FoSHoL-CARE Retreat for year 2007 was held in the Hope Center, CCDB, Baroipara, Savar. Dr. Ekramul Ahsan, Task Manager, FoSHoL Programme & Food Security Advisor, Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh was the Chief Guest. Dr. M. Zainul Abedin, IRRI Representative in Bangladesh and the Team Leader, FoSHoL-Coordination was also present as a Special Guest. Mr. Hasan Majumder, Deputy Country Director, CARE inaugurated the program. The Chief Guest in his speech informed that the FoSHoL-NGOs project obtained a good grade during an independent external evaluation. However, he put strong emphasis for further success in the future work plan. The resource farmers, five CARE partner organizations representatives from Rajshahi, Chapai Nawabgonj and Naogaon districts presented the FoSHoL-CARE project field activities and outputs. About 120 resource farmers, role performers, care partners organization workers for FoSHoL-CARE project and CARE officials were present. Most of the participants took part in the lively discussions also. Major successes, lesson learned, future challenges and opportunities were analyzed through group discussions and their independent presentations. The outcomes of the Retreat-2007 as discussed found satisfactory and remarkable progress in adoption of technology, women participation, and livelihood improvement of local tribal households, group activities and linkage with GO & NGO service providers have been reported through role play, video, local music as well as oral presentation. The program was facilitated by CARE personnel. In this connection, Mr. Mizan Choudhury, Ms. Humaira, Ms. Merry, Ms. Rizwana, Mehrul Islam and Mr. Zakaria contributed a lot.

In the closing session on the following day, Mr. Mahabubul Islam Khan, Governance Coordinator, CARE made a slide presentation on enhancing impact of the FoSHoL projects in general. He also explained the relationship among activities, output, results, and sustainable impact. He mentioned that enabling environment, social position and empowerment are important parameters for sustainable impact of the project. All concern together should be very active in establishing such environment so that sustainable impact could be achieved. He asked the participants not to limit the work in activity/output level rather to pay close attention to achieve the desired impact/goal of the FOSHoL project. Dr. M. Zainul Abedin in his presentation explained the IRRI's strength for possible cooperation in technology transfer, establishing linkages with national and international institutions, prospect of technology (good seed; labour, fertilized and water saving technologies etc.) transfer to improve the food security and livelihood of farmers. He encouraged participants to work jointly and sincerely towards sustainable food security and livelihood. Finally the Retreat-2007 of FoSHoL-CARE project was successfully ended at 17.00 hours of 22 May 2007.