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Introduction

An overwhelming majority of Bangladesh's population lives in rural areas and majority of them is poor. Poverty alleviation in this context, has become a priority program in the country, where numerous government and non-government organizations are presently implementing various projects for poverty alleviation. A new dimension in direct poverty alleviation programs has emerged following the success of Grameen Bank in collateral free micro credit to the poor in rural areas, which has prompted many non-government organizations, small or big to replicate the model. Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) was set up by the government in May 1990 as a non-profit organization for alleviation of poverty through employment and income generating activities. As the foundation for employment Promoting PKSF has adopted the  strategy of financing Microcredit Programs of NGOs and other Organizations in this regard. PKSF is registered as a "not for profit Company" under the Company's Act 1994 to accommodate more flexibility, dynamism, transparency and innovations. PKSF is an apex funding agency for microcredit which provides funds to various microfinance institutions (MFIs), mostly NGO-MFIs in Bangladesh, and the MFIs funded by PKSF (called Partner Organizations or POs) on-lend the fund to the poor at grassroot level.



Objectives

The Foundation has been established for helping the poor, the landless and the asset less in order to enable them to gain access to resources for productive undertakings and/or self-employment and for enhancing the quality of their life. For this purpose, its major objectives are:
1. To provide assistance for generating income and/or employment opportunities for the landless and the asset less for alleviating poverty, in various forms and manners, including financial, institutional, advisory and training to Non-government, Semi-government and Government Organizations, Voluntary agencies and societies, Local government bodies, Institutions, Groups of individuals as Partner Organizations (POs).
 

2. To support, promote, develop and identify employment opportunities for the poor (the landless and the asset less), to provide them with credit as well as such other help and assistance including education and training as may be necessary for development of their skills.
 

3. To help building and strengthening the institutional capacity of the partner organizations (POs) for improving their efforts at providing access to resources for the poor.
 

4. To support, promote and sponsor innovative programs and projects for creating awareness for the improvement in the quality of life of the poor and for self-reliance in the process of creating productive employment opportunities.
 

5. To be a promoter and stimulator of innovative ideas and methods and to encourage, promote and assist efforts which emphasize and focus on new technologies and ideas for employment creation and productive activities for poverty alleviation.

6. To initiate, undertake and promote research activities directed towards poverty alleviation and employment generation, to establish and support research and training institutions, to grant stipends, scholarships, fellowships for such research activities to organize seminars, workshops, conferences and to undertake publication of reports, periodicals, monographs, bulletins, journals, books etc. in furtherance of the objectives of the Foundation.