Poverty Alleviation

The BRDB was initially mandated to foster agricultural growth and reach self-sufficient food production. With the tremendous success of this approach (food production doubled within fifteen years from the early 1970s and the country reached near self-sufficient levels of production) the BRDB continued to focus its development efforts on those with production capabilities – that is, small and marginal farmers.

However, as it became clear that this approach to development largely neglected landless and ‘asset less’ people and that the socio-economic condition of such people was in fact continuing to worsen, the BRDB renewed its policies and placed the development of the rural poor at the top of its priorities.

By shifting its strategy and expanding its activities, the BRDB was able to couple its efforts to improve agricultural production with the active promotion of self-employment and income generating activities.

To this day, the BRDB places equal value on both the provision of financial and technological inputs and skills development, through training and education. With this approach, the BRDB continues to promote improvements in agricultural production and provide those with no means of production with opportunities to improve their standards of living.

As well as providing assistance to farmers and the rural poor, BRDB is implementing poverty reduction program for the Insolvent Freedom Fighters and their dependents.

Poverty Alleviation Projects

Integrated Poverty Alleviation Programme (IPAP)

It's a Government funding programme, with it's area of operation reaching 450 Upazila across the country. The aims of the programme is to form informal groups, imparts skill training, self-employment, accumulation of own capital through thrift deposits, supply of micro-credit for income generating activities, raise awareness and rebuild the confidence of the poor, human resource development, up-keeping environment and ensuring the sustainability of the previously completed projects under BRDB.

At a Glance of IPAP:

(1) District Covered: 64

(2) Upazila Covered : 443

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (no).

Informal Groups (Male) : 9681

Informal Groups (Female) : 9398

(4) Members (No)

Informal Groups (Male) : 232503

Informal Groups (Female) : 232904

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka)

Informal Groups (Male) : 2282.44

Informal Groups (Female) : 2279.80

(6) Credit Disbursement : 68020.77 Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : 49202.95 Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%) : 87%

Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (RPAP)

This programme is a Government funded project that covers125 Upazilas. The programme aims to alleviate poverty and improve the living standard of the targeted rural poor. This is achieved through individual income generating activities for the rural poor and organizing them in to informal groups.

At a Glance of RPAP:

(1) District Covered: 27

(2) Upazila Covered: 132

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (Nos).

Informal Groups (Male) : 9681

Informal Groups (Female) : 9398

(4) Members (Nos)

Informal Groups ( Male) : 232503

Informal Groups (Female) : 232904

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka)

Informal Groups (Male) : 2282.44

Informal Groups (Female) : 2279.80

(6) Credit Disbursement: 68020.77 Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : 49202.95 Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%): 87%

Palli Progati Prokalpa (PPP)

This project is a Government funded project that operates in 477 Unions of 476 Upazilas of Bangladesh. The major objectives of the project are:-

	Comprehensive village development through alleviation of poverty of the rural people and ensuring them an improved quality of life;
	Empowerment of the rural women;
	Reduction of the number of poor;
	Generation of awareness with mindset for increased Human Development Index;
	Promotion of Income Generating Activities with micro-finance and reduction of migration of the rural population.

Go to PPP's Website

Rural Livelihood Project (RLP)

The first phase of the Project was ended on June 30, 2007 which was funded by the Asian Development Bank. The 2nd phase is under consideration of the GOB. It operates in 152 Upazilas. The overall objective of this project is to support the government poverty reduction efforts through the creation of sustainable farm and off-farm employment opportunities among the poor people of the community. This is inconformity with the PRSP Goal GOB.

At a Glance of RLP :

(1) District Covered: 23

(2) Upazila Covered: 152

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (nos).

Formal Groups ( Male) : 2597

Formal Groups (Female) : 14342

(4) Members (Nos)

Formal Groups ( Male) : 80514

Formal Groups (Female) : 485188

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka)

Formal Groups ( Male) : 1879.13

Formal Groups (Female) : 11458.56

(6) Credit Disbursement :166269.70 Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : 157956.21 Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%) : 95%

Insolvent Freedom Fighters and their dependents training and self- employment programme (FF)

This project aims to ensure the up-liftmen of the insolvent freedom fighters and their dependents are provided skill development training and micro-credit access on easy terms. This project operates across the country and is funded by the Government.

At a Glance of FFs :

(1) District Covered : 64

(2) Upazila Covered : 481

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (nos).

Informal Groups ( Male) :

Informal Groups (Female) :

(4) Members (Nos)

Informal Groups ( Male) :

Informal Groups (Female) : 23793

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka)

Informal Groups ( Male) :

Informal Groups (Female) :

(6) Credit Disbursement : 3166.00 Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : 1263.00 Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%) : 50%

Minor Crops Production, Preservation, Processing and Marketing Programme (MCPP&MP)

This is a government funding programme that aims to reduce poverty and create employment opportunity through minor crops production, processing and marketing . The Project operates in 204 Upazilas across the country.

At a Glance of MCPP & MP :

(1) District Covered : 26

(2) Upazila Covered : 204

(3) Groups (nos). : 6120

(4) Members (Nos) : 1,07,077

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka) : 120.00 Lakh taka

(6) Credit Disbursement : Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%) :

Comprehensive Village Development Programme (CVDP)

This programme aims to reduce poverty and improve the standard of living through implementation of a village based comprehensive development programme that ensures the delivery of basic services (education, agriculture, health, security and environment) to the villagers. It's a government funding programme. It's area of operation is 450 villages of 6 Upazilas (Madhukhali, Patnitola, Birgonj, Shajadpur, Paikghacha and Jhalakathi sadar).

At a Glance of CVDP :

(1) District Covered :6

(2) Upazila Covered : 6

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (nos).

Informal Groups ( Male) :

Informal Groups (Female) :

(4) Members (Nos)

Informal Groups ( Male) :

Informal Groups (Female) :

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka)

Informal Groups ( Male) :

Informal Groups (Female) :

***No credit activities

Production and Employment Project (PEP)

This project is a self-financing project that aims to improve the quality of life of the rural poor by substantial increase in income and social empowerment. The project operates in 27 Upazilas of greater Faridpur District.

At a Glance of PEP :

(1) District Covered : 5

(2) Upazila Covered : 27

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (Nos).

Informal Groups ( Male) : 2541

Informal Groups (Female) : 7381

(4) Members (Nos)

Informal Groups ( Male) : 50862

Informal Groups (Female) : 152859

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka)

Informal Groups ( Male) : 748.52

Informal Groups (Female) : 2501.64

(6) Seed Capital received : 5400.00

(7) Credit Disbursement : 109026.04 Lakh taka

Male : 27710.90

Female : 81315.14

(8) Beneficiaries (Loanee member) :

Male : 48318

Female : 145216

(9) Credit realizable : 102366.09

(10) Credit recovery : 101870.64

(11) Rate of Credit recovery (%) : 99 %

Dostha Paribar Unnayan Samity (DOPUS)

This programme aims to reduce poverty of the rural poor and distressed women. This is achieved through empowering them to participate in income generating activities through the provision of the projects development training and micro-credit funds. This programme operates in 22 Upazilas of 21 Districts.

At a Glance of DOPUS:

(1) District Covered : 21

(2) Upazila Covered : 22

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (nos).

Informal Groups ( Male) : 383

Informal Groups (Female) : 339

(4) Members (Nos)

Informal Groups ( Male) : 13984

Informal Groups (Female) : 14004

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka)

Informal Groups ( Male) : 45.67

Informal Groups (Female) : 60.85

(6) Credit Disbursement:1216.39 Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : 935.99 Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%) : 88%

Local Level Rural Poor Employment Programme (LORPEP)

Similar to the DOPUS programme, but operates in 16 Upazilas within Feni, Noakhali and Luxmipur Districts

At a Glance of LORPEP:

(1) District Covered : 3

(2) Upazila Covered : 16

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (nos).

Informal Groups ( Male) : 14

Informal Groups (Female) : 49

(4) Members (Nos)

Informal Groups ( Male) : 475

Informal Groups (Female) : 1553

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka)

Informal Groups ( Male) : 2.97

Informal Groups (Female) : 13.16

(6) Credit Disbursement: 455.85 Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : 409.97 Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%): 88%

Socio - Economic Development Programme in Hill Tracts (SEDPHT)

This is a government funded programme that aims to reduce poverty and develop their physical quality of life of the landless, asstless and disadvantaged people of Chittagong Hill Tracts area. The project achieves this aim by providing skill development training and micro-credit for income generating activities. This programme is implementing in 25 Upazilas under Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban Districts.

At a Glance of SEDPHT:

(1) District Covered : 3

(2) Upazila Covered : 25

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (nos).

Informal Groups (Male) : 491

Informal Groups (Female) : 965

(4) Members (Nos)

Informal Groups (Male) : 10183

Informal Groups (Female) : 14482

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka) : 263.98

(6) Credit Disbursement: 2732.64 Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : 2328.45 Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%): 95%

Primary Health Care (BAN-PHC 006)

This project is funded by the Directorate of Health and has been implemented in only 3 Upazila's. This project aims to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life of the vulnerable families. The project achieves this aim through providing seed capital as loan to generate income and create self-employment, allowing families to meet their basic needs which will promote and protect health within their families and communities.

At a Glance of BAN-PHC006:

(1) District Covered : 3

(2) Upazila Covered : 3

(3) Informal Groups (nos).

Male : 20

Female : 26

(4) Members (Nos)

Male : 217

Female : 269

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka)

Male : 1.17

Female : 1.84

(6) Credit Disbursement: 102.83 Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : 90.33 Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%) :90%

At a Glance of Mohila Bittaheen Kendriyo unnayan Samity (MOBIKUS):

(1) District Covered : 6

(2) Upazila Covered : 20

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (nos).

Female : 1129

(4) Members (Nos)

Female : 39082

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka) : 381.72

(6) Credit Disbursement: 5416.45 Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : 5216.76 Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%) : 94 %

At a Glance of Daridrobimochone Mohilader Arthokarmasongsthan (DAMAK):

(1) District Covered: 4

(2) Upazila Covered: 21

(3) Cooperatives & Groups (nos).

Female : 1071

(4) Members (Nos)

Female : 36811

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka) : 496.18

(6) Credit Disbursement: 5709.93 Lakh taka

(7) Credit recovery : 4997.60 Lakh taka

(8) Rate of Credit recovery (%) : 94 %

At a Glance of Productive Employment & Development program for Rural Women (PEDPRW)

(Funded by AARDO); Part- 1 :

(1) District Covered: 3

(2) Upazila Covered : 3

(3) Female Groups (nos). : 19

(4) Female Members (Nos) : 429

(5) Capital formation in the form of savings (Lakh taka) : 4.68

(6) Credit Disbursement : 88.77 Lakh taka

(7) Creidt realizable : 84.73 Lakh taka

(8) Credit recovery : 76.65 Lakh taka

(9) Rate of Credit recovery (%) : 90 %

Participatory Rural Development Project (PRDP–2)

The overall and general goal of the project is set as the Link Model is extended in Bangladesh in accordance with the regional characteristics, it is BRDB’s policy to extend the Link Model in Bangladesh, and the project will enhance BRDB in building a durable and flexible model that could be adopted by different Upazilas and districts after the project will be completed. The immediate goal is set forth as the Link Model functions in the project area, which is meant: (a) the Link Model has been proved effective at the Upazila level, (b) BRDB has gained institutional capacity to operate the Link Model.

Specific Objectives: Union development officers and organizers will be responsible for overall coordination and facilitation at Union Coordinating committee as well as at Village Committee are institutionalized in BRDB. [Read More About PRDP-2]

At a Glance of Productive Employment & Awareness raising program for Rural Women (PEAPRW)