The International

For a country plagued by a lengthy history of poverty and gender discrimination, Bangladesh has come a long way. Thanks to education and microfinance programs, the role of women in the country has dramatically evolved over the last two decades, leading the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to conclude that “if education were to be integrated on a massive scale with microfinance services for the very poor worldwide,” similar to the experience in Bangladesh, then their true potential will be recognized as they are offered “a dignified route out of poverty.” Narrowing the gender disparity gap, today more women are given the opportunity to enroll in primary and secondary schools, acquire th…

With international organizations pushing to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, a project comprised of numerous self-help groups (SHGs) in India has also scaled up its efforts. The Andhra Pradesh Rural Poverty Reduction Project, a micro-financing initiative, aims to enable the rural poor in the province of Andhra Pradesh, India, to improve their livelihoods and quality of life.   The Andhra Pradesh Rural Poverty Program was launched in 2003 after receiving approval from the World Bank. The project then organized nearly 90 percent of its participants – about 10 million women – into approximately 850,000 SHGs. The program also deals with external partners like commercial banks, m…