Bangladesh

Disability Inclusion in Bangladesh

Improving the situation of persons with disabilities by increasing their access to better and more competitive and sustainable opportunities for poverty reduction in Bangladesh.

  • Project Name
    Taking Successful Innovation to Scale – Pathways for Disability-Inclusive Graduation out of Poverty
  • Project Phase
    2018 to 2022
  • Funding
    This is a DFID project in collaboration with Handicap International
  • Thematic focus
    Private Sector Development

HELVETAS and Handicap International support persons with disabilities living in extreme poverty to increase their income, graduate out of poverty and improve their autonomy and social participation. The project gives specific attention to women, girls, and women-headed households.

This disability-inclusive graduation model puts disabled people as project actors and income earners. The interventions are centered towards change for persons with disability income status and quality of life through livelihood generation inputs and skills development, including rehabilitation and social protection.

In addition Handicap International provides technical assistance to Helvetas on mainstreaming the disability-inclusive cycle to adjust its livelihood and poverty alleviation activities with its ongoing projects Shamerto – skills and development, and SPCC- lobby and advocacy for small producer empowerment and inclusive markets.  As well as activities included in the graduation program such as asset transfer, savings, skills and social integration specific support is ensured so that each individuals have access to the rehabilitation, adapted tools and environmental adjustments needed to increase their autonomy and productivity.

FFD on fodder cultivation Hydroponic technology
1/3
Producers are making bamboo craft products
2/3
Producer is feeding the cows
3/3

HELVETAS implements its local service provider’s model, forming service providers association and ensuring market linkages including services of public and private service providers. For example, building capacity of local service providers to include more persons with disabilities within producer groups and supporting 1,000 individuals with disabilities in terms of livelihood engagement, referral linkages, disability rights, access to social, health, employment and safety net program.

The project is implemented in partnership with Handicap International and funded by DFID.