CNRS | Center for Natural Resource Studies

What CNRS | Center for Natural Resource Studies does

CNRS (Center for Natural Resource Studies) is a Bangladesh-based non-governmental organization, conceptualized in 1993 from the Bangladesh Flood Action Plan (FAP16) Environmental Study and formally operational since 1994. Headquartered in Banani, Dhaka, with 54 core staff (supplemented by hundreds of temporary field workers and laborers on individual projects), the organization delivers development and research programs across seven thematic areas: Environment and Climate Change; Food Security and Livelihood; Community Development and Governance; Disaster Management and Resilience; Health & Nutrition; Child Welfare and Protection; and Institutional Development. Operations span all districts and multiple Upazilas of Bangladesh, with 31 projects implemented in the most recent reporting year and reach into refugee contexts (notably Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar).

The organization's underlying technical capabilities center on nature-based solutions (NbS), climate-smart agriculture (CSA), eco-friendly disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), biological wastewater treatment via constructed wetlands, vermicomposting, and community-based wetland sanctuary management. Field work is delivered through embedded community structures — VSLAs, M&C groups, CBOs and village organizations — using participatory wealth-ranking and courtyard-session methodologies. CNRS also convenes policy dialogues and academic collaborations with IRRI, IWMI, WorldFish, ICDDR'B, Chittagong University and East West University.

The business model is that of a project-funded non-profit: revenue is sourced from international development grants (EU, WFP, UNHCR, USAID, JICA, KOICA, SDC, HELVETAS, IDRC, World Bank), corporate CSR partnerships (Chevron, Standard Chartered, City Bank, Sinopec), and government contracts for policy advisory and implementation. CNRS does not charge for its services and does not sell commercial products; its go-to-market is event-driven engagement through policy dialogues, workshops, direct community implementation, and partnerships with NGOs, INGOs, UN agencies, and government bodies. Documented outcomes include 32.5% fuel-cost reductions via improved stoves, fish-catch doubling in Hail Haor, 92–95% sapling survival rates, and stunting reduction from 52.6% to 35.5% in Suchana program areas.

Name

CNRS | Center for Natural Resource Studies

Legal name

Center for Natural Resource Studies

Website

https://cnrs.org.bd

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CNRS (Center for Natural Resource Studies) is a Bangladesh-based non-governmental organization, operational since 1994, that implements research and field projects across seven thematic areas — environment, climate change, disaster risk reduction, food security and livelihoods, health and nutrition, child welfare, and institutional development — serving marginalized, climate-vulnerable, and refugee communities throughout Bangladesh via donor and CSR-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Climate Development Services

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee Camp Coordination & Management (CCCM) (BPADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Shelter, Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM) (BPADADAB), Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

Keywords

• Climate change adaptation
• Disaster risk reduction
• Natural resource management
• Community development programs
• Environmental conservation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project Grants and Donations: CNRS receives funding from international donors, development agencies, governments, and foundations to implement development projects. Major funders include EU, WFP, UNHCR, World Bank, and bilateral agencies.
2. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Partnerships: Implementation of CSR projects funded by corporations such as Chevron, Standard Chartered Bank, City Bank PLC, and Sinopec for environmental and livelihood interventions
3. Government Contracts: Implementation of government-supported projects and policy advisory services for Bangladesh Government ministries and departments

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CNRS is a Bangladeshi non-governmental organization that implements research and development projects focused on environment, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, food security, livelihoods, health and nutrition, child welfare, and institutional development. The organization delivers thematic sector programs through grants from international donors, government contracts, and corporate CSR partnerships, working directly with marginalized and climate-vulnerable communities across all districts of Bangladesh.

Product overview

CNRS (Center for Natural Resource Studies) is a Bangladeshi non-governmental organization focused on environmental research, climate change adaptation, disaster management, and livelihood enhancement. The organization does not offer commercial technology products or software services; instead, it implements thematic programs including Environment and Climate Change, Food Security and Livelihood, Community Development and Governance, Disaster Management and Resilience, Health & Nutrition, Child Welfare and Protection, and Institutional Development. These programs deliver various community-based interventions, capacity building, and development projects across Bangladesh, but do not constitute product offerings in the traditional technology/SaaS sense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environment and Climate Change Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Stunting reduced from 52.6% (baseline) to 35.5% in Suchana project areas
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ThanksCarbon Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Strategic collaboration for climate-smart agriculture and carbon credit initiatives including AWD Pilot and large-scale carbon credit program
• Oxfam in BangladeshcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 January 2025Facilitating TROSA-2: River Rights Resilience Project for sustainable fisheries management and fisherfolk rights
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 January 2025Technical partner in TROSA-2 project for water resource management research and implementation
• RDRS BangladeshcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 January 2025Partner in TROSA-2 River Rights Resilience Project for community-level implementation
• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 December 2024Collaboration under CGIAR Asian Mega Delta (AMD) project for inclusive canal water management in coastal Bangladesh
• East West University, DhakacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 December 2024Academic partner for National Policy Dialogue on Canal Water Management, presenting research on elite control of canal water
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2024Collaboration on National Level Consultation Workshop on Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) Development, bringing together key stakeholders for community resilience to climate change
• Uttaran - A Social Development OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2024Implementing partner for LAPA Development workshop, sharing experiences in community-led adaptation processes
• JAGO NARIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2024Partner in LAPA Development workshop focused on ensuring locally-led adaptation actions are effectively implemented
• Manitoba University, CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2016Research partner in NCD project conducting exploratory research on dietary habits and NCDs
• HELVETAS Swiss IntercooperationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient for EVOLVE project enhancing voice of disadvantaged groups in climate-affected communities
• WorldFishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner providing support for G-3 Rohu fish variety and improved aquaculture practices in coastal aquaculture initiative
• iDEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for B4CA project providing market systems support and connecting growers to bamboo economy
• BRACminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForestry monitoring partner with CNRS and Chittagong University for DRR schemes
• Chittagong UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for forestry monitoring in Rohingya camp DRR schemes
• IC-NETcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for LIFE project focused on livelihood improvement
• ICDDR'BminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner conducting end-line survey for Suchana project

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• BRAC: Largest Bangladesh-based development NGO operating across health, education, livelihoods, and DRR. Highly comparable multi-thematic community implementation model operating in the same geographies and donor ecosystem as CNRS.
• CARE Bangladesh: Major humanitarian INGO with extensive Bangladesh programming across DRR, climate adaptation, gender, and food security. Comparable operational scale and donor mix for institutional funding competition.
• iDE: International development organization focused on market-based approaches to poverty and climate resilience. CNRS's B4CA implementing partner providing market systems and bamboo economy linkage support.
• HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation: Swiss development NGO engaged in climate adaptation, livelihoods, and voice/accountability programming. Active CNRS partner/funder on the EU-funded EVOLVE project serving similar climate-vulnerable communities.
• RDRS Bangladesh: Bangladesh-focused rural development NGO working on livelihoods, climate adaptation, and community resilience. Co-implementing partner in the TROSA-2 River Rights Resilience Project with CNRS.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major humanitarian INGO operating in Bangladesh Rohingya response and climate adaptation. CNRS collaborator on LAPA Development consultation workshop with overlapping refugee-camp and adaptation focus.
• Practical Action: International development NGO with Bangladesh operations on climate-smart agriculture, DRR, and inclusive markets. Directly comparable portfolio on smallholder livelihoods and disaster preparedness in Bangladesh.
• Oxfam in Bangladesh: International INGO with active Bangladesh programming in climate adaptation, fisheries governance, and humanitarian response. Active CNRS partner on TROSA-2 and shares overlapping beneficiary segments.
• Uttaran: Bangladeshi social development organization working on climate adaptation, water management, and community resilience. CNRS implementation partner on LAPA Development workshop with very similar geographic and thematic focus.

Emerging players

• WorldFish: International aquatic-food systems research organization with Bangladesh aquaculture programming. CNRS technical partner for G-3 Rohu fish variety in coastal aquaculture initiative with directly comparable fisheries focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=d6gVSTqAKvQ&list=PL85ElU8qgutwtk9Sz6X1wkXyalcYPIAZ1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cnrs-center-for-natural-resource-studies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CNRS | Center for Natural Resource Studies