Loan Officer Job Vacancy: RDRS Bangladesh

RDRS came into being at the time of Bangladesh’s War of Independence in 1971. Set up by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Geneva to help refugees fleeing conflict across the border, it returned with them after liberation to carry out much-needed rehabilitation in the devastated and long-neglected northwest – greater Rangpur – Dinajpur Districts.

In 1976, a sectoral development programme was launched to assist the poorest in agriculture, community development, health and women’s economic activities. Construction of roads, bridges, markets and schools continued.

During these years, RDRS was the leading non-governmental organisation in the northwest. It is also credited with introducing many major innovations: the treadle pump (its most famous invention, allowing crops to be grown in winter); wheat production and other crop diversification; vegetable gardens; and, women’s advancement.

By the late 1980s, an integrated comprehensive programme superseded its sectoral work, focused on conscientisation and group organisation of the poor, emphasizing social, educational and economic elements. Physical infrastructure development continued under the Rural Works Project.

Since then, RDRS successes have included the ‘greening the north’ through its roadside and homestead tree plantation programme; improving life on the chars (river islands on the Brahmaputra); raising awareness of women’s rights; promoting savings, credit and skills training to improve the livelihoods of the poor and, the emergence of Union Federations – self-managed people’s organisations of the rural poor.

The RDRS programme continues to evolve and innovate. Current realities mean the programme now comprises a range of various projects and financing, large and small, which all contribute to a common objective.