.Breaking news summer 2018- what would the world uniquely miss if alumni networks of sir fazle abed brac and jack ma alibaba
had never existed? Probably our species would lose all chance of youth sustainability now the UN has admitted it has 17 goals but no financial access -chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk
the east is lucky that girls world number community-grounded education system and tech partners is brac epicentred in bangladesh- arguably the most critically underdeveloped section of the eurasian coast - which 20 lifetime partners have most help brac advance girls hold up half the sky over 45 years? where could the region's belt roads most gain from brac connections? BRI.school WAIIB.com linkedin UNwomens chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk Norman Macrae Foundation sino-uk publishers of World Record Jobs Creators
World Bank prioritises Ultra Poor collaboration networking
| British Aid plus commonwealth friends have put many billions into brac's early stage schools - the one area that aid or conditional cash transfer is vital-wherever possible brac sustains its development networks | KDDI (Japan cellular)
bracnet.net
internet | BRAC has supported livelihood development of 2% of poorest women in world- its about poverty allevation's total total community-based training systems far beyond classrooms; although WISE edication newtorks put brac at the beginning of all of their celebrations of what education can sustain- check with us which wise summits maximise in-network connecting with brac | Legatum / MIT coding partners sought Bangladesh out as the first place to explore fintech leapfroging revolutions of banking for next billion - after some experiements with yunus they chose brac to develop the mp3 world's largest cashless bank www.bkash.com; coding finance for poorest with brac also attracted kenya's original project leader of mpesa |
researchgate@ brac
http://research.brac.net/new/
01 February 2015, Dhaka. BRAC's research and evaluation division launched its new website research.brac.net today. This new initiative was taken with the aim to disseminate its research publications to a wider audience as well as to bring research more prominently in development discussions. Integrating many features of web 2.0, the new website presents augmented user interactivity and mobile friendliness with clear navigations. The publications can be now read online plus social media tools have been amalgamated for easy sharing of information.
Dr Mahabub Hossain, the advisor to BRAC's executive director and present head of RED, chaired the launching event
| BRAC was encouraged to start sharing its knowhow in Africa with 3 types of partners leading the call- mastercard foundation particularly in uganda wanted to see brac build the world's laresgt network of adolesecent jobs clubs for girls | Gates Foundation wanted to see if brac's agricultural value chains knowhow cpould be brouigh to tanzania at the same time as extending the end poverty integrity of mpesa there | Soros wanted to see BRAC help some of the ost desperate nations including liberia and south sudan where last mile health and safety serviices needed to com first | BRAC has co-led rice science to end poverty since the 1970s - earliest partners included China and nippon Japan - these days the IRRI contries networ of rice science is a partnering epicentre | BRAC first became famous for its capability as a nation wide educator with oral rehydration - a committment sir fazle made to celebrate the year of child 1979 - over next decade UNICEFS James Grant became a lead partner of brac - tiday the schoolof [public health at brac university is named after James Grant and counts leading partners such as Mailman school of health columbia university........... | partnerships with autralian aid and partners- strategic development | the global fund - working on last mile services for tb, aids etc | iccbr.b expertise in cholera and other ifant dsiseases including malnutition - a core content partners of jame grant schoolof public health | unilever to chech water purificato and wash program includin toilet soap | imf/world bank - not obvious if currently active
| BRAC and of education above all and un academic impact hub to ensure learning for refugees |  | brac and jica | | | |
Driving Development: A Story of BRAC's Evolution and Effectiveness
Publisher(s): The University Press Limited (UPL)
First Published: First edition, 2016 No. of Pages: 356 Weight (kg): 1
UPL Showroom Price: 750.00 BDT
Price: $24.00
Bangladesh can duly boast of the status of “Development Puzzle”. The country sustained economic growth averaging 6.7 percent per annum over the last decade; also displayed remarkable advancement in social indicators such as reduction in incidence of poverty, infant and maternal mortality, fertility, food insecurity etc. In driving such socio-economic development in Bangladesh over the last forty years or so, BRAC has played a pivotal role in supporting government initiatives as well as pursuing programmes of its own domain. BRAC is now about 45 years old and this watershed moment provided an opportunity to reflect on the last four decades or so. More importantly, the aim is to look ahead for the challenges that would be confronted by BRAC. In the backdrop of these factors, this book inscribes the evolution of development interventions made by BRAC, including the mistakes made and the lessons learnt, in its efforts to contribute to socio-economic advancement of the country. As usual, that should be alongside the government, the corporate sector, other civil society organisations, and development partners.
This book is an edited volume of contributions made by insiders of BRAC – the senior programme leaders who themselves have had their career advancement being involved in the management of the programme, and professionals of the BRAC’s Research and Evaluation Division (RED) who were intimately involved in studying the programmes and assessing the impacts.
Contents:
1. Introduction> Mahabub Hossain> Background / Development Challenges of Bangladesh / Vision and Mission of BRAC / BRAC’s Development Interventions: An Overview / BRAC Enterprises / BRAC International / Organisation of the Book.
2. Education: Facilitating Human Resource Development> Samir Ranjan Nath and Safiqul Islam> Introduction / Progress in the Education Sector in Bangladesh / BRAC Education Programme / Studies on BRAC Education Programme / Concluding Remarks.
3. Reaching Healthcare to Grassroots> Syed Masud Ahmed, Kaosar Afsana, Akramul Islam and Faruque Ahmed> Introduction: Bangladesh Health Scenario / BRAC Health Programme (BHP) / Role of Research in Shaping BHP / Impact of BRAC Health Interventions / Conclusions.
4. Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health> Hashima-E-Nasreen and Kaosar Afsana> Introduction / BRAC Maternal and Child Health Programme / Achievements of the Programme / Lessons Learnt / Conclusions.
5. Nutrition Interventions for Improved Child Health> Barnali Chakraborty and M Raisul Haque> Introduction / Nutrition Situation: The Bangladesh Context / Evolution of BRAC Nutrition Interventions / Research Support to Nutrition Programme / Conclusions.
6. Microfinance: Financial Inclusion for Employment Generation> Mahabub Hossain and SN Kairy> Introduction / The Microfinance Landscape in Bangladesh / BRAC Microfinance Programme / Review of Progress / Future Outlook / Impact of Microfinance: A Review of Studies / Concluding Remarks.
7. Challenging the Frontier of Poverty Reduction: Targeting the Ultra Poor> Mahabub Hossain, Anindita Bhattacharjee and Narayan C Das> Poverty: The Bangladesh Context / BRAC’s Targeted Poverty Reduction Programme / CFPR-TUP Programme’s Achievements / Conclusions.
8. Agriculture for Food Security> Mahabub Hossain, M Sirajul Islam, SC Nath, MA Saleque and Mokarram Hossain> Introduction / Agricultural Growth in Bangladesh / BRAC Interventions in Agriculture / Conclusions.
9. Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Disaster Management> Nepal C Dey, Tahera Akter, Sifat E Rabbi and Babar Kabir> Introduction / The Bangladesh Situation / BRAC Development Interventions / BRAC Studies on Environmental Issues / Impact Assessment Research / Concluding Remarks.
10. Community Empowerment and Local Governance> Mohammad Rafi, Kazi Nazrul Fattah, Sharin Shahajahan Naomi and Anna Minj> Introduction / Community Empowerment Programme / Community Institution Building / Strengthening Local Governance / Reaching Information to Marginalised People / Community Radio: The Radio Pallikantha / Special Projects / Citizen Engagement for Effective Governance / Accessing Benefits of Right to Information Act / Enhancing Social Capital of Village Organisation Members / Studies on the Relevance and Effectiveness of the Programme / On Power Structure and Community Based Institutions / On Active Citizenry / On Strengthening Village Organisation / On Violence against Women / Concluding Remarks.
11. Human Rights and Legal Aid Services> Mohammad Rafi, Sharin Shajahan Naomi and Faustina Pereira> Introduction / Features of HRLS Programme / Community Services / Legal Service Providers / Legal Education for Raising Awareness / Legal Support Services / Alternative Dispute Resolution / Panel Lawyer / Community Mobilisation / Human Rights Implementation Committee / Legal Rights Implementation Committee / Recent Initiatives / Public Interest Litigation / Introspection of HRLS through Research / Developing Pedagogy and HRLE Curriculum / Conclusions.
12. Gender Justice and Women’s Empowerment> Sheepa Hafiza, Rumana Ali and Mohammad Rafi> Introduction / Gender Equality in Bangladesh / BRAC Interventions for Women’s Empowerment / Gender Justice and Diversity Division / Studies on Gender Issues / Conclusions.
13. Trajectory for Institutional Development> Abu Ahsan, Mohammad Rafi and Andrew Jenkins> Introduction / Early Developments: From Poverty to Power / Conscientisation’ and Mobilisation of the Oppressed / Successes and Challenges in the 1980s / Institutional Scope
/ Conclusions.
14. Evolution of Development Management in BRAC> Sukhendra Kumar Sarkar> Introduction / Management of Integrated Development Projects in the 1970s / Scaling up for Impact: Lessons from OTEP / Drivers of Success of OTEP / Other Drivers of Sustaining Efficiency and Effectiveness with Growth / Chronology of Development Interventions / BRAC International Operations.
15.Governance, Transparency, Enterprises and Financial Sustainability> SN Kairy> Introduction / Governance and Transparency in BRAC / Finance and Accounts / Financial Growth / Towards Financial Sustainability / Growth of Assets / Conclusions.
16. Reflections on Drivers of BRAC’s Success> SalehuddinAhmed> Introduction / Drivers of Success / Organisational Culture: Scope of Improvement / Conclusion.
17.Research Driving Development> Ahmed Mushtaque Raza Chowdhury and Andrew Jenkins
18.Conclusion> Mahabub Hossain
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xTestimonies
Sultana Rural Civil Society Member BRAC Across Bangladesh, BRAC operates more than 280,000 village organizations, 12,000 community forums, and nearly 800 district level forums. All these groups are dedicated to supporting poor women in their goal to improve their lives and that of their communities. Every week 8.45 million women across Bangladesh attend their BRAC meetings to receive loans, understand their rights, and claim their entitlements. One woman describes how BRAC has enabled her to defend her own and other women’s rights and become a leader for her community. Sultana has felt the frustrations of poverty, abandonment, and inequity, and knows what it takes to overcome them. BRAC's social development program allowed Sultana to act on a determination to transform herself and her community. Every day, Sultana fights battles for those who cannot fight for themselves, continually inspired by her recollections of injustice. As a twelve year old girl, having just started fifth grade, Sultana was forced to drop out of school to marry a man she did not know. Throughout her marriage, Sultana suffered mental and physical abuse. One day, when Sultana was seventeen, her husband stopped coming home. "He just stopped paying my costs," Sultana recalls, "and then he married another woman even though I was still here." Sultana was left to fend for herself without money, education, or employment. Refusing to be a victim, Sultana approached BRAC's Human Rights and Legal Services Program to file a lawsuit against her husband. "I was very young and I didn't understand how the process was going to work," Sultana remembers, "but I went to them and I told them my complaints." Sultana's assertiveness was rewarded. She won the case, and now her former husband provides her with financial support. Intent on establishing her independence, Sultana joined a village organization and started a tailoring business with a loan from BRAC. Though her life was now stable, she knew deep within herself that more needed to be done: "I still felt the pain from when my husband tortured me, and I realized that there must be many other women who still feel that same pain." This realization opened an important chapter in Sultana's life. She discovered a frightening pattern of violence and suppression affecting women throughout her community. "I went through the village and started speaking to many women, I learned about their pain and frustration." Sultana had fought her own battle, now she was going to start fighting for her community. Sultana helped BRAC start a Polli Shomaj, a committee to defend the rights of the poor, in her village. With a burning desire to help the abused women of her community, Sultana took advantage of this opportunity: "I made sure that we started the Polli Shomaj so that no other women could be tortured like this". The Polli Shomaj proved its value to the village by exposing and solving cases of domestic violence. “[At first] people in the village didn't understand the work that we were doing, they didn't like it that we were bringing women out of the house,” she says. “But now people listen to us and talk to us," Sultana says, "people search for us to speak of their problems." Another recurrent issue that Sultana fights is the lack of transparency within the local government. Although challenging government corruption is a complicated and difficult task, Sultana uses the power of the Polli Shomaj to mobilize groups of women to fight for their government entitlements. Sultana has also joined the district level community group, the Union Shomaj, which connects women leaders in the same area so they have greater influence in local politics. "They were selling away our opportunities," Sultana said. "We now have formed a group to make sure we know about these opportunities...the chairman can ignore one voice; ten voices make the chairman listen." Sultana is proud to pave the way for many rural Bangladeshi women who are claiming their rights for the first time. Firmly focused on the future, Sultana is confident that her Union Shomaj has the dedication and the support that it needs to continue to build momentum. "Alone, we don't have any weapons to fight our battle, but with BRAC we can. They are our arms," she says. Sultana fights for her community every day: "We can definitely win this war. We are trying everything to win this war... We will try forever.
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Shadia Khatun Community Health Volunteer BRAC At the heart of BRAC’s health program are community health volunteers – Shasthya Shebikas. This network of 70,000 volunteers visits more than 18 million homes every month offering primary health care services. They are supervised by a second line of health workers known as Shasthya Kormis. One health volunteer describes how she became a health volunteer and the positive impact it has on her life and confidence levels. There was a time when Shadia was afraid every time she left the house. "I would always cover my head and stand in the corner,” she recalled. Shadia’s life is now quite the opposite. Since becoming a BRAC Shasthya Shebika, community health worker, Shadia says, "Things are different than they were before. I am much more confident." Shadia’s transformation began eight years ago. Her youngest daughter was suddenly struck blind and Shadia did not know how to take care of her. “I didn’t know where to take her. I visited so many doctors and no one could help.” In response to this situation, and despite the fact that she had never received an education, Shadia dedicated herself becoming a Shasthya Shebika. Today, Shadia is a highly competent health worker. “I am always busy,” she remarked. “I visit fifteen homes every day. I find out who is pregnant, who is taking pills, and who is getting injections. If I find someone who has been coughing for 3 weeks, I tell them to get tested for TB. This is my work.” When Shadia first established herself as the community health volunteer, people treated her with respect and admiration for the first time in her life. Previously known as one of the quieter members of her community, she had become accustomed to being ignored by her neighbors. Now she is seen as one of the most important people in her village. “Everyone in the village knows I am a Shasthya Shebika," she said. "If someone becomes sick, everyone tells them to come to my house.” The respect Shadia receives from her peers motivates her to work harder. She does not rest until she knows that every person has received the support they need. Shadia sees it as her duty to do all she can to take care of the community she loves. “I want to work for these people. I’m not very beautiful, I don’t have that much money, but still people look for me. That’s why whenever they call for me, I will always go.” Shadia is proud of how far she has come since starting her work as a health volunteer. "Before, when a visitor would come, even if they were BRAC officers, I would shake with nerves," she said. "Now I have become courageous; now I stand confidently.”
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Shamima Community Health Worker BRAC BRAC’s award winning national health program covers a target population of 98 million people with essential health care services, maternal, neonatal and child health initiatives, tuberculosis and malaria control, and water, sanitation and hygiene implementation. The extensiveness of BRAC’s reach is possible through its network of 74,000 all women community health volunteers and 6,300 community health workers who make 18 million home visits every month. One community health worker explains why she decided to join BRAC and help improve the health of Bangladesh’s rural villagers. Four years ago, Shamima chose to give her life a new purpose. She had a supportive husband and a growing son, but she spent all of her time in the home. She craved more responsibility and wanted an opportunity to become a leader in the community. She also wanted to spend time helping local women and their families. Then she heard about BRAC. She was inspired by their mission to bring healthcare to rural families and applied to become a Shasthya Kormi - a community health worker. What began as a personal goal of empowerment and life improvement has now transformed her community and improved the health of families throughout the region. Shamima feels highly respected whenever she walks into a village. “I love how people come running to talk with me and ask how I am,” she shares. She meets with groups of village women everyday and helps them with their immediate health concerns. She also makes sure to take the time to build personal relationships with the women. As she empowers others with knowledge and selfesteem, Shamima gains their trust and friendship in return. “Everyone has accepted me very well,” she says, “The women of the communities praise me for my work.” Shamima also visits 25 individual households each day to provide families with primary healthcare. By teaching women to promote good health practices and delivering services and medical supplies, she ensures the wellbeing of the entire community. “It is our practice to talk with women so much that now whenever we talk, we become very connected,” Shamima says. “Women can share their problems with other women so they open up to us and accept us willingly.” Without Shamima’s work, the medical options for community members are limited. The government hospitals are often inaccessible and overcrowded, and the private clinics are too expensive. Shamima goes straight to the patient. From within a patient’s home she monitors health, provides treatment, and contacts BRAC clinics for more severe health concerns – especially complications in pregnancy. “People rely on BRAC because we can take medicine to their door,” Shamima explains. “We ensure that they get services.” Shamima has changed her own life by changing the lives of others. She is thankful for her ability to impact the community and for the purpose that it gives her in return. “As long as I am alive,” she shares, “if I can continue with my work as a Shasthya Kormi, I will be happy.”
