Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication

What Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication does

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is a Dhaka-based nonprofit organization established in 2000 that operates as a network and capacity-building body for community radio broadcasters, civil society organizations, and NGOs across Bangladesh. The organization implements the UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS) action lines C1–C11 in Bangladesh since 2006 and delivers programming across digital development, digital localization, combating technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), misinformation countering, road safety journalism, and SDG-16 localization through community radio. It also hosts the secretariats of the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (since 2006) and the Bangladesh Initiative for Unified Voices on Global Digital Compact (since 2022), serving as a coordination layer for digital governance policy engagement.

BNNRC's core offerings include community radio broadcasting programs, digital development services, TFGBV capacity-building training, road safety journalism programs, misinformation countering workshops, and knowledge products such as the Handbook on Media Development, a Community Radio Directory, an Online Database of CR Broadcasters, and a Community Radio Training Curriculum. Underlying technology consists of community radio broadcasting infrastructure and ICT platforms deployed to reach underserved, marginalized communities; BNNRC does not operate proprietary software products and instead functions as a knowledge hub and convening organization. Distribution is channeled through a national NGO/CSO partner network and regional dialogues conducted across Bangladesh, including Barisal, Khulna, and Mymensingh.

The organization is funded through project grants and development partnerships with international bodies (EU D4D Hub, The Asia Foundation, GHAI, GRSP, COAST Trust, Coast Foundation, APC, GFMD, AMARC, ABU, AIBD) rather than commercial pricing. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. BNNRC holds Special Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC, accreditation with WSIS, the UN SDGs Media Compact, the UN Open-ended Working Group (OEWG), and the UN Summit of the Future. It is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Md. Arifur Rahman, with CEO AHM Bazlur Rahman serving as Member Secretary. The organization has won the UN WSIS Prize in 2016 and been named UN WSIS Champion in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.

Name

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication

Legal name

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication

Website

https://bnnrc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is a Dhaka-based nonprofit network organization established in 2000 that builds capacity of community radio broadcasters, NGOs, and civil society groups in Bangladesh on digital development, TFGBV prevention, misinformation, and road safety journalism, while hosting the secretariats of national digital governance forums.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Development and ICT4D Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Business Associations (813910), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Digital development services
• ICT for development
• Media development programs
• Civil society capacity building

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Project Grants and Development Funding: BNNRC operates as a nonprofit NGO funded through international development partners, government grants, and project-based funding. The organization implements programs aligned with Digital Development, Media Development, Internet Governance, TFGBV prevention, Road Safety Journalism, and Information Integrity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BNNRC is a non-profit NGO that implements community radio broadcasting and ICT-enabled development programs to reach underserved communities in Bangladesh, executing UN WSIS action lines C1-C11 since 2006. It delivers capacity-building trainings on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), road safety journalism, misinformation countering, and digital development, while serving as the secretariat for the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum and the Bangladesh Initiative for Unified Voices on Global Digital Compact.

