Bangladesh

Since 1984, iDE has created business opportunities for the private sector with the goal of improving income, livelihood, and well-being for low-income and marginalized communities.

Featured Project

Bangladeshi entrepreneurs create market for latrines

iDE’s most ambitious sanitation program to date aims to provide toilets for more than 1 million households

“At first, I thought iDE might purchase products from me like other NGOs,” says Mohammad Mubeen Mia, “But after participating in the training, I understood. They were here to show me how to grow my business.”

Despite Social Barriers, a Bangladeshi Mother Finds Success as an Entrepreneur

Momena opened a thriving small business and wants other women to do the same

With more than four decades of experience, iDE believes incubating and enabling women-led businesses will significantly accelerate human progress and deliver economic benefits for underserved communities.

Sylhet’s Resilient Market Ecosystem

Bangladeshi Region Characterized by Sufi Shrines and a Changing Climate

This Sylhet market ecosystem map shows the location of more than 2,360 iDE-powered touchpoints – local business advisors, livestock service providers, agricultural collection points, sales agents, entrepreneurs and latrine producers – all engaging with market actors, communities, and individuals – spread across Sylhet.

Why we're here—

One of the most densely populated countries on Earth, Bangladesh has significantly reduced the number of its people that are living in poverty, from 57 percent in 1990 to 25.6 percent in 2014. However, the country still faces challenges in improving food security, as agricultural productive capacity struggles to keep up with population growth. Bangladesh faces an agricultural labor shortage, partly due to urban migration trends, contributing to a four-fold increase in labor costs over the last decade. While the country has made tremendous progress in improving public health through investments in water, sanitation, and hygiene, nearly half the population still lives without a fully hygienic toilet or access to safe, clean drinking water, resulting in health-related losses estimated at $4 billion, more than 5 percent of total GDP.

Nutrition Boosted By Income Generation in Bangladesh

Most households receiving training on poultry farming

Farhana Yeasmin, 24, remembers what it was like when her husband was the family’s sole earner. Because he was a day laborer and made little money, they struggled to even pay for basics. And if he couldn’t find work, the family sometimes skipped meals.

What we do—

Resilient Market Ecosystems

For developing world entrepreneurs to succeed they must participate in market ecosystems that are economically competitive, inclusive of all people, and resilient to shocks such as conflict or changing climates. By listening to every stakeholder—producers, suppliers, retailers and customers—we can overcome critical bottlenecks and develop lasting solutions.

Learn more about iDE’s approach to resilient market ecosystems.

How We Do It —

Agriculture

iDE pioneered the development of private-sector supply chains for farmer-friendly technologies, resulting in productivity gains for more than 1.5 million households in Bangladesh by 2004.

Since then, we have combined the promotion of appropriate technologies with strengthened markets by deploying our “Firm to Farm” approach, which connects large national companies with over 30,000 last-mile entrepreneurs. The results are sustainable sources of seeds, fertilizer, and advisory services, along with improved access to buyers and market information, that continue to improve incomes and opportunities.

Learn more about iDE's commitment to Agriculture.

WASH

While the public and development sectors have made tremendous progress in promoting hygienic water and sanitation practices in recent years, iDE focuses on catalyzing the country’s private sector to lead the delivery of sustainable WASH solutions for low-income consumers. To do so, we work with national companies that supply toilets and water filters to reconsider low-income people as viable, long-term customers.

In parallel, we support over 1,000 entrepreneurs across the country in becoming more effective and profitable providers of affordable, aspirational, and effective WASH products and services.

Learn more about iDE's commitment to WASH.

iDE Theme Climate Resilience Illustration

Resilience to Climate Change

iDE works with leading companies to design and promote water-saving and climate-smart agricultural technologies, pilot innovative clean energy solutions, and build community resilience to climate extremes through improved access to more adaptable livelihood opportunities and practices.

Learn more about iDE’s commitment to Smart Technologies.

Gender Equity

Reducing poverty requires a specific concern for the situation of women and their role in rural markets. iDE takes time to listen to women as both customers and entrepreneurs. We strive to strengthen the participation of women in rural value chains and increase their access to technology, know-how, finance, and markets.

Learn more about iDE’s commitment to Gender Equity.

Nutrition

iDE encourages farmers to not just grow food, but to grow more nutritious food. With a more diversified crop base, customers gain a more nutritious diet, providing people with more energy and mental ability to be successful.

Learn more about iDE’s commitment to Nutrition.

A system solution for sanitation

Building a winning team of donors in Bangladesh

By using a portfolio approach, iDE demonstrates and delivers effective solutions that meet the goals of multiple partners and stakeholders, such as improved sanitary latrine coverage in populous Bangladesh.