Food Security and Livelihood Development
Food security in a household refers to its ability to reliably obtain an adequate quantity and quality of food, enabling all household members to lead healthy and active lives. Several factors contribute to food insecurity among underprivileged population in Bangladesh. These factors include having a large family, advanced age (especially when coupled with isolation from other family members), female-headed households and the disability of a prime income earner. The ill health of a family member and work-related aspects, such as seasonal unemployment and labor exploitation also has a significant impact on food security.
Furthermore, various social, institutional and environmental factors contribute to food insecurity. These encompass limited access to communal resources or property, exclusion from social security measures and the financial strain resulting from loan repayments. Natural disasters frequently disrupt markets, leading to the loss of income sources for the poor. Besides causing immediate food shortages, these shocks compel underprivileged households to sell off their assets in order to secure food. It is worth noting that the condition of food insecurity, poverty, vulnerability and unemployment is particularly severe in rural areas. Sabalamby Unnayan Samity (SUS) has been actively working to address and improve these conditions through its diverse programs and projects.
Thematic Objective
To enhance livelihood condition of poor and marginalized people by ensuring food security.
Program/project
Livelihood Development Program (LDP) (Upto 11 October 2023)
Sabalamby Unnayan Samity (SUS) is running its Livelihood Development Program (LDP) with 7080 members from 372 villages/areas of 82 unions/Pourasava under 15 upazila of 03 districts (Netrakona, Mymensingh and Sunamgonj) through 20 Branch Offices by aiming to increase income through creating employment opportunities as well as to raise awareness about the importance of unity, utilization of credit, depositing savings, education, health, law, rights etc. Total Staff: 58. Total Savings Outstanding: Taka 5,84,50,740 and Loan Outstanding: Taka 12,74,99,583.
Handicraft Project
SUS has been running Sabalamby Entrepreneurship Development project through handicrafts since its inception. At present, the skilled producers are producing Block-batik, embroidery, bamboo & cane products. The products are being sold through SUS own sales center along with order collected from local and foreign markets. At present, 82 producers are producing block-batik, embroidery, bamboo-cane and sewing products and most of them are women and adolescent girls. Out of these 82 production workers, 19 workers regularly come to work in Handicraft Production Center and rest 63 workers are working at their homes. They are earning average taka 4,000-5,000 (Each) monthly.
Integrated Food Security for Aboriginal Communities (IFSAC II) Project
Sabalamby Unnayan Samity (SUS) has been implementing the program on peace, health and agriculture issues since September 2016-July 2021 with 525 members (Tribal: 329) from 21 groups of Dokkhin Maijpara union under Dhobaura upazila of Mymensingh district by the financial assistance of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Later on, program has been extended to ‘Ghoshgaon’ union of same upazila by covering total 4265 members of 900 families (Adibasi: 80% and Muslim: 20%). The program has been renamed as “Integrated Food Security for Aboriginal Communities (IFSAC) Project, Phase-2”. For smooth implementation of the project, six Field Organizers and one Project Officer were recruited and 2 Field Offices were rented for two unions. The project will be continued from August 2021-March 2025.