Fostering gender equality, upholding human rights, and enhancing the socio-economic status of disadvantaged communities in the southwest coastal zone of Bangladesh.
Learn More About UsOur background, registration status, and geographical footprint
Supti Mohila Unnayan Sangstha (SMUS) was founded on January 1, 2004, by a group of enterprising, active, and courageous young women in Bagerhat. Established as a women-based non-governmental organization, SMUS holds a mission to systematically address poverty and severe vulnerabilities faced by women, girls, and children in rural coastal areas.
Operating primarily in the disadvantaged and neglected southwest coastal zone of Bangladesh, SMUS deploys diverse development interventions. These target burning structural challenges, including early/forced marriage, dowry, human trafficking, and gender-based violence, while proactively championing the inclusion and rights of physically and mentally challenged individuals.
To establish such an ideal society where people will live with humanitarian dignity having their fundamental needs secure.
SMUS is working for a society where people will enjoy their fundamental needs and human rights, entirely free from all types of structural discrimination.
Comprehensive interventions designed for sustainable community welfare
Advocating for women and child rights, preventing forced/early marriages, and bolstering local legal accountability mechanisms.
Providing mother and childcare systems, operating holiday free-clinics, and introducing localized nutrition education.
Installing solar-powered Pond Sand Filters (PSF), clean tube wells, and driving community sanitary latrine awareness.
Promoting clean cookstoves, household biogas systems, and training coastal people to build climate-adaptive livelihoods.
Running pre-primary clusters for children, adult literacy centers, and robust tech/vocational skill training units.
Targeted assistance and inclusion programs for disabled individuals, orphans, elderly groups, and rehabilitation resources to eliminate begging.
How our team and oversight boards keep operations transparent and smooth
The supreme policy-making body of SMUS consists of a General Committee of 21 women members who oversee the annual budget and execution strategy via regular Annual General Meetings (AGMs).
Operational control is delegated to an elected Executive Committee of 7 women members, spearheaded by the Executive Director. An independent 5-member Advisory Committee provides external expert guidance.
Gender-Congenial Workplace Policy: SMUS maintains strict policies to protect staff. At least 60% of all staff members are female, benefiting from equal pay scale structures, flexible work hours, dedicated rest areas, and maternity leaves.
| Staff Category | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Staff | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Project Staff | 7 | 18 | 25 |
| Part-Time & Contractual | 15 | 20 | 35 |
| Consultants & Volunteers | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Hard-core/Field Cadre | 350 | 100 | 450 |
| Total Workforce | 398 | 127 | 523 |
A selective view of completed and running key development projects
| Project Name | Thematic Focus / Objective | Donor & Partners | Project Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDCOL Improved Cook Stove (ICS) | Replacing traditional stoves with efficient ICS variants to curtail domestic fuel usage and GHG emissions. | IDCOL / World Bank | Dec 2013 – Present |
| Promoting ICS through Adolescent Empowerment | Improving life indices for women and children while reducing localized carbon emissions via adolescent action networks. | UNICEF / Practical Action | Sept 2018 – Mar 2020 |
| Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) Program | Providing health, nutrition, economic resource generation, and rights governance training. | Dept. of Women Affairs (MoWCA) | Aug 2021 – Dec 2023 |
| Waste to Biogas Activities | Strengthening waste separation and recycling supply lines with local municipality sanitation teams. | Practical Action / Bagerhat Municipality | Feb 2017 – Present |
| Solar-Powered Drinking Water Systems | Installing sustainable Pond Sand Filter (PSF) purification infrastructures utilizing clean solar fields. | GIZ | Sept 2014 – Dec 2016 |