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Grameen family of organizations

TheGrameen family of organizationshas grown beyondGrameen Bankinto a multi-faceted group of both commercial andnon-profitventures. It was first established byMuhammad Yunus,theNobel Peace Prize-winning founder of Grameen Bank. Most of the organizations in the Grameen group have central offices at the Grameen Bank Complex inMirpur,Dhaka,Bangladesh. The Grameen Bank started to diversify in the late 1980s when it began attending to unutilized or underutilized fishing ponds, as well as irrigation pumps like deep tubewells.[1]In 1989, these diversified interests started growing into separate organizations, as the fisheries project became Grameen Fisheries Foundation and the irrigation project became Grameen Krishi Foundation.[1]

Grameen Bank Complex at Mirpur-2,Dhaka

These ventures include the Social Advancement Fund (SAF), Grameen Trust, Grameen Telecom Trust,Grameen Fund,Grameen Communications, Grameen Shakti (Grameen Energy), Grameen Telecom, Grameen Shikkha (Grameen Education), Grameen Mothsho Foundation, Grameen Krishi Foundation, Grameen Baybosa Bikash (Grameen Business Development), Grameenphone, Grameen Software Limited, Grameen CyberNet Limited, Gonoshasthaya Grameen Textile Mills Limited, Grameen Capital Management Limited, Grameen Knitwear Limited, Grameen Mutual Fund One, Grameen Kalyan (Grameen Well-being), Grameen Shamogree (Grameen Products), Grameen Danone Foods (joint venture with Groupe Danone) and Grameen Uddog (Grameen Enterprise, owner of brandGrameen Check).[2][3]

Grameen Bank

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Main article:Grameen Bank

TheGrameen Bankis amicrofinanceorganization andcommunity development bankstarted inBangladeshthat makes small loans (known asmicrocredit) to the impoverished without requiringcollateral.The system is based on the idea that the poor have skills that are underutilized. The bank also accepts deposits, provides other services, and runs several development-oriented businesses including fabric, telephone and energy companies. The organization and its founder,Muhammad Yunus,were jointly awarded theNobel Peace Prizein 2006.[4]

Grameen Trust

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Grameen Trust(GT), a non-profit andnon-government organizationestablished in 1989 usesmicrocreditas a tool for fighting poverty and follows theGrameen Bankapproach for the purpose. It supports and promotes poverty focused microcredit programs all over the world under its Grameen Bank Replication Program (GBRP) through a number of ways - dialogue programs for potential replicators, training and technical assistance to replication projects, funding selected projects, and monitoring performance.[3][5]Grameen Trust funds are provided in two forms - seed capital and scaling up fund.[6]

As of August 2007, it has provided support to 138 replication partners in 37 countries of the world. Under theBuild, Operate and Transfer(BOT) program, the Trust directly implements the projects to respond to the need for immediate and rapid implementation of poverty focused microfinance programs. Grameen Trust hosts the Grameen Global Network (GGN) and publishes theGrameen Dialoguenewsletter to promote the cause of microcredit movement.[5] To implement the replication program, it received funds from theMacArthur Foundation,United Nations Capital Development Fund(UNCDF),Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit(German Technical Cooperation or GTZ),United States Agency for International Development(USAID),United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR),United Nations Office for Project Services(UNOPS), the Citigroup Foundation, theWorld BankandFord Foundation.[6]

Grameen Fund

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Main article:Grameen Fund

Grameen Fundis a not-for-profit company in Bangladesh established to providerisk capitaltosmall and medium enterprises(SME) beyond the scope ofGrameen Bank's objectives of providing microcredit to the very poor.[5][7]Incorporated on 17 January 1994, Grameen Fund started operation in February 1994, inheriting 40 projects of Grameen bank with assets of 391 millionBangladeshi takainvestments in small industries, fisheries and agriculture.[6]As of 2007, it invested equity worth $1.0 million in 13 joint ventures and financed 1763 small andmicro enterprisesin Bangladesh, especially in technology-oriented industries, by providing collateral-free fixed and working capital loans.[7][8]

Grameen Telecom

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Main article:Grameen Telecom

Grameen Telecom(GTC) is a not-for-profit company in Bangladesh established with a partial stake inGrameen Phone(GP). GTC has driven the pioneering GP program ofVillage Phonethat enables rural poor to own a cell-phone and turn it into a profit making venture. The vision behind the village phone program was formulated byIqbal Quadirwho was convinced that a mobile phone could become a source of income generation. Quadir worked with Professor Yunus and the Norwegian companyTelenorto make the program a reality. Currently Grameen Telecom providesmobile phonesamong the villagers of the country.[3][9][10]

