Cyclone Readiness Project for the Three Most At-Risk, Previously Uncovered Unions in Bauphal and Kalapara Upazilas

Key information strip

Item	Text
Duration	15 Aug 2026 – 13 Oct 2026 (60 days)
Donor	Start Ready – Start Network (National Reserves, Risk Pool 5: Cyclone)
Partners	Start Fund Bangladesh / Start Bangladesh Hub; funds received through ESDO ⚠️
Working Area	Patuakhali District: Dhulia and Chandradwip unions (Bauphal Upazila), Dhulasar Union (Kalapara Upazila)
Budget	BDT 3,160,000 (≈ GBP 20,000)
Status	Completed

⚠️ The cash book shows funds received from ESDO. Please tell me ESDO’s official role (for example, fund-holding or convening agency) so the label is accurate.

4. Impact at a Glance

Figure	Label
3	Most at-risk unions covered
10	Cyclone shelters stocked with emergency and dignity materials
60	Community volunteers trained (24 women)
2	Cyclone evacuation mock drills
20	Coordination and readiness meetings held
351	Participations in meetings and training (26% women)

Note: “351” counts participations, not unique people, because some people attended more than one activity. Mock-drill participants are not recorded in the report.

5. Project Overview

Patuakhali District is highly exposed to recurrent cyclones and storm surges. In Dhulia and Chandradwip unions of Bauphal Upazila and Dhulasar Union of Kalapara Upazila, the main problem was not a complete absence of preparedness. It was the lack of an integrated readiness system that works in the short window after a cyclone warning.

Critical shelter access sections became unsafe during rain and tidal flooding. Several shelters lacked functional, inclusive WASH and lighting. Volunteers lacked practical training and equipment, and coordination among Disaster Management Committees, the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) and Shelter Management Committees had not been tested in advance.

With support from Start Ready National Reserves, AVAS implemented this 60-day readiness project directly. It repaired shelter facilities and access, pre-positioned emergency and rescue materials under accountable custody, trained volunteers, tested evacuation through mock drills, and strengthened coordination among local institutions, including mobile financial service (MFS) agents for safe cash assistance after a cyclone.

6. Objectives (4 icon cards)

1. Ensure safe, all-season access to cyclone shelters
2. Make shelter WASH and lighting functional, safe and inclusive
3. Strengthen volunteer capacity and coordinated local action
4. Pre-position emergency and rescue resources with accountable local custody

7. Major Activities (image cards)

Shelter Access and Accessibility Improvement
Durable repair of critical access sections and shelter entrances, so people, especially older persons, pregnant women and persons with disabilities, can reach shelters safely in all seasons.

Shelter WASH and Solar Lighting
Repair of latrines, water lines, taps and pumps, plus new and repaired solar lighting at entrances, stairways, toilets and spaces for women and girls.

Pre-positioned Emergency and Dignity Materials
Ten shelters received materials such as first-aid boxes, water dispensers, sanitary napkins, ORS and wheelchairs. Each set was handed over to its Shelter Management Committee through a signed agreement with a stock register.

Search-and-Rescue Equipment Boxes
Two boxes were handed over through signed agreements on 11 Oct 2026. Each contains a chainsaw, megaphone, torches, axe, hand saw, stretcher, wheelchair, first-aid box, life jackets, helmets, safety belts, raincoats, volunteer vests, tarpaulin and rope, stored in a steel trunk.

Volunteer Training and Mock Drills
Two-day practical training for 60 volunteers covering early warning, inclusive evacuation, basic search and rescue, first aid, safeguarding and PSEA, followed by two community evacuation drills.

Coordination and Cash-out Readiness
Readiness meetings with Union and Upazila Disaster Management Committees, Shelter Management Committees and MFS cash-out point owners, to agree roles, early-warning arrangements and safe cash access.

Shelter Protection, Identification and Marking
Signboards, directional signs, Codes of Conduct, PSEA/GBV-prevention messages and complaint information installed in 10 shelters.

8. Project Location (map box)

Patuakhali District, Barishal Division

• Bauphal Upazila: Dhulia Union, Chandradwip Union
• Kalapara Upazila: Dhulasar Union

9. Sustainable Development Goals 🟡

These links are my suggestion, not from the project documents. Please confirm them.
SDG 1 (No Poverty, Target 1.5), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Target 11.5, Disaster Risk Reduction), SDG 13 (Climate Action, Target 13.1)

10. Safeguarding, Inclusion and Accountability (recommended extra section)

All staff completed onboarding and a safeguarding/PSEA orientation before fieldwork. Communities could give feedback or complaints through:

• the AVAS hotline (anonymous reporting possible)
• three trained community focal persons, by phone, SMS or WhatsApp
• complaint boxes at construction and repair sites
• ESDO’s independent hotline

The main feedback received concerned shelter WASH problems, barriers to reaching shelters, safety and accessibility for women and persons with disabilities, and the need for preparedness equipment. Action was taken according to priority. No safeguarding-related complaints were received during implementation.

