Women-led cooperative defies poverty in Bangladesh’s poorest region
The cooperative, which has been empowering women for over a decade, has emerged as a beacon of hope amidst the severe economic challenges in the area
Despite being in the poorest part of Bangladesh, women in Dashar, a subdistrict in Madaripur where over 63% of the population falls below the upper poverty line, are defying poverty through the Chander Alo Cooperative Credit Union.
The cooperative, which has been empowering women for over a decade, has emerged as a beacon of hope amidst the severe economic challenges in the area, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics' Poverty Map of Bangladesh released on 30 January.
The Chander Alo Cooperative was established in 2002 with support from World Vision Bangladesh and the Cooperative Credit Union League of Bangladesh. Initially focused on savings and loan programs, the cooperative faced operational challenges around 2014.
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In response, it sought assistance from the Sara Bangla Krishak Society (SBKS) in 2015. Working together with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL), the cooperative was revitalised, paving the way for its current success.
Under the Missing Middle Initiative project, funded by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), FAO and SBKS introduced innovative, community-led business models to empower women and enhance climate resilience. The initiative provided capacity-building in governance, financial management, business operations, market access, and digital literacy, enabling rural institutions to make climate-smart investments.
"Organising, saving, daring, and working hard help us to fight poverty," said Anjali Boidyo, President of Chander Alo.
"Over time, we built up our savings and established common facility centres that reduce production costs and ensure fair prices through market linkages. The significant growth in savings, loans, and incomes underscores the vital role of rural women in combating poverty. Together, we are building a resilient and prosperous future."
FAO also guided Chander Alo in adopting a blended financing model, combining member savings, profits from common facility centres, a revolving loan fund supported by FAO, and bank financing. This approach enabled the members to invest and strengthen their resilience during crises.
"FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock have been working hand-in-hand with producers' organisations under this business model for over a decade. The results are evident today, as women from 1,900 households in one of the most poverty-prone upazilas have successfully protected their families from poverty," said Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh.
A final evaluation of the Missing Middle Initiative revealed that the incomes of members of Chander Alo increased by an average of 35%, providing a tangible shield against poverty in the historically vulnerable region. The success of the cooperative highlights the transformative power of inclusive, community-driven models in fostering financial empowerment and resilience.
