Dear friends and partners,
Since its founding, Gram Bikash Kendra (GBK) has pursued a single purpose: to enable the most marginalized people of northwestern Bangladesh to advance along a path of sustainable, self-driven development. Since becoming an accredited NGO in 1993, we have worked to empower women; nurture children and adolescents; promote the inclusion of indigenous and Dalit communities; uphold the dignity of older people; and strengthen the livelihoods of marginal farmers and small and medium entrepreneurs. We believe that equity, inclusion, and human dignity—backed by evidence-based, innovative solutions—can drive lasting social change.
Today, GBK operates as an integrated development platform. Our programs prioritize agriculture, livestock and fisheries, WASH and nutrition, education and skills, climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, cultural heritage, and access to basic services. The Sustainable Development Goals guide our strategy: ending poverty and hunger and promoting decent work (SDGs 1, 2, 8); sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12); health and safe water and sanitation (SDGs 3, 6); quality education (SDG 4); climate action (SDG 13); safeguarding culture and heritage (SDG 11.4); and reducing inequalities (SDG 10).
Our Microfinance program now reaches 115,706 clients and serves as an integrated model that pairs finance with agricultural and livestock technologies, safe vegetable cultivation and orchards, nutrition and WASH, youth skills and entrepreneurship, climate resilience, and community health outreach. Through technical assistance, market linkages, and last-mile quality assurance, small producers are achieving more stable incomes from high-value crops, fisheries, and livestock.
GBK’s reach and capabilities continue to grow. Through 1 head office, 4 regional offices, 11 project offices, and 76 branches—92 offices in total—we serve approximately 287,875 households and about 1,020,000 people across our footprint in northwestern Bangladesh. Our dedicated team of 720 staff—women and men, including colleagues from indigenous and Dalit communities—works side by side with communities every day, providing technical, social, and motivational support. They are our greatest strength.
Partnership is at the heart of our work. We are grateful for the trust and collaboration of government agencies, local administrations, community institutions, and our national and international development partners, including PKSF, the European Union, FCDO, IFAD, IDCOL, CARE Bangladesh, HEKS/EPER, CORE Japan, JICF, the Government of Bangladesh, and many others. We also thank local communities, volunteers, the media, our Board, and our advisors for their leadership and guidance.
We remain firmly committed to good governance—transparency, accountability, and integrity in all we do. We plan and act on data, maintain rigorous financial discipline, evaluate impact and learn continuously, and uphold strong safeguarding and protection policies. In the face of climate change, market volatility, and social inequities, we are determined to build new standards of resilience together with the communities we serve.
I invite you to stand with Gram Bikash Kendra—in thought, action, and support—so that, together, we can create broader, deeper, and lasting impact and ensure that no one is left behind.
With gratitude,
Aminul Islam
Chief Executive
Gram Bikash Kendra (GBK)