Browsing by Author "Das, Narayan Chandra"

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Addressing extreme poverty in a sustainable manner: Evidence from CFPR program
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division, 2010-06) Das, Narayan Chandra; Misha, Farzana A
BRAC initiated an innovative program known as Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction (CFPR) in 2002 to address the extreme poverty in Bangladesh. Impact assessment studies on the first phase of CFPR (2002-06) have shown that the program had significant positive impacts on the livelihoods of the participant households. However, whether this impact on livelihoods is sustainable or not remained the key research question. Based on panel data from three rounds of survey (2002, 2005 and 2008), this study explores the sustainability of livelihood impacts of the first phase of CFPR. The findings show that program impacts on income, employment, food security and asset holding were mostly sustainable in the long-run. The magnitude of the impact on per capita income was found to be increased over time. Livestock and poultry holding increased substantially among the program participants due to mainly transfer of these assets by the program and the increase sustained in the long-run. The findings of this study also show that although the program did not have a significant impact on education in the short-run, in the long run, it had a modest positive impact on boys’ primary enrolment. Qualitative exploration reveals that determination, confidence, social network, asset management skill, and hard work of the participant women are the key factors for effectively using the supports provided by the CFPR program.
An early assessment of CFPR II support packages
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division, 2009-12) Das, Narayan Chandra; Raza, Wameq Azfar; Misha, Farzana Akter
Based on the programmatic lessons and research knowledge accumulated from CFPR phase I, CFPR phase II was designed to expand its outreach while incorporating greater diversity in support packages. The support packages of CFPR phase II are primarily divided into two groups: Specially Targeted Ultra Poor (STUP) and Other Targeted Ultra Poor (OTUP). STUP and OTUP packages were further disaggregated into STUP 1 and 2 and OTUP 1 and 2. This paper presents an early assessment of the performance of the CFPR phase II support packages. For STUP 1 assessment, a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) method was used. For STUP 2 and OTUP 1 and 2 packages, the assessment was conducted by comparing old and new cohorts. STUP 1 package was found to have significant positive impacts on the livelihoods of the participating households. Evidence shows that as a result of program participation, the STUP 1 households experienced an increase in farm self-employment for both males and females, diversification of income sources, increase in per capita income and food expenditure, and increase in saving behaviour. STUP 2 and OTUP 1 and 2 packages, assessed using the same method, were also found to have positive impacts on livelihoods of the participating households although the dimensions and magnitude of impacts varied within the packages. Effectiveness of OTUP 2 package was found to be the lowest amongst these three packages. This is, however, expected as OTUP 2 package is significantly less intensive than the STUP 2 and OTUP 1. On the other hand, the efficacy of the STUP 2 and OTUP 1 packages was found to be quite similar despite the STUP 2 package being more intensive of the two. The STUP 2 households, as was found in this study, experienced loss of livestock and poultry due to hurricane Sidr, which might have slowed down the effectiveness of this package.
Can ultra-poverty be sustainably improved? Evidence from BRAC in Bangladesh
(Taylor & Francis, 2012-06-19) Raza, Wameq A.; Das, Narayan Chandra; Misha, Farzana A.
With more than one-fifth of Bangladesh's population living in extreme poverty, surmounting it still remains a substantial predicament for development practitioners. To combat this issue, BRAC initiated the multifaceted Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction programme with a grant-based approach, reinforcing its efficacy with background services such as health and social development. Using propensity score matching, this paper analyses a three-round panel dataset (2002–2005–2008) to evaluate the impacts of the programme. We find that Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction is successfully able to increase the per-capita income, the productive asset bases and the overall food security of its participants in the long run.
