Vulnerable Women Benefit Program (VWB)
Background of the Program:
The Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) program is one of the largest safety net initiatives of the Government of Bangladesh, implemented through various NGOs across the country. Under this program, vulnerable, helpless, and physically fit women receive food assistance for their sustainable development. Additionally, to help them become self-reliant, they are provided with training through selected NGOs under a development package. To deliver these development package services (such as life skills, income-generating training, and access to savings and credit), agreements are signed between the Department of Women Affairs of the Bangladesh Government and the respective NGOs. DDJ began implementing this program on May 1, 2010, in the Jhalokathi Sadar and Kathalia Upazilas of Jhalokathi district. Subsequently, DDJ extended the program to Mehendiganj and Hijla Upazilas of Barishal district. Later, under its rebranded name, the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) program, DDJ implemented the initiative in the Pirojpur Sadar and Kawkhali Upazilas of Pirojpur district. Currently, DDJ is executing the program in the Zianagar (Indurkani), Nazirpur, and Swarupkathi Upazilas of Pirojpur district.”
Duration: 28 April 2026 to 30 June 2027, Cycle: July 2025 to June 2027
Working Area: Zianagar (Indurkani), Nazirpur and Swarupkathi Upazilas of Pirojpur district.
Source of Funding: Department of Women Affairs of GoB.
Goal of the Program:
The primary goal of the program is to permanently lift ultra-poor women out of extreme poverty and integrate them into the mainstream economy.
Objective of the Program:
The main objective of the program is to build the income-earning capacities of vulnerable women and to socially empower them through training on awareness raising, provision of training on variety of income generating activities (IGA), provision of credit and other support services during and beyond the food assistance period.
Type of Beneficiary: Most marginalized and ultra-poor women.
Direct Beneficiary: Zianagar (Indurkani) Upazila: 1446, Nazirpur Upazila: 1444 & Swarupkathi Upazila: 1433; Total 4,323 vulnerable women.
Interventions/Activities:
Formation of group of vulnerable women, provide training to vulnerable women on life skills, income generating activities (IGA), mother and child health, women empowerment, HIV/AIDS, goat, cow and poultry rearing, vegetable gardening etc., provide micro credit support to the vulnerable women, savings collection, food distribution among the vulnerable women through Union Council etc.