Top 10 NGOs in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, as a developing nation, faces many challenges, including poverty, illiteracy, gender inequality, and lack of access to healthcare.

NGOs (non-governmental organizations), however, play a pivotal role in addressing these issues and improving the lives of Bangladeshi people.

These NGOs work in a variety of sectors, including education, healthcare, microfinance, and disaster relief. They provide essential services to millions of people in Bangladesh, and they play a vital role in the country’s development.

Here are the top 10 NGOs in Bangladesh that help the people fight off various concerning, economic and social issues, to create a sustainable tomorrow:

1. BRAC

Since its humble beginnings in 1972, BRAC has served the Bangladeshi people and others worldwide empowering millions of lives in underdeveloped and rural areas.

They are providing access to small loans, savings accounts, and other financial services, especially to women.

A pioneer in microfinance, BRAC NGO operates as a solutions ecosystem. Their programs focus on social development programs, social enterprises, and humanitarian response. They also own a bank and a university. The renowned BRAC University, BRAC Bank, and Aarong are under the BRAC umbrella.

BRAC’s microfinance model is based on the principle of group lending. This model features small groups of individuals, typically women, forming a joint liability group and receiving loans collectively.

The parent company, BRAC International, is situated in the Netherlands and globally fosters support in services like:

• Agriculture, Food Security, and Livelihood
• Early Childhood Development
• Education
• Health
• Humanitarian Programme
• Microfinance
• Ultra-Poor Graduation
• Youth Empowerment

BRAC’s work has also contributed to the development of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 1: No Poverty, and Goal 5: Gender Equality.

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2. BURO Bangladesh

BURO Bangladesh is one of the most well-known NGOs in the country. It was set up in 1990 to work for the poor, with a focus on sustainability.

Specializing in micro-finance and flexible financial services to low-income people, Buro Bangladesh has launched six loan products, a specialized product for SME clients, two savings products, and one insurance scheme.

BURO Bangladesh jointly won the Best Published Reports and Accounts by the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFF) in 2008, alongside BRAC. It also won the first position for the Best Presented Accounts in the category of NGO-MFI for the year 2005 as well as 2007 by the South Asian Federation of Accountants-SAFA.

Some key projects with which BURO currently serves 2.719 million active customers are:

• The Water and Sanitation Program with Water.org.
• Bangladesh INSPIRED project with Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI)
• Economical and Social Empowerment of the Hardcore Poor-ESEHP
• HR Development program with 4 training centers
• Disaster Management Programs including Emergency Response and Rehab Programs

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3. Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS)

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) – affiliated with the global humanitarian non-governmental organization, The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, has played a crucial role in the relief, rescue, and rehabilitation of thousands of flood, cyclone, and other natural disaster victims in Bangladesh.

It was established in 1973 as an auxiliary to the Public Authority. The President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh is the ex-officio President of the Society. BDRCS’s branches are spread across all the eight divisions.

To date, the organization has reached 1,594,942 people’s lives across 49 projects, with 87,935 life members.

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4. CARE Bangladesh

Care’s journey began with disaster relief and school nutrition programs in 1949 in Bangladesh. Today the NGO reaches wider areas, ensuring lasting changes in Bangladesh’s humanitarian and development sectors.

To date, the entity has spent around US$ 1.5 billion in Bangladesh since its inception with funding from donors like USAID, UKAID, EU, DANIDA, CIDA, etc. to spend on activities across the whole of Bangladesh.

Care Bangladesh has over 65 projects currently running in Bangladesh, directly impacting the lives of 7.5 million people as of 2022.

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5. Plan International Bangladesh

Plan International Bangladesh aims to create a positive movement for promoting girls and young women. Their primary work is to integrate gender equality that will help create equality among all genders.

Plan International’s core competencies include:

• Prevention of child marriage,
• Education,
• Sexual and reproductive health rights,
• Child protection and
• Girls’ economic empowerment.

In Bangladesh, they have developed a country strategy targeting 2020-2030. The aim is to challenge the fear of violence, targeting to influence over 36 million people especially young people up to 24 years old.

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6. World Vision Bangladesh

For over 50 years, World Vision Bangladesh (WVB) has been working towards bettering the lives of children, families, and communities by fighting poverty and injustice.

WVB has touched 6.5 million people’s lives, including 4.5 million children, through activities like the following in 2023:

• Maternal and child health
• Nutrition,
• Wash,
• Education,
• Child protection,
• Climate change and adaptation,
• Humanitarian and emergency affairs,
• Gender equality, and social inclusion.

Also, WVB focused on declaring 152 child marriage-free; transformed 169 villages into eco-villages, and established 119 GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion)-friendly green schools in 2023.

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7. Save the Children Bangladesh

Commencing their services in Bangladesh in 1970, Save the Children has been known for providing underprivileged children and their families with emergency food supplies and health assistance.

They started work in Bangladesh as a response to the cyclone that rampaged Bhola in 1970. With 1200 dedicated staff and over 850 volunteers across Bangladesh, the NGO assists the needy during major emergencies, delivering innovative development programs.

Save the Date offers mBoost, an innovative, and low-tech solution which uses cost-effective mobile technology to deliver concise, action-oriented education strategies to caregivers, educators, and partners.

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8. OXFAM Bangladesh

Oxfam, which began its work in Bangladesh in 1970, has been recognized for supporting the people of Bangladesh during the 1971 Liberation War in 2012.

The NGO aims to create a vibrant and equitable society across Bangladesh for both men and women.

Oxfam works with various partners including

• Civil society organizations,
• NGOs,
• Media organizations,
• Foreign and local universities,
• Private sector companies,
• And with different levels of government.

Economic justice and resilience, Humanitarian capacity building and response, and women’s leadership are their key focus areas.

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9. ActionAid Bangladesh

ActionAid deems itself a cohesive, global movement to fight for improving human rights for all and eliminate poverty.

Its current strategies for Bangladesh include:

• Women Leadership in Emergencies,
• Democratic Budget Movement,
• promotion of Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA), and Food Rights movements,
• Global networking for Disaster Risk Reduction,
• advocacy on Gender-responsive public services,
• Safe Cities Campaign, and Anti-Child Marriage,
• establishing the Water Museum,
• Rights of the River and Water Democracy.

So far, the NGO has reached 764,618 lives in Bangladesh.

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10. Concern Worldwide Bangladesh

Concern Worldwide started its journey in Bangladesh in 1972. Its first extension of support was for the victims of the devastating cyclone of 1970.

Concern Worldwide now addresses extreme poverty in the most vulnerable communities of the country to ensure sustainable changes in their lives through various projects.

The NGO works in collaboration with numerous government departments, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), private sector entities, and other key bodies in Bangladesh.

Five pillars constitute their strategic plan for Bangladesh. These pillars include:

• Ensuring sustained change from programs in the health, nutrition, and livelihoods sectors;
• Climate change;
• Humanitarian action;
• Working through partnerships;
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion.

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Final Words

The development sector in Bangladesh impacts the local economy and livelihoods of underprivileged people for the better. The above 10 international organizations are some of the many organizations making a positive impact in the country.

We hope their relentless efforts help address and fight the challenges faced by the poor people of this country in the years to come.