Development support services to women under the Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) Programme

The Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) programme is one of the largest social safety net programmes implemented by the Government of Bangladesh in partnership with the World Bank. It aims to increase the earning potential and social empowerment of the most disadvantaged ultra-poor households and vulnerable rural women. During a 16-month cycle, wheat/rice is provided to give women a temporary break from the struggle to find food and allow them to participate in training programmes and attend courses focused on market-based income-generating activities, provision of savings and credit, and functional education (health, nutrition, literacy etc.). It also helps improve the nutritional status of malnourished women and children. Currently, about 750,000 women participants (about 3.75 million beneficiaries) from ultra-poor households receive a monthly food ration combined with a package of development services. The participants of the VGD group got a monthly food ration of 30 kilograms of wheat/rice or 25 kilograms of fortified flour (atta).

The development package includes life skills and income generating skills training as well as a personal savings programme and access to mainstream development programmes by linking them to microcredit/NGO membership. There were two different forms of VGD: Income Generating Vulnerable Group Development (IGVGD) and Food Security Vulnerable Group Development (FSVGD).  Bangladesh labour Foundation has implemented this project during August 2021 to December 2022 at Chagalnaiya, Sonagazi and Dagonbhuiyan under Feni district and at Kabirhat under Noakhali district.