Assignment Name: Mahalla and Resource Mapping, Urban Profiling, and Poverty Assessment in Six Cities Under Livelihood Improvement of Urban Poor Communities (LIUPC) Project

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The “Mahalla and Resource Mapping, Urban Profiling, and Poverty Assessment in Six Cities” was a strategic initiative under the National Urban Poverty Reduction Programme (NUPRP), implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh. This assignment aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of urban poverty, resources, and socio-economic conditions across six selected cities: Khulna, Chittagong, Sylhet, Barisal, Mymensingh, and Chandpur. The project, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), sought to enhance urban planning, poverty alleviation, and resource allocation efforts by delivering granular data and GIS-based maps of mahallas and community resources.

The primary objective was to prepare urban profiles and poverty assessments, identifying existing resources and vulnerabilities at the community level. This included mapping physical and social infrastructure, analyzing socio-economic conditions, and identifying gaps and opportunities for urban development. The results were intended to inform evidence-based decision-making, participatory urban planning, and sustainable poverty reduction strategies.

The project involved active participation of local communities, municipal authorities, and stakeholders at various levels to ensure inclusivity and ownership. By integrating participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools and advanced GIS technologies, the study provided detailed visualizations and datasets, supporting resource planning and policy interventions for urban resilience.

The following activities were conducted by the DM WATCH team:

Project Inception and Planning:

• Conducted inception meetings with UNDP and municipal authorities to define the scope of work, finalize methodologies, and align expectations.
• Reviewed existing data sources, including GIS databases, demographic surveys, and infrastructure inventories, to establish a foundational understanding of each city’s context.

Tool Development and Capacity Building:

• Developed customized tools for data collection, including structured questionnaires, PRA guidelines, and resource mapping templates.
• Conducted training sessions for field teams, including enumerators and workshop facilitators, focusing on data collection protocols, GIS mapping, and participatory techniques.

Base Map Preparation:

• Collected satellite imagery and GIS shape files from city corporations and municipalities.
• Created ward-level and city-level base maps, integrating satellite data with local boundary demarcations, to support resource and mahalla mapping activities.

Participatory Data Collection:

• Organized 165 ward-level workshops across six cities, engaging community representatives, ward councilors, and local stakeholders.
• Facilitated participatory demarcation of mahalla boundaries, identification of community resources, and socio-economic profiling using PRA tools.
• Collected detailed data on community assets, including schools, health facilities, markets, water sources, sanitation facilities, and roads.

Mahalla Resource Mapping and Urban Profiling:

• Prepared GIS-based maps of mahalla boundaries and resources for each ward, visualizing key infrastructure and socio-economic indicators.
• Conducted data analysis to create ward profiles, highlighting disparities in resource distribution, access to services, and poverty levels.

Poverty Assessment:

• Assessed socio-economic vulnerabilities using a combination of household surveys, focus group discussions, and secondary data analysis.
• Developed indicators to evaluate living conditions, employment opportunities, and access to basic services across urban poor settlements.

Quality Assurance and Validation:

• Verified collected data through field visits, community consultations, and cross-referencing with existing databases.
• Conducted validation workshops with city corporations and municipalities to refine findings and incorporate stakeholder feedback.

Report Preparation and Deliverables:

• Produced urban profiles, poverty assessment reports, and ward atlases for all six cities, detailing mahalla-wise socio-economic conditions and resource availability.
• Delivered GIS shape files and datasets, providing a comprehensive digital resource for urban planning and policy development.

Stakeholder Engagement and Dissemination:

• Organized city-level dissemination workshops to share findings with government officials, community leaders, and development partners.
• Presented actionable recommendations for addressing urban poverty, improving resource allocation, and enhancing community resilience.

Key Deliverables:

• GIS-based maps of mahalla boundaries and community resources for 165 wards.
• Urban profiles and poverty assessment reports for six cities.
• Digital datasets and shape files, supporting evidence-based urban planning.
• Comprehensive ward atlases, highlighting socio-economic and infrastructural conditions.

The Mahalla and Resource Mapping and Urban Profiling project provided an innovative approach to understanding urban poverty and resource distribution, enabling more targeted and sustainable urban development interventions. The participatory methodology ensured community ownership and enhanced the relevance of the findings for long-term urban resilience and poverty alleviation efforts.