Promoting Social Progress in Rural Bangladesh

Interview with Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury
Executive Director Designate
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee
9 May 2001

The Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) works with people whose lives are dominated by extreme poverty, illiteracy, disease and other handicaps. Using multifaceted development interventions, BRAC strives to improve the quality of life of the poor people of Bangladesh.

Q. How has BRAC collaborated with ADB?

A. We have been working with ADB in Bangladesh on several projects. Through this participation we have acted as contractors. The project authorities in Bangladesh advertise, we participate in the bidding along with other NGOs and then we are selected. Right now we hope to participate in a biodiversity project which is being funded by the ADB.

Q. What do you hope is accomplished at the ADB Annual Meeting?

A. Well, I don't expect it to accomplish a lot of things because this is just a way forward. I expect that it will forge better understanding between ADB and the NGOs so that in the coming days progressively we can work together and work out modalities which will help the process.

Q. What specific issues should ADB concentrate on in the future?

A. I expect the Asian Development Bank to definitely set up a window for funding program activities through NGOs. Obviously it will have to be based on the content of the program, like, for example, non-formal primary education, health care for the poor and this kind of thing -- basically to focus on poverty. Poverty cannot be eliminated without getting to the roots of the problem. Illiteracy, disease, unemployment -- these are the three issues that keep poverty going. So we have to first resolve these.

NGO programs for such activities - elimination of illiteracy, ensuring health care for the poor, and providing for employment generation. These should be supported by ADB directly. This is the first thing that I would expect.

Second, for major programs with the government, I expect that the ADB would consult with NGOs at the programming stage instead of at a later stage, which is too late. This is because at the programming stage ADB is looking at programs for three years hence, for example. So if at that stage this consultation takes place then ADB would really get the sounding from the peoples' level, because NGOs are really working at the peoples' level. And if program design is prepared accordingly, then those programs funded by the ADB would be much more effective than they are now. And all the adverse publicity that the ADB gets now for not doing that would be eliminated, so I think that it is in ADB's interest to do this at the programming stage.

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Bart Edes, NGO External Relations Officer, ADB