Since 1986, ASOD has been successfully operating microfinance program with its own funds in Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur District, the most disaster prone areas in the northern region of Bangladesh. The main objective of this activity is to create opportunities for self-employment and income generation through improve IGA skill and increase internal /external resource mobilization for the ultra poor and vulnerable communities.The success of the above initiatives helped ASOD to become a partner organization of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in 1992 to spread out/extend microfinance program in other disaster prone areas. At present there are 109,337 members in the credit groups, out of which 76,535 received credits for income generating activities.Recently ASOD has also borrowed microcredit fund from Commercial Bank to meet the demand of its organized group members. As of June 2009 ASOD has disbursed an amount of BD Taka 1970.22 million (Equivalent to US $ 28.15 million). Currently, there are six microfinance components under its operation:
• Rural Micro Credit Program
• Micro Credit for the VGD women (Integrated Food Assisted
Development Program-I)
• Financial Services for the Poor (FSP)
• Micro Credit for the Ultra-Poor (UP)
• Second Participatory Livestock Development
Project (PLDP-II)
• Micro Enterprise Development
• PRIME (Programed Initiative for Monga Eradication)
In addition, ASOD is designing innovative microfinance support programs involving all adult family members (son, daughter and other dependents, if any) including male counterpart of credit recipients women members. Programs are:
• Community Godown /warehouse supports for small trading for the ultra poor, small and marginal farmers
• Micro Community Banking
• Family based dairy and livestock development program
• Motorized Rural Transport Program etc.
Dr Taskinur Rahman, Chief Executive
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