GRAUS ( Gram Unnayon Sangathon) is an indigenous people-led, non-profit and non-political development organization rooted in the communities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh. Established in Bandarban on 18 April 1998, GRAUS was founded by a group of indigenous leaders and development-minded individuals who shared a vision of creating greater opportunities for people living in remote and underserved communities. Emerging in the changing development context following the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord-1997, GRAUS began as a grassroots initiative with a strong commitment to improving the socio-economic well-being, dignity and resilience of marginalized communities.
From its humble beginning with a five-member executive committee, GRAUS gradually developed into a recognized development organization. GRAUS obtained Voluntary Organization Registration on 30 September 1999 from the Department of Social Services, Government of Bangladesh, under Registration No. Band-121/99, Bandarban Hill District. It was subsequently registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau, Government of Bangladesh, under Registration No. 2144 on 9 October 2006. GRAUS is also a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) under Membership No. IP/25322, obtained in 2013, and has been a member of the International Indigenous Forum for Biodiversity (IIFB) since August 2023. These milestones strengthened the organization’s institutional foundation and enabled it to expand its partnerships, programmes and development outreach across the region.
For more than 25 years, GRAUS has worked closely with indigenous and Bengali communities, embracing the principle that sustainable change begins with empowered people and strong local institutions. Our work is grounded in community participation, inclusion, equity, cultural diversity, accountability and locally led development. We believe communities are not simply beneficiaries of development; they are essential partners and decision-makers in identifying challenges, shaping solutions and creating lasting change. Working across the diverse social and geographical context of the CHT, GRAUS places local knowledge, community priorities and lived experiences at the heart of its programmes.
Over the years, GRAUS has built extensive experience in integrated development programming, addressing the interconnected challenges that affect the well-being and resilience of remote communities. Our interventions have contributed to improvements in health and nutrition, maternal and child well-being, WASH, education, sustainable livelihoods, food security, climate-smart agriculture, natural resource management, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian response, gender equality, women’s and youth empowerment, social cohesion and local governance. Through these efforts, GRAUS has directly reached approximately 100,000 people and successfully implemented more than 40 development projects since its establishment.
GRAUS combines deep local roots with professional development capacity. Our understanding of the CHT’s cultural, social, environmental and geographic realities enables us to develop context-sensitive approaches that respond to the priorities of communities while meeting professional standards of programme management and accountability. Supported by an experienced multidisciplinary team, institutional systems, sound financial management, digital monitoring and evidence-based decision-making, GRAUS is committed to delivering programmes that are effective, transparent, accountable and capable of producing measurable and sustainable results.
Partnership has been central to GRAUS’s growth and impact. We work in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh, local government institutions, community-based organizations, civil society, research institutions, national and international development organizations, and development partners. Our experience of working with a diverse range of donors and organizations, including USAID, the European Union, Australian Aid, UK Aid, the Embassies of Switzerland and Sweden, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, CARE, Helen Keller International, BRAC, WorldFish, FAO, Save the Children and others, reflects the trust placed in GRAUS as a locally rooted organization with the capacity to deliver quality development programmes in challenging contexts.
Looking ahead, GRAUS remains committed to strengthening resilient communities, expanding inclusive opportunities, protecting natural resources and improving equitable access to essential services across the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Bangladesh’s national development priorities, we continue to invest in locally led solutions, stronger institutions, climate resilience and inclusive development. Our ambition is to help create communities where people can live with dignity, overcome vulnerability, realize their potential and actively contribute to a more healthy, resilient, equitable and sustainable future.
GRAUS- rooted in communities, strengthened by partnership, and driven by sustainable change.
