Assignment Name: Situational Analysis of the New Rural Sponsorship Program

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: Save The Children

The “Situational Analysis of New Rural Sponsorship Program” was conducted under Save the Children’s “Shishuder Jonno” Integrated Child Development Program (ICDP) to assess the existing conditions and resource availability in two selected Upazilas of Barisal District—Muladi and Bakerganj. The New Rural Sponsorship Program, funded by Save the Children, aimed to invest in six core sectors: Early Childhood Care & Development (ECCD), Basic Education (BE), Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health & Nutrition (MNCHN), Adolescent Development (AD), and Child Protection (CP) to support the holistic growth of children and adolescents. It also integrated cross-cutting components, including community mobilization, gender, sustainability, child rights, and inclusion.

The study’s overall goal was to identify and prioritize challenges, their underlying causes, and potential solutions while mapping existing and potential resources in the community to design demand-driven child development programs. Using a holistic approach, the analysis captured detailed insights into the socio-economic, educational, health, and child protection scenarios of the target areas.

Key objectives of the study included:

• Conducting a needs assessment to identify gaps in access to education, health, nutrition, and child protection services.
• Mapping existing development initiatives and stakeholders to understand the resource landscape.
• Identifying systemic challenges, including governance and implementation barriers, to guide program design.
• Proposing actionable recommendations to develop a demand-driven, child-centered sponsorship program.

The study employed qualitative methods, including Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), In-Depth Interviews (IDIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), at the national, district, and community levels. Profiles for the Upazilas and Unions in Barisal were created using GIS mapping and secondary data to facilitate the selection of target areas and draw relative comparisons.

This initiative laid the groundwork for an evidence-based sponsorship program tailored to address the unique needs of children and adolescents in Muladi and Bakerganj.

Study Design and Planning:

• Designed a qualitative research framework aligned with Save the Children’s Common Approach to Sponsorship-funded Programming (CASP) modules.
• Developed data collection tools, including interview guides and FGD protocols, to gather insights across six core sectors.
• Secured ethical approval and permissions from relevant authorities, ensuring compliance with data protection and confidentiality standards.

Secondary Data Review and GIS Mapping:

• Conducted extensive secondary data reviews to collect baseline information on demographic, socio-economic, and service availability indicators.
• Prepared GIS-based profiles for Barisal District, including Upazila- and Union-level maps, to assist in site selection and draw relative comparisons.

Primary Data Collection:

• Conducted 83 KIIs at national and district levels with government officials, civil society representatives, and local stakeholders.
• Facilitated 32 FGDs with diverse groups, including parents, children, teachers, and School Management Committees (SMCs).
• Conducted IDIs with service providers, local leaders, and representatives of key ministries, focusing on sector-specific challenges and resources.

Stakeholder Mapping and Analysis:

• Mapped existing development interventions, stakeholders, and community resources in the study areas.
• Assessed governance and systemic gaps in service delivery across ECCD, Basic Education, MNCHN, WASH, Adolescent Development, and Child Protection.

Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Used thematic and statistical analysis to triangulate qualitative and secondary data findings.
• Identified key challenges, gaps in service delivery, and potential areas for intervention.
• Synthesized findings into a comprehensive report covering core and cross-cutting components, including community mobilization, gender, and sustainability.

Program Design Workshop:

• Presented study findings in a program design workshop attended by stakeholders from Save the Children, local government, and NGOs.
• Facilitated discussions on designing demand-driven child development programs tailored to the needs of children in Muladi and Bakerganj.

Capacity Building and Advocacy:

• Engaged with local stakeholders to raise awareness of child rights, governance issues, and service gaps.
• Provided recommendations for strengthening institutional and community-level capacity to support child development programs.

Final Reporting and Dissemination:

• Prepared and submitted a detailed final report, including thematic findings, GIS maps, and actionable recommendations.
• Delivered tools and methodologies to Save the Children to guide program implementation and monitoring.

By integrating a holistic, evidence-based approach, the study provided Save the Children with a strategic foundation to design and implement a targeted sponsorship program that addresses the critical needs of children and adolescents in Barisal District.