BRINGING BACK THE
        WATER
        IMPACT STORY ON DAM CONSTRUCTION
       In  Cox’s  Bazar  (an  area  in  Bangladesh 
       hosting the world's largest refugee camp 
       complex),  both  host  and  Rohingya 
       community  experience  perennial  water 
       problems which has limited productive               “Around 120 decimal land is 
       use of land and ability to meet basic needs         now suitable for farming in 
       such  as  bathing,  cooking,  and  washing.         dry season as well as whole 
       Rainy seasons have been unpredictable               year. Homestead gardening, 
       and  ranged  from  acute  shortages  to             daily activities like washing, 
       deadly  torrential  rains  which  often  see 
       communities experiencing 5-6 months of              cooking etc. are easy-going 
       water shortages during the dry season.              now”
                                                           - Alam (50), community member
      Agriculture being the main livelihood activity, host community members 
      depend on water but during the troubled season, communities 
      temporarily shift into menial jobs that include cutting bamboos from 
      nearby  shrubs,  rickshaw  pulling,  or  work  for  building  construction. 
      Recurrent water problems prompted community meetings subsequently 
      leading  to  suggestions  for  a  dam  construction.  Having  known  about 
      community water problems through discussions with the community, 
      DRC through funding from DANIDA implemented a livelihoods project in 
      collaboration with the community to ease the water problems.
       The  project  aimed  to  improve  waste  management  and  stewardships  of 
       natural resources in refugee settlements and host communities through the 
       implementation of generative circular economy solutions. A component of 
       the livelihood project focused on dam construction and stablishment of a 
       rainwater reservoir which were complemented by local community support 
       with  seed  distribution,  cash  for  work  opportunities,  bamboo  plants, 
       agricultural  equipment,  livestock  support  etc.  DRC  provided  technical 
       assistance during dam construction. About 40 -45 community members aged 
       18-55 years provided labour support compensated as cash for work. Mr. Alam 
       (50) and Mahmuddul Hoque (27) were among the participants.  
    “I was a day labour before 
    and now I am a farmer as 
    water scarcity has reduced 
    enabling me to be able to 
    do homestead farming. So, 
    I think my life is changing.”
    - Shirajul Hoque (32),
    community member
       As  a  result  of  the  dam  construction,  a  lot  of  major  changes  have  been 
       brought about in the local community. Some major changes involve reduced 
       dependence on negative coping mechanisms, independent decision making 
       and engagement in productive activities such as livestock husbandry. Idle 
       lands are being utilised to grow crops and vegetables and community 
       members are noting some indications of household economic stability. “The 
       major changes happened in January 2021, after the Dam construction and 
       everyone is enjoying farming now,” Mr. Alam added. The advisor of Water 
       User Group Mr. Iqbal stated, “Families strife’s are now less than before as 
       these were mainly happening because of poverty. Women empowerment is 
       improving as some income generating opportunities in agriculture have 
       been created. Previously it was prohibited for women to go out for earning 
       but currently, specially by homestead gardening they can support their 
       family economically without going outside of their locality”.
       A community member, Ms. Rajia Begum (38) mentioned “Though it’s in small 
       quantity, I am selling my harvest regularly now what I could not be able to do 
       previously.” Mr. Alam, talked about some important positive changes that 
       have been experienced in their local community. He added “Life changes in 
       the community, as we are now using our time fully through the whole year. 
       In previous we had to do our daily activities with very limited water, however 
       now we can use water whenever and however we want”. 
                      “I can now take decisions 
                      for the family, since I am 
                      earning from cultivation”. 
                      - Rajia Begum (38), community member
   Rajia dreams to educate her daughters and not to get marry below 18. From the dam 
   construction intervention, some long-term effects are expected at community level. 
   Mr. Sayed Mia, the chairperson of a local agricultural organisation stated, “Now almost 
   300-400 beneficiaries benefitted from the dam construction while in the long run, 
   approximately  2000  families  may  be  reached”.  The  community  in  general  expect 
   continued water availability which shall create further opportunities for cultivation, 
   self-employment, increased use of land and a gradual improvement on the community 
   living standards.
   In future, Mr. Alam want to stablish himself as a master farmer. Mr. Mohammad Iqbal, 
   the  member of Union Parishad emphasised “since DRC has activated the existing 
   committee “Krishi Sangathan” the committee will take lead to sustain the progress of 
   economic and other social activities which include opportunities income generating, 
   agriculture self-dependence mindset, skill development and safe water access etc.
   Key  lessons  generated  from  the  project  relate  to  the  significance  of  community 
   involvement,  stablishment  of  Water  User  Group  and  participation  which  offered 
   opportunities for skill development and ownership.