From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia BRAC (NGO)
BRAC (NGO)
BRAC
History
Type Non-profit
Founded 1972
Location Dhaka, Bangladesh
Key Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder
people
Revenue 32,917,853,069 Taka (2009) ($480,552,600
USD) [1]
Employees 119,520 (Dec 2009) [2]
Website http://www.brac.net
BRAC,
BRAC based in Bangladesh, is (as of May 2010) the
world’s largest non-governmental development organi-
zation.[1] Established by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed in 1972
soon after the independence of Bangladesh, BRAC is pre-
sent in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, with over 7 million
microfinance group members, 37,500 non-formal prima-
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of BRAC
ry schools and more than 70,000 health volunteers. BRAC
is the largest NGO by number of staff employing over
Known formerly as the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assis-
120,000 people, the majority of whom are women. BRAC
tance Committee and then as the Bangladesh Rural Ad-
operates programs such as those in microfinance and ed-
vancement Committee, BRAC was initiated in 1972 by
ucation in nine countries across Asia and Africa, reaching
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed at Sulla in the district of Sylhet
more than 110 million people. The organization is 80%
as a small-scale relief and rehabilitation project to help
self-funded through a number of commercial enterpris-
returning war refugees after the Bangladesh Liberation
es that include a dairy and food project and a chain of
War of 1971. In nine months, 14 thousand homes were
retail handicraft stores called ‘Aarong’. BRAC maintains
rebuilt as part of the relief effort and several hundred
offices in 14 countries throughout the world, including
boats were built for the fishermen. Medical centers were
BRAC USA and BRAC UK. BRAC is a few years into their
opened and other essential services were ensured.[4] At
initiative to operate in ten African countries in the next
the end of 1972, when the first phase of relief work was
ten years.[2]
over, BRAC turned towards long-term development
BRAC has organized the isolated poor and learned
needs and re-organized itself to focus on the empower-
to understand their needs by finding practical ways to
ment of the poor and landless, particularly women and
increase their access to resources, support their entre-
children.
preneurship and empower them to become agents of
By 1974, BRAC had started providing microcredit and
change. Women and girls have been the focus of BRAC’s
had started analyzing the usefulness of credit inputs in
anti-poverty approach; BRAC recognizes both their vul-
the lives of the poor. Until the mid 1970s, BRAC concen-
nerabilities and thirst for change.[3]
trated on community development through village de-
In April 2009, Freedom from Want, a book that traces
velopment programmes that included agriculture, fish-
the evolution of BRAC by author Ian Smillie, was pub-
eries, cooperatives, rural crafts, adult literacy, health and
lished by Kumarian Press.
family planning, vocational training for women and con-
struction of community centres. A Research and Evalua-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia BRAC (NGO)
tion Division (RED) was set up by BRAC in 1975 to ana-
lyze and evaluate its activities and provide direction for
Objectives of BRAC
the organisation to evolve. In 1977, BRAC shifted from BRAC has done what few others have – they have
community development towards a more targeted ap- achieved success on a massive scale, bringing life-saving
proach by organizing village groups called Village Orga- health programs to millions of the world’s poorest peo-
nizations (VO). This approach targeted the poorest of the ple. They remind us that even the most intractable health
poor – the landless, small farmers, artisans, and vulnera- problems are solvable, and inspire us to match their suc-
ble women. Those who own less than half an acre of land cess throughout the developing world.
and survive by selling manual labor were regarded as Bill Gates, Co-chair
BRAC’s target group. That same year BRAC set up a com-
mercial printing press to help finance its activities. The Economic Development
handicraft retail chain called Aarong, was established the BRAC’s Economic Development programme includes mi-
following year. crocredit. It provides collateral-free credit using a soli-
In 1979, BRAC entered the health field by establishing darity lending methodology, as well as obligatory savin-
a nation-wide Oral Therapy Extension Programe (OTEP), gs schemes through its Village Organisations. Reaching
a campaign to combat diarrhoea, the leading cause of nearly 4 million borrowers, Village Organizations pro-
the high child mortality rate in Bangladesh. Over a ten- vide loans to poverty groups. BRAC has reached out to
year period 1,200 BRAC workers went door-to-door to those who, due to extreme poverty, cannot access mi-
teach 12 million mothers the preparation of home-made crofinance. BRAC defines such people suffering from ex-
oral saline. Bangladesh today has one of the highest rates treme poverty as the ’ultra poor’, and has designed a pro-
of usage of oral rehydration, and BRAC’s campaign cut gramme customized for this group that combines subsidy
down child and infant mortality from 285 per thousand with enterprise development training, healthcare, social
to 75 per thousand.[5] This initial success in scaling up development and asset transfer, eventually pulling the
propelled rapid expansion of other BRAC programmes ultra poor into its mainstream microfinance programme.
