$300,000 Grant to Support 3 Million Women Farmers

The Rockefeller Foundation has announced a $300,000 grant to BRAC to launch a new initiative aimed at empowering three million women smallholder farmers in Bangladesh, Liberia, Tanzania, and Uganda by 2030.

This program will help them and their families move out of poverty and vulnerability by building more sustainable livelihoods.

Tackling Climate Challenges Head-On

“Smallholder farmers are on the frontlines of climate change,” said Deepali Khanna, Head of Asia at The Rockefeller Foundation. “By supporting BRAC, we’re helping them not just to survive disruptions but to build solutions for lasting economic opportunity.”

The initiative will begin with pilot programs in Bangladesh’s coastal and drought-prone regions.

Comprehensive Support for Farmers

Farmers will receive an integrated bundle of services, including:

• Modern agricultural technologies
• Real-time climate and weather information
• Adaptive insurance products
• Strengthened market linkages

Insights from the pilot in Bangladesh will inform the model’s expansion to African countries where BRAC already operates.

Focus on Local Leadership and Sustainability

“As an organization, we believe in equipping communities with the skills to build their own resilience,” said Asif Saleh, BRAC’s Executive Director. “This support from The Rockefeller Foundation demonstrates how scaling local innovation can transform millions of lives.”

Key aspects of the approach:

• Bottom-up, community-led design
• Emphasis on local ownership and cultural relevance
• Long-term sustainability

Addressing Urgent Climate Impacts

With rising soil salinity, erratic rainfall, and resource degradation threatening rural livelihoods, BRAC’s program offers a timely, holistic solution that combines data-driven insights with local knowledge.

$300 Million Funding Goal

The Rockefeller Foundation’s initial grant is part of BRAC’s broader goal of raising $300 million for this initiative, which aims to improve the lives of approximately 14 million people.

About BRAC

Founded in Bangladesh in 1972, BRAC is an international development organization that has worked with over 145 million people to create opportunities for realizing human potential.

BRAC is known for:

• Community-led, holistic approaches
• Long-term, large-scale impact
• Focus on women and children
• Programs in social development, social enterprises, humanitarian response, banking, and education

It is consistently recognized among the world’s leading development organizations for cost-effective, evidence-based programming.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy that partners at the cutting edge of science, technology, and innovation to improve human well-being.

Its core work focuses on:

• Transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance
• Expanding human opportunity
• Addressing the climate crisis