Draft:Eco-Social Development Organization

Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) is a non-governmental organization based in Bangladesh. It started in 1988.

History
ESDO is a non-governmental organization focused on uplifting the poor people in the northern part of the Bangladesh since 1988. It was recognized for educational contributions in 1997 by the government of Bangladesh and was awarded by US based City Bank in 2006 for microcredit initiatives.

Motto
'We seek an equitable society free from all discriminations. '

Notable Activities
ESDO trained of over 650,000 livestock farmers, with a particular focus on women, and the establishment of more than 25,000 farmer groups.

The organization has partnered with extension workers to provide veterinary services, in conjunction with the Department of Livestock Services.

ESDO organized a dialogue focusing on the rights of indigenous people and Dalits, within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative aimed to address the development needs of ethnic minority groups and the marginalized Dalit community.

Moreover, ESDO started an innovative project in Thakurgaon, known as the Mozzarella Cheese project, supported by a $60,000 grant from the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). This project involved the construction of a distribution center and the empowerment of local women producers through stock options.

During times of crisis, ESDO had been providing relief to flood-affected families, particularly in the Kurigram district. Additionally, the organization established a Food Bank to mitigate food insecurity in affected areas.

Collaborating with the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), ESDO initiated a tulip cultivation project in Panchagarh's Tetulia Upazila. This project aimed at empowering local farmers and promoting sustainable tourism.

In efforts to celebrate and preserve cultural diversity, ESDO organized Thakurgaon's first cultural festival for ethnic minorities, fostering inclusivity and community cohesion.

ESDO, in partnership with PKSF, distributed free seeds and fertilizer to 7,333 impoverished farmers in Madarganj, Jamalpur, as part of the ECISCEP-Flood project.

Honours and awards

 * Thakurgaon Mozzarella Cheese Production, Branding, Packaging & Distribution Project was Awarded by 7th eNGOchallenge Awards 2020-21, India
 * Eco-Social Development Organisation (ESDO) has been awarded with the 'Mahatma’ Award For Social Good in 2019.