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History |
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In 1993, a group of social activists went to work on an initiative, inspired by the belief that the gender inequalities prevalent in this country could only be addressed by working together. That initiative led to the establishment of Steps Towards Development (Steps). With its formation, Steps developed its organisational set-up. The following year, SIDA accepted to finance a project that allowed Steps, among others, to develop an audio-visual unit. The project provided basic video facilities and the collection of still photographs on specific issues. That same year, 1994, Steps Towards Development was officially registered at the NGO BNureau of the Government of Bangladesh. Over the next three years, Steps strengthened the organisation. It created a Central Management Team which was the decision making body of the organisation. In 1997, Steps developed its Human Resource Policy manual, and Account Management manual.
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During
this first phase of the organisation, Steps worked at developing its
Network, Training and Materials Development components. Steps started
to network with NGOs at the local level and to develop and disseminate
different types of information materials. Training modules and Bengali
IEC materials on gender were produced in both print and multi-media
forms. Through training, Steps created Local Trainer Groups and identified
Social Entrepreneurs, the National Trainers Core Group and Gender
Change Activists.
Meanwhile
the Audio-Visual component continued to move ahead. It managed to
broadcast a monthly production on television, and received awards
for documentaries: “Rokeya,” at the first international
video festival in Bangladesh (1998), and “Black House,”
as the best documentary award at the International Film Festival in
Iran (2001).
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In
addition, Steps developed a book describing the existing gender policies
in Bangladesh, and a resource manual on gender trainers in Bangladesh.
With these feats, Steps gained recognition in both the local and national
levels. Steps Towards Development has created the image as a gender-promoting
organisation.
Steps Towards Development continues to develop as an equitable, action and outcome-oriented organisation that is strategic, coordinated, sustainable and evidence-based. |
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By 2003, as Steps entered its second phase, the Materials Development component became two separate components: Gender and Development Communication Component (GDCC) and Gender and Development Resource Component (GDRC). This came about in response to the expanding responsibilities of Steps as a gender organisation. In 2004, the components were renamed Centres, in a move towards the autonomy of each. The Organisational Development component, which used to be with the office of the Director, was renamed Advocacy and Research Centre. Meanwhile the Finance and Administration team provides technical support on staff and finance related matters. |
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| Steps Towards Development is now a well-established NGO with competent staff and good office facilities. A General Body rules the organisation and is composed of representatives from civil society and stakeholders. From the GB, a 7 - member Executive Committee is elected, which is the final policy and decision-making body. At the operations level, there is the Core Management Team, composed of the Executive Director, five directors and two three consultants. The CMT is the planning, monitoring and decision-making body for all programme related issues. Presently, Steps Towards Development has 54 staff, 31 of which are males, and 23 are females. |
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| Steps
Towards Development continues to develop as an equitable actiion and
outcome-oriented organisation that is strategic, coordinated sustainable
and evidence-based. |
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