Microcredit Activities of Major NGOs in Bangladesh
Non-government organisations (NGOs) execute microcredit programmes and government organisations. The NGOs mainly work for poverty alleviation, education, health, human resource development, etc. The overall microcredit activities of major nine NGOs are described below:
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BRAC Microfinance Programme
BRAC, the largest NGO globally, has a great contribution to the socio-economic development of Bangladesh. It is the biggest microcredit providing NGO in the country. It operates different types of programmes through microcredit. The activities implemented by BRAC relate to economic and social development, health, education, human rights and legal services, and disaster management. In addition, Up to December 2020, BRAC disbursed an amount of Tk. 2,86,879.81 crore. During this period, in total, 8,127,942 people have been benefited, out of which 84 percent are female.
ASA Microcredit Programme
ASA started its microcredit programme in 1991 as a specialised microcredit organisation. Its cost-effective and sustainable microfinance programme has been recognised as a special poverty alleviation model. Up to February 2021, ASA distributed Tk. 2,40,471.99 crore cumulatively among 6,955,551 beneficiaries; almost 90 percent are female.
BURO Bangladesh Loans
BURO is implementing its activities through 482 Upazilas. It mainly works for lower-income groups. In FY 2020-21, BURO distributed Tk. 5296.5 crore as loans among 1,855,457 beneficiaries are female out of the 91 percent.
Caritas Loans Programme
Caritas works for education and poverty reduction for marginal people. Up to December 2020, Caritas disbursed Tk. 4,984.71 crore among 2,57,692 beneficiaries.
Society for Social Services (SSS)
Society for Social Service (SSS) works for improving the socio-economic condition of destitute and underprivileged people. It also contributes to establishing justice and peace in society. Activities of SSS are now spread out at 200 Upazilas of 32 districts of the country. 7.81 lac is beneficiary families (among them 6.12 lakh families in a financial service programme, 1.69 lakh families in social programmes and 3.50 thousand in disadvantaged children families,) cumulative credit disbursement of Tk. 25,924.67 crore.
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Shakti Foundation
This organisation provides microcredit facilities for the deprived women living in the slums of Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Cumilla, Bogura, Rajshahi and other major cities and towns. Microfinance is the core programme of the Shakti Foundation. Moreover, it provides services for healthcare, business entrepreneurship and social development of poor women. Up to February 2021, an amount of Tk. 11,573.56 crore has been disbursed, and Tk. 10,513.16 crore has been recovered by the foundation.
TMSS Credit Programme
TMSS has been implementing a microcredit programme to make poor people self-employed by improving their socio-economic conditions. It also works for the expansion of business and increases production growth. TMSS implements a credit programme in 376 Upazilas of 58 districts. Up to June 2020, Tk. 31,586.04 crore has been as microcredit among 76,92,607 beneficiaries.
Proshika Loans Programme
Proshika started its journey in 1976 from Manikgonj, intending to remove poverty from society. Currently, it runs activities in 54 districts. Until February 2021, Proshika distributes Tk. 7441.71 crore as loans, and 2,807,497 poor people benefit from this NGO.
Grameen Bank Microcredit
Grameen Bank was established as a specialised institution in 1983. The microcredit programme was implemented by the bank for poverty reduction. It works for poverty declination by creating self-employment for poor rural women by providing microcredit. Up to December 2020, 93.37 lakh poor people of 81,678 villages of 479 upzilas under 64 districts are involved in the microcredit programme of Grameen Bank. The bank disbursed Tk. 236853.25 crore until February 2021 and recovered Tk. 222516.35 during the same period.
Ref. Bangladesh Economic Review 2021 (Chapter 13, Poverty Alleviation)