Agricultural Research

Bangladesh is an agrarian country. Since 2000, agriculture is the powerful drivers of poverty reduction in Bangladesh. Nearly half of all the existing workers of the country are involve in agriculture. Despite frequent natural disaster, country has made commendable progress in agriculture over last 40 years. Bangladesh’s agricultural sector has benefited from a sound and consistent policy framework backed up by substantial public investments in technology, rural infrastructure and human capital. The recent advancement in agricultural sector is growing the country’s economy.

Agriculture is increasingly depending more on data and intensive knowledge. Timely access to accurate information that is tailored to specific locations and conditions is critical in helping farmers make the most of their resources in often changing circumstances. E-agriculture, is about designing, developing and applying innovative ways to use ICTs in the rural domain, with a primary focus on agriculture. E-agriculture offers a wide range of solutions to some agricultural challenges. The Agricultural Development Team of the Kernel Foundation has taken some e-initiatives on problem solving solution of agriculture sector. Developing of the value chain and improving existing supply chain is our current focus. Agricultural diversification, innovative technology identification and ICTs (Information and communication technologies) solution to improve the current practices and the livelihood relating to this sector is out moto.

Energy Efficiency Research

RENEWABLE ENERGY

• Solar
• Wind
• Bio-mass, waste to power and run of river hydro
• Renewable Energy Interconnection challenges and requirements (including the role of energy storage)
• Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Integration into grid (Power Quality issues such as LVRT, frequency regulation, voltage stability)

Effective energy & Demand Management

• Energy optimization
• Energy System Performance Evaluation
• Industrial Energy Optimization
• Energy Efficiency and Management in Buildings
• Smart Technology for Customer Participation in Demand Response
• Impact of DR/DSM on system operation
• Utility-managed Demand Shifting

Energy Conservation

• Awareness
• Behavioral science
• Technology and Life Cycle Analysis
• Energy Policy and Economics
• Energy Forecasting and Planning
• System modeling and controls

Transmission & Distribution

• Efficiency and losses
• T&D grid modernization
• Smart Metering
• Protection, Automation and Control
• Impact on grid due to renewable energy integration
• System Stabilization

Environmental & Socio-economic Impact analysis

• Energy Analysis
• Environmental Analysis
• Energy and Green Environment
• Socio-economic Impact Assessment
• Air Quality and Energy
• Aquatic Resources and Energy
• Terrestrial Resources and Energy
• Energy Related Climate Change Issues

Clinical & non-clinical researches

Clinical & Non Clinical Researches

Health care system of Bangladesh is facing problems to provide smooth health services for the booming population. Despite existing basic research organization, doing remarkable research on enteric and epidemic disease and getting outstanding research, research on health care service (clinical and non-clinical) remain out focus. High-impact interventions are still not reaching all of the low and middle income people in need. Our health care service and research activities (both clinical and non-clinical) focuses to find sustainable and innovative ways to strengthen the overall capacity and capability of the health sector. We advocate and implement programmatic and innovative solutions for strengthening the primary health care system to get soaring outcomes. We look for opportunities to maximize health financing to support program implementation and advancing evidence-based recommendations to accelerate the adoption of innovations by country decision-makers.

Preparation of Resettlement Action Plan (RAP)

Kernel Foundation has experienced team for preparation of RAP conducting following activities:

• To conduct Census and inventory of losses (IOL) for all affected households, shops, persons and entities irrespective of title to the land including squatters’ vendors’ tenants and wage laborers;
• Sample of agricultural land plots will survey along the project area to understand the tenancy pattern and ownership by gender;
• To conduct Property Valuation Survey (PVS) for the affected land, structures, trees and other properties by collecting information from knowledgeable persons of the affected mouzas within the project area;
• To conduct video filming for preventing fraudulent claims by the structure owner(s);
• To conduct the stakeholder consultation meeting (SCM) firstly with both the primary and secondary stakeholders and later with affected persons within the occupation and gender;
• To consult through focused group discussions (FDG) with PAPs;
• To scrutinize data and checked by environmental, social and resettlement expert for consistency and accuracy;
• Coding and Computerization of data (filled questionnaire) by the data management group;
• To compatible the computerized database in MY SQL PHP data base system and analyze in SPSS;
• To generate the computerized data in tabular form as per requirements of preparing the RAP;

Implementation of RAP

• Collection and Computerization of LA, Joint Verification (JV) data, payment list of CCL and RB payment data and reconciliation of all.
• Preparing structured questionnaire for Socio-Economic Survey (SES);
• Carrying out Census and Socio-Economic Survey (SES) or and verifying Inventory of Losses (IOL).
• Creation of Electronic Data Bank of IOL, socio-economic condition and dislocations.
• Coding and Computerization of data collected through SES form by the data management group.
• Preparing software for reconciliation of data base, for EP file and Entitlement Card (EC) and other updating, calculating and processing payment, progress and performance and participatory monitoring and computerized MIS for using by implementing agencies and Kernel Foundation.
• Ensuring dissemination of information on the project and resettlement policy to the PAPs and others (community groups, local administration, etc.) who are instrumental in effective and transparent implementation of the RAP.
• Organizing consultation with APs, EPs, implementing agencies and local government and recording the outcome of the meetings.
• Assisting implementing in issuing ID cards to the Entitled Persons (EPs) identified as Resettlement Framework (RF) duly certified by UP members or Ward Commissioners.
• Preparing EP files bringing all’s losses or updating on a regular basis.
• Preparing or updating Entitlement Card (EC) for the individual EPs as per their types of losses and the amount of compensation.
• Preparing or updating Payment Statement for the individual EPs as per their types of losses and the amount of compensation.
• Processing payment of additional benefits, based on the price approved by ministry following recommendation of Property Valuation Advisory Committee, and ensuring that all resettlement benefits are paid accordingly.
• Identifying relocation sites and relocating EPs in the resettlement sites (If necessary).
• Forming and participating in different committee like GRC, PVAC, PVC, etc.
• Ensuring that the APs are fully aware of the grievance redress procedure and the process of bringing their complaints to Grievance Redress Committee (GRC).
• Investigating the veracity of the complaints and try to settle them amicably, fairly and transparently before they go to the GRC or the Courts.

Implementation of RAP and LRP

• Encourage APs to explore further income earning avenues.
• Select participants on the basis of Training Needs Assessment.
• Identify actions required to access of the selected trainees on available resources.
• Prepare training modules and schedule.
• Provide necessary vocational and skill development training to the trainees so that they are able to work in local NGOs or public and private sector organizations especially to that particular project and self-employment.
• Identifying Qualified resource person for providing training.
• Ensuring training ground for arranging training.
• Provide technical support to the trainees for business planning, operation and management of various income generation activities as per their preferences.
• Assist the trainees in getting access to production and marketing facilities for their products.