Grameenphone

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Main article:Grameenphone

Grameenphoneis ]-based cellular operator in Bangladesh and market leader[11]with more than 50% of the Bangladeshi market share. Grameenphone started operations on January 2, 1929. It is partly owned byTelenor(62%) andGrameen Telecom(38%). It has more than 10 million customers as of December 2006.[12]It is also the fastest growing cellular telephone network in Bangladesh. At the end of 2005, it had about 3500base stationsaround the country with plans to add about 500 in the following six months. Grameenphone's stated goal is to provide cost-effective and quality cellular services in Bangladesh.

Grameen Solutions Limited

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Grameen Solutions Limited(GSL) is a software development company.[13]

Grameen Communications

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Grameen Communications(GC) is a not-for-profitinformation technologycompany established in Bangladesh in 1997, with a portfolio that includes software products and services, internet services, hardware & networking services and IT education.[2][3]The life of the company began as an IT support unit under Grameen Trust in 1994.[14]Besides providing IT support to various Grameen family organizations it in charge of developing systems for organizations like CASHPOR Financial and Technical Services Private Limited (CFTS) inMirzapur District,Uttar Pradesh,India,CMC in UIndia, Swayam Krishi Sangham (SKS) inHyderabad,India, Grameen Koota inBangalore,India, Moris Rasik inEast Timor,Ganesha Foundation inJakarta,Indonesia,and Ahon sa Hirap Inc. (ASHI) inManila,Philippines.[14]

The company has developed the Village Computer and Internet Program (VCIP) to set up a number of multipurposeCyber Kiosksin rural areas using different connectivity solutions for information access, communication and IT education.[14][15]The first VCIP was established in a room rented from the Grameen bank atMadhupur Upazila,which is connected throughmicrowavelink to theVSATat Grameen Communications office 160 km away in Dhaka.[16][17]Two others were established atSarishabari UpazilaandMirzapur Upazila.[16]A partner ofInternational Development Research Centre(IDRC) initiative Pan Asia Networking (PAN),[18]GC is also developing a program with Digital Divide Data ofUnited Statesto providedata entryjobs for rural Bangladeshis.[16]

Grameen Fisheries and Livestock Foundation

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Grameen Fisheries and Livestock Foundationor Grameen Motsho O Pashusampad Foundation (GMPF), a non-profit organization, was founded asGrameen Fisheries Foundationor Grameen Motsho Foundation (GMF), in February 1994 to mitigate poverty throughaquaculture& fisheries, as well as an integrated fish-crop-livestock and dairy development farming system. The mandates of the organization are to provide rural landless poor, especially women, to gain access to common resource properties; replace exploitation with community empowerment; replace stagnation with social and economic growth; replace traditions with modernity; provide women with legal and gender rights; and to provide food security and sustainable livelihood.[3]

Grameen Shakti

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Grameen Shakti(GS) is a renewable energy social enterprise established in 1996 to promote, develop and popularize renewable energy technologies in remote, rural areas of Bangladesh.[19][20]It is a part of the Grameen family founded to take theGrameen Bankobjective of alleviating poverty for the extreme poor through microcredit.[19][20]Grameen Shakti into one of the largest and fastest-growing renewable energy companies in the world. GS trained its engineers to be ‘social engineers’ who go from door-to-door to demonstrate the effectiveness of renewable energy. GS trained local youth as technicians to ensure that people would have efficient and free after-sales service right on their doorstep.

Grameen Shaktiis the leading company on renewable energy in Bangladesh. As of December 2010Grameen Shaktihas installed 25MWp solar system. Beside these,Grameen Shaktihave installed solar mobile charging van, Solar lighting Boat, Solar emergency Lighting, Solar water Purifier, solar power telecom systems, Off grid power supply system and also nowadays they are encouraging urban people to use hybrid solar- National grid system with low price.

