The Chars Livelihoods Programme (CLP) works with extreme poor households living on island chars in north westernBangladesh, and aims to improve the livelihoods of over one million people. The CLP is jointly funded by UKaid through the Department for International Development and the Australian Government (AusAID), sponsored by the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division of the Government of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, and implemented through Maxwell Stamp Plc.
The first phase of the CLP (CLP-1) ran between 2004 2010, and worked on the chars of theJamunaRiverin the districts of Kurigram, Bogra, Gaibandha, Sirajgonj and Jamalpur. CLP-1 targeted 55,000 of the poorest households and is estimated to have benefitted more than 900,000 people.
The CLP provides support to CPHHs in different phases. Each year, a new phase begins with a new group of participants (known as a cohort). Each cohort receives the full package of support from the CLP, including an income generating asset through the Asset Transfer Project (ATP), livelihoods training, access to clean water and social development training (click here for more information). The value of the asset transferred, the size of the cohort and the working districts generally change with each phase. The map here shows where the CLP has worked so far. Details of each phase delivered so far can be viewed by moving the mouse over the relevant panel. Dates refer to the period during which assets were transferred to each phase, which is effectively the period when participants start to receive support. Support then continues for 18 months. CLP-2 will work with 67,000 CPHHs and be implemented in six phases.