The Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) program is a targeted social safety net initiative designed to empower ultra-poor and socially marginalized women, especially in rural and disaster-prone areas. This program aims to break the cycle of poverty and food insecurity by enhancing the socio-economic resilience of its beneficiaries through a combination of food assistance, skill development, and income-generating support.
The VGD program primarily focuses on women-headed households, widows, divorced or abandoned women, and those with no sustainable source of income. By providing monthly food rations alongside life skills training, literacy education, and vocational training (such as tailoring, livestock rearing, or small-scale entrepreneurship), the program helps women improve their self-reliance and economic independence.
Implemented in collaboration with local government institutions, NGOs, and community-based organizations, the VGD program also ensures linkage to microfinance services and other social protection programs. Over a typical 24-month cycle, beneficiaries receive continuous support and monitoring to ensure the sustainability of outcomes.
The overarching goal of the VGD program is not only to reduce hunger and malnutrition among the poorest women but also to empower them socially and economically so that they can actively participate in household and community decision-making. By fostering self-sufficiency, the VGD program contributes to building a more inclusive and resilient society, aligned with the broader goals of poverty reduction, gender equality, and sustainable development.