⚠️ Please send the hotline number(s) you want displayed here.

11. Stakeholders Engaged

Union Parishad chairmen and members; Upazila administration; Upazila and Union Disaster Management Committees; CPP volunteers; School/Cyclone Shelter Management Committees; teachers; community leaders; women, adolescents and vulnerable groups; persons with disabilities and their representatives; Fire Service and Civil Defence; Education Department; MFS agents; journalists.

12. What We Learned (from your narrative report, translated)

• Start before the monsoon, so road and infrastructure works can be finished quickly and safely.
• Consult women and adolescent girls separately before latrine repair or new latrine construction, to better understand their safety and ease of use.
• Agree written maintenance plans and responsibilities for WASH, solar, access and disability-friendly facilities.
• Hold regular drills and practical rescue training with volunteers and committees.
• Increase the role of women and at-risk groups in decisions at every stage.
• Provide rescue materials directly to shelters as well.

13. Project Documents (table)

#	Document	Description	Year
1	Approved Project Proposal	Start Ready National Reserves proposal (RP5, Cyclone)	2026
2	Approved Budget	Budget in BDT/GBP (Aug 2026, revised)	2026
3	Union-wise Progress Report	Targets and achievements by union	2026
4	Narrative Report	Stakeholders, feedback, safeguarding, learning	2026
5	Financial Summary	Receipts and payments, 15 Aug – 13 Oct 2026	2026
6	Handover Agreements	Search-and-rescue and shelter materials handover	2026

Do not publish the bank statement or the payee-level cash book. They contain staff names, salaries and cheque numbers. Also redact signatures on the handover agreements before uploading them. This follows Do No Harm and data-protection practice.

14. Major Activity Updates (news cards)

15 Aug 2026 – Project launched with safeguarding orientation
All project staff completed onboarding and a one-day orientation on the project, safeguarding, PSEA and complaint procedures before fieldwork began.

07 & 09 Sep 2026 – Inception meetings in Bauphal and Kalapara
53 local officials and stakeholders agreed on locations, roles and communication arrangements at upazila-level inception meetings.

16–22 Sep 2026 – Shelter committees and UDMCs prepare
Ten Shelter Management Committee meetings and three Union DMC meetings (142 participants, 51 women) reviewed shelter needs, repairs and inclusive-access arrangements.

25–26 Sep & 07–08 Oct 2026 – 60 volunteers trained
Volunteers from Chandradwip and Dhulasar completed two-day practical training on early warning, evacuation, rescue, first aid and safeguarding.

04 & 06 Oct 2026 – Evacuation mock drills
Communities in Dhulia and Chandradwip practised early-warning dissemination, inclusive evacuation and shelter management.

05–06 Oct 2026 – MFS cash-out readiness meetings
43 MFS agents and cash-out point owners in the three unions discussed liquidity and safe, accessible cash-out arrangements for after a cyclone.

08–11 Oct 2026 – Materials handed over and shelters marked
Upazila DMC meetings were held in Kalapara and Bauphal. Shelter materials and search-and-rescue boxes were handed over, and shelters were marked with signage and safeguarding information.

15. Beneficiary Voice

⚠️ There is no quote in the files, so I have not written one. Please send a real quote, with the person’s name, role and union, and their written consent to publish their words and photo. A volunteer or Shelter Management Committee member would work well.

16. Photo Gallery (suggested captions)

Volunteer training, Chandradwip, Sep 2026 · Mock drill, Dhulia, 4 Oct 2026 · Repaired shelter access · Solar lighting installation · Search-and-rescue box handover, 11 Oct 2026 · Shelter signage and Code of Conduct boards
Use only photos taken with informed consent, and avoid identifiable images of children.

17. Related Projects

• Cyclone Readiness Project – Taltali Upazila, Barguna (Start Fund Bangladesh)
• Rangabali Cyclone Ready Project – Rangabali Upazila, Patuakhali (Start Fund Bangladesh)
• Strengthening Cyclone Readiness and Community Resilience – Galachipa Upazila, Patuakhali (Start Fund Bangladesh)
  ⚠️ Please send the years for each project.

