Home

Publications

Journal Article

Globalising Southern Approaches to Reducing Extreme Poverty: Policy Adoption of BRAC’s Targeting the Ultra Poor Graduation Program

Date: 2024

Author(s): Hashemi, Syed M.; Montesquiou, Aude de

Topic(s): Ultra-Poor Graduation

Publisher: Development in Practice

Journal Article

Impact of COVID-19 on Celebration of Death, Mortuary, and Funerary Customs in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study

Date: 2024

Researcher(s): Rahman, Md Abdur; Islam, Md Redwanul; Chowdhury, Monidipa & 3 others

Topic(s): COVID-19

Journal Article

What I Say Depends on How You Ask: Experimental Evidence of the Effect of Framing on the Measurement of Attitudes

Date: 2024

Researcher(s): Bloem, Jeffrey R.; Rahman, Khandker Wahedur

Topic(s): Wee-DiFine

Publisher: Economics Letters

Working Paper

Being New Poor in Bangladesh: Coping Strategies, Constraints, and Trajectories

Date: 2024

Researcher(s): Nazneen, Sohela; Ahamed, Raihan; Aziz, Syeda Salina & 7 others

Topic(s): COVID-19

Publisher: Institute of Development Studies

All Publications

WEE-DiFine is a research initiative that seeks to generate a comprehensive body of evidence that addresses the impact of digital financial services (DFS) on women’s economic empowerment (WEE) and the causal mechanisms between the two by funding rigorous research across South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. The economic empowerment of women is a crucial development issue, which DFS has the strong potential to advance.

Learn more

Applied Research and Implementation Initiative (DigiDev)

The Applied Research and Implementation Initiative (DigiDev) during 2020-2023 will develop the organizational capacities of BRAC and BRAC International to integrate digital innovations into poverty programs. This will take place with support from BRAC’s Institute for Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC International’s Independent Evaluation Research Cell (IERC), BRAC Social Innovation Lab and BRAC USA, working closely with country and program teams across the BRAC family.

Learn more

All Programs

Blogs

12 November 2024

BIGD’s WEE Initiatives 2024: Unveiling New Research Pathways Through RFP Outcomes

Tasnuba Sinha

BIGD has once again made significant strides in advancing women’s economic empowerment through two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in 2024. This year marked the first call for WEE-Connect, which along with WEE-DiFine, aims to build a robust research pipeline in the Global South. These initiatives have resulted in the selection of high-impact studies that will deepen our understanding of how digital connectivity and financial services empower women economically.

Continue Reading

5 November 2024

টং আলাপ Episode 002: Should Student Politics be Allowed on Campus?

Zarif Bin Islam

In the aftermath of the July 2024 Movement, student politics has come under critical scrutiny, fueled by allegations of the Bangladesh Chhatra League’s violent suppression of student-led protests during the movement. Data from the first round of BIGD’s pulse survey, conducted just two weeks after the fall of the Awami-led regime, revealed a striking consensus: 81% of respondents supported banning party-centric student politics on campus, while 84% advocated against party-affiliated teachers’ politics. These numbers show a clear picture of the post-revolution public sentiment.

Continue Reading

24 October 2024

Gender-based preferences for mid-season payouts in crop insurance

Samyuktha Kannan and Francesco Cecchi

A randomized controlled trial with 1,765 Kenyan farmers tested a new crop insurance model offering mid-season payouts, customized to farmer preferences. Results show that most farmers, especially those facing food insecurity, prefer staggered payments. Women, often less financially empowered, requested fewer, larger transfers near harvest. Willingness to pay for the timely-pay insurance was significantly higher than traditional insurance, with the new model reducing the uptake gap between men and women. This innovation shows promise for improving insurance effectiveness amid climate challenges.

Continue Reading

All Blogs

Multimedia

টং আলাপ | Episode 003 (unplugged): Gender gaps in optimism: Are women in Bangladesh losing hope?

Episode 002 (unplugged): Should student politics be allowed on campus?

Young Researchers Fellowship Program | YRF at BIGD

Studies

Economic Recovery of the Climate Migrants and New Poor Living in Climate-Vulnerable Urban Low-Income Settlements

Against the backdrop of Bangladesh’s susceptibility to climate change and the compounded challenges accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, this project sets out to enhance the socio-economic resilience of climate migrants and “new poor” individuals residing in climate-vulnerable, low-income urban settlements. These communities confront multifaceted adversities, particularly urban slums characterized by high population density, inadequate infrastructure, and limited income avenues. The pandemic induced a new wave of poverty, pushing vulnerable groups further into destitution. By facilitating diverse livelihood opportunities, enabling capacity building, offering asset transfers, establishing market linkages, securing social safety net access, and improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, the initiative aims to empower these populations and offer a trajectory towards economic recovery and foster enhanced well-being.

Learn more

Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Climate-Vulnerable Ultra-Poor Households Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh

In response to the critical challenges presented by Bangladesh’s susceptibility to climate change and the additional complexities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study, jointly conducted by the BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) Programme and BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) focuses on strengthening socio-economic resilience among targeted climate migrants and climate-vulnerable ultra-poor individuals who are confronting the risks of displacement.

Learn more

All Topics

Spring 2025 Admissions Open

Spring 2025 Admissions Open

Blog

টং আলাপ

Working Paper

Publications

Journal Article

Journal Article

Journal Article

Working Paper

Events

Upcoming Event

17

Dec 24

Previous Event

17

Nov 24

Research Programs

Women’s Economic Empowerment and Digital Finance (WEE-DiFine)

Applied Research and Implementation Initiative (DigiDev)

Blogs

Multimedia

টং আলাপ | Episode 003 (unplugged): Gender gaps in optimism: Are women in Bangladesh losing hope?

Episode 002 (unplugged): Should student politics be allowed on campus?

Young Researchers Fellowship Program | YRF at BIGD

Studies

Economic Recovery of the Climate Migrants and New Poor Living in Climate-Vulnerable Urban Low-Income Settlements

Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Climate-Vulnerable Ultra-Poor Households Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh