M4C aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability of households living on chars (riverine lands formed through soil deposition and erosion) of ten districts of northern Bangladesh (Bogra, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Pabna, Tangail, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, and Rangpur) by facilitating market systems that enhance opportunities for employment and income generation.
Market systems and interventions
Maize, chilli, jute, groundnut, mustard, onion, rice, vegetables
Interventions include:
- Support input providers (national and local private sector actors) to ensure proper distribution and promotion of char-suitable varieties of agro-inputs (seeds and other crop protection solutions) and information
- Support development of procurement channels from the chars by national/ local buyers
- Support promotion of char-suitable post-harvest technologies with local service providers
Handicrafts
Interventions include:
- Facilitate handicraft skills development of women on the chars and improve their market linkages
Char transport system
Interventions include:
- Support transport service providers to adopt char-suitable transportation systems
- Support local stakeholders to advocate for required services for improvement of embankment (ghat) facilities
- Facilitate allocation and use of government funds for char suitable infrastructure development
Financial services (for maize, chilli, livestock, rice)
Interventions include:
- Support microfinance institutions (MFIs) to design, test and expand seasonal loan products relevant for the chars
Results
- 80,000 char households have benefitted
- Accumulated net income of CHF 9.5 million for the char households
- 20 business models and 55 services (20 targeting women’s economic role) promoted for the chars through 1,500 service providers
Updated June 2016