Grameen Bank Housing Programme
Section 5 - Conclusion
Grameen Bank’s large-scale rural housing programme is a pioneer in its effort. It applies many innovative ideas and "enabling strategies" in housing and human settlements that are also advanced by Habitat, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements. These include : introduction of collateral-free very small housing loans; providing security of tenure of the homestead land; encouraging self-reliance, self-management, and mutual help; community building; minimum intervention from outside, including the Bank itself; use of low-cost local technology suitable for local conditions; promotion of "green" principles; policies to empower women. What is spectacular about Grameen Bank’s Housing Programme is its size and within the context of the entire Grameen programme its sustainability. In the view of Grameen Bank Support Group, this programme and its replications deserves our full support.