Program Archive

The Chittagong Hill Tracts Watershed Co-Management Activity (CHTWCA), implemented by Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha (TUS) with support from UNDP and funding from USAID, was carried out from July 2021 to July 2023 across 9 upazilas in Khagrachari and 8 in Rangamati Hill Districts. With a total budget of BDT 30.9 million, the project aimed to strengthen the capacity of local communities in ecosystem conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and governance improvement. Key interventions included community mobilization and formation/reformation of Village Conservation Forums, People’s Forums, and Co-Management Committees in and around Kaptai National Park, Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary, and headwater Reserved Forests. The project promoted livelihood diversification (e.g., bamboo craft, NTFPs, eco-tourism, weaving, honeybee rearing, and nursery development), women’s empowerment, and market linkages through training, demonstrations, and business support. It directly benefited 27,755 individuals from Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Pangkhua, and Bangali communities, enhancing their resilience and participation in co-management of natural resources in the CHT.

The Hygiene Promotion, Sanitation & Safe Water Supply Project (HYSAWA), implemented by Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha (TUS) with support from DANIDA and the Government of Bangladesh, was carried out from October 2009 to December 2010 across 100 villages in Khagrachari Sadar and Mohalchari Upazilas. With a budget of Tk 24,96,373, the project aimed to improve community health through better hygiene, sanitation, and safe water practices. TUS formed and trained community-based organizations, local leaders, and Union WatSan Committees to promote behavioural change and strengthen local capacity. Awareness campaigns, courtyard meetings, and advocacy training encouraged community action on sanitation and water issues. Additionally, 62 tube-wells, ring-wells, and water pumps were installed in 52 villages, providing over 550 families with access to safe drinking water. Through these interventions, HYSAWA significantly improved hygiene awareness, leadership participation, and access to safe water and sanitation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The Community Managed Water and Sanitation Project (CMWSP), implemented by Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha (TUS), aimed to establish sustainable, community-managed water and sanitation systems in remote and hilly areas of Khagrachari. The project enhanced community access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities through the installation of ring-wells and rainwater harvesting systems, and the construction and distribution of latrine rings and commodes. A Village Service Centre was set up to provide low-cost sanitation materials, while extensive awareness campaigns—using courtyard meetings, theatre, rallies, and community events—helped promote hygiene and prevent waterborne diseases. TUS also trained communities on facility construction, maintenance, and management, empowering local leaders to ensure sustainability. As a result, two villages achieved 100% sanitation coverage, and overall health awareness and access to safe water and sanitation improved. To further promote sanitation awareness, TUS and NGO Forum jointly organized a three-day Water and Sanitation Fair in 2008, featuring exhibitions, discussions, and cultural programs attended by community members, schools, NGOs, and officials.