Project Report SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Project Report SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative Dinajpur, 21st December, 2014 Project funded by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Dhaka Ref.: Wz 445.00/1 Implemented by SAFE Simple Action for the Environment Dinajpur

SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Project Report SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Index of contents

page

1. Executive Summary

03

2. Introduction

04

3. Safe Materials

08

4. Survey and intervention strategy

12

5. Workshops, community meetings, selection process and contracts

19

6. Latrines

22

7. Material support schemes

30

8. Tree planting schemes

36

9. Cement tiles machine

39

10. Evaluation

41

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

1. Executive Summary This document comprises a report of the progress of the works completed by SAFE, with the funds allocated to them by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. It includes a statement of accounts – describing how the allocation has been used and the receipts forms – as required in the Agreement of the project SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative.

Aims and objectives of the Project As indicated in the application for funds, the overall aim of SAFE and of this project is to alleviate poverty, through creating a self-sustaining change that will make human environments safer, longer lasting, more durable and more resilient to extreme weather events.

SAFE aims to achieve this by communicating the long term benefits and cost savings of investing more in housing, sanitation and the environment. This is achieved by demonstrating construction improvements and teaching the construction methods through engagement with the community members and local builders, which allows them to gain hands on experience of building using these improved techniques and alternative materials.

It is essential that the techniques promoted by SAFE are attainable and affordable to people.

Improvements promoted by SAFE use low cost locally produced and available materials, and are evaluated to achieve a balance between cost and durability.

SAFE believes that the most effective method of dissemination is learning by doing. The project approach has been concieved to enable the communities to see the construction processes and participate in them, alongside tree planting schemes which are run in partnership with local schools, and all community meetings and workshops open to all members of the community.

The foremost aim of the project is to encourage ideas to spread and be adopted independently of SAFE's input and this is central to the process. During construction of latrines and material support structures, community members are called to gain practical experience of implementing the skills and techniques promoted by SAFE. When the finished constructions are in use they will continue to serve the purpose of demonstrating to the community improved methods.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

2. Introduction Existing environment Sundarban is a village located in the Dinajpur region, the far north west of Bangladesh, with a population of approximately 30,000 inhabitants lying midway between the towns of Saidpur and Dinajpur town. Dinajpur's economy depends largely on agriculture, the area being famous for its rice. Approximately 40% of its population are landless labourers.

Although Dinajpur does not suffer from severe storms that affect the costal region of the country, localised flooding does often occur and strong winds in September and October regularly cause damage to property. The traditional construction techniques are self built houses using mud and untreated bamboo, with thatched roofs or CI sheet. This make households vulnerable to environmental hazards such as strong winds and earthquakes. Dinajpur also lies in the highest earthquake risk zone in Bangladesh.

Brief description of the Project The project SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative aims to equipe local communities with the knowledge and practical skills to improve their living conditions and local environments.

To achieve this SAFE aims to promote techniques which make demonstrable improvements to traditional methods, and which are affordable and easily adoptable. This project includes: - Material support in low cost housing costruction, with the intention of encouraging people to invest more care and better materials in their houses, and also comunicate the importance of the mainteinance and durability of them.

- Sanitation improvements, by the implementation of latrines.

- Investment in the building materials production, by using them in the constructions mentioned before and by building a new sand-cement tile production machine.

- Four tree planting schemes, in which local spicies would be planted to contribute biodiversity; it would be implemented with the participation of the schools, in order to comunicate to children the importance of the conservation of their natural environment and of biodiversity.

- Workshops and surveys, for identification of the beneficiaries, and evaluation of the implemented works. This meetings are giving the oportunity to explain the project to entire communities and have given SAFE the chance to listen to them and understand their needs and limitations.

Sustainable Benifits and Impact of the Project SAFE is looking at encouraging a self-sustaining change in the community, and it is anticipated that the majority of the benefits of the project will be realised some time after the project has delivered as driving sustainable cultural change is a ow process.

In first instance, we have been able to notify not only the inmediate improvements to the living standards of demonstration project recipients, but also the impact that these improvements have on the wider community – for example, by quantifying the significant increase in the demand for 4

SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

latrines; when at the first meetings very few families were interested in the schemes, in the meetings that have take place a month after the first latrines have been constructed, the interest has grow to be approximately ten times larger. Quotes from the villagers interviewed outlines the impact the latrines have had on their families: “Having a latrine means a big change and improvement for us; before, we needed to go outside everytime, and now we have our private and clean place at home“ “The biggest benefit is to not need to go outside, where we were afraid of being seen, and interrupted“ “The best improvement is to not need to go outside, and not having that tension, shame and fear“ The quality of the latrines implemented has been exceptionaly well received, and their importance has been quicky understood. There are very few latrines in the area, and some self-built examples are missing key features such as syphon, septic tanks or appropiate construction. These have the impact of not solving the problems of poor sanitation and often generate more issues. The latrines implemented by SAFE within this project have been studied to address the appropiate disposition of waste, mitigating the pollution of the environment, and to provide healthy conditions to the users and their surroundings.

The value that the community people are giving to this sanitation project means important benefits might come in the form of improved health, physical security, financial security or other. These kind of self perpetuating benefits, implemented and funded by communities themselves are the main aim of the project.

Next, are included the interviews done on the 27th October, 2014, after a few latrines had been completed, done by SAFE to a few of the people who expressed interested in participating in the project, and build a latrine.

Interviews to people interested on material support Questions 1 – Have you ever think about building a toilet before?

2 – What reason is more important for you?

Sanitation, privacy, women and children’s need, environment?

3 – Do you know all the components of the toilets SAFE is building?

4 – Have you ever think about building a shower?

5 – Have you ever think about a sink to wash clothes?

Interview to Norendru Nafrai (Old man) 1 - No, never thought of building a toilet before.

2 – In this order of priority: privacy, health, environment.

3 – Yes, I know all the components of the toilets SAFE is building. Have seen them while SAFE was building the toilets funded by the German Embassy.

4 - No, I have never think about building a shower. We have the T-bolt.

5 – No, I have never think about a sink to wash clothes.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Interview to Shubash Shondro Roy (middle aged man) 1 - No, never thought of building a toilet before.

2 – Privacy.

3 – Yes, I know all the components of the toilets SAFE is building. Have seen them while SAFE was building the toilets funded by the German Embassy.

4 – No. 5 – No. Interview to Shondha (middle age woman) 1 - No, never thought of building a toilet before.

2 – Privacy and Health 3 – Yes, I know all the components of the toilets SAFE is building. Have seen them while SAFE was building the toilets funded by the German Embassy.

4 – No. 5 – No, we wash our clothes on the floor.

As it can be percieved on those, the general answer is that people never though to build a latrine before, and so many of them are doing now. Even though the main reason tends to be privacy, the project aims to archieve an improvement on health, that will be percieved after the time.

Interview to people interested on material support Questions 1 – What is the problem in your house, that you want to get resolved with the matterial support?

