Concerned Women for family Development

What Concerned Women for family Development does

Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD) is a Bangladeshi non-political, non-profit voluntary organization founded in 1974 as Concerned Women for Family Planning (CWFP) and registered with the Directorate of Social Welfare in 1975. Originally established to provide reproductive health counseling to refugee women arriving in Dhaka after the 1974 famine, the organization has evolved into a women-led implementing platform operating static service centers — the Saleha Khanam Nibedita (SKN) Health Clinic (maternal and child health, ultrasonography, family planning, immunization), the Nibedita Mental Health Centre (counseling and IQ testing, launched 2021), the Nibedita Shishu Niketon School for slum children aged 5-13, and the Nibedita Restaurant and Catering social enterprise — alongside the Alapon Helpline for SRHR, GBV, and mental health counseling (8am-8pm, seven days).

CWFD's field operations are anchored by 41 Community Mobilization (CMP) project offices across 14 districts and 33 upazilas, supplemented by field offices in Noakhali and Chandpur, reaching an estimated 1.85 million beneficiaries across 63 districts, 113 upazilas, 414 unions, and 1,330 wards. Programs include the Generation Breakthrough Project / GEMS curriculum (432,606 adolescents reached in 350 schools and madrasahs; 13,500 master trainers trained; Shahana cartoon series distributed to 33,000 schools via DSHE), humanitarian response programming (MHM kits, GBV response, anticipatory action) backed by UNFPA, the FAIR project for sex workers and their children (GAC via MJF), and the MISHD project (USAID via SMC).

The business model is overwhelmingly donor-funded (professional services): UNFPA, USAID, Global Affairs Canada, Plan International Bangladesh, WaterAid Bangladesh, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the European Commission underwrite project activity. Fee-based revenue comes from the SKN Clinic (consultations, diagnostics, ultrasonography), the Mental Health Centre (BDT 500-1,500 per session tiered by population), the school (modest tuition), and the catering operation. Distribution relies on community sales agents, Gold Star Members, Women-Led Organizations, and peer educators, with technology limited to a UNFPA-provided Humanitarian Distribution Management App and CRM/CTI systems supporting the helpline. Headcount is disclosed at 11-50, indicating a lean core team that scales impact through volunteer and partner networks rather than direct employment.

Name

Concerned Women for family Development

Legal name

Concerned Women for Family Development

Website

https://cwfd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CWFD is a Bangladeshi non-profit founded in 1974 that delivers women's health, gender equity, education, and humanitarian response programs through 41 community offices and donor-funded projects, serving women, adolescents, and marginalized populations across 63 districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development and Public Health Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF), Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) & Mental Health Programs (BPADAIAK)

Keywords

• Maternal health services
• Reproductive health programs
• Gender equity education
• Humanitarian aid services
• Mental health counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor-funded Projects: Majority of funding comes from international donors including UNFPA, USAID, Global Affairs Canada, Plan International, WaterAid Bangladesh, and others for specific development and humanitarian projects.
2. Health Clinic Services: Saleha Khanam Nibedita (SKN) Clinic provides affordable maternal and child health services. Fees charged for consultations, treatments, and diagnostic services.
3. Mental Health Counseling: Nibedita Mental Health Centre provides fee-based counseling services with specific pricing for adult, adolescent, child, and couple counseling sessions.
4. Nibedita Restaurant and Catering: Self-sustaining catering business run by women, generating income to sustain operations. Provides low-cost, quality food for events and gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CWFD is a non-profit, women-led voluntary organization that delivers health, education, gender development, and humanitarian services to women, adolescents, and marginalized populations in Bangladesh. Its direct service portfolio includes the Saleha Khanam Nibedita (SKN) Health Clinic for maternal and child health, the Nibedita Mental Health Centre for psychological counseling, the Nibedita Shishu Niketon School for slum children, the Alapon Helpline for SRHR/GBV/Mental Health counseling, and the Nibedita Restaurant and Catering social enterprise. The organization also implements donor-funded development and humanitarian projects across 41 Community Mobilization Project offices and 350+ schools nationwide, deploying the GEMS curriculum and emergency MHM kit distribution in disaster-affected areas.

Product overview

Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD) is a non-political, non-profit voluntary organization run by women for women in Bangladesh. The organization offers a portfolio of health, education, and support services including two healthcare facilities (Saleha Khanam Nibedita Health Clinic and Nibedita Mental Health Centre), an educational institution (Nibedita Shishu Niketon School), a telephone helpline (Alapon Helpline), and a social enterprise (Nibedita Restaurant and Catering). These services are complemented by various development projects focused on humanitarian response, adolescent reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention, and women's empowerment across Bangladesh.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NIBEDITA: Health and wellness brand providing maternal and child health services, mental health counselling, education for slum children, and women-run catering services
• Alapon

