BRAC

What BRAC does

BRAC is the world's largest international development organisation, founded in Bangladesh in 1972 by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed and headquartered in Dhaka. It operates across 14 countries (Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Myanmar, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda) with 10,000+ employees, delivering integrated programmes in microfinance, healthcare, education, gender justice, climate adaptation, humanitarian response, and migration. Its operational backbone is the world's largest non-government community health force (24,000 community health workers across 36 districts of Bangladesh), the world's largest microfinance network (BDT 485 billion disbursed in 2025, up 67% from BDT 290 billion five years prior), and the world's largest legal aid network (268 legal aid centres).

The revenue model is hybrid and self-sustaining rather than donor-dependent: it combines microfinance interest income, social enterprise sales across ten wholly-owned verticals (Aarong retail, Aarong Dairy, BRAC Fisheries, BRAC Seed and Agro Enterprise, BRAC Healthcare, BRAC Artificial Insemination, BRAC Nursery, BRAC Recycled Handmade Paper, BRAC Sericulture, BRAC Printing Pack), strategic investments (BRAC Bank publicly listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange, plus stakes in IPDC Finance, Guardian Life Insurance, EDOTCO Bangladesh, DBH Finance, and BRAC IT), and donor-funded programmes from partners including the Rockefeller Foundation, FMO, European Commission, and Medtronic Labs. BRAC University, founded in 2001, supplies research, talent, and policy capacity (24,500 alumni, 20,000+ current students, a joint PhD programme with SOAS University of London).

Technology infrastructure includes the NCD360° mobile health app (built with Medtronic Labs, raising hypertension control from 31% to 72% and diabetes control from 23% to 47%), AI-powered agricultural decision tools, drone-based climate risk mapping, and a digital health referral system connecting community clinics and NCD corners to a central control room. Distribution runs through community-based channels: door-to-door community health workers, microfinance branch managers, village development organisations, Aarong retail outlets, BRAC Healthcare clinics, and BRAC University campuses, supplemented by an online donation portal at donate.brac.net.

Name

BRAC

Legal name

BRAC

Website

https://brac.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

BRAC is the world's largest international development organisation, founded in 1972 in Bangladesh, operating integrated microfinance, healthcare, education, and climate programmes across 14 countries through community-based delivery, social enterprises, and strategic investments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Microfinance, Financial Inclusion & Inclusive Markets (BPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ)

Keywords

• Microfinance services
• Social development programs
• Humanitarian disaster response
• Community health programs
• International development aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Microfinance Program: BRAC operates one of the world's largest microfinance networks, providing small loans to poor women and small business owners. Total loan disbursement has increased from BDT 290 billion to BDT 485 billion over five years.
2. Social Enterprises: BRAC runs multiple social enterprises including Aarong (retail), BRAC Dairy, BRAC Fisheries, BRAC Seed and Agro Enterprise, BRAC Healthcare, BRAC Sericulture, and BRAC Printing Pack. These enterprises generate revenue while creating employment and market access for programme participants.
3. Strategic Investments: BRAC holds investments in BRAC Bank, IPDC Finance PLC, Guardian Life Insurance Ltd, BRAC IT, BRAC Services Ltd, and other companies. These investments provide financial returns while supporting broader development objectives.
4. Donor-Funded Programs: BRAC receives funding from international donors, foundations, and governments for development programs. The organization is becoming increasingly self-reliant through a combination of microfinance, social enterprises, and limited donor support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BRAC delivers an integrated portfolio of microfinance services, social development programmes (poverty graduation, education, youth, gender justice, migration, health, climate adaptation), humanitarian disaster response, and a network of social enterprises (Aarong retail, dairy, fisheries, seeds, healthcare, sericulture, printing/packaging, nursery, recycled paper, artificial insemination). It also operates BRAC University and holds strategic investments such as BRAC Bank, IPDC Finance, and Guardian Life Insurance.

