Organizational Profile
Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) BRAC University
Overview
To make a significant contribution to creating an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bangladesh, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) of BRAC University (BRACU) [hereinafter CED-BRACU] started its journey in April 2011 with the view to encouraging Bangladeshi entrepreneurs through enriching entrepreneurial knowledge and skill so that the entrepreneurs can systematically develop and grow their own businesses.
CED-BRACU works to engage potential Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in innovative thinking and provides a platform for new and existing enterprises, be it micro, small, or medium, through skills acquisition activities for the development and management of the enterprise. To understand the enterprise better, CED-BRACU emphasizes on research that will contribute to entrepreneurial development in Bangladesh, advance education and skill acquisition along this line, and popularize the idea of entrepreneurship. [Details here: http://ced.bracu.ac.bd/].
Noteworthy Projects
CED Becomes a Part of UNESCO Chair at the University of Lincoln
With the objective to empower and encourage human and social agency, CED has been associated with the UNESCO Chair on "Responsible Foresight for Sustainable Development" in the Lincoln International Business School at the University of Lincoln in March 2019. The core identity of the project is the use of the future to inspire responsible actions in the present. "Using the future" includes imagination, anticipation, and aspiration to create a stronger sense of possibility and self-belief by discovering what should be done and what can be done in each specific context to improve human flourishing.
CED launched training on entrepreneurship development and renewable energy to women in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Vietnam
Funded by UNEP
CED-BRACU is currently working on a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UNWomen project titled: "EmPower: Women for Climate Resilient Societies". CED will develop the women's energy entrepreneurship training modules and online courses for the project, which is being implemented by UNEP and the UN Women. This project aims to contribute to the overall outcome of 'Countries in Asia and the Pacific Implement Gender-Responsive Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Actions to address key drivers of Gender-Based Vulnerabilities'. The project is being implemented in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Vietnam; and is supported by regional-level activities in Asia-Pacific with the aim of increasing gender responsiveness to climate change and disaster risk reduction in the region. The project also lends support to member states in fulfilling commitments to the Paris Agreement commitments as well as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 7 on Energy, and SDG 12 on Climate Action. The project will achieve these outcomes through the following goals, i.e., women's groups are able to lead, participate in, and influence climate change and DRR decision-making processes; Governments and key stakeholders are able to generate, analyze and use sex, age, and diversity disaggregated data to inform climate change and disaster risks and actions; enabling national climate change and DRR policymakers to integrate and enhance responsiveness to gender equality commitments;
enabling women to use renewable energies to improve climate-resilient livelihoods;
incorporation of gender equality and human rights perspective in regional and policy frameworks on climate change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
CED leads a Danida project on 'Climate Change and Global Value Chains in Bangladesh' Funded by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark (Jul 2021- Jun 2025)
The Project "Climate Change and Global Value Chains in Bangladesh" is focused on how the garment/textile value chains connecting Europe and Bangladesh are being reconfigured in response to climate change. In this connection, the project pays particular attention to the economic, social, and environmental consequences of the process in line with the focus of the call. The implementation of the research project is granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and administered by the Danida Fellowship Center (DFC) in Copenhagen, Denmark. The project is headed by the Copenhagen Business School in partnership with Aalborg University, Roskilde University (RUC), Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED)-BRAC University (Bangladesh), and Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka (Bangladesh). Private sector partners include the Danish Ethical Trading Initiative and Danish Fashion and Textile.
This research and the capacity-building project will investigate how the garment/textile value chains connecting Europe/Bangladesh are being reconfigured in response to climate change. The main research objective is to create insights into the actors pushing for decarbonization and value chain resilience efforts in the garment/textile industries of Europe/Bangladesh; the drivers behind their engagement; the scope of their practices,
experimentation, and collaboration; and the consequences for economic, social, and environmental upgrading in Bangladesh.
CED signed MoU with GoB's iDEA project to create startup ecosystems in Bangladesh CED-BRACU, on 2 February 2021, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ICT Department's iDEA Project as a collaboration between entities to work on different aspects of entrepreneurship development in Bangladesh. The MoU was signed at the meeting room of the iDEA Project in the presence of Mr N M Ziaul Alam PAA (Senior Secretary, ICT Department). The Establishment of Innovation and Entrepreneur Development Academy (iDEA) project of the Department of Information and Communication Technology has been working since 2016 with the aim of building a startup ecosystem in Bangladesh. The iDEA project is working closely with internationally recognized domestic and foreign educational institutions and various important industries for the benefit of startups and to increase their skills and knowledge.
