Entrepreneurship and advocacy to facilitate the systemic inclusion of the chars

This report examines initiatives aimed at promoting the systemic inclusion of Bangladesh’s "chars" - riverine islands vulnerable to erosion and flooding but home to millions of people.

Through the Making Markets Work for the Chars (M4C) programme efforts have focused on fostering entrepreneurship, developing market systems, and addressing infrastructure and service gaps.

The Char Development Research Centre (CDRC) was established to anchor these efforts, enabling sustainable public and private investment in the chars.

The report concludes that addressing systemic gaps in infrastructure, services and market access in the chars requires strong public-private collaboration and the development of local entrepreneurship ecosystems. The CDRC plays a pivotal role in institutionalising these efforts, ensuring sustainability and fostering innovative business models to drive long-term economic inclusion and resilience in these vulnerable areas.

• Full report: Entrepreneurship and advocacy to facilitate the systemic inclusion of the chars
• Synopsis: Anchoring the systemic development of the chars