Sustainable Business Model for Agrivoltaic Pilot Project in Bangladesh

This research investigates the potential of agrivoltaics in Bangladesh, where limited studies have hindered scaling this solution. The project aims to explore the impacts of agrivoltaics on solar providers and farmers, focusing on land-use challenges, policy limitations, and socio-economic impacts. It will assess the viability of combining solar power generation with agriculture by testing three experimental plots across diverse agroclimatic zones. The research seeks to identify key adoption factors for farmers and solar providers, including economic and environmental outcomes, and provide policy recommendations to enable agrivoltaics. It aims to support Bangladesh’s renewable energy goals while ensuring a fair transition for farmers and the textile industry.

Researchers: Rohini Kamal, PhD; Mohammad Tofail Bin Azam
Partner: H&M Foundation
Timeline: 2025-2027
Status: Ongoing
Contact: Rohini Kamal; rohini.kamal@bracu.ac.bd

Context
There is a significant lack of research on the implications of agrivoltaics in Bangladesh. This gap in evidence makes it challenging to identify pertinent issues and practicalities associated with scaling up this solution. In Bangladesh, access to renewable energy is a barrier to decarbonizing the textile industry. Solar power requires more land per unit of power generated compared to fossil fuels. Bangladesh, being densely populated with extensive agricultural land demands, faces significant challenges in allocating land for solar energy projects. Agriculture remains a key source of income for low-income families, low-skill workers, and rural women. Current policy limits the use of agricultural land for power generation, adding to the challenge of renewable expansion. Additionally, as solar panels are imported, the potential for local employment in solar irrigation remains low unless local farmers are integrated into the agrivoltaics project.

The limited research on the implications of agrivoltaics in Bangladesh, coupled with the absence of sufficient evidence, makes it challenging to identify key issues worth investigating and anticipate the practical challenges of scaling up this solution. To date, there are no agrivoltaic farms in Bangladesh designed at the onset with the specifications required for combined agriculture and solar power generation. Previous and ongoing projects have agriculture being explored as an add-on to existing solar farms and, therefore, the negative yield impacts on crops have been significant. This project will be the first to design a combined system from the onset, designing panel placement around the agricultural requirements. This action research aims to explore 1) the impacts on, and, therefore, 2) factors influencing the adoption of agrivoltaics for both solar providers and farmers.

Agrivoltaic system installation on a large scale could reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The shading produced by the PV modules reduces water evaporation throughout the summer, particularly during the dry period. With the right business model, agrivoltaics could generate both environmental and socio-economic gains while addressing the increased need for renewable energy.

Objective
The purpose of this project is to analyse how Bangladesh might pursue agrivoltaics at scale, using data and findings to complement macroeconomic analysis to amend the existing policy limiting the utilization of agricultural land for energy production. This exploratory research aims to identify key issues faced by solar power providers. It will address challenges and concerns around employment, the economy, the environment, and climate change. The research aims to contribute to a policy push around agrivoltaics for Bangladesh’s renewable targets to succeed. It will explore the realities of growing crops under solar panels in Bangladesh.

It will consider the current business model of the solar provider and the farmer and compare it to the new business model with agrivoltaics, which will help identify key issues in adopting agrivoltaics. The ultimate goal is to inform the policy that is currently prohibiting the use of agricultural land for solar irrigation, in an effort to solve the challenge of land scarcity and renewable energy production.

It will help identify what type of land-sharing agreements and incentives, such as technical know-how or agricultural extension services, might be beneficial to farmers. This will provide renewable energy in Bangladesh that, through future PPE set-up, can ensure the textile industry is run on green energy, while at the same time ensuring that this transition is just and fair for those affected.

Methodology
Our implementation partner, Bright Green Energy Foundation (BGEF), owns land in Manikganj and Kushtia. Additionally, we will acquire a parcel of land in Satkhira (near BIGD’s Mathkendro) and will start leasing these lands to farmers. We plan to cultivate crops on three plots under solar panels, located in three different districts across the country, each representing a distinct agroclimatic zone.