The MoU signing gives the iDEA project startups access to BRAC University's Business Incubation Center (BIC) as well as potential projects to use co-working spaces and labs for the iDEA project. In addition, the two sides will jointly assist each other in training, partnerships, joint ventures, venue support, and fellowship programs in the USA and Australia. The MoU will help startups transform their innovative ideas into sustainable business models by providing mentoring and necessary training. This collaboration is expected to create a viable startup ecosystem in the country, which will play a significant role in creating a better business environment in the country in the future, said Mr Syed Mojibul Haque (Director and Additional Secretary, iDEA Project).
Mapped in Bangladesh [Digital RMG Factory Mapping in Bangladesh (DRFM-B)]
Funded by Laudes Foundation and the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED), BRAC University, worked on a 4-year project titled Mapped in Bangladesh (MiB) [previously known as "Digital RMG Factory Mapping in Bangladesh" (DRFM-B)] from April 2017 – March 2022. MiB is aimed at mapping all the export-oriented ready-made garment (RMG) factories in Bangladesh.
According to the nation's "Digital Bangladesh Vision 2021", the Bangladeshi RMG sector also needs to align itself to the mandated digitization of every sector. The goal of MiB is to provide industry stakeholders with real-time, credible RMG factory data through an interactive online platform (like Google Maps). The project is also working on enabling greater accountability and transparency in supply chains and enhancing confidence in the ability of the sector to contribute to equitable development in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) are the strategic partners of the project. The project is also supported by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment of GoB. The project is being coordinated by BRAC. Project Details can be found here: www.mappedinbangladeh.org.
Research Study Conducted with University of Aberdeen Funded by University of Aberdeen
CED conducted a research project on "Impact of Retailers/Brands Practices on Ready- Made Garment Manufacturers in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 Pandemic," funded by the University of Aberdeen, UK. The research looked at the impact of retailers/brands' practices during the COVID-19 pandemic on the ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh. The study was mainly interested in the behavior of the buyers since March 2020 and how this has impacted the sector in Bangladesh. The project is being financed by the University of Aberdeen, UK. The project is being carried out by academics at the University of Aberdeen in partnership with Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED), Brac University in Bangladesh.
CED is running its regular Business Plan Competition in BRACU for aspiring young entrepreneurs
CED-BRACU organized the 6th Round of the Business Plan Competition (BPC) for the innovative and aspiring entrepreneurs among BRACU students and alumni. CED has been organizing this regular yearly event since 2015, and this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event will be organized online. CED closely monitors and supervises each selected team's entrepreneurial activities and provides necessary guidance and assistance to the teams in developing their ventures. CED has also launched an 8-week online training course, Idea, Innovation & Initiate (I-3), for the participants so that the young entrepreneurs can get extensive support to formulate their business ideas for the BPC.
CED launched a professional course titled Idea to Innovation (i2i) through an online learning platform
CED developed a learning platform based on Open edX, and is conducting different training events regularly. A 6-week professional course titled Idea to Innovation (i2i) aims to offer the participants a brief idea about the careful steps to start a new enterprise, to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, impacts, and sustainability of the business through developing a culture of innovation and continuous improvement of the products and customer services. The course targets to enhance the capacity of potential and established entrepreneurs, which will enable them to recognize their potential commercial opportunities, knowledge and skills. The participants will be able to cultivate unique skills and think outside the box to transform their ideas into innovation.
CED partnered with GIZ and adelphi to implement SSREU project Funded by GIZ
CED worked as the in-country cooperating/implementing partner of adelphi Consult GmbH (Lead) and INTEGRATION Umwelt & Energie GmbH (implementing partner), in connection with the GIZ-supported project titled "Support to Safety Retrofits and Environmental Upgrades in the Bangladeshi Ready-Made Garment Sector (SSREU). The GIZ technical cooperation project, SSREU aims to address a number of capacity gaps in
the private and financial sectors. Its objective is to support an enabling situation where the financial institutions and RMG factories actively use the developed information and capacity-building support structures in the areas of safety remediation and environmental and social upgrades. The project was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with the Ministry of Finance, Financial Institutions Division, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh as the lead executing agency, and Bangladesh Bank as the implementing agency. The project region is in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with the duration of 2018-2020.
Baseline Study for Integration of Eye Care Services for Female Garment Workers in Dhaka and Chittagong Divisions
Funded by Fred Hollows Foundation
CED conducted a situational analysis study between September and November of the year 2017 so as to find out the key environmental issues that exist in the immediate work environment of the RMG factory worker, which is likely to affect and influence his or her eye health. CED was selected owing to its research experience with the RMG sector, particularly the industry recognized, and much significant, ongoing digital ready-made garments factory mapping initiative which CED was carrying out.
