Formation and Activation of Networking Committees across 7 Upazilas of Bhola by Shushilan’s SBC Project

Introduction: According to UNICEF’s MICS 2022, Bhola district has a high child marriage rate (55.6%) and low maternal and neonatal healthcare uptake only 17.7% of women receive four or more ANC visits, and just 49.2% of newborns get PNC services. As a riverine island, Bhola also faces elevated child drowning risks, flagged by UNICEF as a key concern. In response to these challenges, Shushilan has launched its Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Project with support from UNICEF. One of the key interventions under this project has been the reactivation and strengthening of previously inactive community-level committees across Bhola's seven upazilas. These now-operational Networking Committees aim to build a coordinated social movement around preventing child marriage and promoting child and maternal health. What is a Networking Committee and Why is it Important? A Networking Committee is a community-based social pressure group that works closely with local administration and stakeholders to combat child marriage, forced marriage, and child abuse, while improving access to health services including ANC and PNC. The committees comprise representatives from diverse sectors, including schoolteachers, religious leaders (imams), elected local representatives, health workers, adolescent boys and girls, NGO activists, and media personnel. These members collaborate with relevant union and upazila-level government committees to foster coordinated advocacy and action. “We often encounter incidents of child abuse or child marriage in our community, but the information rarely reaches the right authority. This committee has now given us a common platform to raise our voice and take collective action,” said Abdus Samad, Head Teacher and member of the Networking Committee. Praising the activation initiative, he added: “Thanks to Shushilan’s intervention, we are now reconnected and energized. After a long time, we have an active structure through which awareness and change can be promoted. This is a very positive development for our area.” Committee Structure and Approval: Under the SBC project, Shushilan has facilitated the formation of a 7-member Executive Networking Committee in each of the 7 upazilas of Bhola. Each committee has been formally approved by the respective Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and is guided by a clear operational framework. Shushilan SBC team will monitor the committees’ activities, submitting regular reports to the UNO office to ensure transparency and accountability. Executive Committee Composition: • President – 1 • Vice President – 1 • General Secretary – 1 • Joint Secretary – 1 • Executive Members – 3 (All positions are filled through participatory election among general committee members.) "Community-level engagement is key to tackling deep-rooted issues like child marriage and maternal health gaps," said one UNO, during the committee endorsement ceremony. “By formally approving and supporting these networking committees, we are creating a localized system of social accountability and empowerment. I commend Shushilan for this initiative.” Core Objectives of the Networking Committee: • Prevent child marriage and violence against children • Ensure access to essential maternal and child healthcare (ANC/PNC, immunization) • Promote and replicate good practices at grassroots level • Strengthen linkages with local government for sustained advocacy Key Responsibilities of Members: • Identify undeserved areas lacking healthcare access and refer them to appropriate authorities • Engage in community outreach and awareness campaigns • Participate in periodic meetings and mobilize for public sensitization • Collaborate with union-level child marriage prevention committees • Promote 4+ ANC checkups and institutional delivery through linkage-building and awareness drives Conclusion: Shushilan’s initiative to form and activate Networking Committees across Bhola’s 7 upazilas marks not only the revival of dormant community structures, but a significant step toward sustainable social change. With these empowered local bodies in place, it is expected that the district will witness measurable improvements in the protection, health, and wellbeing of its women and children.