We will analyze the impact of growing crops under the panels on the social and economic conditions of the farmers of Bangladesh. The investigation will focus on the placement and sloping of panels, panel mounting, the type of panels used, along with the type of crops, and how they affect economic viability, agricultural productivity, and soil parameters. We will compare yield and costs for the same area of land and the same crop, with and without the shade of the panel. We will analyse both qualitative and quantitative data from the three experimental plots and then produce reports and disseminate them to share findings with relevant stakeholders.

Performance indicators will include the revenue and costs impact on solar providers (BGEF) and farmers. The process documentation by the solar provider and farmers will also be considered. For the solar provider, we will measure output from solar panels, revenue from electricity sales, and costs (hardware and operational costs) for the land area covered. For the farmer, we will measure input costs (including irrigation costs), yield, and revenue from crop sales.

Bricks to Blocks: Information and Coordination Challenges for Transitioning to a Cleaner Building Technology

This study, conducted by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), investigates the barriers to adopting soil-stabilized blocks (SSBs) as a sustainable alternative to fired clay bricks (FCBs) in construction projects in Bangladesh. SSBs offer significant environmental benefits, including lower CO2 emissions and reduced air pollution, compared to FCBs, which dominate the market and contribute to severe environmental degradation. Despite supportive policies, adoption remains low. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) across 66 Upazilas in northern Bangladesh, the study evaluates the effectiveness of interventions—such as exposure programs for procurement officials and contractors, site visits, market linkage facilitation, and skills training—in increasing SSB adoption. The findings address critical information and coordination challenges in the construction sector and support the transition to greener building materials.

Researchers: Munshi Sulaiman, PhD; Rohini Kamal, PhD; Hasibul Hasan, PhD; Tasfia Mehzabin; Md. Mohsin Hossain

Partner: Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries (PEDL)

Timeline: 2024–2026

Status: Ongoing

Contact: Rohini Kamal, PhD; rohini.kamal@bracu.ac.bd

Context

Production of FCBs, predominantly by using fixed chimney bull trench kilns, is a major source of air pollution, contributing to increased CO2 emissions, health risks, and the depletion of cultivable land through topsoil degradation in Bangladesh (Pariyar, Das, & Ferdous,2013; Suresh, Kumar, Mahtta, & Sharma, 2016). Notably, over 90% of bricks used in Bangladesh are FCBs,resulting in significant air pollution and environmental degradation, with studies suggesting they account for 58% of fine particulate matter in Dhaka city (Islam, 2016; Rahman et al., 2017). SSBs, usually made from sand, cement,gravel, and subsoil, offer a cleaner and feasible alternative to traditionalFCBs. They emit significantly less CO2 and possess better absorption capacity and crushing strength (Alam, 2020). Even between the two broad categories of eco-friendly blocks, cement blocks and SSBs, the latter is found to be a much cleaner alternative in terms of climate change, ecosystem and human health effects(Dahmen et al, 2018). The study also finds water usage being marginally higher for SSBs compared to cement blocks, thus SSB is a more economically viable alternative in the context of “water-endowed” Bangladesh.

The study will investigate constraints impeding the adoption of a green technology in government procurement while there are supportive policies behind it. Specifically, it will experimentally assess the effectiveness of interventions designed to address several barriers to achieving greater usage of soil-stabilized blocks (SSBs) over fired clay bricks(FCBs) as construction material in both publicly and privately procured projects.

Objective

The primary goal of this project is to evaluate a set of interventions aimed at increasing the adoption of SSBs among contractors in the construction sector. Though the interventions are a part of the experiment design, they are intended to broadly address information and coordination challenges. By employing a randomized controlled trial (RCT), this study will measure the impact of an “exposure intervention” for the procurement officials and contractors on the adoption of SSBs and the marginal effects of site visits, market linkage and skills training for workers as added interventions.

Methodology

The research will focus on the northern region of Bangladesh and 66 Upazilas in the region where we have already identified four SSB producers as potential partners for this research. The study will utilize a randomized control trial (RCT) design with randomization done at two distinct levels – a) randomization at contractor level and b) randomization at procurement officer level.

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.

Researchers: Kamal, Rohini; Mehzabin, Tasfia; Hossain, Md. Mohsin; Sharan, Md. Mahbubul Hassan; Azam, Mohammad Tofail Bin; Ferdous, Mirza Mahmuda

Partner: BRAC Urban Development Programme (UDP)

Timeline: 2022–2024

Status: Ongoing 

Contact: Md. Tofail bin Azam; azam.mohammad@bracu.ac.bd 

Context

Climate migrants and the “new poor” communities residing in climate-vulnerable, low-income urban settlements,  particularly urban slums, confront multifaceted adversities, 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 BRAC Urban Development Programme (UDP) aims to empower these populations and offer a trajectory towards economic recovery and foster enhanced well-being.

Objectives

The objective of this initiative is to enhance the evidence base for the impact and programming experience related to the multi-sectoral integration of livelihoods and climate change interventions. By focusing on comprehensive and transformative livelihoods and resilience programming, we aim to elevate programmatic quality and optimize resource utilization for adaptation efforts in Bangladesh. Additionally, the initiative seeks to generate knowledge on the multidimensional linkages between climate change, socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities, and other shocks, such as COVID-19, to inform and improve future interventions.

Methodology

BRAC UDP will target 5,500 low-income individuals in 141 urban slums across Chattogram City Corporation, Dhaka North and South City Corporations, Gaibandha Municipality, Khulna City Corporation, Rajshahi City Corporation, Satkhira Municipality, and Sirajganj Municipality. At least 65% of participants will be climate migrants. The project will explore climate-resilient livelihood options and develop tailored training modules for each community. Among the participants, 5,000 youths will receive training in financial literacy, Entrepreneurship Development, and Business Management (EDBM), while 500 others will undergo skills training with stipends and support from GO-NGO entities. In-kind business support will be provided, and 100 vulnerable youth will receive job placement assistance. Additionally, 10 water points and 15 latrines will be established based on community needs. A baseline vulnerability index will be conducted with 600 selected participants, with a comparison group of similar size from a control group. An alternative analysis involves pre-post comparisons to assess changes in resilience.

Findings and Recommendations  

Forthcoming

 

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.

Researchers: Fahim Subhan Chowdhury; Md. Mohsin Hossain; Rohini Kamal, PhD; Md. Mahbub Ul Hassan Sharan

Partner: BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) Programme

Timeline: 2022–2024

Status: Ongoing

Contact: Md. Mahbub Ul Hassan Sharan; mahbubul.hassan@bracu.ac.bd

Context

Diversifying climate-adaptive livelihood options, providing access to financial services, enhancing life skills, and improving social inclusion aims to empower these vulnerable populations. This initiative aligns with various national policies and strategies, aiming to enhance both economic and climate resilience. Through collaboration with local authorities and leveraging existing policies, the project seeks to address the intertwined challenges of climate-induced migration, poverty, and vulnerability while contributing to the broader development goals of the region.

Objectives

The current project aims to address the core livelihood challenges faced by ultra-poor women who are climate change-induced migrants living in urban slums and those residing in rural climate change hotspots with the risk of displacement. UPG is BRAC’s flagship program which is implementing this project looking beyond the spectrum of ultra-poor, expanding to other dimensions as well. The project’s primary objectives include increasing the resilience of vulnerable urban communities against COVID-19 and its consequences. Specifically, the project focuses on strengthening the socio-economic resilience of climate migrants and climate-vulnerable ultra-poor participants who are at risk of displacement due to climate and pandemic-induced shocks. To achieve this, the project will work on diversifying climate-adaptive livelihood options, providing access to various financial services, enhancing life skills through counseling and knowledge sessions on climate change adaptation, social issues, and health, and fostering social inclusion by strengthening connections with government social protection services and local government agencies.

Methodology  

The project methodology centers on increasing the resilience of vulnerable urban communities against COVID-19 and its consequences, with a specific focus on climate migrants and climate-vulnerable ultra-poor participants at risk of displacement due to climate and pandemic-induced shocks. To achieve this, the project will implement a multi-faceted approach that includes diversifying climate-adaptive livelihood options, providing access to a range of financial services, enhancing life skills through counseling and knowledge sessions on climate change adaptation, social issues, and health, and fostering social inclusion by strengthening connections with government social protection services and local government agencies.

