Performance Of Steps In Social Development Sector In Bangladesh

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Steps Towards Development: An Overview

Journey of Steps Towards Development
In 1993, a group of social activists agreed to work on an initiative, inspired by the belief that the gender inequalities prevalent in this country could only be addressed by working together. That willingness led to the establishment of Steps Towards Development (Steps). It was officially registered as a non-political, not-for-profit, non-government voluntary organization in 1994.
The organization started by developing its Network, Training, and Materials Development components.  Through these components, Steps reached out to different communities and individuals to promote gender equality and human rights.  Even in its early years, Steps immediately gained recognition at both local and national level as a gender-promoting organization.

Its components are Development Workers’ Initiatives through Networking (DWIN), Centre for Development Training (CDT), Audio-Visual Centre (AVC), Gender and Development Communication (GDCC), Gender and Development Resource (GDRC) Centre. Each Centre works independently and interdependently for the promotion of Steps’ mission. Meanwhile the Human Resource Management & Administration and Finance components provide technical support on staff and financial matters.  Special Projects component looks after interventions that are supportive to the furtherance of the organization’s mission.
The activities of the organization with local based organizations are coordinated through DWIN, as Steps implement its activities at local level in different parts in Bangladesh.  It is also working with other national and international organizations for collective initiatives on different national and international issues.
The reason for the existence of Steps Towards Development is defined in its Vision, Mission, Objectives and Principles as shown below:

Vision
Steps want to help create a democratic society that

Mission
Steps’ mission is to enhance gender equality, to improve the condition and position of women, to protect the human rights of women and girls, and to increase women’s participation in decision-making and governance at all levels.

Objectives

Program Issues
Policies in practice

Law reform and enforcement/implementation

Campaign and policy advocacy

Domains of Intervention

Steps’ Centers
DWIN
DWIN is the coordinating and monitoring hub of Steps’ activities with the partners of local networks, facilitators and local support groups aiming to build their capacity for a long term contribution to change the gender relations Bangladesh. DWIN translates the needs into actions at local and national level. It also works to develop learning collaboration between and among government, civil society and service providers. Based on such collaborations, service-providers along with the social volunteers have started to take initiatives to increase birth registration, reduce early marriage and combat violence against women. Last year, DWIN undertook a number of initiatives to enhance the organizing, implementation, monitoring and reporting skills at both central and local level. From 2003-2007 DWIN organized different awareness raising and advocacy programs both at national and local level, such as mobilizations, dialogues, discussion, school based programs, learning-experience sharing workshops etc.

CDT
Centre for Development Training (CDT), the training component of Steps Towards Development, is working to build the capacity of development workers, activists and institutions to promote gender equality, human rights and good governance.  It develops training modules and materials that are used by Steps as well as other organizations. Through these efforts, CDT also develops trainers and facilitators at both local and national level to ensure continuous dissemination of gender mainstreaming concepts. CDT has a unique mechanism to transfer to knowledge, skill and information from national to local level. From 2003-2007 CDT conducted a number of trainings to develop facilitation skill of development workers from different organizations on gender equality. Besides, CDT has taken initiative to develop the capacity of development organizations to implement gender sensitive policy in their projects and change there organizational practice. [See the CDT 5 years report]

Audio-Visual (AV) Center
With the slogan video for development and artistic expression, the Audio-Visual (AV) Center of Steps is working to build awareness of the people towards a just and equitable society. The center produces different audio-visual materials and disseminates those into the communities as well as at the national level. The AV Center is also working to document positive changes, people’s movements and voices for education and capacity building. These activities also help influence policy-planners. From 2003 AV Center screened issues-based documentaries at Steps’ pilot areas and networks to make aware grass-roots people about specific issues.  Beside this, AV center has aired its documentaries in different private channel of Bangladesh, which helps to catch and disseminate the message to a wider audience. [See the AVC 5 years report]

GDCC
Gender and Development Communication Component (GDCC) always playing a role of think-tank in the field of gender, development and social communication, through introducing new concepts and issues to change the existing thought processes. From 2003 GDCC has published different journals, posters, booklet, leaflet and articles to transfer the field demand into print materials. Beside this, number of initiatives were taken by GDCC including gender budgeting, eve teasing, National Policy for Women’s Advancement, CEDAW. Through regular campaign and advocacy on these issues, Steps not only has earned recognition as a women’s rights promoting organization, but also has developed strong linkage at the policy-planning level, which is contributing to achieve the objectives of Steps. [See the GDCC 5 years report]

GDRC
Gender and Development Resource Center (GDRC) collects, compiles and disseminates relevant development information and conducts research to bring into fore field level experiences for policy reform and its implementation. The Central GDRC, which is located at the office of Steps Towards Development, develops and maintains an Information Data Bank (IDB). It ensures regular upgrading of information on the web as well as coordinates 15 local-level GDRCs at the networks. The local GDRCs do not only disseminate information and materials, they also serve as local platforms for sharing and exchanging of views among civil society, students, and development activists and others. The local GDRCs are regularly updating information on network achievements, challenges and issues related to women’s human rights in a systematic manner. This has made possible to track down any changes at the local level.

Program Strategy
Strategy 1: Networking
Steps recognizes the fact that in Bangladesh, profound social change cannot be achieved in an isolation from the cultural, social and structural factors impacting on gender relations. Therefore, Steps focuses on a strategy that reaches out all directions. Steps is attaining all the way down to individual activists working at the roots of communities, through local level NGOs and networks. On the other hand, it also reaches up to inform and influence national level policy makers. Steps builds networks with social activists, like-minded organizations and people, civil society, NGOs, government bodies at local, national and regional level.  At present, Steps has networking with following collective platforms–

A national platform of Steps and 13 local networks at 18 districts working for a democratic and just society ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men. GAD Alliance develops social actors to promote gender equality, human rights and good governance and creates example at local and national level. It includes a total of 13 collective platforms of CSOs covering 18 districts and 47 sub-districts, in which 122 CSOs (female-headed 27, male-headed 95) are associated as local partner organizations. Main features of these collective platforms of the Alliance are:

A total of 11994 social actors (female-6603, male-5391) under 182 collective platforms are:

At present, a total of 191 LTGs (female-66, male-125) are working to enhance skill and capacity of different social actors. By the year 2006, 79 out of the 122 organizations have developed gender policies and most of them have developed action plans to translate the policies into actions. LTGs have also developed a monitoring mechanism to see changes at organizational level. Some LTGs are also working as social volunteers as GCAs.

A total of 5319 women are actively involved with the local networks and partner organizations at 182 working areas. They are taking part in

A total of 2332 SVs (female- 1286, male- 1046) are disseminating information and messages through different school-based programs and door-to-door campaign to stop early marriage and violence against women.

For engendering the Bangladesh Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) and supporting its formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, a group of 66 (44 individuals and 12 organizations) has been working for the last couple of years (formally since 2006). The group is strongly shedding a light on women’s issues and concerns in different sectors (e.g. health, education, agriculture, local government etc.) under the PRS. GPG interventions have been able to hit on gender and women rights issues in drafting the poverty reduction strategy and different sectoral plans of action. Steps is using PRSP as an important instrument for implementing the program and policy advocacy e.g. Full ratification of CEDAW and implementation of 1997 national women’s advancement policy, equal property rights

A national alliance of 42 organizations to promote and protect women’s human rights, protest incidents of violence against women. Steps regularly takes part in the collective movements initiated by this committee e.g. on the implementation of the National Women’s Advancement Policy of 1997. The organization, in association with the Social Action Committee, protested the distortion of the policy in 2004 and is actively demanding restoration the 1997 policy.

Steps is an active campaigner of CEDAW. It is one of the 38 members of a national committee to implement CEDAW in full in Bangladesh. Steps has been using CEDAW as an important instrument for implementing program, policy advocacy and law reform. (Example: PRSP, media and sectoral policies and laws on equal property rights and uniform marriage registration and divorce law.)

Strategy 2: Collaborative Partnership
With the support of networks, organizations and committed people, Steps is committed to building a system of learning collaboration from local to national level. These learning collaborations exist between and among civil society, media, service providers and community people. It required establishing collective platforms at both national and local level.  These collective platforms have developed facilitators and social actors within civil society, professional groups, people’s representatives, students and women activists. At national level it has developed collaborative partnership with MoWCA, ERD, finance, education, health and LG ministries for considering gender issues in their respective fields. At local level Steps has partnership with different service providers and govt. institutions (e.g. kazi office, health centers, schools) to make them responsive towards establishing a just society.

Social Actors of Steps have signed MoU with 9 districts and 65 sub-districts level government administrations as collaborative partners to stop early marriage and violence against women and ensure birth registration. The GoB officials include District Commissioner, District Education, Agriculture, Health Officers and Jatiyo Mahila Shamity at 9 districts and Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Thana Education Officer, Thana Health Officer and Agriculture Officer at 65 sub-districts. District and sub-district administrations are working as a supportive force of the civil society at local level, helping policy in practice and implementing the laws at local level, reform of laws (e.g. Uniform family law, law on eve teasing and domestic violence and compulsory birth registration).

Steps’ working areas spread over 5 City Corporations, 15 Municipalities and 81 wards (urban) and 101 unions (rural areas). The local government administrations at the working areas like District Commissioner Office, Thana Nibahi Office as well as different committees (e.g. Social Development Committee, Nari Nirjaton Protirodh Committee) are now more active to increase birth registration, decrease early marriage and combat violence against women.

With an aim of increasing gender-sensitive service-providers, Steps Towards Development has developed strong linkage with local service-providers like schools, kazi offices, health centers. Representatives of these service-providers regularly join our initiatives and are becoming more and more responsive towards upholding women’s human rights in their respective spheres.

Part – 3

Contribute by Steps in social development sectors in Bangladesh

Through working with the community platforms, Steps has developed a learning collaboration between the community and service-providers, which is contributing to increase their responsive regarding citizens’ rights and service providing responsibilities.  This has helped bring about some striking changes, which match in achieving Steps’ program objectives. Some of those are mentioned below.

Increase Women Participation in Decision Making Process
Half of the population of Bangladesh is women. It is obvious that without participation of this half portion of population sustainable development of Bangladesh can not be attained. It is now well recognized that to established human rights, women rights need to be ensured first.  For fruitful democracy and development, women participation in decision making is needed in all spheres of state and society. Women political participation from grassroots to national parliament can bring the qualitative change in democracy and development of country. Lack of women participation in decision making also helps to persist the gender discrimination in society. Steps wants to achieve its vision of establishing a democratic society with equal opportunity and benefits and eliminating the discrimination and patriarchy from society through this objective. For this, from very beginning Steps wants to see women’s participation in decision making of process of its partner organizations, civil society platforms, different institutions and committees of working areas.

 Gradual changes regarding to this objectives

2003-2004:
In 2003 Steps started its work in 155 pilot areas (92 Rural and 63 urban areas) of 13 districts with 12 networks comprising of 136 partner organizations.  The social volunteers group that was formed namely gender change activists group (GCA) was comprised of social entrepreneurs group, student volunteers group and women activist group. The group included 3054 women among 6857 member as social entrepreneurs and women activists. Steps provided support to increase issue based knowledge and skill to this group through different trainings, materials, video screening, sharing discussion etc.  Beside this Steps took different initiatives to increase women participation in civil society platform/networks, and its partner organizations.  At that time Steps and its partner organizations took an ideological stand that if any partner organization has not any female in the management or decision making level it would capacitate woman from second line, so that they can participate in the decision making in course of time.  Steps and 12 networks also advocated for raising number of women in the decision making levels of networks.  It was decided then, at least one women member must be included executive committee of network. In 2003-04 there were 10  women in decision making process of networks of 12 networks.

