This program provides both financial and non-financial services to create sustainable income opportunities for the extremely poor and ensure their human dignity.

Just two decades ago, the extremely poor were largely excluded from existing conventional financial services in Bangladesh. This exclusion stemmed from reluctance of service providers, poor socio-economic conditions, and lack of awareness among the extremely poor. In addition, a lack of appropriate initiatives and institutional support posed further barriers. Against this backdrop, PKSF launched a microcredit program in 2004 to include those previously left out of formal financial services. In 2014, the program was named ‘Buniad’.

Implemented nationwide, the program seeks to create sustainable income opportunities for the extremely poor and ensure their human dignity by providing both financial and non-financial services.

‘Buniad’ offers distinctive flexibilities to the extremely poor in terms of deposit and withdrawal of savings, loan repayment schedules, attendance in group meetings, and minimum savings requirements for a fresh loan. In addition, PKSF provides Disaster Management Loan and Land Lease Loan to the ‘Buniad’ participants.