CARE International’s history in Bangladesh
CARE has worked in Bangladesh since 1949. Since then, we’ve built a long-standing partnership rooted in crisis response, recovery, and rebuilding following the 1971 Liberation War. Our work expanded after the war, when CARE supported large reconstruction efforts, including housing and food-for-work programs that helped restore rural infrastructure and livelihoods.
Over the following decades, we continued growing our work in Bangladesh. CARE and our partners started supporting communities in agriculture, health, nutrition, and food security, with increased focus on improving opportunities for women and girls. Programs such as SHOUHARDO and SETU, which became global models, helped reduce child malnutrition and support families living in poverty.
CARE and our partners have also been pioneers in helping communities adapt to climate change impacts. We’ve introduced climate-smart farming and resilient infrastructure while placing women and girls at the centre of our work.
In recent years, one of CARE Bangladesh’s major priorities has been supporting communities in Cox’s Bazar, where around 850,000 Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar now live alongside host communities.
CARE and partners’ work in Bangladesh today
CARE Bangladesh works across the country to address urgent humanitarian needs while helping communities build stronger and more stable futures.
Our work focuses on:
Crisis response
We deliver life-saving aid during crises, while helping communities, prepare, withstand and recover from them. CARE Bangladesh and our partners also help in adaptation to climate change impacts, influencing change individual actions and wider systems.
Climate
Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. CARE works with communities to prepare for floods, storms, and rising water levels. Our programs support safer infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and practical solutions that help communities adapt to changing conditions.
Health
CARE works with partners to improve access to health and nutrition services, including care for mothers and children. We also support reproductive health services and community-based health education through evidence-based and locally grounded approaches.
Making the economy work for women
CARE supports women and young people to build skills and access livelihood opportunities. Through training, savings groups, and business support, we help families strengthen their income and improve their financial stability.
Gender equality
CARE works with communities to prevent violence against women and girls and support women’s leadership. We help women and girls gain confidence, take part in community decision-making, and access education and livelihood opportunities. We also engage men and boys to building more equal societies.
Focus on women and girls
Women and girls are at the heart of CARE Bangladesh’s work. CARE works closely with women-led and women’s rights organizations to ensure women’s leadership and voices shape programs and community decisions.
CARE supports women and girls to:
- Build leadership and take part in decisions in their homes, communities, and workplaces
- Live free from violence and harmful practices
- Access education, jobs, and essential services
- Strengthen their ability to prepare for and respond to crises
Tipping Point, a flagship CARE program initiated in Bangladesh, is a key example of CARE Bangladesh’s focus on women and girls. The program supported teenage girls to delay marriage, stay in school, and develop leadership skills.
CARE and our partners also respond to violence against women and girls. We provide protection services through Women Friendly Spaces, where women and girls can access information, support, and services if they experience violence.
Across all our work, CARE aims to ensure women and girls have greater opportunities, safety, and support as they build their futures.
For more information on CARE Bangladesh, see here.