Cost-benefit analysis of CFPR
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2008-03) Sinha, Sinha; Gidwani, Jyoti; Das, Narayan Chandra
This paper presents a cost-benefit analysis of the first cohort (2002-03) of selected ultra poor (SUP) households of BRAC’s CFPR. The analysis calculates benefit of the programme using primary data collected through a set of surveys. Benefit is measured as the increase in expenditure on food consumption, increase in medical expenses and/or income foregone from workdays lost as a result of an increase in the (financial) capacity to take such decisions, and increase in net financial and housing assets of the SUP households compared to not selected ultra poor (NSUP) households. As the social worth of improved expenditure is higher for poorer households, different social weights have been assigned to the benefit accrued by different sub-categories of households. Households were categorized on the basis of either per capita income or per capita energy consumption of SUP households in 2002. An alternative calculation of benefit has also been carried out by comparing the increase in per capita income of SUP households with that of NSUP households. Using the consumption indicators it has been found that at a 12% discount rate and a 12-year life of benefits, the benefit-cost (B-C) ratio is 5.07, while using the income method the B-C ratio is 3.83. Sensitivity analysis of the B-C ratio using consumption indicators shows that within a reasonable range of assumptions from relatively pessimistic to reasonably optimistic the B-C ratio lies in the range 3.12-6.23 allowing for discount rates of 10 to 15% and the life of benefits in the range of 10-15 years. The analysis shows that the special investment programme of CFPR represents productive use of development funds for the benefit of ultra poor households in Bangladesh with obvious implications for additional investment.
Credit and land contracting: A test of the theory of sharecropping
(Wiley Online Library, 2019-03-26) Das, Narayan Chandra; Janvry, Alain de; Sadoulet, Elisabeth
Choice of a share vs. fixed rent land rental contract has figured prominently in the theory of industrial organization. This theory tells us that, while a share contract is inefficient in a first-best world, it may be the preferred option under second-best conditions. It has thus predicted the existence of sharecropping as the potentially preferred contract under conditions of liquidity constraint. Rigorous empirical evidence is, however, still lacking on this basic contribution of theory. We use a randomized experiment in a credit program for landless workers and marginal farmers organized by BRAC in Bangladesh to show that increased access to credit has a large positive effect on the choice of fixed rent over share rent contracts, both in terms of number of contracts and area contracted. As predicted by theory, the magnitude of this shift away from sharecropping is enhanced when the tenant is less exposed to risk. Development programs that facilitate access to credit to potential tenants can thus help them take more efficient land rental contracts.
Effect of dissolved oxygen on biodegradilbility of domestic sewage
(Department of Civil Engineering (CE), 1988-09) Das, Narayan Chandra; Ahmed, Dr. M. Feroze
For abstract please see full text
“Flypaper effects” in transfers targeted to women: Evidence from BRAC's “Targeting the Ultra Poor” program in Bangladesh
(Science Direct, 2015-11) Roy, Shalini; Ara, Jinnat; Das, Narayan Chandra; Quisumbing, Agnes R.
Many development interventions target transfers to women. However, little evidence directly explores the “flypaper effects” of whether women retain control over these transfers once within the household and how reallocation of the transfers affects women's empowerment. We study these dynamics in the context of BRAC's randomized CFPR-TUP program in Bangladesh, which provides livestock and training to rural women in “ultra poor” households. Our analysis confirms previous findings that CFPR-TUP increased household asset ownership, but shows complex effects on targeted women. Women appear to retain ownership over transferred livestock, but new investments from mobilized resources are largely owned by men. CFPR-TUP also reduces women's movement outside the home and control over income, consistent with transferred livestock requiring maintenance at home. However, beneficiary women also report “intangible” benefits such as increased social capital and, even with limited mobility, a preference for work inside the home given a hostile environment outside the home.
Grant vs. credit plus approach to poverty reduction: An evaluation of BRAC’s experience with ultra poor
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division, 2016-10) Das, Narayan Chandra; Ahmad, Sibbir; Bhattacharjee, Anindita; Ara, Jinnat; Bayes, Abdul
Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction- Targeting the Ultra Poor (CFPR-TUP) program of BRAC implements two interventions for the ultra-poor: a grant-based support package for specially targeted ultra-poor (henceforth STUP support package), and credit plus grant support package for other (better off) targeted ultra-poor (henceforth OTUP support package). The target group of the OTUP support package is drawn from relatively well-off households than the STUP ones. Furthermore, the STUP support package is more expensive compared to the OTUP. An attempt has been made in this paper to evaluate these alternative approaches to poverty alleviation. Using non-experimental evaluation design, it was observed that both the STUP and OTUP support packages increase self-employment, total labour supply, per capita income, consumption of high-value food products, and productive asset-base of the ultra-poor. There is also evidence that these supports lead to some additional non-food improvements such as increased clothing and reduction in domestic violence against women.
How do intra-household dynamics change when assets are transferred to women? Evidence from Brac’s “targeting the ultra poor” program in Bangladesh
(International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), 2013-12) Das, Narayan Chandra; Yasmin, Rabeya; Ara, Jinnat; Kamruzzaman, Md.; Davis, Peter; Behrman, Julia A.; Roy, Shalini; Quisumbing, Agnes R.
Growing evidence shows that the distribution of individuals’ ownership and control of assets within a household can have important implications for women’s empowerment and children’s well-being. Interventions that target assets to specific individuals can shift these intra-household dynamics, yet little evidence exists from rigorous evaluations. We study BRAC’s Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction—Targeting the Ultra Poor (CFPR-TUP) program in Bangladesh, which targets asset transfer (primarily livestock) and training to rural women in poor households. In this paper, we examine intra-household impacts using mixed methods. We focus on the Specially Targeted Ultra-Poor (STUP) component of the program, which targets households selected following a Randomized Controlled Trial design. Adding a new round of data collection with quantitative sex-disaggregated information and qualitative exploration, we exploit the randomized design to assess intra-household impacts of STUP. Our analysis confirms that the program significantly increases household ownership of various assets but has complex effects on the targeted women. Quantitative estimates show increases in women’s sole and joint ownership of or control over transferred assets such as livestock, but a much greater increase in men’s sole ownership over nearly all other assets (including agricultural and non-agricultural productive assets, land, and consumer durables). These findings suggest that while the transferred assets tend to remain with women, new investments from mobilized resources are controlled by men. Moreover, the program reduces women’s mobility outside the home and their control over income, consistent with the transferred asset’s requiring maintenance at home. Qualitative findings are consistent with these quantitative results, but women’s contribution to their households is perceived as increasing their confidence and social capital, which they themselves value. The analysis shows that asset transfer targeted to women can increase women’s ownership of and control over the transferred asset itself but may not necessarily increase women’s intra-household bargaining position. Moreover, it reveals that outcomes valued by individuals may not always be tangible, highlighting the complexity of assessing whether interventions improve women’s empowerment.
How much can asset transfers help the poorest? Evaluating the results of BRAC's ultra-poor programme (2002–2008)
(Taylor and Francis, 2012-02-28) Krishna, Anirudh; Poghosyan, Meri; Das, Narayan Chandra
The impacts of an innovative programme in rural Bangladesh, which has assisted extremely poor households, literally the poorest of the poor, were assessed over a six-year period (2002–2008). The provision of a substantial dose of assets has helped produce very positive results, by and large. Vulnerability to downturns on account of negative events, such as illnesses and house damage, has resulted in asset losses for several assisted households. Additional measures that reduce vulnerability and risk will help complete the good work commenced by the asset transfer plan.
Impact of char development and settlement project on improving the livelihood of char dwellers
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division, 2011-01) Raza, Wameq; Bhattacharjee, Anindita; Das, Narayan Chandra
The Char Development and Settlement Project (CDSP) was a joint initiative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Government of Bangladesh to achieve sustainable livelihood development of coastal char dwellers in south-east Bangladesh. The third phase of CDSP (CDSP III) was implemented during 2005-2010 in Boyer Char of Noakhali district, by six government agencies and five local NGOs. BRAC coordinated the interventions of these local NGOs. This study aimed to evaluate CDSP III through assessment of indicators like employment, asset holding (natural, physical and financial), housing condition, education, food security, and crisis coping mechanism. Cross-sectional data collected in 2010 on both participants (from the program area) and non-participants (from nearby char, which was not under project intervention) were used. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique was used for data analysis. The findings showed substantial improvement in livelihoods of the participant households in terms of food security, income, housing condition, asset holding, etc. Although CDSP had no built-in education component, out of its own initiatives, BRAC education program had established some non-formal primary schools in the area. However, findings showed only a modest impact on education. Enrolment rates were found to be very low, even less than the rate prevalent among the ultra-poor. The number of educational institutions available was found to be inadequate for the requirement of the residents in the locality. For achieving sustainable livelihood improvement, the importance of education is inevitable; thus, further and innovative interventions, especially in the form of more educational institutions, by both public and private sectors are required. These new interventions, together with the existing program components, can be expected to improve the livelihood of the char dwellers substantially.
