BRAC’s unique perspective
BRAC doesn’t fit neatly within the way most people view localisation. As a Global South–led organisation, proximity and partnership are in our DNA. Our approach blends deep local trust with the ability to scale impact globally. For us, localisation isn’t the goal—it’s the starting point of how real change is built.
Our approach: beyond localisation
We didn’t adopt a local approach—we were one from the start. Born in post‑war Bangladesh, alongside people who had nothing but the will to rebuild, we developed solutions together out of necessity and solidarity.
We don’t work in communities or for them. We work as part of communities. Our strength and sustainability come from proximity, trust, and shared realities that allow us to co‑create meaningful, lasting change.
Solutions shaped by those who live them
The localisation debate highlights something BRAC has always believed:
- Proximity matters—deep roots in communities make solutions relevant.
- Trust builds impact—long‑term solidarity creates shared ownership.
- Context drives change—solutions work when shaped by those who live the problem.
When communities lead, solutions are more grounded, more effective, and more sustainable.
Where localisation falls short
Localisation risks becoming box‑ticking—focusing on whether offices are local or staff are national, without asking deeper questions about:
- Power and accountability
- Community agency
- Long‑term sustainability
Hiring locally or partnering regionally doesn’t automatically mean working in ways that build systems, strengthen resilience, or deliver lasting impact.
Systems, not projects
Real empowerment isn’t something given—it’s already present in communities. BRAC’s role is to recognise, nurture, and sustain it over time.
That’s why we focus on strengthening whole systems, rather than projects. We know that education, health, finance, and climate are not separate problems. They’re interconnected, just like people’s lives. By strengthening whole systems, through integrated approaches, we ensure that communities can drive their own long‑term solutions.
Last mile, first
What others call the “last mile,” we see as the first. It’s where we come from—not where we aspire to reach. In more than 15 countries across Asia and Africa, our teams are staffed and led locally not because frameworks demand it, but because that’s what effectiveness requires.
Proximity is not a strategy- it’s our starting point.
Scale is necessary
Localisation is sometimes equated with staying small. BRAC proves the opposite: locally rooted approaches can succeed globally.
- Over 145 million people reached in five decades
- More than 15 million children educated
- Over 10 million borrowers supported through microfinance
- More than 9 million people enabled to escape extreme poverty
This scale is possible because our models are community‑driven, designed from the ground up, and always adaptive as we learn.