Chittagong Social Development Forum-CSDF

eastern part of Bangladesh. S M Nazer Hossain. The main objectives of the CSDF is to enhance the capacity of skills of local indigenous NGOs and CSOs and to enable them to provide social change services packages for underdeveloped sections of the society. This should be accomplished by promoting gender equity, human rights, and good governance and by creating access of women in local decision-making process. CSDF has been closely working with local services delivery institutions (CSDI) and local government bodies from its inception. BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Cox’s Bazar & Chittagong are located in the southeastern part of Bangladesh, between the Bay of Bengal and Myanmar and very close to Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKH) region. Natural heritage and geographical conditions set this region apart from other parts of the country. However, the natural beauty of Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong, an area of about 3000 square kilometers, is cruelly juxtaposed with the reality of the poverty, vulnerability and poor health of the people. Over 65% of the populations are illiterate and there is an alarming inadequacy of health care and others basic civic facilities. Many factors contribute to the continuing hardships in the area. People are neither familiar nor habituated with the work of NGOs and lingering traditional beliefs lead many to think that they come from other countries to engage in missionary work. Further, the NGO and sustainable development activities are relatively new. For a time after 1991’s devastating cyclone, many NGOs, both from Bangladesh and abroad, provided support to cyclone victims. It is a commonly held belief by people from outside the area that this is a wealthy part of the country. As a result, NGO intervention may have been prioritized elsewhere. In reality, however, many people in the area are ultra-poor: their every-day lives are confronted by conditions, which are hardly bearable. And the avenues open for them to improve their own lot are very limited. Chittagong Social Development Forum (CSDF) was established in December 1996 to promote better understanding and coordination amongst the local indigenous NGOs working in this area under technical cooperation from Steps Towards Development (Steps). The network aims to provide a convergence point for those engaged in sustainable development work, particularly civil society organizations, local elected bodies & development organizations. It has tried to strengthen the local social forces for promoting social development in greater Chittagong for the last 8 years with the partnership for implementing a number of joint activities with local indigenous NGOs, CBOs, services delivery institutions and local government councils. The CSDF’s working approach emphasizes the importance of promoting dialogue between civil society organizations, CBOs, CSOs and other social actors–community-based organizations, local governments, international NGOs and the media, to name only a few. This will not only contribute towards strengthening and improving the responsiveness of the local NGO sector, it will also serve to promote the protection of human rights, gender equity and sustainable development at the local level. CSDF was established with the aims to promote capacity development, coordination, sharing of local resources, develop good working relations and undertake joint program for implementation amongst local indigenous NGOs, local government council, services delivery institutions & civil society organizations. Besides that it’s trying to contribute towards developing a discrimination free and just society through giving its efforts to improved human rights situations at greater Chittagong, good governance, the increase women participation in local elected bodies and the reduce of gender inequity. It developed Social Change Makers Groups who will facilitate the local community initiatives and civil society efforts and strengthening ongoing social structures in these regards. The students, youth, women activist, social entrepreneur, representative of various section of civil society groups were included in Social Change Groups. About 73 partners and thematic partners are presently working CSDF on VAW, reduction of child & women tortures, birth registration, child and women rights, marriage registration, child and women trafficking, early marriage, polygamy, consumer rights, and human rights, good governance, environment protection etc. From its inception CSDF has undertaken various activities to promote women rights, violence against women, birth registration, early marriage etc. It has been implementing a number of activities for developing gender friendly a just society through developing social change makers force and actors with a number of like minded partners and associates i.e. Steps Toward Development, Gender & Development Alliance, Bangladesh, ATSEC Bangladesh Chapter, Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB), ALRD, UNICEF, UNDP, BDPC, Save the Children Alliance at Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar areas & Chittagong Hill Tracts districts. Vision:
CSDF’s vision is to contribute towards achieving to develop “A democratic and just society where equal rights and opportunities of women and men will be ensured”

Mission
