1. NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION: PRISM (Project in Agriculture, Rural Industry Science and Medicine) Bangladesh.

 

2. Office address:

(a) Head Office

House # 49, Road # 4A

Dhanmondi Residential Area

Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh.

Phone: 861170, 9663533, 9663544

Fax: (8802) 9663533, 862780

e-mail: prismbd@citechco.net

(b) Project Offices:

PRISM Bangladesh - Mirzapur PRISM Bangladesh - Shibaloy

Kumudini Hospital Complex Vill:Dakshin Ulail,

Mirzapur, Tangail. Union: Ulail,

TEL: (09229) 88019 Shibaloya, Manikgonj.

PRISM Bangladesh - Khulna PRISM Bangladesh

24 Haji Mohoshin Road Girls School Road

Khulna. Char Alexander

TEL: (041) 722118, 722514 Ramgoti, Lakshmipur.

PRISM Bangladesh PRISM Bangladesh

Char bata GorokGhata(D. Putibila)

Shudharam, Noakhali. Moheshkhali,Cox's Bazar.

Tel: (03424) 256

PRISM Bangladesh PRISM Bangladesh

Badarkhali Kaiyer Bill

P.O. Chiringa P.O. Boro Ghop

C.C. 4740 Kutubdia, Cox's Bazar

Chokoria, Cox's Bazar

3. Registration:

(a) With Directorate of Social Welfare No. Dha.-02421 dated 2/6/90

(b) With NGO Bureau Reg.No. 483 dated 8/6/91, renewed on 8/6/96.

4. BANKERS:

A. ANZ Grindlays Bank, Dhanmondi Branch, Dhaka.

B. IFIC Bank, Dhanmondi Branch, Dhaka.

C. Sonali Bank, Jhikatola Branch, Dhaka.

5. Organization aim and Objectives of PRISM:

l PRISM is a non profit voluntary organization whose mission is to foster local and family enterprises for increased production and income in poor rural communities. PRISM believes that human and natural resources needed to do this exist in rural communities which need to be reexamined from a new perspective for full utilization of the potentials. On this basis PRISM works as partners and equal participant with these communities and with public and private institutions that serve them.

l PRISM researches powerful ideas and develops them into innovative opportunities to increase productivity. We want to offer impoverished rural families a realistic alternative to either urban flight or further degradation of their environment. We are, therefore, dedicated to creating sustainable, rural enterprises that provide the opportunity to work and prosper.

l In doing so, PRISM promotes interdependence between our partner communities and the modern world. We want rural communities to become competitive through ventures founded on excellent performance, good management and appropriate high technology.

6. PRISM Implemented Programme and Projects

6.1 PRISM Programmes:

a) Integrated Aquaculture Promotion:

In the context of forming rural enterprises by mobilizing target poor farmers and women. In this programme Duckweed technology is introduced to achieve high production of fish feed and fish utilizing fallow rural water bodies/and other resources like unproductive labour and rural waste water. Group formation, mobilization, training and credit management support is ensured to the rural beneficiaries for promotion of pisciculture.

b) Socio Economic Development Programme:

Socio Economic Development Programme for inaccessible coastal areas which are prone to reoccurring natural calamities. This programme comprises of (a) Agriculture development Activities (b) Group income generating (c) Water supply, sanitation education and irrigation projects (d) Pisciculture development in the context of mobilizing rural poor into viable enterprises.

c) Intensive Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion Programme:

Bangladesh population density is one of the highest amongst the developing nations and it has very low sanitation coverage causing enormous environmental and health problems for the rural population. PRISM Bangladesh through social mobilization and interpersonal hygiene education aims to increase this coverage substantially to 80% of the population.

d) Community Development Center Construction and Operation:

PRISM initiated a programme for construction of 10 community development centers doubling as shelters in emergencies at strategic location in the five coastal thanas which are vulnerable to periodic calamities like cyclone and tidal waves.

Unlike other centers being built community development centers are in constant use as foci for PRISM development activities in those areas. They serve as centers for storage of grain, neighborhood school, skill training center, health clinic, village sanitation centers as well as office facilities for PRISM development staff. Three centers have been built by PRISM one each at Moheshkhali, Kutubdia, Chokoria and fund is being solicited for other 10 centers proposed.

e) Micro Finance Services -Participatory Rural Credit Programme:

In order to ensure long term economic development of the target beneficiaries in five coastal areas and promote viable/ sustainable Income Generating Activities (IGA) PRISM Bangladesh has initiated a participatory rural credit programme in partnership with rural group members. Rural ventures identification, feasibility verification, credit approval, management and continuous technical assistance to ensure proper working of these rural enterprises are being provided by PRISM extension service in the field.

The objectives of the credit programme is to alleviate poverty through rural enterprise, increased production, generate employment and assist in capital formation for the target beneficiaries particularly women.

