Retrenched Garment Workers

Recent changes in the international trades and quota systems have caused many businesses in the garments industry to close down or operate at reduced activity. This has resulted in layoffs for the predominantly women garments workers. To facilitate their rehabilitation into alternative income generating activities, BRAC has now started absorbing a number of these retrenched garment workers into its microfinance programme with an average loan size of US$ 86 (Tk. 5,000).

Microfinance for Acid Victims

BRAC and Acid Survival Foundation (ASF) are jointly working to help acid victims. BRAC Microfinance helps rehabilitate the acid victims through credit and savings facilities, so that they can earn income through investing in different income generating activities (IGA).

Employment and Livelihood for Adolescents

Employment and Livelihood for Adolescents (ELA) is a programme for BEP (BRAC Education Programme) school graduates, and it primarily focuses on the financial empowerment of adolescent girls. ELA groups are comprised of 20-40 members and all are girls. Loans disbursed to the ELA members invest the loans primarily in poultry, livestock, nursery, fisheries, and other small businesses.

Women Enterprises Development Programme (WEPD)

BRAC started Women Enterprises Development Programme (WEDP) tailored for women in urban, rural and hill tract areas. Managed only by women staff, this programme gives women entrepreneurs access to funds to become not only self-sufficient, but to also become job-providers.