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Building resilience in the chars of Bangladesh: An impact assessment

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  • Farzana Misha
  • Syeda Sitwat Shahed
  • Natascha Wagner
  • Arjun Bedi

Abstract

Recent evidence highlights that integrated interventions have sustainable impacts on household welfare. This paper evaluates the ‘Char Development and Settlement Program,’ which targets marginalized, coastal populations of Bangladesh and is implemented by the NGO BRAC, which pioneers integrated programs in over 20 countries. The analysis exploits household panel data (2012, 2016) for over 2500 households living in 11 chars to measure the impact of a programme, comprising microfinance, health services and legal aid. Employing a difference‐in‐difference approach, we find considerable, programme‐induced increases in consumption, food security and legal awareness suggesting that an integrated ‘big push’ is efficient for poverty alleviation.

Suggested Citation

  • Farzana Misha & Syeda Sitwat Shahed & Natascha Wagner & Arjun Bedi, 2022. "Building resilience in the chars of Bangladesh: An impact assessment," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(8), pages 1547-1569, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:34:y:2022:i:8:p:1547-1569
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.3653
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