Program 5: Sustainable People's Organization, Partnership for Networking and Capacity Building
This program embodies Shushilan's founding dream — expressed at its very inception in a remote village in 1991 — to build up a people's organization. More than a program, it is the organizing philosophy that runs through all of Shushilan's work: the belief that development is sustainable only when communities own it, and that the organization's ultimate purpose is to nurture strong, self-governing institutions that will outlast any single project.
At its core, the program develops people's organizations as durable community structures through which the poor plan, save, advocate and act collectively. Shushilan has fostered eight distinct types of people's organization and supported the formation of about 10,000 POs, ranging from women's associations and village development committees to youth and community bodies. Capacity building of development partners is the second focus: recognizing that a resilient civil society needs many capable actors, Shushilan invests in training for community-based organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs) and youth — covering skills development, human development, organizational management and leadership.
Mass awareness is the third pillar. Drawing on Shushilan's distinctive cultural approach — picture dramas, community theatre, songs and more than 70 types of cultural communication material used in over 7,000 performances — the program spreads knowledge on rights, health, gender, disaster preparedness and social issues in ways that resonate deeply in rural communities. Lasting networks amplify community voice at scale: the Oitiyyo Forum (around 50 NGOs), the Sadhikar women's network, the Shuvoshakti youth network, and the Oikkoyatan network of community clubs and CBOs. By placing ownership, capacity and awareness in the hands of communities themselves, the programme transforms beneficiaries into a lasting people's movement — the fullest realization of the organization's original vision.
Key Activities
- People's organization development (8 types; about 10,000 POs)
- Capacity building of development partners (CSOs, youth)
- Training: skills and human development
- Mass awareness program (cultural communication, community theatre, picture drama)
- Exposure visits
Related Projects
| SL# | Project Name | Donor / Partner | Duration | Working Area | Budget (BDT) | Short Overview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | People's Organization | People's organizations & Shushilan | Established & continuing | Different districts: Ward, Union, Upazila, District level | 55,274,562 | Community-based people's organizations in eight categories (citizens', youth, women's, farmers', WASH, climate groups, CIG) driving local social change. |
| 2. | Youth Resilient, Interconnected, Socially Cohesive and Engaged (YouthRISE) | USAID / IRC | Feb 2022 – Jan 2025 | Ukhiya & Teknaf upazila, Cox's Bazar | 24,286,152 | Builds youth resilience in host communities to resolve local conflict peacefully and reduce involvement in violence. |
| 3. | Youth Empowerment for Social Cohesion (YESC) Activity | USAID | Jul 2020 – Jun 2023 | Ukhiya (Rajapalong & Ratnapalong Unions), Cox's Bazar | 15,750,829 | Fosters peace, health and opportunity for host communities affected by the Rohingya crisis through youth engagement. |
| 4. | Youth Resilient, Interconnected, Socially Cohesive and Engaged (YouthRISE) | USAID / IRC | Feb 2022 – Jan 2025 | Ukhiya & Teknaf, Cox's Bazar | 8,400,000 | Builds youth resilience in host communities to resolve local conflict peacefully and reduce involvement in violence. |
| 5. | Platform for Dialogue (P4D) | British Council | Jul 2018 – Mar 2022 | Avaynagar, Kachya & Sadar of Gopalganj, Pirojpur, Patuakhali | 133,251,238 | Strengthens democratic ownership and improves accountability mechanisms in Bangladesh. |
