BRAC International
BRAC International is a Netherlands-registered non-profit development organisation operating across 15+ countries in Asia and Africa, delivering poverty alleviation programmes through its Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative, microfinance subsidiaries, youth empowerment, ECD, and government-embedded social protection partnerships serving ultra-poor households, women, and youth.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersThe Hague, Netherlands
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What BRAC International does
BRAC International is the global non-profit arm of BRAC, registered as Stichting BRAC International in The Hague, Netherlands, and founded in 1972 in post-war Bangladesh. The organisation operates an integrated portfolio of six programme areas: Social Development (climate adaptation, ECD, health, gender equality, youth empowerment, humanitarian response), Financial Inclusion through seven regulated microfinance subsidiaries across Africa and Asia, Social Enterprises in Uganda and Tanzania, the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI) delivering the evidence-based Graduation methodology, the Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM) programme, and BRAC University. Its core intellectual asset is the Graduation approach — a sequenced combination of asset transfer, consumption support, savings facilitation, health linkage, and intensive coaching — validated by nearly 30 randomised controlled trials and codified into scalable frameworks such as the Graduation Essentials (ABCs) and Practical Pathways to Coaching.
BRAC International does not sell commercial products or software; programmes are delivered free or at subsidised rates to beneficiaries. Revenue is generated through four streams: microfinance interest income (with $6 billion in microloans disbursed in 2024, primarily to women), grants from institutional donors (Mastercard Foundation, LEGO Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation), social enterprise revenue, and government contracts under technical-assistance MoUs. The organisation reaches beneficiaries through three go-to-market motions: direct-to-beneficiary delivery via its own field staff and 5,500+ trained mentors across 2,800+ youth clubs; government-embedded delivery where it partners with national social protection systems (India's DAY-NRLM, Chhattisgarh Bihan, Bihar, Rwanda, Philippines DOLE) to scale the Graduation approach; and remote delivery via Radio Play Labs.
The organisation serves ultra-poor households, women, adolescent girls and youth, smallholder farmers, and governments across 15+ countries in Asia and Africa (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Myanmar, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda). To date, BRAC has reached 145 million people globally, graduated 15 million+ children from its schools, and supports a network of 259,000 Self-Help Groups in Chhattisgarh alone.
BRAC International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BRAC International
- Legal name
- Stichting BRAC International
- Website
- https://bracinternational.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- BRAC International is a Netherlands-registered non-profit development organisation operating across 15+ countries in Asia and Africa, delivering poverty alleviation programmes through its Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative, microfinance subsidiaries, youth empowerment, ECD, and government-embedded social protection partnerships serving ultra-poor households, women, and youth.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BRAC International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development and Poverty Alleviation
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Community Food Services (624210), Community Housing Services (62422)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microfinance, Financial Inclusion & Inclusive Markets (BPAGABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)
Keywords
Where BRAC International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- The Hague
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices12 records
Markets served
BRAC International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Microfinance (Interest Income): BRAC's microfinance operations in multiple African countries (Uganda Bank Limited, Tanzania Finance Limited, Rwanda Microfinance Company PLC, Ghana Savings and Loans Limited, Myanmar Microfinance Company Limited, Liberia Microfinance Company Limited, Sierra Leone Microfinance Limited) provide loans primarily to women and generate interest income. In 2024, $6 billion was disbursed in microloans. Microfinance is described as 'at the heart of BRAC's holistic approach to development.'
- Donations and Grants: As a non-profit organisation (Stichting BRAC International registered in the Netherlands), BRAC relies heavily on donations, institutional grants, and philanthropic funding from foundations such as Mastercard Foundation, LEGO Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and bilateral/multilateral donors to fund its social development programmes.
- Social Enterprise Revenue: BRAC's social enterprises (BRAC Social Business Enterprises Uganda Limited, BRAC Enterprises Tanzania Limited) meet client needs while generating income to partially support BRAC's programmes. These enterprises are self-sustaining commercial operations.
- Government Partnerships and Contracts: BRAC signs MoUs with governments (Rwanda, India/Bihar/Chhattisgarh, Philippines/DOLE) to support implementation of the Graduation approach within national social protection systems. These partnerships may involve government co-funding or resource contribution.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
BRAC International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BRAC International is a non-profit development organization that delivers integrated poverty alleviation programmes across 15+ countries in Asia and Africa. Its core offerings include the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI) — an evidence-based Graduation approach providing asset transfers, consumption support, savings, health services and life-skills coaching to lift ultra-poor households out of extreme poverty; microfinance services operated through regulated subsidiaries in seven African countries; the Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM) youth empowerment programme; social enterprises in Uganda and Tanzania; and community-based social development programmes covering education, health, climate adaptation, gender equality and humanitarian response.