Labor markets and poverty in village Economies
(Oxford Academic, 2017-03-20) Bandiera, Oriana; Burgess, Robin; Das, Narayan Chandra; Gulesci, Selim; Rasul, Imran; Sulaiman, Munshi
We study how women's choices over labor activities in village economies correlate with poverty and whether enabling the poorest women to take on the activities of their richer counterparts can set them on a sustainable trajectory out of poverty. To do this we conduct a large-scale randomized control trial, covering over 21,000 households in 1,309 villages surveyed four times over a seven-year period, to evaluate a nationwide program in Bangladesh that transfers livestock assets and skills to the poorest women. At baseline, the poorest women mostly engage in low return and seasonal casual wage labor while wealthier women solely engage in livestock rearing. The program enables poor women to start engaging in livestock rearing, increasing their aggregate labor supply and earnings. This leads to asset accumulation (livestock, land, and business assets) and poverty reduction, both sustained after four and seven years. These gains do not crowd out the livestock businesses of noneligible households while the wages these receive for casual jobs increase as the poor reduce their labor supply. Our results show that (i) the poor are able to take on the work activities of the nonpoor but face barriers to doing so, and, (ii) one-off interventions that remove these barriers lead to sustainable poverty reduction.
Livelihood of tea garden laborer: a study on selected tea gardens of Bangladesh
(BRAC University, 2023-05) Kairy, Barsha; Das, Narayan Chandra
The main objective of this study was to determine the livelihood adopted by the tea workers in the selected tea gardens. The study was conducted at tea gardens of Sreemangal Upazilla of Moulvibazar districts. Data were collected from 160 people by simple random sampling, using household survey on 50 families, and interview. The study examines the livelihood of the tea workers, wages, education, food, ration and possible work source etc. The study generates new and updated knowledge on tea plantation workers life to identify and implement appropriate responses to ensure fair remuneration, education, good earning etc. In the study it is observed that most of the tea workers had very poor living and wage. Their level of education is also frightening and child labor exists inside the tea gardens. Tea garden people have already adopted some new profession as van driver, CNG driver, day labor outside the garden etc. other than working in the gardens. Most of the people work long hours throughout the month. Only 9% of the workers can earn more than Tk. 10,000 per month. 80% of the people have mentioned that they will prefer to work and stay inside the garden. One third of the people expressed their intention to leave the tea garden if get any chance of working and living outside. Very few of the tea workers can have breakfast regularly. Non-salary benefits are not as huge as it is claimed by the tea garden authority. They want to change their condition by including themselves with the labor force outside of the tea garden, with the help of authority and government. The article also explores the thought of the tea people about their future work force. It also presents some policy recommendations which can help in making changes in their lives.
Social protection package for the retrenched workers of state-owned enterprises: A quick assessment
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division, 2010-05) Das, Narayan Chandra; Qayum, Nayma; Khan, Mehejabeen; Karim, Fazlul
BRAC designed and implemented a project namely Kallyan, aiming to improve the quality of life of the retrenched workers of state-owned enterprises of Bangladesh. This study aimed to map the project’s cumulative achievements and to assess its impact on the livelihood of the participant households. We conducted a critical review of the project’s performance for mapping the cumulative achievement on different targets and conducted a survey on both the project participants and non-participants to analyze impacts of the project on the livelihood status of the participants. Besides, four case studies were carried out to reflect the qualitative changes taken place in the lives of the participants and barriers confronted. The review of project performance indicated that it was successful in achieving the initial targets. In some components such as employment generation, the project achievements far exceeded the targets. Impact Assessment of the project showed that the participants experienced significant positive impacts on asset holding, per capita income, food security, and education. A comprehensive social protection package may be useful to facilitate the socioeconomic well-being of the retrenched workers and their households. With some modifications, the project can be scaled up to cover more target participants, who remained out of the project purview in Bangladesh.