such as Non Formal Primary Education which BRAC start-
ed in 1985 – a model that has been replicated in about a
dozen countries.
In 1986 BRAC started its Rural Development Pro-
gramme that incorporated four major activities – insti-
tution building including functional education and train-
ing, credit operation, income and employment genera-
tion and support service programmes. In 1991 the
Women’s Health Development programme commenced.
The following year BRAC established a Centre for Devel-
opment Management (CDM) in Rajendrapur. Its Social
Development, Human Rights and Legal Services pro-
gramme was launched in 1996 with the aim to empower
women with legal rights and assist them in becoming in-
volved with community and ward level organizations. In Jaminder-Ginni dolls made by village artisans. Handicrafts like
1998, BRAC’s Dairy and Food project was commissioned. these are sold by Aarong, BRAC’s handicrafts store.
BRAC launched an Information Technology Institute the
following year. In 2001, BRAC established a university In addition to microfinance, BRAC provides enter-
called BRAC University with the aim to create future prise training and support to its member borrowers in
leaders and the BRAC Bank was started to cater primarily poultry and livestock, fisheries, social forestry, agricul-
to small and medium entreprises. ture and sericulture. It provides inputs essential for some
In 2002 BRAC launched a programme called Challeng- enterprises through its ‘Programme Support Enterprises’
ing the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction – Targeting the that include Poultry farm and disease diagnostic labora-
Ultra Poor (CFPR-TUP) designed specifically for those tory, Bull Station, Feed Mill, Broiler Production and Mar-
that BRAC defines as the ultra poor - the extreme poor keting, Seed Production, Processing, Marketing and Soil
who cannot access conventional microfinance. The same Testing, BRAC Nursery, and Fish and Prawn Hatchery.
year BRAC also went into Afghanistan with relief and re- BRAC’s Vegetable Export programme started in 1998 is a
habilitation programmes. It was the first organization in venture that is aimed at bridging the gap between local
Bangladesh to establish, in 2004, the office of an Om- producers and international markets.[6] BRAC also focus-
budsperson. es on the problem of youth employment, providing as-
sistance for young men and especially women to join the
workforce, for example, with programs like the Adoles-
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia BRAC (NGO)
cent Development Program.[7] BRAC also has a number of polygamy, domestic violence and oral divorce are com-
commercial programmes that contribute to the sustain- mon in rural Bangladeshi communities and to encourage
ability of BRAC’s development programmes since returns and assist them to take action when their rights are in-
from the commercial programmes are channeled back fringed. The programme has two components: the Social
into BRAC’s development activities. These programmes Development component and the Human Rights and Le-
include Aarong, a retail handicraft chain, BRAC Dairy and gal Services component.[10]
Food Project, and BRAC Salt. The Social Development component focuses on build-
ing human and socio-political assets of the poor – espe-
Education cially women – through institution building, awareness
BRAC’s Non-Formal Primary Education programme pro- raising, training and collective social mobilizationThe
vides five-year primary education course in four years to Human Rights and Legal Services component seeks to
poor, rural, disadvantaged children and drop-outs who empower the poor by increasing their awareness of their
cannot access formal schooling. These one-room schools rights (legal, human and social) and entitlements
are for children between eight and fourteen years of age. through participation in activities like the Popular
Each school typically consists of 33 students and one Theatre and through Human Rights and Legal Education
teacher. Core subjects include Mathematics, Social Stud- (HRLE) classes arranged by BRAC for its Village Organi-
ies and English. The schools also offer extracurricular sation members. BRAC also offers external services such
activities. As of June 2008, 37,500 Primary Schools and as access to lawyers or the police either through legal aid
24,750 Pre-Primary schools have been established by clinics, by helping women report cases at the local po-
BRAC enrolling nearly 3 million children, 65% of whom lice station or when seeking medical care in the case of
are girls. The schools have a drop-out rate of less than acid victims. At the end of June 2006, 124,748 HRLE class-
5%.[8] es were held and 1,332 acid victim cases and 1,735 rape
BRAC has set up centres for adolescents called Kishori victim cases were reported.[11]
Kendra that provide reading material and serve as a gath-
