brac international

What brac international does

BRAC International (legally Stichting BRAC International, registered in the Netherlands with headquarters in The Hague) is the world's largest Global South-led development organization, founded in 1972 in post-war Bangladesh and now operating across 16 countries in Asia and Africa with 10,000+ employees. The organization delivers a portfolio of programs targeting ultra-poor households, women and adolescent girls, children ages 0-8, and micro-entrepreneurs. Its core offerings include the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI)—an evidence-based model combining asset transfers, coaching, savings facilitation, and consumption support; the Play Lab early childhood development model (also delivered via Radio Play Labs); the Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM) program; and a suite of social development programs spanning gender equality, youth empowerment, health, climate resilience, agriculture, and humanitarian response.

BRAC's underlying platform consists of proprietary program methodologies rather than technology products. The Graduation approach alone has been validated in over 30 randomized controlled trials, with longitudinal LSE research showing 93% of participants maintained or increased income, assets, and consumption seven years post-program. Distribution is delivered through community-based infrastructure: trained community facilitators, play leaders, microfinance branch officers, and partnerships that integrate BRAC methods into national social protection systems in Rwanda, India, and elsewhere. Financial inclusion is operated through 7 regulated microfinance subsidiaries (Uganda Bank Limited, Tanzania Finance Limited, Rwanda Microfinance Company PLC, Ghana Savings and Loans Limited, Liberia Microfinance Company Limited, Sierra Leone Microfinance Limited, Myanmar Microfinance Company Limited), which disbursed $6 billion in microloans in 2024, primarily to women.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit structure. Core development programs are funded by donations and grants from foundations (Mastercard Foundation, LEGO Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation), governments, and individuals. The microfinance subsidiaries generate transaction-based revenue through loan interest. Two social enterprises (Uganda, Tanzania) operate on commercial principles, reinvesting profits into development programs. End-user programs are provided at no cost to ultra-poor beneficiaries; microfinance clients pay standard interest rates for financial services. The organization reaches 145 million people cumulatively, has educated 15 million+ children, and served 10 million+ microfinance borrowers.

Name

brac international

Legal name

Stichting BRAC International

Website

https://bracinternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

BRAC International is a Netherlands-registered non-profit development organization delivering poverty alleviation programs—including the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative, microfinance, Play Lab early childhood education, and women's empowerment—across 16 countries in Asia and Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Development and Poverty Alleviation Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Community Food Services (624210), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

Microfinance, Financial Inclusion & Inclusive Markets (BPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) Partnerships (HLAJAOAG), Maternal, Infant & Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) Programs (BPADAJAC)

Keywords

• Poverty alleviation programmes
• Microfinance services
• Financial inclusion
• Early childhood education
• Social development programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: BRAC International operates as a non-profit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government development agencies. Major funders include the Mastercard Foundation, LEGO Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and various governments.
2. Microfinance Operations: BRAC operates regulated microfinance institutions across multiple African countries (Uganda Bank Limited, Tanzania Finance Limited, Rwanda Microfinance Company PLC, Ghana Savings and Loans Limited, Liberia Microfinance Company Limited, Sierra Leone Microfinance Limited, Myanmar Microfinance Company Limited). These institutions generate revenue through interest on microloans primarily disbursed to women.
3. Social Enterprises: BRAC runs social business enterprises in Uganda and Tanzania that generate income while meeting client needs. These enterprises operate on commercial principles while reinvesting profits to support development programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BRAC International delivers a holistic portfolio of social development, financial inclusion, education, health, and livelihood programmes for people in poverty across Asia and Africa. Its core offerings include the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (asset transfers, coaching, savings), microfinance through regulated subsidiaries in multiple African countries, the Play Lab early childhood development model, and the Accelerating Impact for Young Women programme. The organization combines direct service delivery with government partnerships to scale evidence-based models.

Product overview

BRAC International is a Global South-led development organisation offering a holistic ecosystem of programmes across social development, financial inclusion, and social enterprise. The core offerings include Social Development Programmes (education, healthcare, gender equality, youth empowerment, climate resilience, humanitarian response), Microfinance services through subsidiary institutions across 8 African countries, the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI) using an evidence-based approach combining asset transfers with coaching and basic needs support, the Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM) programme in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, and the Play Lab early childhood development model. Additional offerings include Social Enterprise subsidiaries and BRAC University. These programmes collectively aim to empower vulnerable people to lift themselves out of poverty, having reached over 145 million people globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM): Programme working with families, communities, and local actors to create supportive environments for adolescent girls and young women, aiming to reach more than 65,000 beneficiaries in Ghana by 2033.
• Play Lab
• Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI)

Products and services

• Social Development Programmes Holistic development programmes addressing poverty through education, healthcare, gender equality, youth empowerment, climate resilience, and humanitarian response across Asia and Africa. Targeted at vulnerable populations in low-income communities.
• Microfinance Services Financial inclusion services through regulated microfinance institutions across multiple African countries, disbursing microloans primarily to women. $6 billion in microloans disbursed in 2024.
• Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI) Evidence-based Graduation approach combining asset transfers, coaching, and basic needs support to help the poorest households achieve sustainable livelihoods and escape extreme poverty. Validated by 30+ randomized controlled trials.
• Play Lab Early Childhood Development Play-based learning model for children ages 3-5, prioritising learning through play to improve social, emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. Includes community-owned play spaces and locally-made toys from recycled materials.
• Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM) Flagship programme working with families, communities, and local actors to create supportive environments for adolescent girls and young women, implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
• Social Enterprise Operations Social business enterprises in Uganda and Tanzania (BRAC Social Business Enterprises Uganda Limited and BRAC Enterprises Tanzania Limited) generating income on commercial principles while meeting client needs and supporting development programmes.
• BRAC University University offering higher education as part of BRAC's holistic approach to development.
• BRAC Ghana Savings and Loans Limited Microfinance institution regulated by the Bank of Ghana, providing savings and loans services to clients, primarily women. Disbursed GHS 167 million to over 14,000 borrowers.
• BRAC Rwanda Microfinance Company PLC Microfinance institution regulated by the National Bank of Rwanda, providing financial services to clients in Rwanda.
• BRAC Uganda Bank Limited Microfinance bank providing financial services to clients in Uganda.
• BRAC Tanzania Finance Limited Microfinance institution operating in Tanzania providing financial services to low-income clients.
• BRAC Liberia Microfinance Company Limited Microfinance institution operating in Liberia, having surpassed 100,000 clients milestone.
• BRAC Myanmar Microfinance Company Limited Microfinance institution operating in Myanmar providing financial services to low-income clients.
• BRAC Microfinance Sierra Leone Limited Microfinance institution operating in Sierra Leone providing financial services to low-income clients.
• Scaling Graduation through Governments Technical assistance and advisory engagement to scale the evidence-based Graduation approach through government social protection systems in countries such as India, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Senegal, Kenya, and Paraguay.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of Graduation program participants maintained or increased income, assets, and consumption seven years after entering the program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Global Alliance against Hunger and PovertysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024BRAC participates in the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty launched by the Brazilian government during G20 Social Summit. UPGGI's Global Lead moderated sessions on socioeconomic inclusion.
• Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2024National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (NRLPS) under MoRD signed MoU with BRAC for inclusion of the poorest of the poor under DAY-NRLM. BRAC will provide technical expertise for Samaveshi Aajeevika, an inclusive livelihood program adapting the Graduation approach to reach marginalized households.
• Government of RwandacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2023BRAC International signed MoU with the Government of Rwanda under MINALOC to support the National Strategy for Sustainable Graduation (NSSG), aiming to empower people in extreme poverty to develop sustainable livelihoods. BRAC serves as a key partner in advancing government poverty eradication efforts.
• CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC collaborates with CGAP on research and knowledge sharing about young women's financial inclusion. CGAP publishes BRAC's work on financial inclusion for young women and adolescent girls.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC participated in the BRAC Regional Dialogues series organized with UNDP to promote dialogue on effective poverty eradication efforts across Africa.
• African Development Bank GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with African Development Bank Group to organize the Africa Regional Dialogue on applying evidence to achieve long-term development and inclusive growth across Africa.
• Government of GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC launched social development operations in Ghana in May 2026 in partnership with government. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection welcomed BRAC's programs targeting adolescent girls and young women.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Opportunity International: Global microfinance network providing small business loans, savings, and insurance to people in developing countries. Comparable operating model to BRAC's microfinance subsidiaries with similar target segment and geographic footprint in Africa.
• VisionFund International: World Vision's microfinance arm operating across 28 countries with focus on child wellbeing-linked lending. Comparable as a faith/development-rooted microfinance institution targeting similar low-income populations.
• Grameen Bank: Pioneering microfinance institution also founded in Bangladesh, focused on lending to ultra-poor women using group-lending methodologies. Closest direct comparator to BRAC's microfinance operations, sharing the same origin context and target population.
• FINCA International: Network of microfinance institutions operating across Africa, Latin America, and Eurasia serving low-income entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to BRAC's regulated microfinance subsidiary structure and village banking methodology.

Broad incumbents

• CARE International: Major international humanitarian organisation focused on fighting global poverty with emphasis on women and girls. Comparable to BRAC's gender-focused programming, global footprint, and integrated approach to poverty alleviation.
• Mercy Corps: Large global humanitarian and development organisation operating across multiple continents with programs in economic development, food security, and youth. Comparable to BRAC as a broad international NGO with similar multi-country delivery footprint.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Large non-profit working in housing and community development across 70+ countries. Comparable to BRAC's integrated community-level poverty alleviation approach, government partnership model, and global NGO scale.
• Save the Children: Major international NGO focused on children's rights and wellbeing with global presence including significant early childhood development programming. Comparable to BRAC's Play Lab model and child-focused education programs.
• Heifer International: International development organisation focused on ending hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture and livestock asset transfers. Comparable to BRAC's asset-transfer Graduation methodology and smallholder farmer focus, with similar evidence-based program evaluation culture.

Emerging players

• Acumen: Non-profit impact investor using patient capital to build early-stage companies serving the poor in Africa and South Asia. Comparable to BRAC's social enterprise subsidiaries and evidence-based approach to poverty alleviation, though with investment rather than grant/debt model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brac-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries10 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 brac international