Info Lady is an innovative model that trains rural educated women in Bangladesh to become entrepreneurs using information and communication technologies. The women, called Info Ladies, are equipped with netbooks loaded with local language content, internet access, and medical devices to provide a variety of services to rural households. Info Ladies conduct learning sessions, help citizens access government and private services, and sell products and services, earning $100-300 per month while improving rural access to information and empowering underprivileged groups. Currently 43 Info Ladies are working in Bangladesh with plans to train 40,000 more women entrepreneurs across the country.

1. INFO LADY
An innovative solution by D.Net, Bangladesh
Md. Forhad Uddin
Email: forhad@dnet.org.bd

2. D.Net is a R&D institution for integrating
technology in solving social problems
Implementing research and action programmes
in the areas, where
information and knowledge can contribute to
poverty alleviation, economic growth and
peace

3. Info Lady
Family Based Entrepreneurship Model
for Rural Educated Women
using ICTs

4. Women have been chosen as
Info Lady
they have better access to the households as
well as to those people who are unable to come
out from their home.

5. Family Members
assist Info Lady
to her regular work
facilitate the maximum access and utilization
of resources and enhance income of Info Lady

6. Info Lady is equipped with
a netbook is loaded with
local language livelihood content,
internet modem, digital camera,
printer, mobile phone ……

7. Info Lady
is equipped with
weight measurement
machine, blood pressure
machine, pregnancy
related test kits, sugar
test kit etc.

8. Info Lady
offer s
a bunch of services to
the rural citizens at their
door steps.

9. Telecenter (Pallitathya Kendra HUB)
serve as their base station
for training, guidance , business development,
networking with grassroots service providers…..

10. Every Morning
Info Lady looks into her daily work plan,
picks up the necessary equipments and sets out
on her tour to the groups and individuals at
different villages riding a bicycle.

11. She joins to the learning sessions with the
pre arranged occupation based groups.
She discusses the reproductive health care, agriculture,
government services, rights to information and income
enhancement activities using content database.

12. She also connects the rural citizens in
receiving services from the government and
private institutions
She helps the rural
citizens to claim
their rights who is
eligible

13. Having set group members mind at ease,
Info Lady is on her way to the
next learning session

14. She also visits households and connects
the rural citizens with their relatives in
aboard using skypes or phones.

15. She sells products and services to the group
members and individuals as well as buy
products from them .
Producers and consumers get fair price

16. She allocates a time for the children
to show learning CDs with them.

17. This is a typical day
in the life of Info Lady,
a concept that has rapidly gained popularity
in country and abroad.

18. For rest of the day in the week, she will
do a round of pre-assigned villages.
In a day she attains in 2 learning
sessions and visits 25-30 households.

19. Info Lady
earns USD 100 to 300 in a month ;
can save a portion from the earning for
future security .
She has to invest USD 1500-2000 initially

20. This model
improves access to livelihood information,
facilitates empowerment,
creates confidence of underprivileged
groups in the society
and
has huge employment generation potential
for the rural educated women.

21. Currently :
43 Info Ladies are working in
Bangladesh
What next:
Around 40 thousand ICT based women
entrepreneur development
Across the country, Bangladesh

22. Thank You