The Second Participatory Livestock Development Project (PLDP-II) of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) is a six years project (from July, 2004-June 2010) under implementation in 20 districts of North-West and North-Central regions of Bangladesh and is being financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB Loan No. 2070-BAN/SF). The Project aims at reducing rural poverty in 20 districts of northwest Bangladesh by increasing income- generating activities and employment in livestock-related enterprises for the rural poor, particularly landless households and households headed by women. The project will specifically target the ultra-poor and support them in asset development and social mobilization. Department of Livestock Services (DLS) capacity building will also be supported. The Project will - Build individual and community capability to identify and manage production enterprises; Provide microfinance for a range of income-generating activities including livestock enterprises, small businesses and marketing initiatives; and Support the development of livestock input supply services and employment opportunities in the private sector. The broad objective of the Baseline Survey will be to obtain an accurate assessment of the current livelihood situation of the target group, so that the changes due to the project interventions can be evaluated during and after the project period. Moreover, the survey will establish the baseline situation on a significant number of variables relevant to income and expenditure of target group beneficiaries, literacy status, demographic trends, issues of ethnic and minority groups, on farm and off farm employment opportunities, poultry and livestock ownership as well as management practices, gender issues, health care, food intake, land ownership, child labor, sanitation and environmental etc. which would enable the impact evaluation as and when planned to be carried out at different stages.

In line with the study objectives the current survey will cover, among others, the indicators reflecting the following areas:

• Socioeconomic characteristics including the livelihood of the target group.
• Labor and employment situation of the target group.
• Land tenure arrangements and holding fragmentation.
• Status of group approach involving the target group for technology acceptance.
• Ownership pattern of poultry and livestock, number of livestock per household, income from livestock etc in general and according to target group category.
• Present practice regarding livestock rearing, feeding system and availability of feed, hygiene and diseases management especially preventive and curative, local and improved breed use timely and safe availability of improved breed.
• Marketing and processing problems and facilities of livestock produces specially egg, meat, milk etc.
• Disposal of livestock produces (home consumption, storage marketing donation/surplus wastage/spoilage etc.)
• Status of livestock enterprises like poultry, ducks, goats, cows of improved breed, their production cost & return, scope and constraints of livestock enterprise development, etc.
• The existing status of measurable indicators like per unit production of poultry and livestock per capita consumption of egg, milk, meat etc.
• Credit supports available from different sources including NGOs, banks and other rural institutions.
• Gender and health status of the target beneficiaries.
• Any other information that may be added/deleted during discussion period.

Thus, in order to assess changes in livelihood domains of the beneficiaries under the project, benchmark information are needed. A consulting firm is therefore to be recruited by PKSF to conduct the baseline survey with the stipulated timeframe and allocated budget.