Need Assessment and Baseline Study of the Indigenous, Marginalized and Vulnerable Population regarding the Uptake of Eye Care Service in Chittagong, Barisal, and Khulna Divisions of Bangladesh
Funded by Fred Hollows Foundation
In 2016, CED conducted this need assessment and baseline study on the indigenous, marginalized and vulnerable populations. The objective of this assignment is to identify, describe, and prioritize vulnerable and marginalized people in Chattogram, Khulna, and Barisal divisions in Bangladesh that are inequitably affected by poor health compared with the rest of the population. The research result will help design eye health programs and policies which could reduce the inequity in eye health care services in Bangladesh.
Mid-Term Evaluation of DALA Project Funded by Plan Bangladesh Funded by Plan International Bangladesh
CED has a keen interest in developing its expertise in the field of research. And hence, CED completed two notable research studies. The first research study is related to the midterm evaluation of the adolescent program. Developing Aspiration and Livelihood for Adolescents (DALA) is a development project being implemented by Plan International Bangladesh and a partner NGO. The project location is at Hatibandha Upazila of Lalmonirhat district in Bangladesh from 1 May 2014 to 28 February 2017.
End-term Evaluation of Stop Child Marriage (SCM) Project Funded by Plan International Bangladesh
CED worked on a research study named end-term evaluation of an adolescent program titled "Stop Child Marriage" (SCM) project. The Stop Child Marriage (SCM) project is developed to implement with the funds from Plan UK's "Girls Fund". This was a general fund that many donors give to on a regular basis to support works related to Plan's
"Because I am a Girl" campaign. The project was designed to implement in Plan International Bangladesh working areas (PUs) in 2 Districts – Gazipur and Dinajpur.
Pro-Poor Slum Integration Project (PPSIP) Funded by World Bank
Under its Pro-Poor Slum Integration Project, World Bank hired CED as a housing finance specialist to develop a financial model and scheme to develop housing microfinance products for slum dwellers of Bangladesh. The objective of the consultancy service resulted in the development of house finance products and the financing mechanism for those products. This is the first time CED has been engaged with World Bank.
Professionals Management Training Program for BRAC International Funded by: BRAC International
Organized in association with Economics and Social Science (ESS), BRAC University, this was a 2-month program involving the mobilization of considerable teaching resources and infrastructure management on CED's part. The program trained 17 new employees of BRAC International who have joined various programs of BRAC in several African and Asian countries wherein BRAC is running development programs.
Bangladeshi Young Entrepreneurs Exchange Program Funded by US State Department
CED had successfully managed several professional exchange programs under the United States Government's Department of State Professional Fellows Program titled Bangladeshi Young Entrepreneurs Exchange program. CED, as the in-country partner of the University of Oklahoma, has so far managed four (4) young entrepreneurs' exchange programs under which fifty-four (54) Bangladeshi professionals and entrepreneurs have visited the US to enhance and consolidate their professional capability.
For the first program, CED partnered with the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma, and funded by the US Department of State; hosted a 5-week entrepreneurs exchange program in the United States. After conducting a pre-assessment of the most important industries and businesses in Bangladesh that have the most potential to stimulate the thriving entrepreneurial community in the country, 12 young Bangladeshi entrepreneurs from a variety of professions were recruited for each of the two US exchanges. They visited the US in two phases: April/May 2012 and November/December 2012.
This program injected Bangladeshi emerging young entrepreneurs in entrepreneurial development, small and family-owned businesses, and business education into working small businesses in Oklahoma and associated them with one of America's leading universities. The program aimed to provide professional experience and training that nurtured the young entrepreneurs' talent and prepared them for more responsible leadership positions in their businesses, communities, and society as they return to Bangladesh. In addition, the program provided U.S.-based small business people and educators an opportunity to collaborate with their Bangladeshi counterparts.
Bangladeshi Media Professionals Exchange Program Funded by US State Department
The US Department of State grant-based exchange brings together the high-achieving media professionals of Bangladesh and the US, allowing professional developments and exposure to best practices and paving the way to harness the power of media to strengthen democracy, accountability, and good governance. Through this program, 12 Bangladeshi media professionals spent six weeks on various professional assignments as well as a media house placement in the US. The program also brought 12 US media professionals to Bangladesh who spent a 10-day stint making professional calls and visits to Bangladeshi press and media organizations (private and government-owned). In managing a program involving the media industry, CED brought on board many new media houses and platforms that became a stakeholder in the program and hosted the US media professionals with remarkable alacrity.
