Background.
CCDB was established in 1973, as a national level non-government voluntary organization, successor of Bangladesh Ecumenical Relief and Rehabilitation Services (BERRS) initiated in 1972, to respond the needs of people affected during war of independence in 1971 and undertake development initiatives in the newly born country.
Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) as an organization went through a number of change processes in development phases, for responding to the emerging issues and in search of better alternatives, for meeting the needs of the poor.
CCDB has been a learning organization, focusing on people’s needs and aspirations through projects and programs, addressing emergency needs, through relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction, followed by development programs, focusing on human resource development toward self reliance, collective growth and distributive justice, for the promotion of good governance and peace through education, health, income generation managed by community organizations.
Until 1975 CCDB mainly involved in massive relief and rehabilitation programs, to help the people ravaged by war, for returning to normal life. After this period, CCDB has increasingly focused on community and human development efforts in rural areas of Bangladesh. Investment on human resource development were achieved, but not to the expected extent.
During the late 1980’s CCDB prepared first five-year plan and presented to the donors consortium. Main emphasis was given to unveil human potentials through formal and non formal education and started focusing on people’s participatory process, to address poverty.
CCDB believes that “Sustainable Development” is possible by putting the people at the center of development, and extensively practiced people’s participatory process since 1990. During this phase CCDB went through some changes in both program and management level, where many of the responsibilities were transferred to the People’s Institutions.
Since 1996, CCDB brought some changes in programs and introduced People Managed Savings and Credit Program (PMSC), to optimize the benefit of the poor people. In addition Community Health Program and Community Based Disaster Management were incorporated as major development initiatives.
People have been at the centre of all projects and program initiatives taken. Their active participation has been fundamental principle, where value based concepts, processes and practices are being emphasized.