About us
we work to find solutions to most pressing environmental, climate, humanitarian, livelihood and development challenges.
CNRS (Center for Natural Resource Studies) is a pro-environmental national Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), conducting research to find solutions to the most pressing environmental, climate, humanitarian, livelihood and development challenges and acting as frontline implementing entity, striving to build social-ecological resilience in Bangladesh since 1994.
Originally conceptualized in 1993, from the Bangladesh Flood Action Plan (FAP16) Environmental Study; and the formal journey started in 1994. Since formation, CNRS has drawn attention of relevant local, national and international actors including government and funding agencies through demonstrating innovations in our nature and community centric approaches and producing tangible learning outcomes.
CNRS implements development and humanitarian projects in 7 key thematic areas: 1. Environment and Climate Change, 2. Food Security and Livelihood, 3. Community Development and Governance, 4. Disaster Management and Resilience, 5. Health and Nutrition, 6. Child Welfare and Protection, 7. Institutional Development
In doing so, CNRS brings governments, NGOs, INGOs, the UN and international organizations together to develop policies and share best practices. As of 2025, CNRS in partnership with key partners have implemented over 350+ projects, with a workforce of over 1,000 passionate and committed development and humanitarian practitioners (45% are female), in various projects across the country in 60 field offices covering 28 districts and supporting over 300,000 underprivileged HHs.
Through our mission of empowering marginalized communities with required skills and capabilities for making change that favors pro-poor, inclusive and sustainable development, we hope to achieve our vision that people and nature live in harmony in a world free from exploitation and exclusion.
Slogan
Striving for building social-ecological resilience
Legal entity
CNRS is registered with NGO Affairs Bureau, Joint Stock/Societies Act, Social Welfare as well as Micro-Credit Regulatory Authority.
CNRS Governance systems
The organizational aspects of CNRS is managed and governed as per the rules set forth in the constitution and is administered by two sets of bodies, viz. The General Board (GB) comprising of 21 (twenty-one) members and an Executive Committee (EC) of 7 (seven) members. The day-to-day management and operation of organizational activities are accomplished by the Executive
Director (ED) along with directors, advisers and staff members. There are various operational manuals, policies and tools which form the basis and guiding principles for the governing of the organizational matters including implementing various donor supported projects and activities. Besides, there are some operational procedures/ tools that have been adopted to further smoothen the operational aspects. These include:
Senior Management Team (SMT)
A seven-member senior management team (SMT) is formed headed by the Executive Director (ED) to facilitate day-to-day functions of CNRS.
Audit committee
In order to strengthen internal control mechanism, CNRS has adopted an “Audit Committee (AC)” constituted with 3 staff members to monitor and take necessary actions to comply with the standard procedures and policies of CNRS.
Compliance Committee (CC)
A 5-member compliance committee (CC) is formed to oversee the day to day compliance issues and risks associated with non-compliance of standard procedures and recommend corrective actions.
Gender forum
A five-member gender forum (GF) aimed at making CNRS a gender sensitive organization by facilitating space for women staff members to express their views, establishing gender equality, women’s rights and gender friendly environment.
Independent Reviewers of procurement
CNRS assigns a mid-level staff member to undertake the responsibility as Independent Reviewer (IR) of procurement of goods and services on a random basis to ensure compliance of standard procedures.
Major clients, National and International Associates/ Partners
Government of Bangladesh, DOE, Embassy of Kingdom of Netherlands, USAID, UK Aid, GIZ, Oxfam, UNDP, World Bank, IUCN, UNICEF, UNOPS, WFP, UNESCO, FAO, GEF/UNDP, DFID-UK and Bangladesh, IDRC, EC, EU, USAID, SDC, Chevron, Ford Foundation, CIDA, JICA and other international and national agencies.
Staff
Offices across Bangladesh
Projects implemented till date
Present working districts of Bangladesh
Organizational Membership
CNRS has partnership and membership with some Forums and Associations. Among them the followings are worth mentioning:
- CSO-SUN- a network of civil society organizations for scaling up nutrition
- IUCN Bangladesh National Committee
- Credit Development Forum (CDF)
- Asian DRR network
- Secretariat of HAP (Haor Advocacy Platform)- a civil society network)
- Observer, UNFCCC
- Observer, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- Member, IPBES (Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)
- Secretariat, FOBB (Friends of Baikka Beel)
- Start Network Global
- Asian Feminist Coalition
- CNRS runs a CBO network (community institutions)
Since 1993, we implemented over 350+ projects with key development partners
