Back in the Bang

I've just returned from a two and a half week "recon" to Bangladesh, my second in just over a month's span. "I don't envision you traveling much," said my boss upon my signing an employment contract that stated at least 30% travel in my scope of work. Already at a 50% travel rate two months into my employment, I think, "ha!" and am very pleased -- exhausted, at the moment -- but, pleased. And, how opportune that food should feed into dual interests, a personal one that now literally feeds the professional one.  I would never have imagined that I would end up working in a field that literally now takes me into fields and requires me to understand farming and livestock rearing. My Appappa worked for Sri Lanka's Department of Agriculture, and traveled wide and far in the country for his livelihood, and in at least once instance, to India at the time of my Appa's birth.  I would have never guessed in a million years that my profession and interests, particularly in this day and age, would boil to this, and well, here I am, focusing largely (though, not entirely) on market development and production for agriculture. Funny how, in the most unexpected way, we've now come full circle. I wonder what Appappa would have had to say to that. When I was a little girl on one of our trips to Jaffna town, where my Appa's family had finally settled, Amma told me that Appappa took me -- and only me -- in his dusty quaint car to visit our heritage village of Vattakotai. I haven't been back since. O, the conversations we would have enjoyed on those car rides if we could do them now!

The Feed the Future solicitation for Bangladesh to which we are responding is a complex but absolutely fascinating one. The goal of the project is to 'improve food security through strengthened agriculture value chains over a five year period.  To do this requires achievement of several, interlinked outcomes: 1) enhance the economic functions, skills, and production capacity of small holder farmers, women, youth, and the poor along several value chains in Bangladesh; 2) sustainably link these actors to strengthened markets and support services such as appropriate financing or producer group building/strengthening; and 3) promote innovation and research for agriculture-related technology and increase private sector investment into and value addition of agricultural products.  To expand and enhance the market for select sub-sectors (e.g., floriculture, vegetables, coir products, jute), the awardee will also be expected to work with agro-processors, manufacturers, and retailers to strengthen their ability to respond to the demands of a growing middle class market and potential export markets.  All of this will hopefully result in higher financial returns all the way down to the producer household level.  The key cross-cutting component, improving nutritional messaging and practices, will help translate increased income and the production of more nutritious crops into the practical act of consuming these foods, contributing to the overall health of all members in a household.  It will undoubtedly be a challenging program to execute, but to effect change of this breadth and scale for so many lives from the farm to the marketplace would be a very rewarding and humbling experience. 

The competition to win is incredibly intense, and other 'contractors' and their partner agencies have also deployed teams of employees and consultants, who are also scrambling across Bangladesh to gather 'intelligence,' fortify relationships with key partners, and court key staff to assemble winning teams for a winning bid. I don't miss the vulture-like behavior that is a natural reaction to the tendering process; there is a certain thrill in being a part of it that is exhilerating and exhausting all at the same time. Agencies, as per the 'intelligence' that is gathered over years, will budget as much as a quarter of a million dollars' investment towards winning contracts like this one and begin preparation for a bid based on surmise as per country strategies. Once the solicitation is released, the roller coaster ride begins, and all one can do is gear up for an intense 45-60 day period, depending on the time allotted to respond, and say, "Here we go!" Upon submission, the panting comes to a halt, but there's no point in holding one's breath while awaiting award announcements.  Bilateral aid agencies, like our own, can take as much as six nerve-wracking months to make a final decision. And so, we wait the painstaking wait, distracted with having to respond to other bids and deliver on existing projects worldwide.

So, readers, stay tuned for later this year when the final verdict is made. All positive energy is welcome. And, don't forget to not hold your breath!