Product overview

BRAC is an international development organisation offering a diverse portfolio of interconnected programmes, social enterprises, and investments rather than a single product or platform. Its core offerings include microfinance services (one of the world's largest networks), social development programmes addressing poverty, education, health, migration, and climate change, and a network of social enterprises spanning retail (Aarong), dairy, fisheries, agriculture, healthcare, and education. The organisation also operates BRAC University and maintains investments in commercial ventures including BRAC Bank. These components function as an integrated ecosystem—microfinance and social programmes support beneficiaries who may then engage with BRAC's enterprises or receive education and training—creating a comprehensive approach to development that combines financial inclusion, livelihood creation, and social services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aarong: BRAC's retail and fair trade brand offering various products including crafts, textiles, and agricultural goods
• Aarong Dairy
• BRAC Bank
• BRAC University
• BRAC Probashbandhu
• Social Innovation Lab
• Frugal Innovation Forum
• Amra Notun Network
• Swapnosarothi
• NCD360°

Products and services

• BRAC Microfinance Programme One of the world's largest microfinance networks providing small loans and financial services to underserved populations, primarily women in rural Bangladesh.
• Aarong BRAC's flagship retail brand offering ethically sourced handicrafts and garments created by artisan groups, primarily women entrepreneurs.
• Aarong Dairy BRAC's dairy brand that procures milk from rural farmers, processes it, and distributes dairy products nationwide.
• BRAC Fisheries Aquaculture enterprise engaged in fish farming, seed production, and distribution of fish products.
• BRAC Seed and Agro Enterprise Agricultural enterprise producing and distributing quality seeds and agricultural inputs to farmers.
• BRAC Healthcare Healthcare facilities providing affordable medical services to communities, with locations across Bangladesh.
• BRAC Artificial Insemination Livestock breeding service providing artificial insemination support to farmers for improved cattle productivity.
• BRAC Nursery Plant nursery enterprise producing seedlings and saplings for afforestation and agricultural purposes.
• BRAC Recycled Handmade Paper Eco-friendly paper production unit that recycles waste paper into handmade paper products.
• BRAC Sericulture Silk production enterprise supporting silk worm farming and silk processing for rural livelihoods.
• BRAC Printing Pack Printing and packaging services enterprise providing print solutions for BRAC and external clients.
• BRAC Bank Commercial bank subsidiary providing full banking services with a focus on underserved communities and small enterprises.
• BRAC University Private university established in 2001 offering undergraduate and graduate programs with a focus on liberal education and social impact.
• BRAC Probashbandhu Ltd Government-approved recruiting agency facilitating safe, ethical, and low-cost overseas migration for Bangladeshi workers.
• BRAC Driving School Three-month residential training programme for women drivers that has trained 159 women as professional drivers since 2012.
• Ultra-Poor Graduation Programme Comprehensive poverty alleviation programme providing livelihood support, training, and resources to help ultra-poor families achieve sustainable income.
• BRAC Social Innovation Lab Innovation unit testing, prototyping, and adapting solutions to achieve large-scale impact, focusing on frontier technology, climate innovation, and frugal innovation.
• NCD360° Programme Technology-based initiative for non-communicable disease care, partnering with Medtronic Labs to screen and manage hypertension and diabetes through community health workers.
• Swapnosarothi Programme Programme supporting rural adolescent girls in becoming confident and income-generating citizens through training in poultry farming, tailoring, and community health services.
• Amra Notun Network Youth platform providing fellowship, mentorship, and seed funding for young social entrepreneurs and changemakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 312,000 ultra-poor families graduated out of extreme poverty over five years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jameel Observatory-CREWSnetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC is a key implementation partner in the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet's Adaptation Fortress pilot project in Bangladesh. The initiative transforms school-based cyclone shelters into multi-purpose structures protecting against both cyclones and extreme heat. If successful, could scale to 1,250 shelters serving half a million residents.
• Medtronic LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC partnered with Medtronic Labs to implement NCD360°, a technology-based initiative that improved hypertension control rates from 31% to 72% and diabetes control rates from 23% to 47% in Bangladesh. The initiative uses a mobile app and leverages BRAC's community health worker network.
• SOAS University of LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC University established a joint PhD programme in the Political Economy of Development with SOAS University of London, combining academic strength with BRAC's field experience to train scholars focused on sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
