By Takia Islam Toma and Sadia Afrin Suvra

This report highlights qualitative findings from an SSPS Programme field visit to SWAPNO project areas in Bagerhat, evaluating the multidimensional impact of social protection on women’s empowerment. The assessment reveals that combining conditional cash transfers with structured savings, financial literacy, and vocational training significantly enhances beneficiaries’ self-confidence, economic agency, and resilience to market shocks. Key achievements include successful livelihood diversification into high-yield enterprises—such as soft-shell crab farming, livestock, and micro-enterprises—alongside improved financial inclusion, active participation in local governance, and equitable social inclusion across minority communities. Ultimately, the SWAPNO graduation model demonstrates that integrated social protection interventions foster sustainable poverty reduction and intergenerational progress, offering key lessons for refining Bangladesh’s National Social Security Strategy (NSSS).