To promote the active and sustainable involvement of civil society in the effort towards improving the livelihoods of disadvantaged communities and households in greater Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong hill tracts districts, particularly by strengthening the capacity of the local non-governmental & CSOs sector to fight against poverty, vulnerability and gender inequity. Operational Objectives
CSDF has defined its working objectives in to three broad areas: i) Capacity Building: Strengthening the foundations for sustainable improvements ii) Local Network Programme: Cooperation and co-ordination for better delivery iii) Common Platform Programme: Uniting our voices for common goals. STRATEGY:
CSDF puts emphasis to capacity building of local indigenous non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Civil society organization (CSOs) and community services delivery institutions (CSDIs). It is also trying to identify and develop social entrepreneurs, women activists and student volunteers who act as a catalyst for changing social discrimination and suffering of women and children and for creating a positive attitude towards women for equal opportunities by collaboration of everyone in society. OBJECTIVES:
To strengthen the managerial and organizational capacity of local NGOs, CSOs emphasizing the need to promote community participation and gender-equity. To promote co-operation amongst the local NGOs, CSOs, CBOs and local government council, services delivery institutions. To minimize inter-organizational inefficiencies (duplication and overlapping) through the co-ordination of activities in common project areas. PROGRAMMES AND STRATEGIES OF ACTIVITIES:
Capacity Building: Strengthening the foundations for sustainable improvements
Identify priority areas for improved management and service delivery in partner NGOs & CSOs. Organize and co-ordinate training sessions–particularly on gender, organizational management, and participatory programme delivery. Organize the presentation of documentary films on gender, human rights, environmental protection and other issues relevant for local development. Promote the development of a pool of trainers amongst member NGOs for gender-sensitive programmes. To undertakes various integrated initiatives for promoting rural and urban good governance, human rights, child and women development, environment, disaster reduction. To promote a gender friendly organizational atmosphere at partner organizational level by developing organizational capacity for gender mainstreaming process. To develop a databank for violence against women, birth registration, early marriage, marriage registration, touchier, child rights violations, gender discrimination and various information of partner NGOs. To assist the partner NGOs to undertake and implement joint or individual projects or programs as per need of geographical locations and demand. LOCAL NETWORK PROGRAMME: COOPERATION AND CO-ORDINATION FOR BETTER DELIVERY
Provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences among member organizations’ personnel through meetings, workshops, field visits and special events. Promote the design and implementation of joint projects and programmes. Facilitate access to programme delivery guidelines and project specifications to promote better understanding of sector-wide activities, where feasible. Create a pool of information about community needs, serviced areas, programme beneficiaries, etc. (towards a joint social mapping project). Document and disseminate information about best practices, innovative efforts and field experiences through applied research and case study reports (under consideration). To exchange the resources amongst members and partner NGOs for better use of local resources, which will enhance the skill to use local resources and local level collaboration. To celebrate different national and international days collectively with GO, NGOs, CBO, CSO, local elected bodies and civil society organizations. COMMON PLATFORM PROGRAMME: UNITING OUR VOICES FOR COMMON GOALS:
Organize discussion forums and seminars with the participation of national/international NGOs, GOs and civil society organizations. Promote advocacy activities for issues of common concern for local NGOs–gender, human rights, the environment, etc. Undertake joint applications for funding, where feasible, and implement project & programs
Participate in the special activities to commemorate national & international days and events with national/international NGOs, GOs and civil society organizations. To organize and facilitate Information Communication Technology (ICT) services and other ICT related facilities for the promotion of women at rural and remote areas of Bangladesh. To develop gender and development resource centers at selected community and central levels as reference and information sources for community people, development actors, policy makers, media people, teachers, women activists, political leaders etc
To promote the organization of local campaigns for solving local problem by arranging campaign, producing various leaflets, posters, video films, slide show, documentary film show and mass publicity. To provide a common platform linking the local NGO sector with national and international NGOs, GOs, CSOs and other social actors. It is important to recognize that all the programmes and almost all the activities are mutually self-reinforcing. By strengthening the organizational capacity of individual NGOs, the local network will be more effective; a solid platform-linking member NGOs with other social actors, will also contribute towards capacity building, etc. Institutional Development of CSDF:
Institutional development of CSDF and its partner’s organization hold great impertinence, especially from the point of view of long-term sustainability of the alternative development system in Bangladesh. Institutional development process has implication on a number of areas comprising human resource development; develop program, policies, and guidelines for implication as well. Governance:
A-07 members Executive Body comprising a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary General, a Treasurer and 03 others Board members run and supervise the organizational activities. The Executive Board sits on a quarterly basis to formulate CSDF’s programme guidelines and procedure. The General Council is the highest policy making body which was formed with the NGOs and development scholars & civil society members in Chittagong regions. The present EB has been elected from a-27 general council who comes from local non-governmental organizations and civil society members. The Civil society members are from different professional e.g. lawyers, journalist, academician, women activists, and dedicated social entrepreneurs. A total of 30% members are comes from civil society among them 50% must women. A total 10% GC member will select for two years from Associate Member/Thematic members. The GC provides overall guidance and directions, approves plan, policies, rules and regulations and budget. It also provides check and balance on behalf of CSDF stakeholders (partners, staff, thematic partners & associates) while CSDF executives operate in their best interests of the organization. GC work as safeguard of CSDF for long term interest by critically considering the risks to which the organization is exposed and approving plans prepared by the management to address these risks. It supervises the selection, evaluation and remuneration packages of the senior management team, including the series plan for the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization. The secretariat is responsible for coordinating the daily activities and provides necessary technical & financial support to partners and thematic partners’ organizations to run the activities smoothly. Executive Body:
EB is the executive team of CSDF who supervise and guided the daily routine activities of the organization. EB is involved in framing policy and guidelines for running the affairs of the CSDF. It is accountable to the GB. It meets quarterly basis and review and monitors the progress of activities of CSDF and advises corrective measures, if necessary. It meets any times emergency feels by the secretariat for solving any urgent matters. Depending, circumstance GB also interacts with external peoples and organizations. How to manage CSDF:
CSDF puts emphasis on decentralized decision-making process. The General council is the highest policy making body of CSDF and it formulates all rules, regulation and policies, plan, budget for the organization and elect Executive Board members for 02 years. The EB supervise and guided the organizational works with the help of secretariat staffs. The Chairperson and General Secretary supervise the secretariat on behalf of EB and implement the projects and programs for CSDF. The Project Management Team (PMT) also supervises and monitors the project activities and gives feedback to the EB regarding project implementation, supervision, monitoring and evaluation process. The Local Trainer Group (LTG), Gender Change Agents Coordination Group (GCACG) also gives feedback and suggestion on project implementation. Quarterly Partner NGOs Coordination meeting, PNGO Staff meeting also organized to review the progress of the activities and plan for future. PARTNERS & ASSOCIATES:
CSDF is currently working with indigenous NGOs based in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban Hill districts, it also works with CBOs, Local elected government bodies, community services deliver institutions (CSDI) and other civil society organizations. Partners & associated confirm during the design of the program/activities at respective areas as per need. Current Ongoing Program
CSDF is implementing “Increase Responsiveness of Rural and Urban Governance Promote & Protect Women Human Rights & Increase Participation of Women in Decision making Process” with the help of Steps towards development, Gender & Development Alliance Bangladesh at 9 Municipality Ward and 6 union through its’ 13 partners NGOs at Chittagong & Cox’s Bazar district. Currently it tries to create a social campaign and changes to reduction of violence against women & early marriage, promote birth registration, marriage registration, enhance women participation in local elected bodies, active local service deliver institutions at 15 pilot areas. Besides it also undertakes Dissemination of gender equity concepts at the Grassroots: Development of Social activism through Social Actor Group with the help of Canadian International Development Agencies (CIDA) and technical support from Steps towards development. The project activities are running at 10 pilot areas Integrated Social Development Effort (ISDE) Bangladesh is the fund manager of the project.