2 – House description. Materials, size, occupancy, age.

3 – Was your house self built?

4 – Do you know SAFE’s techniques?

5 – Do you have toilet?

Interview to Yoyanti (Young woman). 27th October, 2014 1 – Parts of the house are broken, materials are wasted.

2 – House occupancy: 4 people, 2 adults and 2 children.

Approximate size; 12’ x 18’ Construction Age: 10 years.

Materials: mud floor, 3’ high; bamboo walls; bamboo structure with cross bracing; roof in CI sheet without inner ceiling.

3 – Self built by her and her husband, who is a rickshaw driver.

4 – No 5 – No Interview to Anyora (Young woman). 17th November 2014 1 – We need to get the familiar house divided in two, as we are two brothers, with wifes and kids sharing the same house.

2 – House occupancy: 10 people, 4 adults and 6 children.

Approximate size; Two rooms of 12’ x 18’ Construction Age: 10 years.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Materials: mud plith and walls; roof in CI sheet without inner ceiling.

3 – Yes. 4 – No 5 – Yes The mayority of people interested in the material support and at the same time able to afford the participation, were already thinking to rebuild their house, or building a new room. Very often entire families find themselves obliged to share the same room, as they can’t afford to have a second one.

Environmental Impact Assessment Protecting the environment and making construction and development sustainable are at the heart of SAFE's aims.

The sanitation project, and tree planting schemes are the main activities for the enviromental improvement, but also the workshops have been prepared to comunicate the trascendence of the treatment of the waste water and the importance of the ecology and reforestation.

In the material support schemes, sustainable architecture concepts would be explained and implemented, such as effective insulation, ventilation and use of natural light, that would provide better conditions inside, and would also mean savings in electric consumption. When possible, the beneficiaries have been encouraged to recycle materials for walls and roofs completion.

The activities undertaken as part of this project have low levels of energy and water consumption.

For delivery of construction materials and participants travel, zero emission forms of transport such as bicycles and rickshaws are used.

The majority of the construction materials are adquired and produced locally; SAFE's goal is to promote the replacement of industrially produced products with locally sourced natural materials, to reduce local communities' reliance on unsustainably produced materials with high embodied energy such as cement and metal decking. Examples of these construction materials produced by SAFE for this project include treated bamboo, sand-cement tiles, mud blocks, katlas, ferrocement rings and caps for septic tanks.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

3. Materials In all their constructions, SAFE will always uses materials produced locally, undertaking sustainable techniques for bamboo treatment and cement-based materials fabrication, such as rings and caps for the septic tanks, sand-cement tiles and mud blocks.

In this chapter, a description of each of those materials and techniques used in this project will be provided.

Bamboo Treatment The culms are bought locally in pieces preferably 24’ long, as the standard size of rooms is 12’, and two pieces can be cut from each one.

Before they are placed into the tank, they would need to be drilled in both sides of every natural joint, to allow the water come in and out.

The treatment of bamboo culms against insect and fungal attack, takes place in a prolonged soaking water bath. The proportion would be 1kg Borax and ½ Kg Boric acid, per each 35 liters of water. The concentration would have to be a 1%, and the density would be 1.04 kg/liter.

The tank for bamboo soaking measures 25’ long and 6‘7” wide, and it’s filled up between 2‘ and 3’ depth.

After three weeks into this solution, the culms would have to be drying during 6 other weeks under a shaded roof.

The correct drying of it before being used, would be essential for their strength and resistance.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Treated bamboo would be used for a number of purposes: all structural elements such as posts, beams, and cross bracing. Chatai to cover walls, and bamboo sticks to build nets for planting schemes.

The wider and so, more resistant part of the culms would be used for posts and beams, the opposite will be for matts or facades.

Mud blocks Mud blocks are made of a mix of mud, sand and Ferro cement in a ratio of 20:3:1.

Firstly, the mud has to be dried for 5 days, and also netted if it was not thin enough.

Then, it would be crashed to powder, and mixed manually with sand and cement, and a minimum amount of water to join all those together.

The mix is placed inside the press machine, that has the mold to give them shape with dimensions of 1’ x 6’’ x 3’’, which is a good size and weight for workers to move and place with one hand.

The blocks should be drying for 24 hours before the curing, which would take place under a plastic cover, with sprayed water, during one week. After that, it would need other week just drying before it’s used in construction.

The mortar that would join them together in walls, would be prepared with the same proportion of mud, sand and cement.

The presence of two circular holes inside of them allows the possibility of including vertical sticks for reinforcement in the corners or windows.

Other horizontal bamboo sticks would be placed for reinforcement of the walls, every three or four rows of bricks.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Rings and caps Rings and caps for the septic tanks are made of Ferro cement, with a mixture composed of sand, brick aggregate and cement in a ratio of 4:3:1.

Rings are 1’ tall and 2’ diameter; caps have the same diameter and 2� thickness

The sand-cement tiles Sand cement tiles are composed of a mixture of gravel stone sand and cement, in a ratio of 3:1.

The sand needs to be uniformly graded to produce tiles that are durable enough for use.

The sand used in this case had a particle size distribution with coefficient of uniformity (CU) greater than 4 indicating a uniformly distributed soil.

The mixture is placed on a recipient where would get the shape of the tile, and get vibrated with a cycle man-powered machine.

A plastic sheet is used to avoid the tile get stick to the mold. Two pieces of the same material, holding a metallic wire would be placed in the backside of them to solve the connection with the structure.

They would dry for 24 hours, and then painted with a mix of oxide and cement (1:2) to increase the impermeability, and dry for other 24 hours before the curing.

The curing would be a week long, first half into water, and second half only spraying water on them.

Tiles would be ready to be used after a week drying.

Other materials used, are clay bricks for foundation, PVC pipes for latrines connections, and ceramic latrines, all those are also acquired locally.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Katlas Katlas are made of concrete –in a mixture of brick chips, sand and cement, and have a metallic corrugated bar in the center, which has previously been perforated with two holes in perpendicular directions, to be held to the bamboo with a bolt through.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

4. Survey and intervention strategy An inital survey, under the tile Rural Housing developments in Sundarban Village, was writen just before the project, between the months of July and Semptember 2014 by the ingeneer Joe Hook.

This survey was based on the comparison with a previous survey conducted by Matthew Carter and Azit Roy, in 1997, possibly the first survey done in the village. It studies building ages, materials, size, occupancy, and aspect of five small paras, as a case study of the housing style of the village.

From this survey, in which ten paras of Sundarban Village, within Block Number 2 were surveyed, has been extracted the following comparison.

Comparison of Paras with Material Support initiatives Five paras that have received material support from SAFE and five others that haven’t, to analize the impact this support has had, compared to the evolution of other paras over the last 10 years.

House ages were compared between these Paras and those randomly selected for the initial survey:

Comparison of house ages between Paras

The materially supported Paras seem to have a higher percentage of houses reaching the 20 year mark and indeed the average house age for material support Paras is 3 years greater (15.78) than the randomly selected Paras (12.65).

