Introduction

We introduce the new system of motorcycle hire purchase and we have provided the motorcycles to unit Managers, which strengthened the programs in the implantation level. We have also increased the salary of Unit Managers.

Last year  we expanded our programs and opened three units in the areas of Hinala under Teknaf Upazila, Ukhia and Ramu Upazila.

For the reduction of work load and giving more time to families and for thinking about the strategy related issues, we have introduced the system of  two Saturday as the monthly weekend in management offices (i.e,  except field unit offices.)  We have also increased the annual leave of field staff from 24 days to 30 days.

Last year we have cancelled the system of agreement with staff for internal training. Refunding of salary deduction has been operationalized if the staff could show his/her better performance by following three months.

We have reduced the service charge of micro finance  given to the group members from 15% to 12.5% (Flat rate). It has given the positive   impact among group members. The         admission rate of poor to the group has been increased due to this reduced rate.

Quarterly balancing audit in the unit and shomity levels by the PIU staff and Unit Manager has been implemented. During the balancing audit all the passbooks of group members are cross-checked with the office documents. 

Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation (PKSF) has expanded their MFTS (Micro Finance Technical Support) programs in another 7 Units in Bhola area.

We have started education program title “Mobile School” for the vulnerable children those who are working in hotels, rickshaw pulling, bagging, shrimp fry collection, working as labor in terminals, welding workshop etc. The teacher will go near to the children rather the children need not come to the learning centre.  This is additional activities along with educational activity package of introducing mainstream education in  maktabs, support to community initiated primary and junior high schools, feeder schools, adolescent REFLECT  in  coastal areas of  Coxsbazar district. Stromme Foundation is funding the activities. We have the program of local level SSC and HSC result analysis and civil society mobilization, training to the junior and high school teachers funded from our own micro finance surplus in all the area. Orientation to the SMC and teachers to enhance community participation in primary schools along with local level situation analysis is being done in Bhola mainland area funded by Commonwealth Education Fund of Action Aid.

Under the Human Rights and Governance Program we have completed the training of Union Parishad Members and Chairmen. In SUPRO we have developed and implemented the training module development of Integration of Right Based Approach. We have organized national roundtable on PRSP implementation on the eve of national budget preparation, a English supplement has been published in Daily Star on the eve of BDF (Bangladesh Development Forum) meeting.  Campaign including sending postcard, divisional level seminar have had organized to create public opinion pressure to the government to establish an Independent and Neutral Anti Corruption Commission.  During first anniversary of MV Nasreen launch disaster we have published our study report on launch disaster and organized a national seminar. SUPRO has organized others to protest against institutional immunity to World Bank, there were several protest and demonstrations. SUPRO has supported “Say No to Hybrid” movement on the eve of international rural women day observation of 15^th October by the observation committee. All these activities received wider publication both in electronic and print media.

In respect of program and management we have following learning that we were unable to retain quality staff, we have not been able to involve SUPRO district committee very much, we have not been able to start flip chart based education and awareness program, there were weakness in mid level in respect of support supervision, there were little of central qualitative and quantitative monitoring, we have not been able to come to a permanent settlement with government for the BWDB lands in Charmanika, still struggle and fight is going on for land rehabilitation in Charzahiruddin, groups and people organizations leaders are not so assertive for their legitimate rights and demands in Coxsbazar area and we have not been able to raise fund in respect of health, education and SCORIDI etc. Amidst those we have the positive aspects that, establishing downward accountability through monthly area and sector wise newsletter to locally elected leaders and civil society members, we have considerable level of staff stability in field and senior level, we have been able declare to provide official support to the crucial cases (rape, acid throwing and kidnapping) in violence against women in the whole project area, web page development and continuous updating has established.

The target of last year in Micro Finance Service Charge was Tk. 16.68 million and the achievement was Tk. 17.86 million (7.07% more). The target of development partners’ grant was Tk. 15.68 million but we have received Tk. 17.26 million ( 10.08% more) and the target of cost recovery was Tk. 2.57 million and we have achieved Tk. 5.17 million ( 101.17% more)

The budget of 2004 was Tk.34.73 million where the expenditure was Tk. 37.85 million and the percentage of expenditure 8.98%. The over expenditure was Tk. 3.12 million. The excess expenditure was under the following heads. Asset (mostly land especially in Coxsbazar and Kutubdia) purchase Tk. 1.87 million, abroad and external training Tk. 0.22 million, advertisement Tk. 0.14 million, legal expenses Tk. 0.16 million, Central Office Renovation Tk. 0.25 million, media consultancy, education seminars and SUPRO Registration Tk. 0.18 million   the salary increment of Unit Managers, Motor cycle support to field Tk.0.30 million. We have realized for future  we should have keep a  block amount for such activities in the budget.

