Microcredit Program

Access to appropriate and affordable financial services is fundamental to poverty reduction, livelihood improvement, enterprise growth, and economic resilience among low-income populations.

IDF launched its microfinance program in 1993 by piloting the Grameen Microfinance Model in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. The model was subsequently adapted to reflect the local socio-economic context and the needs of the communities. The first microcredit was disbursed to a group of poor farmers through the Sualok Branch in Bandarban Hill District.

Since its inception, IDF has been implementing inclusive microfinance program to expand financial access for underserved communities, particularly women, smallholder farmers, micro-entrepreneurs, wage earners, and vulnerable rural households. Through diversified financial services, the program enables low-income families to invest in productive activities, diversify income sources, build assets, and strengthen resilience against economic and climate-related shocks.

Microfinance is the largest program of IDF and has evolved into a comprehensive portfolio of financial products and services that respond to the diverse needs of different client segments. Over the years, IDF has introduced innovative financial solutions that have made significant contributions to poverty reduction, economic empowerment, and sustainable livelihood development.

To ensure targeted support, beneficiaries are grouped into three major categories:

Buniad – for ultra-poor households;
Jagoron – for poor households; and
Agrosor – for emerging and established micro-entrepreneurs.

This segmentation enables IDF to provide customised financial services and appropriate business development support based on the socioeconomic conditions and aspirations of its clients.

Today, the program operates across 19 districts, covering 122 upazilas and 1,043 unions. More than 156,000 members, approximately 99% of whom are women, receive financial and non-financial services, including loans for agriculture, livestock, fisheries, micro and small enterprises, along with capacity-building and livelihood development support. The program has received national recognition for its contribution to poverty alleviation, including the Best Microfinance Institution Award (2015).

Key Microfinance Statistics (2025)

Total Branches: 120
Total Members: 156,000+
Total Loan Outstanding: USD 46.5 million
Total Savings Portfolio: USD 16.18 million
Average Savings per Member: USD 103.85
Recovery Rate: Over 99%

Through its microfinance program, IDF continues to promote financial inclusion, strengthen entrepreneurship, accelerate rural economic development, and improve the livelihoods of low-income households across Bangladesh. Beyond providing credit and savings services, the program serves as a catalyst for economic empowerment, enabling vulnerable communities to achieve greater self-reliance, resilience, and long-term prosperity.

Integrated Development Foundation (IDF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to combating poverty in the remote, hilly, and underserved regions of Bangladesh.

Microcredit Program