Browsing by Author "Hossain, Altaf"

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Cause and effect analysis membership discontinuation: a case study
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003-08) Hossain, Altaf
Research and evaluation division of BRAC initiated the case study to look into the dropout matter for in-depth understanding of the causes and effect and policy implication of the issue. Two BDP area offices, one from low and one from high NGO concentrated area, were selected. Six VOs were selected including 3 from each area. Twelve dropout members from selected 6 YOs were taken for the case studies. Selected PRA techniques' such as, group discussion, physical mapping, in-depth interview, and wealth ranking exercises were used to collect information from dropout members, YO members, area office staff, and other community people. A questionnaire survey was also done on l 08 dropout members on some selected indicators. The study shows that the multidimensional reasons interplay, aggravate and give grounds for dropout. Inflexible savings and credit management policy, and various deductions are found to be the most common internecine causes of member's discontentment and dropout. In spite of long time membership, some members remain vulnerable to big economic and health related crisis and a little shock plunge them into dropout. Some members are also dropping out to join other NGOs to minimize opportunity cost in terms of distance, deductions etc. Well being status of some dropout members was at risk as their nutrition intake decreased, household assets diminished compared to when they were BRAC members and, in some cases, social support also decreased. Comparatively poorer members were exposed to vulnerability. While, some other dropout members who joined other NGOs experienced continuous economic improvement started during BRAC membership.
Classroom situation at primary level
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003-06) Hossain, Altaf; Imam, Syeda Rumnaz; Amin, Md. Nurul; Rahman, Tanzina; Ghosh, Sanat K.
In the recent past Bangladesh has achieved considerable improvement in enrolment, attendance and school completion rate but little success has been wrought in improving the quality of education. There are many primary school systems in Bangladesh that provide primary education to the children of 5 to 10 years of age using different curriculum and administrative structures. The variety of offered primary education, aimed at eradicating illiteracy, is appreciable if the quality of education remains above an acceptable level. But some recent studies indicate that the quality of primary education is not up to the mark for some school systems and variations among the systems are glaringly obvious. This low level of performance may be due to a number of internal and external factors including classroom culture and the administration process of the relevant school system. As learning takes place in a classroom and as the teachers are the hubs of all the classroom activities, these case studies intended to delve into the matter to improve understanding of the factors responsible for differences in performance in different school systems. It is obviously easier to conjure up and blame the different curriculums of the various school systems as the main culprit for the differences in performance. However, the real causes of substandard performance and possible explanations of the differences can only be identified through classroom observation.
Empowerment of women: the impact of BRAC's rural development programme
(BRAC, 1998-08) Banu, Dilruba; Farashuddin, Fehmin; Hossain, Altaf; Akter, Shahnuj
The paper conceptualizes empowerment as a continuous process o/change that is greatly influenced by the length of time a woman has been involved in BRAC. Women's participation in economic activities, and ownership and control over assets have been increased due to their investment in BRAC, though they cannot take independent decisions in many cases. They have begun to acquire positive self-perceptions of their own personal interests. Their economic dependence on husbands and other male kin for personal and household expenses decreases over time. BRAC involvement has had positive impacts on women's mobility to some extent. Finally, there is an improvement in their relationships with their husbands.
Impact assessment study of BRAC's Rural Development Programme: final report (unedited draft for comments)
(© BRAC, 1995-08) Mustafa, Shams; Ara, Ishrat; Banu, Dilruba; Hossain, Altaf; Kabir, Ajmal; Mohsin, Mohammad; Yusuf, Abu
Impact of Oxbow Lakes Project II on participant households
(BRAC, 1997-04) Ahmed, Dilruba; Hossain, Altaf; Mustafa, Shams
The Oxbow Lakes Small Scale Fishermen Development Project Phase II (OLP-11) is being financed jointly by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IF AD), Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA), World Food Programme (WFP), Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and implemented jointly by Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of GoB, Directorate of Fisheries (DoF), DANIDA and BRAC since June 1991. BRAC is entrusted with organizing the fishermen at the grassroots level, capacity development of the fishermen through management and skill training, credit support, and raising of productivity through extension of technical services to improve the condition of the rural poor fishermen in particular, and to eradicate rural poverty, in general This study focuses on the impact of the Second Oxbow Lake Project (OLP II) on participant fishermen households. The objective of the study is to provide the analysis of the changes in the material well-being of the participant households and to discuss the changes in the lives of the non-participants of the oxbow lake catchment areas as a result of OLP II intervention The study gathered data through survey in 1993 and resurvey in 1995 from 1189 participant and non-participant households of 21 oxbow lake catchment areas. The households were randomly selected for conducting survey. Both participants and non-participants are the members of BRAC's Rural Development Programme (RDP). To find out the displaced fishermen household due to the OLP II intervention and to know their economic condition the study also included case study in 3 oxbow lake catchment areas. Positive changes have taken place in the oxbow lake catchment areas as a result of the fishermen's participation in the OLP !i. These changes have been categorized into two broad areas, i.e., material well-being of the participant households as well as the indirect impact of the OLP on the inhabitants of the oxbow lake catchment areas and displacement caused by the project. According to the findings the shelter environment in terms of electricity facility and sanitation of the participant households has improved compared to that of the non-participant households.
