Integrating Social Accounting into Rural Development Policies: A Study on Bangladesh’s Poverty Alleviation Programs
Keywords:
Social Accounting, Rural Development, Poverty Alleviation, Social Inclusivity, Beneficiary Satisfaction, Accountability, BangladeshAbstract
This study explores the integration of social accounting practices into rural poverty alleviation programs in Bangladesh. Despite decades of targeted initiatives, rural poverty and socio-economic disparities persist, largely due to the absence of effective monitoring systems that account for social outcomes. By employing a quantitative research approach, data were gathered from 300 beneficiaries of rural development projects to examine how social accounting impacts program effectiveness, inclusivity, accountability, and beneficiary trust. The results demonstrate that social accounting integration significantly enhances beneficiary satisfaction and promotes social inclusivity, though institutional accountability mechanisms remain underdeveloped. Findings suggest that embedding participatory evaluation tools—such as social audits and community scorecards—can improve transparency, stakeholder engagement, and long-term sustainability of development interventions. The study emphasizes the need for institutional reforms, policy mandates, and capacity-building to mainstream social accounting in rural governance, thereby aligning Bangladesh’s poverty alleviation efforts with global standards of equity and accountability
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