Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation

Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) was established in 1990 by the Government of Bangladesh as a 'not-for-profit' company, registered under the Companies Act 1913/1994. The principal objective of PKSF is to provide funds to various organizations for their microcredit programme with a view to help the poor who have no land or any credible material possession. Funds enable them to gain access to resources that lead to employment opportunities and enhancement of their livelihood. PKSF has a General Body consisting of 15 members and a Governing Body comprising of 7 members. The Governing Body, with the approval and supervision of the General Body, pursues and realizes the objectives of PKSF. The Managing Director is a member of the Governing Body. As the Chief Executive of PKSF, the Managing Director is comprehensibly responsible to carry out the functions of the foundation and to implement the programmes within set rules and deadlines. PKSF provides assistance to the poor through different non-government, semi-government and government organizations; voluntary agencies and societies; local government bodies; institutions; groups and individuals. These organizations and institutions are largely called as Partner Organization (POs). PKSF, as the leading apex microcredit and capacity development organization in Bangladesh, has till date lent about US$ 1534.16 million (at present value) to its 268 POs covering more than 8.23 million borrowers of which more than 91% are women. Together with different financial supports such as microcredit, microsavings and microinsurance, PKSF assists its POs in their institutional development. A number of countries and organizations follow standards, guidelines and modalities developed by PKSF. In the last few years, PKSF has diversified its focus on non-credit programmes, such as training, education, health, awareness building, nutrition, direct employment linkages, and marketing supports with the objective to provide all-inclusive services for the persistent betterment of poor.