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Mohammed Baset Legal Aid Lawyer BRAC BRAC’s human rights and legal services department has to date provided legal education to 3.5 million poor women in Bangladesh and operates the largest NGO legal aid service in the world. The legal aid clinics help BRAC members as well as poor non-members of the community resolve their conflicts through either Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or the formal legal system. BRAC staff lawyers take action when court procedures are required. One such lawyer, Mohammad Baset, explains his role and success in seeking justice for vulnerable women and children. “Guilty.” Upon hearing the judge’s ruling, Mohammad Baset smiled with joy and relief. He had worked towards this verdict for three years and with a single word his effort was validated. For Mohammad and his fellow lawyers at BRAC’s Legal Aid Clinic, there is no better feeling than helping the powerless and voiceless claim their rights. Today they had done just that, gaining justice for a seven-year old girl who was raped three years ago. Originally a trial lawyer in the criminal courts, Mohammad left his high-paying job to work for BRAC and speak for those who had no voice. “I wanted to work for people who were unable to defend themselves,” he remembers. Now he assists local poor citizens in cases of divorce, alimony, and child support. “I like arranging settlements by helping people talk to each other,” he says. In the past decade, his team has assisted in 4,238 cases winning 9.3 million taka (USD 135,000) in alimony and financial support for poor women who once thought they would not receive anything. “The biggest reward of my job is seeing the huge smiles on the women’s faces when they finally receive their due.” Mohammad says that BRAC has developed a strong reputation among communities, lawyers, and state officials. BRAC independently evaluates all complaints it receives, confirming that victims’ claims are valid and that their evidence is compelling. “Judges are confident in our arguments,” and as a result,” Mohammad notes, “We usually receive a good verdict.” In addition to domestic cases, Mohammad is currently representing 36 victims of human rights violations, victims who would otherwise never receive justice. He tells of two girls who were attacked by a rich villager’s son. When the parents of the girls looked to the village council for help, their claims were ridiculed and dismissed. In another case, Mohammad represented a young girl who was raped by her two cousins on the way home from a meeting with her tutor. Doctors eventually needed to remove her uterus, rendering her incapable of ever having children. Mohammad explains that the difficult nature of these cases not only creates a great emotional burden for the victims and their loved ones, but that these cases are also a financial strain on families. Cases can take three or four years to resolve, and victims are often socially stigmatized, and struggle to regain a normal life. BRAC provides comprehensive services including medical treatment, psychological rehabilitation, financial opportunity, and social support to the victims and their families, while also dedicating a team of researchers, trial lawyers, and community workers to ensure that the trial is handled fairly. Mohammad is humbled by the support his team has received from the people and communities they help. BRAC’s legal aid focuses exclusively on serving those in need and does not take any money from their clients. Mohammad says money is not a motivating issue because the lawyers are constantly encouraged by the tremendous local praise and encouragement that they receive. “BRAC is highly regarded and esteemed in the community,” he says. “We feel like we can take on anything.” The hard work of Mohammad and his team has had a tremendous impact. 78 of the 82 rape cases his district has handled have received favorable verdicts, which make him optimistic for the future. “The cases are hard,” he says, “but we now have the confidence and the mental strength to take any case and fight for it.” Mohammad loves his job because he knows he is making a positive impact daily, both for individuals and for Bangladesh as a whole. “I’ve seen way too many unfair cases, and something needs to be done about it,” Mohammad states. “We provide a platform and a voice for the people. I want to leave Bangladesh in a better place for my son than it was for me.”
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Chameli Rema Secondary School Head Teacher BRAC In Bangladesh, only 54% of secondary school teachers are properly trained. Since 2002, BRAC has been running a secondary school teacher training program with 2,000 participating schools. The program has trained 18,000 teachers and head teachers. The head teacher of one of the best rural secondary schools in the country explains how BRAC has helped her improve the quality of teaching and learning at her school. Chameli Rema has been head teacher of Rangrapara Secondary School for twenty years. During this period, she has helped make it the second highest ranking academic institution in the region. To maintain a high standard, Chameli has diligently ensured an environment in which her students get the level of education they need to develop as thinkers and leaders. By working closely with BRAC, Chameli has ensured that teachers and students never run out of opportunities to improve themselves. To guarantee that the quality of instruction is constantly being enhanced, Chameli encourages her teachers to take advantage of teacher training courses offered by BRAC. She demonstrates her belief in the value of these courses by volunteering for them herself. “I was the first to receive training” she says, “and I have completed several BRAC training courses since then.” Following their head teacher’s example, the teachers enthusiastically attended BRAC's training courses. They were excited about the techniques that they learned and quickly applied them in the classroom. Having instilled an ambition of constant self-improvement in her teachers, Chameli observed improvement in the standard of education at her school. "After every BRAC training," she explains, "the teachers are more focused and dedicated to educating the students." Chameli is intent on giving the students the same opportunities at developing themselves as the teachers. She encourages students of all ages to participate in BRAC’s leadership training programs, which have had an impressive impact on her student body. “Before my students went to BRAC training, I was often unsuccessful when I tried to form groups for studying or organizing cultural events,” Chameli explains. “Now, whenever I instruct them to arrange activities for the school, they form groups themselves and they work together.” While Chameli has created a positive learning environment, it remains a challenge for her to open it to all students. “It is very hard for many of our students to pay the school fees, and a few are unable to pay at all." Dedicated to giving all children education opportunities, Chameli has developed alternate payment methods for families with financial issues. "The admissions fee of 300 taka (USD 7) should normally be paid in January," she said, "but I let poor families pay in six monthly installments.” Because of Chameli’s ability to overcome obstacles, she feels confident about facing challenges in the future. “My school will continue to improve,” Chameli insists. “I hope that in the next generation, everyone will be able to receive a proper education.
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Robia Khatun Village Organization Member BRAC
At the centre of BRAC’s approach are village organizations (VOs) – each with 30-40 members. These village organizations meet weekly to distribute loans, collect repayments and savings contributions, and raise awareness on many social, legal and personal issues affecting the everyday lives of poor women. New member, Robia Khatun, describes how the microfinance and human rights education she received helped her to leave poverty behind and assist others in the community. In the last twelve months, Robia Khatun has built a vegetable garden, taught her community about legal rights, and purchased her first pair of shoes. Twelve months ago, these were distant dreams when Robia was struggling every day to provide for her nine children. Robia's participation in BRAC's programs allowed her to move beyond that past. She has taken advantage of new opportunities to turn life around for her family and to invest in a brighter future for her village. A year ago, Robia could not gain access to financial credit. “Other organizations rejected me. They told that I was too poor and that I would not be able to repay the loans,” she said. “But BRAC didn’t do that. They gave me a loan and trained me on how to plant potatoes, chilies, and other vegetables.” Robia took advantage of her training and invested her 6,000 taka (USD 90) loan to cultivate vegetables and sell them at the local market, and has used her profits to dramatically raise her family's standard of living. "There were times when I didn’t even have enough rice to cook one full meal a day," she said. "Now that I am a part of BRAC, I can cook three meals or more a day for me and my nine children. That is why I am happy now.” Having found happiness in providing for her family, Robia pushed to further life enhancement by graduating from BRAC’s human rights and legal education course. She gained the knowledge and confidence to fight traditional pressures such as paying dowry and marrying children at a very early age. “I can now work to stop these problems," she said, "I’ll let my sons and daughters marry when they are of proper age and I will not pay a single penny on dowries.” Robia is realizing the extent to which her education on human rights and legal services has given her the power to help her community in the same way in which she is helping her family. Robia is especially proud that she no longer feels hopeless when she hears about cases of domestic violence. "Before, I would see these problems, but I couldn’t do anything because I didn’t know about legal rights,” she explained. “Now I know much more and I can help others in my community.” Robia has used her human rights education and access to BRAC's microfinance program to transform life for her family. She is now inspired to share her knowledge and provide help to the families that still do not understand their rights and opportunities. "I have more courage and I feel even my heart is stronger," she says.
Futiker Ma Ultra Poor Program Member BRAC Futiker spent many years isolated and in despair after she was abandoned by her family and ignored by her community. Today, she is working her way out of extreme poverty after joining BRAC’s ground breaking ultra poor program. This two year program provides her with free assets – such as cows and goats for livestock rearing – free health care, business training, a small living allowance, and access to flexible small loans to expand her business. She is one of more than 800,000 ultra poor households that will benefit from the program over the next five years. All the women on the ultra poor program are widowed, abandoned or have husbands who are unable to work. In Futiker’s case, she was abandoned by her husband when he became mentally ill and disappeared, her son was only ten years old but they managed to cope together. After her son married, she was finally reduced to begging to survive. “My son and I used to stay and eat together," she says, "but after he married he couldn’t give me food and I had to eat by begging from door to door.” In July 2008, BRAC field staff visited her village and invited the whole community to attend their local Participatory Rural Appraisal meeting, which is designed to map out a village and identify extremely poor households in dire need of assistance. BRAC has developed a set of five criteria to determine whether an individual qualifies as being ultra poor. If a woman fulfills at least three of these, she is eligible for the program. Futiker fulfilled four criteria, as her household did not have an active male member, had no productive assets, owned less than ten decimals of land, and was dependent on begging as the only source of income. She joined the program and was given a weekly living allowance that allowed her to stop begging and start rebuilding her life. She also had the choice of which type of productive assets she received so she could start earning a stable income. “It was my choice to have a cow and two goats because I expect that they will give me a lot of money," she said. "I will be able to eat and maybe save some money too.” To make sure that Futiker will be able to use her assets to their full potential, BRAC provides technical assistance and training on how to successfully rear livestock. As she says, “the BRAC man comes to my house every Tuesday and teaches me about my cow and goats”. Futiker will be supported and advised over the next two years to make sure that she is making progress and becoming self-reliant. She has embraced the chance to improve her life, relishing the opportunity to forge a way out of the poverty and misery she had experienced. “I’m able to feed my goats and my cow in the morning, afternoon, and at night," she says, with a firm sense of pride. "I bought this food."
Ahki WASH Teenager BRAC BRAC is working to improve water supplies and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and promote safe hygiene practices across Bangladesh. Promoting safe hygienic behavior helps break the contamination cycle of unsanitary latrines, contaminated water, and water borne communicable diseases. One determined BRAC teenager explains why she is so committed to helping the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Program (WASH) achieve its goals. Though only fourteen years old, Ahki is already a leader in her community. Education has helped define Akhi’s vision for the future and instilled in her a sense of responsibility. Through involvement in BRAC programs, Ahki gained the opportunity to improve life for herself and people in her village. She now teaches people in her community how to live safer and healthier lives. When Ahki was five years old, her village had no school and she wondered if she would ever receive an education. Since then, she has been able to take advantage of the opportunities BRAC has given her to become a well-rounded, educated young person. She attended a primary school that BRAC built in her village until she was ten. After finishing primary school, she joined BRAC's adolescent development program, where twice a week she joins other girls to study, share stories, and learn from one another in a safe place. She is also currently attending a public secondary school where BRAC runs a WASH program to encourage hygienic behavior. BRAC teaches students healthy habits and provides the school with resources to encourage a healthier way of life. When Ahki first went to the school, students had to use a dirty, broken toilet, but this changed when BRAC started the WASH program. “Because of WASH," says Ahki, "there is a new toilet in our common room and the toilet and hand pump are kept clean.” WASH has ensured a sanitary environment at her school and this has inspired Ahki to use her knowledge to create a lasting impact within the community. She encourages her classmates to reduce their personal risk of contracting diseases by implementing WASH habits at home and in their daily lives. “My parents are now much more aware of sanitation issues and I have also talked with my neighbors,” she says, speaking of her success in spreading the message of WASH. “I explain the benefits of keeping clean.” BRAC has been a part of Akhi’s life for more than eight years and promises to support her as she continues to pursue her dreams. She thanks BRAC for giving her opportunities to help others and increase her knowledge and empower herself. “If I ever get the chance to work for BRAC in the future, I will definitely do that,” she said. “It is important to make the people of our country more aware about cleanliness.”
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Sir Fazle: "The idea is to change systems of inequity."
We're indebted to our supporters for making 2016 a transformative year for people living in poverty worldwide. For its work, BRAC was recognized by NGO Advisor as the top NGO in the world for 2017.
To celebrate the announcement, Founder and Chairperson, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, spoke with NGO Advisor Editor-in-Chief Jean-Christophe Nothias.
"If BRAC is emblematic of anything, I would like to hope it is a concerted, long-term effort to transform the basic conditions of one’s society," Abed said.
Read the full interview between Sir Fazle and NGO Advisor...
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Tackling youth unemployment in Bangladesh
The Global Center for Youth Employment highlighted BRAC's Skills Training for Advancing Resources program (STAR) as its featured partner this month. Shormila (pictured) is one of its many participants who benefited from a 6-month apprenticeship.
Read more about Shormila and the STAR program...
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Video: Rewind 2016 with BRAC
Take a journey back through the last 12 months with BRAC's annual year-in-review video. In less than five minutes, get the highlights of BRAC's best year yet.
Watch BRAC's 2016 year-in-review video...
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What is BRAC? Formerly Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, BRAC is a global leader in creating opportunity for the world’s poor.
Read more at BRACusa.org or read the BRAC Blog. |
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Brac events include
Wednesday, 07 February 2018 00:00
IDS Bulletin on Value Chains for Nutrition in South Asia launches on 7 February 2018 Malnutrition is everyone’s problem argues latest IDS bulletin As one in three people are affected, and virtually every country on this planet is facing a serious public health challenge due to malnutrition, the latest IDS Bulletin calls for actors from across sectors to work together to tackle the global epidemic. The causes for malnutrition are multiple, ranging from food insecurity to inadequate .......
Thursday, 14 December 2017 00:00
BRAC-UBS Shishu Niketan School Project: A Baseline Study Samir Ranjan Nath, Nowreen Yasmin and Anwar Hossain Date: 17 December 2017; Time: 09:30 am to 10:30 am; Venue: RED Conference Room (15th Floor) Research Findings Presentation Abstract BRAC Education Programme (BEP), in collaboration with BRAC-UK, has established 15 low-cost, fee-paying schools called Shishu Niketan in 15 district towns of Bangladesh in 2017. This initiative aims to provide quality primary education to the .......
Tuesday, 12 December 2017 00:00
Strategic Transformation of BEP: An Investigation into the Process Rasel Babu, Tanjeeba Chowdhury, Utpal Mallick and Md. Iftikhar-Ul-Karim Date: 13 December 2017; Time: 02:30 pm to 04:30 pm; Venue: RED Conference Room (15th Floor) Research Findings Presentation Abstract BRAC has been passing through a strategic transformation. BEP is coping with this transformation process through shifting its operational approach from philanthropic to cost recovery and enterprise modes .......
Wednesday, 06 December 2017 00:00
Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in Bangladesh LANSA-BRAC knowledge sharing event on 12 December 2017 A half-day seminar on Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in Bangladesh, to be held on 12 December 2017 from 10 am to 1:30 pm at the BRAC Inn Conference Room, Dhaka.The seminar will be hosted under the “Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia (LANSA)” programme, an international research partnership, funded by DFID. LANSA has been working to study how agriculture and .......
Monday, 06 November 2017 00:00
Impact of BRAC’s Coordinated Approach in Addressing Violence against WomenSamir Ranjan Nath, Rumana Ali, Sharin Shahjahan Naomi, Raihana Azim Upoma Date: 07 November 2017; Time: 11:30 am; Venue: RED Conference Room (15th Floor) Research Findings Presentation AbstractViolence against Women and Children (VAWC) is a significant obstacle to reduce poverty, and achieve gender equality that are closely associated with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BRAC’s five-year strategic .......
Wednesday, 24 August 2016 00:00
Assessment of the Impact of Reading Glasses on Livelihood and Quality of Life in the Context of Rural BangladeshFarzana Sehrin and Anita Sharif ChowdhuryDate: 14 August 2016; Time: 10:00 to 11:00 am; Venue: RED Conference Room (15th Floor)Research Proposal PresentationAbstractClear vision is a precondition to remain economically productive and at the same time enjoy a quality life. One of the vision related emerging public health problems in Bangladesh is presbyopia, as one-fifth .......
Wednesday, 24 August 2016 00:00
R E D S E M I N A RImpact of BRAC WASH I Programme’s Implementation Services and Sustainability: Studies from 2007 to 2015Nepal C Dey, Tahera Akter, Ratnajit Saha and Mahmood ParvezDate: 11 August 2016; Time: 02:00 am to 03:30 pm; Venue: RED Conference Room (15th Floor)Research Findings PresentationAbstractThis post-end line study aimed to identifying the current status of access to water in terms of quantity and quality, sanitation and hygiene practices in WASH-I intervention .......
Wednesday, 03 August 2016 00:00
A follow-up Survey on Smoking in Rural Areas of BangladeshFahmida Akter, Umme Salma Mukta, Tridib Roy Choudhury and Md Mahfuzar Rahman, REDDate: 03 August 2016; Time: 10:00 to 11:00 am; Venue: RED Conference Room (15th Floor)Research Findings PresentationAbstract Despite the significant awareness regarding the prevention and control on smoking mediated health hazards in recent years, it still remains as a leading causes of preventable death. BRAC Research and Evaluation Division .......
Monday, 18 July 2016 00:00
Improving Adolescent Girls Empowerment: Theatre for Change in Practice and AwarenessM Showkat Gani and Samir Ranjan NathDate: 21 July 2016; Time: 02:30 to 03:30 pm; Venue: RED Conference Room (15th Floor) Research Findings Presentation AbstractStimulating Theatre for Adolescent Girls Empowerment (STAGE) is an initiative of BRAC under its Adolescent Development Programme (ADP). This cross-sectional study aims to assess the effectiveness of STAGE intervention in reducing some .......
Wednesday, 15 June 2016 00:00
Socio-psychological Status of TUP BeneficiariesRumana Ali, Nahida Akter, Towhida Islam and Taznim Jahan SukhiDate: 19 June 2016; Time: 01:30 to 02:30 pm; Venue: RED Conference Room (15th Floor)Research Proposal PresentationAbstractTargeting the Ultra Poor (TUP) is one of the mainstream development services of BRAC. The aim of TUP is to assist the ultra-poor to improve their livelihoods and bring about positive changes in succeeding economic, social and inspiring changes. Initiated ....
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rice and the curricula of life- rice has been goal 2 end hunger's most valuable solution over last…chris macrae
- LIFE'S STORY
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help end the cause of one quarter of infant deaths in Bangladesh - pneumoniachris macrae9 minutes ago2 views
does any nation have a financial service system geared to job creation and sustainability as good a…chris macrae18 minutes ago1 view
learn about the university which gives students opportunity to learn skills from working in rural v…chris macrae35 minutes ago1 view
q to George Sorios: Is there any organisation in the world worth more for youth to action learn wit…chris macraeJul 1, 201315 views
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where else do you know education matters as to youth's friends of BRAC text USA 240 316 8157 or e chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk
if next wednesday we get the right order of stories, sir fazle will let me brainstoirm connection oppiortunties of each story which need his authorisation to action
-this is made complicated for me by you not all being there - thats why i have to have a story i can tell aboit you even if its not simplly the way you would say it
so please help me edit this emerging script -once we have agreed a script -then eg amy use the same partnership invitration stories to brief china-linkedin hubs ...and globayouth50000 friends likestephanie in brooklyn can help research 1776 or anyone but rescript same one minute stories but in your own words
=================================================wednesdays draft script
5th year of discussing
-worldwide evidence eg kim 80th birthday greeting, soros and wise laureates, Norman macrae research...
5.1 Next few years see many tipping points –potentially doubling or halving brac's goodwill annually (yuxuan can you brief amy on drawing those pictures i showed you of one expoentially down parrtner collapsing all- if i have to draw anything for sir fazle that will be first piece of the map)
5.2 Message that only BRAC can unite world around:
Thriving girls livelihoods (starting with those born poorest) integral/essemtial to Sustainability System design
5.3 Urgent startup Projects supporting this message:
1 Linkin leapfrog coding club – bkash puts you at epicenbtre of leapfrogging finance- sir girdon browns tream asking who is leapfrog of education; also youth's hackathon world is wondering what does bangladesh as an elearning nation mean?
1a which rural practice apps eg health or nutrition action learning can help create most peer to peer value for youth to develop (eg is adolesecnt health the next oral rehydration -see amy and george mail)
1b sustainability investment bank assocuation -owned 51%+ by coders for the poorest (and final piece of brac's total bottom up financing of bangladesh -ulttra por, microfinance plus brac bank bkash ...)
