About us
we work to find solutions to most pressing environmental, climate, livelihood and development challenges.
CNRS (Center for Natural Resource Studies) is a nationally and internationally recognized pro-environmental development and humanitarian NGO in Bangladesh. We began our journey in 1994 – the idea of forming CNRS was generated in 1993 from FAP-16 field studies – community-based wetland habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation (Research in to use). We conduct research and implements projects on, but not limited to: Natural resource management, Climate change adaptation and mitigation, Disaster risk reduction and mitigation, Early warning, adaptive agriculture, waste management, livelihoods enhancement, local governance, institutional development, nutrition, gender, process monitoring and evaluation, policy and advocacy all over Bangladesh. In doing so, CNRS brings governments, NGOs, INGOs, the UN and international organizations together to develop policies and share best practices.
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 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
