About

 The goal of Dipto – The Foundation for Gender and Development is to raise awareness about the rights issues of marginalized populations, abused women, extremely poor women, and girl children, and to empower them socio-economically and politically by increasing their skills and creating employment opportunities to make them self-reliant and independent.

Empowerment is extremely significant in a literal sense for Dipto Foundation. Dipto Foundation is firmly committed to gender equality, sustainable development, and the establishment of human rights. The Foundation’s long-term plan is to bring qualitative change. This institution is involved in various economic developments both inside the country and beyond the conventional operational streams.

The Foundation’s innovative effort to create social responsibility through partnerships for economic and social development by engaging marginalized populations and abused women is widely implemented as per its plans. Since its inception, Dipto Foundation has been closely involved with various women’s dignity-related activities of the United Nations.

A particularly notable aspect is strengthening the development process by involving the youth generation and reflecting their participation, which is an important activity of Dipto Foundation. So far, a significant number of men and women (30 interns) have been motivated to involve themselves constructively in Dipto Foundation’s activities and leadership development processes. Among them, 30 individuals after training by Dipto Foundation are working in different activities and higher education abroad. These activities have been ongoing since the Foundation’s establishment in 2012. Dipto Foundation’s innovative and distinct development efforts are visible.

The Executive Director of the Foundation plays a strong role in women’s economic processes according to the Foundation’s mandate for sustainable development activities. To maintain this principle, Dipto Foundation members are committed to conducting work responsibly, honestly, and wisely. The Foundation plays a strong role in women’s economic development. The annual reports of the Foundation are a clear reflection of this. The concept note is considered a visible document of the Foundation.

Role:

Dipto Foundation is an exceptional voluntary development organization. Dipto is sincerely committed to gender equality, sustainable development, and empowering marginalized, abused, extremely poor, and disadvantaged women to become self-reliant.

From this commitment, Dipto Foundation has emerged. The journey began from the residence of its Executive Director, where all preparatory activities were conducted. Later, the organization’s regular operations moved from a temporary office to its current permanent location. Initially, the Foundation’s funding mainly relied on the Executive Director’s personal savings and donations. His nearly four decades of experience with international development organizations helped in funding the preparatory phase.

The main goal of Dipto Foundation is to raise awareness on rights issues of marginalized, abused, very poor, and helpless women; empower them socio-economically and politically; increase their skills; and create employment opportunities to make them self-reliant. The word ’empowerment’ holds deep and meaningful significance for the Foundation. Dipto Foundation is strongly committed to gender equality, sustainable development, and human rights. Its goal is to bring qualitative change in establishing gender equality and development.

In July 2011, a draft concept paper was prepared during the preparatory phase. Several rounds of discussions with the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs led to the finalization of the paper. The advice of the then honorable State Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, now Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, and the Director General of the department played a critical role. Discussions with various donor agencies also took place. After presentation, the Foundation’s activities attracted special attention and interest from donor agencies. The Foundation’s operations are not solely donor-dependent but go beyond conventional streams, involving various resource sources within the country such as government, private and corporate sectors, and banking sectors, encouraging public-private partnerships and corporate social responsibility for socio-economic development of marginalized and abused women. The Foundation has received grant support from Bangladesh Bank’s Disaster Management and Social Responsibility Fund and is working on qualitative change in gender equality and economic development. From 2014 to 2017, the Sustainable Finance Department of Bangladesh Bank funded a project on economic participation of marginalized women implemented by the Foundation.

Legal Foundation and Renewal:

In 2012, Dipto – The Foundation for Gender and Development was registered as a Joint Stock Company. On May 19, 2013, it was registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau. The Joint Stock Company renewal was completed in 2018 for five years. The NGO Affairs Bureau renewal for ten years was completed.

Governing Board and Management:

The Foundation’s General Board and Executive Board consist of renowned researchers, educators, bankers, agricultural scientists, legal experts, civil society representatives, and human rights activists. There are 21 members in the General Board and 8 in the Executive Board. Both boards include responsible and prominent individuals from various sectors.

The Executive Board ensures strategic and policy guidance and sets consistent program goals. It facilitates decision-making through information exchange and awareness creation. The Founder Executive Director serves as the Secretary of the Executive Board and can appoint advisors or unpaid members as needed.

According to the Foundation’s Memorandum, from 2012 to 2018, 28 Executive Board meetings and 5 Annual General Meetings (AGMs) were held regularly. AGMs approve annual work plans and budgets.

Code of Conduct and Operations:

The Foundation has a Code of Conduct for its officers and employees and has formulated instructions and guidelines, including a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Strategic Steps in Project Implementation:

Dipto Foundation builds networks with government, private sector, beneficiary organizations, NGOs, and civil society platforms to foster partnerships and corporate social responsibility, reflecting best practices nationally, regionally, and internationally.

A three-year comprehensive project titled ‘Public-Private Partnership and Corporate Social Responsibility for Socio-Economic Development and Employment Creation for Marginalized and Violence-Affected Groups’ has been prepared. The proposal reflects Dipto Foundation’s broad objective of meaningful and systematic socio-economic and political empowerment of marginalized populations. The triennial plan clearly defines some specific objectives and expected outcomes.

Staff Recruitment:

Dipto Foundation employs 10 officers and staff including directors, cost accountants, chartered accountants, and support staff, recruited systematically. Specialized staff are hired per project needs. Nearly 1,200 volunteers of various levels work across the country. The Foundation’s plan is to empower women to become self-reliant, prepared in line with the current government’s 7th five-year plan and SDG 2030.

Management Process:

The Executive Board sets strategic directions and program goals based on policy. The Secretary of the Executive Board and Executive Director manage activities using their experience.

Annual work plans and budgets are approved at AGMs. The Foundation advocates and dialogues with the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, Ministry of Finance, private sector, social organizations, NGOs, and civil society platforms. Participation in creating corporate social responsibility and involvement in national, regional, and international gender equality initiatives continue. The Foundation’s Secretary General plays an active role in United Nations organizations.

Linkages with various NGOs, civil society institutions, and platforms reflect the Foundation’s effective strategies and best practices.