Trainer

Technical

Admin

Officer

Account

Officer

Assistant

officer (IT)

Support

Technical

CEDAB

GC=General Committee, EC= Executive Committee, ED= Executive Director, F&A= Finance & Admin, PO= Program Officer,

PM= Project Manager, AM= Area Manager, OBI= Organization Building and Institutionalization, E&HRD= Education and

Human Resource development, FS&ES = Food security and Economic self-reliance, RC&EP = Resilience against Climate

change & Environment, R&H = Rights protection and Healthcare

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10.3: At a Glance______________________________________________________________

Organization Name

: RUSTIC

Chief Executive

: Moral Noor Mohammad- Ashoka Fellow (USA); HSBC Climate Hero,

Bangladesh

Designation

: Executive Director

Address

: 6/1, Hazi Tamijuddin Road, Banorgati, Sonadanga,

Khulna- 9100 Bangladesh

Phone and Mobile

: Mobile: 880 1712 076 267

e-Mail and Website

: rustickln.bd@gmail.com; www.rusticbd.org

Established Year

: 1988

Legal Status

: a. Registered with the Directorate of Social Welfare, People’s, Republic

of Bangladesh, bearing, No. Khulna-537/93 dated May 31, 1993.

b. NGO Bureau Vide Reg. No. 1949 dated July 25, 2004 and renewal

date July 25,2010, Renewal (2nd) 07 July, 2015

c. As of 25th of July 2019, organization has renewed registration up to

2029.

Organization Type

: Local non-government voluntary socio-economic & human development

organization

Number of Staffs

: 25+

Total Raised Fund

: 28,00,00,000.00 BDT (As of April 2021)

Total Number of

: More than 2,50,000

Beneficiaries

Number of Ongoing

: 2 (As of April 2021)

Programme