01/10/2024
IFAD Project Supervision Mission in the Field, September 15 to 18, 2024
A 10-member Project Supervision Mission conducted a field visit from 15 to 18 September 2024 to PROVATi3 - LGED. The mission was accompanied by the new IFAD Country Director for Bangladesh, Dr. Ir. Valantine Achancho, and led by Mr. Kees Blok. The team embarked on a comprehensive evaluation of various project activities, including market construction carried out by LCS (Labour Contracting Societies), held separate discussions with both male and female LCS members, observed the implementation of household activities under the GALS (Gender Action Learning System) approach, explored the innovative "Sathi Paribar" (Partner-Family) initiative, and assessed youth vocational training programs facilitated by NGO-MFIs and Government Technical Training Centers. Furthermore, the team reviewed the operations of a school-cum-flood shelter and evaluated the Early Flood Warning System, implemented by the Department of Disaster Management with technical support from RIMES.
Throughout the visit, the team engaged in in-depth discussions with the local community to better understand the impact of the project interventions. The community expressed high levels of satisfaction with the project’s outcomes and articulated their hopes for expanded support from IFAD to further strengthen their livelihoods and enhance community resilience.
The mission ended by a wrap-up meeting on 26 September 2024, chaired by Mr. Md. Mahmudul Hasan, NDC, Director General (MIE), Local Government Division of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives (MoLGRD&C). During this meeting, the team conveyed their overall satisfaction with the project’s progress and highlighted the critical need to develop and implement a robust exit strategy, ensuring that all project activities are completed on time and deliver meaningful, lasting results. LGED expressed deep appreciation to IFAD for its sustained and valuable support, particularly recognizing IFAD's distinctive approach to targeting vulnerable communities and strengthening their resilience as a key mechanism for poverty reduction. LGED further requested IFAD to consider extending its support to additional areas, positioning the PROVATi3 project as a flagship initiative that has demonstrated significant learning, innovation, and success in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations.