Program for Helpless and Lagged Societies (PHALS)

What Program for Helpless and Lagged Societies (PHALS) does

PHALS (Program for Helpless and Lagged Societies) is a Bangladesh-based nonprofit non-governmental organization founded in 1992 and headquartered in Cox's Bazar, formally registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare in 1996 and the NGO Affairs Bureau in 1999. It operates as a Local Humanitarian Partner delivering education, protection, livelihood, WASH, and emergency response programs primarily for Rohingya refugees (Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals) living in Cox's Bazar camps and for vulnerable host communities across Cox's Bazar district (Ukhiya, Teknaf, Pekua, Chakaria, Ramu, and Sadar Upazilas). Active programs include the PHALS-BANI Academy (residential care for orphans and street children), Tayama Primary School, the Pre-Primary Education Programme, the Banglabari-PHALS Education Program in Ramu Upazila, the IOM-funded Innovative Soap-Based Livelihoods Project in Camp 20, and the HOIFA emergency assistance facility. PHALS also runs the ToGETHER 2.0 localization program, peer-mentoring other local NGOs (Ornab, Asta Foundation, Suzala Mahila Samiti, COAST Trust) in humanitarian standards and capacity strengthening.

The organization's revenue model is entirely grant-based, with no commercial activity. Funding is sourced from a diversified set of institutional donors including government aid agencies (GAC, DFAT, German Federal Foreign Office), UN agencies (IOM), international NGO consortia (Malteser International, BRAC), and foundations (Tayama Foundation, BANI Street, Banglabari Belgium). Programs are delivered through direct field implementation by trained staff, consortium partnerships with INGOs, and the organization's own schools and refugee camp learning centers. Digital infrastructure consists of KoboToolbox for digital needs assessments and monitoring, plus mobile banking for cash distribution to beneficiaries. PHALS is led by Honorary Executive Director Abu Murshed Chowdhury and operates with a lean staff of approximately 7 (one source cites 14 staff), reflecting its positioning as a field-level local implementer rather than a large institutional actor.

The go-to-market is event-driven consortium implementation: PHALS competes for and executes donor-funded humanitarian projects in partnership with major INGOs and UN agencies, aligning its programs with Bangladesh government guidance, the RRRC office, and SDG targets (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13, 17) under its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. There is no product pricing, no commercial distribution, and no scale commentary beyond specific project beneficiary counts (e.g., 168 FDMN children in ECD, 382 children in Banglabari schools, 200 livelihoods beneficiaries).

Name

Program for Helpless and Lagged Societies (PHALS)

Legal name

Program for Helpless and Lagged Society (PHALS)

Website

https://phalscox.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PHALS is a Bangladesh-based nonprofit NGO founded in 1992 that delivers education, livelihood, protection, and emergency response programs for Rohingya refugees and vulnerable host communities in Cox's Bazar district, funded by institutional donor grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Refugee education programs
• Disaster risk reduction
• Livelihood support training
• Community development NGO

Headquarters

HQ city

Cox's Bazar

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Donor Funding: PHALS operates as a non-governmental organization funded primarily through institutional donors including government aid agencies (GAC, DFAT, German Federal Foreign Office), international organizations (IOM, UNHCR), foundations (Tayama Foundation, BANI Street), and consortium partners (Malteser International, BRAC). Funding supports specific project implementations in education, protection, DRR, and livelihood sectors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PHALS is a Bangladeshi non-governmental organization that delivers humanitarian assistance and community development programs in Cox's Bazar, with a primary focus on Rohingya refugees and vulnerable host communities. Its core offerings include residential care and education for orphans and street children, free primary and pre-primary education for marginalized children, early childhood development for Rohingya refugees, livelihood skills training, emergency humanitarian response (food, NFI, cash), disaster risk reduction, and capacity-building mentorship for local humanitarian partners. All programs are donor-funded and implemented through direct field operations and consortium partnerships.

Product overview

PHALS operates as a humanitarian and development NGO offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on education, livelihood support, and emergency response. The core educational offerings include PHALS Bani Academy (residential care and education for orphans), PHALS Tyama Primary School, and Pre-Primary Education Programme. These are complemented by livelihood programs like the Soap-Based Livelihoods Project and humanitarian initiatives including ToGETHER 2.0 (capacity strengthening for local partners), HOIFA (emergency assistance), and the Banglabari-PHALS Education Program. All programs operate from the PHALS complex in Cox's Bazar and serve marginalized communities including Rohingya refugees, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable host populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PHALS Bani Academy A residential academy providing orphans and street children with free lodging, boarding, education, health care, and life skills training, including Taekwondo and badminton as extracurricular activities, with the goal of developing children into productive members of society. Funded primarily by BANI Street (France).
• PHALS Tyama Primary School A free primary education facility for vulnerable poor children providing quality education through qualified teachers, supported with school materials, uniforms, and teaching assistance. Approximately 250 students enrolled annually. Funded by the Tayama Foundation (Japan).
• PHALS Pre-Primary Education Programme A preschool program for children under 6 using play-based joyful pedagogy to build interest in education before enrollment in primary schools, with skilled teachers and approximately 35 students per class. Over 10,710 students enrolled since 1996.
• ToGETHER 2.0 A localization program supporting local humanitarian partners through capacity strengthening, mentoring, and operational activities. The three-year program supports local humanitarian partners across 8 countries including Bangladesh to strengthen institutional and operational capacity for effective humanitarian crisis response. Budget EUR 275,906.14 funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
• Banglabari-PHALS Education Program A collaborative primary education initiative with Banglabari (Belgium) providing free quality education to marginalized children in Ramu Upazila, Cox's Bazar, including operation of two primary schools and two pre-primary schools serving approximately 382 children. Initial project budget BDT 6,400,590.
• Innovative Soap-Based Livelihoods Project A livelihood program in Camp 20 Rohingya Refugee Camp and adjacent host areas of Ukhiya providing hygiene promotion through decentralized soap production training, serving 200 beneficiaries (150 Rohingya and 50 host community) with at least 50% women and 3% persons with disabilities. Project budget BDT 30,339,843 funded by IOM.
• HOIFA (Humanitarian Operation and Innovation Facility) An emergency humanitarian assistance program providing food, non-food items, and multipurpose cash support to flood-affected communities in Pekua, Chakaria, and Sadar Upazilas of Cox's Bazar District. Implemented under the ToGETHER Program using Kobo-based digital data collection for vulnerability-based participant selection.
• Support to FDMN in Cox's Bazar in Education and WASH Sector An education and WASH program supporting Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (Rohingya refugees) in Cox's Bazar, providing quality early childhood education through Community Based Learning Facilities serving 168 FDMN children aged 3-5 years. Project budget BDT 3,308,534 funded by GAC and DFAT.

Quantifiable outcome

• 168 FDMN children received quality ECD education through 7 CBLF centers
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

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

• BRACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor implementation partner for humanitarian programs including HARHC (Humanitarian Assistance for Rohingya and Host Community) project, livelihood interventions, and disability inclusion programs. BRAC provides technical support, co-funding, and organizational capacity building.
• Malteser InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead consortium partner for ToGETHER localization program and BMZ resilience project. Provides funding from German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), technical support, and coordinates with other consortium partners (Caritas Germany, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe).
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for FDMN education and Wash sector projects, and soap-based livelihoods initiative. Provides funding and technical guidance for programs in Rohingya refugee camps.
• Street Child (UK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Stay at Home, Safe at Home, Learn at Home project providing education support to refugee children during COVID-19.
• Bangladesh GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered with Ministry of Social Welfare and NGO Affairs Bureau. All activities aligned with government guidance and linked to national strategic plans and SDG targets.
• Asta FoundationminorOthersPeer Humanitarian Partner receiving capacity strengthening support through ToGETHER 2.0 program.
• Ornab Cox's BazarminorOthersPeer Humanitarian Partner receiving financial management and organizational capacity training through ToGETHER 2.0.
• Suzala Mahila Samiti (SMS)minorOthersPeer Humanitarian Partner receiving mentorship on humanitarian standards and organizational development.
• NGO Platform (Bangladesh)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork membership for coordination and collaboration with other NGOs in Cox's Bazar.
• Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh (ADAB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork membership for development coordination and advocacy.
• Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network membership for refugee rights advocacy and coordination.
• Amnesty InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork membership for human rights advocacy.
• COAST TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for ToGETHER project implementation in Cox's Bazar.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• COAST Trust: Bangladesh-based development and humanitarian NGO focused on coastal communities, DRR, and climate adaptation — directly overlapping with PHALS's Cox's Bazar DRR and host-community mandate. COAST Trust is a documented ToGETHER project partner alongside PHALS.
• Relief International: International humanitarian NGO with active Cox's Bazar Rohingya refugee response operations, running education, livelihoods, and protection programs for FDMN. Directly comparable to PHALS in target population, sector mix, and operating geography.
• Malteser International: German humanitarian INGO and the lead consortium partner on PHALS's ToGETHER 2.0 program, operating comparable refugee-response and disaster-risk-reduction programs in Bangladesh and across Asia. Highly comparable in mandate and operational geography to PHALS.
• Street Child UK: UK-based NGO focused on education for marginalized and crisis-affected children, with active Cox's Bazar programs and a documented partnership with PHALS on refugee education during COVID-19. Direct comparable in mission and education-delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• BRAC: The largest development NGO in Bangladesh and the world, operating across education, livelihood, health, and humanitarian response including in Cox's Bazar. BRAC is a named strategic consortium partner of PHALS on multiple projects, making it both a peer and a collaborator in the same operating geography.
• Islamic Relief Worldwide: International humanitarian and development INGO with extensive Bangladesh operations including Rohingya refugee response, education, and livelihoods. Comparable in target population and sector mix, with significantly larger scale.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian organization with active Cox's Bazar Rohingya response including livelihoods, WASH, and governance programs. Operates at much larger scale than PHALS but in the same geography and sectors.
• Concern Worldwide: International humanitarian INGO with Cox's Bazar presence focused on Rohingya refugee livelihoods and emergency response. Comparable in sector focus and target population, operating at broader geographic scale.
• Save the Children (Bangladesh): Major INGO operating extensive Rohingya refugee education and child protection programs in Cox's Bazar. Overlaps with PHALS's core education and marginalized-children mandate at significantly larger scale, serving as the incumbent benchmark.

Regional players

• ActionAid Bangladesh: Bangladesh country office of ActionAid International, focused on women's rights, education, and disaster resilience in Cox's Bazar and broader Bangladesh. Comparable in advocacy, education, and host-community focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/program-for-helpless-and-lagged-societies-phals-cxb

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 Program for Helpless and Lagged Societies (PHALS)