Environmental Research and Development Alternatives (ERDA) is a non-government, non-profit and non-political voluntary organization, founded in 1998 by a group of experienced development professionals. It works to promote sustainable environmental management and human resource development through the creation of local level institutions that support socio-economic changes in the lives of the poor
people. It currently works in three main areas of Bangladesh in the capital city Dhaka, north central districts Tangail and in the southern coastal district of Lakshmipur. ERDA has been registered in Bangladesh under under the Government of Bangladesh since 2002
Legal entity of ERDA:
Name of Department Registration Number Date
1. NGO Affairs Bureau -3010-29/02/2016
2. Joint Stock Companies and Firms under Societies Act S-2958 (471))/ 6/11/2002
3. Registered with the Department of Social Services Laxmi- 367-16/10/2006
4. TIN Registration: 371806105330
5. VAT Registration number: 17071049329
Vision
“An organized society taking its own initiatives to uplift its quality of life and to adapt to changing circumstances, while preserving the natural environment for future generations”
Mission
“To promote sustainable livelihood of poor people and an environmentally friendly ecosystem through the creation of sustainable local institutions which endeavor to bring about socio-economic improvements in the lives of the poor and ensure human rights and good governance.”
Objectives
Build capacity of marginalized people to adapt to changing environments, increasing their ability for self reliant development, employment creation and alternative livelihood generation
Mobilize communities to reduce environmental vulnerability in the country, especially in the context of climate change
Assist to develop local institutions for ensuring basic human rights and access rights for poor at the family, community, society and state levels
Promote gender equality and improve the status of women. Main Areas of Work at present
ERDA started out mainly oriented towards projects for the conservation of native fish and improvement of the livelihoods of fishers involved in fisheries. In doing so, it began to involve in awareness campaigns on environmental issues, utilizing folk drama as a means of communication. Its reputation in this respect grew and it has enlisted to conduct similar awareness campaigns through folk drama for different organizations. More recently, ERDA has widened its Project portfolio through a series of agreements with many other organizations.
1. Regional Fisheries and Livestock Development Component, Noakhali in improving livelihood of small farmers through the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach in aquaculture, native poultry farmer, vegetable gardening and the husbandry of small and large ruminants.
2. Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (PEDP II project) under which ERDA implemented a project for increasing the capacity of communities, particularly of children, women and the poor, to participate in collective actions, for improve health and hygiene, imparting health based primary education in the remote and underdeveloped areas, identify health status of school going children, improve school health facilities & school environment and create community leadership for improving the quality education.
3. The ASPS II Adaptive Research Programme under which ERDA been awarded a project for maintaining biodiversity in waterlogged paddy lands being converted to aquaculture. The project is covers 1500 farmers in 8 waterlogged areas.
4. The HYSAWA project of the Water and Sanitation Sector Programme, under which ERDA providing technical assistance to local government in the development of hygiene, safe sanitation and installation of deep tube wells
5. In addition, ERDA maintains a small micro-finance program using its own funds and members savings that currently covers four unions of Ramgonj upazila.
6. Every year ERDA distributing Qurbani meat to the poor people supported by Muslim Aid UK in Bangladesh and Islamic Relief UK Worldwide.