• Asia Philanthropy CircleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Asia Philanthropy Circle, chaired by Laurence Lien, is implementing the Alternative Entry Pathway project with BRAC to reduce recruitment fees for Bangladeshi workers from $12,000-$15,000 to under $5,000, helping over 150 workers avoid exploitation since late 2023.
• Supreme Court of BangladeshminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC partnered with the Supreme Court of Bangladesh to conduct a joint study on procedural barriers in women and children repression prevention tribunals. The study analysed 4,040 cases across 32 districts revealing a 3% conviction rate.
• MIT and Community JameelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT and Community Jameel's Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet partnered with BRAC to develop climate-resilient infrastructure in Bangladesh. BRAC is a key implementation partner for the Adaptation Fortress project.
• Yale UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner of BRAC's Social Innovation Lab, collaborating on research and innovation initiatives.
• DalbergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner of BRAC's Social Innovation Lab, providing research and advisory services.
• UnileverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner of BRAC's Social Innovation Lab, collaborating on market access and supply chain initiatives.
• BayerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner of BRAC's Social Innovation Lab, collaborating on agricultural and health initiatives.
• Government of BangladeshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC partners with the Government of Bangladesh on multiple initiatives including measles vaccination campaigns, primary healthcare strengthening, NCD prevention, and disaster response. BRAC works with various ministries including Health, Law, and Disaster Management.
• PATHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC collaborated with PATH on the 'Leapfrogging Primary Health Care in Bangladesh' workshop to explore ways to strengthen access, continuity, and quality of care.
• Directorate of Bangladesh Legal AidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC's SELP programme works with the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid to provide legal aid services to victims of violence against women and children.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian and development organization working in 40+ countries on economic development, health, and humanitarian response. Comparable to BRAC in combining emergency response with longer-term development programs, though operating at smaller scale.
• Oxfam International: Global confederation focused on poverty alleviation, inequality, and humanitarian response. Comparable to BRAC in addressing root causes of poverty, though Oxfam's advocacy and policy focus differs from BRAC's integrated program delivery model.
• CARE International: Major international development and humanitarian organization operating across 100+ countries with focus on poverty, gender equality, and emergency response. Comparable to BRAC in multi-sector development programming and global footprint, though less microfinance-focused.
• Save the Children: Leading international NGO focused on children's rights, education, and health in 100+ countries. Comparable to BRAC's education, child health, and youth empowerment programs (BRAC has 15M+ school graduates), though Save the Children has broader geographic distribution.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders): Largest humanitarian medical organization globally, providing emergency healthcare in conflict and disaster zones. Comparable to BRAC's humanitarian response work, particularly the Rohingya response, though MSF's clinical specialization differs from BRAC's integrated development approach.
• World Vision International: Christian humanitarian organization operating in nearly 100 countries with focus on child welfare, health, education, and economic development. Comparable to BRAC's integrated community development model, though more donor-dependent in its funding structure.
• Concern Worldwide: International humanitarian organization tackling extreme poverty in 25 of the world's poorest countries. Comparable to BRAC's ultra-poor graduation approach and focus on livelihoods, health, and emergency response in fragile contexts.

Direct peers

• Grameen Bank: Nobel Peace Prize-winning microfinance pioneer founded by Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh. Operates a parallel microfinance model targeting poor women, and is the most direct comparator to BRAC's microfinance programme in the same Bangladeshi market.
• ASA (Association for Social Advancement): One of the largest microfinance NGOs in Bangladesh, also named in the draft independent-director regulation alongside BRAC. Competes directly with BRAC for microfinance clients and is comparable in scale and geographic reach within Bangladesh.

Emerging players

• Heifer International: Organization focused on ending hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture and livestock value chains. Comparable to BRAC's livestock and agricultural social enterprises (BRAC Artificial Insemination, BRAC Seed & Agro), particularly its model of providing productive assets to ultra-poor families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/bracuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/BRACWorld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brac
• Instagraminstagram.com/bracuniversity
• Xx.com/BRACworld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BRAC