Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB)

Overview: Bangladesh has a strong tradition of providing support to its poor through social safety nets, which account for nearly 14 percent of the national budget and reach 27 percent of households. Despite significant progress in reducing poverty, the social safety net system is complex and fragmented, limiting its ability to effectively tackle growing urban poverty and the challenges of climate change, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing global food crisis.

The VWB programme, formerly known as the Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) programme, plays a crucial role in this effort. It provides women with a monthly ration of 30.3 kg of fortified rice along with intensive skill development training. These initiatives are designed to empower women by engaging them in income-generating activities. By 2030, the VWB programme aims to help 3.2 million women in both rural and urban areas establish micro-enterprises, enabling them to rise out of extreme poverty.