From Margins to Leadership: Impact Assessment of the CCK Project on Women's Empowerment and Resilience in Munda Indigenous Communities

The study "Impact Assessment: CCK Project on Women’s Empowerment & Resilience" is a critical evaluation of a specialized initiative (formally titled Creating Women Leadership for Resilience) focused on the Munda Adibasi people—one of the most marginalized and climate-vulnerable Indigenous communities in coastal Bangladesh, specifically in areas like Shyamnagar, Satkhira. The study examines the project's success in shifting women from the "margins" of society into active leadership roles, focusing on four primary pillars of impact:

1. Transformative Leadership & Governance

The assessment measures how Munda women have transitioned into decision-making roles. A core success identified is the organization of women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs). These groups serve as platforms for collective advocacy, leading to formal recognition in local government standing committees (such as those for disaster management and education) and the establishment of Social Cooperatives.

2. Climate Resilience & Adaptive Capacity

Given the community’s location in a high-risk climate zone, the study evaluates "empowered resilience." This goes beyond surviving cyclones or floods; it assesses how women lead the community’s response to climate shocks through disaster preparedness and the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.

3. Livelihood Security & Economic Agency

The assessment tracks the shift from predatory, high-interest debt to sustainable finance. Key metrics include:

Revolving Loans: The impact of community-led lending in replacing exploitative moneylenders.

Market Access: The success of collective advocacy in securing "women-friendly markets" where Indigenous traders can operate with safety and dignity.

Income Growth: Evaluating the increase in household income and women’s control over those financial assets.

4. Social Justice & Rights

The study highlights significant social transformations, notably a "zero child marriage" milestone within project-supported communities. It also assesses the reduction of gender-based discrimination and the increase in women’s "voice" regarding household and community-wide decisions.

• Research Project