North-West Ultra Poverty Initiative Project Northwest Bangladesh
| Location: | Northwest Bangladesh |
| Timeline: | Jan 2022 – Dec 2024 |
| Partner: | The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh |
Challenge
Ultra poverty means surviving on less than $0.17 CAD per day per family. In rural northwest Bangladesh, families affected by leprosy and lymphatic filariasis (LF) are trapped in this reality—with no access to food, school, healthcare, or decent shelter.
These diseases often cause visible disabilities, making it even harder for people to find work, be accepted, or be seen.
Solution
NUPIP helps families affected by NTDs break out of extreme poverty through skills training, business support, health care, and social connection.
Key Details
- Skills training & micro-business grants
- Education access for children with disabilities
- Mobility aids and assistive devices
- Clean water and sanitation
- Self-help groups for support and advocacy
Noyon’s Story
Noyon dropped out of school to support his family when his father got leprosy. Through NUPIP, he learned carpentry and got funding to start a business. Now he supports his family, has two assistants, and even bought land.
“Before this program, I depended on my parents. Now I support them.”
Outcomes
- 180+ households directly impacted by NTDs
- Over 900,000 people in surrounding communities
- Nigerian health authorities, who can use the findings to scale what works
- Equip health authorities in Bangladesh to use the findings from this project to build stronger health system responses
Why It Matters
This isn’t just a poverty project—it’s restoration of hope. When you support NUPIP, you help families move from surviving to thriving.
