Microfinance

July 11, 2019

Jhorna Fabrics: Fit for a queen

Jhorna Islam is somewhat of a local celebrity in Tongi, Duttapara. While there are many clothing shops in the area, the uniqueness of her designs stand out, and the quality of the cutting and material used is noticeably high. 
November 14, 2018

An engine of our growth

Agriculture plays a powerful role in poverty reduction, according to a study done by BRAC’s research and evaluation division. The study revealed that the agricultural sector can reduce poverty-related sufferings faster than other sectors.
October 31, 2018

How does microfinance support social transformation?

Microfinance is the idea that individuals from low-income backgrounds are capable of lifting themselves out of poverty if given access to financial services. This starts with what most of us take for granted - savings, insurance and credit facilities.
September 5, 2018

Give credit to a woman – and you uplift her family

Access to finance – be that credit, or savings, is a universal need. People living in poverty are disproportionately excluded from the formal financial system. Access to finance is particularly difficult for women in Bangladesh with 64% of women left out of formal financial services.
August 9, 2018

From health to wealth: Sanitation standards shifting in rural Bangladesh

Bangladesh has largely succeeded in providing access to basic sanitation. Using latrines in rural communities is now no longer seen as a luxury reserved for upper-income households, but a necessity at all levels of society.
April 30, 2018

IamBRAC: Money, guns and thugs in Bangladesh

Nazma manages four offices, supervises dozens of people, grants loans, raises a daughter and occasionally rolls up her sleeves to lock horns with gun-wielding thugs.
April 23, 2018

IamBRAC: Women stand strong when the going gets tough

Shahana Akhter spends her days on her little red scooter looking for small businesses. She works in BRAC’s microfinance programme, and has spent seven years distributing loans and collecting repayments to enable all types of entrepreneurship to expand.
January 2, 2018

Financial inclusion for the ‘missing middle’

The capability to borrow money when needed, whether for short-term or long-term purposes, is a convenience valued by everyone. Access to credit is not only helpful for investing in enterprises, or managing crises, but it also provides the opportunity to access better standards of living.
December 14, 2017

IamBRAC: Adventuring from Kaliganj to Kabul, Magura to Liberia

Khaled considers his work as the ultimate adventure, with a simple philosophy – always work for the greater good of the people around you. BRAC was his first job, and three decades have flown by since.
November 8, 2017

BRAC in Uganda’s transition to a bank and what it means for customers

BRAC in Uganda shares strategy and sustainability insights from its transition from an MFI to a bank.
October 18, 2017

Ploughing the path in a male-dominated turf

Husnaara ran to her house smiling from ear to ear as if she could not get any happier. At that point nothing seemed impossible; she could become a doctor, an engineer or a lawyer, go to a good university. She could not wait to give her father the news about her Secondary School Certificate results and assure him that his daughter would one day be able to provide for them.
April 18, 2017

Making microinsurance work in Bangladesh: Three takeaways

The market for microinsurance in Bangladesh has been growing rapidly over the last 10 years, with over 25 million subscribers. Yet it is still met with skepticism among many poor microfinance clients.