Impact of the Oxbowlakes project on participant households (preliminary report)
(BRAC, 1995-09) Mustafa, Shams; Hossain, Altaf; Amin, Nurul; Mallick, A.H.; Banu, Dilruba; Kabir, Azmal
School drop out in Bangladesh: insights using panel data
(© 2012 Elsevier Ltd., 2013) Sabatés, Ricardo; Hossain, Altaf; Lewin, Keith M.
This paper examines the relative strength of different factors associated with school drop out using data collected between 2007 and 2009 in Bangladesh. A sample of 9046 children, aged 4-15, was selected across six districts for a household survey focusing on children's school access and experiences. Two groups of children were identified: those who were enrolled in school in both 2007 and 2009 and those who dropped out by 2009. Using a multivariate logit model, results show age and gender, together with financial constraints, such as lack of income and school expenditure, as the top predictors of school drop out. Two other important predictors are lack of parental support for children's school work and school absenteeism. This paper identifies some possible interventions that could reduce school drop out. These include campaigns to reduce late entry and overage enrolment, reductions in direct costs of schooling, and more support for low achieving children to compensate for lack of educational support at home.
School drop out in Bangladesh: insights using panel data
(© 2012 Elsevier Ltd., 2013) Sabatés, Ricardo; Hossain, Altaf; Lewin, Keith M.
This paper examines the relative strength of different factors associated with school drop out using data collected between 2007 and 2009 in Bangladesh. A sample of 9046 children, aged 4-15, was selected across six districts for a household survey focusing on children's school access and experiences. Two groups of children were identified: those who were enrolled in school in both 2007 and 2009 and those who dropped out by 2009. Using a multivariate logit model, results show age and gender, together with financial constraints, such as lack of income and school expenditure, as the top predictors of school drop out. Two other important predictors are lack of parental support for children's school work and school absenteeism. This paper identifies some possible interventions that could reduce school drop out. These include campaigns to reduce late entry and overage enrolment, reductions in direct costs of schooling, and more support for low achieving children to compensate for lack of educational support at home.
Socioeconomic impact of BRAC Schools
(Research and Evaluation Division, Brac, 2002) Hossain, Altaf; Nath, Samir R; Choudhury, AMR
BRAC, one of the largest NGOs in Bangladesh, stru1ed the Non-formal Primary Education (NFPE) programme to help achieve its twin objectives of poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor. BRAC firmly believes that the raising of the education standard is one of the most effective ways to improve the country's human development records. Many children are deprived of education because of poverty and gender. BRAC developed NFPE programme for those children who had no access to schooling or for those who dropped out. It was expected that NFPE will help them participate effectively in their own socio-economic development by increasing their literacy, numeracy and required life skills. The NFPE programme was started in 1985 with 22 non-formal schools for children aged 8-10 and 11-16 years and by the end of 1999, the total number of schools reached 34,000 and children graduating over 1.5 million. This clearly shows the success of the programme. Recent studies have observed that children of BRAC schools perform better than their counterparts in formal schools in attaining basic education in general and life skills knowledge and writing in particular. However, a very limited attempt has been made to explore the socio-economic effects of NFPE. Therefore it was important to assess the extent to which NFPE contributes to such changes in the desired direction.
Use of RRA in identifying RDP target group: a pilot study in Lalmonirhat sadar area
(BRAC, 1995-02) Amin, Nurul; Hossain, Altaf; Kabir, Azmal; Begum, Shammem A.; Biswas, Parul L.; Khan, Mahmuda R.