Brac delegation calls on former Tanzanian president Mkapa

Brac Foundation started its operations in Tanzania in February this year.

Abed appraised the former president of the Brac's current activities and future plans in Tanzania.

Brac has set up 10 microfinance branch offices in the regions of Dar-es-Salaam, Coast and Arusha, aiming to reach 10,000 poor women by the end of this year.

Brac, over the next few years, plans to significantly scale up microfinance access for the poor in Tanzania, reaching over a million of poor households all over the country. In addition, it will also develop programmes to control malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS and support agricultural activities of the poor.

Mkapa appreciated the activities of Brac in Tanzania and saw it as having significant potential to reduce poverty in his country.

He assured Abed of his full support and commitment to helping Brac in its development activities.

Abed invited Mkapa to visit Bangladesh in December to see Brac's development work and attend an international conference organised by Brac on extreme poverty.

The delegation members included Aminul Alam, executive director of Brac Foundation's Tanzania Chapter, Dr Imran Matin, director of Brac's Research and Evaluation Division, Shamsher Ali Khan, programme coordinator, Brac Foundation, East Africa, and Hossain Ishrath Adib, microfinance manager, Brac Foundation, East Africa.

Since 1972, Brac has been working with the twin objectives of poverty alleviation and empowering the poor with a holistic approach. It has made significant contributions to the fields of microfinance, health, education and other sectors, including road safety.