2 Global Girls sustainability council supporting shameran as advisers to where BRAC action learning opportunities can be celebrated – start with chiense because 1.2 billion girl livelihoods in play up to 2030now
3 Global youth summits and opportintity webs- build biorderless job creating friendships in which china and bangaldesh youth/girls are pivotal in every twin nation exchange
so this is the difficulkt part for me to explain in one minute that lives up to your extraordinary promises
5.4 global youth partership consultanct network of amy and yuxuan -anchored in china but linking in all pro-youyth jopbs places
integrating youth other disadvantaged places into nationwide job creation – starting with china village (Yale Brother) and provincial poorest (Mrs Song Open Space community building soutiuons) and other research circles trusted by Tsinghua alumni with keadership quests to nd fron froni key us supercity friends of amy’s year of research (eg Kiehl, Camilo, Billy, Ryder projects - eg global womens youth leadership shadowing club) and yuxuan’s additional networks – tsunghua , wise, pan Africa youth alumni, cfreative children educators association (eg gordon dryden) | what interests me is acumen is turning itself into its own peer to peer training centre on dynamics relevant to end poverty models or girls projects for everyone - i do wonder if we should be recommending brac do the same
actually next week in dhaka I will ask sir fazle and shameran abed to start by piloting one brac-open-university-online curriculum: how do we peer to peer train the new finacial literacy - which is your nations bkash, or alipay and how does app your nation needs depend on what
the second on-demand curricula could be how the world can learn from building chinas health service with jim kim assuming that hsi occupation from next fall
or how the world can learn from way bangaldesh builds its elearning nation now that broadband is in every school
maybe there couild be a competituion subsectuon on this at mostofa's www.gycommunity.com in dubai or steph's UN youth entrepreneur competition or even at relevant open spaces or hackathons as they move around the world
chris macrae 240 316 8157
www.brac.tv
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Your first module for Access to Capital for Women is now available. It includes a reading and an exercise for you and your team to do together.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BRAC operated a non-formal primary education (NFPE) programme for three decades on a philanthropic mode. It was possible due to financial support of the international development partners. Such support has started to shrink and might not be available in the near future as a result of the improved socioeconomic development of Bangladesh. In response, BRAC has made a strategic shift in its programmatic approach. The BRAC Education Programme (BEP) has been trying to be .......
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYIn 2014, BRAC designed a comprehensive, evidence-based intervention model to address the problems of violence against women and children through the Violence Against Women and Children initiative (VAWC). The VAWC model is being tested and refined in two districts: Comilla and Gazipur. This report synthesises the results of four action research studies that BRAC commissioned to generate insights to inform this process. BRAC selected four components of the intervention for .......
Abstract BRAC initiated Computer Aided Learning (CAL) programme, the first ever in Bangladesh, to introduce ICT based materials in teaching-learning in 2004 Along with digital contents of Science, English and mathematics of secondary level, this programme provided basic ICT and content delivery training to the teachers of programme schools. A qualitative evaluation following the Realist Evaluation framework was designed to evaluate the programme mechanism, context and outcome. Data .......
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYSince independence, the growth of Bangladesh economy has been dominantly rural oriented where agricultural and infrastructural accomplishment have been contributing a major section. Additionally, slowed population growth reduced dependency burden and increased resource available for the rest of the family members, leading to improvement in quality of life. Despite such achievement, the economic development has not been uniform all across Bangladesh. Among 491 upazilas in .......
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYBangladesh has experienced massive urbanisation in the last few decades with a staggering growth of seven millions slum dwellers. About two million people live in the slums of Dhaka city. Most of the slums lack basic facilities for childhood development due to inadequate social security raised by gender violence and discrimination in family as well as community plus prevalence of domestic violence is higher in slums along with gender discrimination and violence against .......
ABSTRACTThe BRAC MANOSHI programme established BRAC delivery centres (BDCs) across slums in urban areas of Bangladesh with the intention to reduce unsafe delivery at home with an affordable cost. Subsequently, 27 delivery centres were upgraded to BRAC Maternity Centres (BMCs) with added capacity of midwifery services under supervision of MBBS doctors. These structural changes led to a reduction in referral of various delivery cases. Thus, it is important to investigate the contribution of .......
ABSTRACT The study considered both quantitative and qualitative method. Both treatment and comparison group considered for this study. Qualitative findings conclude that there is a lack of integration among the treatment group. Nonetheless, there is a substantial difference between the treatment group and the comparison group in each of the three components of Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center namely; 1) Building Bridges, 2) Leadership Training and 3) Community Services. The members of .......
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to explore the impact of Gender Quality Action Learning (GQAL) Programme initiated by Gender Justice and Diversity (GJ&D) Programme during the period of 2007-2011. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches to achieve its goals. The data collection tools used here were survey, focus group discussion (FGD), case study and census. Here, a village with maximum GQAL intervention in 2007- 2011 was selected for census to know the .......
ABSTRACT The Essential Health Care (EHC) programme, one of the key development efforts of BRAC, provides an integrated package of preventive and basic curative services through community health workers (CHWs). The programme aims to improve health and nutrition of women and under-five children in rural Bangladesh. However, impression about regional variation and inequity in use of services from both public and private sectors is needed to identify the gap and further intensify the .......
ABSTRACT The geographical settings and circumstances of the chars make life both economically and socially challenging. Realising the necessity for advancing initiatives, Char Development and Settlement Project (CDSP) was initiated in 1994, of which the fourthphase of the project is currently undergoing. To assess the impact of the livelihood and social component offered under the integrated development activities of CDSP, we planned to collect two rounds of data on the demography and .......
This paper aims at evaluatingthe impact of BRAC‘sprogrammesin Uganda. The study allows usto investigates the effectiveness of BRAC‘s "microfinance plus" approach in Uganda through detecting the impact of microfinance, agriculture, and health programmes separately as well as combined impact of ―microfinance and agriculture‖, and ―microfinance and health‖ programmes. The key outcome variables of interest are household income, asset, and vulnerability. The study follows quasi-experimental design .......
There is hardly any argument over the necessity of targeting the ultra-poor in development interventions. However, identifying and scaling up effective strategies to improve livelihoods remains a challenge. A few recent pilots have found an approach that combines transfer of productive assets, and intensive supports and supervision with a set of coordinated interventions following a time-bound exit plan successful. This paper evaluates one such pilot, known as ‘ultra-poor graduation pilot’ .......
In September 2008, the Government of Bangladesh embarked on the first phase of a 100-day Employment Generation Programme (EGP) for the poorest and jobless poor. This endeavour came in response to the soaring food price. NFPCSP was requested by the Government to assist in the appraisal of the programme through an evaluation of its first phase and the preparation for the assessment of the impact of the entire programme.
Internalized stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) is prevalent in Bangladesh. A better understanding of the effects of stigma on PLHA is required to reduce this and to minimize its harmful effects. This study employed a quantitative approach by conducting a survey with an aim to know the prevalence of internalized stigma and to identify the factors associated with internalized stigma among a sample of 238 PLHA (male=152 and female=86) in Bangladesh. The findings suggest that there .......
This research aims to look at household responses to a tsunami warning that took place in south-east coastal areas of Bangladesh on 12 September 2007. The study was conducted in both the mainland and islands of Cox’s Bazar district. We examined the impact of the warning by measuring the effectiveness of the warning, reasons behind evacuation or failure to do so, experience of evacuating and staying in shelters, and loss in assets. We also examined whether evacuees will trust future warnings .......
Increase in the number of inhabitants in urban slums has become a challenge on the health system of Bangladesh for tackling maternal and under-five child morbidity and mortality. To address this engaging issue, BRAC implemented a community based essential maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH)-care service package programme, called MANOSHI in 2007. The programme targeted the slums in six city corporations of Bangladesh through the community health workers (CHWs) called BRAC Shasthya .......
AbstractIodine deficiency persists as a major health problem in Bangladesh. Despite thepresence of a government law that prohibits sale of non-iodized salt, a large volume ofsalt that is available in local market is ‘open’ or non-iodized salt or falsely labeled asiodized. Addressing this, BRAC-HNPP in partnership with Global Alliance for ImprovedNutrition (GAIN), UNICEF, Government of Bangladesh, and Micronutrient Initiatives inBangladesh (MI) initiated an intervention of delivering .......
AbstractIt is evident that the poor, especially women and children are highly vulnerable to theimpacts of climate change because of their limited adaptive capacity. In suchcircumstances, BRAC Disaster, Environment and Climate Change (DECC) programmehas been providing interventions (capacity building training and/or grant) on alternativelivelihood options so that poverty stricken women affected by disaster can adapt to thechanging environment. This study has been undertaken to understand .......
ABSTRACTBangladesh is one of the countries with high rate of infant malnutrition and the majorcause is inappropriate breast feeding and complementary feeding practices. To improvethe situation, both GO/NGO organizations are working intensively on the issue. Inpursuance of this, AED and BRAC became partners in the Alive and Thrive project(A&T) for improving infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices through motivationand counseling by BRAC’s volunteer community health workers .......
ABSTRACTPoor infant feeding practices is one of the major causes of undernutrition and stuntingin <5 .......="" address="" aed="" alive="" amp="" and="" andthrive="" bangladesh.="" bangladesh="" basis="" brac="" but="" child="" children="" community="" div="" feeding="" for="" frontline="" gets="" health="" implementing="" in="" infant="" is="" issue.="" monetary="" of="" ona="" optimum="" partnership="" practices="" programme="" promote="" return="" rural="" shasthya="" shebika="" some="" t="" the="" this="" thisproject="" to="" voluntary="" who="" with="" worker="" works="" young="">
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYTuberculosis (TB) is a global disease, which is responsible for 1.4 million deaths eachyear (WHO 2010). Bangladesh is the sixth highest TB-burden country in the world. TBtreatment may be complicated when malnutrition also coexists in patients. TB hasbeen found to coexist with malnutrition among patients at the beginning of treatment inboth developed and developing countries (Zachariah et al. 2002, Onwubalili JK 1988,Kennedy et al. 1996, Harries et al. 1988). Nutrition .......
ABSTRACTIntroduction: In Bangladesh about two-thirds of total food consumption is rice asmain staple food, especially for the poor, in addition to some vegetables, pulses andsmall quantities of fish, meat, egg, etc. if and when available. The similar dietarypattern and practices were found for under-two children in the intervention areas ofAlive and Thrive (A&T) project where mothers were counseled on appropriatecomplementary feeding practice as a component of Infant and Young .......
Abstract:The BRAC Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme reached 150 upazilas (sub-districts) in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh since 2006. This study assessed the changes in the use of tubewell water and water safety measures in the households in the 11 upazilas of Bangladesh after BRAC WASH interventions. Data were collected from 6,600 households where 3,812 tubewells were traced in baseline (2006-7) and 3,591 tubewells in midline (2009). Most of the households .......
The Meghna-Dhonagoda Embankment (MDE) is an example of a flood control scheme which also regulates irrigation and drainage of the area inside it. This intervention in the natural functioning of the environment - intended to reduce the often catastrophic impacts of flooding on mankind - itself may have substantial impacts on the environment and humans in the short and long run. These impacts are not well understood and thus are not fully taken into consideration at the time of inception of the .......
This report is based on the findings of the case tracking study of 35 BRAC borrowers from Matlab RDP over a period of one year. Tracking began in July 1996, and in all cases more than three months had elapsed before tracking began. The issues examined in this study are: background of the borrowers, use of loan, participation of the women in the use of loan, economic return on investment, borrowing from other sources, mobility of the borrowers or the decision making by the borrowers in their .......
ABSTRACT: Bangladesh, being a developing country, has made substantial progress in providing food to its largepopulation base over the years, yet the country has been facing challenges from lessening gaps between thefood intake for a person in a day and the minimum requirement for balanced nutrition from diet food.Empirical studies have shown that dietary preference and nutrition are closely linked with each other wherediet could be seen as an integrated concept of ecological .......
Executive summaryThe HRLS (Human Rights and Legal Aid Services) programme of BRAC has now its 517 legal aid serving clinics countrywide, which have been serving the poor community for first seeking of their help in the land measurement issues. Throughout the dynamic initiative of HRLS programme, a vast network of the communities has been proactive into the human rights violations. Today, HRLS continues to support a holistic legal aid services across the country. This initiative is targeted .......
AbstractThe end line study was initiated by the Research and Evaluation Division of BRAC. Underlying the aim of BRAC road safety programme is to achieve zero fatal road accident; the community centric existing knowledge was evaluated. The end line survey assessed the participants from the community based organisations, community road safety groups, students and drivers of both motor and non-motor vehicles. The respondents of end line survey were same as the baseline study area that had .......
Abstract Recently, road traffic accidents are considered as the leading cause of death both in the developed and developing countries. In Bangladesh, BRAC has recently initiated a new programme on road safety in aiming to increase road safety awareness among road users. The ultimate goal of the programme is to achieve “zero fatal road accidents” between Syedpur- Enayetganj road of Nabiganj Upazila in Habiganj district. The study intends to understand the current status of knowledge and .......
Executive summary This baseline study was initiated by the Research and Evaluation Division at BRAC. Underlying the aim of BRAC road safety programme is to achieve zero fatal road accident. To understand this dynamic of road accident with the purpose of prevent its occurrence to satisfied level, the community centric existing knowledge was assessed in the study areas. The baseline survey involved the participants from community members, students a drivers of both motor and non-motor .......
Executive summaryThe ‘Strengthening Local Governance’ (SLG) Project is a joint initiative undertaken by BRAC and the Hunger Project Bangladesh (THP), with the aim of strengthening the system of local governance at the Union Parishad (UP) level. As the lowest administrative unit of Bangladesh’s highly centralised public administrative system, UPs face a lot of challenges in terms of insufficient administrative and financial autonomy and resources, deep rooted corruption, and the lack of .......
Executive summary BackgroundIn the last few years the world economy has transformed radically as a result of increasing shift of production processes from developed to developing countries. Bangladesh is no exception to this trend. Readymade garment (RMG) industry of Bangladesh is one of the major industries that developed as a result of global shift of production where manufactures compete on price and quality. Here the factory owners reduce the cost of production in various ways and .......
Executive summaryThe research report presents findings from a rapid assessment that was done on specific aspects of BRAC’s Integrated Development Programme (IDP) for the haor region. The haor region in the North-eastern part of the country consists of large bowl shaped floodplains that have unique hydro-ecological conditions. The area is under water most of the year and is subject to flash floods and other geographical conditions that have made it very isolated and largely excluded from .......
AbstractLiteracy status of a sample of primary education completers from BRAC non-formal schools in 2016 and enrolled in grade six in various formal schools in the following year were assessed. Their performance in literacy was compared with a similar group of students taken from national literacy assessment under Education Watch 2016. A test based literacy assessment tool developed for Education Watch 2002 was used. The findings reveal that although the BRAC school students bear a lower .......
Executive SummaryAgriculture plays a dominant role in the growth and stability of the economy of Bangladesh and more than three quarters of the total population in rural areas derive their livelihood from the agricultural sector.The overall objective of this study/report is to formulate development options for interventions to promote inclusive growth by promoting faster economic growth – transformational by moving from the present situation to one of high productivity and .......
AbstractThe 2013 collapse of a multi-storied commercial building named Rana Plaza is a deadliest accidental structural failure and the worst garment factory accident in Bangladesh. During the collapse many workers died and trapped and in general created great national and international outcry. Emotions and consciences were severely stirred. Civil society, students, community-based organisations, government, non-governmental organisations came forward with social and economic support for the .......
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BRAC has mainstreamed nutrition under the MNCH programme since 2010. This component aims to fulfil its objectives through several strategies that focus on building the capacity of community health workers, establishing an effective community based integrated nutrition service delivery, and raising awareness and empowering communities to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and breastfeeding practices. BRAC trains two types of community health workers (Shasthya .......
ABSTRACT Since its inception, BRAC Education Programme (BEP) has been including children with disabilities in its various educational initiatives. To foster this inclusion initiative BEP developed Children with Special Needs (CSN) unit in 2003. From 2014 this unit launched Neuro Developmental Disability (NDD) centres for poor communities in Bangladesh in cooperation with Health, Nutrition & Population Programme (HNPP) of BRAC. Till June 2015, four centres were established; one in a .......
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Across the world, civil society legal empowerment programmes are making important contributions to securing access to justice and inclusive development. From assistance navigating justice processes to independent mediation services, civil society programmes deploying community-based paralegals provide practical avenues to seek rights and resolve disputes. Such programmes add to the range of access points to justice, offer additional avenues to pursue government .......
SUMMARY OF THE REPORTThe main purpose of this report is to have a thorough documentation and understanding of the profiles of the ultra poor population covered by the Urban CFPR-TUP programme. For the purpose of comparison of the targeted ultra poor households with other households and also for assessing spillover effects, information was also collected on non-participant households from the same community. Information on the livelihood indicators of national urban population have been .......
Breastfeeding is the most natural and unique way of infant feeding for the survival, healthy growth and development of a baby. Improper marketing and promotion of breast milk substitutes (BMS) often affects a mother’s choice of breastfeeding. Moreover, in unhygienic conditions, BMS carries a high risk of infection and can be fatal for infants. The International Code of Marketing of BMS was adopted in 1981 by the World Health Assembly in response to the realization that poor infant feeding .......
This paper provides a brief account of the situation of poverty in Bangladesh indicating some major steps needed for poverty reduction. The focus is on building good governance for fighting poverty. The role of NGOs in building good governance and how this can be done has been illustrated with some cases. In this context the need to strengthen local governance and create coalitions within the civil society for collective efforts have been discussed.
Thesis, Master Program in International Health International Maternal and Child Health Department of Women’s and Children’s Health Uppsala University Background: Malnutrition is widespread and has been recognized as a public health problem in Bangladesh. People living in absolute poverty are more susceptible to infection, disease and malnutrition. Nearly one-quarter to one-third population of Bangladesh live under extreme poverty – they are called the ultra poor. These ultra poor are .......
As the major part of the population the poor have the rights to get real justice but such entitlements have remained largely theoretical. The legal system remains obscure and inaccessible. It is ill equipped to deal with claims and claimants that are supported by the nominal forms of evidence required under the law: witness, legal documents such as marriage, divorce, land registration deeds and so forth. On the other hand in rural areas in particular implementation of the rule of law for the .......
Educational studies in Bangladesh are mostly quantitative in nature – broadly based on survey methods. However, the cases prepared for this study employed qualitative research techniques, where an ethnographic approach was emphasised. The case studies focused on the factors that made certain schools more successful than others. A number of issues related to school, community, administration, teaching, attitudes and leadership, along with other associated links came out from the research. The .......
