FSA MODEL FOR EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH AGRO-BASED NUTRITION SUPPL Y CHAIN
Developing a sustainable network of women micro-entrepreneurs for promoting nutrition and WASH by sellling fresh agricultural , nutrition and WASH products and services in the their ocmmunities. iSocial facilited buliding up shops and faciliatetd to reduce entry barriers and built capacity through training. Two traning manuas have been developed. Also the digital version of the training manuals have been uplaoded on www.iskill.one platform.
Project timeline:
Jan, 2021 – Jan, 2022
Partners:
- Abt Associates Inc.
- USAID
Project objective:
The primary objective of this project, a collaboration between Bangladesh Nutrition Association (BNA) and iSocial, is to establish a sustainable network of Last Mile Sales Agents (LMSA) in selected Upazilas of Faridpur and Patuakhali districts to improve rural households’ access to nutritious food and WASH products, generate income for local entrepreneurs (especially women), and raise awareness on nutrition, women’s empowerment, and improved WASH behaviors.
More specifically, iSocial aims to:
- Implement a network of 120 Last Mile Sales Agents (FSAs) across 18 Growth Centers under 6 Upazilas in Patuakhali and Faridpur districts.
- Provide income opportunities for these entrepreneurs by offering essential products and services at doorsteps or convenient community locations.
- Ensure “nutrition” and health services for rural households in the target areas.
- Meet the demands of essential products and services for BoP populations, with a focus on women, children, and adolescents.
Project outcome:
- Established Last Mile Sales Agent (LMSA) Network: 120 Last Mile Sales Agents (FSAs) are recruited, onboarded, trained, and established across 6 Upazillas in Faridpur and Patuakhali districts.
- Functional Hub Offices: Six hub offices are set up in the target Upazilas to manage FSA teams, facilitate supply chains, and serve as training centers.
- Trained Field Officers (ToT): Six field officers receive master training on the FSA module, enabling them to train and coach FSAs and ensure quality demand creation.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration: Eight stakeholder engagement workshops are conducted with government officials and food vendors to inform them about the project goals and foster collaboration for supply chain support and community acceptance of FSAs.
- Completed Need Assessment Survey: A comprehensive need assessment survey is conducted across all 6 Upazillas, providing insights into community buying behavior and business scope for FSAs, and identifying desired products.
- Developed Training Content: A curriculum for LMSAs is developed through a content development workshop with internal and external specialists, focusing on health, hygiene, nutrition, financial inclusion, agriculture, and SBC.
- Branded Sales Points: 120 sales points (FSA houses/shops) are branded with customized signboards and arrow signs to establish them as identifiable service providers in the community, supporting both door-to-door and shop-based sales.
- Operational Digital Ecosystem: A digital ecosystem is operational, allowing suppliers to offer products, buyers to access them at doorsteps, and Kallyanis to place orders, make payments, and record sales via a mobile app (“Shujog”).
- Developed Specialized Kallyani Categories: Specialized Kallyanis such as Shasthyo Kallyani (healthcare), Kishori Kallyani (adolescent care), Tothyo Kallyani (SBCC and data collection), and Krishi Kallyani (agriculture) are developed or envisioned.
- Functional Independent Fulfillment Service Network (NextMile): A network for storage and delivery from Upazila to household level is being developed/operational, providing an additional supply chain solution.
- Established Supply Chain Mechanism: Field officers and iSocial sales/supply chain teams establish contacts with vendors for perishable products, and FSAs utilize multiple platforms (digital, call center, FO communication) for order placement and delivery coordination.
Locations the project served: Patuakhali, Faridpur
Impact:
- Increased Social and Economic Empowerment of Women and Adolescents (IR 2): Women and adolescents gain income-generating opportunities through entrepreneurship as Last Mile Sales Agents, and their role as decision-makers and change agents regarding nutrition and WASH is strengthened.
- Improved Access to Nutritious Food and WASH Products: Rural households, particularly women, children, and adolescents, gain easy and convenient access to essential nutritious food and WASH products at their doorsteps, leading to improved consumption and adoption of better practices.
- Enhanced Nutrition Outcomes (IR 1): Improved nutrition outcomes for children under 5, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescents through increased consumption of nutritious, diverse, and safe diets.
- Adoption of Improved WASH Practices (IR 3): Increased adoption of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene practices among target households.
- Increased Knowledge and Awareness: Female household members, and the broader community, benefit from increased awareness on the consumption of nutritious food, women empowerment, and improved WASH behavior facilitated by FSAs.
- Sustainable Micro-Franchise Business Model: Creation of a sustainable micro-franchise-based supply chain model that serves community needs in multiple SDG impact areas, including decent job creation, nutrition, and partnerships, with the potential for replication.
- Increased Income and Food Security for Small-Scale Aquaculture Farmers: Through a potential future expansion, small-scale aquaculture farmers gain access to authentic inputs and knowledge, leading to increased income, improved family nutrition, and contributions to food security.
- Job Creation for Young Population: The project directly contributes to creating job opportunities for the young population, especially women, through the Kallyani and Sukormi network.
- Data-Driven Market Insights: The use of digital platforms by Kallyanis generates valuable insights for suppliers and policymakers regarding sales and order placement, addressing the lack of data-driven approaches in the market.
- Empowered Entrepreneurs: The training and continuous monitoring help entrepreneurs become experts in business, enabling them to provide healthy and safe living to the population through a developed business cycle.