| 6. | LEAD Bangladesh | British Council | Mar 2021 – Oct 2022 | Khulna City Corporation (Ward 3, 11, 16 & 17) | 432,705 | Empowers young people as skilled leaders to take on key challenges of Bangladesh's development. |
| 7. | SHUDIN – Enhancing Women's Contribution in Nutrition Sensitive Aquaculture Project | WorldFish Bangladesh | Jul 2019 – Aug 2020 | Shyamnagar upazila, Satkhira | 10,000,000 | Increases nutrition-sensitive aquaculture practices and diet diversity for under-five children and pregnant/lactating women. |
| 8. | Platform for Dialogue (P4D) | British Council | Jul 2017 – Sep 2022 | Bagerhat, Jessore, Khulna | 77,350,533 | Strengthens democratic ownership and improves accountability mechanisms in Bangladesh. |
| 9. | Professional Outsourcing Training and Employment Services for IT/ITES Industry | British Council | Jan 2019 – ongoing | Khulna | 27,000,000 | Builds the capacity of unemployed youth in IT/ITES outsourcing and ensures employment in global outsourcing markets. |
| 10. | International Citizen Services (ICS) Project | VSO Bangladesh | Mar 2017 – Feb 2020 | Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat | 809,409 | Raises awareness on governance and reproductive-health rights and improves livelihoods through youth clubs. |
| 11. | Active Citizen Project | British Council | Jun 2018 – Mar 2019 | Khulna, Pirojpur & Satkhira | 1,150,000 | Promotes community cohesion and improvement through civic engagement and youth leadership development. |
| 12. | National Citizen Service (NCS) | Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Bangladesh | May 2018 – Apr 2019 | Shyamnagar upazila, Satkhira | 1,334,667 | Promotes community leadership and livelihoods by developing volunteers' capacity through training and courtyard sessions. |
| 13. | Promoting Democratic Inclusion and Governance through Youth project (PRODIGY II) | British Council | Jul 2017 – May 2019 | Dumuria upazila, Khulna | 1,981,813 | Promotes community cohesion through advocacy and leadership training and sets up a youth network. |
| 14. | Resilience through Economic Empowerment, Climate Adaptation, Leadership and Learning (REE-CALL) | Oxfam | Aug 2017 – Mar 2018 | Shyamnagar, Satkhira | 10,000,000 (exp.) | Builds community and local-government capacity to anticipate and cope with climate and disaster-related challenges. |
| 15. | Promoting Democratic Inclusion and Governance through Youth project (PRODIGY) | British Council | Jul 2016 – Mar 2017 | Dumuria, Rupsha, Dighalia (Khulna); Patharghata (Barguna) | 281,000 (exp.) | Promotes community cohesion through advocacy and leadership training for over 700 young people and a networking event. |
| 16. | PRODIGY (Promoting Democratic Inclusion and Governance through Youth) | British Council & US State Department | Oct 2014 – Jun 2016 | Khornia, Dumuria & Shovna union (Dumuria, Khulna) | 3,077,900 | Increases people's participation at local-level institutions through trained youth to ensure transparency and accountability. |
| 17. | Active Citizen Project | British Council | Jul 2015 – Mar 2016 | Dumuria, Rupsha, Dighalia & KCC (Khulna); Patharghata, Dirgha, Nazirpur union (Pirojpur) | 1,800,000 | Promotes community cohesion and improvement through civic engagement and youth leadership development. |
| 18. | Resilience through Economic Empowerment, Climate Adaptation, Leadership and Learning (REE-CALL) | OXFAM | Jul 2015 – Apr 2016 | Shyamnagar (Satkhira) | 37,692,649 | Builds resilience via homestead raising, rainwater harvesting, DRR training, forestation and women's entrepreneurship. |
| 19. | Active Citizens Youth Training Program | British Council | Jul 2011 – Mar 2015 | Shyamnagar Upazila, Khulna City Corporation, Dacope & Dumuria Upazila | 1,230,000 | Builds youth leadership and Social Action Projects (SAP) for community cohesion and civic engagement. |
| 20. | Resilience through Economic and Climate Adaptation, Leadership, Learning (RECALL) | Oxfam | Jul 2010 – Mar 2015 | Shyamnagar Upazila (Satkhira) | 30,000,000 | Builds CBO leaders' capacity, contingency planning, seed/food banks and women's WASH platforms. |