Depending on methods used, recent estimates suggest that as much as 20 to 34% of the population of Bangladesh live in extreme poverty. This is a significant number of people requiring immediate and special attention, if Bangladesh is to fulfill its commitment towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which underpins its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). Focusing policy attention towards the extreme poor is important, because existing opportunities may not work very well .......
Sir Fazle has been honoured with numerous national and international awards for his achievements in leading BRAC, including the Thomas Francis, Jr. Medal in Global Public Health (2016), World Food Prize (2015), Trust Women Hero Award (2014), Spanish Order of Civil Merit (2014), Leo Tolstoy International Gold Medal (2014), CEU Open Society Prize (2013), Inaugural WISE Prize for Education (2011), Entrepreneur for the World Award (2009), David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2008), Inaugural Clinton Global Citizen Award (2007), Henry R. Kravis Prize in Leadership (2007), Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation (PKSF) Award for lifetime achievement in social development and poverty alleviation (2007), UNDP Mahbub ul Haq Award for Outstanding Contribution to Human Development (2004), Gates Award for Global Health (2004), Gleitsman Foundation International Activist Award (2003), Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneurship Award (2003), Olof Palme Prize (2001), InterAction Humanitarian Award (1998) and Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership (1980).
He is also recognised by Ashoka as one of the 'global greats' and is a founding member of its prestigious Global Academy for Social Entrepreneurship. In 2009, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) by the British Crown in recognition of his services to reducing poverty in Bangladesh and internationally. He was a member of the Group of Eminent Persons appointed by the UN Secretary-General in 2010 to advise on support for the Least Developed Countries. In 2014, he was named in Fortune Magazine’s List of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.
Sir Fazle has received many honorary degrees, including from Princeton University (2014), the University of Oxford (2009), Columbia University (2008) and Yale University (2007).
question from owner of yazmi's 3 billion millenials elearning satellite- how do we map most trusted partners in sustainable world's favorite curriculum?
RSVP isabella@unacknowledgedgiant.com washington dc mobile 240 316 8157 
editorial queries february 2015
few main concerns
1 if eg bono is leading social movement of invest 10% of gdp in agriculture to end poverty then that only makes sense to me if you map a total agricultural economy for the poor the way brac has for 44 years (ditto if branson and UN foundation partners are going to map 4th sector its economically wrong not to do that with brac as main benchmark) Search for both evidence and supporters of DBanj / Bono ONE campaign that best way to end poverty is invest 10% of GDP in agriculture-eg dbanj world bank tedx;
2 I am trying to introduce knowledge ambassador.partner role that I believe sir fazle and indeed any world leading NGO needs as opposite to just fundraising agents - this is most urgent in relation to the 4 leaders of everything to do with invest 10% in health if kim farmer soros abed
3 I wish to futurise debates around what brac mobile and women empowerment can lead: this includes bkash and elearning for brac - but also questions what is the 20 years story of advances brac has made since bangladesh became first mobile partner country of women to end poverty; also if september in new york is really to be where world empowers millennials to chnageover to sustainability goals then this year's f4d needs a lecture from sir fazle or a micro tedx!!!!
a lesser concern is to correct dates or labels on map (some are approximate guesses on bracs exponential learning curves)
a bigger concern is to identify which partners want to claim longest and most collaborative relations with brac and the sir fazle abed mindset as arguably number 1 out of Asia in millennial job creation and sustainability
also where my quiz of most valuable content channels of 3 billions millennials elearning satellite started with the 4 partnerships you know how to linkin for Africa : kenya womens financial inclusion, rwanda (west af) community health training, south africa G7 with blecher/mandela extranet, and maybe ethiopia main connector of food secure value chains amplified by pop stars - maybe the 4th of these is best mapped as wholeplanet rural economy to end poverty!
and then there are particular 2015action questions that brac needs to epicentral to the future of worldwide financial systems if BRAC knowhow is most open and cross-cultural connector of race to unite humanity around poverty is valued as most collaborative for all milennials of #2030now
October - sees the most curious youth summit on governance convened to date
Purpose of valuetrue millennials networks is to help peoples, especially youth, rediscover Scottish Economics (SE) 1748-1948.
SE's essential valuetrue question is: if a peoples have no health service, no education, no banking, not enough nutrition , insuffucient clean water and energy and sanitation and safety for their - children how do they value building those sorts of market above all esle? and then linkin other market sectors around valuetrue purposes too? We value the internet's elearning opportunities by being perpared to map and learn from anywhere and any peoples who value such intergenerational sustainability chalenges openly and transparently. Currently the simplest first map we suggest (educators and) all of the net generation looks at is BRAC in Bangladesh. Bangladesh was born the world's poorest new 100 million plus nation in 1971. Villagers were the majority of the populace and their communities had none of the essential life shaping services From 1972 BRAC's Sir Fazle Abed started linking together grassroots community solution networks.
how did villager networks around Sir Fazle build rural health service? build village education? build banking networks? build valuetrue maps of food , water and safe-for-children communities?
World Bank Group Youth Summit 2014: The Need for Open & Responsive Governments
October 7, 2014
IFC Auditorium, Washington, DC
The World Bank Group is hosting its second annual Youth Summit, in partnership with the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth. This year's event will focus on increased youth engagement in issues relating to government transparency, accountability, and collaborative governance. The event is free of charge.
The World Record Book of Job Creation -game 1 survey your social network for top 10-12 job creators. Rules choose people who can win-win with eact others networks because their deepest skills or trust networks compliment each other
In this context, here's a summary of our favorite learnings from BRAC so far - we'd love to hear yours -chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk www.valuetrue.com washington dc 301 881 1655
BRAC.tv world class lessons on job creation
Choice of schooling systems is absolutely vital to development of a new nation and ending poverty. Bangladesh is uniquely fortunate with WISE ranking BRAC number 1 job creating education system
Along with education, health and banking are systems that impact families' lives and livelihoods out of every community. The search for what can a once poorest 100+ million nation do about building affordable healthcare across generations is one that BRAC and Partners in Health that both millennials and world bankers might gain from studying first
In fast changing countries the tensions between what peoples in big cities and in rural areas most wish for their childrens future can make or break or redefine nations. The coming of the digital world seems to have picked up the speed of change everywhere. Getting crop science transparently sustainable for rural people is pivotal to any transparent race to alleviate poverty. Studying how brac has built crop science knowledge to anchors whole food value chains around sustaining villagers jobs is a most joyful application. How mobile technology empowers peoples (especially women and youth) in this regard may be the most vital leadership decision those who own satellites and mobile networks connect to 21st C humanity.
The future of food, energy and water and waste cannot be separated socially or economically anywhere that peoples are to grow peacefully or cross-culturally. Wherever economists or professions fail to value this they fail world citizens and villagers. BRAC as the world's largest NGO is as diversely conscious of this sustainability crisis as anyone and searches out partnerships towards these ends in ways that are core to how open education applications of the internet are now being determined. This may yet define which millennials' goals wholly and truly define our generation's impact on the human race
Borderless governance? If 14-35 year olds were empowered by their own digital currency, then the way millennials interfaced with china NOW may be where humanity's future history spins. Is this an innovation agenda on which elders and regulators of cashless banking and crypto-currencies have patiently sought testimonies from BRAC - on girls' views if not all youth's views
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brac on creating sustainable livelihoods for youth
100 links to BRAC -and more! special from The Economist's elearning news year 43 q1 - reports from start of last millennium goals year
in 40 years as a statistician exploring most humanly purposeful (and pro- next generation) organisations and networks in the world, BRAC gets my vote as number 1, SO help wanted
please help us update or fill in 100 links every job-creating and poverty-ending millennial might enjoy knowing exist -chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk washington dc 301 881 1655
breaking news: brac massive scale up girls education
.overall
brac dev
brac human rights
BRAC US (global fundraising)
brac at twitter
Beyond Boundaries: videos youth workers |
by value chain
banking, investments by an for those with greatest sustainability challenges:
3 urban regen banking brac bank 1 2
brac disaster relief
food:
poultry
dairy
rice
crops
safety and bottom-up professions (ending exponentialexternalisation of risk)
brac theatre
makers markets - Aarong 65000 artisans (85% women)
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.by urgent location or issue partners
Uganda- BRAC's fastest scaling partners Lab in Africa with Mastercardfoundation & ...
Gates Foundation and DFID prioritise development of Tanzania with BRAC
George Soros prioritises development of Liberia
Wolrd Bank prioritses Ultra Poor collaboration networking
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| YES SCOTLAND can be the nation worldwide youth trust most for job creating education - ever since Adam Smith picked up his pen in 1758 Scotland has been the epicentre of pro-youth job creating maps- the trouble has been that London and more recemntly the European Union - has so often prevented the rest of the world from celebrating them - afore ye go, why not scotland as a job creating leader in tye bodreless world of 21st C - correspodence welcome chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk co-publisher world record book of job creators (including games of top 10 job creation by key markets) |
Norman Macrae Foundation for Collaboration invites you to
 ... | Back in 1972, two extraordinary things happened:
The Economist's pro-youth economist started questioning everyone on the economics of sharing knowhow - stimulated by seeing how excited students were to do this in early experiments with digital networks
BRAC was born |
| share what you are best for the world at knowing how to do... rsvp chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk - our honor code - if we can understand why its good for the world we will tell you if we already know someone who is sharing how to do it and see if you want to be introduced? if its new to our maps of knowledge sharing we will add you to map or try to help in any way that we can |
BRAC provides my favoritte system to learn from. For example, the idea of microfranchises as a model that creates jobs, provides solutions to communities' most desperate problems, but leaves all or most of the value produced to stay in the community. One of BRAC's first microfranchises became nearly 100000 community volunteer health networks. They first made a living training mothers of infannts how to do oral rehydration - before the community health worked nearly 1 in 6 infants died of diarrhea.. They then added in an array of basic medicines children and mothers need most including vitamin sachets and malaria pills, They are the most economical health networker the pre-webbed world ever saw because they focused on low cost mass solutions to the most basic types of illness. In the post webbed world, I cant think of a nation rich or poor who wouldnt gain from microfrancising 21st C nurses seen not only as caring suppliers of basic helarh services but the number 1 content connector odf the 21st C.
help discover 6 most important lessons youth need to celebrate first about BRAC = youth economics world's most valuable brand
Norman Macrae Family Foundation of The Economist's Unacknowledged Ginat and partners in PlanetMooc.com
System transformation Movements started up in 1972
BRAC
Entrepreneurial Revolution dialogues hosted at The Economist searching for leaders of 2010s =worldwide youth's most productive and sustainable time
recent notes from The Economist on BRAC as number 1 value multiplying network
BRAC Foundation Structure 1
Village organisation as value multiplying hub
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Beyond illiteracy training
Paulo Friere
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Bottom-Up Professionals
Compare with Gandhi-Einstein's story
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Bottom-Up Disaster Relief
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Microbanking mainly for redesigned agricultural chains
| Adolescent clubs preparing for productive lifetimes |
Mapping Value Chains
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| Non-formal Primary schooling | Village para-health workers |
Village Microfranchising
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Village organisation as value multiplying hub
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Rural gets On-grid (mobile, solar power) BRAC helps celebrate extremely useful innovations
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Gamechanger egs - 10 times more economical trajectories
Education: MOOC, student contests, total redesign of edu age 6 to 25 round learning a living
Banking cashless: for next billion, revists who starts currency chain
Opentech everything- empowers bottom up professionals with mobile apps and by connecting when expert advice needed
Post 2015 goals- and peoples summits- education as core as credit
e-gov and hwo the peoples rule of law can help end poverty by Soros and Abed | |
Reports as avialble March 2013 from http://www.brac.net/content/partners
Partners
We rely on a vast array of partners in our mission to serve the poorest communities around the world. It is important for us to look beyond our present role of mere service providers and invest in building a broad-based coalition of rights-based development partners capable of fighting the policies that drive neo-liberal urbanism, and pressing for collective bargaining rights of the poor and marginalized. By working in partnership, we improve our efficiency and effectiveness, and increase our impact on poverty. We collaborate with government agencies and other humanitarian organizations operating on the local, national and international level, who provide us with cash and in-kind donations, expertise, shared resources and other forms of support. All of these programs reflect the strengths and determination of BRAC, its employees, partners and supporters who, working hand in hand with the citizens of Bangladesh have demonstrated the power of ideas and local action.
About Our Partners
Strategic PartnersInstitutional DonorsGovernment AlliancesCorporate AlliancesImplementation Partners
Knowledge Partners
Partnerships for BRAC International
Downloads
2011 Annual Donor Consortium Meeting Presentation [PDF-2 MB] by Executive Director
2011 BRAC Annual Reports
2010 BRAC Annual Reports
Our advice to worldwide youth linked by the goals of www.wholeplanet.tv - ieto connect the most productive, sustainable and heroic time to be alive - is:
study how what you may want to be most competent at may connect withy what BRAC led bySir Fazle Abed's family frees around the world - if you feel you don't know how to search out enough about BRAC why not look at either http://bracnet.ning.com or http:/microeducationsummit.com or if you wish I willspend 10 minutes trying to guide you round - rsvp either by skype chrismacraedc or email chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk but please note this I can only help you search out links that inform you most if you tell me what sorts of skills and actions you and the people you collaborate with most want to be productive, suatinale and heroic
4 April 2012 Dhaka, The Japanese Embassy Graciously Hosts a Remembrance Event of The Economist's Unacknowledged Giant - chief guest from the net generation''s world of education is Sir Fazle Abed. Joyful Economic revolutions Norman Macrae quest for 3 billion jobs seeks more good news on from Bangladesh at 41 include - digital cash www.bkash.com and with Sainsbury family at www.ashden.org green energy and bottom to top education revolutions
do you have a perspective of what BRAC collaborates around youth and their millennium goal futures with the million times more collaboration technology this new century is blessed with? that you would like the world to debate - sample perspectives below
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As BRAC Turns 40, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed Calls for Education Reform and Youth Development for Poor Countries
Outdated approaches to teaching must give way to modern schooling that prepares the poor for a 21st century knowledge society, says founder of the world's largest development organization
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BRAC representatives from 12 countries gather on stage at the organization's 40th anniversary celebrations in Dhaka
I am sorry to say that patriarchy remains entrenched in our social and religious practices.
Dhaka, Bangladesh (PRWEB) March 02, 2012
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of the world’s largest development organisation, BRAC, called for innovative solutions to address the needs of the burgeoning youth population in developing countries in an address delivered in February celebrating the 40th anniversary of BRAC.
As dignitaries gathered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to celebrate BRAC’s 40th birthday, Sir Fazle, who founded the organisation in 1972, announced a new youth strategy as BRAC scales up operations in 10 African, Asian and Caribbean countries. He also called for doing away with “outdated approaches to teaching” in the developing world, calling most public education systems in the developing world unsuitable for preparing students for the 21st century knowledge society.
“You will be happy to learn that BRAC is in the process of developing a comprehensive strategy to help the vibrant, innovative and entrepreneurial younger generation of today to realize their potential, and be the agents of change within their communities,” Sir Fazle said.
The chairperson, who could not attend the gathering for health reasons but delivered the address via a spokesperson for the organization, called for education reform in poor countries. “Unfortunately, public education systems in most developing countries are unfit and unsuited to prepare our youth for the 21st century knowledge society that we must aspire to,” he said.
“Outdated approaches to teaching must give way to new techniques that teach our children not to memorize texts, but to think critically and solve problems creatively. We must give greater thought, and direct greater resources towards early childhood development, and social and emotional learning.”
BRAC is the largest secular, private education provider in the world, with over 5 million students having graduated from its alternative primary schools, dubbed “second chance” schools targeting those left behind by official educational systems. Sir Fazle has been hailed as an innovator in the field of education, winning the inaugural WISE Prize for Education in Qatar, styled as a Nobel for the field of education, last year.
In his speech, BRAC’s chairperson spoke of the “remarkable” progress of the organisation’s home country, Bangladesh, “in almost every major indicator of human development” over the last 40 years. “Today, the progress we have made is the envy of most of the developing nations in South Asia and beyond,” he said.
Infant mortality, for instance, has dropped from 200 per 1,000 live births to less than 50, and maternal mortality from 800 deaths per 100,000 live births to less than 200. Fertility rates have fallen dramatically as well: The average Bangladeshi mother now has just 2.7 children as opposed to 6.5 in 1972. Literacy rates have risen from 25 percent to over 65 percent.
“While it is true that no single organization can take credit for this amazing turnaround, we at BRAC can nevertheless take great pride in the role that we have played in support of governmental efforts to bringing about these successes,” says Sir Fazle. “From immunizing children to popularizing the use of oral rehydration therapy, from providing essential healthcare through a cadre of barefoot health volunteers to providing safe places for mothers to give birth, from curing tuberculosis to improving sanitation, BRAC’s work in public health has contributed to each of our country’s achievements in the health sector.”
Sir Fazle, who turns 76 this year, called on BRAC to remain a “trailblazing organization” as the leadership baton passes to a younger generation. “In these twilight years of my life, I feel a sense of comfort and satisfaction in knowing that we have an able and competent leadership team at BRAC,” he said. “I am confident that this team will ensure BRAC achieves even greater success and impact when I call time on providing leadership to this organization that I have built.”
A champion of girls’ education and the empowerment of women, Sir Fazle lamented the relative lack of progress in those areas. “Gender equality remains the greatest unfinished agenda not only of my life’s work but of our time. Although we have worked for the last 40 years to try to ensure that all citizens can live with dignity and respect and enjoy equal rights as human beings, I am sorry to say that patriarchy remains entrenched in our social and religious practices.”
The Hasan Family also spelled Hassan, is an esteemed Bangladeshi family, who have contributed exceptionally to South Asian politics and various social movements for nearly four-hundred years. The seat of this Zamindar family is located in Baniachang, Sylhet near the town of Habiganj. The family is one of the remaining remnants of the nobility of the Mughal Courtto exist in Bangladesh, with their ancient home still intact.According to legend, the family is of Arab and Persian descent, supposedly from the lineage of Abu Bakr, the first Sunni Caliph and father-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. The first known Hasan was sent to Bengal by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
Obaid Ul Hasan: Grand Vizier to the Nizam of Hyderabad
Syedul Hasan: Communist activist, killed by Pakistani soldiers for protecting Hindu families during Bangladesh's War of Liberation
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed: Founder and Chairman of BRAC, the world's largest NGO
Barrister Manzoor Hasan: Celebrated lawyer and activist. Awarded Order of the British Empire for his role in combatting corruption in Bangladesh
Meheriar Munim Hasan: Executive Vice President of US Bank Corporation. Highest ranked Bangladeshi bank executive in the Western Hemisphere.
Nahid Hasan: Director of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. Celebrated businesswoman of Bangladesh.
