More than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees live in Bangladesh. It’s one of the world’s largest protracted crises. The need for sustainable, locally led solutions is urgent. Yet local nonprofits receive less than 2% of global humanitarian funding.
Bangladeshi NGOs have deep roots in refugee communities like Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. They bring local knowledge, trusted relationships, and a commitment to the communities they serve, making their interventions cost-efficient and highly effective. Despite this distinct advantage, chronic underfunding and systemic structural barriers limit their impact.
BRAC’s Pooled Fund, supported by Global Affairs Canada and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, changes that. We shift resources and power to local organizations so they can scale essential services like education, clean water, and livelihood training. The result? Better outcomes for refugees, more effective humanitarian action, stronger local institutions, and greater value for every donor dollar.
117,237
people reached across Cox’s Bazar and Bhashan Char through Pooled Fund partners since 2022
27
total partners, who have implemented 29 projects from 2022-2025
527
Bangladeshi NGO staff trained to strengthen humanitarian leadership
EMPOWERING LOCAL HUMANITARIAN LEADERSHIP
OUR WORK
Explore how we put local organizations first
BRAC’s Pooled Fund empowers local NGOs through capacity building and flexible funding, driving the shift from donor-led aid to community-led solutions. It boosts accountability, efficiency, and sectoral impact. This model puts decision-making closer to affected communities for more sustainable community outcomes.”
Rintu Bikash Chakma
SAS & CiC, Camp 16
Stories of resilience from the Rohingya refugee camps
Anwar, Hamida, and Hasina are Rohingya refugees sheltering in Bangladesh. Discover how their journeys have evolved alongside BRAC and local NGO partners.
PARTNERS
Annual Outcomes Reports
Annual Outcome Assessment Report 2025
Annual Outcome Assessment Report 2024
Annual Outcome Assessment Report 2023
Get in touch
Interested in supporting the locally led humanitarian response in Bangladesh? Reach out to partnerships@bracusa.org to learn more about the Pooled Fund and explore partnership opportunities.