A one sample z-test was carried out to determine whether this deviation was statistically significant, comparing the sample of material support houses with the population of randomly selected houses.

This was valid because 40 houses were surveyed in the sample set. The test statistic was 1.64 standard deviations away from the mean, giving a 95% chance that the difference observed was not due to chance. From this it can be assumed that the work of providing material support has a positive effect on the longevity of houses in the area.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

The following image, represents the paras in which SAFE has worked previously, building demonstration houses, latrines and material support schemes.

SAFE’s previous demonstration projects

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Project Survey During the implementation of the Project, a wider survey excercise has been done. It includes the mapping of the village, as well as the evaluation of the average condition of the paras; number of households, is been counted in a total of 47 paras, and whose of those have latrines, power supply, and showers.

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Paras Panua Para Ponki Shaho Para Satia Para Herbari Kalitola Para Telli Para Dash Para Shiptola Para Danga Para Sakta Para Bania Para Hetro Shatu Para Noia Para Otiloki Para Denapar Para Hamuntu Dakta Para Dishen Member Para Odikari Para Borotsha Para Miton Shaho Para Hari Para Goragopal Para Tamak Para Kalitola South Para Takur Para Dayal Shatu Para Dulal Kura Para Doroshon Para Gonokobirash Para Novo Para Tuthirgar Para Sorkar Para

Houses Latrines Shower Power 25 200 40 15 40 56 32 80 14 42 25 17 40 40 7 6 40 14 40 14 9 5 40 9 30 17 30 15 19 13 34

15 50 5 5 5 6 7 5 4 13 7 2 9 7 6 4 8 2 7 2 0 0 3 3 9 6 4 5 6 3 24

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 (HH) 0 0 0 1

Condition

10 15 0 0 1 12 12 13 9 30 15 0 13 10 8 6 10 5 10 2 0 5 0 2 5 0 2 0 0 0 29

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

No. 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

Paras Kedar Daktar Para Shombu Kobirach Para Ulil Chaulia Para Kashamia Para Matia Para Gua Para Shonasha Para Borosha Para Asdamodin Para Gonga Pangiar Para Gopal Member Para Ukil Para Biren Khen Para Bed Pukur Para Miagi Para Miachi Para TOTAL

Houses Latrines Shower Power Condition 14 8 0 1 15 2 0 0 7 1 0 3 40 19 80 200 27 30 30 14 30 22 5 76 35

25 5 40 175 6 25 8 2 12 18 5 30 3

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

38 17 40 180 14 10 30 4 4 22 5 32 20

1652

597

4

644

Very poor condition Average condition Better condition

After this survey, we can see that just one third of the total population has access to toilets, being the block 2 in a particular disadvantaged possition, as only a 17% of them have them.

The presence of showers is almost negectable (0.25%); is not even considered a need, in many cases is accussed to the lack of power supply, although more than a 38% of the population has electricity.

As well as part of this survey, it has been confirmed that the totality of the childrens go to the school –government schools and non profit organizations schools-, and the mayority of the community members occupation is agriculture, being a small proportion whose had jobs or little business.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Strategy of intervention A comprehensive strategy of intervention has been prepared for the implementation of the material support scheme, with the objective of spreading the interventions and reach a wider area with the project. A total of 30 meetings have been organized for the communities of those 47 paras.

47 paras where SAFE has organized community meetings 16

SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

The following image represents the 36 paras in which the demonstrations have been implemented, and a coverage in 400 metres radio around them (walkable distance in 5 minutes). It shows how almost the populated area of the village is being covered, although Block number 1 in the SouthWest and the Northern side of the village haven’t been reached yet.

Paras reached with the project and influence 400m radio 17

SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

While doing the mapping exercise, a total of 90 paras have been mapped and listed in Sundarban.

With two other phases of this project, SAFE aims to cover the entire village, and build at least one demonstration structure prototype and one latrine in each para, as the construction process is what actually means a stronger impact, and serves to show the process to all the members of the communities.

Sundarban village map, done during the implementation of the project 18

SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

5. Workshops, community meetings, selection process and contracts To identify suitable benificaries for these schemes, SAFE started by surveying local paras and meeting communities to identify which are most in need of improvement and who is most interested in participating and promoting the building techniques.

The community within each para has been encharged of leading the decision making process for selecting the partner families. The level of contribution offered by potential partner households, has been a key criteria for selection.

A partner household willing to make a high level of contribution has been preferential. Families with more women and children awould had also received priority for the sanitation schemes.

In the meetings before building, and during the construction of the demonstrations, SAFE has explained the advantages of the systems implemented and their long term benefits. After all the latrines have been built, has organized a workshop with the benefitiaries at SAFE headquarters, to comunicate the importance of the maintainance, and provide a training session for it.

In all community meetings and workshops, it has been mentioned this scheme is funded by German Embassy, who in partnership with SAFE, is responisble of the implementation of the project this report describes, SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Selection Process for toilets beneficiaries The selection process to find suitable candidates for the toilet construction project started on the four paras in the village that have instigated savings groups: Bania Para, Sakta Para, Hari Para and Noia Para.

The savings group initiative demonstrates the paras are likely to be more reliable in understanding the stakeholder participation side of the project, including both financial contribution and participation and learning from the actual toilet construction.

Then focus group style sessions were arranged where homeowners and SAFE employees discussed the scheme. The design of the toilet and the expected the participatory element was explained and households that showed interest were asked to attend a second meeting where a final decision would be made.

Upon completion of this initial selection, a second round of meetings were held with residents of Shiptola Para, Dash Para, Borotsha, Para, Goragopal Para and Hetro Shatu Para.

A third round of meetings, undertaken a month after the two initial ones, in combination with the material support schemes, and with the same strategy of intervention; it was perceived that the amount of interested people and demand on latrines, comparing with the records at the begining on the project, has increase significantly, being appoximately ten times bigger than two months before.

Latrines Contracts The beneficiaries signed the conditions that follow above, and payed a contribution of 3,000 Taka: -

Both parties are commited to the signed contract, from begining to end.

SAFE is commited to provide the design and construction materials for the latrine: rings, caps, pan, slab, bamboo, bricks, tiles, etc.

The beneficiay will be responsible ot the materials during the construction, if they were damaged or stolen, the beneficiary is commited to pay for the new ones or the reparation.

The beneficiary can’t change or alterate the design.

The beneficiay will select the area for the implementation, being this their own property land.

The beneficiaries are commited to help the workers.

The beneficiaries are commited to mantain the toilets propperly.

If any of the specified conditions was not archived by the beneficiaries, SAFE won’t longer work with them.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Selection Process for material support For the material support schemes, a number of 30 community meetings have been organized.