Product overview
BRAC International is a Global South-led development organization offering an integrated ecosystem of poverty alleviation programs rather than a unified commercial product. The portfolio comprises six interconnected program areas: Social Development (including climate, youth, agriculture, education, gender, health, and humanitarian programs), Financial Inclusion through microfinance operations across Africa, Social Enterprise subsidiaries, the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI) with its evidence-based Graduation approach, the Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM) program, and BRAC University. These programs operate through regional subsidiaries including microfinance institutions in Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, all unified by BRAC's holistic, entrepreneurial approach to human development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AIM (Accelerating Impact for Young Women): Youth empowerment program focusing on young women across Africa
- Graduation Approach
- UPGI (Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative)
Products and services
- Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI)
- Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM)
- Microfinance Operations
- Social Development Programmes
- Social Enterprises
- BRAC University
- BRAC Uganda Bank Limited
- BRAC Tanzania Finance Limited
- BRAC Rwanda Microfinance Company PLC
- BRAC Ghana Savings and Loans Limited
- BRAC Myanmar Microfinance Company Limited
- BRAC Liberia Microfinance Company Limited
- BRAC Microfinance Sierra Leone Limited
- BRAC Social Business Enterprises Uganda Limited
- BRAC Enterprises Tanzania Limited
Quantifiable outcome
- 145 million people globally have accessed BRAC's programmes (education, healthcare, economic development)
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use BRAC International
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
BRAC International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
BRAC International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)coreIPA and Gates Foundation collaborated with BRAC on a webinar advancing the Ultra-Poor Graduation approach. BRAC's Gregory Chen (Managing Director, UPGI) served as a panelist alongside academics from LSE, Boston University, Village Enterprise, and Raising the Village to discuss evidence gaps and scaling innovations.
- IWWAGE (Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality)coreIWWAGE co-convened the Annual Partners' Meet in New Delhi (May 2025) with BRAC, providing technical support on gender and social inclusion within the Inclusive Livelihoods Programme. Led by Executive Director Radha Chellappa.
- PRADANcorePRADAN is a core implementation partner for the Inclusive Livelihoods Programme / CG-SAY, providing research and technical support. BRAC acknowledges PRADAN's critical role in bringing the programme to life in Chhattisgarh.
- Indian Grameen Services (IGS)coreIndian Grameen Services was a core partner represented at the Annual Partners' Meet in New Delhi, contributing to the roll-out of the Inclusive Livelihoods Programme across Indian states.
- Aga Khan FoundationcoreAga Khan Foundation was a core partner represented at the Annual Partners' Meet, contributing decades of experience in livelihoods and women's empowerment across South Asia.
- J-PAL South AsiacoreJ-PAL South Asia provides research and technical partner support for the Inclusive Livelihoods Programme, contributing evidence-based strategies, monitoring and evaluation systems, and thematic innovations.
- Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies (CRISP)supportingCRISP is a research and technical partner institution contributing to the Inclusive Livelihoods Programme, focusing on monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems.
- IMAGO Global GrassrootssupportingIMAGO Global Grassroots is a research and technical partner contributing to the Inclusive Livelihoods Programme, focusing on capacity building and thematic innovations.
- Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), BangaloresupportingISEC Bangalore is a research and technical partner contributing to the Inclusive Livelihoods Programme with academic expertise in social and economic change.
- African Development Bank GroupsupportingAfDB co-organised the BRAC Regional Dialogue on Applying Evidence to Achieve Long-Term Development and Inclusive Growth Across Africa, bringing together government, multilateral institutions, civil society, and academia.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)supportingUNDP co-organised the BRAC Regional Dialogues series alongside BRAC, BRAC Institute for Governance and Development (BIGD), African Development Bank, WACSI, and others to promote dialogue on effective poverty eradication.
- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) — PhilippinescoreDOLE Philippines drives coordinated poverty alleviation through the Graduation Approach Project in partnership with BRAC Philippines. DOLE has recognised BRAC Philippines with a Plaque of Recognition.
- Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (Bihan), Government of ChhattisgarhcoreMoU signed for implementation of CG-SAY (Chhattisgarh-Samaveshi Aajeevika Yojana), a Graduation-inspired livelihoods programme targeting the most vulnerable citizens including PVTGs, women-headed families, and persons with disabilities in Kabirdham and Jashpur districts. BRAC provides technical expertise while Bihan operates through its network of 259,000 SHGs and 2.93 million households.
- Trickle UpcoreTrickle Up is the implementation partner for CG-SAY (Chhattisgarh-Samaveshi Aajeevika Yojana). Trickle Up also co-designed the coaching framework for the programme and brings experience from Graduation implementations globally.
- CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor)supportingCGAP published research and blog content on BRAC's Accelerating Impact (AIM) programme and young women's financial inclusion, highlighting the importance of donors supporting services the market won't provide for hard-to-reach young women.
- UNFPAsupportingBRAC partnered with UNFPA as a member of the Equity 2030 Alliance, contributing to women-centric innovations for equitable development.