Product overview

BNNRC is a non-profit media development NGO (established 2000) operating as a single integrated organization focused on community radio broadcasting, digital development, and ICT for development (ICT4D). The organization implements UN WSIS action lines C1-C11 in Bangladesh and has strategically shifted toward digital development and digital localization since 2015. BNNRC's core offerings include community radio broadcasting programs, digital development services, capacity-building training on combating technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), road safety journalism initiatives, misinformation countering programs, and various publications and databases. The organization also serves as secretariat for the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum and the Bangladesh Initiative for Unified Voices on Global Digital Compact, functioning as a coordination and knowledge hub for media development in Bangladesh.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Radio Broadcasting Programs Community radio broadcasting and ICT-enabled programs to reach underserved communities in Bangladesh through implementing UN WSIS action lines C1-C11 since 2006. The programs are designed for civil society organizations, NGOs, and marginalized communities.
• Digital Development Services Strategic focus on digital development, digital localization, information integrity, and online spaces, including supporting CSOs to integrate digital technologies, building open digital ecosystems, and human-centric digital transformation. Services are delivered to civil society organizations and NGOs.
• Combating Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) Training Capacity-building training programs to prevent technology-facilitated gender-based violence, assist victims in obtaining legal remedies, and advocate for policy changes. Training is delivered to women representatives of civil society organizations, women leaders, and human rights protection organizations.
• Road Safety Journalism Program Program for building media professionalism for road safety through constructive journalism, including training, fellowships, and communications support. Delivered to journalists and media professionals in Bangladesh.
• Misinformation Countering Programs Training workshops on fighting against misinformation, including facilitation training and media monitoring. Delivered to journalists, civil society organizations, and media professionals.
• Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum Secretariat Secretariat coordination function for the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum, supporting internet governance discussions and multi-stakeholder engagement in Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh Initiative for Unified Voices on Global Digital Compact Secretariat Secretariat coordination function for the Bangladesh Initiative for Unified Voices on Global Digital Compact and UN Summit for the Future 2024.
• Handbook on Media Development (MDM) Published handbook on Media Development (MDM) available for download as an educational resource for community radio broadcasters and media professionals.
• Community Radio Directory Online directory of community radio stations in Bangladesh maintained for networking and coordination purposes among community radio broadcasters.
• SDG-16 Localization through Community Radio Systematic SDG localization process for supporting community people to achieve SDGs through community radio broadcasting since 2016.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Union Digital for Development Hub (D4D Hub)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024BNNRC has onboarded with the European Union Digital for Development Hub (D4D Hub) to enhance collective efforts in advancing digital development initiatives. This partnership focuses on digital development and digital localization interventions.
• Bangladesh Internet Governance ForumcoreOthersBNNRC has hosted the secretariat for the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum since 2006, playing a central role in internet governance discussions in Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh Initiative for Unified Voices on Global Digital CompactcoreOthersBNNRC hosts the secretariat of the Bangladesh Initiative for Unified Voices on Global Digital Compact and UN Summit for the Future 2024 since 2022.
• Association for Progressive Communications (APC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network member focused on progressive communications and digital rights.
• Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational forum for media development collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal association representing community radio broadcasters.
• Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional broadcasting union for Asia-Pacific region.
• Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional institute for broadcasting development.
• The Asia FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting BNNRC programs including training on fighting misinformation with support of The Asia Foundation.
• Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting road safety journalism programs through the Building Media Professionalism for Road Safety project.
• Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting road safety journalism fellowship and training programs.
• Coast FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for Deep Dive on Digital Development for Digital Democracy programs in Barisal and Khulna regions.
• Speed TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner supporting TFGBV trainings and regional dialogues in Barisal region.
• COAST TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting BNNRC's community-led initiatives for climate justice project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC): Global association for community radio broadcasters. Already a partner of BNNRC; directly comparable given BNNRC's anchoring in community radio broadcasting for development and digital inclusion.
• Association for Progressive Communications (APC): Global network of civil society organizations focused on ICTs for social justice and digital rights. Already a partner of BNNRC; comparable in mission to advance digital inclusion and internet governance, especially in the Global South.
• Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD): Regional institute for broadcasting development. Already a partner of BNNRC; comparable as a regional capacity-building entity for media and broadcasting professionals.
• Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD): International forum for media development collaboration. Already a partner of BNNRC; similarly works at the intersection of media development, internet governance, and CSO capacity building.
• Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU): Regional broadcasting union covering Asia-Pacific. Already a partner of BNNRC; directly comparable in the broadcasting and community media development space.
• ARTICLE 19: International human rights organization focused on freedom of expression and information. Highly comparable to BNNRC's work on digital rights, internet governance, and combating technology-facilitated harms.

Broad incumbents

• Internews: Large international nonprofit supporting independent media and information access worldwide. Operates a much broader portfolio than BNNRC but pursues overlapping goals in media development, information integrity, and digital rights.
• The Asia Foundation: Large international development organization working across Asia. Already a partner of BNNRC for misinformation programming; operates at a much larger scale but engages similar CSO networks and digital development themes.

Emerging players

• BRAC: Bangladesh-based development organization with extensive digital and community programs. Comparable as a large Bangladesh-rooted NGO working on development and digital inclusion, though with a much broader program footprint.
• Search for Common Ground: International conflict transformation organization that works on media for peace, information integrity, and gender-based violence prevention. Comparable to BNNRC's emphasis on constructive journalism, TFGBV prevention, and SDG localization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bnnrc

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication