Livelihoods, Micro-Credit & Economic Empowerment
VOSD’s flagship economic empowerment pillar is built on a simple belief: when you organize people into groups, help them save, train them with market-ready skills, and give them access to micro-credit, they can lift themselves out of poverty permanently. Since 1987, this integrated approach has transformed hundreds of thousands of households across rural and urban Bangladesh.
Conscientization
Raising mass awareness since 1987
Conscientization is one of the most important foundational activities of VOSD. Our field staff have been conducting awareness-raising activities since 1987, working tirelessly to awaken the poor, especially women, to their own potential and rights. Through this process, communities move from passive acceptance of poverty to active self-realization and collective action.
So far, we have made approximately 2,10,00,000 (2.1 crore) people aware on a wide range of social, economic, and rights-based issues. The community people in our working areas are now fairly conscious in all respects — they can realize and understand their problems and develop solutions themselves.
Motivation & Institution Building
Group formation & savings accumulation
VOSD began motivation and group formation in 1987. Our process starts with selecting working areas, conducting baseline surveys, and identifying the most vulnerable beneficiaries. We then motivate and educate them on the organization’s vision, mission, and objectives.
Once the community realizes the value of unity, we organize them into small savings groups. Each group holds weekly meetings, contributes savings, and builds collective capital. This group fund becomes the foundation for income-generating activities, self-capital increase, and collective problem-solving.
So far, approximately 10,50,000 (10.5 lakh) targeted people have been organized into 54,254 savings groups, with accumulated savings of Tk. 23,62,58,698/-. Importantly, about 90% of our groups are composed of women members, reflecting our deep commitment to women’s economic empowerment.
Micro-Credit Support for IGAs
Access to finance for income-generating activities
VOSD started its micro-credit program in 1988 and has been continuously expanding it. The program creates employment and income-earning opportunities for organized group members through small loans, using a combination of group savings, donor funds, and revolving loan funds.
Before applying for a loan, each participant must complete at least two training courses or workshops, be a group member for at least 6 months, have saved at least Tk. 300/-, and actively participate in weekly group meetings. The loan application is reviewed by the group first, then by the Credit Coordinator, and finally approved by the Executive Director.
Loans are repaid on a weekly installment basis with a 12.5% declining service charge. So far, VOSD has distributed over Tk. 153.65 crore (Tk. 153,65,65,019) to thousands of families who are now running profitable IGAs. The loan realization rate is an exceptional 98.40%.
Livelihood Development Program
Livestock, poultry & cow fattening for rural families
Livestock resources development is one of the most important activities for poverty alleviation and employment creation, especially because the majority of rural poor women depend on livestock for their livelihoods. VOSD has been promoting livestock development since 1987.
We provide training, credit, and technical support for poultry rearing, goat rearing, cow rearing, cow fattening, and duck rearing. These are highly profitable, employment-generating, and locally viable activities that utilize available resources efficiently.
With the support of donors including Rabobank Foundation-Netherlands, DANIDA/Ministry of Livestock, Fael Khair Program (FKP-IDB), and FAO, we have provided loans to approximately 3,33,500 group members for livestock rearing and fattening. Additionally, we support women members from the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and group savings funds.
Skills & Vocational Training
Building capacity for sustainable employment
VOSD places heavy emphasis on skills development and vocational training for group members, youths, and children. This program, started in 1987, is a continuous process that equips people with the practical skills they need to earn a living.
So far, 355,000 group members, 4,370 youths, 11,235 children, and 9,577 staff members have received various types of skills development training. Each staff member and beneficiary has participated in at least 2 to 7 training courses, with some senior staff completing up to 42 courses.
Our training covers a wide range of trades including small trades, homestead gardening, poultry rearing, sewing, fisheries development, Thai koi culture, cage culture, livestock development, handicrafts, pottery, agriculture, nursery development, and group leadership development.
Garments Workers’ Interventions
Health, hygiene & empowerment for RMG workers
VOSD has been implementing targeted interventions for poor garment workers in Dhaka and surrounding industrial areas to improve their lives, health, and livelihoods. Our work with RMG workers has been one of the most impactful workplace-based programs in Bangladesh.
Under the Hand Washing Project (Promoting Safer Hygiene Behaviour among RMG Workers), supported by BSF-Germany, we reached 200,000 RMG workers across 75 factories — the largest workplace-based WASH intervention in Bangladesh at the time. We installed 1,901 hand wash dispensers and distributed over 48,000 litres of liquid hand wash.
Our other interventions include health care, nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation education to 5,340 workers; leadership and empowerment training to 2,130 workers; life and livelihood-oriented education to 5,340 workers; and balance diet and ORS preparation training to 5,340 workers.
Agriculture Value Chain (AVC) – USAID Partnership
Modern farming & safe vegetable marketing
VOSD is a long-time partner of the Agriculture Value Chain (AVC) / Development Assistance for Livelihoods (DAL) program of USAID. This partnership focuses on capacity building, management development, and directly implementing agricultural projects that benefit smallholder farmers.
Through this partnership, USAID hired CBSG to provide capacity-building training to VOSD staff and to develop management policies and policy papers in consultation with our team. This has strengthened VOSD’s institutional capacity significantly.
VOSD has successfully implemented the Mung bean cultivation program in Barisal and Jhalakathi Districts. Currently, we are implementing the Strengthening Microfinance Business project, which supports member farmers with modern cultivation techniques and marketing of safe vegetables including Eggplant, Pumpkin, Bitter Gourd, and Cucumber.
Empowering Families, Transforming Communities
Every loan repaid, every skill learned, and every small business started is a step out of poverty. Join us in expanding economic opportunities for the most vulnerable families in Bangladesh.