Young Power in Social Action (YPSA)

Bangladesh Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Rights Initiative

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Duration of Project: 1 April 2012– 31 December 2012.

Area Coverage         : Whole Bangladesh.

Name of Donor         : DISPLACEMENT SOLUTIONS (DS)

Background

Bangladesh is one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world and is set to become even more so as a result of climate change. Natural hazards across the country are already leading to the forced displacement of millions of Bangladeshis and this number is set to multiply as the effects of climate change increase the severity and frequency of these natural hazards. Many of these individuals have lost their houses and lands to climatic hazards and have no ability nor received any support or assistance to access new homes or new lands. At present, there is no comprehensive Government plan or policy to ensure the housing, land and property rights of climate displaced persons in Bangladesh.

To this end, DS seeks to collaborate with YPSA on the Bangladesh HLP Initiative. Specific activities will include three studies that examine in detail the true picture of land availability in Bangladesh for climate displaced persons as well as the potential durability of future resettlement. DS also seeks to collaborate with and support YPSA to undertake intensive advocacy and lobbying, both on raising the profile of climate displacement and increasing political awareness of this issue, as well as advocating and lobbying for specific land parcels to become available for climate displaced persons, either through private or public donation or through enhanced access to existing Government land allocation programmes.

Objectives of the Project:

To identify rights-based solutions and actions that could be undertaken to resolve the displacement of climate-affected communities as well as to ensure and safeguard their housing, land and property rights.

Major Activities are:

1. Identify a school and appropriate contact person for DS’ Coastal Kids Project

• Identify appropriate contact person at partner school
• Coordinate initial contacts between DS and the partner school
• Meeting with School for Student Selection
• Regular communication with William Carry Academy
• Ensuring Skype Conversation
• Continue coordination between School and DS
• Identify appropriate project/activities to benefit the partner school according to the wishes of the partner school

2. Three studies that examine in detail the true picture of land availability in Bangladesh for climate displaced persons as well as the potential durability of future resettlement

• Selection of Researchers
• Research methodology development
• Methodology formulation workshop with tools
• Training of Research Associate (workshop/meeting)
• Focus Group Discussion/PRA Community Consultation
• Meeting workshop with relevant stakeholders
• Study Conduction in the filed
• Report preparation
• Validation Workshop

 3. Lobbying and Advocacy to raise the Political Profile of Climate Displacement and for Land Allocation to Climate Displaced Communities

• Develop a lobbying and advocacy strategy with its local and national partners and implement this plan
• Meeting with the NGOs and Civil society group working with Climate refugees
• District level Advocacy Workshop with GO, NGO & Civil Society
• National Level Advocacy Workshop with GO, NGO & Civil Society
• One to one lobbying/advocacy
• Submit progress and narrative reports on the implementation of these lobbying and advocacy strategies and activities

4. Hosting DS Representatives and International Photographer Kadir van Lohuizen

• Hosts and facilitates the mission of Zeke Simperingham in April 2012 and provides all logistical support, including travel permit, travel, security, accommodation, food and all transport.
• Hosts and facilitates the mission of Kadir in late 2012 and provides all logistical support, including travel permit, travel, security, accommodation, food and all transport.

Achievement (April 2012 to December 2012)

Identify a school and appropriate contact person for DS’ Coastal Kids Project

• Identified “William Carey Academy” (WCA) school and appropriate contact person of Coastal Kids Project
• Collection of interest letter from School and sent to DS
• MOU signed between WCA and YPSA
• 1^st Skype conversation held between WCA and Sorrento Primary School (SPS) held
• Writing competition among Student of Grade V of WCA completed on Climate Change issue and accordingly award also given to winners

Three studies that examine in detail the true picture of land availability in Bangladesh for climate displaced persons as well as the potential durability of future resettlement

• Indentified and selected Researchers for three studies
• Methodology and Tools developed of three studies
• Inception report on three studies submitted to DS
• Staff Orientation/workshop on Study Methodology and tools held
• Documents are reviewed for three relevant studies
• Field activities of study like interview, FGD, KII is completed
• Seven Event Workshop held in Sirajgonj, Khulna, Satkhira, Chandpur, Feni, Cox’s bazar and Rangamati under study component
• Submitted 03 Draft study reports to Displacement Solutions i.e. Three draft study reports on “land availability in Bangladesh (Study 1)”, “land acquisition for climate displaced communities (study 2)” and “the viability of CHT as destination of climate displaced communities (study 3)”
• Working on draft final version of three study reports is going on as per feedback by Displacement solutions (DS)

Lobbying and Advocacy to raise the Political Profile of Climate Displacement and for Land Allocation to Climate Displaced Communities

• IEC materials (Posters, Stickers, folders) focusing of the rights of Climate Displaced people developed and disseminating
• Ten “Advocacy Meeting with NGOs and Civil Society” held in Bogra, Kurigram, Khulna, Satkhira, Sirajgonj, Shariatpur, Rajbari, Chandpur, Laksmipur and Noakhali.
• Five “District level Advocacy Meeting” held in Jessore, Sirajgonj, Feni, Comilla and Chittagong
• One event of “National Level Advocacy Workshop” held in Chittagong
• Four “one to one meeting” held with govt. high official in Khulna, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur and Cox’sbazar on behalf of Climate Displaced people

Hosting DS Representatives and International Photographer Kadir van Lohuizen

• Hosted and facilitated the mission of Mr. Ezekiel Simperingham and Stephane Jeannet in April 2012 and provides all sorts of logistical supports, including travel permit, travel, security, accommodation, food and all transport.

Additional Activities

• Face book group page on Bangladesh Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Rights Initiative
• YPSA HLP project staff participated in the training on Climate Change and Adaption organized by ARCAB
• Rapid need assessment of flood victim and temporarily displaced people
• Meeting between Mr. Scott Leckie, Director and founder of DS and Mr. Arifur Rahman, CE of YPSA, held at Bangkok, Thailand
• Dissemination of DS publications to the media and policy makers (Photo story of the DS by Kadir and Climate Displacement in Bangladesh “The Need for Urgent Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Rights Solutions”)
• World Environment Day 2012 observed
• International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction 2012 observed
• Participated in Climate Fair 2012 in Chittagong
• Meeting held between Mr. Md. Arifur Rahman, Chief Executive of YPSA and Mr. Ezekiel Simperingham of DS in London

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