Halima Begum knows how to cook nutritious food for her three-year-old son Rahmat Ullah. She received seeds and training in nutritional food processing. She received training on producing vermicompost fertilizer and gardening from Concern Worldwide and its partner organizations. Halima uses vermicompost for her gardens and also sells fertilizers to the communities.

Bangladesh

Why are we in Bangladesh? Bangladesh is home to over 174 million people in a country just over twice the size of Ireland — one that includes the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. After years of remarkable progress in poverty reduction, the country now faces a major economic setback as it continues to grapple with the impacts of COVID-19, climate change, and global conflict.

After decades of progress, a series of challenges

Bangladesh is due to graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Countries list by 2026 and has shown remarkable progress in reducing poverty rates (falling from 44% in 1991 to 20.5% in 2019) and growing its economy at impressive rates (6.9% annually between 2011 and 2019). However, the country now faces additional challenges to that progress due largely to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine. While it has also made progress towards ending hunger, an estimated 36% of children under five are stunted (low height for age due to malnutrition) and 12% of children suffer acute malnutrition and are at increased risk of mortality.

Rohingya response

Concern reached over 126,000 people in Cox’s Bazar in 2023. This includes over 90,000 reached with our integrated nutrition programme, which provides life-saving support to Rohingya families via 11 nutrition centres across seven refugee camps.

Disaster risk reduction

Livelihoods

Hosenare Aktar (28) is a mother of 2. She has two sons Sakib (10) and Rakib (2) pictured. Before CRAAIN, Hosenare had never farmed before. Concern gave her training, seeds and goats. Now she has ducks, goats and an abundance of vegetables all because of Concern. She also employs a lot of climate smart agriculture like growing in bags and making compost and growing on elevated terraces.

Hosenare Aktar (28) is a mother of 2 who has been trained in climate smart agriculture. Photo: Gavin Douglas/ Concern Worldwide

Twelve years old Samia is in class six in school. She regularly drinks milk and eats fruits and vegetables. In the past, parents from low-income households could not provide nutritious food for their children. After Concern Worldwide and its partner organizations' consultation and group meetings, families realized the importance of being well and how they can grow nutritious fruits and vegetables in their backyard. Adolescents and children are now growing healthy compared to the past.

Samia's family has learned how to grow nutritious fruit and vegetables in their backyard. Photo: Mohammad Rakibul Hasan/Concern Worldwide

Anita Rani is working in her vegetable garden in Shoronkhola. She received vegetable seeds, ducks, and training under the Collective Responsibility, Action, and Accountability for Improved Nutrition (CRAAIN) project.

Anita Rani is working in her vegetable garden in Shoronkhola. Photo: Mohammad Rakibul Hasan/Concern Worldwide

At Nichgoddi Mari primary school, the local committee meets. Through the Zurich programme, the school has been raised in order to protect it from flood waters. The building was raised three feet in 2021. The school now becomes a shelter during cyclones and flash floods. Locals bring their families and also livestock. This school serves 200 households. (Photo: Gavin Douglas/Concern Worldwide)

Nichgoddi Mari primary school has been raised in order to protect it from flood waters. Photo: Gavin Douglas/Concern Worldwide

Lutfunnesa (left) along with other patients at a stabilization centre in Cox’s Bazar following Cyclone Mocha in 2023. (Photo: Saikat Mojumder/Concern Worldwide)

Lutfunnesa (left) along with other patients at a stabilisation centre in Cox’s Bazar following Cyclone Mocha in 2023. Photo: Saikat Mojumder/Concern Worldwide

Rakib's mother Hosenare is employing climate smart agriculture techniques following training from Concern. Photo: Gavin Douglas/ Concern Worldwide

Mother group sessions in the Bhola district. Photo: FrameIn Productions/Concern Worldwide

Tasnu is a mother of five children, the youngest is 6 months old. Tasnu lives in Rahmanpur, Bhola district. A midwife visits Tasnu and her baby for check ups. (Photo: FrameIn Productions/Concern Worldwide)

A midwife visits Tasnu and her baby for check ups. Photo: FrameIn Productions/Concern Worldwide

How we're helping Bangladesh

We are working hard to combat suffering and build resilience in Bangladesh. We are doing this by establishing programmes which will reduce poverty, respond to emergencies and improve health and nutrition.

Latest from Bangladesh

Dijda* at home in a refugee camp in eastern Chad. (Photo: Eugene Ikua/Concern Worldwide)

Story4 September 2024

Organisations who fund us

European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Department (ECHO)

Irish Aid

World Food Programme (WFP)

The Z Zurich Foundation

Unicef

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies

European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Department (ECHO)

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Concern Bangladesh Resources

Concern Worldwide Bangladesh Profile- 2024.pdf

(PDF, 685 kB)

Published: 20 May 2024

Concern Worldwide Bangladesh Programmes.pdf

(PDF, 494 kB)

Published: 7 February 2022

Cox's Bazar Programme

(PDF, 452 kB)

Published: 7 February 2022

Urban Green Graduation.pdf

(PDF, 2 MB)

Published: 2 January 2025

Climate Resilience.pdf

(PDF, 6 MB)

Published: 2 January 2025

Concern Worldwide Bangladesh’s Country Strategic Plan 2022 - 2026 aims to contribute to bringing sustainable, positive changes in the lives of people living in extreme poverty in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Strategy Planning - Long Version

(PDF, 5 MB)

Published: 7 February 2022

Bangladesh Strategy Planning - Short Version

(PDF, 4 MB)

Published: 7 February 2022