June 22, 2008
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The Biggest Thing You've Never Heard Of
I’m in Princeton visiting Dan so it’s good timing that I just ran across a story about the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) — the biggest, most important organization you’ve never heard of.
When we went to Bangladesh back in 2001, it was in part because we were fascinated with the Grameen Bank, a microcredit pioneer that’s well-known in the West, in part simply because they have, uh, really good PR.
By the time we left, Grameen had been totally eclipsed in our esteem by BRAC, which does more, for more people, more efficiently, and (importantly) in a much more holistic way than Grameen. BRAC essentially fills the void left by the corruption and confusion of Bangladesh’s real government. And remember, this really matters: There are more than 150 million people in Bangladesh!
I’m reminded of it by FP’s list of the world’s most powerful NGOs: BRAC is one of five listed, along with the Gates Foundation and Doctors Without Borders. It has an annual budget of half a billion dollars and a staff of 110,000. Wow.
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Comments
52,000 schools! Fifty-two thousand.
I agree ~ BRAC does great work in Uganda, Sudan, and Tanzania, too. They're able to look at themselves and their field critically - even publishing a chapter in "What's Wrong with Microfinance." Their model is flexible and adaptable to new situations!
But why no link?
What's Wrong with Microfinance
Indeed -- lame omission -- thanks Peter :-)
And thanks for the added context, Jessica!