Tamara Abed: Head of Aarong, a retail enterprise
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By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent
There isn't a Nobel Prize for education. But this month has seen the launch of an award that would like to have such a similar international status.
The inaugural World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Prize was announced in Doha, Qatar, with the $500,000 (£310,000) award being given to Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, whose work has brought education to millions of children in impoverished families.
Sir Fazle, the first education "laureate", has worked across decades and continents to help communities to escape the quicksand of poverty and to gain skills and self-reliance.
Created in Bangladesh in 1972, his BRAC project - formerly the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee - is now claimed as the biggest non-governmental organisation in the world.
An estimated 10 million primary pupils have been taught in schools set up by Brac across 10 countries, in such tough territories as South Sudan and Afghanistan.
It's a vast operation, running more schools in Bangladesh than the entire English school system, and it is claimed to be the "largest private, secular education system in the world".
Equal chances
Working with the poorest, most disadvantaged rural communities, often blighted with conflict, exploitation and disease, this is the raw edge of education, with one-room classrooms and basic skills.
 First day at school in a BRAC project in Manderia village in Torid, South Sudan
But speaking after the award, Sir Fazle says that the greatest challenge for global education applies as much to the more affluent countries as to the poorest. And that big problem, he says, is inequity, the stubborn link between family income and educational outcome.
"A child born in a poor household has less chance of going to university than a child born in a wealthy household, in almost every society.
"So how do we remove this inequity? Every child should have the same opportunity."
BRAC works to alleviate poverty on a broad range of fronts - from micro-credit to health schemes - but he says that education is becoming ever more important.
"It's so important for our survival, our progress, that every country wants to put more resources into education."
This isn't simply about economic progress, as he links education and literacy to the building of self-worth and self-help for individuals and communities. It provides the key to understanding "the power structure and how to change it".
Life changing
His own commitment to development stemmed from the life-changing experience of the cyclone that hit Bangladesh in 1970. It turned an accountant into an activist.
 Sir Fazle Hasan Abed was awarded the inaugural WISE Prize for international education
"Many people died, and I saw the loss of many people, the corpses lying in the fields. That changed my philosophy, I found that life was so fragile, you could die so easily. That changed my values about what kind of life I should lead," he says.
This was compounded by the "death and destruction" he saw during the war that accompanied Bangladesh's independence.
Such experiences profoundly affected him and pushed him to view his country "from the point of view of the poor". It made him "determined to achieve change", he says.
The award of the first WISE Prize was part of a wider event, the World Innovation Summit for Education.
This WISE summit wants to be a kind of Davos for education, bringing together the great and the good to hear about innovation in schools and universities.
It's supported by the Qatar Foundation, which has the succinct ambition to "convert the country's current, but temporary, mineral wealth into durable human capital". This translates as investing heavily in education and becoming a knowledge hub so that there's something of value left when the oil revenue eventually runs out.
It's a fast-forward project with parallels to creating the infrastructure for the World Cup. There is a 1,000 hectare Education City being developed, attracting university partners from the United States, France and the UK.
Missed goals
But big international promises, played out under the photographs and rhetoric of summits, can also turn out to be hollow.
 Gordon Brown issued a call for a "global education fund" at the summit in Qatar
Gordon Brown, former UK prime minister and one of the speakers at the WISE event, delivered a blunt recognition that some of the Millennium Development Goals for 2015 were going to be missed.
"We know it is now impossible, I'm afraid, to achieve the Millennium Development Goal that would cut infant mortality by half - we are too far away."
There were other goals, signed by leading countries, that were going to be missed, he said.
But he called on governments, charities and philanthropists to mobilise to achieve the goal of universal primary education by 2015 - and proposed a "global fund for education".
Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales was among the WISE speakers and Mr Brown called on technology companies, such as Microsoft, Apple, Google and Facebook to play a part in bringing education to the "poorest part of the poorest country".
"We can reinforce in people's minds that when the world makes a promise, it is not a promise that is casually set aside and betrayed for millions of children of future generations, but a promise that we do everything in our power to keep," Mr Brown told the audience in Qatar.
He said that governments had to be held to their funding promises - and "where countries fall behind, we should be telling them that this is not acceptable".
There's a long way to go as one sobering statistic from BRAC makes clear. In 2011, when international conferences in the Gulf can be broadbanded round the world in seconds, it's still more likely that a girl in South Sudan will die in childbirth than finish primary school.
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Tune in to ABC Friday, Dec. 16, at 10 pm (EST) for a "20/20" special with Diane Sawyer featuring BRAC – and Rina, a new mother who lives in a slum in Bangladesh.
Bearing a child should be the happiest day of a woman life – but too often, for reasons that are entirely preventable, it ends in the death of the mother, the child, or both. BRAC has figured out a low-cost yet ingenious solution for reducing pregnancy risk, reaching 24.5 million people in the process. That's the population of the state of Texas.
In “Making Life: A Risky Proposition,” an hour-long report on challenges faced by mothers in developing countries, ABC News travels to the slums of Dhaka, seeing our work in action – including a visit to a BRAC birthing hut to welcome the new arrival of Rina's healthy baby boy. The report is part of ABC News's Million Moms Challenge.
Show your support today by "liking" the Million Moms Challenge on Facebook. If they reach 100,000 likes by noon today, Johnson & Johnson will donate $100,000 to the cause – so please like and share with your Facebook friends! We’re making a real difference, and we believe we can multiply our efforts by spreading the BRAC approach worldwide. So tune into ABC on Friday and help us spread the good news!
For those who want to sustain future generations, friends in DC, I (+93 congressmen) would recommend an adventure learning tour to 3 destinations. Fortunately, two of these are within walking distance of each other (Third is a hemisphere away in Africa, but they know each other well and thanks to death of distance are microeconomics map around your entrepreneurial and open source world as the most productive and collaborative triad ). For the sake of transparency, YES I feel I have some friends in one of these places, but this is a web about the place I haven't yet visited. Ian Smilie's new book starts its guided tour like this . Chris Macrae DC Bureau of microcredit.tv 301 881 1655, chris.macrae AT yahoo.co.uk
suggestions for editing bracase welcome - chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk
This is a friends web -official webs of BRAC are http://www.brac.net/ http://www.bracuniversity.net/ http://www.bracbank.com/ http://www.bracusa.org/ http://www.youtube.com/user/bracusa1
I have spent 30 years surveying how purposefully organisations sustain their workers missions. BRAC and Grameen are off the scale compared with any large organisation I have researched - and I have surveyed more that half of the world's most famous global 100 brands.
Muhammad Yunus & Grameen Bank
 | Fazle Hasan Abed
Founder and Chairperson, BRAC
Fazle Hasan Abed is the Founder and Chairperson of BRAC, one of the largest non-governmental organizations in the world with over 100,000 staff members and an annual budget of $430 million. BRAC’s micro-finance program has 6.37 million borrowers and has cumulatively disbursed more than $4 billion. More than a million children are enrolled in BRAC schools and more than 3.67 million have graduated. BRAC’s health program reaches more than 100 million people. BRAC has, in recent years, taken its range of development interventions to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and Southern Sudan. Abed has been recognized through a number of awards, including UNICEF’s Maurice Pate Award, the Olof Palme Prize, Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneurship Award, the Gates Award for Global Health, UNDP’s Mahbub-ul-Haq Award, and the Henry R. Kravis Prize in Leadership. |
If anyone has ideas how we can do something similar for BRAC, I'd love to hear of them
The Worldwide Importance of BRAC & GRAMEEN
| .The entrepreneurial leaders and co-wrkers of BRAC and Grameen have demonstrated that poverty is not the fault of people , women and children but a failed system. It is inhuman for a child to be born into a place where it has 20% chance of dying before the age of 5 due to villages not having local nurses. BRAC's first solution in the 1970s was oral rehydration - a service that village nurses needed to provide when babies had diarrhea. Its inhuman for children to have no access to primary education - BRAC's second main service requiring a teacher in every rural area. Grameen completed this hi-trust local triangle by providing a banker in every community empowering women with credit and peer to peer support to start small entrepreneurial businesses | Until the internet's technology, the world's people and their productive lifetimes had been more separated by the geography of where they lived than interconnected. My father, one of the West's leading microeconomists clarified in 1984 how one generation (1984-2024) would become worldwide connected for the first time. This is the greatest system change ever to hit one generation of the human race. System change can always spiral one of two extremely opposite compound consequences not something in between. It was clear in 1984 that if the 21st Century is to be the best of times for all peoples on this planet then we must share life-critical knowhow in non-zero sum ways, end poverty by bridging digital divides. The millennial goals provide a pretty clear map of what ending extreme poverty simultaneously around the world entails | .In July 07 within weeks of becoming UK Prime Minster Gordon Brown give a very clear storyline "people power" of what our institutions have not yet started to transform towards if millennial goals are to be met and local communities are to have an equitable opportunity of being integrated into globalisation. He updated this a little over a year later at Clinton Global Initiative - at a time where fellow keynote speakers -Obama and Mccain - both deplored the excesses of global top-down systems such as wall Street's failed banks - and pledged they would commit America to returning to millennial goals. Ironically, there's a lot every nation can learn from ensuring that communities have banks investing in local people's ability to generate jobs. We are at a stage in human history where the kinds of jobs of the future are changing just as fast as when the industrial revolution emerged. But this time it is pure manufacturing jobs that are disappearing. Brown was correct in visioning an age where government should not promise anyone that their old jobs are safe but should be promising people structures in which everyone has access to developing new jobs. In the midst of this families and children in any civilized place need the same rights that BRAC and Grameen have pioneered :n channeling local medical support, local teachers, local bankers, connection to the worldwide, collaboration spaces in which people peer to peer learn vocational skills. | .
In this tv interview, Clinton explains how the micro sustainability investment networks that have emerged in Bangladesh primarily because of the leadership examples and micro-entrepreneurial facilitation structured designed by Grameen and BRAC provide a benchmark for developing nations in our internetworked local to global economy. They have transparently distributed what top-down government and mass media could not equitably empower. For 30 years now, Grameen and BRAC have modeled themselves round social busienss constitutions. These are the opposite how the traditional charity dollar is spent and then needs to fundraise all over again. The social busienss dollar endlessly recycles its investment in an organization’s service purpose. It does this by insisting people entrepreneurially attend to a positive cashflow but reinvest that back inside the community. The safest way to ensure that owners have no conflict with such continuous reinvestment in development is to constitute the organization as owned by the poorest in the community. While Grameen's origin has been to focus on areas where people could serve each other whilst generating income, the origin of BRAC was, in effect, micro-privatization - doing a better job for the poorest communities with public funds than a bureaucratic or corrupt government. BRAC's Fazel Abed has probably innovated more reliable service franchises around vital needs than anyone alive today. Whereas Grameen's leadership team around Muhammad Yunus has serially introduced the most extraordinary entrepreneurial revolutions. Each of microcredit , micromobile and micro-energy involved planting a long-term investment exponential but one that literally took rural economies to a higher future level - a pathway not just to ending poverty but leaping sufficiently far ahead that even cyclical natural disasters would not push the next generation back under the poverty line
There is an opportunity for egovernment to make this openness and representation of cultures that unite round the golden rule of all major religions. Do unto others what you would wish done unto you. | .
Today national strategic dialogues co-chaired by leaders like Abed and Yunus make fascinating reading. In effect, Bangladesh has become the country par excellence in developing sustainable community franchises that end poverty and its boundary environmental challenges. It is evident that its fast growing neighbours India and China will need these services just as much as Bangladesh. The world in effect is finding that Bangladesh is the number 1 exporter of solutions that accelerate accomplishment of millennial goals everywhere as well as developing the sorts of entrepreneurial and job-creating education that all future children need. Educators have spotted that the schooling system the west built has its design origins in western empire's ancient industrial needs, when it was assumed that a few per cent would be promoted to a command and control top, and schools would sift out the vast majority as not talented enough to have their competences invested in. This is the ultimate challenge that the whole world needs change if we are to honor every child's potential from the day she or he is born. If we fully understand the benchmarks that BRAC and Grameen offer us by partnering grassroots networks such as theirs in Future Capitalism, then today's adult generation may yet hand on the best of times to all our future chldrens. Ultimately children are the deepest sustainability investment and a very micro one. Not the sort of flow that macro institutions like Wall Street banks ever got close to appreciating. We need new economic maps. Ones that worldwide networkers can collaboratively search out if mass media puts on reality program in which youth the world over wants to be "The Apprentice" of community entrepreneurs like Abed and Yunus and the 100000 Bangladeshi's+ they have inspired to be community facilitators of microentrepreneurship.
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Monday, September 29, 2014
reports from start of last millennium goals year
| valuetrue.com curricula for the world record book of job creation |
| brac.tv: people i wish i had introduced the poor world's greatest jobs creator to |
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Diary UN start of the year 2014-=2015 new york -file note for http://brac.tv verison 1
I was privilleged to attend 5 meetings in 48 hours before getting an early train to listen to the curriculum of rice at usaid shared by the phillipines open learning network IRRI
http://valuetrue.com/id32.html and brac.tv Last week I attended NY gala luncheon convened to celebrate sir fazle abed - unfortunately I was on other side of room during the 90 minutes we shared bread- these are my shortlist of people I met over 48 hours in NY that I really wished I had a quick chance to introduce to sir fazle abed
-but first It was a pleasure to see that sir fazle abed has redoubled his commitments to girls-job designed education (more at openlearningcampus.com and womenuni.com )
ps this startup year 2014-2015 was particulatly important as it also coincides with the last student year before millennium goals are hopefully given back to girls as per this sir fazle abed inspired script http://www.dhakatribune.com/op-ed/2014/sep/10/learning-beyond-2015 -realistically its also the last student year that universities across america will have a chance to converge on the CNN turner invitation atlanta nov 2015 http://youthcreativelab.blogspot.com -what do millennials now know to linkin to UN after the billion dollar empowerment giving from the turner family
from www.fashion4development.com summit
sarah butler sloss (ne sainsbury) green microenergy awards networks http://ashden.org with royal co-sponsor prince charles
a female executive of the state department ( name private until project wwwww is started )
wife of ambassador to philippines in new york
co-creator of the green carpet at perfume company Chopard (hq in geneva)
dr michel sidibe of unaids in geneva
franca sozzani of vogue italy who could have more impact if she teamed up with rome links noted below
from UN Global leadership women
the toure family (father mother daughter) of ITU geneva and linking first ladies of africa (including their home base oe mali) to Zero mothers die - one of the most urgent reasons I can thinks of valuing free nursing colleges everywhere
the redoubtable eva wan of Bawang international-one of china's strongest business ladies and now "giving" to girls education in africa
from the dt seminar sponsored by grameen intel, ifad and usaid
Kazi Huque (and intel team) whose nurtured about 25 wizard bangladeshi technologists to work on converting big data to mobile agri apps for poorest farmers
IFAD leaders rome who could do so much more reaching out to millennials' youth if they partnered club of rome and its youth social action networks of the nobel peace laureates summit
the usaid speaker who promised to connect leaders of curriculum of rice (wednesday dc usaid)
from our quieter dinner party and collaboration cafe
ladies changing the jewelry value chain and john of soundtrackny.com
ethiopian and usafrica disapora supporters of the elearning satelllite http://www.yazmi.com, and dispora's taking responsibility to end costly middlemen from 20 selected food markets
who do you most wish you had introduced sir fazle abed to and where are they located in case diaries ever snap! chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk washingtin dc 301 881 1655 valuetrue.com
more of what happened in new york
http://brac.tv and
https://www.google.com/search?q=fazle+abed&source=lnms&tbm=nws&sa=X&ei=kY8pVNmhDOq1sQTcrIKQBA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAw&biw=1202&bih=658
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2014 world record top10 job creator jim kim's world bank takes collaboration lead : launching OLC (with coursera) august 2014, 2nd annual youth summit october 7 2014, first annual UN-partnered millennials competition spring 2015 |
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in East BRAC starts greatest bottom-up lab for OLC -Bangladesh becomes doubly famous for this when Muhammad Yunus starts linkng in 4 years later- latest updates celebration's MOOC Yunus; yunus invites atlanta to turn youth peace laureate summits into twin capitak events with most value to host than olympics or world cup | ..
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1989 Berners Lee launches the web- soon mit media lab in boston becomes most resourced open source tech wizards innovation lab;early 1990s Samara launches Africa's and Asia first freedom of peoples info satellites-sonn Kenya's IHUB backed by ushahidi becomes the worldwide youth's most exciting open source tehnology wizard's networking space
- 2014 update Yazmi.comled by DC-Ethiopia diaspora networks
Late 1990s S.Africa's free university launched- 2014 update Blecher parners now shoot for 1 million additional job creation across whole 14 million youth african schooing system by 2020- ihub partners all over africa (and indeed in any capital with future) invited to linkin
Late 200s Khan Academy invesnts the most valuable reporting format of all -maximum 9-minute audio blackoards-0 game is on- which audio-blackboards are so valued by youth to peer to peer learn with that their viral actin networking makes trending on twitter look like a sideshow
puzzle 1 : Back in 1962 The Economust celebrate the win-win peace economics model of japan and projects milennail population statistics will require Asian Pacific milllenials to be responsible for more than half of the planet's open and sustainbility investments 1975- 2025- who;s connecting this? jack ma? Yao Ming with Brookings Inside Out China and Unseen Wealth teams? rsvp chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk washington dc hotline 301 881 1655
How did bottom-up NGO BRAC become the world's largest most collaborative network for partnering in millennials sustainability? While it is known globally and locally for sharing extreme innovations in community banking, its foundations were first built on 3 subnetworks:
bottom-up disaster relief
massive scaling of microfranchisie solutions to life critical challenges
what the WISE laureates value as number 1 job-creating education network in the world (parallel nominees by context of freedom of entrepreneurial skills)
2013 was a year in which professors might have found out what a huge gap ...
Who's mapping the most valuable collaboration youth networks in the world -here's why 42 years of entrepreneurial revolution surveys lead us to value orbiting around families of Abed and Soros and Turner- whose collaboration with youth's futures do you value most?
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- what would a million youth most wish to see in a 6 weeks mooc guided tour to www.brac.net -if you can help our research please email chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk washington dc 1 301 881 1655
valuetrue search for most human value of internet |
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1:34 pm edt
Thursday, September 25, 2014
brac commits to massive scale up girls education
Global anti-poverty leader pledges to invest at least $280 million to reach 2.7 million additional girls and train 75,000 teachers by 2019.
(PRWEB) September 24, 2014
BRAC, already a global leader in providing opportunity for the world’s poor, has boosted its commitment to girls’ education in low-income countries with a five-year pledge to reach 2.7 million additional girls through primary and pre-primary schools, teacher training, adolescent empowerment programs, scholarships and other programs.