ering place for adolescents where they are educated Disaster relief
about issues sensitive to the Bangladeshi society like re- BRAC conducted one of the largest NGO responses to Cy-
productive health, early marriage, women’s legal rights clone Sidr which hit vast areas of the south-western coast
etc. BRAC has also set up community libraries 185 out of in Bangladesh in mid-November 2007. BRAC distributed
964 of which are equipped with computers.[9] emergency relief materials, including food and clothing,
to over 900,000 survivors, provided medical care to over
Public health 60,000 victims and secured safe supplies of drinking wa-
BRAC started providing public healthcare in 1972 with an ter. BRAC is now focusing on long-term rehabilitation,
initial focus on curative care through paramedics and a which will include agriculture support, infrastructure re-
self-financing health insurance scheme. The programme construction and livelihood regeneration.[2]
went on to offer integrated health care services, its key
achievements including the reduction of child mortality ICT Development
rates through campaign for oral rehydration in the 80s Established in 1996 as BRAC’s IT/ISP wing, BRACNet
and taking immunization from 2% to 70% in Bangladesh. Limited is Bangladesh’s one-stop ICT (Information and
BRAC currently provides a range of services that reach Communication Technology) solution provider. BRACNet
an estimated 31 million rural poor and include services Limited later formed a Joint Venture Company with US
for mothers in reproductive health care and infants. As of investors gNet/DEFTA Partners in 2005 and KDDI Corpo-
December 2007, 70,000 community health volunteers and ration – the second largest cellular operator and Wireless
18,000 health workers have been trained and mobilized ISP in Japan in 2009.
by BRAC to deliver door-to-door health care services to BRACNet has built its nationwide network utilizing
the rural poor. It has established 37 static health centres its licensed spectrum. Its network today is based on
and a Limb and Brace Fitting Centre that provides low WiMax and fiber optics technology to serve hundreds of
cost devices and services for the physically disabled.[cita- large corporations and thousands of Small and Medium
tion needed] Enterprises (SME) and Educational institutions through-
out the country. It serves tens of thousands of residential
Social development customers directly or indirectly (through resellers) and
In 1996, BRAC started a programme in collaboration with rural people through its cybercafé franchises, called "e-
the Ain O Shalish Kendra (ASK) and Bangladesh National hut". For the first time in Bangladesh, the perennially
Women Leader’s Association (BNWLA) to empower poor can now avail the services available online to im-
women to protect themselves from social discrimination prove their quality of life. BRACNet’s core mission is to
and exploitation of which dowry, rape, acid throwing, create a knowledge based society in Bangladesh. As the
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia BRAC (NGO)
sister concern of BRAC, BRACNet Limited also believes Tanzania
that profit alone should not be the steering factor in this
BRAC Tanzania, established in 2006, has created over
field. With BRACs knowledge of how rural communities
2,700 microfinance village organizations with over 80,000
function and by realizing the need to create entrepre-
members and already disbursed more than $17 million.
neurship among young people, BRACNet has evolved a
Over 480 community health promoters, 380 agriculture
business model called e-hut.
program volunteers and 436 poultry and livestock volun-
BRACNet is committed to establish such intercon-
teers have been trained. {Annual Report, 2007} From 2007
nected e-huts all over Bangladesh using its fixed WiMAX
to 2010, it was a field partner of Kiva Microfunds.
and optical fiber network. More than 70 e-huts are op-
As of July 23, 2010, Kiva reported BRAC Tanzania’s
erating in rural Bangladesh. Services provided by e-hut
status as closed with a 0% Delinquency Rate.[12]
include internet browsing, broadband connectivity, basic
computer and IT training, web cam and digital camera
srvice, computer compose and printing, computer ser-
Uganda
vicing, graphics designing, and photocopying amenities BRAC Uganda’s Microfinance Program has formed over
to the rural community. e-hut hopes to introduce digital 2,145 village organizations with 59,844 members. To date,
services like IP phoning, e-commerce, video conferenc- the program has disbursed $14.8 million with a repay-
ing, money transfer and courier services in the future. ment rate of 100%. BRAC Uganda has trained 200 commu-
nity health promoters and opened 122 learning centers
in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps that have en-
BRAC Abroad rolled nearly 20,704 learners. {Annual Report, 2007} It is a
field partner of Kiva Microfunds.