Products and services

• Saleha Khanam Nibedita (SKN) Health Clinic Maternal and child health clinic providing affordable healthcare services including newborn treatment, maternal health counseling, family planning, adolescent reproductive health, ultrasonography, dentistry, physiotherapy, and immunizations. Located in Banasree, Dhaka, serving community members of the Banasree area.
• Nibedita Mental Health Centre Mental health center providing psychological counseling services including adult counseling, adolescent counseling, child developmental and behavioral services, couple counseling, and IQ testing. Services priced per session in BDT (Adult: 1,000 BDT first session / 800 BDT follow-up; Adolescent: 800 BDT first / 500 BDT individual follow-up; Child: 1,200 BDT first / 1,000 BDT follow-up; Couple: 1,500 BDT first / 1,200 BDT follow-up). First mental health center in Banasree area.
• Nibedita Shishu Niketon School School providing education to slum children aged 5-13 years from marginalized families, including girls and boys vulnerable to child marriage and child labor. Located in Banasree, Dhaka.
• Alapon Helpline

Quantifiable outcome

• 432,606 adolescents (234,564 girls, 198,042 boys) attended GEMS sessions in 350 schools and madrasahs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Social Marketing Company (SMC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary partner for MISHD and CMP projects. CWFD distributes SMC health products through Community Sales Agents and Gold Star Members in underserved areas.
• First Aid Centre of Sweden, Bangladesh (FACS,B)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided trainers for First Aid in Emergency training for CWFD project and core staff. Facilitated two batches of training on emergency medical response.
• Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Generation Breakthrough and GEMS curriculum implementation. DSHE approved and integrated Shahana cartoon series into national education system, distributing to 33,000 schools.
• Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry involved in GEMS training and Comprehensive Life Skills Education orientation for government officials.
• International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneered the Gender Equity Movement in Schools (GEMS) program since 2008, which CWFD adapted and implemented in Bangladesh.
• BRACmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGFATM funding through BRAC for Integrated Tuberculosis Care project with 08 TB clinics in Dhaka city.
• Government of Bangladesh (Local Government)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local government for Cyclone Remal response, distribution supported by Upazila officials and local stakeholders.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BRAC: BRAC is the largest NGO in Bangladesh with deep reach across health, education, gender, and economic empowerment programs. It is comparable to CWFD as an explicit current partner (TB project) and competitor for the same donor and government mindshare, though operating at vastly larger scale.
• CARE Bangladesh: CARE Bangladesh is a large international humanitarian and development NGO with overlapping focus areas on women's empowerment, adolescent health, GBV response, and humanitarian relief. It competes for the same UN, USAID, and GAC funding pool that CWFD depends on.

Direct peers

• International Center for Research on Women (ICRW): ICRW pioneered the GEMS curriculum that CWFD adapts and implements in Bangladesh. It is directly comparable as a gender-focused research and programmatic organization working on gender equity in schools, adolescent empowerment, and GBV prevention globally.
• ActionAid Bangladesh: ActionAid Bangladesh is a current and historical CWFD partner (Integrated Development Program for Urban Adolescent, 1997-2011) with a comparable women-led, rights-based programming focus on urban adolescents, GBV prevention, and women's economic empowerment in Bangladesh.
• Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF): MJF is a current core partner of CWFD (intermediary for GAC funding on FAIR and Alokito Manush projects) and directly comparable as a Bangladesh-based human rights and governance grantmaker focused on women's rights, GBV, and marginalized populations.
• Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB): FPAB is a Bangladesh IPPF-affiliated NGO with the most direct overlap with CWFD's original mission (founded as Concerned Women for Family Planning), delivering SRHR, family planning, maternal health, and adolescent services across Bangladesh through clinics and community programs.
• WaterAid Bangladesh: WaterAid Bangladesh is a current financial partner (ICTIHDBPH, public sanitation projects) and a comparable Bangladesh-focused international NGO working on WASH, gender, and dignity issues, with overlapping donor base and government partnership strategy.
• Plan International Bangladesh: Plan International Bangladesh is a core funding partner of CWFD (Generation Breakthrough Project) and directly comparable as it focuses on adolescent rights, gender equity, and SRHR programming in Bangladesh schools and communities, serving overlapping beneficiary populations.
• Nari Maitree: Nari Maitree is a Bangladeshi women's rights and development NGO working on similar issues including women's empowerment, GBV, SRHR, and humanitarian response. It is a directly comparable local peer operating in overlapping districts and competing for similar donor funding.

Others

• UNFPA Bangladesh: UNFPA Bangladesh is CWFD's primary humanitarian and SRHR funder. It is comparable as the lead UN agency for SRHR and gender programming in Bangladesh, sharing CWFD's focus areas (GBV, ASRHR, MHM in emergencies) but operating as a funder/policy actor rather than direct implementer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@concernedwomenforfamilydev5508
• Facebookfacebook.com/CWFD.NGO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/concerned-women-for-family-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Concerned Women for family Development