- National Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (NRLPS) / DAY-NRLM, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of IndiacoreMoU signed for inclusion of the poorest of the poor women under DAY-NRLM. BRAC provides technical support for the Inclusive Livelihoods / Samaveshi Aajeevika programme, which has mobilised over 100 million women into Self-Help Groups. BRAC anchors coordination and programmatic support across five states.
- United Nations Joint Sustainable Development Goals FundcoreBRAC International joined the Strategic Advisory Group of the UN Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund, contributing expertise on poverty eradication and inclusive growth to the global SDG agenda.
- Government of Bihar (India)coreMoU signed for India's first government-led Urban Graduation Programme. BRAC provides technical expertise on Graduation programme design and implementation within Bihar's urban poverty alleviation framework.
- Government of RwandacoreMoU signed to empower people to escape extreme poverty through the Graduation approach. BRAC works with the Government of Rwanda to scale government-led Graduation programmes. Nyamagabe District later signed its own MoU (June 2025) to launch a district-led Graduation programme.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
BRAC International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CARE International: Major international development NGO operating poverty, women's empowerment, and humanitarian programmes globally. Comparable to BRAC on women's economic empowerment, multi-country delivery, and integrated programming — though with a broader humanitarian emphasis.
- Mercy Corps: Large US-headquartered international development NGO operating in 40+ countries with programmes in livelihoods, financial inclusion, youth, and humanitarian response. Overlaps with BRAC on multi-sector integrated development model and Africa/Asia footprint, though broader portfolio and more humanitarian focus.
- Save the Children: Major international NGO focused on children's rights, education, and poverty alleviation across 100+ countries. Comparable to BRAC on education/ECD programming (BRAC schools), multi-country scale, and government partnership model, though with a narrower child-focused mandate.
- Oxfam International: Large confederation of international development NGOs focused on poverty, inequality, and humanitarian response across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable to BRAC on scale, global footprint, and integrated development approach, though more advocacy-driven.
Direct peers
- Grameen Bank: Pioneer of microfinance lending to ultra-poor women in Bangladesh and globally; the conceptual foundation for BRAC's microfinance subsidiaries. Most directly comparable in the microfinance/financial-inclusion-for-the-poor space and a long-standing reference point for BRAC's lending methodology.
- FINCA International: Operates a network of regulated microfinance banks across Africa and Latin America serving low-income entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to BRAC's 7 regulated MFI subsidiaries in target customer (women micro-entrepreneurs), product (small-ticket loans), and operating geographies.
- Trickle Up: Specialist NGO co-creator of the Graduation approach alongside BRAC; works with governments and local NGOs in India, Africa, and Latin America. Already a documented implementation partner on BRAC's CG-SAY programme and the closest methodological peer in Graduation delivery.
- Opportunity International: Global network of regulated microfinance institutions serving under-banked populations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable to BRAC International on regulated entity model, women-focused lending, and multi-country operating footprint.
- BRAC Bangladesh: The parent/legacy entity from which BRAC International was spun off; operates the same Graduation approach, microfinance, education, and health programmes at much larger scale within Bangladesh. Most directly comparable as the originating developer of BRAC's methodologies.
Emerging players
- Village Enterprise: Africa-focused poverty graduation organisation operating in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda using the Graduation methodology. Most directly comparable specialist peer to BRAC UPGI on Graduation delivery in the same African geographies; smaller scale but methodologically aligned.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
BRAC International social profiles
Digital presenceBRAC International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BRAC International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
BRAC International subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
BRAC International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BRAC International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BRAC International
What does BRAC International do?
BRAC International is a non-profit development organization that delivers integrated poverty alleviation programmes across 15+ countries in Asia and Africa. Its core offerings include the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI) — an evidence-based Graduation approach providing asset transfers, consumption support, savings, health services and life-skills coaching to lift ultra-poor households out of extreme poverty; microfinance services operated through regulated subsidiaries in seven African countries; the Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM) youth empowerment programme; social enterprises in Uganda and Tanzania; and community-based social development programmes covering education, health, climate adaptation, gender equality and humanitarian response.
Is BRAC International a public or private company?
BRAC International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BRAC International founded?
BRAC International was founded in 1972. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is BRAC International based?
BRAC International is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does BRAC International make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Microfinance (Interest Income) is the primary driver. The others are donations and Grants, social Enterprise Revenue and government Partnerships and Contracts.
Who are BRAC International's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CARE International, Mercy Corps, Save the Children and Oxfam International. Direct peers are Grameen Bank, FINCA International, Trickle Up, Opportunity International and BRAC Bangladesh. Village Enterprise is listed as an emerging player.
Does BRAC International have an API?
No public API is recorded for BRAC International.
What industry is BRAC International in?
BRAC International's product category is International Development and Poverty Alleviation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAM, Microfinance, Financial Inclusion & Inclusive Markets, with a secondary code of HLAJAKAD, International & Local Implementing NGOs. Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 8300.