BRAC's Experience Building Development Programs in Environments of Conflict and Disaster

September 13, 2010 • 7:00 – 8:30 pm EDT

Available Downloads

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Southern Sudan

CSIS’s South Asia Program is pleased to present a discussion session

with

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed
Founder and Chairperson, Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) 

In 1972, Fazle Hasan Abed started BRAC to help resettle Bangladeshi refugees after the nation’s War of Liberation. In the four decades that followed BRAC has become one of the world’s largest developmental organizations. It operates in more than 69 thousand villages of Bangladesh leading programs on primary education, essential healthcare, agricultural support, legal services, human rights and microfinance.  With a presence in nine Asian and African countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Southern Sudan, BRAC has successfully implemented development projects in some of the world’s most dangerous countries. Most recently and notably BRAC has distributed food parcels and oral saline sachets to more than 50,000 people affected by the floods in Pakistan.  Mr. Abed  discussed his organization’s challenges and successes in tackling global poverty-alleviation and disaster mitigation.