These commitments make BRAC a leading partner in CHARGE, the Collaborative for Harnessing Ambition and Resources for Girls Education, a global collaborative of more than 30 partners working to advance the “second generation” of global girls’ education. The initiative was announced today by Hillary Rodham Clinton, former US secretary of state; Chelsea Clinton, Clinton Foundation vice-chair; and Julia Gillard, former prime minister of Australia, at the 10th Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York.
"We have always used an approach to development that puts power in the hands of the poor themselves, especially women and girls," says Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder and chairperson of BRAC, who joined other leaders at Clinton Global Initiative today to launch the initiative. "Educated girls turn into empowered women, and as we have seen in my native Bangladesh and elsewhere, the empowerment of women leads to massive improvements in quality of life for everyone, especially the poor."
BRAC is already the world's largest private, secular education provider, with 1.3 million boys and girls now enrolled in 43,500 primary and pre-primary schools and 311,000 participants in its adolescent development programs. Formerly Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, BRAC is now active in a dozen countries, serving the poor through the empowerment of women and girls with tools such as microfinance, education, healthcare and a full-fledged university, BRAC University in Dhaka.
This commitment significantly expands BRAC's existing education programs by reaching an additional 1.3 million girls directly in BRAC schools, roughly 636,000 additional girls through teacher training in government schools, and 714,000 more through various other programs, including adolescent empowerment, gender harassment awareness, mentorship programs, and scholarships.
BRAC estimates the investments needed to fulfill these commitments will be more than $280 million, over half of which has already been raised from partnerships with AusAid, UK Aid and The MasterCard Foundation.
Specifically, BRAC commits to the following areas:
1. Getting girls into school: Since its inception in 1985, more than 10 million students have graduated from BRAC's primary and pre-primary schools, which target children who would otherwise be left behind by formal education systems due to poverty, displacement or discrimination. BRAC recognizes the unique role girls play in bringing health and prosperity to their communities, and the majority of its students are girls.
BRAC plans to expand its school programs to offer education to about 1.3 million girls in marginalized communities across seven countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan Tanzania, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Uganda.
BRAC recognizes that entering primary school is not enough. It further commits to providing 11,500 scholarships in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Uganda to ensure that girls have the support they need to stay in school at least through secondary education.
2. Ensuring school safety: BRAC’s approach to schooling relies heavily on community support. In all areas – including Pakistan and Afghanistan, where going to school is often dangerous for girls – BRAC works closely with members of the wider community to emphasize the importance of girls’ education. BRAC deepens community support through various local bodies and mechanisms, including school management committees, parent-teacher associations, and gender awareness to ensure that BRAC schools remain safe spaces for learning. As part of this commitment, BRAC pledges to expand existing programs in Bangladesh to improve school safety by raising awareness on gender harassment for 240,000 girls
3. Improving quality of learning: BRAC recognizes that enrollment numbers do not describe the true depth of the problem of quality in the world’s education systems. Schools in poor countries tend to favor rote memorization over true learning, doing little to impart the life and work skills needed to prepare our youth for the 21st century knowledge society. Of around 650 million primary school age children in the world today, an estimated 250 million have not learned to read or count, regardless of whether they have gone to school. Children need classrooms, teachers, suitable technology, and an enabling environment that will encourage them to think for themselves. These elements will develop the problem-solving skills, critical thinking ability, and enterprising mindsets that are some of the greatest assets for navigating one’s way out of poverty.
BRAC seeks to improve the quality of education for girls in seven countries by training 75,000 teachers in child-centric education methods. These teachers, in addition to reaching girls in BRAC’s own pre-primary and primary schools, also includes government school teachers who will reach an additional 636,000 girls in state-run primary and secondary schools.
4. Helping transition to the world of work: BRAC recognizes that the economic empowerment of women has led to enormous gains for poorer countries, and that preparing women for the workforce needs to begin at an early age. BRAC’s Empowerment and Livelihoods for Adolescents (ELA) program aims to do this by providing adolescents girls with safe spaces, peer mentorship, life skills, health awareness (particularly reproductive health), vocational and leadership skills, and access to finance through microloans. ELA is the fastest growing program in BRAC’s operations outside of Bangladesh, with more than 70,000 girls now participating in Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Sierra Leone and Liberia. They join more than 168,000 girls in similar clubs in Bangladesh, where a number of other trade-specific training programs have also led to girls breaking the gender barrier in traditionally male-dominated fields like driving and motorcycle repair.
BRAC plans to deepen and expand its adolescent girls empowerment programs in Bangladesh, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Sierra Leone and Liberia, reaching about 400,000 additional girls with robust and relevant livelihood training to ensure sustainable economic independence.
5. Supporting developing country leaders in girls’ education: BRAC is committed to providing thought leadership, advocacy and advisory services to advance successful girls’ education approaches and models around the world. BRAC plans to invest $6 million in the Institute for Educational Development at BRAC University in Dhaka to become a global learning hub for innovation, research, training, advocacy and assessment on approaches to quality education in the developing world. It commits to training 52,000 mentors in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Sierra Leone to give them the leadership skills they need to support vulnerable girls in school, and to develop a local learning network in Uganda to share best practices in girls' education.
With a track record of implementation at scale with continuous impact evaluation, BRAC can serve as a source of evidence and learning to improve program effectiveness. It therefore commits to developing programs of technical assistance for other NGOs, development agencies, and governments. It will develop partnerships and a learning community for stronger global advocacy with the hope of furthering the movement for girls' education and empowerment across the world.
ABOUT BRAC
BRAC, a development organization founded in Bangladesh in 1972, is a global leader in creating opportunities at scale as a means to end poverty. With more than 120,000 employees, it is the world's largest non-governmental organization, touching the lives of an estimated 135 million people in 12 countries using a wide array of antipoverty tools such as microfinance, education, healthcare, legal rights training and more. BRAC University in Dhaka is a hub of higher learning with more than 6,000 students enrolled. Learn more at BRAC.net.
ABOUT BRAC USA
BRAC USA is an independent, US-based grantmaking affiliate of BRAC formed in 2006 to advance and support BRAC's global mission to create opportunities to unleash human potential and end poverty. Learn more at BRACUSA.org.
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chris macrae bethesda 301 881 1655
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Coalition of fan webs of next billion girls jobs-led education include
2:29 pm edt
Saturday, March 2, 2013
EDUCATIONAL OSCARS - FIRST WISE PRIZE WINNER http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8927135.htmAbed is the first recipient of the prize, conceived in 2010 as a Nobel for the field of education. The world’s largest prize of its kind, the jury for the award consisted of five eminent persons in the field of education: James Billington, the U.S. Librarian of Congress; Jeffrey Sachs, director of The Earth Institute and Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development at Columbia University; Fatma Rafiq Zakaria, chair of India’s Maulana Azad Educational Trust; H.E. Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology for South Africa, and Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, the WISE chair.
In debates and panel discussions at the Doha conference, which runs from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3, BRAC officials are promoting the nonprofit’s high-tech, low-touch approach to educating the world’s poor. BRAC delivers a message of cost-efficiency and scalability to a summit of over 1,000 thought leaders running from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 in Doha.
“In these difficult financial times, as more and more people rise up to speak for the ‘99%,’ occupying streets across various cities of the world, the issue of inequity has been thrown into the forefront of world politics,” says Abed. “How do we begin to address this? We start with education – because education is the great equalizer.”
Already educating millions, BRAC is in the midst of an international expansion effort that sees it perfecting and scaling up its innovative low-cost education approach with help from private sector partners. BRAC is scaling up massively in Uganda thanks to a $45 million commitment from The MasterCard Foundation, for instance. Numerous public sector agencies such as the UK’s Department for International Development and the Australian Government Overseas Aid Program have also partnered with BRAC on education initiatives.
Soon celebrating 40 years of operations in Bangladesh, the Dhaka-based organization emphasizes large-scale solutions. According to BRAC officials, the wisest investments are often as simple as renting a schoolhouse instead of building new ones.
After just five years in Uganda, BRAC and The MasterCard Foundation already reach over 2 million people and are on schedule to reach 4.2 million people, or over 12 percent of the population, by 2016. BRAC has exceeded commitments made in 2007 to educate youth in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia, having committed to mobilizing $271 million for education at the Clinton Global Initiative conference in 2007, with a goal of reaching 7.5 million children by 2012. BRAC has already raised more than $288 million to reach 5.6 million children.
“Innate talent is distributed equally around the world at birth, knowing no bounds of geography or class,” says Susan Davis, president and CEO of BRAC USA. “Opportunity is not. We need to redress that imbalance if this world of 7 billion is to prosper as a whole.”
In addition to traditional learning, BRAC seeks to “educate the whole child” with life skills training as part of a comprehensive antipoverty strategy designed to create ladders of opportunity for the poor. For instance, it is embedding social and emotional learning into its curriculum, teaching self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. This approach is especially important in conflict and post-conflict environments like Afghanistan and South Sudan.
BRAC also partners with private entities to promote connectivity among the poor when it is cost-effective to do, using mobiles phones, smart phones, desktop and laptops. The organization is currently in partnership talks with Pearson PLC, a leading global media and education company, to assist in Pakistan and elsewhere.
Friday, March 1, 2013
BRAC is celebrating impact of mobile and solar age of racing to end poverty like no other network - links welcome here.
Examples of mails being sent to highly connected youth entrepreneur competition leaders aimed at seeing if part of week 5 of brac mooc can extend collaboration to youth with most passionate ideas of solutions relevent to millenium goal acceleration
Typical mail being sent from MIT Collaboration Cafe Festival 7 March 2013 Last Sunday had an exciting meeting in Dhaka with sir fazle abed , BRAC's FOUNDER
Our idea is to design a massive open online curriculum as a 6 week guided tour to brac the world's most collaborative ngo- by about week 5 students will be asked to reference extraordinary youth competition entries that it would be most relevant for sir fazle and brac to support
So that the first draft of the curriculum is completed by end of june, I aim to arrange monthly meetings with sir fazle. I believe every way that MIT youth (including open tech wizards) and sir fazle can help each other is urgently needed. For example the quadir brothers, one of whom runs MIT Legatum, is helping BRAC design cashess banking to reach the next billion
Does this sound like your sort of adventure?
all the best
chris macrae washington dc 301 881 1655 skype chrismacraedc
www.brac.tv
rsvp chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk if you have an idea of a youth project that brac most needs to know about - egs
1 open infrared
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Dimensions of BRAC Partnering
BRAC International
Last updated 23 November, 2011
UMCOR
Partnership for:
Shelter Project in BRAC Haiti. Project duration is May 2011 - Jan 2012.
Agriculture based Livelihood intervention. Project duration is Mar 2011 - Mar 2012.
Fonkoze
For the Housing Project in BRAC Haiti. Project duration is June 2010 - Nov 2011.
DIGICEL Foundation
For the Youth Enterprise School (YES) in BRAC Haiti. Project duration is Mar 2011 - Feb 2012.
FOSI
BRAC Pakistan, BRAC Liberia, BRAC Sierra LeoneFor the Health, Agriculture, Poultry & Livestock, Research & Evaluation, and Training Programmes in BRAC Liberia and Sierra Leone . Project duration is Oct 2008 - Dec 2011.Also for Flood rehabilitation project in Pakistan.
Omidyar Network
BRAC Sierra Leone, BRAC LiberiaFor the Health, Agriculture, Poultry & Livestock, Research & Evaluation, and Training Programmes in BRAC Liberia and Sierra Leone . Project duration is Oct 2008 - Dec 2011.
Humanity United
BRAC Sierra Leone, BRAC LiberiaFor the Health, Agriculture, Poultry & Livestock, Research & Evaluation, and Training Programmes in BRAC Liberia and Sierra Leone . Project duration is Oct 2008 - Dec 2011.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
UNCDF
BRAC Sierra LeoneFor the Microfinance Programme in BRAC Sierra Leone. Project duration is Oct 2009 - Dec 2013.
BRAC LiberiaFor the Microfinance Programme in BRAC Liberia. Project duration is Oct 2009 - Dec 2013.
AGRA
BRAC Liberia
For the Agriculture Programme in BRAC Liberia. Project duration is June 2011 - May 2013.
BRAC Sierra Leone
For Agriculture Programme. Project duration is June 2011 - May 2013.
GAVI
BRAC Afghanistan
GAVI is a partner for the Mobile Health Teams for Badghis project (duration is Sep 2008 - Dec 2011) and Nimroz project (duration is Sep 2008 - Dec 2011)
World Bank/MOPH
BRAC Afghanistan
The partnership is for SHARP Nimroz health project. The project duration is Oct 2009 - Mar 2013. The committed fund is USD 2,315,402.BRAC South Sudan
For ELA programme. Project duration is May 2010 - Jan 2012.
USAID
BRAC AfghanistanThis is for agriculture programme. The project duration is Nov 2009 - Nov 2011. The committed fund is USD 4,445,291.
Italian Corporation
BRAC Internaitonal
This partnership is for agriculture programme. The project duration is Nov 2011 - Oct 2013. The committed fund is USD 500,000
United Way Worldwide
BRAC Tanzania - Microfinance
BRAC Microfinance, started its operation on the mid of 2006 in Tanzania and currently working in 112 branches with more than 118,000 borrowers. United Way Worldwide has been helping BRAC Tanzania as one of our promising partners for Poverty Alleviation through Micro Finance.
The overall objective of this partnership is to increase access to financial Services for the majority of poor in Masama Branch and Machame Branch in Kilimanjaro region with a particular emphasis on women who have been left out by the mainstream financial system. The program is designed with a focus on poverty reduction through credit facilities for employment and income generation for the poor in Masama and Machame. A minimum of 2000 women entrepreneurs in Masama and Machame will be served with small loans within 1 year.
UNICEF
BRAC Tanzania - ELA
The Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescents (ELA) programme started in Tanzania in August, 2008 with the financial support of BRAC USA. In April 2011, the programme expanded with the financial and technical support of UNICEF.
UNICEF & BRAC Tanzania share a commitment to the principles set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The Convention on the right of the child and The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. BRAC Tanzania implement this through ELA (Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescents) Program on prevention of HIV infection, unwanted pregnancy and Sexual Violence.
The UNICEF-funded program is running in the Temeke district and both urban and rural dstricts in the Mbeya region, with 80 clubs and 3,005 female members.BRAC Uganda
For the Karamoja project. Project duration is from Nov 2010 - Dec 2014.
Oxfam Novib
BRAC Afghanistan
Partnership is for:
CBHP - Parwan and Nangarhar. The project duration is from Nov 2008 - Oct 2011
Wash Samangan project. Project duration is from Aug 2011 - Feb 2011
Disaster Risk Reduction Project. Project duration is from Sep 2010 - Aug 2011BRAC South SudanFor Agriculture Programme. Project duration is Apr 2010 - Mar 2012.
Global Fund
BRAC Afghanistan
Partnership is for:
GFATM R8 TB project. The project duration is from Oct 2009 - Sep 2014.
GFATM R8 Malaria (PR) project. Project duration is from Feb 2010 - Jan 2015.
GFATM R8 Malaria (SR) project. Project duration is from June 2010 - Jan 2015.
USAID
BRAC Afghanistan
This is for the TB Care 1 project. Project duration is from Feb 2009 - June 2011.
UNICEF
BRAC Afghanistan
Partnership for:
IMCHN - Kabul project. Project duration is from July 2010 - Oct 2011.
Health NID -Helmand project. Project duration is from Nov 2009 - Mar 2011.
MNCH Badghis project. Project duration is from Oct 2010 - Sep 2011.
MNCH - Helmand & Nimroz health project. Project Duration is from July 2011 - July 2012.
Behavioural Change & Communication project. Project duration is from Aug 2010 - July 2011.
WHO
BRAC Afghanistan
Partnership for the Health NID -Helmand project. Project duration is from Nov 2009 - Mar 2011.
AECID
BRAC Afghanistan
Partnership for the Nursing Training School project. Project duration is from Oct 2009 - Sep 2012.
WFP
BRAC Afghanistan
Partnership for:
Supplementary Feeding Programme. Project duration is from Feb 2010 - Mar 2011.
Food for TB Patients - Kabul project. Project duration is from Apr 2010 - Dec 2011.
Food for TB Patients - Parwan project. Project duration is from Apr 2010 - Dec 2011.
French Embassy
BRAC Afghanistan
Partnership is for the Surobi DH Support Project - Kabul. Project duration is from Sep 2010 - Apr 2011
CIDA
BRAC Afghanistan
Partnership is for the Girls Education Programme. Project duration is from Jan 2007 - Mar 2012.
UNESCO
BRAC AfghanistanPartnership is for the Enhancement of Literacy in Afghanistan. Project duration is from July 2010 - June 2011.
Ministry of Rural Rahabilitation and Development(MRRD)
World Bank
IOM
BRAC AfghanistanThis is for the Community Infrastructure Project. Project duration is from July 2010 - June 2011.
MISFA
BRAC Afghanistan
Partnership is for the Targeting Ultra Poor programme and also for the Comprehensive Capacity Development Programme.
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund
BRAC PakistanPartnership is for the Education, Health, Social Safety Net project Health Insurance TUP, Flood Refinancing through MF and also for the Flood Rehabilitation project.
UWW - Citi Foundation
IRRI
BRAC TanzaniaFor the Rice Cultivation in collaboration with IRRI.
MasterCard Foundation
BRAC UgandaFor Health, Education, Agriculture, Poultry & Livestock, Research & Evaluation and ELA programmes.
Gold Smith
BRAC UgandaFor Karamoja Project. Project duration is Nov 2011 - Nov 2013.
Insightshare
BRAC UgandaFor Participatory Video Initiative - ELA programme. Project duration is Aug 2011 - Mar 2012.
Population Services International (PSI)
Comic Relief
Stromme Foundation
BRAC South SudanFor Education Programme. Project duration is Jan 2010 - Dec 2012.
London Mining
BRAC Sierra LeoneFor Agriculture programme. Project duration is July 2011 - June 2012.
OSJI
BRAC Sierra LeoneFor Human Rights and Legal Empowerment Programme. Project duration is June 2010 - Dec 2011.
Trocaire
BRAC Sierra LeoneFor Human Rights and Legal Empowerment programme. Project duration is Jan 2011 - Dec 2013.
Caritas Austria
BRAC HaitiFor Morne a Bateau Livelihood Project. Project duration is Feb 2011 - Jan 2012.
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Knowledge Partners
Last updated 23 November, 2011
George Washington University
BRAC DECC and WASH Programmes host one intern every three months as a receiving institution. All students complete pre-agreed tasks as part of fulfilling their requirements for Masters in Global Health. Three credits are awarded to the intern on successful completion of the assignment.
International resource Centre for Water and Sanitation
IRC is considered a "centre of excellence" in water, sanitation and hygiene globally. They provide back-up technical support in the fields of technical, knowledge management and monitoring for the ongoing WASH Programme.
FHI 360
FHI 360 (former AID-ARTS) provides technical support in communication and private sector activties.
GMMB
GMMB provides advocacy support.
IFPRI
IFPRI provides support in monitoring, learning and evaluation.
International Rice Research Institute
IRRI is implementing different projects for the improvement of rice productivity of Bangladesh through variety development and technology dissemination.
International Potato Center (CIP)
Research and development conducted on potatoes through gerplasm exchange and training.
World Fish Center
Implementing the project on Challenge Programme on Water and Food (CPWF) in the southern parts of Bangladesh.
HarvestPlus Challenge Program (CIAT and IFPRI)
BRAC is providing support for communication and deployment of zinc fortified rice varieties in Bangladesh. Negotiation is ongoing for participation in seed multiplication and marketing of orange-flesh sweet potato in Uganda, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The Executive Director of BRAC is a member of the Project Advisory Committee of HarvestPlus.
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)
BRRI provides breeder seeds and training to BRAC staff.
Hi-Tech Seed Co Ltd, China
BRAC is an active partner in producing hybrid rice seeds in Bangladesh with the technical assistance of Hi-Tech Seed Co Ltd. BRAC also desires to have access to technical knowledge in order to develop hybrid rice seeds which are suitable to Bangladesh climate and also to produce and market such seeds in the country.
Yuans Hi-Tech Seed Co Ltd, China
BRAC is an active partner in producing hybrid rice seeds in Bangladesh with the technical assistance of Yuans Hi-Tech Seed Co Ltd. BRAC also desires to have access to technical expertise in order to develop hybrid rice seeds suitable to the Bangladesh climate and also to produce and market such seeds in Bangladesh.
China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center (CNHRRDC), China
BRAC is an active partner in developing hybrid rice for the benefit of Bangladeshi farmers with the technical assistance of CNHRRDC. Both parties agreed to make efforts to jointly promote the development of hybrid rice, make contributions which will benefit the Bangladeshi farmers and strengthen the friendship between China and Bangladesh.
Small Engines for Economic Development (SEED), USA
BRAC is an active partner to market the SEED pump, to address the designing and developing irrigation products and services which will increase the income for small farmers.
International Federation for Training and Development Organization (IFTDO), UK
The IFTDO is a world-wide federation (UK based) formed in 1972. It is a diverse network of human capacity building and development organizations linking training and HR professionals in HR societies, corporations, universities, consultancies, government organizations and enterprises. Through its member organizations, it represents more than 500,000 professionals in 50 countries. Through this network BLD can:
• Increase recognition as an internationally active organisation by using the IFTDO logo while mentioning the fact that they are IFTDO members
• Expand capabilities through exchanging strategies, techniques and technology
• Learn about important training events and developments
• Access global thinking and practices through the IFTDO global network, projects and research
• Shape state-of-the-art international development projects
• Participate as delegates, presenters and exhibitors at IFTDO conferences
• Receive discount of on-conference registration
• Contribute articles to the IFTDO NEWS and website
World Vision Bangladesh
A year-long course on "Leadership Enhancement and Development" designed and facilitated by BRAC Learning Division for the managers of World Vision Bangladesh.
Save the Children UK
Jointly working on submitting a training project proposal with BLD.
Save the Children USA
Three-month long training project on health issues undertaken in the Bhola District.
Sajida Foundation
BLD Provides different training course on Development Management, Human Communication and Personnel Management to the Sajida Foundation staff members.
ILO Bangladesh
BLD provides different training courses on Supportive Supervision, Human Communication and Monitoring and Evaluation to the staff of ILO Bangladesh.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB)
BLD provides different training courses on Management, and Effective Communication to the staff of TIB.
SIT
Local Press Clubs of 47 District & Divisions
Journalist Associations
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
Targeting the Ultra Poor Programme, Advocacy Programme
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Institutional Donors
Last updated 23 November, 2011
Oxfam Novib
Community Empowerment Programme
Donors for the Social Development component of the Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction (CFPR) Project.
Education Programme
The funding of BRAC Education Programme II (BEP II) 2009- 2014 is supported by a donor consortium that includes five donors ( AusAID, CIDA, DFID, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands and Oxfam NOVIB). Primarily, BEP II addresses issues relating to access and quality, and operates at five institutional levels:
Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary, Adolescent and Continuing education.
These are all areas where BEP has initiated different activities and made progress. In four of these areas, BEP provides direct access to services and has a strong focus in their quality. In the secondary education programme, BEP is partnering with government-supported schools to improve the quality of their service provision. Besides this, the European Commission (EC), Unicef and Nike contribute to BEP to operate non-formal primary schools, pre-primary schools, Adolescent Clubs and SOFEA (Social and Financial Empowerment of Adolescent) programmes as bilateral donors.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Community Empowerment Programme
UNDP is the donor for the "UN Joint Programme on Violence Against Women" project, where BRAC Community Empowerment Programme (CEP) is providing technical assistance to UNDP for the project. The project takes place in the Habigonj, Narsingdi, Feni, Sirajgonj, Satkhira and Barguna districts. The project is being implemented in partnership with UNDP and Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. The goal of the project is “to improve the overall violence against women (VAW) situation in the REOPA and LIC operating districts”.
EKN
The funding of BRAC Education Programme II (BEP II) 2009- 2014 is supported by a donor consortium that includes five donors ( AusAID, CIDA, DFID, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands and Oxfam NOVIB). Primarily, BEP II addresses issues relating to access and quality, and operates at five institutional levels:
Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary, Adolescent and Continuing education.
These are all areas where BEP has initiated different activities and made progress. In four of these areas, BEP provides direct access to services and has a strong focus in their quality. In the secondary education programme, BEP is partnering with government-supported schools to improve the quality of their service provision. Besides this, the European Commission (EC), Unicef and Nike contribute to BEP to operate non-formal primary schools, pre-primary schools, Adolescent Clubs and SOFEA ( Social and Financial Empowerment of Adolescent) programmes as bilateral donors.
USAID
BRAC has been implementing a TB - HIV collaborative project with USAID funds, receiving technical and financial support for the project through FHI 360. The project offers HIV screening test to TB patients in six DOTS corners of BRAC in Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations.
FHI 360
BRAC has been implementing a TB - HIV collaborative project with USAID funds, receiving technical and financial support for the project through FHI 360. The project offers HIV screening test to TB patients in six DOTS corners of BRAC in Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM)
From 2004 onwards, Bangladesh has been receiving the Global Fund for National TB Control Program under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). BRAC serves as the principal recipient related to NGO implementation with 43 other partners. In addition, BRAC provides direct services in 297 upazillas in 42 districts, including Chittagong Hill Tracts, prisons, twenty four academic institutions, Chittagong and Khulna Port Authority Hospitals and various parts of the city corporations.
European Union
Implementing EU funded projects in the coastal regions of Bangladesh.
Islamic Development Bank (IDB)
Implementing agriculture credit project in the cyclone prone area of Bangladesh.
CIDA
The funding of BRAC Education Programme II (BEP II) 2009- 2014 is supported by a donor consortium that includes five donors ( AusAID, CIDA, DFID, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands and Oxfam NOVIB). Primarily, BEP II addresses issues relating to access and quality, and operates at five institutional levels:
Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary, Adolescent and Continuing education.
These are all areas where BEP has initiated different activities and made progress. In four of these areas, BEP provides direct access to services and has a strong focus in their quality. In the secondary education programme, BEP is partnering with government-supported schools to improve the quality of their service provision. Besides this, the European Commission (EC), Unicef and Nike contribute to BEP to operate non-formal primary schools, pre-primary schools, Adolescent Clubs and SOFEA ( Social and Financial Empowerment of Adolescent) programmes as bilateral donors.
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Implementation Partners
Last updated 23 November, 2011
UNICEF
Improving Maternal, Neonatal and Child Survival (IMNCS)
BRAC works at community level to create demand for health services among community people, while UNICEF works with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of GoB in the supply-side by providing technical and logistical support to the GoB health facilities.
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communications (BNNRC)
Community Empowerment Programme
BRAC and BNNRC are in partnership forming "Children's Clubs" for BRAC's Community Radio, "Radio Pollikontho" in Maulvibazar, with funding from UNICEF.
Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF)
Community Empowerment Programme
Acid violence victims reported to BRAC CEP receive medical treatment, legal aid, and rehabilitation support in partnership with Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF).
Shishu Polli Plus
Community Empowerment Programme
BRAC CEP is providing Income Generation Activities Trainings to Shishu Polli Plus beneficiaries (women who are victims of violence). In addition, BRAC CEP refers women violence victims reported to CEP to Shishu Polli Plus shelter homes.
The Hunger Project - Bangladesh
Community Empowerment Programme
BRAC CEP and The Hunger Project - Bangladesh, is implementing the "Social Mobilization and Accountable Local Government towards Creating MDG Unions" in Mymensingh district in partnership. The project is funded by BRAC and also has BRAC RED as a partner.
Saferworld
Community Empowerment Programme
BRAC Community Empowerment Programme and Saferworld are in partnership implementing activities of the "Community Safety Pilot Project" in Kishoregonj district with funding from Saferworld.
Sightsavers
Vision Bangladesh Project, BRAC Health Programme
The Project is jointly funded by BRAC and Sightsavers with a portion of 50:50. BRAC is responsible for the demand side of the project i.e. advocacy and community mobilization. Sightsavers is responsible for the supply side including coordination with the partner hospitals for cataract surgery.
Migration Forum Asia (MFA)
Safe Migration Facilitation Centre (SMFC) Project
NGO Committee on Migration
Safe Migration Facilitation Centre (SMFC) Project
Migration Forum Asia (MFA)
Safe Migration Facilitation Centre (SMFC) Project
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http://www.brac.net/content/about-brac-social-enterprises
BRAC Enterprises’ efforts are not driven towards maximizing profit for the shareholders, but to benefit its stakeholders who are essentially the millions of deprived and disenfranchised poor of the country. The surplus that BRAC social enterprises generate fuel most of BRAC’s non-income activities such as the health and education programmes. Learn more ...
See all BRAC social enterprises at a glance or view details below:
Agriculture & Food: BRAC Sericulture, BRAC Cold Storage, BRAC Tea Estates, BRAC Salt
Health: BRAC Sanitary Napkin & Delivery Kit
Livestock & Fisheries: BRAC Poultry, BRAC Poultry Rearing Farms, BRAC Fisheries, BRAC Dairy, BRAC Feed Mills, BRAC Artificial Insemination, BRAC Chicken
Green Enterprises: BRAC Solar, BRAC Nursery, BRAC Handmade Recycled Paper
Retail: Aarong
Printers and Printing Pack: BRAC Printers, BRAC Printing Pack
BRAC's first www Youth Entrepreneur Competition BRAC’s first-ever Facebook competition is officially over! Congratulations to our winner, Daniel Ng from the University of Virginia on his ‘Play’ Project– a community playground project with the objective of creating safe accessible spaces for underprivileged children to play.
A special mention goes out to our runners up; Maya – a community empowerment project for women, and Amadeyr Cloud’s digital content delivery project.
In January, we received over 40 submissions from around the world and finally narrowed it down to seven best innovations with potential to be implemented at BRAC. We convened several internal judging panels to make our final decision. The winner gets the unique opportunity to work with BRAC’s Social Innovation Lab in Bangladesh.
http://www.bracdevelopmentinstitute.org/
Event: 3ie-LIDC Seminar - Reaching the Poorest: Lessons from the Graduation Model
If you're in London, come see BRAC Development Institute's Syed Hashemi and Anasuya Sangupta discuss an effective model for reaching the very poorest. The Graduation model is based on BRAC's Ultra Poor programme in Bangladesh and is being piloted and scaled up in 10 countries around the world.
Date: Tuesday 24th April, 2012 Venue: Manson Lecture Theatre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UKTime: 5:30 – 7 pm Speakers:Syed Hashemi, Founder and Director, BRAC Development Institute and Senior Advisor, CGAPAude de Montesquiou, Microfinance Analyst, CGAPAnasuya Sengupta, Senior Research Associate, BRAC Development Institute
2:41 pm edt
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
 On October 19, the BRAC Social Innovation Lab was formally launched in an informal gathering called “Social Innovation Forum.” The event focused on a theme of “How does BRAC do social innovation—past, present, and future?” and was dedicated to the memory of Aminul Alam (1949-2010), one of BRAC’s earliest and most influential innovators. A clip of his retelling of BRAC’s initial activities in poultry was played to pay tribute to the passion and incredible dedication he brought to the organization. The chairperson, Sir Fazle Abed, participated in the launch and offered inspirational reflections on innovation at BRAC. “Necessity is the mother of all inventions, as well as innovations,” he remarked with humor, and emphasized that BRAC’s goal at this point is not to reinvent the wheel, but to “do old things in a new, unique way.” There are many examples of these principles in practice in BRAC’s history; in the Oral rehydration Therapy Extension Program (OTEP) that BRAC launched in the 1970s, for example, BRAC took the “per-piece” payment scheme and applied it to health educators, tying their compensation to how many mothers they effectively taught how to make the lifesaving solution of water, salt, and sugar. Lay health educators reached twelve million mothers and significantly reduced child mortality from diarrheal disease, the major killer at the time. It used a similar model for education, considering students’ retention of knowledge in teachers’ pay. “No one had done it this way, but we did,” Abed commented. Innovation is one of BRAC’s core values, and there is no shortage of examples of how this looks in action. Abed closed his comments by reflecting on the many opportunities for innovation in the current global context, with particular excitement about gains that could be realized in education with creative usage of technology and expanding connectivity.  Few places in the world have a more apparent need for creativity in development than Bangladesh. At once a success story of economic growth, entrepreneurship, and public-private approaches to building durable strategies for providing social services, it continues to face a host of complex and significant changes: climate change, rapid rates of urban migration, to name just a few. Bangladesh must grapple with the growing economic and social inequalities, and mobile populations that challenge traditional delivery models for everything from TB treatment to microfinance. BRAC can be a leader in identifying ways to adapt and continue to combat poverty in the midst of these changes. And with its expanding presence abroad, there are increasing opportunities to translate these local innovations to new contexts. With 2.5 billion people still living on under US $2 a day, the necessity remains quite palpable. With these possibilities in mind, the newly formed Social Innovation Lab team made a short presentation to further describe the state of innovation at BRAC. They called attention to how the organization has evolved over time to manage the incredible scale and scope of its activities—in introducing the necessary processes and specialized units that this operation requires, barriers to encouraging, testing, and evaluating innovative ideas have inadvertently cropped up. This is particularly true for dialog across programs, leading to missed opportunities to effectively harness the full magnitude of experience and wisdom at BRAC. In addition, there is often limited time to examine how others, in Bangladesh and abroad, are tackling dimensions of poverty, or to keep up with the ever-advancing state of knowledge, technology and research and global priorities. Innovation is a crucial competency to maintain, to continue to effectively combat poverty and sustain the energy and excitement of the caliber and talent of individuals that have built the BRAC that exists today.  How can a massive organization practice innovation? BRAC has been reflecting on how to ensure that its investment in innovation matches the scale of its operations, and out of these conversations, the initial idea of a “Social Innovation Lab” was conceived. Housed in the Communications Department, this unit will seek to institutionalize innovation at BRAC and create an accessible space for all where ideas are shared, generated and nurtured. It will support programs in identifying existing innovations, running pilot programs, and facilitating dissemination of experiences, as well as seeking new partners with promising solutions to work with BRAC in tackling complex issues. Through its activities, the Social Innovation Lab will build program capacity for managing internal innovation and foster cross-program and organization-wide dialog and support for new ideas on how to advance BRAC’s mission. Already, a variety of exciting opportunities are emerging for consideration, from better serving “floating people” (transient slum dwellers) in urban areas, to utilizing technology for effective data utilization in integrated initiatives, to exploring reproductive health for adolescents to adopting an innovative model of private high schools from Kenya. The Social Innovation Lab will evaluate these proposals and their overall alignment with BRAC’s strategy and activities, and work with the programs to prioritize which to pursue. Many more exciting suggestions were offered by BRAC staff who attended the event, confirming that there is a wealth of innovative spirit and potential to harness and build on.
4:19 am edt
Saturday, June 25, 2011
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In this issue
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Dear chris,
With all of my years working with BRAC and in development in general, I still find myself consistently blown away by the people we work with. Last month in Liberia, I met Cecilia Doe, a formidable woman who took on the Firestone corporation to get rights to land where her community now leverages BRAC's tools and training to grow rice.
Cecilia is Liberia's secret to success, and she's one of millions! You can read below about how young girls in Uganda and Bangladesh are changing their communities as well.
In addition to the incredible women and girls BRAC works with in developing communities, there are also many wonderful volunteers and interns who commit their time to BRAC's mission. I had a chance to meet with some of the summer interns at BRAC while in Bangladesh earlier this month, and was thoroughly impressed by this amazing group. You can read posts from some of our interns in the US and in Bangladesh on our blog.
New and experienced, our interns and volunteers are part of the soul of this organization. They are true ambassadors of BRAC.
Best wishes,
Susan
Susan Davis
President & CEO
BRAC USA
BRAC Partners with SMS Forum UReport in Uganda
BRAC was recently introduced to an initiative called Ureport. Initiated by UNICEF, Ureport is an SMS based forum designed to provide Ugandan youth with a platform to raise issues that concern them. The system uses mobile technology to allow youth to interact with each other and participate in a national dialog process.
BRAC Uganda has partnered with the Ureport initiative by including the members from their youth clubs. BRAC Uganda's Empowerment and Livelihoods for Adolescents program has 690 clubs for adolescent girls and a further 100 Youth Development Centers under its Access to Health, Education and Youth Development program in Karamoja. About 26,500 adolescent girls in Uganda are now reached by these programs. Ureport is a great opportunity for BRAC to connect these girls through new mediums and a feedback based process. It fits nicely with our objective of supporting youth in becoming contributing members of their communities. Already more than 3,500 club members are being registered into the system along with nearly 9,000 young members from the microfinance and health programs. The hope is that these BRAC participants will spread the message and encourage others to join.
Click here to read the rest.
Insana's Story: A Student and a Teacher
Insana is 18 years old. She lives in a village in Kalampur, Dhamrai in Bangladesh.
When she was in Grade 10, Insana was forced to drop out of school, as her family was unable to bear the associated costs and needed one more hand to add to the meager family income. This was a big blow for Insana, as she enjoyed school and wanted to continue her education further. Nevertheless, in response to her family’s needs, Insana stopped going to school and started rearing some chicks and ducks to help support her family.
Insana was a member of a local SoFEA club, and her club mentor and the staff became aware of this and offered her the chance to enroll in a training program to learn tailoring. Although there was pressure from her family to find a higher earning job, Insana decided to take up the training.