18. Call-to-Action banner

Partner with AVAS to build cyclone-ready coastal communities
Together we can make shelters safer, volunteers stronger and local response faster for people in Bangladesh’s coastal belt.
Button: Partner With Us →

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⚠️ Please confirm before publishing

1. Infrastructure figures. The union-wise report shows 9 shelters with WASH repair against 10 planned, and 3 access sections against 6 planned. It also lists only “new” solar setups (8 shelters), while the plan was 6 new and 8 repaired. Were these the final achievements, or is the report not yet updated? I left these numbers out of the headline figures for this reason.
2. Search-and-rescue boxes. The proposal planned the two boxes for the Bauphal and Kalapara Upazila DMCs. The report and signed agreements show both handed over in Dhulia and Chandradwip unions. Which is correct?
3. ESDO’s official role.
4. Hotline number(s) to display on the page.
5. A beneficiary quote with consent.
6. Years for the three related projects.

Once you send these, I can update the text. I can also build this as a ready-to-use HTML page in the same layout as your design, if that would help.

pdf

1. Infrastructure figures. The union-wise report shows 9 shelters with WASH repair against 10 planned, and 3 access sections against 6 planned. It also lists only “new” solar setups (8 shelters), while the plan was 6 new and 8 repaired. Were these the final achievements, or is the report not yet updated? I left these numbers out of the headline figures for this reason. –” (dont Compare) onlu the number which is finally implemented and reported”
2. Search-and-rescue boxes. The proposal planned the two boxes for the Bauphal and Kalapara Upazila DMCs. The report and signed agreements show both handed over in Dhulia and Chandradwip unions. Which is correct?”- “Dhulia and Chandradwip Unions lastly selected and UDMC received SR Box. Because in Last Readiness project We provided Upazilla Level so that they need not againg.
3. ESDO’s official role.: Host of Readiness and Anticipatory Action- Fund management)
4. Hotline number(s) to display on the page. (Email: info@avas.org.bd Hotline +880 1805-012393; Whats App: +880 1805-012393
5. A beneficiary quote with consent. – “আ: রহমান, কমিউনিটি ভলান্টিয়ার “এই মহড়া প্রতি বছর দরকার, বইন্যার সময় কিভাবে নিরাপদ থাকা যায় কি কি পিদক্ষেপ নেয়া উচিত এই টা সবাই জানলে জানমালের ক্ষয়ক্ষতি অনেক কম হবে।”
6. Years for the three related projects.– ” AAVAS Implemented more then 4 projects funded by START -Information Attached”

Here are the updated sections. Sections not listed below (Overview, Objectives, Location, SDGs, Stakeholders, Learning, Documents, Gallery and Call-to-Action) stay as in my previous message.

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2. Hero banner – logo strip (updated)

Implemented by: AVAS | Supported by: Start Ready – Start Network | In collaboration with: Start Fund Bangladesh / Start Bangladesh Hub | Fund management: ESDO

3. Key information strip (updated)

Item	Text
Duration	15 Aug 2026 – 13 Oct 2026 (60 days)
Donor	Start Ready – Start Network (National Reserves, Risk Pool 5: Cyclone)
Partners	Start Fund Bangladesh / Start Bangladesh Hub
Fund management	ESDO – Host of Readiness and Anticipatory Action
Working Area	Patuakhali District: Dhulia and Chandradwip unions (Bauphal Upazila), Dhulasar Union (Kalapara Upazila)
Budget	BDT 3,160,000 (≈ GBP 20,000)
Status	Completed

4. Impact at a Glance (updated with final reported figures)

Figure	Label
10	Cyclone shelters stocked with emergency and dignity materials
9	Shelters with repaired WASH facilities
8	Shelters with new solar lighting
3	Shelter access sections improved
60	Community volunteers trained (24 women)
2	Search-and-rescue boxes handed over to Union DMCs
2	Cyclone evacuation mock drills
351	Participations in meetings and training (26% women)

Your design shows six tiles. You can choose six of these, or use two rows of four.

7. Major Activities – updated cards

Shelter Access and Accessibility Improvement
Three critical access sections leading to cyclone shelters were repaired with durable materials. People, especially older persons, pregnant women and persons with disabilities, can now reach shelters more safely in all seasons.

Shelter WASH and Solar Lighting
WASH facilities were repaired in 9 shelters, including latrines, water lines, taps and pumps. New solar lighting was set up in 8 shelters, covering entrances, stairways, toilets and spaces for women and girls.

Search-and-Rescue Equipment Boxes
On 11 Oct 2026, two fully equipped search-and-rescue boxes were handed over to the Dhulia and Chandradwip Union Disaster Management Committees through signed agreements. Union level was chosen because AVAS had already provided upazila-level equipment through its previous readiness project. Each box contains a chainsaw, megaphone, torches, axe, hand saw, stretcher, wheelchair, first-aid box, life jackets, helmets, safety belts, raincoats, volunteer vests, tarpaulin and rope, stored in a steel trunk.