Afghanistan
BRAC registered in Afghanistan in 2002 and covers 23 out Southern Sudan
of 34 provinces. Its major programmes in Afghanistan in- In 2007, BRAC started operations in Southern Sudan. The
clude Microfinance (funding from MISFA), Health, Edu- microfinance program, which consists primarily of re-
cation, National Solidarity and Capacity Development. Its turning war refugees, has formed 220 village organiza-
Microfinance Program has 429 branch offices that have tions with over 8,400 members. The cumulative disburse-
disbursed more than USD 96 million to over 179,000 ment in 2008 was $1,313,150. BRAC Southern Sudan has
member households (895,000 people). BRAC runs nearly initiated a community-based health program under
2,371 schools which have seen 118,416 students graduate, which community health organizers and health promot-
almost all of whom are girls. BRAC Afghanistan has 3,617 ers receive training. {Annual Report, 2007} It is a field
community health workers and 1,390 poultry and live- partner of Kiva Microfunds.
stock extension workers. It has established two Training
and Resource Centres in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif. Liberia
BRAC’s staff in Afghanistan includes 3,463 locals and 180
Established in 2008, BRAC launched programs in microfi-
expatriates. {Annual Report, 2007}
nance, health, agriculture, livestock and poultry; reach-
ing more than 582,000 of the poorest in Liberia. BRAC em-
Sri Lanka ploys 161 Liberians (71% women) and has mobilised near-
BRAC registered in Sri Lanka in 2005 following the devas- ly 300 community-based volunteers.[13]
tating Tsunami and initiated relief and rehabilitation ac-
tivities. Its rehabilitation and livelihood programmes in Sierra Leone
Sri Lanka covers three districts and 43 divisions. BRAC’s
BRAC opened its offices in Sierra Leone in 2008 and start-
work in Sri Lanka includes the fisheries, agriculture,
ed programmes in 2009. BRAC runs services in microfi-
poultry and livestock, small business, income-generation
nance, health, agriculture, livestock and poultry, and by
activities, education and health sectors. It employs 312
the end of 2009 reached over a quarter of a million Sier-
staff. {BRAC At a Glance, December 2007}
ra Leoneans with their activities. BRAC provides jobs for
169 Sierra Leoneans (83% female) and supports 323 local
Pakistan volunteers.[14]
BRAC expanded into Pakistan in 2007 and now covers six
districts. BRAC Pakistan employs 337 staff members that Haiti
work in 35 offices that are set up throughout the country.
BRAC has provided technical assistance to Fonkoze,
The Microfinance Program supports 837 village organiza-
Haiti’s largest microfinance organization, to replicate
tions that have over 14,544 members. To date, BRAC Pak-
BRAC’s ultra poor program. In 2010, they opened a Limb
istan has disbursed over $1,350,000. {BRAC at a Glance,
and Brace Center to support those who were injured in
December 2007}
the 2010 Haiti earthquake and an agriculture, poultry
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia BRAC (NGO)
and livestock program, including training and support
for rural microentrepreneurs to start tree nurseries. [15]
See also
• NGOs in Bangladesh
• Grameen Bank
Projects • TMSS (NGO)
• ASA (NGO)
Partnership with the Nike Foundation • BRAC University
BRAC is collaborating with Nike’s Girl Effect campaign to • BRAC USA
launch a new program to reach out to teenagers in Ugan- • Aarong
da and Tanzania. The Employment and Livelihood for • Solidarity lending
Adolescents program has been successful in Bangladesh
and BRAC is now adapting and piloting this program in
Africa.[16]
References
[1] United Nations in Bangladesh
Countries where BRAC oper- [2]
[3]
^ Annual Report, 2007
BRAC=Action, 2007
ates [4] Annual Report, 1990, BRAC
[5] Chowdhury, M., & Cash, R., A Simple Solution, 1996.
