The Board of Directors of BRAC International (BI), one of the leading development organizations in the world, has named Shameran Abed, a longtime executive with the organization, as its new Executive Director effective August 1, 2021.
Shameran succeeds BI’s Executive Director, Dr Muhammad Musa, who stepped down on July 31.
As Executive Director, Shameran will oversee and guide BI’s strategies, programs and organizational development for scaled impact and sustainable growth, contributing to BRAC’s global strategy to reach 250 million disadvantaged women (and their dependents), youth and people living in poverty by 2030.
He will also continue to lead BI’s microfinance operations and oversee the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI).
“The Board of BRAC International is confident that Shameran is the right person to steer BI at this time, driving innovation and positive transformation while ensuring continuity. We believe Shameran’s extensive experience at BRAC and his strong strategic and collaborative skills will help us to further align our goals and objectives to achieve the vision of our late founder, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, to make BRAC a global force for poverty eradication and empowerment of the poor,” said Irene Khan, Chair of the Supervisory Board of Stichting BRAC International.
Shameran joined BRAC Bangladesh in 2009 and BRAC International in 2012, and has been instrumental in bringing BRAC’s flagship programs of microfinance and ultra-poor graduation to global scale.
Under his leadership, BI’s microfinance portfolio has seen impressive growth and a renewed focus on client impact. Since 2016, Shameran has also led BRAC’s ultra-poor graduation work and played an instrumental role in setting up the UPGI to spearhead global advocacy and provide technical assistance to governments and other organizations.
Shameran also comes with significant Board experience on several non-profit and corporate entities, including the boards of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), BRAC Bank and bKash.
“As we confront unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic, we are reminded once again of the urgent need to build resilience and create sustainable pathways out of poverty for the world’s most marginalized,” commented Shameran.
“BRAC holds a truly unique position, as an organization from and for the Global South, to continue to demonstrate the same commitment and tenacity in designing and delivering practical, scalable, community-led solutions as we have done for almost 50 years. I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead BRAC International at this critical juncture, working alongside thousands of fearless co-workers and with millions of program participants, whose courage and enterprise inspire us every day to accelerate and further amplify our impact.”
Shameran holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hamilton College, United States, and is a qualified Barrister in the UK.