2005-2006:
During this phase, this women activists group started to become social activists and started to take action/initiatives in different cases against women’s human rights specially VAW and EM.  The active participation of this group helped to activate different committees in the working areas, such as nari nirjaton protirodh committees (NNPC), social development committees (SDC), school management committees (SMC), Ain-shringkhola rokhka committee etc. Due to their initiatives these committees not only became active but women participation also increased in these committees. At the end of 2006 it was found that 37% NNPC, 68% SMC and 26 % SDC have become active and members of the women activists group are participating in these committees in different ways.  Not only that, these women activists were also played contributory role in different community arbitration,  facilitated movement against VAW, disseminated messages on program issues to other people.  All these indicated that the women activists groups are going to be flourished as social activists or social facilitators in their community.

At the same time Steps initiatives to increase women participation in partner organizations were going on. Through developing and practicing gender sensitive policies, Steps encouraged the partner organizations to include women participation in decision making process. Increasing women participation in decision making process of civil society platform was also going on.  At the end of 2006 there were 16 women in the decision making process of networks.  

2007:
During this time the number of total women activist among the GCAs became high than the previous year. The total number of women activist during this time was 6605 and among them, a number of women (590) were found as community and political leaders.  They showed their interest to be incorporated with power structure. This time the group started to feel that excluding from power structure and decision making process it will be difficult to achieve gender equality. At that time 161 elected female members of local governance were started to raise their voices on women’s human rights issues at different meetings, seminars, mobilizations etc.  
Steps initiatives to increase women participation in partner organizations and network were continuing. AT network level decision making process there were 18 women in 13 networks in 2007.  At that time Steps and its local networks have taken a decision to incorporate representatives from civil society platform in network decision making process and at least one of the representatives must be woman. This process also enhances the women participation in decision making process. At present 19 women out of 37 representatives from civil society platform is actively participating in decision making process of networks.

Present Status towards achieving the objectives
      At present 5319 women activist of Gender Change activists group are taking initiatives as social activists. They are taking different initiatives against VAW, EM and any violation against women’s human rights.
      Leadership quality of women activists group has been increased and at present 590 women from social volunteers group is ready to participate and compete in power structure.
      2525 women are participating in decision making process of different committees (NNPC, SMC, SDC etc.), institutions (Local governance), and civil society platforms (local Networks).

Strong advocacy and active participation of women activists group has activate local government of 183 unions and wards, 183 Nari Nirjatopn Protirodh Committees/Cells (NNPC) is active to deal with the cases of violence against women, early marriage and birth registration.

Challenges

Contribution
National level

Future direction

3.3 The promotion and protection of women’s human rights

Although the constitution states that all citizen are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection by the law, but women’s human rights often violated here due to patriarchal social system and religious influence.  In our society, women’s human rights are violated both at public and private sector which hinders her rights to live, security, participation and flourish her talents. This situation pressurized Steps to take the objective promotion and protection of women’s human rights for establishing a society with justice and respect for women’s human rights.  To address the objectives, Steps emphasized on some specific issues, that are closely related with women’s human rights.

 

Increase Birth Registration
2003-2004
In 2003 Steps has started its piloting in 155 working areas (92 rural and 63 urban areas).

2007

 

Preventing Early Marriage
2003-04

2005-06

 2007

 

Combat Violence against women
2003-2004
The acceptance of VAW in Bangladesh is both social and political issues. Steps’ started to work with the issues while the community was silent about this. In 2003 Steps’ tried to make the social actors aware and at the same time tried to make responsive the local governance and service delivery institutions about the issue. From 2004 the social actors stared to raise their voices against VAW. AT that time it was really a difficult task, as traditional society was not much concern about the issues. At that time Steps has arranged mass mobilization in its pilot areas to raise awareness of community people to prevent VAW. In 2004 Social actors have protested against 257 incidents of VAW and among those 13 cases were filed in the court for legal solution.
2005-2006

2007

Increasing marriage registration
Proper marriage registration can help to promote and protect women’s rights in regard to property rights. From very beginning Steps took different initiatives to ensure registration during marriage and women’s right during registration by creating awareness on properly fulfilling the registration from, specially column no 18-20, in which provision of women’s right is depicted.

Contribution of this objective in national level

Learning

Future interventions

Increase responsiveness of urban and rural governance
By working together, different components of local and national governance learn each from other and make them aware about their strengths and weaknesses. This strategy reduces organizational conflicts and mobilizes all sectors of society to work towards achieving any specific goals. With this strategy, since 2003, Steps has been working on women’s human rights, gender equality and good governance.
Beside people’s representatives in the local government, local government institutions, school management committees, marriage registration offices, CSOs/NGOs, health service providers, agricultural service providers were targeted to govern in the way to provide venues in promoting the rights of the women in the light of government policies.
In the period of 2003-2007, Steps, through networking and collaborative partnership, has successfully activated local government committees and other community service providers in promotion and protection of women human rights and also increased women’s participation in decision-making and governance.

2003-2004

2005-06

2007

 

 

Increase gender sensitive development organization
Steps wants to institutionalize the gender concept and ensure continuous dissemination of gender mainstreaming concepts at the national and local level through increasing gender sensitive development organizations. Since 2003 it has been continuing several initiatives to achieve the objectives. These are depicted below

2003-2004

2005-06

Contribution in notational level

Future interventions

3.6. Develop learning collaboration with Government of Bangladesh to ensure gender responsive policies and mechanism.

Steps believe that to achieve gender equality, government efforts must be supplemented by the efforts of NGOs, civil society, human rights activists. For this, gender mainstreaming at different institutions of government organizations is necessary, which is a globally accepted strategy for promoting gender equality. Moreover, gender issues need to be incorporated into the formulation of national policies. For this, a learning collaboration should be developed with the government both at national and local level.  These issues require advocacy at national level and campaign for raising awareness at both national and local level. Awareness at government level is also necessary to monitor different efforts of the Government and implementation of different international commitments of GoB. To achieve the objective, Steps has taken different advocacy and campaign programs both at local and national level.

