Project staff and volunteers at a micro-credit training, Nepal
The project has demonstrated that economic assistance and independence are central to any empowerment programme for women. Higly successful micro-credit funds were run in both countries providing loans to women who had been screened whilst accessing SRH services at project clinics.
In Bangladesh, the micro-credit programme was run in collaboration with partners while in Nepal, the programme was managed by FPAN and administered through the Survivir Support Groups (SSGs).
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Nepal: 680 survivors accessed micro-credit funds through the SSGs and a total of Rs. 3,792,000 has been disbursed via the micro credit programme.
Bangladesh: 712 survivors benefited from the micro-credit programme. |
The Social empowerment programme in Nepal included some 39 orientation programmes on entrepreneurship skills for 638 survivors and vocational/skills training for 78 survivors. Survivors have been tained on first aid, community health, driving, bike repair, cooking and sewing. In addition 4 training events took place for 52 SSG leaders in the administration of micro credit fund.
In Bangladesh there was an innovative empowerment programme to develop specialised skills as health paramedics. Working in partnership with a specialist health training NGO 24 survivors participated in a 9-month course in primary health care training which included ANC, PNC, delivery, and emergency contraception. Some of the trained paramedics are working at community level while others have jobs in NGOs and clinics.
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The Mukti Fund
In Bangladesh, the creation of the Mukti Fund evolved further the financial assistance provided to survivors. The fund provides women with loans during their pregnancy to improve nutrition and access to healthcare services. A strict loan use criteria ensures that 30% of the loan is used to purchase poultry, another 30% for transportation for ANC used to cover costs of safe delivery.
A survey of 93 women who received loans showed that 98% had made 3 ANC visits while 71% had received PNC care whilst nutrition levels had improved for 94% women. The data also showed that women's increased economic independence has also led to the borrowers receiving better care and support from their family. Commenting on the impact 70%of women reported a reduction in violence during pregnancy. |