10. Safeguarding, Inclusion and Accountability (updated)

All staff completed onboarding and a safeguarding/PSEA orientation before fieldwork. Communities could give feedback or complaints through:

• the AVAS hotline (anonymous reporting possible)
• three trained community focal persons, by phone, SMS or WhatsApp
• complaint boxes at construction and repair sites
• ESDO’s independent hotline

The main feedback received concerned shelter WASH problems, barriers to reaching shelters, safety and accessibility for women and persons with disabilities, and the need for preparedness equipment. Action was taken according to priority. No safeguarding-related complaints were received during implementation.

Report a concern or share feedback
Hotline: +880 1805-012393
WhatsApp: +880 1805-012393
Email: info@avas.org.bd

You can also link your site’s “Report a Concern” header button to this contact block.

14. Major Activity Updates – updated last card

08–11 Oct 2026 – Materials handed over and shelters marked
Upazila DMC meetings were held in Kalapara (8 Oct) and Bauphal (11 Oct). Emergency and dignity materials were handed over to 10 shelter committees, and search-and-rescue boxes to the Dhulia and Chandradwip Union DMCs. Shelters were marked with signage and safeguarding information.

15. Beneficiary Voice

Bangla:
“এই মহড়া প্রতি বছর দরকার। বইন্যার সময় কিভাবে নিরাপদ থাকা যায়, কি কি পদক্ষেপ নেয়া উচিত, এইটা সবাই জানলে জানমালের ক্ষয়ক্ষতি অনেক কম হবে।”
— আ: রহমান, কমিউনিটি ভলান্টিয়ার

English:
“We need this drill every year. If everyone knows how to stay safe during floods and what steps to take, the loss of life and property will be much lower.”
— A. Rahman, Community Volunteer

I corrected one typo (“পিদক্ষেপ” to “পদক্ষেপ”) and kept his local word “বইন্যা” (flood), translating it literally. Use his photo only if he also agreed to that.

17. Related Projects (cards)

Strengthening Cyclone Readiness and Community Resilience in Galachipa Upazila
2025 | Start Fund Bangladesh | Galachipa, Panpatti and Ratandi Taltoli unions, Patuakhali | Completed

Rangabali Cyclone Ready Project
Sep – Oct 2024 | Start Fund Bangladesh | Rangabali Upazila, Patuakhali | Completed

Disaster Preparedness & Humanitarian Support (Cyclone Readiness)
March 2024 | Start Fund Bangladesh | Taltoli Upazila, Barguna | Completed

17b. New section: AVAS and Start Network – Our Track Record

Since 2020, AVAS has implemented 12 projects with support from the Start Network family (Start Fund Bangladesh, Start Network and Start Bangladesh Hub), worth over BDT 39.9 million. They cover rapid response, early action, cyclone readiness, research and organisational strengthening.

Period	Project	Type	Area	Budget (BDT)	Status
Apr – Jun 2020	Rapid Response of COVID-19	Response	Barishal City & Gournadi	2,340,942	Completed
Jul 2020	Rapid Response of Cyclone Amphan in Barishal Division	Response	Kalapara & Rangabali	5,927,617	Completed
Jan – Mar 2021 ⚠️	Rapid Response of Amphan	Response	Galachipa	4,045,677	Completed
Mar 2024	Disaster Preparedness & Humanitarian Support	Cyclone readiness	Taltoli	1,800,000	Completed
Apr – May 2024	Rebuilding Coastal Districts: Post-Norwester Shelter Support	Response	Bauphal, Lalmohon & Monpura	5,030,640	Completed
May – Jul 2024	Cyclone Remal Response in Taltoli	Early action	Taltoli	2,054,000	Completed
Sep – Oct 2024	Rangabali Cyclone Ready Project	Cyclone readiness	Rangabali	2,799,120	Completed
Dec 2024 – Feb 2025	SFB Learning Grant: Anticipatory Action Research	Research	Rangabali & Taltoli	2,172,245	Completed
Jun – Jul 2025	Restoring Hope: Flood Relief for Galachipa & Rangabali	Response	Galachipa & Rangabali	5,394,652	Completed
Aug 2025	Strengthening Cyclone Readiness and Community Resilience in Galachipa	Cyclone readiness	Galachipa	4,713,397	Completed
Jun 2026 –	Strengthening Cybersecurity, Digital Resilience and Workflow Automation for Tier 3 Progression	Organisational development	AVAS Head Office, Barishal	486,000	Ongoing
Aug – Oct 2026	Cyclone Readiness Project for the Three Most At-Risk, Previously Uncovered Unions in Bauphal and Kalapara