Berkley Center

Joyanta Adhikari is the Executive Director of the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) and President of the country’s Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS). In this discussion with WFDD’s Nathaniel Adams, Adhikari, shared experiences from over 30 years, working in development sector. He discusses the history of the Protestant community in Bangladesh and its involvement in relief and development, which eventually lead to the creation of CCDB in 1973. He explores CCDB’s transition from emergency relief in the wake of Bangladesh’s turbulent independence period, to working in to a range of sectors including agriculture, health, education, people empowerment, justice and peace building microfinance and on emerging priorities including responding to climate change. He detailed the innovative participatory approach centered on “people’s institutions” pioneered by CCDB and reflects on the significant influence and legacy of this unique institution.