Entrepreneurs Exchange Program (from Bangladesh and Nepal) Funded by US State Department
CED, partnering with the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma, US Department of State, and Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs' Forum – NYEF) in Nepal; hosted a 5-week entrepreneurs exchange program in the United States that includes a professional fellowship placement at an American small business organization. One program was held in May 2014, and another in October 2014.
This program injected Bangladeshi and Nepali mid-level emerging leaders/entrepreneurs in entrepreneurial development, small and family-owned businesses, and business education into working small businesses in Oklahoma and associated them with one of America's leading universities. The program provided U.S.-based small business people and educators an opportunity to collaborate with their Bangladeshi and Nepali counterparts as they participated in a 2-week exchange to Dhaka and Kathmandu in June 2014 and January 2015.
Entrepreneurs Exchange Program (from Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar) Funded by US State Department
CED, partnering with the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma, US Department of State, hosted a 5-week entrepreneurs exchange program in the United States that includes a professional fellowship placement at an American small business organization. The program with the theme titled
"Economic Empowerment" was held in May and October 2015. The program injected Bangladeshi mid-level emerging leaders in small or startup business ventures, business administration, government, NGOs, business education, incubation hubs, community training programs or social entrepreneurship into working small businesses in Oklahoma and associate them with one of America's leading universities. The program provided U.S.-based small business stakeholders an opportunity to collaborate with participants from Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar in a two-week outbound exchange to the respective countries in June 2015 and January 2016.
Management Soft-skills Training Program for Beauticians: Beauty Parlor Management for Young and Adolescent Girls
Funded by: Fair & Lovely Foundation, Unilever Bangladesh
A training program for beauticians and beauty salon owners who have taken up this profession for economic self-sufficiency and are economically marginalized, CED organized six (6) training workshops for around 300 beauticians (mostly young and adolescent girls), a significant proportion of them are from peripheries of Bangladesh.
The objective of this program was to develop management capacity in female beauticians in order to make their businesses more sustainable.
Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) Funded Business Incubation Centre
Funded by the Government of Bangladesh
CED worked on a project undertaken by the Ministry of Education, Government of Bangladesh titled "Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project" (HEQEP) under the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) and funded by the World Bank. The fund for the sub-project was 70.96 Lac BDT, and the duration was from January 2015 to June 2016. The fund of the project would be utilized for: a) Entrepreneur Incubation and b) Entrepreneurial Education Programs. The project allowed CED to expand its operations significantly and branch out to areas like social entrepreneurship and the paradigm of micro-entrepreneurs. With support from this sub-project, CED established and has been managing an academia/university-based Business Incubation Centre (BIC), starting with BRAC University's graduate students for providing them with essential business incubation support as well as inspiring them to become successful entrepreneurs.
Enhancing Organizational Capacity of AWAJ Foundation through Developing Effective Managerial Skills
Funded by: Laudes Foundation (formerly C&A Foundation)
CED offered a set of capacity development and/or training programs that would help develop the professional expertise of the employees of a garment workers' rights- oriented organization named AWAJ Foundation (AF), as well as enhance the organizational capacity thereof. The training program organized in 2015 aimed at enhancing the participants' understanding and knowledge of project management, proposal writing, leadership development, project cost management, budgeting, project implementation, and other areas relevant to their professional responsibilities.
Australian Award Fellowship (AAF) Program
Funded by: AUSAID and University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
Organized by CED in 2016-17, the Australian Award Fellowship (AAF) program aimed to develop leadership, address priority regional development issues, and build partnerships and linkages between Australian organizations and partner organizations in developing countries. AAF involved the delivery of a 3-week training program to nominated fellows that addressed the empowerment of women through entrepreneurship, innovation, and business sustainability at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Australia.
Training on "Women Entrepreneurship for Promoting Peace and Social Cohesion"
Funded by: UN Women
The training was organized Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) and facilitated by CED; both centres are under BRAC University (BRACU); aimed to enhance the capacity of young female students to design a social business model for promoting peace, social cohesion, and Covid-19 resilience. This online training curriculum was developed and facilitated by CED from Dec 2020 – Mar 2021. The training module presented a framework of characteristics and competencies of entrepreneurship in Bangladesh, designed to guide and support aspiring young enthusiastic female entrepreneur to start and manage their entrepreneurial journey.