Identified families working in partnership with SAFE, are building their demonstration schemes in participatory approach. SAFE is providing the main materials: katlas for foundations, treated bamboo posts, cement to stablish the plinth, nuts and bolts; is also providing skilled labourers to help deliver successful construction both, and the technical supervision.

The families are providing their labour to help construct the project, providing them an opportunity to learn the construction process. Also the families are recycling their own construction materials, such as CI-sheeting or bamboo posts, to reduce the overall cost of the scheme while minimising its carbon footprint; and providing a financial contribution, between 10-25% of the total cost, depending on the general economic situation of the family. The financial contribution is aimed at ensuring the commitment to the project from the beneficiary as well as promoting a sense of ownership, instead of aid expectation for the future.

Only one scheme was offered per meeting, to the one, two or three paras joined for each; in the most of the cases, numerous families expressed interes, and for this reason, SAFE has let the community members to agree together between themselves who was the more in need and so the final beneficiary of the scheme.

In each meeting, the project has been explained, introducing all the materials SAFE has investigated and developed since it was stablished, as well as the improvements they can offer.

Material support contracts The conditions on participatory approach of the project were explained during this meetings, as well as the contract and the contributions required. Those were: The beneficiaries signed the conditions that follow above, and payed a contribution between 2,000 and 3,000 Taka (depending on the income of the family): -

-

Both parties are commited to the signed contract, from begining to end.

SAFE is commited to provide the design and construction materials: 10 katlas, 12 treated bamboo, culms, wire, nail, nuts and bolts, and 5% cement for the plinth (average size 15’x9‘).

The beneficiay will be responsible ot the materials during the construction, if they were damaged or stolen, the beneficiary is commited to pay for the new ones or the reparation.

The beneficiary is commited to finish the house, building the walls and the roof.

The beneficiay will select the area for the implementation, being this their own property land.

The beneficiaries are commited to provide assistance to the workers, as well as table, ladder, or other tools they might own, for the construction.

The beneficiaries are commited to work in the filling and roaming of the plinth.

If any of the specified conditions was not archived by the beneficiaries, SAFE won’t longer work with them.

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6. Latrines: Prototype, Implementation, Demonstrations Existing latrines Within the paras initially surveyed in Sundarban Village Block Number 2, for a total of 558 householders, only 95 have a latrine (17%), and in any Para the proportion would ever reach a third of the houses.

Paras

Houses Latrines

%

Satia Para

40

5

13

Kalitola Para

15

5

33

Telli Para

40

5

13

Shiptoli Para

32

7

22

Danga Para

80

5

6

Sackta Para

14

4

29

Bania Para

42

13

31

Hetro Shatu Para

25

7

28

Noia Para

17

2

12

Odikari Para

40

8

20

Borotsha Para

14

2

14

Otiloki Para

40

9

23

Denapar Para

40

7

18

Miton Shaho Para

40

8

20

Hari Para

14

2

14

Mazi Para

56

6

11

Goragopal Para

9

0

0

558

95

17

Total

These low numbers were reinforced through discussion with people interested in the project during meetings and workshops – they have never before considered the possibility of building their own latrine, let alone a shower or a washing sink.

Within this, certain communities like Danga and Sakta Para, have over 80 households with no more than five latrines, and extremes like Goragopal Para have no toilets at all.

The few existing ones present weak and poor condition and often there is no system for water waste disposition or treatment, and the waste goes directly to rice fields.

The untreated waste water in the living environment can cause long term health risks from contaminated water sources, and represent a big risk of transmission of bacteria and viruses that cause diseases; this risk is increased if animals, vermin or insects have direct contact with the water and can pass those bacteria on to people.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Prototype SAFE has studied a latrine prototype for this project, minimizing the budget and minimising the quality required to work efficiently, be clean, provide an appropriate disposition of waste, and have a resistant structure.

The design comprises two septic tanks connected in Y with a latrine inside a 4’ x 4’ plinth over bricks foundation, and covered with a bamboo structure, tiles roof, walls and door in bamboo matt .

A full description is presented, of all the components, the implementation process, the Y connection system, and the improvements SAFE has achieved with this sanitation project.

1. Excavation Firstly, it would be chosen the place to build the latrine, and there should be room for the septic tanks, in a way that no buildings are closer than 3’ to them.

The excavation for the tanks would be two cylinders of 2.5’ diameter and 4.5’ deep, requiring foundations of a 4’ square of 1’ width and 1’ depth 2. Foundations Foundations are built with a 1’ wide wall of red bricks sealed with mortar

3. Septic tanks Four 1’ tall fibro cement rings without seal would compose each septic tank.

4. The Y connection A switchable box between the latrine and the tanks would allow to direct the waste to one or another tank at the time 5. Caps Septic tanks and registration box would be covered with cement fibre caps 2” thick, and pipes would be covered with soil.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

6. Plinth An 18” high plinth is constructed with a perimeter of mud blocks sealed with mortar, and filled with compacted mud.

It would allow room for the siphon and pipe to the evacuation of waste.

7. Latrine and siphon A latrine would be placed on top of the plinth, and connected with the registration with a siphon.

8. Slab Over the plinth, and around the latrine and its connection, goes a 6” slab, built in mud blocks, and rendered with plaster. It would be painted with oxin to protect it to water; 9. Baseboard A 1’ tall baseboard would be built over the slab with mud blocks, in order to guarantee a more hygienic condition to the walls, and to avoid the contact of bamboo with water.

10. Metallic clamps For the joint of bamboo post to the slab, metallic clamps 1’ wide by 18” long are placed vertically, with one half inside the slab and plinth, and the other half inside the bamboo.

10. Bamboo structure Four posts in the corners with diameter 3”, 6.5’ in the back and 9’ tall in the front would support two vertical bamboo beams. A fifth 9’ post would be required for the door.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

11. Cross bracing The three walls in which there is no door, would incorporate bamboo halves for cross bracing, to provide stability and resistance to the structure.

The bars are fixed to the posts with bolts and nuts Ø 6mm, and painted with oxin for water protection.

12. Roof structure Bamboo bars Ø2” would be used to join beams.

An additional horizontal beam would be suspended with bars to posts and the highest beam.

Horizontally there is a secondary structure in half bars of Ø2” The roof is in a 35º angle with the horizontal, to ensure ready drainage of rainwater.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

13. Roof tiles Sand cement tiles of 20� x 9� would cover the roof; they are fixed to the structure with metallic wire. For the improvement of the water protection, tiles had been covered with oxin.

14. Walls Bamboo mats fixed with wire to the bamboo structure.

Ideally, the walls would be plastered of built in blocks, but this is an improvement the beneficiaries can implement in second instance when they can invest more money 15. Door When the budget allows it, a wood frame would be built for the door, and sealed to the bamboo structure; otherwise, single bamboo mats would be used for this purpose.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

The Y connection system In previous years, SAFE has tested a number of systems for latrines; the Y connection is been chosen for this sanitation project, for being the one considered affordable at the time it provides an appropriate treatment to waste and doesn’t require the manual emptines of the tanks that can represent a risk for health.