Click here to read more of Insana's story. |
Christy Turlington goes back to Bangladesh
This week, Christy Turlington Burns returned to Bangladesh for the first time since filming No Woman, No Cry, a documentary that follows the stories of four women who face the dangers of pregnancy. One of the stories Christy covers in her film is Monica, who is working with Yasmin, a BRAC Community Health Promoter, to ensure she has a safe pregnancy.
On the first day of her return, Christy talks with BRAC staff and visits our maternal health program in the slums of Dhaka, where she reunites with Yasmin.
Click here to read Christy's story of her first day back in Bangladesh. |
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4:55 pm edt
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Global Alliance for Banking on Values commit to support $2 billion lending expansion
NEW YORK, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- A new network of growing, crisis-resistant, sustainable banks has announced an ambitious commitment to support the expansion of $2 billion in lending to underserved communities and green projects around the world.The Global Alliance for Banking on Values made the announcement at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York this month. The independent network of eleven of the world's leading sustainable banks - who serve over 7 million customers, in 20 countries, with a combined balance sheet of over $14 billion - was launched earlier this year in the Netherlands. According to its Chair, it already has concrete proposals to start making a major impact.he Global Alliance for Banking on Values consists of the following members:
Alternative Bank ABS, Switzerland, www.abs.chBanca Popolare Etica, Italy, www.bancaetica.com
Banex, Banco del Exito, Nicaragua, www.banex.com.ni
BRAC Bank and BRAC Microfinance Programme, Bangladesh, www.brac.net andwww.bracbank.com
GLS Bank, Germany, www.gls.de
Merkur Bank, Denmark, www.merkurbank.dk
Mibanco, Banco de la Microempresa, Peru, www.mibanco.com.pe
New Resource Bank, United States, www.newresourcebank.com
ShoreBank Corporation, United States, www.shorebankcorp.com
Triodos Bank, The Netherlands, www.triodos.com
XacBank, Mongolia, www.xacbank.comTo qualify for membership, each institution has to meet three criteria:
- They are independent and licensed banks with a focus on retail customers;
- with a minimum balance sheet of $100 million
- and, most significantly, they should be committed to responsible financing and the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit.Please, view the website of the Dutch Royal House for the speech of Princess Máxima.
6:33 pm edt
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
BRAC leads anti-poverty effort in post-conflict countries http://www.brac.net/index.php?nid=438
NEW YORK, July 22, 2009 - BRAC is leading a $15 million initiative to rebuild war-torn communities in West Africa, four organisations supporting the effort announced today.
The Soros Economic Development Fund, Open Society Initiative for West Africa, Omidyar Network, and Humanity United are funding this groundbreaking initiative to support families and prevent renewed conflict.
"This investment in the people of West Africa comes at a critical time," said Stewart Paperin, president of the Soros Economic Development Fund. "With their countries emerging from devastating civil wars, this support gives people the tools to rebuild."
BRAC, one of the world's largest anti-poverty groups, is providing microfinance, health, and agricultural support in Sierra Leone and Liberia. It anticipates that over 500,000 people will benefit from these programmes.
"In the face of overwhelming need, BRAC's work has real potential to create opportunities for hundreds of thousands of families to stabilise their lives and build for the future," said Matt Bannick, managing partner of Omidyar Network. "Our investment will help catalyse this economic and social impact."
Since March, BRAC has opened 20 new microfinance branches in Sierra Leone and Liberia and will add 20 more by the end of the year. BRAC made its first loans in June. Over the next two years, it will provide financial services to tens of thousands of women, as well as agricultural supplies and training to small crop and livestock farmers. BRAC will also prepare four hundred community based health volunteers to provide ongoing essential healthcare and help fight deadly diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and cholera.
"People desperately need to earn a living," said Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chairperson of BRAC. "Despite the many challenges these countries face, Liberia and Sierra Leone are uniquely positioned to become models for successful development in West Africa. We are committed to providing training and resources so that the poor, especially women, can unleash their capabilities as entrepreneurs and improve their livelihoods."
BRAC's work in Sierra Leone and Liberia is being funded through a combination of grants and equity, and BRAC is negotiating additional debt capital to finance the loan portfolio. This two-year pilot programme will help BRAC build a long-term sustainable strategy for integrated development in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
http://brac.tv please help us track how BRAC is changing africa
older refs- Liberia 1
BRAC's 2008 Report is at http://www.brac.net/useruploads/files/BRAC%20Annual%20Report%20-%202008.pdf
Other Africa BRAC highlights http://www.brac.net/usa/bracs_work_africa.php
Jan09:
BRAC, a leading international development organization founded in Bangladesh announced that it has successfully raised $62.6 million of debt capital to provide microfinance loans to poor borrowers in Tanzania, Uganda and Southern Sudan. The BRAC Africa Loan Fund provides long-term, local-currency funding that will enable BRAC to scale up its microfinance operations to reach over 700,000 borrowers through over 200 branches across the three countries. The Fund represents the largest single financing to date of a southern hemisphere development organization expanding into Africa.
The Fund will aggregate US dollar loans from investors through a special purpose company and use the capital to make local currency loans to BRAC Uganda, BRAC Tanzania and BRAC Southern Sudan over a period of seven years. A second and final closing is planned during the first half of 2009 to reach the Fund’s target of $74.0 million.
1 Uganda April 09: BRAC Uganda has emerged as the largest NGO in the country, employing close to 1400 staff, 97% of them being Ugandan. Mr. Islam also explained how BRAC Uganda currently operates 123 offices in 37 districts across the country, impacting the lives of half a million people. more refs 1 2 3 4
About BRAC Tanzania:
In June 2006, BRAC began operating its Microfinance Program in three regions in Tanzania - Dar-es-salam, Arusha and Coast. In the past year, approximately USD 4 million in loans has been distributed through this program. The microfinance program includes outreach and services at the village level and is specifically focused on women. BRAC leveraged this organization capital to develop extension service cadre in health, agriculture and livestock initiatives. Currently, there are over 350 BRAC staff members working in Tanzania.
Click here to read BRAC Tanzania's 2008 Annual Report (pdf)
Microfinance Program
Established in June 2006 and has undergone major expansion since January 2007
Operates 41 branches in seven districts
Organized 1,481 groups
Mobilized 39,513 members; 25,518 of whom have borrowed
Disbursed over USD 4 million in loans
Employed 40 branch managers and 164 community organizers
Health Program
Established in January 2007
Operates 20 branches
Mobilized 26,210 community members to participate in health education
Trained 200 CHVs
Agriculture Program
Established in January 2007
Operates 15 branches
Distributed 48,625 kg in seeds
Trained 243 model farmers and extension workers
Serves 1,448 general farmers
Poultry and Livestock Program
Established in January 2007
Operates 20 branches
Trained 200 volunteers
Employed 350 staff members (95 percent are Tanzanian and over 95 percent are local women)
Signed an agreement with the Government of Tanzania’s relevant ministries to ensure adequate vaccination supply
Sierra Leone April 09: BRAC Sierra Leone has now set up 10 microfinance branches and launched its health, agriculture and livestock programs
S.Sudan March 2009: BRAC currently operates 17 microfinance branches in the country, reaching 14,000 members and is piloting initiatives in livelihoods, health and education.
2:24 am edt
Friday, May 15, 2009
headline stats from new book on brac
- BRAC is the biggest non-governmental, nonprofit organization in the world – in terms of its budget, its staff and the number of people it reaches. BRAC is the biggest international NGO in Afghanistan, working very effectively in some of the most difficult areas. BRAC has broad-based development programs in East Africa and in countries recovering from war: Sudan, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
- BRAC provides more than $1 billion a year in micro loans to poor people; the repayment rate is more than 97%.
- BRAC pioneered a program for diagnosing and treating tuberculosis that is now used worldwide. BRAC treats almost 100,000 TB patients a year and has a 92% cure rate.
- BRAC operates more primary schools in Bangladesh than all the nursery, primary and secondary schools in England combined.
- BRAC’s dairy processes more than 70,000 liters of milk a day. The milk is produced entirely by villagers in every district of Bangladesh, none owning more than one or two cows.
- Students from across the world attend the BRAC University; thousands of villagers use its libraries and its on-line computer centers. The BRAC Bank has become one of the largest and most trusted in Bangladesh in only eight years of operation, and its lending concentrates almost entirely on small enterprise development, one notch up from microfinance.
Help us with worldwide brand seeding of 5000 youth goodwill ambassador network uniting bangladesh and worldwide mapmakers of microeconomics, social business entrepreneur networking and future capitalism's sustainability investments -next project meeting all day+1 birthday party with dr yunus , dhaka, 29 June 2009 - help us track the best for the world news that brac and grameen are helping peoples celebrate- spring 09.1 IDCOL to Produce Solar Panels in Bangladesh Energy Bangla - Apr 24, 2009
The IDCOL CEO said the programme is being implemented through 15 partner organisations (POs) -- Grameen Shakti, BRAC Foundation, Srizony Bangladesh, ...
| .2009 open planning | BRAC headlines of 2009 include-Fazle Abed attended CGI planning meet: people included William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States and Founding Chairman of Clinton Global Initiative, Justin Yifu Lin, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank, Margaret McKenna, President of The Wal-Mart Foundation, Dr. James Mwangi, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Officer of Equity Bank Limited, Pamela Passman, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Corporation===================planning how 5000 youth ambassadors worldwide can exchnage yunus and abed and other microeconomic leaders replications
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there are obviously many sub-permutations of issues vital to 5000 youth ambassadors , I wish interns in bangkadesh would bring a plaque with their university crest and nail it to the hotel reception wall declaring their university to be virtually associated with dhaka. the idea that a 3 year undergrad course needs to be done in one bricks ad mortared expensive place is not sustainable for any undergraduate of development economics - we needs to turn one of the dhaka hotels into a sort of club med for interns of dhaka as the open uni of smba - by the way the former first lady of s.africa already calls dhaka the open uni of microcredit.
It would be fantastic if we could pool knowhow on how to make interns and other adventure learning tours bettter and better - I believe this can be a fantastic student led social business - its relevant to exploring at least 4 deep microcredits and epicentres of smba as well as their interactions - 3 are in dhaka : grameen, brac, and asa - all in the same area; one is in kenya; if anyone can get to kenya in march 2010 that's when a once in a lifetime microecreditsummit comes to nairobi; kena has the world;'s first youth and mothers mobile micropecredit; it may yet be enough to empower obama's foreign assistment pledges- notwithstanding briliant efforts by finca, brac and microloanfoundation among others I dont see any other millennium goal map connected by microeconomits for africa emerging without connecting through what jamii bora can help collaborative multiply but look forward to other maps if you have them | .for june 29 we are thinking that we will probably also find a very few interns who are already there and marry what they are doing in with june 29; we have also been promised by the end of may access to all records of interns that have ever been to grameen; we'd like ambassador5000 to connect that and intern records of other microcredits - we are searching for those young people who found internship in bangladesh a life changing experience that in some way they wish to contnuouly social business network- once we have a few common resources like a web of 1000 social busienss http://socialbusiness.tv/ which new york youth pledged to in januray all these jigsaws may come together at the same time but we need young people in the modst of assembling the big pictures
I believe I am correct in saying that mostofa is available during the month mid june to late july to help optimise any inteviews or visits you might want; of course he needs to confirm that and also has local family responsibilities but it is my assumption that integrating inten programs and youth ambassador 5000 and interviews that future capitalist journalists want to make with grameen global brand inside is work that mostofa with lamiya's team will be doing for a long time to come-
3.0 that is partly why we filmed last summer grameen inside and made 9 hours of transcripts before the whole world started making up glossier stories; we wanted to see the view of lifelong workers at bgrameen before the glossy broadcast story; at least that is what back in january 2008 we (sofia, modjtaba, mostofa, mark and I) asked dr yunus permission to do. new york jan anmd london fe archives http://www.youtube.com/caplinski | .
1.0 perhaps we need 2 plans - many people who are coming to dhaka june 28/9 yunus 69th birthday party http://yunusforum.net/ (also the first third of a century of bangladesh's micro-up maps being shared worldwide - a new genre to be published as microeconomics future capitalism or innovating collaboration and social business entrepreneur networks) for about 4 days
but you imply a second group including mostofa and yourself who want a month in dhaka adventure learning-action plan - Paris: I understand you have the special case of the blockbuster movie work; some other people may blend this in with internship or other action research or future capitalism journalism ; ... last summer grameen inside and made 9 hours of transcripts before the whole world started making up glossier stories; we wanted to see the view of lifelong workers at bgrameen before the glossy broadcast story; at least that is what back in january 2008 we (sofia, modjtaba, mostofa, mark and I) asked dr yunus permission to do. new york jan anmd london fe archives http://www.youtube.com/caplinski
So by july 08 have 9 hours of films and transcripts available made in dhaka - examples of which I also gave to saskia but which are kept in the grameen video library which goes back 30 years and is alongside the nobel permanent exhibition ; in other words depending how deeply you want to search the media archives there is at least a week's material to look at on just quarter of a floor of grammen bank; also one of the people attending on june 29 is a photoographer who has gone to a sample of everywhere with dr yunus whom mostofa can introduce you to- it is impossible to understand the female and youth magic of microcredit without understanding what was involved in setting up womens circles/centres in 1976- the greatest investment in open knowledge infrastructure a nation has ever made making silicon valley look pretty bogus in its roots; and for a modern rendering of where that leapfrogs to I attach a concept I was given by http://grameensolutions.com/ at start of jan 08 for thiose of an IT can chnage the world mind
| .healthcare snap between 2 capitals with most at stake :DC & Dhaka
please may I introduce you in various criss-crossing ways but with particular coordinates on micro-medicine and the world's top 2 sustainability investmment collaboration gravities between dc and dhaka - the 2 greatest yes we can epicentres with son of microcredit in charge in dc and fathers and mothers of microredit leading dhaka
Nalini a fulbright prize winner in dc and active in research in india that seems to have remarkable parallels to larry brilliant's; and professor in childrens medicine a george washington and her son Abhi who has just graduated there in medicine ; they both attended the GWU talk of yunus in early february where 50 other youth were given tockets I bought by alex - to mostofa in london
mostofa is a bangladesh is villager and also a london universiuty student who is central to the idea that dr yunus briefed him on last summer at microcredit bali of ambassador 5000
Youth AMB5000 is an opportunity to connect:
1 how grameen does internships and open sources micro-solutions with communities all over the world
2 how networks and uni students who support bangaleshi methods connect with other yes we can or micro up methods
3 all the other stuff that both yunus and fazle abed and other micro-solutions leadrs in dhaka go round developing hi-trust partenrships around
so it would be useful to rehearse what areas of medicine or other things interest you and mostofa can find out whetther there are any live projects going on inside grameen that currently need help or whether there are any attempts to search out partnerships which need relationship building among usa -eg earlier this month princeton students hosted an event on microcredit*microhealth -if we could replicate that some time in DC you would think we might start hunting who in NIH is interested in sustainable medicine/health care and of course when dr yunus is in dc he's usually asked to visit either bernanke on banks or hilary on healthcare - or other experts (grameen has several hundred medical staff of which about 5 are in boston at grameen america hq and the erst in bangladesh); and then 2 blocks away from grameen is brac the original vilage bursing network -new book by ian smillie freedom from want describes that
or other ways of essentially building a rural national health system as a jigsaw of hi-trust connecting pieces
I pretty quickly get out of my depth of understanding in medical areas which is also why mostofa and I want to convince people inside grameen that they need to become good at corresponding with very customised trajectories youth leaders may be on - its like huge detailed game of snap in my mind but then I am just a very simple-mided free marketmaker as many scots are
Nalini - back in britain a personal family friend is sir KP - former head of the royal academy of medicine - if you can search him and see if there is a topic in his cv that interests you then I can try and send an email between you - somehow I have to try and get cambridge university medical school connecting with dhaka but I have to find some topic that sir keith knows they do
chris.macrae @yahoo.co.uk
http://brac.tv http://hubsworld.tv |
Freedom From Want: The Remarkable Success Story of BRAC, The Global Grassroots Organization that’s Winning the Fight Against Poverty April 2009 / 304 pages / Paperback / 978-1-56549-294-3 / $24.95
11:25 pm estmapmaker's data from the book's freedom chapters coming soon
10:07 am edt
Freedom C0 & C2
| .In 1950 , Abed's Uncle Saidul went to London as Pakistan's trade commissioner, and in 1954 Abed followed. For an 18 year old, traditional ideas about going into govenment service seemed outdtaed in the new post-colonial world, and Abed wanted to do something out of the ordinary. He still cannot explain what drew him to naval archotecture, except for the fact that it was well out of the ordinary. Soon he found himself in Glasgow. The naval archotecture course was a 4 year program with alternati ng 6 month periods in the calssroom and the shipyard, where studentls learned through hands-on experience. Afetr 6 months of basic physics and maths, he went to Yarrow and company shipyard as an apprentice draftsman, an experience he describes toay as "not that lovely". The second year, he skiipped the shipyard and started to think ahead. He was beginning to realizxe that as a naval architect he could be obliged to spend the rest of his life in Glasgow, Belfast, or Norway. He visited Norway in 1955 to take a look, and he was not impressed. he wrote to his uncle in London saying he had concluded that naval architecture was "not my line" after all. His father objected to him quitting but his uncle welcomed him back to London where he now concluded that his options lay between law and accounting | This book is about the triumph of optimism, enterprise, and common sense over despair. It is about development without bodrers., and an incredible organisation created to deal with abject poverty in a broken country. The borders BRAC has crossed are not just political borders, though those are real enough. It has breached the borders of development orthodoxy, discovering the fallacies in standard approaches to community development and demonmstrating that poverty can be pushed back dramatically if it is tackled directly. It has shown that poor, even completely destitute, women in a conservative Muslim society can learn, earn and lead. It has shown that the market can be a powerful ally in the fight against poverty. It has breached the borders of small, turning tiny experimental efforts into huge enterprises that are staffed almost exclusively by tens of thousands of villagers who once had nothing , and whose own borders were once defined by ignorance, ill health, isolation and fear.
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Freedom C1
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Freedom C3
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Freedom C4
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Freedom C5
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Freedom C6
8:33 am edt
Freedom C7
8:32 am edt
Freedom C8
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Freedom C9
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Freedom C10
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Freedom C11
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| 2014.09.01 | 2013.03.01 | 2012.04.01 | 2011.06.01 | 2009.09.01 | 2009.08.01 | 2009.05.01 | 2009.01.01 |
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Jack Ma: Education is the biggest challenge
Jack Ma on the future of education (teamwork included)
5 months ago
Alibaba Group Founder and Commissioner, Jack Ma, Shares His Thoughts on the #LearningGeneration
Chris Macrae wash dclinkedin UNWOMENS- job creation agent at EconomistPoor.com and EconomistDiary.com