Nayma Qayum, Mrinmoy Samadder, Rehnuma Rahman

Abstract

BRAC’s developmental approach is centered on its village organizations (VO). In order to upgrade VO integrity and norms, BRAC’s Social Development (SD)Programme (currently renewed as Community Empowerment Programme or CEP) introduced the Enhancing Social Capital (ESC) project in 2010. This study used social capital as an organizing framework to capture VO members’ group behaviour, and their current status along programme activities. The study compared the status of intervention VOs with comparison VOs. Data were derived from 728 VO meeting observations and 2445 semi-structured interviews of VO members. Geographical and infrastructural factors explained some differences among intervention and control groups. VO presidents performed better than the general VO/members (GM). VO group solidarity, individual trust, the VO’s client-friendliness, and years of education influenced the extent to which VO members adhered to good VO group norms.

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