Bangladesh Dewanganj
$78,506 needed of $80,000
Implementing Organization
World Renew
Program Summary
This nutrition-focused food security program is designed to build the capacity of farmers and their families under the leadership of a People’s Institution named “Rangdhanu Society”. This People’s Institution was formed a few years ago under the Integrated Community Development Program that was funded by World Renew and implemented by local partner PARI.
This program helps participants to identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges and prepares them to practice sustainable agriculture methods to ensure food security throughout the year. The program is forming Agriculture Forums under the leadership of the People’s Institution, and building their capacities to network with the agriculture and livestock offices of the local government. This allows the Agriculture Forums to have access to available resources such as training and technical support and to build a functional relationship with the local government.
Through training and workshops, the program is equipping the Agriculture Forums with agriculture techniques such as pile composting, worm composting, and the preparation of herbal pesticides to minimize the use of chemical substances, leading to increases in production and income.
This program also prioritizes the inclusion of vulnerable groups through the People’s Institutions and Agriculture Forums, including women, single mothers and people with disabilities, so that they can also have access to the agricultural activities promoted by the program, including production, marketing and decision making at family and community level. It is changing their roles from being dependent to becoming active participants in ensuring food security.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, local inhabitants are still facing challenges in maintaining a healthy life style, due to the shortage of nutritious foods and the lack of job opportunities. This program is working to build the resilience of the target communities by changing the existing social system and transforming their lives. The program aims to equip communities to regain their strength and ability to cope with crisis by reducing the gaps created by COVID-19.
The program is being implemented in three unions; Chukaibari, Chinaduli and Dewanganj under Dewanganj Upazila in Jamalpur District of Bangladesh.
Sureja's Story - Bangladesh Dewanganj Program
Success Stories
A Dream Come True
Rahima was married at fifteen. Three years later, she experienced the loss of her first child, a stillborn son. Over time, her relationship with her husband became strained, and he later married another woman. Although they were never formally separated, Rahima received little support from him. She continued raising her three sons and one daughter while managing most household responsibilities on her own.
To support her family, Rahima worked in other people’s fields and took on other labor whenever work was available. Several years ago, she was working in a sugarcane field when she met a field worker from PARI Development Trust. With PARI’s support, Rahima formed a women’s savings group in her village, where members contributed 5 Taka (about 4 cents) each week and gave one another small loans. She also received training in banana cultivation, poultry rearing and livestock farming. Over time, the group’s savings and the skills she gained helped improve her household income and stability. Although the group later became inactive, Rahima continued using what she had learned.
In 2023, through the Dewanganj Agricultural Development Project, Rahima and other group members restarted their savings activities. She participated in additional training in business planning, farm management, and the use of local resources. She also strengthened her connection with the Upazila Livestock Office and began regularly accessing veterinary services and technical advice.
Alongside farming and livestock activities, Rahima earns additional seasonal income by preparing and selling traditional pitha (riceflour cakes) during the winter months. She also shares her experience with other women in the community, encouraging them to explore poultry and goat rearing and connect with available government services.
Today, Rahima has greater financial stability and more confidence in managing her livelihood activities. She is recognized in her community as someone who actively supports and encourages other women to improve their household income and farming practices.
“With the encouragement of PARI’s staff, I started saving and investing in income-generating activities. From my earnings, I bought land in my own name and built a small house — a lifelong dream.”
Bangladesh Dewanganj is led by World Renew and local partner Participatory Action for Rural Innovation (PARI Development Trust)