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BRAC Receives Award for Transparent Financial Reporting
08 November 2009, Dhaka. BRAC was awarded the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) Best Presented Accounts award for 2008. Mr. S.N. Kairy, Finance Director of BRAC, received the award on behalf of BRAC at a ceremony held on November 5th, 2009 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Hall in Dhaka, Bangladesh. BRAC previously received the SAFA award for the year 2007, which was presented in Hyderabad last year.
SAFA is a forum of professional accountancy bodies committed to developing the accountancy profession in the South Asian region. The Best Presented Accounts awards are conferred on the basis of evaluation administered by SAFA's Committee for Improvement in Transparency, Accountability and Governance of published annual reports from South Asian countries.
BRAC Uganda reaches 100,000 borrowers
In November 2009, Ariful Islam, Country Programme Coordinator of BRAC Uganda disbursed the 100,000th loan to Sarah who was pleasantly surprised to realise that she was BRAC Uganda’s 100,000th borrower.
BRAC Uganda’s success is the result of the dedication, hard-work and commitment of the staff in Uganda and also due to the leadership and vision provided by BRAC’s senior management team in Bangladesh.
BRAC Founder Fazle Abed Receives “Entrepreneur for the World” Award
25 November 2009, Dhaka. The first ever “Entrepreneur for the World” Award in the Social Entrepreneur category was awarded to BRAC Founder and Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed. He received the award during a ceremony at the World Entrepreneurship Forum held on November 19, 2009 in Lyon, France.
photo courtesy: Pierto/Sipa Press
The World Entrepreneurship Forum was established by EMLYON Business School, the leading European business school in entrepreneurship, and KPMG, the leading tax, audit and advisory services company. The Forum is founded on the conviction that the entrepreneur is a creator of wealth and social justice. The World Entrepreneurship Forum awards started in 2008 and 2009 is the first year that the Social Entrepreneur category was included in the awards category.
Patrick Molle, president of EMLYON Business School, and Jean-Luc Decornoy, chairman of KPMG SA, presented Abed with the award “to highlight his more than 30 years at the head of one of the largest non-government development organisations in the world. This award is granted to a personality who has greatly improved the life of the community. Fazle Hasan Abed is a social worker and visionary. He left his job to devote himself to Bangladesh’s War of Independence. Abed initiated BRAC, the largest non-government development organisation in the world in terms of size and diversity of interventions.”
“Entrepreneur for the World” Awards are presented in four categories: in the Entrepreneur category Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder of Kyocera Corporation and KDDI Corporation in Japan received the award; Mary Robinson, former President of the Republic of Ireland, received the award in the Politician category; and in the Expert category, Bert Twaalfhoven from the Netherlands, founder of 51 high tech companies in 11 countries was awarded.
Fazle Hasan Abed has been honoured with numerous international awards for his achievements within BRAC, among which: the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership (1980); Unicef's Maurice Pate Award (1992); Olof Palme Award (2001); Gates Award for Global Health (2004); Henry R. Kravis Prize in Leadership (2007). Clinton Global Citizenship Award (2007) as well as several honourary degrees from renowned universities including Columbia, Yale and Oxford.
United Nations Democracy Fund to support BRAC’s democracy and governance initiative
11 November 2009, Dhaka. BRAC and the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) signed an agreement on Wednesday to support BRAC’s initiatives to strengthen grassroots democracy and local governance. Under the agreement UNDEF will provide support to BRAC’s Social Development Programme for implementation of a project titled Active Citizens and Accountable Local Government (ACALG).
The agreement was signed by Mr. Roland Rich, Executive Head of UNDEF and Dr. Mahabub Hossain, Executive Director of BRAC, at the BRAC Centre in Dhaka. Tania Zaman, Director, BRAC Chairperson’s Office (Chief of Staff), Anna Minj, Director, Social Development Programme and head office staff of BRAC Social Development Programme were also present in the signing ceremony.
Mr. Rich stated, “One of the reasons we were attracted to BRAC was that BRAC is giving people voice in their own communities to deal with government authorities. And voice is fundamental to democracy.” He added that BRAC was a strong and well-established group who can deliver the task.
The Active Citizens and Accountable Local Government (ACALG) project is a two year project which will be implemented in the districts of Bogra and Jessore. The project aims to create conditions for more active civic engagement among rural and semi-urban poor citizens and to strengthen capacities of local government to provide more accountable and effective governance.
The objectives of the project are to develop capacities of both the local government and rural citizens to plan and deliver accountable and more equitable services and resource allocation, and to create accessible sources of information about civic rights, local government and its services. Moreover, the project aims to transform bureaucratic practices at the local level to be more responsive to the needs of the poor.
BRAC participates in Global Road Safety Conference
25 November 2009, Dhaka. The First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety was held at the Russian Federation in Moscow on 19 - 20 November 2009. Ahmed Najmul Hussain, Director, BRAC attended the conference as part of a four member country delegation headed by Bangladesh Communication Minister Sayed Abul Hussain. Mr. Hussain gave a presentation on BRAC Road Safety programme achievements.
The Conference was opened by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who called for urgent global action on road safety. More than 70 ministers and 1000 high-level representatives of governments, non-governmental and international organisations from nearly 140 countries attended the first-ever governmental- Minister-level meeting on road safety. In a statement delivered by Director-General of the United Nations office in Geneva, Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze, and United Nations Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon stressed the importance of regional commissions’ work for road safety.
The Conference adopted a declaration aiming to reduce the global toll of road deaths. The document declares 2011-2020 a decade of action for road safety, it appeals to the international donor community to ensure funding for global, regional and national road safety programmes and it emphasizes the necessity to evaluate progress. The declaration will be the basis for the fifth UN resolution on the subject.
In the closing session speakers from the WHO, World Bank, FIA Foundation and UK transport minister Paul Clark MP joined the head of the Russian traffic police, General Victor Kiryanov, and the Russian Interior Minister, Rashid Nurgaliev, to endorse the proposed decade and begin to set out plans for global coordination of the unprecedented effort to reduce road traffic injuries.
“it is tremendous to see these children given the opportunity of a basic education which their parents never had"
10 January 2010, Dhaka. Expressed Mr. John Denham, UK Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government while visiting BRAC Primary education programme in one of BRAC schools in Korail Slum, Dhaka. He was accompanied by Stephen Evans, the British High Commissioner, Chris Austin, DFID Country Representative, Dr. Mahabub Hossain, Executive Director of BRAC, Safiqul Islam, Director of BRAC Education programme and other british delegates including Neil O'Connor, Director, Cohesion Directorate, Department for Communities and Local Government; Sarah Montgomery, Private Secretary, Department for Communities and Local Government; Jake Sumner, Adviser, Department for Communities and Local Government and Mohammed Abdul Aziz, Adviser, Department for Communities and Local Government.
The Secretary talked to the students and their teacher and observed class activities. Mr. Denham said, “I think it is tremendous to see these children given the opportunity of a basic education which their parents never had. This education would improve their lives in the future. And I think the work that BRAC is doing and the British Government is supporting by working with BRAC is really important. It does not matter where you are in the world or what your background is, you should have the opportunity to make the most of your talent and ability and that is what I think this school is doing.”
Fazle Hasan Abed To Be Knighted For Work on Poverty
31 December 2009, Dhaka. Founder and Chairperson of BRAC, Fazle Hasan Abed, is to be knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services in tackling poverty and empowering the poor in Bangladesh and more globally. Abed is to be appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG). He is the first person of Bangladesh origin to be honoured with a knighthood by the British Crown since 1947. Abed is the second person in his family to be honoured with a knighthood. His grand uncle, Justice Nawab Sir Syed Shamsul Huda, was knighted by the British Crown in 1913.
BRAC Founder Fazle Hasan Abed knighted at Buckingham Palace
03 March 2010, Dhaka. Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder and chairperson of BRAC, was knighted on Tuesday in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. The Knighthood, announced in the Queen’s New Year`s Honours List, was awarded in recognition of Sir Fazle’s services to reducing poverty in Bangladesh and internationally.
The Investiture Ceremony was held by Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, who represented Queen Elizabeth II. While conferring the knighthood, Prince Charles mentioned to Sir Fazle that he remembered visiting BRAC in Bangladesh and thanked him for his long service in reducing poverty.
Leaders from around the world have congratulated Sir Fazle on his Knighthood. Queen Rania of Jordan, in her message to Sir Fazle, wrote:
“More than just recognition of your tireless efforts to relieve poverty and disease in Bangladesh and abroad, this Knighthood gives further momentum to your reputation as one of the most dynamic and selfless humanitarians of our time.”
Sir Fazle was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG). Following tradition, Sir Fazle knelt on a velvet Investiture Stool to receive the accolade, which was bestowed using the sword which King George VI used when, as Duke of York, he was Colonel of the Scots Guards. Sir Fazle was then invested with a Neck Badge and Star carrying the Insignia of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.
Sir Fazle is the first person of Bangladesh origin to be honored with a Knighthood by the British Crown since 1947. Sir Fazle’s wife, Lady Sarwat Abed, and daughter and son, Tamara and Shameran, were present at the ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
5 day workshop on “South Asia Midwifery Strategy Planning ” at Dhaka
25 March 2010, Dhaka. International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and BRAC, Bangladesh jointly organized a Five (5) day workshop, from 20-24 March 2010, on “South Asia Midwifery Strategy Planning” at BRAC Centre, Mohakhali, Dhaka. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) jointly launched the global Investing in Midwives Programme in 2008 for strengthening midwifery skills and workforce in low-resources countries for the achievement of MDG-5, focusing on 4 major areas for better midwifery services: education, association strengthening, regulations and advocacy. After initiating its activity in African region, the joint initiative is now focusing its activity towards Asia and Pacific region. The programme is now focusing on the South Asia region as a continuation of its initial initiative.
The objective of this 5 day workshop is to develop a midwifery services framework model for strengthening midwifery education, regulation and association in countries of South Asia, based on gaps and priorities identified and to launch work plans for next 2-3 years. The workshop focused on the situation analysis of existing gaps in midwifery services in 6 South Asian countries namely Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India. Based on that a midwifery service framework is developed and strategic planning is put in place for strengthening midwifery in this region. The workshop also focused on networking and knowledge sharing.
Mr. Shaikh Altaf Ali, Honorable Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh, Prof. Shah Monir Hossain, Director General, DGHS, Mr. Mohammad Abdul Qayyum, Director General, DGFP, Bridget Lynch, President of ICM, Agneta Bridges, Secretary General of ICM, Arthur Erken, UNFPA Representative of Bangladesh, Vincent Fauveau, Senior Technical Advisor, UNFPA, Abigail Kyei, International Midwive Advisor and Geeta Lal UNFPA Midwives Programme Coordinator, participants from national and international organization and agencies were present in the inaugural session of this five day workshop and gave their valuable views in this regard.
BRAC chairperson commits to large scale poverty alleviation in Tanzania
13 April 2010, Dhaka. BRAC Founder and Chairperson Sir Fazle Hasan Abed met President of Tanzania, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, on April 11 at 12 pm at the President's Palace in Dar es Salaam.
BRAC Founder and Chairperson Sir Fazle Hasan Abed (2nd Left) met President of Tanzania, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (3rd Left)
In the meeting, Sir Fazle updated the President on BRAC's programmes in Tanzania which, within less than four years, is already providing microfinance and other livelihood development services to over 500,000 poor families across 18 of the country’s 26 regions. 'We want to have the greatest impact on poverty within the shortest possible timeframe', Sir Fazle said while outlining his vision for BRAC in Tanzania. He emphasised the importance of appropriate policy and regulatory architecture for deeper outreach of microfinance and other services to the rural poor.
The President expressed his deep appreciation of BRAC's work in Tanzania, especially its strong focus on rapidly scaling up microfinance services throughout the country.
During the meeting, Sir Fazle was accompanied by the Executive and Deputy Executive Directors of BRAC International and the Country Head of BRAC in Tanzania.
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