Gender and Development

Bangladesh

Loan 2190-BAN: Agribusiness Development Project, 2005

A significant limitation for the growth of the agriculture sector in Bangladesh is the lack of cultivable land. As a result, increased growth in the agricultural sector must rely upon

• diversification of agricultural production to higher value crops
• intensification of production around homestead areas
• provision of services to the agriculture sector (upstream links)
• value addition through further processing, storage and transport of agricultural commodities (downstream links)

Objectives and Scope

The Agribusiness Development Project was approved 27 October 2005 for $42.5 million. It was designed to increase rural incomes and employment in Bangladesh by providing enhanced access to markets for small farmers, producers and processors through the expansion of agribusiness activities. The Project consists of the following components:

1. Improving the Enabling Environment for Agribusiness:
   • identification and rectification of major regulatory constraints
   • restructuring of market administration and market management
   • strengthening of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MOFL) in agribusiness governance, support and promotion


2. Provision of Agribusiness Support Services and Promotion of Stakeholder Networking:
   • training and orientation program for NGO staff and small entrepreneurs
   • strengthening of agribusiness associations
   • agribusiness promotion and information dissemination
   • business services to entrepreneurs through matching grants
   • support to private financial institutions for agribusiness lending


3. Expansion of Agribusiness Activities:
   • targeted credit for small scale agribusiness development
   • corporate medium scale agribusiness development


4. Project Support:
   • Project management office
   • support to MOA and MOFL
   • consultants
   • training for staff, chambers, associations and entrepreneurs

Framework for Gender and Development Activities

Women participate actively in different sub-sectors of agriculture, but their contributions often go unrecognized. The Agribusiness Development Project has significant potential in reducing poverty among women by increasing their access to newer employment opportunities in upstream and downstream agribusiness enterprises and services; developing women as contributors to economic growth; and supporting women's empowerment in decision-making and public life.

Gender-Inclusive Design

A component-wise gender action plan (GAP) was developed during the design phase to promote women's participation as agents and beneficiaries in the Project.

1. Improving the Enabling Environment for Agribusiness:
• Identify and remove regulatory and financial impediments to private sector operations in agribusiness with analysis of constraints to women's participation.
• Assess the public market management system and facilitate women's access to markets.
• Ensure participation of women entrepreneurs, farmer groups, business associations and chambers of commerce in seminars and consultations.
• Strengthen capacities of the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), MOA and MOLF to address gender issues in agribusiness development.


2. Technical and Marketing Support for Small Scale Agribusiness Enterprises:
• Conduct information campaigns on agribusiness services, technologies and credit line with gender-friendly messages and dissemination methodologies to reach both men and women.
• Provide training to women entrepreneurs on business and financial management as well as technical training on livestock, fisheries, agronomy, storage, and processing.
• Link women's enterprises to downstream producer associations as well as enhance linkages with business associations and financial institutions.
• Build the capacity of private sector chambers and associations to support women's participation in agribusiness through training, workshops and study tours.
• Include women's chambers and associations and women entrepreneurs in publicity drives, trade fairs and seminars through special provisions on a cost-sharing basis.


3. Strengthening Capacity of NGOs and Whole Banks in Agribusiness Lending:
• Provide training to financial intermediaries and NGOs to improve their knowledge on gender-based needs and develop mechanisms to financially support women entrepreneurs in agribusiness.
• Orient NGOs and banks to install a monitoring and reporting system with gender- based indicators, outputs and results.


4. Credit for Small-Scale Agribusiness Enterprises:
• Conduct periodic campaigns to raise women's awareness about the targeted credit facility for agribusiness promotion.
• Ensure 30% of agribusiness credit beneficiaries are women via information campaigns and gender sensitive assessment of proposals.
• Support agribusiness ventures that will create employment for the poor and women.
• Provide NGO support in preparing business plans to scale up agribusiness activities of former women micro credit borrowers.


5. Project Implementation Support:
• Recruit women as staff and consultants of the Project Implementation Unit.
• Engage a Gender Advisor and Women's Entrepreneurship Promotion Specialist.
• Ensure gender and development orientation for relevant DAM, MOA, MOFL, NGO and ADB staff.
• Orient project staff, NGO staff and consultants on the project GAP, gender issues in agribusiness and their roles in promotion of women entrepreneurs.
• Collect gender-disaggregated data and develop capacity of executing and implementing agencies for gender-based monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

Guidance on Gender and Development Activities

The ADB Bangladesh National Gender Officer will closely monitor the implementation of the GAP which is covenanted under the loan agreement and provide support to the Project Gender Advisor, Women's Entrepreneurship Promotion Specialist, and executing agencies as necessary. Progress on GAP implementation is included in the Project Performance Management System and will be reported to ADB on a regular basis.