Steps’ intervention in engendering national policies and mechanism
In the way to enhance gender equality, improve the condition and position of women, protect the human rights of women and girls, increase women’s participation in decision making and governance at all level, Steps thought that devoid of gender responsive policy any rights can’t be protected within the state. With the intention to ensure gender responsive policies and mechanism, Steps has set objectives for that and taken systematic efforts for ensuring gender responsive policy and law. Throughout its work Steps has been considering different policies as an instrument for promoting women and men’s equal rights in society namely CEDAW, PFA, PRSP, MDG, NPWA, National budget. By using this instrument Steps’ intervention on capacity building training, development of audio-visual and print material, networking with all level of stakeholders of local, national and regional level, creating awareness and advocating for policy level for creating pressure to Government for implementing gender responsive policy, as well as helping government to formulate and reform gender responsive policy and law.

Strategy for working in engendering national policies and mechanism
Steps belives that concreted effort is essential for demanding rights as well as achieving and exercising rights. This way Steps’ working strategy is to build up networking and develop collective platform for creating space for advocacy with government, and making awareness and disseminating message at diverse level with like minded organizations, groups, development partner, Government, community people, media, civil society, development organization, different tier of local governance and local government etc. alliance building and develop collective platform are the main strategies of Steps to achieve its mission

Through networking with associated organizations and allies group at national and local level Steps develops collective platform for raising voice and demanding rights in a concerted way. Throughout the last five years Steps in the way to build up networking steps has been coordinating a number of platforms like Gender in Media Forum (GIMF), Gender and PRSP Group (GPG), Citizen’s Initiatives on CEDAW, Bangladesh, and sometimes Steps associated itself as a member of other platform like Shamajik Protirodh Committee (Social Action Committee). Each and every platform is working with specific goal that are contributing to ensure gender responsive policies and mechanism. Such as, GIMF is working for ensuring gender responsive media, GPG is working for engendering PRSP, Citizen’s Initiatives on CEDAW, Bangladesh is working for full implementation and withdraw GoB reservations on CEDAW and Shamajik Protirodh Committee is working for enactment of NPWA in line with the demand of women women’s rights activist.

3.7 Steps’ Intervention over the last five years (2003-‘09)

3.7.1. Full implementation and withdrawing GoB reservations on CEDAW
Throughout its journey Steps has taken the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) as an instrument for promoting and establishing women rights as Bangladesh ratified CEDAW in 1984 but had reservations on two core provisions that deal with comprehensive legislative changes and equality in marriage and divorce. From the very beginning, Steps had been advocating and lobbying for Bangladesh to withdraw certain reservations to, and fully ratify CEDAW. Steps initiated and took different type of   strategy and intervention for implementing and withdrawing reservation on CEDAW.

3.7.2. Year wise initiatives on implementing and withdrawing reservation on CEDAW:
In 2003 Steps Towards Development, Ain O Shalish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, have developed and submitted the CEDAW Shadow report as a supplement to Bangladesh’s Fifth Periodical Report[1] prepared by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The shadow report is set out in a format to enable the readers to relate to Bangladesh’s commitments under different ratified articles of the Convention to the committee’s concerns in 1997, key concerns relating to continued forms of discriminations and non- implementation of measures to eliminate discrimination and recommendations for legislation, policy reform and other programs to be undertaken by the public and private sector. In an attempt to make this initiative more effective in national platform, shadow report committee had engaged in a number of discussions with different levels of experts and activist groups from January to November 2003.

In 2004 development and submission of the CEDAW Shadow report to the UN CEDAW committee, along with Ain O Shalish Kendra and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, was a landmark contribution of Steps for the evaluation of the Government initiatives on CEDAW and Bangladesh. Targeting the UN CEDAW Committee meeting in July 2004 Steps Towards Development (Steps), Ain O Shalish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) have finalized the CEDAW Shadow Report Bangladesh and published the report prior to the meeting. Before the meeting the Bangladesh CEDAW Shadow report committee (Steps, ASK and BMP) shared the raising issues of the UN CEDAW committee with representatives of the civil society and government. The committee convened press conference and sharing dialogues to get people’s opinion and influence GoB and policy makers to withdraw reservations from specific CEDAW articles (2 and 16 c).

In 2005 associated with other organizations Steps has taken part in the policy influencing bodies on full implementation and withdrawal reservation CEDAW issues, nationally, regionally and globally through developing and disseminating advocacy and campaign material, initiating campaign and awareness program through steps’ ongoing work.

In 2006 Steps carried out a campaign at national level to protest GoB reservations on CEDAW articles through discussion titled ‘Importance of CEDAW Convention: Status of Bangladesh’, in which women and human rights activists took part. Outputs from the discussion were disseminated to the media. Steps’ representatives also took part in TV discussions where the need for withdrawal of the remaining reservations was strongly recommended. Discussions on CEDAW were organized at Steps’ pilot areas under 13 networks, where representatives from the civil society and media along with various professional groups took part with huge interest. Steps’ these endeavors to enhance the demand by the public and put pressure on the government to withdraw the reservations from CEDAW Articles 2 and 16.1.c.