Findings and Recommendations 

Forthcoming

Improved Early Action Through Precise Targeting, Timely Cash and Early Warning to Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Shocks in Bangladesh

This study, conducted by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) in collaboration with the University of Oxford with support from GiveDirectly, examines a targeted risk-informed early action pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of timing of cash transfers, early warning messaging and information, and data-driven innovations in targeting approaches in response to flood risk and vulnerabilities in Bangladesh. The study finds key opportunities and critical obstacles to adopting early actions in high-risk contexts of vulnerability to extreme climate events, climate displacement, and river erosion in the Jamuna river basin.

Researchers: Munshi Sulaiman, PhD; Rohini Kamal, PhD; Rocco Zizzamia; Tasfia Mehzabin

Partner: University of Oxford; GiveDirectly

Timeline: 2023–2025

Status: Ongoing

Contact: Rohini Kamal, PhD; rohini.kamal@bracu.ac.bd

Context

Considering the global risk of flooding, Bangladesh is ranked as the seventh most impacted nation on the climate change account (Global Climate Risk Index 2020). The Ganges and Brahmaputra river erosion by the Himalayan flow and glacial melting will further increase due to global warming, resulting in the displacement of thirty million people and one-seventh of the country’s landmass erosion. The constrained capacity of governments and humanitarian organizations to respond to idiosyncratic climate shocks creates further vulnerabilities to risk exposure. Timely actions to provide relief immediately require having more reliable systems to identify the neediest recipients and deliver aid effectively.

Objectives

The study will leverage mobile technology and data science innovations to test novel data-driven solutions to identify when to act, whom to target, and deliver cash support and early warnings in a timely manner with limited physical accessibility. The study will vary its timing of providing relief as well as the big-data-driven targeting approach to select beneficiaries in anticipatory climate shock and post-climate shock response. It will also generate evidence in three potential knowledge gaps including the need to design more cost-effective response systems, the need to improve “operational readiness” for early action, and the greater learning demand for risk-informed early actions. Furthermore, the study will address the constraints in identifying and verifying eligible beneficiaries, especially those from marginalized groups such as women.

This study is relevant to SDG 13 (climate action), particularly taking immediate action to combat climate change and associated impacts.

Methodology

The research design comprises a three-armed randomized control trial (RCT). 8,000 households will be targeted and randomized across the three arms prior to the first treatment. The treatment groups are: 2000 T1 Households (early warning) as a control group, 4000 T2 Households (early warning and early cash transfer before flood) as a treatment group with variation in targeting technology, and 2000 T3 Households (early warning and late cash) as a treatment group providing cash after floods.

Findings and Recommendations

Forthcoming.

 

Environmental and Economic Impacts of Agrivoltaics in Bangladesh

This study examines the environmental and economic implications of agrivoltaicsthe practice of cultivating crops under solar panelsas an alternative to tackle the challenges of reconciling renewable energy objectives with limited land availability in Bangladesh. 

Researchers: Rohini Kamal, PhD; Mohammad Tofail Bin Azam  

Partner: International Growth Centre (IGC)

Timeline: 2022–2024

Status: Completed

Contact: Md. Tofail bin Azam; azam.mohammad@bracu.ac.bd 

Context

The study encompasses the direct and upstream effects on factors such as employment, land use, water resources, greenhouse gas emissions, and co-pollutants. Employing an input-output model, the research compares agrivoltaics with various power sources including coal, gas, oil, hydropower, nuclear, and traditional solar energy. A novel feature of the study is its consideration of the land-impacted rather than just land-used aspect of different power sources, which holds the potential to provide crucial insights. By integrating economic, environmental, and climate-related goals, the research challenges conventional views on fossil fuels’ land-use efficiency and employment generation. It presents a holistic approach applicable to developing countries like Bangladesh and envisions real-world implementation, enhancing policy decisions for wider agrivoltaic adoption.

Objectives

The study will demonstrate how one of Bangladesh’s key constraints in achieving its renewable goals can be eased. The economy-wide impact on land, employment, water and emissions of agrivoltaics address both climate change and environmental concerns. The project wishes to amend the existing land use policy of Bangladesh that bans agricultural land use for solar parks. Through the findings, the study also aims to encourage new policies which incentivise farmers and solar providers to take up agrivoltaics, so that the renewable energy targets of Bangladesh can be achieved.

Methodology

This research will estimate the economy wide impact of agrivoltaics compared to other energy options available in Bangladesh, namely, coal, gas, oil, hydropower, nuclear, and solar. We will assess not just the direct impacts of the power plants themselves but also the upstream, economy-wide impacts generated from power plants, on the following factors: employment, land, water, greenhouse gas emissions, and co-pollutants.

Findings

  • The research indicates that agrivoltaics will have a positive impact on the creation of low-skilled and medium-skilled jobs and is expected to yield the smallest gender employment gap compared to other energy sources
  • Agrivoltaics is projected to require less land for energy generation as compared to fossil fuel, offering a more sustainable and land-efficient approach.


Recommendations

This policy brief highlights the potential alternative to fossil fuel is setting up agrivoltaic systems in less fertile and single-cropped land to achieve the 40% renewable energy target of the government of Bangladesh by 2041 without hindering agricultural production and livelihood of people engaged in agriculture. The methodology used encapsulates key considerations within the food–energy–environment nexus and provides policymakers a framework that clearly presents the implications of energy choices. The next step is a proof of concept to assess the impact of variation in crops, soil quality, land leasing terms between solar producers and farmers, in terms of the business model of the two entities.

Strengthening Economic Recovery Capacity of Climate- Vulnerable New Poor, Especially Returnee Migrants Impacted by COVID-19

Amid the challenges posed by climate change impacts and the far-reaching ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, this studyconducted by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) in collaboration with the BRAC Migration Programmeaddresses the imperative of enhancing the economic recovery capacity of vulnerable individuals, particularly returnee migrants, who have been disproportionately affected.

Researchers:  Fahim Subhan Chowdhury; Md. Mohsin Hossain; Rohini Kamal; Md. Mahbub Ul Hassan Sharan

Partners: BRAC Migration Programme

Timeline: 2022–2024

Status: Ongoing 

Contact: Md. Mahbub Ul Hassan Sharan; mahbubul.hassan@bracu.ac.bd

Context 

To strengthen the economic recovery capacity of climate-vulnerable new poor, particularly returnee migrants affected by the pandemic, the BRAC Migration Programme offers personalized reintegration plans, entrepreneurship training, and psychosocial support. Sensitizing government and private service providers to their needs, the project aims to empower returnee migrants who grapple with economic hardships and social isolation arising from climate change and pandemic-related disruptions by facilitating access to enhanced livelihood opportunities, social safety nets, and support services. Collaboration with local government institutions will ensure effective implementation and support for returnee migrants’ economic recovery and social integration, aligning with government strategies for inclusive growth and COVID-19 response, as well as international mandates for climate adaptation and social welfare.

Objectives

The current project seeks to address these multifaceted challenges arising from the impacts of COVID-19 and climate change faced by returnee migrants in climate-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh. It provides a holistic solution aimed at ensuring their sustainable livelihoods. The project’s objectives are to identify 2,500 returnee migrants; of these, 1,250 returnee migrants will receive financial assistance, psychosocial counseling, medical support, and capacity-building training to engage in income-generating activities (IGAs), along with small business development support. The project will also facilitate the connection of 1,250 additional returnee migrants and their families with microfinance institutions and government and private agencies for social security and financial inclusion. Collectively, these interventions will enhance the economic productivity of the migrants and enable them to secure sustainable livelihoods, allowing them to contribute to the national economy.

Methodology

The evaluation of the “Strengthening Economic Recovery Capacity of Climate-Vulnerable New-Poor, Especially Returnee Migrants Impacted by COVID-19” programme will use a quasi-experimental design, involving both a treatment group (programme beneficiaries) and a control group. The treatment group consists of 467 returnee migrant households, selected from a beneficiary list provided by the BRAC Migration programme, while the control group comprises 507 households from adjacent localities with similar socioeconomic characteristics.

