Bangladesh has cut poverty in half since 2000, but social development has not been uniform. Many of the 40 million people still living in poverty live in communities subjected to geographic, economic and social isolation.
Traditional development programming often cannot break through, so these communities get left behind while the country moves forward.
BRAC takes an integrated development approach, combining economic and social empowerment with access to critical services. Women-led village development organizations deliver tailored packages of services, such as health, education and skills development, connecting communities to non-government, government, and private-sector support options.
Our work spans hard-to-reach areas across 18 districts, including haors (wetlands), the Chittagong Hill Tracts and chars (river islands). We are also piloting an integrated approach to climate adaptation in Bangladesh's climate-stressed northwestern and southwestern areas, combining cross-sectoral training, farming input support, access to finance and creating market linkages to strengthen climate resilience.
57%
income boost after receiving services in hard-to-reach areas
195,017
mothers and newborns received antenatal, neonatal and child healthcare services in 2024
527
young people, 56% of whom are women, graduated as skills learners and secured job placements