In 2007, Grameen Shakti was honoured with aRight Livelihood Awardfor "bringing sustainable light and power to thousands of Bangladeshi villages, promoting health, education and productivity."[21]He has also won twoAshden Awards,in 2006[22]and 2008.[23]

Grameen Shikkha

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Grameen Shikkhaor Grameen Education was established in 1997 to promote mass education in rural areas, provide financial support in the form of loans and grants for the purpose of education, use IT for alleviation of illiteracy and development of education, promote new technologies and innovate ideas and methods for development of education. Additionally, it runs the Arsenic Mitigation Program, the Pre-school/Child Development Program, the Life the Focused Education Program, and the Early Childhood Development Program.[2][3]

Grameen Byabosa Bikash

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Grameen Byabosa Bikash(GBB) or Grameen Business Promotion and Services was established in 1994 as a social business and not-for-profit organization to provide supplementary services on top of microcredit to rural entrepreneurs dealing in products like vegetables, livestock or handicrafts to provide experience, skill and knowledge.[3][24]

Grameen Danone Foods

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Main article:Grameen Danone

Grameen Danone Foodswas launched in 2006 as a joint venture between Grameen Bank and the French food companyGroupe Danone.Grameen Danone's first product is a fortified yoghurt, branded Shoktidoi, which is designed to provide children with many of the key nutrients that are typically missing from their diet in rural Bangladesh.

Grameen America

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Main article:Grameen America

Grameen Americais a microfinance organization. Grameen America provides loans, savings programs, credit establishment and other financial services to the working poor, especially women, in the United States.[citation needed]

Grameen Foundation USA

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Main article:Grameen Foundation USA

TheGrameen Foundation USAworks to replicate the Grameen Bank model of microfinance around the world through a network of partner microfinance institutions.

References

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  1. ^abIntroductionArchived2008-06-18 at theWayback Machine,Muhammad Yunus,Grameen Family;Retrieved: 2007-09-07
  2. ^abc"Grameen Family of Enterprises".Grameen Commiunications. 2002-08-19. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-08-12.Retrieved2007-08-22.
  3. ^abcdefgYunus, Muhammad (2007-07-25)."Grameen Bank at a glance".Grameen Bank. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-07-06.Retrieved2007-08-22.
  4. ^"The Nobel Prize for 2006".The Nobel Peace Prize for 2006. 2006-10-13.Retrieved2006-10-13.
  5. ^abc"Grameen Family".Grameen Bank.
  6. ^abc"Asianphilanthropy.org".asianphilanthropy.org.Retrieved2023-03-22.
  7. ^abGrameen Fund: ProfileArchived2007-09-27 at theWayback Machine,Community investment Profile, Calvert Foundation;Retrieved: 2007-09-04
  8. ^Grameen Fund: ProfileArchived2007-09-28 at theWayback Machine;Community Investment CenterSocial Funds;Retrieved: 2007-09-04
  9. ^"かに thông phiến ＠ bình phán の かに thông phiến khẩu コミランキング!".grameentelecom.net.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-25.Retrieved2016-03-29.
  10. ^Brief history of Grameen TelecomArchived2007-09-27 at theWayback Machine
  11. ^From ReutersArchived2007-01-28 at theWayback Machine
  12. ^Telenor press release.About Grameenphone section
  13. ^Ltd., Grameen Solutions."Home".grameensolutions.Retrieved2016-03-29.
  14. ^abcOfficial websiteArchived2007-09-29 at theWayback Machine,Grameen Communication;Retrieved: 2007-09-04
  15. ^Grameen Communications: Village Internet ProgramArchived2007-09-29 at theWayback Machine,Dr Shahidul Alam, Expatriate Bangladeshi 2000, 1998-11-06;Retrieved: 2007-09-04
  16. ^abcGrameen Communications' Village Computer and Internet Program (VCIP)Archived2007-10-09 at theWayback Machine,Publications and Analysis, Digital Dividends;Retrieved: 2007-09-04
  17. ^Appendix 9: Grameen family of organizationsArchived2007-09-22 at theWayback Machine,Grameen Telecom's Village Phone Programme: A Multi-Media Case Study, Telecommons;Retrieved: 2007-09-04
  18. ^PartnersArchived2007-09-28 at theWayback Machine,Grameen family of organizations;Retrieved: 2007-09-04
  19. ^abGrameen Shakti page on Grameen official website
  20. ^abGrameen Shakti official website
  21. ^"Grameen Shakti (Bangladesh)".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-10.Retrieved2007-10-03.
  22. ^"Grameen Shakti (Bangladesh) 2006 and 2008 Ashden Award".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-09-27.Retrieved2008-07-09.
  23. ^"Grameen Shakti (Bangladesh) 2008 Ashden Award".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-09-27.Retrieved2008-07-09.
  24. ^"About Us".Grameen Baybosa Bikash.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-04.Retrieved2016-03-29.
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