Institutionalization of Democracy - Parliamentary Practice
International Parliamentarians’ Conferences
Overview
Building Democracy, Empowering Communities Since 1988
KF Principles and Vision
The Abdul Momen Khan Memorial Foundation, widely known as the Khan Foundation (KF), is a non-political, non-profit development organization established in memory of Abdul Momen Khan, who served as Cabinet Secretary and later Minister for Food of the Government of Bangladesh from 1977 to 1982. He was deeply respected as a philanthropist and social worker who believed in helping vulnerable people and improving society. Inspired by his values and lifelong dedication, KF was founded with a guiding belief: "Democracy for Development and Development for Democracy."As a non-profit organization, KF wo...
Foundation Established
Years of Service
Lives Impacted
Nagorikata
Explore NagorikataThe Nagorikata: Civic Engagement Fund (CEF) is a donor-supported civic empowerment initiative in Bangladesh that has strengthened civil society participation in promoting good governance, human rights, and gender equality in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 16 and SDG 5). The program has been funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the European Union, and a third party, and has been managed by the Fund Management Agency (FMA), led by GFA Consulting Group
The program has operated across national, district, and local levels with a special focus on empowering women, youth, and marginalized communities to participate more effectively in civic, democratic, and policy processes.
Citizen Mobilization
Expanding citizen engagement and outreach in democratic processes.
Civil Society
Strengthening partnerships and coordination among CSOs.
Policy Dialogue
Improving engagement between citizens and government.
Institutional Capacity
Building CSO capacity to advocate for inclusive governance
KF Program Areas
Khan Foundation implements comprehensive programmes across our thematic areas to promote democratic governance, social justice, and sustainable development throughout Bangladesh.
Institutionalization of Democracy
Democracy works best when people trust it, participate in it, and see it working in their daily lives.Since 1993, Khan Foundation (KF) has been working to make democracy stronger, fairer, and more inclusive in Bangladesh. From the national parliament to local communities, KF supports democratic institutions, encourages citizen participation, and promotes accountability—so that governance truly serves the people.To make democracy work in everyday life, strong national leadership is essential. This is why KF's work begins with the country's highest democratic institution—the Parliament.
Socio-Economic Development
Reducing poverty, promoting economic empowerment, and improving the quality of life for disadvantaged communities remain at the heart of Khan Foundation (KF). Through inclusive, community-driven socio-economic programmes, KF supports vulnerable households—particularly women and children—in building sustainable livelihoods and achieving long-term financial independence.With a strong operational presence in Narsingdi District and Narayanganj District, KF currently reaches approximately 6,200 beneficiaries, helping rural families increase income, strengthen resilience, and secure a more dignified standard of living.KF's approach combines financial inclusion, capacity building, education, and social awareness, ensuring holistic and sustainable development at the grassroots level.
Human, Legal & Child Rights
At Khan Foundation (KF), reaching the most deprived and disadvantaged groups has always been our mission, with women and children as our central focus. Through multiple programs, we strive to establish equal rights, protect human dignity, and promote justice and human security for all.
Advocacy & Social Mobilization
At Khan Foundation (KF), we believe that democracy thrives when policies, laws, and public action work for the people. Through advocacy and social mobilization, we engage policy planners, government actors, and civil society to create a supportive environment for good governance and democratic practices.
Gender Equality
Women constitute nearly half of Bangladesh's population; yet their access to political, economic, and social spheres has historically been constrained by deep-rooted social, religious, and cultural barriers. While progress has been made over recent decades, structural inequalities continue to limit women's meaningful participation in governance and decision-making processes. The introduction of reserved parliamentary seats in Bangladesh was a significant step toward inclusion. However, indirect elections and limited nominations for women in general seats have often confined women to symbolic roles rather than enabling substantive representation.Khan Foundation recognizes that genuine empowerment requires structural reform, equal nomination opportunities within political systems, and sustained gender mainstreaming at community levels. The Foundation works to promote inclusive governance, strengthen women's leadership, and transform discriminatory norms at national and grassroots levels to ensure women become equal and effective partners in shaping the nation's future.
Work in Action
See how Khan Foundation's programmes are creating tangible change across Bangladesh — from training thousands of local leaders to protecting vulnerable populations and strengthening democratic institutions.
Local Representatives Trained
Comprehensive training programmes for Union Parishad Members, with special focus on women's leadership development.
Women Beneficiaries in Rural Credit Programme
Providing collateral-free microloans, financial literacy, and business training to rural women entrepreneurs.
Trafficking Victims Rescued
24-hour mobile hotline service and Community Watch Groups working to combat trafficking and violence.
Election Observers Deployed
Comprehensive election observation ensuring free, fair, and participatory democratic processes across Bangladesh.
Partners
Khan Foundation collaborates with international development agencies, embassies, and UN organizations to strengthen democracy and improve lives across Bangladesh
Australian High Commission
British High Commission
Canadian CIDA
Embassy of Japan
German Embassy
Netherlands Embassy
Norwegian Embassy
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
The British DFID
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
World Health Organization (WHO)
British Council
GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)
Population Communication
The Asia Foundation
Local Government Engineering Department (LGED)
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Join KF in Making a Difference
Whether through partnerships, volunteering, or supporting our initiatives, there are many ways to get involved with Khan Foundation's work.
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