Promoting rural non-farm self-employment through the private sector participations: An overview of Bangladesh experience

Proshika is one of the largest national NGOs in Bangladesh working with the landless and poor farmers. The organization's strategy for human development is structured around organizing its clients into groups and providing them with training, technical assistance, credit, input supply and marketing support. Nearly half the population of Bangladesh is women. They are considered a disadvantaged group as the majority of them are illiterate and have low social status because of many social and religious taboos. Due to a lack of employment opportunities in this male-dominated society, women have no source of income and often suffer from malnutrition. Because of this, women were given special attention for development through Proshika's programmes. The very word “PROSHIKA” is an acronym of three Bangla words (for training, education and action) and this encapsulates the organization's development ethos. Finally, a strategy for non-farm development must recognize the links between non-farm activities and agriculture.