The design comprises two septic tanks, connected to the latrine through a switchable box, in which the flow of waste can be directed to one or other tank.

Initially, it would be directed to tank A. After two or three years when one tank is full, it would be covered with ashes and closed; the flow would be changed to tank B; tank A waste would slowly drain into ground; when tank B gets full, the system can be swapped again.

Improvements Toilet designs that use the above techniques where appropiate to improve the structural integrty as well as the internal environment.

Y connection for two septic tanks does not require to empty manually, and guarrantees an appropiate displacement of the water waste in to the ground, helping mitigate the risk of contamination.

Low cost prototype, makes latrines affordable to most people, and all the components are produced locally: rings and caps for septic tanks, mud blocks, treated bamboo and tiles.

Improved septic tank designs that are better sealed and more durable. This includes better quality self-produced reinforced-concrete rings as well as more waterproof cement-mortar jointing.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Implemented latrines A total of 35 latrines have been implemented, with the participation and for the beneficiaries of the following list: Toilet No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

Beneficiary Surname H. Shukumar H. K.Noboni T. Keshori R. Keshori D. Noboni D. Kopal D. Horendro M. Yogesh K. Tonko M. Khonish S. Horen L. Pionat A. Pushuram N. Dipen T. Norendro G. Ulondo L. Pushuram P. Joges L. Shubash R. Koguendro S. Monusha K. Parimal D. Krimohon S. Taroni R. Pushram S. Khogan S. Kuoylash R. Joygesh Noribalah Premhori Kalidash Roy Dhiren Champa Roy Tushar Roy Yoren Roy Total

Para Name Dash Para Sakta Para Sakta Para Sakta Para Sakta Para Hetro Shatu Para Bania Para Bania Para Bania Para Bania Para Bania Para Bania Para Otiloki Para Noia Para Noia Para Tamak Para Denerpar Para Herbari Kalitola Para Satia Para Khagisha Para Novo Para Danga Para Borotsha Para Otiloki Para Otiloki Para Otiloki Para Bania Para Danga Para Gonokobirash Para Sorkar Para Danga Para Hari Para Hamuntu Dakta Para Dulal Kura Para Doroshon Para

Male users 3 2 5 3 3 3 3 4 2 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 2 2 3 4 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 4 2 3 2 93

Female users 3 5 1 3 5 3 2 6 2 1 1 3 1 2 1 2 5 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 2 3 3 2 3 2 2 92

Total users 6 7 6 6 8 6 5 10 4 4 4 5 4 5 3 5 7 5 5 7 4 5 5 5 6 5 6 5 4 4 4 6 5 5 4 185

Contribution (bdt) 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 105,000 28

SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Implemented Latrines Map 29

SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

7. Material support schemes From the surveys descibed in the chapter 4, the following conclussions were extracted, and SAFE has been using them to understand what improvements can be offered with the project, and also further projects in the years coming.

- Cracks in walls. Mud walls are generally a single structural element, meaning that a fault can spread across the whole structure, making it unsafe and prone to further erosion. In cases, totally demolished walls, invading the room with mud.

- Humidity in pavements and walls; they are often built with mud, and the water filtrates up to a meter high by capilarity, making the rooms humid.

- Uncovered and untreated bamboo, frequently in direct contact with the ground, is exposed to erosion and putrefaction, making very weak the structures.

- Weakness of the walls, not only structurally, but also in terms of isolation, are insuficient protection to thermal changes. In cases, bedrooms aren’t even closed with walls.

- Problems with CI sheeting: lack of protection from the elements; generally either leaking roofs where the iron had corroded or heat radiating into rooms and making them uncomfortable.

- Lack of ventilation and natural light. Windows are expensive to install and many houses lacked windows. It is also unusual to see vents or gaps in the top of the walls to facilitate airflow.

- Animal infestation. Often the problem cited was insects burrowing into walls, leading to erosion of the wall, and occasionally attracting more dangerous animals such as snakes.

- Unfinished construction. This problem was prevalent in brick houses, when the owner was unable to finish construction, and was forced to live in an uncompleted house while waiting for money to buy materials.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Prototype As the interest on the scheme was mainly for those building a new room, as well as the need and capability for work in participatory approach, SAFE has implemented a prototype of cement established plinth and bamboo structure on katlas, which variates in size depending on the site, and whose design has been presented flexible to adjust to the specific needs of the beneficiaries, giving participation to them.

The average size of the floor plan has been 15’ x 9’; the construction process is described as follows: Preparation of the terrain The area in which the house would be built will be chosen by the beneficiaries, and would be owned land.

Firstly, the size, perimeter and position of the structure, will be defined and marked in the terrain.

Holes to insert the katlas in the ground will be excavated, in a way in which just 1” would rise above the plinth level. The depth of the foundation variates, depending on the height of the plinth, from 1’ to 2’.

Katlas Ten katlas would be provided by the scheme. They would be organized to resolve the structure of an average size of 15’ by 9’ in plan.

A water pipe is used to check the level is the same in all of them, and sticks and wires to mark the right alignment.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Cement established plinth The beneficiaries are en-charged of the filling and roaming of the plinth.

For this, they will net the mud, and mix with a 5% of cement, that SAFE will provide as part of the scheme.

Treated bamboo posts Ten culms of treated bamboo – average- would compose the posts of the structure.

Are fixed to the katlas with two nuts and bolts, in perpendicular directions.

Beams The top of the post is cut in L shape, in order to resolve the joints with the Beams.

Those are as well treated bamboo pieces; five of them would go crossing the short length of the construction, 9’ long, and two of them will close the perimeter in the long one, 15’ long.

They would be tied up with ropes and fixed with nuts and bolts to the posts.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Cross bracing Lastly, cross bracing will complete the structure, joining all the elements together, and making it more stable and resistant to impact and strong winds.

For the cross bracing, halves of bamboo are drilled to the posts, using as well nuts and bolts.

The beneficiarie’s participation includes the completion of the roof and the facades, which would mean a big diversity in the final appearance of the constructions. They are mainly using bamboo sticks and bamboo mats for the walls, and rice straw or CI sheet for the roofs. The majority of them are using recycled materials from the previous houses, mainly for the roofs, when the condition of them is still acceptable.

Improvements Foundations done with concrete katlas, and structures composed by well treated bamboo posts, beams and cross bracing, joined properly with bolts, are much stronger structures.

Cement established plinth, not only makes plinths stronger, longer lasting and more resistant to floods, but also stop the humidity to rise by capilarity to the surface, keeping the inside dryer and cleaner. Separates the vulnerable materials (i.e. bamboo) from contact with the ground hence significantly increasing the life span of the building.

The treated bamboo culms will be protected to the attack of termites and other insects, and the correct drying before use, would allow the material to gain their maximum strength.

