Jewelur Rahman

Since UDDIPAN's inception in 1984, UDDIPAN has progressed over time making strategic changes and paradigm shifts responding to social dynamics and changing needs and priorities of its target beneficiaries. Today, UDDIPAN is considered one of the top 10 largest national development organizations in Bangladesh. It is operating in 477 Upazilas of 64 districts, implementing multi-dimensional programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of the economically exploited and socially excluded poor and extremely poor people who are struggling to survive at the margin of life. UDDIPAN’s programmatic interventions are broadly focused on meeting individuals’ economic and social needs and empowering them to claim their rights and entitlements. On one hand, financial intermediation gives individuals the ability to invest and improve their economic status and break out of the poverty trap, and on the other, focused interventions in the areas of education; health; water, sanitation and hygiene promotion; agriculture and rights and social justice give the individuals their ability to improve their social standing and establish themselves in the social mainstream. UDDIPAN also has interventions for senior citizens who are otherwise neglected and mentally tormented within the family and the community at large. UDDIPAN provides economic support to involve them in income-generating activities and also creates opportunities for recreation and inter-generational exchanges which provide mental peace and social dignity. In brief, UDDIPAN empowers the poor economically and socially to break out of the poverty trap, unlock their latent potential and unleash their creative social energy through an integrated economic and social development programme. UDDIPAN is also visibly involved in capacity enhancement, networking, advocacy and lobbying with an aim to establish a just society based on accountability, transparency and good governance.