By Sadia Afridn Suvra

The “Stories Behind the Family Card Programme” publication presents qualitative evidence on the early experiences of Family Card beneficiaries in two urban low-income communities—Korail in Dhaka and Khalishpur in Khulna. Based on Focus Group Discussions and five in-depth beneficiary case studies, the publication explores how the monthly BDT 2,500 cash transfer contributes to household well-being, women’s financial empowerment, education, nutrition, livelihood opportunities, and resilience. The findings demonstrate that the allowance helps vulnerable households meet essential needs such as food, rent, healthcare, and children’s education, while in some cases predictable transfers have enabled beneficiaries to save, invest in productive assets, and develop income-generating activities. However, the experiences also reveal important challenges, including high living costs, digital and financial exclusion, limited livelihood opportunities, and unequal control over household resources, which can restrict women’s ability to benefit fully from the programme. Differences between Korail and Khalishpur further illustrate how local socioeconomic conditions influence programme outcomes, with beneficiaries in higher-cost settings having less opportunity to save or invest. Overall, the case studies highlight that cash transfers can have a stronger and more sustainable impact when beneficiaries—particularly women—have direct control over programme resources and when financial inclusion, digital literacy, livelihood support, and gender-responsive measures complement cash assistance. The publication provides practical insights for strengthening the Family Card Programme and enhancing its contribution to household resilience, women’s empowerment, and longer-term socioeconomic development.