• Asia: Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan [6] Annual Report, 2005, BRAC
• Africa: Uganda, Tanzania, Southern Sudan, Liberia, [7] Ara, Jinnat; Hamid, Syed Abdul. Moving ahead in
Sierra Leone Bangladesh, D+C Development and Cooperation, May
• Americas: Haiti
2010.
• BRAC provides technical assistance to organizations
[8] BRAC At a Glance, June 2006
in Haiti, Sudan, and Indonesia
[9] Annual Report, 2005; BRAC
• BRAC has affiliate organizations in the United
[10] BRAC Annual Report. 2009.
Kingdom and United States
[11] BRAC Annual Report. 2006.
[12] About Partner: BRAC Tanzania, Kiva.org
Awards [13] "About BRAC Liberia". BRAC. http://www.brac.net/
content/where-we-work-liberia.
BRAC Awards [14] "About BRAC Sierra Leone". BRAC.
http://www.brac.net/content/where-we-work-
• The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, 2008
sierra-leone.
• Independence Award (Shadhinata Puroshkar), 2007
[15] "About BRAC Haiti". BRAC. http://www.brac.net/
• Gates Award for Global Health, 2004 Bill and Melinda
content/where-we-work-haiti.
Gates Foundation [17]
[16] New York Media Relations (2008-05-28). "Nike
• CGAP Financial Transparency Award, 2005 & 2006[18]
Foundation and Buffetts join to invest $100 million
in girls". http://www.nikefoundation.org/files/
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed’s awards The_Girl_Effect_News_Release.pdf.
• The Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community [17] 2004 Gates Award for Global Health: BRAC, Bill and
Leadership, 1980.[19] Melinda Gates Foundation.
• The Alan Shawn Feinstein World Hunger Award, [18] BRAC wins CGAP financial transparency award
1990[20] 2005, Drishtipat blog, 24 January 2006.
• The Maurice Pate Award by UNICEF, 1992 [3] [19] 1980 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community
• The Olof Palme Prize, 2001[20] Leadership - Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Ramon
• The Social Entrepreneurship Award by the Schwab Magsaysay Foundation.
Foundation, 2002 [4] [20] ^ Fazle Hasan Abed, BRAC, archived copy from 11
• The International Activist Award by the Gleitsman May 2008.
Foundation, 2003[20] [21] Sir Fazle Hasan Abed wins UNDP Award, The Daily
• The United Nations Development Programme Star, 18 October 2004.
Mahbub ul Haq Award, 2004 [21]
• The Henry R. Kravis Prize in Leadership, 2007 [5]
• The inaugural Clinton Global Citizen Award, 2007 [6] Further reading
• The David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award, • Smillie, Ian. Freedom From Want: The Remarkable
2008 Success Story of BRAC, the Global Grassroots Organization
• Knighted by Queen Elizabeth, 2010 [7] That’s Winning the Fight Against Poverty, 2009.
• WISE Prize, 2011 [8]
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia BRAC (NGO)
• Chowdhury, M. Jahangir Alam; Ghosh, Dipak; Wright, • e-hut
Robert E. The impact of micro-credit on poverty: evidence • BRAC in Business, The Economist
from Bangladesh, 2005. • Is Bigger Better?, Forbes
• Lovell, Catherine. Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: The • An Army of Housewives Battles TB in Bangladesh,
BRAC Strategy, 1992. The New York Times
• Innovative BRAC Microcredit Securitization Honored
External links •
in Bangladesh, Citigroup
Titans of Aid, BBC Radio profile
• Official website • The Story of BRAC, PBS
• BRACNet Limited • Girl Effect, BRAC’s partnership with Nike
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BRAC_(NGO)&oldid=473458384"
Categories:
• Non-governmental organisations based in Bangladesh
• Non-governmental organizations
• Microfinance organizations
• Microfinance
• Rural community development
• Organizations established in 1972
• International nongovernmental organizations
• Non-governmental organizations operating in Afghanistan
• Poverty and hunger non-governmental organizations
• Child education non-governmental organizations
• Conservation and environmental non-governmental organizations
• Women's issues non-governmental organizations
• Research non-governmental organizations
• Development organizations
• Climate change organizations
• Educational organizations
• Disaster preparedness
• Human rights organizations
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