Vulnerable Group Devlopment (VGD)

The Vulnerable Group Development Programme (VGD) is the National development intervention that exclusively targets ultra poor households. About 750,000 direct ultra-poor participants across the country received monthly food ration for the household and a development support services (inclusive of live skills and income generating skills training, savings and access to credit) for a cycle. To ensure sustainability of development results and to provide women with opportunities to further improve their livelihoods VGD participants will be mainstreamed into regular NGO development programme after completing the cycle.

Food distribution under the VGD programme

Rural Reconstruction Foundation has signed the Agreement on 19 March 2009 with World Food Programme for implementation those training and savings collection activities in 16 Upazila under Bagerhat and Satkhira district. A total number of 28,636 VGD women are handling by RRF under the project area. Rural Reconstruction Foundation has established separately 02 number of district offices and 16 number of Upazilla offices under Bgderhat and Satkhira districts for implement the project activities under vulnerable group development programme. For the programme implementation 02 numbers of District coordinator, 16 numbers of Upazila coordinator and 111 numbers of Field trainer is working under project areas.

VGD Area Coverage: 16 Upazila under Bagerhat and Satkhira district in Bangladesh. The comprehensive report is in the bellow:

Major activities under the programme:

Group Formation: For the implementation of training programme, Rural Reconstruction Foundation has formed 599 number of group under Bagerhat district and 546 number of group under Satkhira district. Each group contains 20 - 25 VGD women.

Food entitlement: All Field trainers under the programme has been informed the VGD beneficiary under the programme areas specification on their rights of food entitlement, rights of receipt (both in quality and quantity), safe custody of food, storage and the receipt of food. Now, maximum VGD women are awarded after briefing session. RRF has been trying to strengthen the advocacy campaigns with the participants, beneficiary, community, local government and local administration in order to get support and cooperation of all concerned to ensure food entitlement to the VGD women.

Savings collection: It is mandatory to collect savings from the VGD women @ 10 per week. Savings are being collected from VGD women on weekly basis in the group meeting by the field staff of Rural Reconstruction Foundation.

Savings deposition system: RRF has opened a separate Bank Account for each Upazila in the name of "VGD Savings Account." Bank Account has been jointly operated by the concern Upazila Women Affairs Officers and District Coordinator of RRF.

Training Programme: RRF specially implementing the training programme to the respective district. The basic part of the training is awareness on different functional issues, contribute to change attitudes and generate commitment to bring changes in the behaviors and practices in the functional life. On the other hand they will receive IGA skills development training is to enhance the livelihoods and self-reliance through increasing income. The training programme is being continued specially on life skill training under the programme area as per the plan. The training programme which has been completed during the reporting period are given bellow.

Speech of the Chief Guest Md. Muazzem Hussain DC-Bagerhat at present opening ceremony of staff Development training under the VGD programm

Photo Session of Maical Danford, Deputy Country Director of WFP with VGD women's after the training secession.

Maical Danford, Deputy Country Director of WFP observed

Maical Danford, Deputy Country Director of WFP discussing with VGD women's after the training secession

Speech of the special Guest Mrs. Hafiza Khan, Head of WFP Sub-office, Jessore at

present opening ceremony of staff Development training under the VGD programme