High Officials’ Visit to SRSP Project

The World Food Programme (WFP) has undertaken a project called “Shock Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) in Northern Flood Prone Area” in collaboration with the European Union Humanitarian Aid (ECHO). Shushilan is implementing this SRSP Project in Gaibandha, Kurigram and Jamalpur Districts, the project aims to implement readiness initiatives for anticipatory preparedness and strengthen the community resilience of the vulnerable communities’ preparedness. On October 6, 2024, a delegation of high officials from ECHO and WFP visited the SRSP project activities in Gaibandha District. ECHO Representatives: Mr. Davide Zappa, Regional Thematic Expert on DRR Ms. Anna Orlandini, Head of Office Mr. Mokit Billah, Programme Officer WFP Representatives: Mr. Riccardo Suppo, Head of Programmes Mr. Siddiqul Islam Khan, Head of Resilience Innovation Unit Mr. Gias Uddin Talukder, Programme Officer Ms. Bithika Biswas, Head of Field Office, WFP Rangpur Shushilan Representative: Mr. Nashir Uddin Faruk, Deputy Chief Executive The delegation visited Uria Union, Fulchhari Upazila, where they met with SRSP beneficiaries, Union Volunteers, and members of the Union and Upazila Disaster Management Committees (UDMC and UzDMC). Key Activities During the Visit: Meeting with Beneficiaries: The delegation arrived at Uria Union at 9:00 AM and spent the day speaking with SRSP beneficiaries. They discussed how the financial aid was received, its impact, and collected suggestions for improvement. Beneficiaries expressed their appreciation for the timely support during disasters. Household Visits: The team visited several households to see how beneficiaries prepared for floods and used the financial support provided by the SRSP project. These visits offered valuable insights into the project's impact at the household level. Discussion with Volunteers: The officials engaged with Union Volunteers to learn about their roles during the July 2024 flood. They discussed the volunteers' future responsibilities during disasters and explored the need for additional resources or equipment to improve disaster response. Exchange of Views with UDMC: The delegation met with the Union Disaster Management Committee (UDMC) to review the committee’s actions during the July 2024 flood and discuss future disaster preparedness plans. They also explored how additional resources and equipment could enhance disaster response. Meeting with Upazila Officials: In the afternoon, the delegation met with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Project Implementation Officer (PIO), and Women Affairs Officer at Fulchhari Upazila Parishad. They noted that although beneficiaries under the Safety Net Programme are affected by disasters, they do not receive specific support for these events. The SRSP project, piloted for these beneficiaries, addresses this gap. The delegation expressed hope that the Government of Bangladesh would expand the SRSP initiative within the national Safety Net Cell to prevent vulnerable communities from falling deeper into poverty due to disasters. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the SRSP project's progress and its positive impact on vulnerable families. The feedback from beneficiaries, volunteers, and local committees will help improve future project activities. There is optimism that the SRSP model will be adopted more widely as part of the government’s safety-net initiatives for disaster-prone areas.