This RIMS impact survey was undertaken to assess the impact of the Char Development and Settlement Project (CDSP) implemented in the phases I, II and III. The assessment was done by examining changes in the indicators that the project was designed to help improve in the project areas. The area covered at phase I is referred to as CDSP-I area, the area covered at phase II as CDSP-II area and the area covered at phase III as CDSP-III area. The survey started on 19 November 2009 and ended on 31 December 2009.

Project Description: In line with the CZP policy, the Government undertook to implement the Char Development and Settlement Project. In the CDSP-I area, the project was begun in 1994 and continued up to 1999, in the CDSP-II area it began in 1999 and continued up to 2005, and in the CDSP-II area the project began in 2005 and ended on 2010.

• CDSP-I area consisted of the following polders: Char Majid, Char Baggardona-2, Char Bhatirtek (part1) of Subarnachar Upazila and Char Bhatirtek (part2) of Kabirhat Upazila, in Noakhali district.

• CDSP-II area consisted of the following polders: Mara Dona and CBD-1 of Subarnachar Upazila under Noakhali district.

• CDSP-III area consisted of the Boyer Char polder of Hatiya Upazila under Noakhali district.

The overall goal of the CDSP projects was the improvement of the economic situation and living conditions of the population of the coastal areas of south-eastern Bangladesh, with special reference to the poorest segments of the population. 

The immediate objectives of the project interventions were:

• Protecting land from floods and storm surges
• Ensuring fresh and safe water in the chars 
• Ensuring safety from man-made and natural hazards 
• Providing landless people with secure title to land; Promoting economic growth emphasizing non-farm rural employment
• Establishing sustainable management of natural resources
• Improving livelihood conditions, especially for women;
• Promoting environmental conservations
• Empowering people through knowledge management and 
• Creating an enabling institutional environment

Tasks carried out by Mitra & Associates:

Survey Methodology (Sample design & Tools): The impact survey was carried out with a sample of 900 households, including 220 households from the CDSP-I area, 240 from the CDSP-II area and 440 from the CDSP-III area. In selecting the sample, each of the areas was divided into blocks. The blocks were created using geographical classification of an area in the Land Records System. As shown in Table 3.1, the CDSP-I area was divided into 26 blocks, the CDSP-II area into 15 blocks and the CDSP-III area into 56 blocks. First, 45 blocks were chosen, randomly picking 11 out of 26 blocks in the CDSP-I area, 12 out of 15 in the CDSP-II area and 22 out of 56 in the CDSP-III area (Table 3.1). Thereafter, households were selected, randomly selecting 20 households from a selected block. Thus, 220 households were selected from the CDSP-I area, 240 households from the CDSP-II area and 440 households from the CDSP-III area, yielding the total sample of 900 households. The 20 households from a block were selected and interviewed in the following way. A household was first randomly chosen from the household list obtained from the local CDSP office. Interviews were then conducted with this household and the consecutively listed households until completing interviewing the 20 households.    

Questionnaire: The survey was conducted using a questionnaire supplied by IFAD but it was pre-tested interviewing some households and adopt for use and translate in Bengali. Then questionnaire was finalized incorporating necessary changes.

Data Collection: 15 days was spent for data collection. Research Officer and Quality Control Officers visited the interviewers in the field and re-interviewed 10 percent of households on random basis to ensure the quality of the data.

Training of Interviewers and Supervisors: The interviewing team members including both interviewers and supervisors were given a five-day training to prepare for the data collection. The training consisted of four days of class room training and one day of field training. 

Data processing & reporting: After office edit, data was entered twice and cleaned and produced data analysis tables and made report.

Client Reference: Market Infrastructure CDSP-I, II, III, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Ministry of LGRD&C, Bangladesh and funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).