The reinforcement of the structures by using cross bracing, to make them resistant to high winds and floods.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Implemented material support schemes A total of 30 beneficiaries have been identified. The following list provides a record of the beneficiaries and the occupancy of the houses, as well as the contribution.

No

Para

Beneficiary

Occupancy

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Doroshon Para Dahs Para Dulal Kura Para Biren Khen Para Gonokobirash Para Takur Para Odikari Para Dayal Shatu Para Bania Para Borodash Para Tuthirgar Para Gua Para Ukil Para Danga Para Danga Para Sorkar Para Herbari Kalitola Para Panua Para Punki Shaho Para Satia Para Miton Shaho Para Denapar Para Gonga Pangiar Para Asdamodin Para Kashamia Para Noia Para Otiloki Para Miagi Para Mithai Matia Para Total

Shoshodor Bishoya Rothindro Yagodish Chondona Madhop Duryodon Yoshodarami Chitro Ronyon Roy Yoyonti Shemoli Menocar Nurishlam Dulphi Yoshna Renuca Shoilobala Ronoyit Roy Sophia Begon Kiten Chondro Mondrondon Roy Canonbala Cobita Roy Baigo Bhoti Rohima Khairum Nehar Chondromon Sharothi Anjuara Monoara Yogodish Chondro

5 5 4 4 4 9 4 5 4 4 4 4 5 2 5 4 5 5 5 5 4 4 5 4 4 7 4 5 5 5 139

Contribution (BDT) 2,000 2,500 2,000 2,000 2,000 3,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 61,500

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Material Support Schemes Map 35

SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

8. Tree planting Schemes The planting of trees in the village, as expressed in the original proposal, is for SAFE an important supplementary activity to the main of housing and sanitation. Being properly done, tree planting helps to create a harmonious relationship between the natural and built environment, providing useful herbs and fruits, natural shade and the additional aesthetic benefits. The four schemes within this project aim not only to leave all those trees in place, but also communicate to the villagers of the importance of this practice.

School Distribution 1,080 trees have been already distributed to local school children on 10th September. This distribution took place at four schools: three Primary Schools, one High School, and each child received four trees.

A policy of distribution to schools was chosen for two main reasons: Firstly, in contrast to individual planting, this method saves labor and also ensures a wider dissemination of trees planted throughout the neighborhood. The schools were spaced throughout the village and so the tree planting can be expected to be more widespread than if it was done exclusively by SAFE employees.

Secondly, children were given a guided lesson prior to the distribution where they were encouraged to explore the importance of trees. By making children aware of the beneficial properties of natural flora, and reinforcing this with the practical activity of planting the trees in their home, the goal is to instill these values in the next generation.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Sundarban Danga Para Primary School On 27th October in Sundarban Danga Para Primary School, which is a new school, that still lacks of a proper building, 16 trees were planted with the children, with ages between 4 and 10 years old, and it was explained to them the economic benefits of planting trees. They had the opportunity to participate in the planting of those 3 mango trees, 4 guava trees, 4 blackberry trees and 4 olive trees.

Riverside tree planting The side of the river Atrai defines the East limit of Sundarban Village, and it works as a public recreational space; it is approached not only for fishermen, but also for everyone to swim in the river, or just spend free time in the riverside.

Six years ago, SAFE initiated a first landscape project by planting six beninan trees and numerous bokul trees. The year after, coordinated an initiative to help the young communities to establish the flat surface and corners for a football pitch on this riverside, with exceptional impact in the organization of Dinajpur football leagues, approaching people to sport, that also constitute a recreational attraction open to everyone in the village.

This project has bring an opportunity to complete and reinforce the previously done landscape interventions, by planting 35 new Bell, Boron, Giga and Jam trees, which are autoctonal species.

Medicinal trees Scheme A total of 45 medicinal trees are to be planted in one main connection between Beng-Kali market and the River side. Signs on them explain how trees are beneficial to us, and encourage to people to take care of them. Baskets built from bamboo are used to provide special protection to the smallest and delicate trees, when needed.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Coconuts trees Scheme The last scheme includes the plantation of 50 coconut trees have been given to families of people that has get involved into the organization and implementation of other schemes of the project, and are spread into Danga Para, Sorkar Para, Shiptoli Para, Sakta Para, Noia Para, Dali Mistri Para, Bania Para, Otiloki Para, Khagisha Para, Novo Para, Hetro Shatu Para.

Map of tree planting schemes 38

SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

9. Cement Tiles Machine SAFE has previously developed a sand-cement tile roofing system as an alternative to the more common CI-sheeting. The tiles, shown below form an interlocking corrigated shape which is secured to a bamboo frame for each side of the roof. This stsyem offers improved durability compared to CI-sheeting, particulatly when houses are subject to regular exposure to smoke, if for example cooking is done inside. In addition the concrete tiles are significnatly better at insulating heat during the day, making the internal enviroments much more comfotrable.

SAFE have already implemented some demonstration projects before, showcasing this new technique with a lot of positive interest locally. The production capacity was severly limited by lack of tile moulds and, in particular, a small-scale bicycle driven vibrating machine capable of removing air from liquid concrete for one cement tile at a time.

As part of this project SAFE has adopted this roofing design to promote the benifits to a wider community. In order to successfuly deliver mulitple cement-tile systems, SAFE‘ is desingning and building a new machine that is able to optimize the production process and reduce the cost of the units, and make them more affordable to people.

SAFE has designed a new vibrating machine, powered by an electrical engine. The speed has been calculated using as reference the bike powered one, estimated to move the central bar at 2,000 rpm.

As it can be seen in the image in the right, it is composed by a table 4‘8“ long by 5‘4“ wide, to give room to eight tiles at the time.

Those would be separated 4“ to each other, and the perimeters, so their plastic bases can overlap, and have a comfortable tolerance to work with.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

One side of the net that defines the cast of the sand cement mixture is fixed to the table with hinches, and the other one can be opened and closed with metalic clamps.

The closing system needs to be strong enough to mantain the net fix while the table vibrates, and ease open and close

Also new molds for the tiles have been built as part of this project, in order to increase the daily production capacity.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

10. Evaluation Even if it is still early to evaluate the total impact of the project, SAFE has started observing the results and consequences of the intervention. Has received a number of calls and visits enquiring about the toilets, and the beneficiaries have expressed a general high level of satisfaction.

Map of paras in which SAFE aims to reach with the following phases of the project 41

SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

In order to complete with the strategy initiated with this project, SAFE is aiming to complete a comprehensive intervention over the entire Village, by building at least one latrine and one plinthstructure prototype in each independent Para.

The surveys prepared during the implementation of this project as a starting point, would serve SAFE as the baseline for a longer term masterplan, in which objectives in sanitation and improved living standards will be described with more detail. Being this an exercise that would take time to SAFE to be prepared, just an outline of the initial intervention concept can be described now.

As the next step to follow, SAFE is looking at giving continuity to this project, in order to manage to have at least one latrine and one structure prototypes per Para. 72 latrines and 61 structural prototypes would be needed to complete this target, what would mean, two other phases of comparable size to the on-going project.