In 2007 As part of its advocacy initiatives, Steps has been carried out campaign to protest GoB reservations on CEDAW articles. In this regard Steps continued discussion with relevant persons, organizations and through publishing articles on the issue in different national media. Through the initiative, Steps endeavors to enhance demand by the public and put pressure on the government to withdraw the reservations from CEDAW articles 2 and 16.1.c. Steps has played an important role in the lifting of GoB reservations from Articles 13 (a) and 16.1.f. Steps’ representatives along with other actors on CEDAW were invited to discuss with the Advisor to the Ministry of Law and Women and Children Affairs and secretaries of both the ministries. Steps was strengthening advocacy and campaign at local and national level with other actors to raise the voice of the grass root people on the issue.
In order to push the government to formulate policies and reform laws in line with CEDAW, Steps has taken the initiative to bring together the organizations who are committed to implement CEDAW under the banner of ’25th Anniversary Observance Committee of CEDAW’. The platform organized week long programs at national of local level with the object to raise awareness among general people through discussion, campaign, exchange experiences of the organizations and make clear the concepts on CEDAW, and involve national and local media for the implementation of CEDAW for the purpose of full ratification and implementation of CEDAW. The members of platform were committed to civil society’s concerted effort on full ratification and implementation of CEDAW in Bangladesh and agreed to develop alternative report of CEDAW for submitting to UN committee.

Following that Steps arranged a discussion with all national level players of CEDAW to make a concerted effort on CEDAW alternative report preparation. Now under the platform named Citizen’s Imitative on CEDAW, Bangladesh, a total of 38 organizations are working for developing alternative report based on 21 thematic areas. It is mentionable that the platform is developing report by involving their all associated organizations with covering 10 years (1997-2007) of CEDAW progress in Bangladesh.

Achievement:

3.7.3. Intervention in National Policy for Women’s Advancement (NPWA)
At national level, Steps  has been actively doing policy advocacy on is the restoration of the National Policy for Women’s Advancement (NPWA) in its original spirit of 1997 with some amendments and through a consensus of women’s movements and rights groups and activists in Bangladesh. In 2004, amendments to some articles have changed the fundamental language of rights of women though women’s rights thinkers and activists of Bangladesh said that the 1997 policy reflected the goals of the women’s movement and were in tune with the UN CEDAW. But these amendments limit the equal opportunities for women to public decision making. In line with the argument Steps, was one of the first to quickly respond to the undue distortions made in 2004 by the then government in power. Subsequently Steps involved with other organization under the platform named Shamajik Protirodh Committee (Social Action Committee) of 42 organizations leaded by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad to create demand for implementation of NPWA in the spirit of 1997 policy document. Steps has also actively contributed to the revision of the NPWA in light of the original policy document that has been done by the present caretaker government.

Year wise initiatives on implementing of National Policy for Women’s Advancement (NPWA) in the spirit of 1997 policy document:

In 2004, amendments to some articles have changed the fundamental language of rights of women though women’s rights thinkers and activists of Bangladesh said that the 1997 policy reflected the goals of the women’s movement and were in tune with the UN CEDAW. But these amendments limit the equal opportunities for women to public decision making. In line with the argument Steps, was one of the first to quickly respond to the undue distortions made in 2004 by the then government in power.

In 2005, as part of working for implementation of National Policy for Women’s Advancement (NPWA) in the spirit of 1997 policy document, Steps prepared a position paper through comparative analysis between 1997 and 2004 policy documents and identified the gaps and disseminated the paper among related stakeholders for massive campaigning. Steps has been continuing campaigning and advocating to implementing the NPWA in the original spirit of 1997 policy document merged with different initiatives to protest the distortion of the original policy document of 1997. Steps took part in many other campaigns on protest against women’s rights by using this platform and created public concern on that issues for pushing policy planner and law enforce agencies.

[For example, Steps actively took part in a national convention with the Shamajik Protirodh Committee (Social Action Committee) demanding implementation of the NPWA in the original spirit of 1997 policy document.  One of the campaigns was against Papia murder case demanding exemplary punishment of the murder. Steps has actively participated in all these movements.]

In 2006, under the banner of Social Action Committee, Steps has continuously been involved in different actions against violence against women issues, fatwa, direct election of women in parliament etc. During this time, apart from organizing national convention demanding implementation of the national women’s advancement policy in the original spirit of 1997 policy document, the platform also carried out other activities.

[Steps published a number of advocacy and campaign materials on the issue in Steps’ journal as well as national media. Steps’ representatives along with other actors on women and human right movement discussed the issue with Advisor of Ministry of Law and Women & Children Affairs and secretaries of both the ministries to ensure their commitment to restore and implement NPWA of 1997. Steps is also continuing advocacy and campaign at local and national level with other actors on raising the voice of the grass root people on this issues. Steps initiated networking at national, regional and global level with various like minded organizations and groups for advocacy.]

Achievement:

Engendering PRSP
Steps has been taking actions for engendering the PRSP from beginning of the PRSP formulation process. Steps was the first to publish the Bangla version of the PRSP in 2002. Since the introduction of the PRSP (later named as the National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction) in 2005, Steps has been advocating for the inclusion of gender-sensitive policies and strategies in the PRSP.

Year wise initiatives for engendering PRSP

In 2003
The I-PRSP for Bangladesh was made public in December 2002. In November 2002, after government declaring of I-PRSP Steps organized the first national dialogue on the PRSP and Gender for reviewing IPRSP document from gender perspective. Through the reviewing workshop identified the specific gaps of the document from a gender perspective. Following that Steps published a report on the reviewed findings in 2003. The report has contributed a lot towards enriching the understanding on Gender and PRSP.

In 2002 during formulation of I-PRSP, several civil society organizations (CSOs) including civil society groups, government representatives and think tanks organized themselves to analyze the content as well as the process of formulating the I-PRSP. The LCG-WAGE sub-group decided to have a proper gender analysis of the I-PRSP in order to influence the Joint Staff Assessment of the World Bank and also to have a road map to full PRSP from gender perspective. They analyzed gender gap in the I-PRSP as an input to the process of working towards a full PRSP and to support stakeholders’ participation especially of poor women and women’s organization. Through consultation process the team developed an action plan with roles and responsibilities of the civil society, Government of Bangladesh and the Development Partners. The participants of this consultation process formed the Gender and PRSP Group (GPG) which include CSOs, government agencies and the development partners. Meanwhile Steps have achieved some potential on engendering PRSP and that potential help take coordinating responsibility to Steps.