Tenant farmers’ access to credit and extension services: BRAC tenant farmer development project in Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2014-01) Hossain, Mahabub; Malek, Mohammad Abdul; Das, Narayan Chandra
Using several large scale datasets/reports (such as, reports of Agricultural Censuses conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the longitudinal repeat household surveys of 62 villages maintained by the first author and the household census for about 60,000 households conducted for an impact assessment study financed by the 3ie of the Global Development Network), this paper provides extensive information on the changes in the tenancy market and shows the number of small and marginal farm household has been growing despite rapid rural urban migration and expansion of rural non-farm economy. The tenancy market has moderated the distribution of land holding in a regime of highly skewed land ownership. But the agrarian structure is getting increasingly dominated by marginal and small farms that are largely dependent on the tenancy market for land. These farmers, however, have limited access to credit and extension services. With this backdrop, the BRAC tenant farmer development program, known as Borga chashi Unnayan Prakalpa (BCUP), was thus designed to meet the demands of working capital for farming and the knowledge of improved technology and farming practices.
Training the disadvantaged youth and labour market outcomes: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division, 2018-10) Das, Narayan Chandra
This paper estimates the effects of a youth training program in Bangladesh on labour market outcomes. The program provides on-the-job and classroom training to the disadvantaged and unemployed youth. On-the-job training is provided through apprenticeship under a local master craftsperson. Classroom training curriculum includes theoretical training on specific trades as well as soft-skills training. The program is implemented by BRAC, the largest NGO in the world. BRAC’s Research and Evaluation Division (BRAC-RED) conducted a Randomized Controlled Trial on the 2016 cohort of the program. A baseline survey was conducted in June 2016 covering 3,186 youths. In June-July 2017 a follow-up survey was conducted, successfully reaching 2,946 youths. Using the data generated by BRAC RED, I show that on-the-job training increases labour market participation of the program participants by 22.6 percentage points (59%), total time devoted to earning activities by 59%, and earnings by 44%. It increases both self- and wage-employment. The effect on employment is found to be larger for females. Additional effects of classroom training over on-the-job training on overall employment and earnings are small in magnitude. Results, however, indicate that if classroom training is added to on-the-job training, the effects shift from self- to wage employment. Results also show that employment in firms where the apprenticeship took place is a channel for the effect on wage employment. The benefit-cost ratio for on-the-job training is estimated to be 6.34, demonstrating high returns on the investment made under this initiative. It is also shown that the scale at which the program was implemented, employment effects for beneficiaries were not achieved through the displacement of non-beneficiaries.
Ultra poor and asset transfer in Urban setting: Evidence from slums in Bangladesh
(Wiley Online Library, 2016-08-09) Ara, Jinnat; Hossain, Nusrat Zaitun; Das, Narayan Chandra; Bayes, Abdul
We use cross-sectional data to assess the impact of the programme on livelihood where propensity score matching technique has been adopted in analysing the data. Results show that programme participants' self-employment, income, food consumption, saving, health seeking behaviour, empowerment and social awareness have been increased significantly. However, we find that addressing sanitation and hygiene practices remains the key challenge. So to bring a sustainable solution to the issue, a collective effort of slum owners, dwellers and slum community people along with program is needed. These findings are potentially important for expansion and replication of this type of programme.
Walking on two legs: Credit plus grant approach to poverty reduction
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division, 2017) Ara, Jinnat; Das, Narayan Chandra; Kamruzzaman, Md; Quayyum, Tasmeen
There is a growing recognition that the ultra-poor are generally not integrated into the current anti-poverty programs. In this paper, we estimate the long-run impacts of a credit plus grant approach, a combination of microcredit, training and some grants, mostly in the form of consumption stipend, on the livelihoods of the ultra-poor. Using longitudinal panel data (2012-2016), we show that the intervention increased labour supply, income, and food consumption. We also document a large positive effect on productive assets. The effects on most of the outcomes of interest have been found to be increasing over time. For instance, the program increased productive asset values by 142 per cent and 259 per cent in the short-run (after two years of the intervention) and long-run (after four years of the intervention), respectively. Similarly, per capita real income increased by 37 per cent in the long run against 35 per cent in the short run. We also document positive effects on non-food expenditure and savings behaviour. Cost-benefit analysis shows that the average benefits of the program are 6.65 times larger than its costs. These findings indicate that microcredit can sustainably reduce ultra-poverty if some additional supports are combined with it.