OVERVIEW

ARS-Bangladesh is a nationwide, non-partisan, not-for-profit, voluntary, non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to foster national development through upgrading the socio-economic conditions of the marginalized people belonging to lower socio-economic strata of rural and urban regions.

ARS-Bangladesh came into being in 1998 with a view to make a difference in the lives of marginalized people of Bangladesh through promotion of income, housing, education, aptitude, health and human rights. The organization is predominantly sensible about women, children and persons with disabilities who are marginalized of the marginalized.

ARS-Bangladesh has two goals that include poverty alleviation and social development. In course of time, it took shape of a micro finance institution (MFI) to attain its goals through holistic program approach. ARS-Bangladesh combines skills credit and delivery of essential human services to ensure sustainable socio-economic development. The entity acts as an agent of change through creating opportunities of self-employment for rurally based hardcore poor in forms of small and medium enterprises in sectors encompassing agriculture, imitation ornaments, sports accessories (cricket bat), tant (gamcha, lungi, shari etc.), cow fattening and dairy.

 

ARS-Bangladesh is a BBB3 category MFI rated by CRAB.

• Hold social justice, equity, respect for human rights and respect for culture and customs in core.
• Give services to all disadvantaged groups regardless of the race or creed and without adverse distinction of any kind. Calculate service priorities on the basis of need alone.
• Ensure participation of the target populations in planning, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluations of the programs aimed at their well-being.
• Involve different sectors of society in interventions
• Ensure gender balance in participation of stakeholders.
• Seek to diversify sources of funding.
• Take a professional approach to the work and make actions sustainable.
• Hold the entity accountable to both those it seeks to assist and those from whom it accept resources. Hold it publicly accountable and transparent.