From 2004 to 2005 the GPG platform brings together sectoral specialists and gender advocates to interact and build consensus and understanding on gender component of the document. Now GPG is an independent collective national platform of the representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Representative of the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and Development Partners to work together for engendering PRSP – its process, implementation and monitoring. GPG was formulated in May 2003, as a voluntary group which has contributed in the formulation of PRSP from gender perspective. At present GPG have 38 members of which 11 represent from Civil Society Organizations, 3 from Government of Bangladesh, 10 are from research, academicians and representatives from private sector and 14 from development partners. As of 2003 as a secretariat of GPG platform Steps had been playing a role of catalyst in the whole GPG process and was continuing its initiatives both in local level and national level to claim best output from PRSP Bangladesh through GoB and by GPG.

GPG, with an aim to engender PRSP has been involved with PRSP process. As secretariat of GPG, Steps works closely with GoB thematic groups of PRSP especially with MoWCA, GED of Planning Commission. Steps has developed working relationship with PRSP writers group and working as catalyst to build partnership with GO, NGOs and Private Sector.  Besides, Steps is advocating with civil society, media, development partners and private sectors and networking with other sector / issue specific actor groups for influence the PRSP process.

From 2006 to 2007, GPG is implementing and coordinating a project entitled ‘Engendering Bangladesh’s Poverty Reduction Strategy: Supporting formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation’ with the support of The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and The Canadian High Commission.

Under the project GPG has planned various  initiatives like reviewing sectoral strategy in the PRSP i.e. Agriculture, Education, Health from gender perspective and three stand alone issues i.e. Violence against Women, Gender and governance, Political participation; developing SMART monitoring indicators in the aforesaid areas; summarizing PRSP and focus areas (Agriculture, Education, Health and three stand alone issues) in Bangla; organizing sharing meeting on PRS and focus areas at National and Divisional level; and have some plan to conduct independent national review, GOB-led review and international DP review of PRS implementation under monitoring initiatives.

Achievements of Steps through GPG platform

Engendering Media

In this current world the media play a vital role to influencing the thought processes of mass people.  Keeping that in mind since the beginning of Steps has always been in a process of engendering media through its monitoring, advocacy, networking and campaign actions at the national level. Steps’ constant and strong relationship with different print and electronic media is helping mainstream women’s issues and concerns in the media through regular exchange of information and resource sharing. For example, different leading national dailies have published analytical write-ups developed by Steps (e.g. on gender budgeting, CEDAW, eve teasing, girl child etc.) that has not only helped to increase awareness on these issues, but also made them heard at the policy level.

Alongside Steps has been producing audio –visual material as well as developing audio –visual practitioners. As part of that Steps organized video documentary production workshops to develop young and gender responsive audio –visual professionals and produced issue based audio-visual production i.e. documentary, fiction, TV spots, TV program etc.

A total of 29 video productions on BR, MR, VAW, EM, DV, Good governance and women participation in decision making process are available now.  A total of 7 female and 15 male are successfully working in av profession and are making gender sensitive AV materials.

3.8.2. year wise initiatives for engendering media

In February 2004, Steps took the initiative to form a group and named it Gender in Media Forum (GIMF).  The forum was aimed at promoting fair representation of women and men in Media.  Through media, the fight for progress and reform in women’s situations goes on.  The forum’s membership included varied range of people, like media activists, media personalities, academicians, civil society members and policy makers. Now under this platform a total of 122 individuals and 12 media organizations are working for engendering media and as well as promoting women’s right issues in media.
[The Forum, after its launching, made its first achievement by working for the repeal of the slogans of Liver Brothers and Square Cosmetics Ltd.:  8th March PONDS Women’s Day 2004 and Jui Women’s Day for the International Women’s Day 2004.  The forum urged the companies to repeal the slogans and change the messages. The slogans reflected a complete disgrace for women presented as promoters of consumer products.  The Liver Brothers, after meeting with the Forum members, changed the slogan and made it: Liver Brothers Company Ltd. Celebrating International Women’s Day]

In 2005, GIMF conducted one day media monitoring from gender perspective as part of the Global Media Monitoring Project. Global Media Monitoring Project was the most extensive global research for gender issues in news media.  GIMF prepared the Media Monitoring country report of Bangladesh.  The report findings showed how women are projected in news items, how women’s views and voices are marginalized in the news media etc.  Through GIMF, Steps also played an advocacy role for producing gender sensitive advertisements.  In this year Steps produced and showed six documentaries on women’s contributions to national development. The six documentaries were directed by women who graduated from the Videography course of the Audio-Visual Centre, Steps Towards Development.  Through these programs, Steps captured the attention of policy makers, development partners, civil society, and the media. Through this endeavor of Steps, the women film directors were recognized and accepted even in such a non-traditional role. The workshop on camera work contributed to a change in the role of women in electronic media.  Furthermore, women issues will be addressed more effectively through the production of these filmmakers.

In 2006, Steps has taken a number of initiatives as secretariat of GIMF for engendering media. In this regard WACC has taken a 21-day action program for achieving the objective to proper and equal representation of women and men in Media, as 2005 GMMP’s report showed that women’s voice are marginalized all over the world. As part of this action program, GIMF has prepared, published and launched the Bangladesh country report of GMMP through a national seminar. Through this program GIMF also disseminated the UNESCO plea to all media to commemorate International Women’s Day 2006 by giving women the leading role in media. This declaration got the attention of media planner. In this day, we observed that a number of print and electronic news media were published, broadcasted and lead by women.

In 2007, at national level, with regard to engendering media a number of initiatives were taken during this period. Objectives of these initiatives were to identify/ locate the changes in media over the years especially what and how the issues are coming up in media in relation to women’s right and creating demand for specific need based governmental policy guidelines to enhance public awareness as well as media campaign. During this period under the banner of GIMF, Steps has taken different types of initiatives like; media monitoring from gender perspective, seminar and workshop organizing for sharing experience and learning and advocacy with media for introducing gender sensitive policies.

