Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) Programme
Formerly known as the VGD Programme
The Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) Programme previously known as the Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) Programme is a major social safety net initiative implemented by the Government of Bangladesh. The programme is designed to support poor and vulnerable women by strengthening their economic resilience, increasing access to essential services, and improving their social and health conditions. To ensure effective implementation, the Government partners with approved non-government social service organizations under specific terms and guidelines.
History of the VWB Programme
The history of the VWB Programme can be traced back to the early 1970s, when the government and development partners first began providing assistance to victims of war, famine, and natural disasters. Over the years, the initiative evolved into a comprehensive development programme focused on helping ultra-poor women overcome poverty through sustainable support. Today, it is recognized as one of the largest women-focused safety net programmes in Bangladesh and is supported by the World Food Programme (WFP). Currently, the programme reaches around one million women participants, covering approximately 4.2 million beneficiaries from extremely poor households. Participants receive a monthly food ration along with a package of development services that include life skills training, income-generating skills development, support for savings, and access to micro-credit through partner organizations. Under the previous VGD format, the programme operated in two main forms: the Income Generating Vulnerable Group Development (IGVGD) component, which provided a monthly ration of wheat, rice, or fortified flour, and the Food Security Vulnerable Group Development (FSVGD) component, which offered a combination of cash support and flour distribution. Each cycle of the programme runs for two years, and beneficiaries may participate only once. As part of the broader Country Programme, VWB contributes to improving food consumption, nutrition, education, livelihood diversification, and resilience among vulnerable women, children, and adolescents.
Main Objective of the Programme
The main objective of the VWB Programme is to empower vulnerable women by providing them with training in self-employment and various income-generating activities, while also guiding them to build financial discipline through regular savings. In addition to food assistance, the programme ensures access to loans, support services, and awareness-building initiatives that help women become socially and economically empowered. Through these combined efforts, VWB aims to create a pathway for women to graduate from extreme poverty and participate more confidently in society and local economic activities.
Our Role as an Implementing Partner
SWA-JIB Society is proud to serve as a working partner of the Government of Bangladesh in delivering life skills and development training under the VWB Programme. The initiative is funded by the Department of Women Affairs under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. Our organization has implemented this programme during the periods 2019–2020, 2021–2022, and 2023–2024 in the Sreepur and Kaliganj upazilas of Gazipur District. A total of 247 vulnerable women have benefited from our support, which includes training on income-generating activities, life skills development, social awareness, and improved access to financial and livelihood services. Through our continuous efforts, we aim to contribute to creating a more stable, independent, and empowered group of women who can uplift themselves and their families.