Entrepreneurship Development Training Programme for Midwives
Funded by BRAC University's James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH)
BRAC University's JPGSPH has been implementing the "Diploma in Midwifery Education"
since 2012 under the "Developing Midwives Project" with the vision to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in Bangladesh. The project was carried out through a three-year diploma program at seven Academic Sites across the country. This project was funded by the Department for International Development DFID) of the UK Government, and implemented by BRACU's Department of Midwifery and Nursing under James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH). The goal of the "Developing Midwives Project" was to establish midwifery as a profession in Bangladesh and to develop a cadre of competent and compassionate midwives who will live and practice in hard-to-reach
development training program through engendering entrepreneurial knowledge and skill to these graduate midwives in the public/private sector within the rural community so that they can systematically develop and expand their businesses. A total of 4 training(s) were organized for the 88 graduate midwives divided into batches.
Vulnerability, Resilience, and Recovery in the RMG Sector in view of COVID Pandemic In 2021, CED conducted a study on the RMG sector titled "Vulnerability, Resilience, and Recovery in the RMG Sector in view of COVID Pandemic: Findings from the Field Survey", jointly with Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). The study assessed RMG enterprises' level of resilience and recovery during the long time period. A nationally representative sample survey has been conducted over 600 RMG enterprises with a view to assessing the vulnerabilities, resilience, and recovery process in the sector. Based on the analysis, a number of forward-looking policy suggestions have been put forward for the development of the RMG sector in the medium term.
Corporate Sustainability and Accountability during the COVID Pandemic: Case of Financial Stimulus Package Funds for the RMG Sector
In 2021, CED provided consultancy services for conducting a survey for the study on Corporate Sustainability and Accountability during the COVID Pandemic: Case of Financial Stimulus Package Funds for the RMG Sector, a study by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
Rapid Survey on Impacts of Coronavirus on Non-member RMG factories in Bangladesh The rapid survey "Impacts of Coronavirus on Non-member RMG factories in Bangladesh"
focuses on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the non-member RMG factories of Bangladesh. Non-member factories refer to those factories that are not members of BGMEA and/or BKMEA. The study was conducted in association with BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), BRAC University, and the sample non-member RMG factories were drawn from the MiB database. The study was an effort to explore the impact of the pandemic, specifically about – the status of orders, their debts, their operational status, whether the factories have been able to pay their workers, whether the factories had to lay off workers, the measures they have taken to support their workers, and the measures the factories have taken to reduce the risk of their workers being infected by the virus.
Rapid Survey on Impacts of Covid-19 on the Lives of Workers in the Garment Industry The rapid survey titled "The Impact of Covid-19 on the Lives of Workers in the Bangladesh Garment Industry" was conducted in association with BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), BRAC University, and the Institute for South Asia Studies, University of California, Berkeley. The objective of the survey was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice about Coronavirus among RMG Workers in Bangladesh and how they have been impacted during the pandemic. As part of the survey, 1,057 garment workers were communicated through phone calls from 30 June to
13 July 2020. The survey reflected workers' perception of risks due to COVID-19 and precautionary measures that factories had taken to stop the spread of the virus among workers.
Prototype Digital Asset Management Map for Dhaka South City Corporation
In 2017, CED developed a prototype digital map for mapping the assets of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The map was based on Google Maps having cutting-edge features. CED mapped the Banani Field along with related details and incorporated the information on an interactive and online map. The map exhibited the detailed areas and status of the field, including the assets present there and other related structures within and around the field. The goal of the prototype was to assess the feasibility of developing a digital asset management map for DSCC.
Participatory Factory Mapping Research (PFMR): Planning Phase Funded by C&A Foundation
Coordinated by BRAC USA, the research project titled "Participatory Factory Mapping Research (PFMR): Planning Phase" was conducted by CED, BRAC University, being the starting point for the Mapped in Bangladesh (MiB) project. The goal of the PFMR was to find an alternative to the prevailing working conditions in the Bangladeshi RMG sector:
Develop a mapping scheme that offered access to vital information resulting in the transparency of the RMG supply chain. PFMR shares the objective of supplying robust data to enable better evidence-based decision-making in the RMG sector with the belief that transparency and traceability lead to better long-term outcomes.
Workshops Organized
A number of workshops have been organized by CED for the students of BRAC University on various relevant themes and courses of study for their skill-building as well as professional development. Some notable workshops organized are: Workshop on Building Career in Banks and Financial Institutes, Human Resource Management, Beauty Parlor Management, Supply Chain Management, etc.
Contact
Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) BRAC University
Address: Building #7 (Level 13), 43 Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh Tel: 0961744 Ext. 5200
Cell: (+88)01921-304211
Email: [email protected] , [email protected] URL: http://ced.bracu.ac.bd/