Through these initiatives a number of suggestions and recommendations were appeared, especially in regard to public policies in relation to gender; like National Policy for Women’s Advancement, Poverty Reduction Strategy, and CEDAW should be focused in media and there is a vital need to develop gender policy in each media. Now GIMF is working for developing gender policy of media institution.

Achievement:

Gender Budgeting
Considering the national budget as an important instrument for ensuring women rights Steps started to carry out advocacy and campaign on gender budgeting since 2006.

Steps thought that there is a need to spell out the concept of ‘gender budgeting’ for creating understanding at citizen as well as policy-making level, as the government, for the first time in Bangladesh, introduced this feature in the budget for FY2006-07. With a view to advocacy with government on that issue in 2006 Steps took a number of initiatives.

[Steps organized a series of dialogues to review the proposed budget from gender perspective with the help of experts, concerned persons and relevant stakeholders; to identify areas of allocations for women and girls; and to put in order a set of recommendations for consideration in the next budgets. The main strategy of the dialogues was to disseminate findings of the analyses to as many people as possible through different printing and electronic media to create awareness and generate public discussion/debate on the concept of gender budgeting. It was held in the dialogues that gender budgeting is an essential tool to ensure women’s equal rights with men and that the participation of various sections of people including women should be guaranteed in the formulation and implementation of the concept. Through these dialogues (on education, health, agriculture, local government, and violence against women), Steps now has developed good understanding on the issue and linkage with resource persons in a wide range of areas. A comprehensive report has been published on the series of dialogues and disseminated in relevant sector including government.]

In 2007, considering its previous years’ experience Steps thought that pre budget workshop is as necessary as post budget review. Considering the necessity in 2007 Steps organized a pre-budget seminar and media campaign. Following of those recommendations of the seminar were disseminated to Government. After budget declaration Steps reviewed the budget and find government considered some points in the budget, for example allocation of allowance for lactating mother and increased allocation in different safety net program for women

Enactment of birth and death registration law
Enactment of birth and death registration law by LGED and Law ministry of Bangladesh, Steps played a significant role. Firstly we have shared our experience of piloting with UNICEF, Plan Bangladesh, and Bangladesh National Women Lawyer’s Association (BNWLA). In Bangladesh, UNICEF has experience of implementing government projects, Plan International have some piloting projects in regard to birth registration and BNWLA has the capacity and technical support to law implementation. Then we have prepared position paper and with the help of this instrument mobilized, campaigned and advocated to enforce the Government in the enactment of this law. In formulation process of the Birth and Death Registration Law 2004 Steps has also provided intellectual inputs as a member of the platform, through developing different awareness and advocacy materials and organizing programs.

Governance of Steps
Structure of the Organization
Steps Towards Development has a General Body and an Executive Committee heading the organization. The General Body, which is comprised of representatives from civil society and development partners, decides the policy direction of the organization and approves the changes by ratifying amendments in its constitution. The Executive Committee, which is composed from the General Body members serves as the policy making body. Program operations of Steps are carried out by the component staff that are properly selected and placed in the right positions.

General Body
The General Body is made up of bona fide members of Steps Towards Development.  Any Bangladeshi citizen who is directly involved with development activities is eligible for membership, provided s/he qualifies.
Members of the general body can contribute to the proper development of the organization.  As indicated in the constitution, the General Body approves the following matters:

Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is elected from the General Body. There are seven members of the committee, and they elect their own officers. The Executive Committee is the final policy and decision-making body of the organization. It provides support in the proper management of the organization. It is the final authority for Steps Towards Development.  The Executive Director carries out decisions made by the committee.
As the policy-making body of the organization, the EC adopts the gender policies pertinent to the organizational structure both internally and with its partners as follows:

3.11. Management Structure
General management of the Steps Towards Development operates through a two-tiered structure.  The Central Management Team (CMT) is at the helm of overall program implementation.  The Program Management Team (PMT) ensures effective administration of activities. With Steps Towards Development getting recognized as a leader in advocacy for gender equality, its respective centers and components are headed by qualified Directors and Coordinators who perform gender-sensitive managerial functions.

Central Management Team (CMT)
The Central Management Team (CMT) is the planning, monitoring and decision-making body for all program and human resource management-related issues.  It consists of all line directors in the program implementation authority. The CMT meets at least once a month to approve the project implementation policy, methodology, and action plan.  All centers and components are responsible to the CMT, and the CMT is responsible to the Executive Committee (EC).  The CMT is coordinated by the Executive Director.
Program Management Team (PMT)
The Program Management Team consists of all line directors, coordinators and program officers.  It is entrusted with the responsibility for program coordination and decision making on issues related to direct program activities and functions. The PMT is also responsible for preparing the Action Plan and Review of programs and projects and develop quarterly reports.  PMT meetings are scheduled on a regular frequency.

Accountability and transparency
With the organization’s mandate is on gender equality, human rights and good governance, Steps Towards Development takes full responsibility and accountability of the program implementation.  Through partnership with networks and individual social activists, sharing of responsibility and accountability is clearly reflected in the agreements with the respective partners.  Steps has developed policies that elaborate the tasks and responsibility of the organization towards realization of its mission.
To reflect the practice of gender equality, senior management and network partner organizations are encouraged to ensure gender balance in all committees and decision-making forums.  Women are to be consulted equally with men in matters referring to community issues. An open-line communication channel is maintained between Steps (through DWIN) and the partners for effective program implementation and efficient coordination of the activities.