The Personnel and Common Service Section will be strengthen so that Sr. Coordinator Administration, Revolving Credit Fund and Operation can give his more time to the field and staff support.

In this year total number of staff will be 573 which is increased of 65.61% more than that of last year (346).

The break up of total budget is for Social Justice (funded by  Manusher Jonno) is Tk. 9.19 million, Commonwealth Education Fund Tk. 1.5 million (yet to be finalized), Stromme Foundation Tk. 2.00 million, World Fish Centre Tk. 0.13 and Adarsha Gram Project-II budget is Tk. 11.50 million. The donor grant is Tk. 24.32 million, which is 40.091% higher than that of last year (Tk. 17.26 million), and the cost recovery will be Tk. 7.34 million, which is 42.22% increased from the year of 2004 (Tk. 5.17 million).

This year the service charge will be earned from micro finance will be Tk. 27.83 million that is 55.82% more than that of last year (Tk. 17.86 million).

Among the total budget of Tk. 60.95 million for 2005, from which 45.66% will be beard from surplus money of micro finance service charge (Tk. 27.83 million), 39.90% from different development partners (Tk. 45.32 million), cost recovery from different program will be 12.11% (Tk. 7.38 million) and 2.33% will be beard from capital fund.

To minimize the deficit figure of Tk. 1.23 million we will strive to strengthen the quick coverage of members and loan disbursement in the new units. This year budget will be Tk. 60.95 million, which is 75.50% more than that of last year (Tk. 34.73 million). 

The percentage of administration cost will be 1.36% (Tk. 5.06 million), while the percentage of program cost will be 98.4% (Tk. 371.02 million. Among them the budget expenditure is Tk. 60.95 and Tk. 310.07 million as Revolving Credit Fund Operation).

The administration cost means the cost of salary and benefits of Executive Director, Assistant Director, Budget and Finance Control Section, Audit and Fund Management Section, Research, Monitoring and Coastal Livelihood Security Section, Central Administration, Dhaka Liaison Office along the traveling and stationeries. The program cost includes revolving credit fund (during 2005 it will be Tk. 310.07 million) and the cost of Regional Management Centre, field staff and other costs which are directly involved with the member participants i.e. beneficiaries.

In this year we need Tk. 115.30 million as Revolving Credit Fund (RCF).  We are expecting to receive Tk. 46.00 million from PKSF and Tk. 30.70 million from Stromme Foundation as RCF during the year of 2005. The rest amount of RCF requirement of Tk. 37.61 million will have to be managed through FDR encashment Tk. 0.8 million, lobbying with PKSF for expanding their coverage in Bhola and accumulation of group members savings.

Total number of member participants will be 61,810, which is 91.04% more than that of last year (32355). The percentage of male members is 9.89 %. The outstanding balance at the end of 2005 will be Tk. 175.60 million. This is 89.02% above from last year (Tk. 92.90 million). The member savings at the end of the year 2005 will be Tk 48.63 million that is 8.55% higher than that of 2004 (Tk. 44.80 million).

This year the amount of cost of fund is Tk.9.68 million. The cost of fund includes the group savings interest Tk. 1.93 million, interest payable to PKSF Tk. 1.21 million and Stromme Foundation Tk. 2.40 million, Debt Management Reserve (DMR) Tk. 1.36 million, Disaster Management Fund (DMF) Tk.0.29 million and Depreciation Reserve Fund (DRF)  Tk. 2.50 million. The interest for RCF use to be given to PKSF, Stromme Foundation and Group members’ Savings during the 2005 has been considered as expenditure while other costs of fund will be separated from the outstanding amount.

For further information:

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury

Executive Director

Liaison Office: House # 9.4, Road # 2, Shaymali

Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh.

Phone : 88 02 812 5181, 815 4673

Fax: 88 02 912 9375
Mobile: 88 0174 014203

E-mail: info@coastbd.org

Web : www.coastbd.org