Baseline data were collected through face-to-face surveys using a structured questionnaire, focusing on demographics, financial assets, savings, debts, livestock, market linkages, climate change knowledge, climate-resilient agricultural practices, and challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Household heads or, in their absence, primary female members were interviewed. Propensity score matching (PSM) will be employed to address any non-random selection biases in the control group. An endline study will follow, comparing baseline and endline data to measure the programme’s impact. The surveys were conducted across several districts, including Satkhira, Khulna, Sirajgonj, Barishal, and Jamalpur. The results of this baseline study will provide critical insights into the initial conditions of both groups, laying the foundation for subsequent analysis of the programme’s effectiveness.

Findings and Recommendations

Forthcoming

Strengthening Recovery Capacity of the COVID-19 and Climate Change-Affected Households Through Skills Training Targeting the Youth in the Families

This study, conducted in coordination with the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) and the BRAC Skills Development Programme (SDP) addresses the pressing need to strengthen the recovery capacity of climate-vulnerable and pandemic-affected households.

Researchers: Munshi Sulaiman, PhD; Rohini Kamal, PhD; Md. Mohsin Hossain; Md. Mahbub Ul Hasan Sharan

Partner: BRAC Skills Development Programme (SDP)

Timeline: 2022-2024 

Status: Ongoing

Contact: Tasfia Mehzabin; tasfia.mehzabin@bracu.ac.bd

Context 

Bangladesh’s susceptibility to climate hazards, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has amplified economic hardships, including increased unemployment and reliance on low-wage work. In this context, this project addresses the pressing need to strengthen the recovery capacity of climate-vulnerable and pandemic-affected households. Specifically focusing on empowering youth within these households, the project aims to enhance their skills and employability through a multifaceted approach, encompassing various outputs such as providing youth with practical and employable skills, facilitating job placements, supporting potential young entrepreneurs, and enhancing their understanding of climate-resilient business practices. By doing so, this initiative, aligned with national climate strategies, the government’s employment plans, and local development goals to ensure sustainable outcomes, aspires to not only address immediate economic challenges but also contribute to broader goals of recovery and resilience.

Objectives

The overarching goal is to economically empower households adversely impacted by COVID-19 and climate change. To achieve this, the study aims to enhance the employability skills of youth from these vulnerable communities and facilitate their placement in decent jobs. Additionally, it seeks to cultivate entrepreneurial spirit among potential youth business owners by providing them with the necessary support to establish their ventures and access financial services. The project also intends to increase knowledge of climate-resilient business practices and decent work standards among micro and small business owners and the broader community.

Methodology 

The impact evaluation for the programme will be conducted using a quasi-experimental method. Treatment sample lists were provided by the programmes and the comparison samples were selected from the adjacent locality based on the visible similarities to the treatment group households. Since the comparison sample was not selected randomly, there could be differences in characteristics between the treatment and comparison samples. To account for this non-random sample bias, propensity score matching (PSM) will be used to evaluate the impact of the programme intervention.

Findings and Recommendations  

Forthcoming

Evidence on Childcare (ECC)

There is limited evidence on effective and sustainable models for expanding childcare services for low-income households, especially in Bangladesh, where childcare needs are widely regarded as a barrier to women’s employment. BRAC aims to run a project to support caregivers and working mothers living in such neighbourhoods and has been piloting a home-based childcare model that uses a play-based approach. This study aims to measure the impact of childcare services on mother as well as generate formative evidence of home-based childcare for new entrepreneurs. 

Researchers: Munshi Sulaiman; Shaila Ahmed; Sakila Yesmin; Diva Dhar; Anandi Mani

Partners: BRAC Urban Development Programme (BRAC UDP), BRAC Institute of Educational Development (BRAC IED), ICDDR,B, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)

Timeline: 2023-2026

Status: Ongoing 

Contact: Raisa Adiba; raisa.adiba@bracu.ac.bd

Context 

The importance of quality childcare for the cognitive and holistic development of children is well-established in global literature. Although the effect of childcare on women’s employment and well-being has mainly been explored in the context of high-income countries, there is a growing body of literature that has found a positive relationship between childcare and women’s employment or income in developing country contexts as well. With this growing evidence on employment outcomes for mothers in various contexts, there is a recognition of the need for understanding the impact of childcare services on women’s psychosocial well-being and social empowerment. More importantly, there is limited evidence on effective and sustainable models for expanding childcare services for low-income households. Particularly in Bangladesh, for instance, the need for childcare is generally recognized as a barrier to women’s employment. Recognizing the need for quality childcare service for low-income households, especially for women who work in garment factories, BRAC has been piloting a home-based childcare model that supports children’s socio-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development using a play-based approach.

