NO Poverty
Poverty is more than the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making. Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality.The GDP growth rate of Bangladesh is 7.1% and per capita GDP is $1465 (FY-2016). Increasing of GDP improves standard of living and quality of life of citizens. But income distribution gap is increasing between rich and poor. Because of unequal distribution of income, income gap is getting wider between rich and poor. Rich become richer day by day but the poor people become poorer and confine themselves in poverty trap. The GDP growth rate, industrialization and per capita income are developing in our country but poverty as the anathema still exists in our country. 1.5 Crore people of Bangladesh are ultra poor and more than three crore people are living below national poverty line. NRDS emphasizes locally employment creation for deprived groups of people and took different enhanced activities to increase their regular income.
Food security and promote sustainable agriculture
It is time to rethink how we grow, share and consume our food. If done right, agriculture, forestry and fisheries can provide nutritious food for all and generate decent incomes, while supporting people-centred rural development and protecting the environment. Right now, our soils, freshwater, oceans, forests and biodiversity are being rapidly degraded. Climate change is putting even more pressure on the resources we depend on, increasing risks associated with disasters such as droughts and floods. Many rural women and men can no longer make ends meet on their land, forcing them to migrate to cities in search of opportunities. The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication. NRDS is working with Village Organization-VOs and Farmers Associations in promoting livelihood opportunities for its members. NRDS facilitate farmers to enable them for identification and proper utilization of household resources for the year around farming, which finally enable farmers to improve household food security.
Quality Education
Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development. Major progress has been made towards increasing access to education at all levels and increasing enrollment rates in schools particularly for women and girls. Basic literacy skills have improved tremendously, yet bolder efforts are needed to make even greater strides for achieving universal education goals. NRDS facilitate enrollment of the children’s from disadvantaged families in the formal or non-formal schools in the remote char areas of Noakhali.
Gender Equality
While the world has achieved progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the Bangladesh. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large. In order to promote gender equity and women’s rights, NRDS support village organizations by sensitizing program participants both male and female for changing attitude towards new gender roles. Various activities on Gender equality is designed to sensitize the program participants.
Reduce Inequality
Bangladesh has made significant strides towards lifting people out of poverty. However, inequality still persists and large disparities remain in access to health and education services and other assets. There is growing consensus that economic growth is not sufficient to reduce poverty if it is not inclusive and if it does not involve the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. To reduce inequality, policies should be universal in principle paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.
Employment creation & Economic Growth
A continued lack of decent work opportunities, insufficient investments and under-consumption lead to an erosion of the basic social contract underlying democratic societies: that all must share in progress. . The creation of quality jobs will remain a major challenge for our economy. Sustainable economic growth will require our society to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs that stimulate the economy while not harming the environment. Job opportunities and decent working conditions are also required for the whole working age population. NRDS emphasizes locally employment creation for deprived groups of people and took different enhanced activities to increase their regular income.
Human Rights and Participatory governance
Human rights education is imparted through the people’s organization at grassroots level along with campaign program to promote human rights and good governance. Civil Society Watch Groups are facilitated at local level to protest violation of human rights. Cultural Actions and Mobilization Cultural actions have been utilized as important tools to aware and mobilize people and their organizations to achieve sustainable livelihood.
Disaster Response and Management
Disaster response consists of a number of elements, for example; warning/evacuation, search and rescue, providing immediate assistance, assessing damage, continuing assistance and the immediate restoration of infrastructure.The aim of emergency response is to provide immediate assistance to maintain life, improve health and support the morale of the affected population. Such assistance may range from providing specific but limited aid, such as assisting refugees with food and basic needs.
The focus in the response phase is on meeting the basic needs of the people until more permanent and sustainable solutions can be found. NRDS often strongly present in this phase of the disaster management cycle, particularly in NRDS’s working areas where the government lacks the resources to respond adequately to the needs.