Project launched to support ultra-poor in Kurigram

Concern Worldwide Bangladesh in partnership with Trickle Up has initiated a three-year programme titled “Empowering women and youth through graduation and financial inclusion” to continue its support to women living in extreme poverty.

This project, funded through a grant from MetLife Foundation, will work exclusively with women from ultra-poor families in Kurigram who will take their first transformative steps out of ultra-poverty.

The programme aims to support 600 families through an adaptive graduation approach and increase access and usage of financial services for 12,400 women, according to a statement.

Trickle Up works through local partners and in partnership with large institutions and governments to provide women and other vulnerable populations with business training and financial education.

MetLife Foundation has supported graduation approach since 2014. Trickle up and Concern Worldwide implemented pilot projects in India and Bangladesh respectively to work with and support the rural ultra-poor, especially women.

The pilot projects in Bangladesh and India were successful as families achieved significant growth in income and livelihood opportunities, Concern Worldwide Bangladesh said in a statement.

The inception event of the project was held recently in Dhaka.

Krishibid Md Abdul Hannan, director of the Field Services Wing at the Department of Agricultural Extension; Helen Ware, programme director of Concern Worldwide, and Sayeed Mahmud Riadh, head of programme at Concern Worldwide Bangladesh, attended the programme.

Md Nurul Islam, chairman of MetLife Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar; N Ravindra, director at partnerships and new initiatives at Trickle Up, and Virginia Ubik, interim Asia regional rep from Trickle Up, were also present.