Advancing women’s empowerment in Bangladesh through social safety nets: Prospects and challenges

Social safety net programs are widely recognized as key instruments for addressing vulnerability and inequality, and for promoting women’s empowerment. Since its independence in 1971, Bangladesh has implemented universal and gender-responsive social safety net programs to support vulnerable individuals and promote gender equality and women's empowerment. Drawing on existing literature, this article critically examines the effectiveness of Bangladesh’s social safety net programs in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. Findings indicate that while such programs have enhanced women’s access to education, short-term financial independence, and employment opportunities, their capacity to generate lasting socioeconomic empowerment for women remains limited due to insufficient funding allocation and, most notably, entrenched gender norms. Persistent implementation challenges, including poor targeting, corruption, and political interference, further constrain the programs’ impact. The article argues that, for greater effectiveness, social safety net programs in Bangladesh must move beyond temporary financial relief and adopt long-term strategies that address implementation gaps, structural gender inequalities, and strengthen women’s socioeconomic position.