BRAC reaches 26 million people in 1 year: 2025 annual report

In 2025, nearly 26 million people across Bangladesh received services and support through BRAC programmes, equivalent to one in every seven people in the country. More than 19 million women and over 223,000 persons with disabilities received support from BRAC.

Of the people reached directly by BRAC, two out of every three were women. Support was provided across a wide range of sectors, including health, education, financial inclusion, disaster and crisis response, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), climate change adaptation, migration, and skills development.

Over the next five years, BRAC aims to create employment opportunities for one million people, support nearly 1.9 million students in overcoming learning loss, and further expand its ultra-poor graduation programme.

These details were shared at an event organised to mark the publication of BRAC’s 2025 Annual Report. A press meet marking the launch of the report was held today, Monday, 11 May 2026, at BRAC Centre in Mohakhali. Asif Saleh, executive director at BRAC, presented key highlights from the report and responded to questions from journalists, reports a press release.

In his remarks, Asif Saleh outlined BRAC’s future strategic direction, stating that over the next five years, the organisation will operate based on five core principles. These include placing women and young people at the centre of its work, working as part of the community, reaching those at the very margins first, building national capacity in partnership with the government, and harnessing the full strength of the BRAC family across all of its initiatives.

Asif Saleh said that BRAC’s goal is to develop innovative solutions to address evolving social challenges and emerging needs. He noted that through new initiatives in mental health, day-care services, skills development, and technology-enabled healthcare, BRAC will continue contributing to more integrated and sustainable development in the years ahead. He also said that BRAC is becoming increasingly self-reliant through a combination of its microfinance programme, social enterprises, and limited donor support.

He further stated that BRAC has reaffirmed its commitment to working as a self-sustaining, accountable, and forward-looking development organisation under its next five-year strategic plan. The new plan will prioritise women, young people, and the most marginalised communities, while expanding work on employment, education, healthcare, financial inclusion, agriculture, and climate resilience.

In his welcome remarks, KAM Morshed, senior director (Advocacy, Communications and Engagement) at BRAC, said that accountability to the people of the country is not merely a slogan for BRAC, but a practice deeply embedded in its work.

He noted that during COVID-19, floods, and other natural and human-induced disasters, as well as in moments of national opportunity, BRAC has consistently stood beside communities with commitment and responsiveness. Although BRAC’s presence extends across the globe, he added, people and their participation remain at the heart of its work.

AFM Shahidur Rahman, director (MEAL, Risk Management, Safeguarding and Social Compliance), presented a summary of the annual report. Senior journalists and senior leadership from BRAC were also present at the event.

Among those who shared their views at the event were Sajjad Sharif, executive editor of Prothom Alo; Ayesha Kabir, head of Prothom Alo English Web; Zahid Newaz Khan, chief executive editor of Channel I; Shahed Mohammad Ali, editor of Samakal; Reaz Ahmad, editor of Dhaka Tribune; and Julhas Alam, bureau chief of Associated Press (AP).

According to the annual report, BRAC continues to support income generation and capacity building for marginalised communities through its microfinance, ultra-poor graduation, and skills development programmes. The report notes a significant increase in loan disbursement under the microfinance programme. Efforts to support women entrepreneurs and agricultural assistance have also been strengthened.

Over the past five years, nearly Tk 10 billion worth of assets have been transferred as part of poverty alleviation efforts. Around 312,000 ultra-poor families have graduated out of extreme poverty. Total loan disbursement has increased from Tk 290 billion to Tk 485 billion.

Through community-based healthcare services, BRAC has continued working on maternal and child health, tuberculosis, malaria, and non-communicable diseases. Over the past five years, 2.1 million mothers received safe delivery services. Non-communicable diseases, disabilities, and eye conditions were identified among 3.5 million people. More than one million tuberculosis patients were identified and brought under treatment.

Through BRAC’s education programmes, millions of children and adolescents have gained access to education. The report elaborates on plans to provide integrated education, nutrition, and mental health support for children living in marginalised and climate-vulnerable areas.

Over the past five years, 644,000 students completed BRAC’s education programmes, 56 per cent of whom were girls. Scholarships for talented students from low-income backgrounds were also provided. Safe drinking water, sanitation, and handwashing facilities were provided for 808,000 students in 1,740 schools.

BRAC has been working to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities through climate-resilient agriculture, safe water systems, adaptation clinics, and disaster preparedness initiatives.

According to the report, nearly 1.1 million disaster-affected families received humanitarian support. Around 133,000 families received solutions to help cope with the impacts of climate change. A total of 105,729 people living in disaster-prone areas gained access to safe water through climate-resilient technologies.

BRAC continues its work on leadership development for women, adolescent girls, and young people, alongside legal aid and child marriage prevention initiatives. Over the past five years, 98,600 complaints related to violence against women and children were documented, and legal assistance was provided. A total of 102,000 adolescent girls received support to build confidence and pursue their goals. In 2025 alone, programme participants directly helped prevent 2,237 child marriages.

Over the next five years, BRAC will prioritise inclusive development centred on women and young people, employment generation, quality education, financial inclusion, primary healthcare, and climate resilience.

Through seven integrated development priorities, BRAC aims to create one million jobs, support 1.9 million students in addressing learning loss, bring 20 million people under financial services, and disburse Tk 150 billion in loans annually. BRAC will establish 200 new financial service centres in chars, haors, the Chattogram Hill Tracts, and coastal areas.

Each year, 100,000 families will complete the ultra-poor graduation programme, while urban graduation activities will expand from 17 to 30 districts. Special emphasis will be placed on 20 climate-vulnerable districts. Support will reach 1.25 million women farmers. In 268 upazilas, 65,000 adolescent girls will receive essential support, while legal services will become more accessible through 268 legal aid clinics. Healthcare services will also expand to 39 districts.

As the country’s first non-government development organisation to do so at an institutional level, BRAC has published science-based information on its environmental sustainability initiatives, climate-related risks, and opportunities through its International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 and S2 Disclosure report. The report is structured around four key pillars of the IFRS Disclosure Standards: governance, strategy and management, risk management, and metrics and targets.