As a start for a second phase project, SAFE intends to keep working in the prototypes to reduce the total cost, and at the same time increase the participation of the beneficiaries, and also reduce as much as possible the labour cost, by encouraging people to build themselves with SAFE’s materials.

A third phase, would continue towards the same direction, in a way in which the step after is in when people is able to pay for the total cost of the matereials, and not only the selected beneficiaries can afford a latrine or strong structure, but the wider community.

Evaluation Sheets To evaluate the impact of the project, and also to understand how much people is able and willing to spend in latrines or the structure of their houses, SAFE has undertaken interviews the beneficiaries, and completed evaluation sheets prepared for this purpose, and to keep a record of the implemented works.

The evaluation sheets completed to date are included in this chapter. They collect a positive general feeling, and even though people agrees it the latrines and structures have a fair price, the people won’t be willing to pay for it, as they express they can’t afford it.

Although, the latrine prototype design is been well received, the two septic tanks with Y connection system, siphon, pan and plinth are considered really good quality, the feedback on them goes in most cases to the walls materials, to what all the users would prefer bricks, even if that mean an extra cost.

The feedback provided by the beneficiaries in the evaluation interview that can be read at the end of this chapter, would be considered for the design of the prototype for the following phases. SAFE is studing the way to reduce the cost of the bricks, and an alternative cheaper roofing system.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Latrine Evaluation Sheet Interview date Project Number Name Location

Building start date Duration of works Total cost Contribution

15th December 2014 01 Hashobala Dash Para Block No. 2

2 weeks 14,950 Taka 3,000 Taka

Interview What is the biggest benefit you find in having a latrine, and your overall feeling about it?

Great overall feeling.

The biggest benefit is to not need to go outside, and not have that tension Could you provide SAFE feedback about the design?

Build the walls in brick.

WE have cover the walls in the inner side with a plastic sheet, because the matt allows to see through, and doesn’t provide enough privacy.

Do you think the total price of 15,000 Taka is a fair price?

Yes

Would you be interested on it, even if you have to pay the total price?

No

If not, how much would you be able/willing to pay for it? (if the walls were built in brick)

Up to 7,000

Would you recommend it to your neighbours?

Yes

Do you think you would be able to build it yourself, with the appropriate guidance?

Not to get this quality, we’d need the work of skilled labour Comments Inspired by the technique used in the plinth, the beneficiaries have paint with oxide the plinth of their own baranda, and also build a new staircase

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Latrine Evaluation Sheet Interview date Project Number Name Location

Building start date Duration of works Total cost Contribution

17th December 2014 9 Duryodon Bania Para Block No. 2

2 weeks 15,000 Taka 2,500 Taka

Interview What is the biggest benefit you find in having a latrine, and your overall feeling about it?

Good overall feeling.

The biggest benefit is to not need to go outside, and not having that tension, shame and fear Could you provide SAFE feedback about the design?

Having seen the improved prototype,we‘d prefer it with 1‘ of bricks, and even more if all the walls were brick and the roof was a concrete piece.

Do you think the total price of 15,000 Taka is a fair price?

Yes

Would you be interested on it, even if you have to pay the total price?

Yes, but it would take us 5 or 6 years to save the money for it.

If not, how much would you be able/willing to pay for it?

-

Would you recommend it to your neighbours?

Yes

Do you think you would be able to build it yourself, with the appropriate guidance?

Yes, but we would need SAFE‘s technical advice and borrow the tools and drill machine.

Comments They request a brush and cleaning products for the appropriate maintainance of the latrine.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Latrine Evaluation Sheet Interview date Project Number Name Location

Building start date Duration of works Total cost Contribution

15th December 2014 19 (Shobach) Shutika Satia Para Block No. 2

2 weeks 16,000 Taka 2,000 Taka

Interview What is the biggest benefit you find in having a latrine, and your overall feeling about it?

Good overall feeling.

The biggest benefit is to not need to go outside, where we were afraid of being seen, and interrupted. Also concerned of the environmental impact.

Could you provide SAFE feedback about the design (design type 2, with 1‘ brick)?

Build the walls in brick instead of bamboo matt.

Roofing in CI-sheet.

Do you think the total price of 15,000 Taka is a fair price?

Yes

Would you be interested on it, even if you have to pay the total price?

No

If not, how much would you be able/willing to pay for it?

5,000

Would you recommend it to your neighbours?

Yes

Do you think you would be able to build it yourself, with the appropriate guidance?

No, we would need expert labour.

Comments Women are not using the latrine while they are cooking, to avoid getting dirty.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Latrine Evaluation Sheet Interview date Project Number Name Location

Building start date Duration of works Total cost Contribution

15th December 2014 28 Romanat / Nippi Danga Para Block No. 2

2 weeks 16,000 Taka 2,500 Taka

Interview What is the biggest benefit you find in having a latrine, and your overall feeling about it?

Good overall feeling.

The biggest benefit is to not need to go outside.

Could you provide SAFE feedback about the design?

Build the walls in brick instead of bamboo matt.

Roofing in concrete.

To provide a brush for the mainteinance Do you think the total price of 15,000 Taka is a fair price?

Yes

Would you be interested on it, even if you have to pay the total price?

No

If not, how much would you be able/willing to pay for it?

4,000 Taka for this desgn, 5,000 if the walls were built in brick.

Would you recommend it to your neighbours?

Yes

Do you think you would be able to build it yourself, with the appropriate guidance?

Yes, because my husband is a skilled labour.

Comments The beneficiaries house is in very good condition, build in bricks, with a metalic door.

The place is well maintained, clean and tidy.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Material Support Evaluation Sheet 15th December 2014 1 Shoshodor /Radika Doroshon Para Block No.3 Building start date 15th November 2014 Duration of works 4 days Prototype total cost 12,000 Taka 2,000 Taka Contribution 10,000 Taka Completion cost 12 days / 2 people Completion time 15‘ x 9‘ Plinth Size Interview date Project Number Name Location

Design

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Interview What is the biggest benefit you find in the material support scheme received, and your overall feeling about it?

We are very happy with the scheme.

The biggest benefit we see is the structure and plinth look much stronger and resistant.

What materials did you use for the completion? Did you recycle any materials?

For the roof, bamboo beams covered with wheat straw on the baranda, and CI-sheet on the room.The walls are bamboo matt covered with mud.

CI sheet and somebamboo matt are recycled from the previous house Could you provide SAFE feedback about the design?

To increase the proportion of cement in the plinth, and to use sticky mud.

Do you think the total price of 12,000 Taka is a fair price?

Yes

Would you be interested on it, even if you have to pay the total price?

No

If not, how much would you be able/willing to pay for it?

10,000

Would you recommend it to your neighbours?

Yes

Do you think you would be able to build it yourself, with the appropriate guidance?

Yes, because my husband is a skilled labour.

