Membership is confined to organizations only, and not individuals. Any organization, working with a clear mandate in Disability work, and fulfilling a set of criteria set forth in the constitution of NFOWD, and approved by the General Body, is eligible for membership of NFOWD.

NFOWD started its journey in 1991 with only 22 members and now boasts a membership of 203 organizations across the country, which includes local, national & international organizations.

Membership Criteria

Criteria set forth in the constitution of NFOWD

An applicant organization should:

• Be registered with the Government of Bangladesh.

• Have specified in its constitution, a very clear mandate to work with people with disabilities. For an organization which does not have such clear provisions in its original constitution, could get the issue included in any subsequent general meeting of the organization (by rules set forth in it for amendments) and get the updated/amended document approved by the registering authority, under the Government of Bangladesh.

Additional Criteria set forth by the General Body

• An applicant organization should have proof/documented evidence of working with people with disabilities, with established programs for at least three years. In this case, 3 consecutive annual reports and audit reports shall be treated as proof/documented evidence. However, an organization can be eligible for membership with only one year’s existence in the case where the organization

> is a self-help organization of persons with disabilities.
> is led by a person with a disability.
> has a name suggesting it works with people with disabilities.

Membership Process

Application Process

An eligible organization can apply for membership under the following process:

• Purchase a specified Membership Application Form paying BDT 200.00 (two hundred only) from the Secretariat. A money receipt shall be provided upon the payment.

• Fill up the form, and attach all necessary documents asked for in the Form. Attach a photocopy of the money receipt.

• With all these documents, send an application to the President of NFOWD.

Selection Process

• The President shall forward all applications to the Membership Committee.

• The Membership Committee will screen all applications. This Committee has the authority to ask for any additional documentation in the case where the submitted documents are not self-explanatory, or where the documents are not enough to prove that all the Criteria for Membership have been adequately covered. The Committee also has the authority to ask for a field investigation of the organization, if required.

• Once satisfied, the Membership Committee shall forward the prospective applications to the Executive Committee of NFOWD.

• The Executive Committee is the final authority for approval and rejection of Membership of an applicant organization.

Confirmation of Membership

Once an application for membership has been approved in the Executive Committee, the respective organization shall be officially informed, giving a 30 days period to pay the annual subscription fee (BDT 1,000.00 only) for the current year, and a one-time only registration fee (BDT 100.00 only).

Membership of the applicant organization shall be confirmed only upon receipt of the fees.

CURRENT MEMBERS OF NFOWD

MEMBERS IN THE MAP OF BANGLADESH