Introduction:
The EEP/shiree Challenge Fund is worth £65 million British Pounds (around USD$130M) and is being disbursed over a period of 8 years (2008-2015) in the northwest (especially affected by seasonal hunger), the Southern coastal belt (most vulnerable to severe climatic shocks including cyclones), the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Northeast haor region and the Dhaka urban slums. It is also referred to as shiree (the Bangla word for steps and an acronym for “Stimulating Household Improvements Resulting in Economic Empowerment”) reflecting the aim of providing households ways out of extreme poverty. The Economic Empowerment of the Poorest Programme (EEP)/SHIREE (Stimulating Household Improvements Resulting in Economic Empowerment) aims to support the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) in achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1 of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. Shiree is also committed to addressing the needs of extremely poor women, children, the elderly and ethnic minorities and marginalised groups. In addition to supporting direct interventions.
Eligibility:
1 million bottom 10% extreme poor people (2008) of which 25% are elderly, widow, deserted and disabled
Benefit:
Different programmes have different criteria.