What Centre for Policy Dialogue does

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) is an independent civil society think tank founded in 1993 and headquartered at House 40/C, Road No 11 (new), Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The organisation generates evidence-based research and policy analysis on Bangladesh's economic development, fiscal policy, energy transition, trade, climate change, gender equality, social protection, and SDG implementation. Its core intellectual products include the periodic Bangladesh Macroeconomic Pulse tracking GDP growth, inflation, tax collection, exports and NPL ratios; the annual Independent Review of Bangladesh's Development (IRBD); sectoral briefs such as Currents of Change for the power and energy sector; foresight studies including Life After Life: Future of Work in Bangladesh; and civic engagement programmes such as Nagorikata. CPD operates with 101-250 employees, drawing on methods spanning economic modeling, large-scale surveys (820 market participants, 1,500 households), Delphi-based scenario-building, and stakeholder consultations.

CPD's go-to-market is community-led: it engages policymakers, development partners, civil society, academia and the private sector through policy dialogues, expert group meetings, national conferences, media briefings, op-eds, and digitally distributed publications. Distribution is primarily free, with publications freely downloadable from cpd.org.bd and books sold via Rokomari.com. The revenue model is dominated by grants and project funding from bilateral donors (Embassy of Switzerland, Global Affairs Canada, Embassy of Denmark, Netherlands Embassy, UK FCDO), multilateral agencies (European Union, IDRC, UNDP, ILO), and collaborative partners (World Economic Forum, Boston University GDP Center, Southern Voice). Publication and book sales represent a minor ancillary revenue stream.

CPD serves four primary segments: Government of Bangladesh policymakers seeking data-driven policy recommendations; development partners and international organisations needing independent assessment of development progress; civil society and academia requiring research access and dialogue platforms; and the private sector seeking business environment and fiscal policy insight. Strategic delivery is executed both directly by CPD staff and through implementing NGO partners (e.g., GUK, PRAAN, IPDS, ERA for Nagorikata) and managed with facilitation intermediaries such as GFA Consulting Group.

Name

Centre for Policy Dialogue

Legal name

Centre for Policy Dialogue

Website

https://cpd.org.bd

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) is Bangladesh's leading independent civil society think tank, founded in 1993, delivering evidence-based macroeconomic, climate, gender, and development policy research, foresight studies, and civic engagement programmes to government, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Development Partner Grants and Funding: CPD receives funding from international development organizations, foreign governments, and bilateral agencies to conduct research programs and policy initiatives. Sources include Embassy of Switzerland, Global Affairs Canada, European Union, Embassy of Denmark, Netherlands Embassy, and various UN agencies.
2. Publication Sales: Revenue from selling publications including books and research reports through platforms like Rokomari.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CPD is a civil society think tank that conducts independent policy research, multistakeholder dialogue, and advocacy on economic, social, and governance issues in Bangladesh. It sells and disseminates research publications (books, briefs, foresight studies, surveys) and convenes policy events targeted at government, development partners, business, academia, and civil society.

Product overview

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) is a civil society think tank that operates as a research and policy dialogue organization rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist primarily of intellectual publications and research programmes. The core products include the Bangladesh Macroeconomic Pulse (periodic economic monitoring publication), various research initiatives like the Task Force on Climate, Development and the IMF, and thematic studies such as the Life After Life: Future of Work foresight study. CPD also operates programme-based offerings including the Nagorikata civic engagement programme. Additional products include sectoral value chain analyses (RMG, Bicycle, Leather industries), sector-specific briefs like Currents of Change for Power & Energy, collaborative publications with international partners (Bangladesh Business Environment surveys with WEF), and historical analyses documenting Bangladesh's development journey. These offerings are distinct publications and programmes rather than a unified software platform with integrated modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bangladesh Macroeconomic Pulse Regular research publication that tracks and analyses Bangladesh's macroeconomic performance, including growth, inflation, and external sector indicators, for policymakers, researchers, and the public.
• Life After Life: Future of Work in Bangladesh Foresight study on the future of work, employment, and labour market transformation in Bangladesh, aimed at policymakers, businesses, and researchers.
• Readymade Garments Industry Value Chain Analysis Analytical research report on the structure, performance, and competitiveness of Bangladesh's readymade garments value chain, for policymakers, industry actors, and development partners.
• Bangladesh Business Environment - Executive Opinion Survey Survey-based research product capturing executive opinions on the business environment in Bangladesh, providing indicators for policymakers and investors.
• 50 Years of Bangladesh's Independence Edited book reflecting on Bangladesh's first 50 years of independence, covering development policy and political economy, sold to scholars, students, and the general public.
• Currents of Change Quarterly publication presenting CPD's research findings, policy briefs, and analyses on Bangladesh's economy and governance.
• 10 Years of Building Safe and Fair Workplaces Research publication reviewing a decade of CPD's work on safe and fair workplaces, including factory safety, labour rights, and remediation in Bangladesh.