Was your previous house self built?

Yes What materials did you used for plinth, foundations and structure?

Mud for the plinth, bamboo for the structure, CI sheet for the roof, and bamboo matt covered with mud for the walls.

Comments

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Material Support Evaluation Sheet 15th December 2014 2 Bishoya Dash Para Block No.2 Building start date 25th November 2014 Duration of works 4 days Prototype total cost 13,260 Taka 2,000 Taka Contribution 15,000 Taka Completion cost 8 days / 2 people Completion time 15‘ x 9‘ Plinth Size Interview date Project Number Name Location

Design

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Interview What is the biggest benefit you find in the material support scheme received, and your overall feeling about it?

We are very happy, it feels very good quality.

The biggest benefit for us has been to receive materials and skill labour funded by German Embassy.

In what it regards to the house, the strenth of the structure, and the floor being as dry to sleep on top with no matt.

What materials did you use for the completion? Did you recycle any materials?

Walls are CI-Sheet and bamboo sticks to keep it rigid; roof is a CI-Sheet with a secondary structure in bamboo. No recycled materials.

Could you provide SAFE feedback about the design?

To use more posts, to make the structure even stronger.

Do you think the total price of 12,000 Taka is a fair price?

Yes

Would you be interested on it, even if you have to pay the total price?

No

If not, how much would you be able/willing to pay for it?

3,000

Would you recommend it to your neighbours?

Yes

Do you think you would be able to build it yourself, with the appropriate guidance?

No Was your previous house self built?

Just plinth and walls, and we paid someone to set up the roof.

What materials did you used for plinth, foundations and structure?

Plinth and walls were done in mud. The roof was a CI-sheet with bamboo beams.

Comments

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Material Support Evaluation Sheet 17th December 2014 3 Shaviti Dulal Kura Para Block No.3 Building start date 25th November 2014 Duration of works 4 days Prototype total cost 12,000 Taka 2,000 Taka Contribution 23,000 Taka Completion cost 9 days / 2 people Completion time 15‘ x 9‘ Plinth Size Interview date Project Number Name Location

Design

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Interview What is the biggest benefit you find in the material support scheme received, and your overall feeling about it?

We feel very happy and like the plinth and frame.

The biggest benefit we see the strenth of the structure, but also like the plinth.

What materials did you use for the completion? Did you recycle any materials?

The roof is a recycled CI-Sheet with a secondary structure in bamboo Walls are new CI-Sheet and bamboo sticks to keep it rigid.

Could you provide SAFE feedback about the design?

To use more posts, to make the structure even stronger.

Do you think the total price of 12,000 Taka is a fair price?

Yes

Would you be interested on it, even if you have to pay the total price?

No

If not, how much would you be able/willing to pay for it?

5,000

Would you recommend it to your neighbours?

Yes

Do you think you would be able to build it yourself, with the appropriate guidance?

Yes, but we’d need SAFE’s technical advice.

Was your previous house self built?

Yes What materials did you used for plinth, foundations and structure?

Plinth and walls were done in mud. Bamboo frame and CI-sheet roof with bamboo beams.

Comments

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Material Support Evaluation Sheet 17th December 2014 6 Duryodon Takur Para Block No.2 Building start date 25th November 2014 Duration of works 4 days Prototype total cost 12,000 Taka 3,000 Taka Contribution 22,000 Taka Completion cost 20 days / 2 people Completion time Interview date Project Number Name Location

Plinth Size

15‘ x 9‘

Design

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Interview What is the biggest benefit you find in the material support scheme received, and your overall feeling about it?

We feel very happy and like very much the plinth and structure.

The biggest benefit we precieve is the plinth, that is clean and dry.

What materials did you use for the completion? Did you recycle any materials?

Walls are new bamboo matts, and roof is a recycled CI-Sheet with a secondary structure in bamboo.

Could you provide SAFE feedback about the design?

To use more posts, for the support of the walls.

Do you think the total price of 12,000 Taka is a fair price?

Yes, is cheap. I’d value it in 14,000 Taka.

Would you be interested on it, even if you have to pay the total price?

No

If not, how much would you be able/willing to pay for it?

5,000

Would you recommend it to your neighbours?

Yes

Do you think you would be able to build it yourself, with the appropriate guidance?

No. Was your previous house self built?

No. Our family is dedicated to be spiritual leaders, so we’d pay someone to build the house.

What materials did you used for plinth, foundations and structure?

Mud plinth, bamboo frame, bamboo matt for walls, and CI-sheet roof.

Comments The walls and roof have been really well built, further better than others.

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Conclusions on evaluation As SAFE has seen and understand during the implementation of the project, community meetings and the surveys undertaken, latrines, strong structures, stabilized plinths or showers, haven’t even been considered a need for many members of the communities.

Even if all the interviewed beneficiaries believe the total cost of SAFE’s constructions and latrines is a fair price, almost none of them would be willing to get it, if it was needed to pay for the whole amount.

One of the biggest achievements has been to generate the aspiration for an improved house or sanitation condition; although, the most of them consider themselves unable to afford a latrine or a structure, in the interviews to the beneficiaries of material support schemes, it has been key to observe that families have spent up to 25,000 taka for the completion of roofs or walls, in the most of the cases still of very poor standards, being this double of the price of the works implemented.

The size of the project, with a large amount of latrines and structures implement, and a big extension covered with SAFE’s work, have had a strong impact, perceived for a population of over 10,000 people, which is a third of the Sundarban Village, and directly helped more than 300 beneficiaries.

Looking forward, SAFE aims to continue encouraging people to invest more in their houses and sanitation, invest in using better materials, comunicate the importance of the mainteinance, and at the same time study the way to reduce the cost of the construction materials, prototypes of latrines and shelters.

Simple Action For the Environment - SAFE Sundarban Village. PO: Ramdubiat. Upuzila: Sadar Dinajpur Social Welfare Registration Number:DINAJ/2133/10 Registered under: Niraporth Bangladesh Songstha (Safe Bangladesh Organisation)

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SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative

Aknowledgements To all those who have made possible this project.

Azit, Pulin, Parimal and Uzzal, SAFE staff directing and coordinating works, attending office and accountancy duties, encharged of community engagement, meetings and workshops.

Tom Hallewell, Paul Dryton, Joe Hook, John Arnold, giving technical advice, preparing the application, following the project processes, and providing support in the elaboration of the surveys and reports.

Dinobundu, Shodtar, Tolindro, Mushnu, Surendro, Shondro, Bikash, Conoc, Roton, Olonto and Pulin, for an exceptional and continuous work in the implementation of the latrines and material support schemes.

To the German Embassy of Dhaka, for trusting in SAFE the implementation of the project SAFE Dinajpur Rural Development Initiative, within their scheme of Small-Scale Projectws for Development and Cooperation 2013-14.

Pleased to work with all the above mentioned people, and the chance of having a participation on this project and writing this report.

Marta Postigo

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