The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has signed an agreement with bKash to disburse cash assistance and incentives directly to beneficiaries, aiming to make aid delivery faster, more transparent, and more secure.
Under the deal, FAO will use bKash’s digital “Disbursement Solution” to transfer funds instantly to recipients’ mobile wallets, enabling them to access support without delays and use it for urgent and everyday needs.
The agreement was signed at the FAO Bangladesh Country Office in Dhaka, with senior officials from both organisations present. FAO was represented by Jiaoqun Shi, Dia Sanou and Ekramul Hoque, while bKash officials included Ali Ahmmed, Masrur Chowdhury and Novera Ayesha Zaman.
The partnership will allow FAO to provide non-conditional cash assistance to communities affected by natural disasters, including farmers, fishermen, livestock keepers and day labourers. Officials said the system enables disbursements at any time—including weekends and public holidays—ensuring rapid response during emergencies.
In addition, the platform will be used to implement FAO’s Cash-for-Work programmes, under which vulnerable individuals receive wages in exchange for short-term work supporting agriculture, food security and natural resource management. The initiative is expected to strengthen resilience and promote sustainable livelihoods among at-risk populations.
Programme facilitators will also receive their allowances through the same digital channel, streamlining administrative processes.
Recipients will be able to withdraw funds from bKash agent points or ATMs nationwide, or use their mobile wallets to pay for goods and services, including utility bills, merchant payments, mobile top-ups and government fees, without needing to visit physical service points.