Mandates on Gender Equality, Human Rights and Good Governance
As an organization that promotes gender equality, Steps Towards Development has formally institutionalized policies that promote fair treatment in all its endeavors.  The following commitments reflect the mandate of Steps pertinent to gender, human rights and governance:

Governance: Network Level
Steps is working with 125 local NGOs through 15 local networks for promoting gender equality, good governance and human rights with a vision of enhancing and strengthening local development initiatives to ensure community participation for equitable and sustainable development. All the partner organizations are the members of the networks. Commonly all the networks have two committees for program management, coordination and implementation. These are

Governance: Partner Organizations
Steps works with local non-government organizations through partnership approach with an ideology of gender equality and learning collaboration. At present 79 partner organizations out of 124 have gender sensitive HR, management and financial policies including an individual gender policy and 45 organizations are in the process to finalize these policies. These organizations are now considering gender issues to encourage and promote female staffs of the organizations. Most organizations are now addressing gender issues in preparing their action plan and different programs.  These organizations have started taking initiatives to make aware all staffs from gender perspective, maximize the maternity leave, recruit more female staffs and include female members in policy and decision making positions.  These organizations have taken zero tolerance stands in case of any incidents of sexual harassment within the organizations.

Human Resource and administration of Steps (2003-2007)
HR & Admin runs its activities as per the Human Resource Management Policy Manual of Steps. This policy manual constitutes a set of policies and guidelines for effective Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development. Employees of Steps are treated, developed, and compensated equally and fairly.  Moreover, as an organisation that is committed to promote and protect women’s rights, establish good governance and social justice, Steps Towards Development has provisions that promote gender equality. Programme Operations of Steps Towards Development is carried out by competent staff who have been properly selected and placed within defined positions.

Consistent with the gender mandate of Steps, the following policies apply:

Steps maintains a gender conscious and gender-fair regard for all its personnel.  Each and every staff is ensured fair treatment and equal opportunities for career growth.

Staffs are expected to be familiar with the values, mission, objectives, and corporate culture of the organisation.

At present in central office total 66 staffs are working. Among them 57 are working as regular staff, 4 are working as  Contract/ Part Time Employees/Volunteers and 5 are working as Advisor and Consultants.

In 15 networks total 52 staffs are working. All HR & administrative work of networks (GDRC) are performed as per policies of Steps and these are monitored by HR & Admin component of central office.

HR & Admin component has provided support to all the major events of Steps as well as its regular component activities such as,

Recruitment and Exit Status (2003 to 2007)

In recruitment Steps always tried to emphasis on women’s recruitment as per its policy. Some times it took affirmative action for recruiting female employees, such flexible academic qualification and experiences etc.
In exit status number of female employees is high than the male employees. The analsysis and observation exposed that most of the female employees who leave the organization as they have got better opportunity. In staffs development Steps tried to give opportunity to female employees for increasing their knowledge and skill.  This action may the reason for higher exit of female staffs.

Along all these activities, printing & photocopy service; publication dissemination; computer & vehicle maintenance; AC, Photocopier, Refrigerator, Generator maintenance; internet service; office security and cleaning services etc. were provided by HR & Admin component.

PART – 4

Utilization the fund (collecting from different donor’s organizations)

Financial Strength (2003-2009)

Steps Towards Development (Steps) is getting support from the Royal Netherlands Embassy (RNE), Dhaka and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) for implementing its core program. Manusher Janno Fundation (MJF) and Oxfam-GB, Bangladesh are supporting projects of Steps to extend its activities at field level to meet the present needs. In addition to these Steps is also generating fund from training, expertise sharing such as IEC (Information, Education and Communication) materials (Printing and Audio Visual) development and sale of those audio-visual and printing materials as own income. Steps are contributing this fund for implementing its regular program as well as organizational sustainability.

Fund Received and Expenditure (2003-2009)

(Taka)

4.1. Funds Received

Steps has been received total Taka. 268,452,100 as grants for the core program & project support and own income for the period from 2003 to 2007.

Core Program (2003 – 2009)

Project Support (2003 – 2009)Steps has received fund from Manusher Janno Foundation  to extend its program in urban areas and from Oxfam- GB, Bangladesh to extend its program for reducing discrimination and violence against women as project support.

Own Income (2003 – 2009)

The organization has generated fund through training, expertise sharing, selling developed audio-visual and printing materials, Steps support to projects and bank interest.

4.2. Expenditure

Total expenditure of Steps for the period is Taka. 246,739,184 for its core program, project support and cost of own income for the period from 2003 to 2009.

Core program (2003 – 2009)
Steps total expenditures and its share of the core program are as follows:

Project Support Activities (2003 – 2009)
Expenditure details of project support activities are given below:

4.3 Documentation process
Steps has the financial manual.
According to the manual

      Every Donor has their won auditor and Steps need to be faced and also need to be proved their transferability and accountability on them.

Conclusion

Over the last 5 (five) years Steps has been seen increasing of demand for its services and also increase of its reputation. UN Agencies, Government ministries, International & national NGO’s Universities & other educational institutes and individuals have contracted for specialized training, audio-visual and print materials from Steps. This demand is hugely significant and indicates a potential for Steps own income. In 2003 Steps received Taka 3.04 million from its own income and in 2009 this amount is increased to Taka 12.75 million. Positive growths of Steps own income will ensure the target contribution to the program as well as ensure the financial sustainability of the organization.

Steps is expanding its program area with the support of Development Partners, PNGOs and Community day by day. Development Partners contributed Taka 208.1 million in 2003-2009@ 41.6 million per year, whereas Taka 8.5 million was contributed in 2001. Besides the development partners, PNGOs and Community are also contributing in the programs and project activities. During 2003-2009 PNGOs and community has contributed in cash Taka 85.9 million. But they are also contributing in non cash forms that are not accounted. As a result total expenditure that is shown is less than actual expenditure. Steps could implement the program activities cost effectively as Community and PNGOs owns the program.

As well as steps contributes social development and poverty reduction also. Steps has a big network and they can understand people and also feel by using this network and they make a good link through this network from heart to heart. Any one can expose a single message steps can bring it easily to the remote area’s people. That’s the spirit of steps.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

List of Terms used in the Report

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