Narrative Description of the Project:

Fresh markets are the primary source of food for Dhaka residents. Around 85% of Dhaka's population relies on fresh markets for their daily food. Dhaka's food supply chain depends heavily on these fresh markets. As most food is supplied through fresh markets, capacity building of fresh market associations and vendors will strengthen the food system under Dhaka Food System (DFS) project  of FAO. To strengthen the food system IPTM got an opportunities to work with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) from July 2022 to June 2023.

The goal of the project is to make the food system more inclusive, resilient and sustainable by supporting the Government of Bangladesh to develop a Strategic Dhaka Food Agenda 2041 through an action research, evidence based and multi-stakeholders´ collaborative approach. IPTM conducted base line survey, capacity-building training sessions and training and endline survey for 130 fresh markets across four city corporations: Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Narayanganj, and Gazipur City Corporation, as part of the assignment of DFS project under . The main objectives of this assignment was to develop the capacity of the fresh market actors in selected areas of food and market management to improve the food system, influence fresh market policies through evidence-based advocacy and Produce a project showcase for national-level adoption advocacy.

Key Activities:

• Organized kick-off meeting (KOM):
• Identified 130 fresh markets with 10 piloting fresh markets for waste management and safe food handling training
• Market management committees list finalized
• Communicated with fresh market associations and relevant stakeholders
• Organized and conducted Inception meetings at 4 city corporations
• Prepared data collection tools for baseline surveys
• Conducted Enumerator training
• Collected data form base line survey
• Prepared baseline report and shared to FAO
• Collect and review relevant training materials
• Prepared and finalized the training g module outline
• Prepared and finalized training module, PPT and hand note
• Conducted ToT on Food Safety, Food Loss and Waste Reduction, Food Handling, Waste Management and Waste Segregation for master trainer.
• Conducted training on Food Safety, Food Loss and Waste Reduction, Food Handling, Waste Management and Waste Segregation for 130 fresh markets
• Formed 130 neighborhood committee and finalized committee members list
• Prepared 130 training reports with findings
• Prepared and finalized monitoring checklist for neighborhood committee members
• Conduct regular monitoring of activities and facilitate joint periodical monitoring on behalf of the DFS team
• Identified Bin requirements for 10 pilot fresh markets and prepared bin requirements report
• Distribute tools and equipment and execute waste management plan
• Prepared waste segregation report
• Develop a strategic plan for replicating waste segregation activities in other fresh markets
• Prepare monthly progress reports
• Conducted an end-line survey
• Conducted four city-level seminars for result shared
• Conducted one national-level seminar
• Prepared national workshop report and project completion report and a presentation