Quantifiable outcome

• CPD food price gap study surveyed 820 market participants across 10 markets in Dhaka division covering 10 essential food commodities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boston University Global Development Policy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPD collaborates with Boston University GDP Center as member of the Task Force on Climate, Development and the IMF. This consortium produces research on development-centered approaches to climate change at the IMF, including policy briefs on the Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST).
• Task Force on Climate, Development and the IMF (Member Institutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPD is a member of the Task Force alongside institutions including Intergovernmental Group of 24 (G24), Vulnerable Group of 20 (V20), African Center for Economic Transformation, African Economic Research Consortium, and others. The Task Force advances development-centered climate approaches at the IMF.
• LIRNEasiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPD collaborates with LIRNEasia under the FutureWORKS Asia initiative to conduct the Life After Life: Future of Work in Bangladesh study, using integrated foresight methodology to examine how automation, AI, LDC graduation, and shifting trade patterns will reshape employment.
• International Development Research Centre (IDRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDRC provides support for the Future of Work research program, funding the Life After Life: Future of Work in Bangladesh study examining labour market transformations and policy preparedness.
• Embassy of Denmark in DhakacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPD collaborated with the Embassy of Denmark, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), United Federation of Danish Workers (3F), and Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies to produce the 10 Years of Building Safe and Fair Workplaces publication documenting cooperation on OSH, social dialogue, and just transition.
• Nagorikata Programme PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPD implements the Nagorikata: Civic Engagement Fund programme jointly supported by Embassy of Switzerland, Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and European Union (facilitated by GFA Consulting Group). The programme addresses socio-economic inequalities and marginalised community engagement.
• Gram Unnayan Karma (GUK)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGUK is one of four implementing NGO partners for the Nagorikata programme in Bogura district. GUK handles citizen mobilisation, social audits, and community engagement in selected upazilas with a Field Coordinator and Community Volunteers.
• Participatory Research and Action Network (PRAAN)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPRAAN is the implementing partner for the Nagorikata programme in Noakhali district, responsible for mobilisation, social audits, and routine reporting on citizen engagement activities.
• Indigenous Peoples Development Services (IPDS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIPDS implements Nagorikata programme activities in Sherpur district, focusing on citizen mobilisation and social audit methodology in areas with ethnic communities.
• Efforts for Rural Advancement (ERA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerERA is the implementing partner for Sunamganj district under the Nagorikata programme, handling community engagement in disaster-prone haor regions with focus on social accountability.
• Directorate of Technical Education and Technical and Madrasah Education DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPD supported an expert lecture session with ILO technical support on gender-responsive budgeting in Bangladesh's TVET system, contributing to the Gender and Skills Taskforce's roadmap development.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILO provided technical support for the gender-responsive budgeting expert lecture session exploring inclusive TVET system development in Bangladesh.
• World Economic Forum (WEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPD conducted the Bangladesh Business Environment 2025 Executive Opinion Survey (EOS) in collaboration with WEF, assessing business constraints, risks, and structural challenges in Bangladesh's evolving political and economic environment.
• Southern VoicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPD collaborates with Southern Voice as a Global South campaign partner for the 1 for 8 Billion campaign on UN Secretary-General selection, engaging stakeholders in discussions on representation and institutional credibility.
• BRAC CDMminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBRAC CDM (Centre for Development Management) in Savar hosted the scenario-building workshop for the Life After Life: Future of Work in Bangladesh study.
• GFA Consulting GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGFA Consulting Group facilitates the European Union's engagement in the Nagorikata programme, supporting CPD's civic engagement fund implementation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS): Bangladesh's primary government-affiliated economic and development research institute. BIDS is the most direct domestic peer to CPD, conducting macroeconomic, social, and policy research with overlapping thematic focus on Bangladesh's development.
• BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD): Policy research and governance think tank hosted by BRAC University, focused on governance, social policy, and development in Bangladesh. BIGD is a close domestic peer competing for the same donor and policy-dialogue space as CPD.
• South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM): Bangladesh-based economic research and policy network conducting macroeconomic, trade, and development modeling. SANEM is a direct peer competing with CPD on macroeconomic analysis and policy dialogue in Bangladesh.

Regional players

• Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER): India-based think tank producing policy research on international economics, trade, macroeconomics, and development. ICRIER is a regional peer operating in adjacent thematic areas with comparable donor-driven research and policy engagement model.
• Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE): Pakistan's leading development economics research institute. PIDE is a regional peer with a similar mandate of evidence-based economic policy research targeting government and development partners in South Asia.
• Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS): Sri Lanka's leading economic policy think tank. IPS is a regional peer with comparable thematic focus on macroeconomic policy, trade, and development, and similar donor-funded research model.

Broad incumbents

• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): Global CGIAR research institute focused on food and agriculture policy. IFPRI is a broad incumbent peer with a presence in Bangladesh, operating in adjacent development-policy domains with similar research and policy-engagement methods.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): UK-based global policy think tank on international development and humanitarian issues. ODI is a broad incumbent peer frequently partnering with or commissioning from Southern think tanks like CPD.
• Brookings Institution: US-based global think tank producing public policy research across economics, governance, and international development. Brookings is a broad incumbent peer operating at vastly larger scale but with comparable evidence-based policy research output.

Others

• Southern Voice: Global network of think tanks from the Global South CPD actively participates in. Southern Voice is an ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, but it shapes CPD's positioning within global development discourse on SDGs and UN governance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cpdbd1993
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CPDBangladesh
• Facebookfacebook.com/cpd.org.bd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cpdbangladesh
• Instagraminstagram.com/cpd_bangladesh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Policy Dialogue