Objectives 

The primary objective of this study is to measure the impact of (the quality) childcare on mothers, particularly their employment prospects and socio-emotional well-being. A secondary objective is to generate formative evidence of the “enterprise economics” of home-based childcare for new entrepreneurs, particularly with respect to supply-side and credit constraints, the correlation of the quality of services with child development outcomes, and the prospect of a subsidy to create demand for childcare.

This study is relevant to SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), which strives for sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. It is also relevant to SDG 5 (gender equality), which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. 

Methodology 

The proposed research has an experimental design with a non-experimental component and operational research. For the experimental part, potential new entrepreneurs in the treatment group will be provided with training on play-based childcare services and materials, as well as entrepreneurial training. Within this treatment group, clients will be randomized into three groups: a) receive only the information about childcare services available at their respective entrepreneurs, b) information with a cash transfer, and c) a scholarship/subsidy to avail the service. The non-experimental component of this research project will mainly be a pre-post comparison to measure any changes in mothers’ employment and mental health status and the level of their trust in service providers after the existing entrepreneurs receive the training and material support from the project. The operational research component will include a study of the culture, beliefs, practices, and gendered relationships of the communities, as well as their idea of care-based practices. Further, a series of interviews, FGDs, and other qualitative methods will be used to gauge the community’s reflections on the interventions.

Findings and Recommendations

Forthcoming

 

Measuring the long-term impact of reducing childhood poverty: Evidence from Ultra-poor Graduation program

This study, conducted in partnership with G2LM and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, seeks to understand the intergenerational long-term impact of the 2007 cohort of BRAC’s Ultra Poor Graduation program, specifically in reducing childhood poverty.  

Researchers: Tahsina Naz Khan; Anindita Bhattacharjee; Narayan Das; Marzuk A. N. Hossain; Atiya Rahman; Asma Tabassum  

Partners: Gender, Growth, and Labour Markets in Low Income Countries Programme (G2LM), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)

Timeline: 2023-2026

Status: Ongoing

Contact: Marzuk A.N. Hossain; marzuk.hossain@bracu.ac.bd

Context 

BRAC’s Ultra Poor Graduation (UPG) program has two explicit objectives. The first is to provide immediate asset and training support that can be used in an income-generating activity in the short run. The second objective is to to empower ultra-poor women along non-economic dimensions, such as providing health support and training on legal, social, and political rights. The training component was intended to mitigate earning risks from working with livestock and increase the return on investment in livestock rearing. Despite the noteworthy success of the UPG programs in shaping the social policy landscape of Bangladesh, until recently, none of the impact evaluations had assessed the long-term outcomes of UPG beneficiaries. In this context, this study attempts to evaluate the intergenerational impact of UPG cohort 2007.

Objectives 

The main objective of this study is to assess the intergenerational impact of the UPGP 2007 cohort, with the hope that such interventions will increase their earning capacities, reduce the likelihood that children will grow up to be poor, and thereby reduce inequality in their generation. The goal is to examine the causal relationship between the UPG program intervention in beneficiaries’ households and children’s human capital outcomes for their generation. This study aims to set the benchmark for further analysis of intergenerational human capital formation and labor market outcomes.

This study is relevant to SDG 1 (no poverty), and more specifically, to reducing child poverty. 

Methodology 

In 2007, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed for that year’s BRAC UPG cohort to assess the impact of this multifaceted graduation program on the livelihoods of the poorest community. Till now, the RCT’s samples have been surveyed five times: in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2018. A total of 4,066 households were selected for treatment, and 2,657 households were in the control group. Now, an in-person follow-up survey of those treated and control households of the 2007 cohort will be conducted to collect information about their children, who were 5 to 10 years old in 2007. After that, depending on where these children live, an in-person or phone survey of people aged between 20 and 25 years in 2023 will be conducted to collect socio-demographic information and labor market engagement.

Findings and Recommendations

Forthcoming