1. Facilitation, construction & installation of Twin Pit Latrine in the Khulna Municipality Area:

   PRISM Bangladesh is implementing the facilitation, construction and installation of Twin pit latrine programme in the Khulna Municipal Area which was undertaken by LGED. The objectives of this programme are to (a) raise the sanitation coverage in the city (b) increase the awareness of the communities on sanitation (c) minimize environmental pollution (d) reduce infectious diseases and stop bad smell in the city (e) stop night soil collection (f) get rid of bucket latrines.

   g) Sustainable Environmental Management Programme - Duckweed base Urban Wastewater Treatment:

   PRISM Bangladesh is implementing the community based urban waste water treatment project for Khulna Municipal Area, one of the major component of Sustainable Environmental Management Programme under NEMAP.

   The main objectives of this Programme are to (a) mobilize, motivate and train the communities in the environmental issue and solid waste and waste management aspects. b) introduce and adopt appropriate preventive measures and practices at the sources of wastewater and solid waste generation. c) identify and isolate various solid waste and wastewater generated according to their composition at the source and institute separate collection systems. d) improve the general nutritional level of the population by increased and availability of protein feed for fish poultry and organic fertilizer b) improve community environmental sanitation and general health of people (c) community managed, operated and maintained waste management systems which are commercially sustainable by them.

6.2 On going Projects

a) Shobuj Shona Project Mirzapur - Integrated Aquaculture.

b) Shobuj Shona Project Shibaloy - Integrated Aquaculture.

c) Shobuj Shona Project Khulna - Integrated Aquaculture.

d) Intensive Village Sanitation Promotion Programme in the

socio economic development areas.

e) Socio Economic Development Projects in each of the 5 coastal thanas:

l Ramgoti l Shudharam l Moheshkhali

l Chokoria l Kutubdia

1. Participatory Rural Credit Programme in the above five coastal thanas and in the Khulna Region.
1. PRISM - Kumudini Pump & Engineering Project.
2. Facilitation, construction and installation of Twin-pit latrine in Khulna City Corporation.
3. Duckweed based urban wastewater treatment in the Khulna Municipality Area under Sustainable Environmental Management Programme.

6.3 Infrastructure and Physical facilities

1. Three demonstration, Training, Management Centers for Integrated Aquaculture established at Mirzapur, Shibaloy and Fakirhat. Each center composed of 10 hectare of Demo-farm with 4ha of fish ponds, 3ha of duckweed ponds, fingerling nursery ponds and other training/research facilities. Each center also has a center building with training, laboratory, credit management and trainee living accommodation.
2. PRISM has established area offices in five thanas programme areas with all requisite facilities.

   c) Three community development centers each measuring 3500 sq. feet housing PRISM area development offices constructed in three coastal areas.

7. Programme Area

1. Tangail District - All thanas.

2. Manikgonj District - All thanas.

3. Khulna Region - Jessore, Bagerhat and Khulna districts.

4. Lakshmipur District - Ramgoti and Raipur Thanas.

5. Noakhali District - Shudharam Thana.

6. Cox's Bazar District- Moheshkhali, Chokoria & Kutubdia Thanas.

8. Organization and Staff

8.1 PRISM Board of Directors:

PRISM Bangladesh is Governed and managed by a board of Directors composed of seven members. The members belong to various, Development organization and Institutions bringing with them an wealth of experience and expertise. The board members are:

Ms. Joya Pati - Managing Director, Kumudini Welfare Trust.

Mr. Jeffrey Pereira - Executive Director, CARITAS.

Fr. R.W. Timm - Development Consultant.

Mr. Bashirul Haq - Principal Architect, B. Haq & Associates.

Mr. Manzur Murshed -Business, Rtd. Secretary Govt. of BD.

Mr. M. Ikramullah - Executive Director, PRISM Bangladesh.

Mr. Paul Skillicorn - President, PRISM Group.

8.2 Personnel Status

Offices	Staff position
	Total	Magt.	Admin/ finan.	Tech-nical	Exten-tion	Support staff
PRISM Head Office		4	5	1	0	3
Mirzapur Project Office		2	4	43	12	14
Shibaloy Project Office		1	2	9	14	6
Khulna Project Office		2	6	6	15	4
Ramgoti Area Office		1	1	0	12	1
Shudharam Area Office		1	2	0	12	1
Moheshkhali Area Office		1	1	0	16	1
Chokoria Area Office		1	1	0	12	1
Kutubdia Area Office		1	2	0	10	1
Total

8. Collaborating agencies:

PRISM is supported in its development activities by the following sponsors: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), PRIP/PACT, PRISM (USA), MISEREOR, AusAID, CARITAS Switzerland, Palli Karma-Shahayak Foundation (PKSF), CARE Bangladesh, Credit and Development Forum (CDF), NGO Forum, STIFPP & STIDP of LGED, etc.

9. Future Activities Planned:

a) Intensive Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion Projects in five districts and coastal thanas.

b) Duckweed based Pisciculture Programme in five coastal areas.

c) Construction and operation of community development centers doubling as shelters during emergencies in five coastal areas.

d) Community Management of Environmental Sanitation programme (Duckweed based Wastewater Treatment System) in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.