The project
Food Security Increased through Rights Promotion and Sustainable Livelihoods Training, in short “FOSHOL-ActionAid” Project is funded by the EC and implemented by ActionAid through its local partner NGOs. The project is aiming at building capacity of food insecure poor farm households to enhance food security as well as livelihood security. The project will critically engage the poor farmers' from hard to reach areas of six remote districts of the country to innovate and adapt appropriate technical solutions to their farming problems; explore and adapt suitable marketing practices to reap higher margins from their marketable produces; diversify income options of their families; form self-help groups to address socio-political and economic issues that affect food security as well as livelihood security.

The project participants will be facilitated to establish network-linkages with various extension service providers, local institutes and civil society organizations to access and control over the services and resources, establish and maintain community initiatives like crop banking and crop insurance to prevent income erosion and overcome vulnerability to shocks and stresses arising out of natural or other disasters. The project will also encourage in-situ conservation of bio-diversity leading to a better world for all. The project will use “whole family” and “whole farm” approach which entail critical engagement of all members to holistic advancement of the households.

FOSHOL Project is also being implemented by CARE and ITDG while IRRI playes the Coordination and technical capacity building role.

Overall objective
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the improvement of livelihood and food security of households by increasing availability and access to food as well as improving its utilisation by the targeted households in poor communities of six vulnerable districts of Bangladesh .

Project purpose
The purpose of the project is to improve the food security as well as livelihood security of the agriculture dependant resource poor farm households of six districts of Bangladesh by implementing and adapting appropriate technical, social, and organizational aspects of farming including innovations obtained through the PETRRA project.

Expected results
The project will impact over the lives of 20,000 households directly participating with the project, while another 6,000 (30% of direct participants) poor households are expected to be benefited from the innovation and learning of the direct participant.

Envisioned results of the project are expected to have significant impact on food security and livelihood security through:

Household income is expected to be further enhanced through accessing common property resources, getting higher profit margins from their on-farm and off-farm products through improved marketing practices, gaining additional benefits from community crop banks and crop insurance initiatives and greater participation in local development activities through their own organizations. Initiatives are also expected to address various socio-political and cultural issues, e.g. gender discrimination, restriction on participation in economic activities of the women, polygamy, gambling, early marriage, dowry, social exclusion etc that affect their food security. They will be positioned to raise their issues as well as claim and realize their legitimate rights to earn a secured livelihood.

Project outreach
Food insecure 20,000 hard to reach households under six remote districts of the country—Kurigram, Satkhira, Khulna, Patuakhli, Noakhali and Sunamgonj.

Project implementation partners
ZIBIKA, Kurigram; UTTRAN, Jessore; Jagroto Jubo Sangstha (JJS), Khulna; SPEED Trust, Patuakhali; Noakhali Rural Development Society (NRDS), Noakhali and Voluntary Asssociation for Rural Development (VARD), Sunamgonj.

Project resources
Capital resource: 2.58 EUR
Human Resources: 60 Staff in the field implementation teams with Implementing partner organizations and 12 Staff in the project Coordination, management and technical support unit with ActionAid Bangladesh
Project timeline: May 1, 2005 to April 30, 2009.

Funding sources
90% (2.322 Million EUR) of the project cost is from European Commission and 10% (0.26 Million EUR) project cost is from ActionAid UK)

Project areas
ActionAid is working in 9 Upazilas under 6 Districts covering approximately 20,000 households. These are: Satkhira (Satkhira Sadar and Tala), Khulna (Koira and Rupsha), Patuakhali (Kolapara), Noakhali (Noakhali Sadar), Kurigram (Kurigram Sadar and Ulipur) and Sunamganj (Bishwamberpur).

Project Delivery by six local partners—ZIBIKA, UTTARAN, JJS, SPEED Trust, NRDS and VARD.

‘Whole farm' and ‘whole family' approach to ensure spatial development of the participating communities.

Enhancement of food security and livelihood security of 20,000 directly participating households under Kurigram, Jessore, Khulna, Patuakhali, Noakhali and Sunamgonj Districts.

Development of 800 Livelihood groups and transformation of groups into self-help organizations

Facilitation for second tier organizations (LOKOKENDRA) of the self-help organizations

Linkages and networks with mainstream service providers under private and public sectors, Local Institutions, Civil Society Organizations, local, national and international level networks on food security issues.

Advocacy and Capacity Building for raising grassroots voices, claiming and realizing rights of the food insecure poor, eliminating social and gender discrimination, access and control over common natural resources and services

Facilitate environmental friendly sustainable agricultural practices and conserve bio-diversity for sustainable development