Learning Report
To: The Students of BBA & LLB Programme
From: Muhammad Fazlur Rabb Tanvir Assistant Professor, School of Business, Metropolitan University, Sylhet.

10 October 2012

Social Business
(Source: Yunus Talks on Social Business with British Council team, The Daily Star, Wednesday, 10 October 2012)

Introduction:

Social business, as the term is commonly used, was first defined by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus and is described in his books Creating a world without poverty—Social Business and the future of capitalism and Building Social Business—The new kind of capitalism that serves humanity's most pressing needs. A number of organizations with which he is involved actively promote and incubate social businesses.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_business)

In Yunus' definition, a social business is a non-loss, non-dividend company designed to address a social objective within the highly regulated marketplace of today. It is distinct from a non-profit because the business should seek to generate a modest profit but this will be used to expand the company’s reach, improve the product or service or in other ways to subsidise the social mission.
In fact a wider definition of social business is possible, including any business which has a social rather than financial objective.

Prototype:
In Yunus’ book Creating a World without Poverty—Social Business and the Future of Capitalism, two different types of social businesses are proposed: ▪ A Type I social business focuses on providing a product and/or service with a specific social, ethical or environmental goal. A prominent example is Grameen Danone. ▪ A Type II social business is a profit-oriented business that is owned by the poor or other underprivileged parts of the society, who can gain through receiving direct dividends or by indirect benefits. Grameen Bank, being owned by the poor, is the prime example of this type, although it would also classify as a Type I social business.
Grameen Danone, which is Yunus' prototype social business, was launched in 2005. It's social mission is to address malnutrition in Bangladesh, by providing products, such as yoghurt, containing many of the nutrients missing in an impoverished child's diet and providing these products at a price affordable to everyone. Grameen Danone received seed capital and in-kind support from dairy products company, Danone and the brand credibility leant by Yunus' well-known micro-finance company, Grameen Bank.

According to Muhammad Yunus:

Social business is a cause-driven business. In a social business, the investors/owners can gradually recoup the money invested, but cannot take any dividend beyond that point. Purpose of the investment is purely to achieve one or more social objectives through the operation of the company, no personal gain is desired by the investors. The company must cover all costs and make profit, at the same time achieve the social objective, such as, healthcare for the poor, housing for the poor, financial services for the poor, nutrition for malnourished children, providing safe drinking water, introducing renewable energy, etc. in a business way.

The impact of the business on people or environment, rather the amount of profit made in a given period measures the success of social business. Sustainability of the company indicates that it is running as a business. The objective of the company is to achieve social goal/s.

Question & Answers:
I am not opposed to making profit. Even social businesses are allowed to make profit with the condition that profit stays with the company; the owners will not take profit beyond the amount equivalent to investment. Social business is a new category of business. It does not stipulate the end of the existing type of profit-making business. It widens the market by giving a new option to consumers. It does not intend to monopolise the market and take the existing option away. It adds to the competition. It brings a new dimension to the business world, and a new feeling of social awareness among the business community.

When we approach the concept of social business from the philanthropy side, it looks very convincing and logical. Why should everything in philanthropy be given away? If some of these goals can be achieved more efficiently and sustainably in a (social) business format, then why not take that route? After all our purpose is to achieve the social goal.

But when you approach it from the orthodox business side, it tends to look a bit out of tune. Why on earth give up profit? Why should anyone run a business without profit? I understand the surprise perfectly.

Let me clarify: I am not asking any businessperson to give up any of their businesses. Nor am I asking them to convert some of their businesses into social business. The idea of "giving up" something creates this shock wave. I am not asking anybody to "give up" anything. All I am saying, if you are worrying about a social problem (while totally engaged in your routine business) I have a message for you, you can make a significant contribution in resolving the problem. If you put your mind seriously into it, you may even open the door to eliminate the problem globally. You can do both: conventional business and social business.

It is all upto you to decide whether you want to do a such thing or not. Nobody will raise an accusing finger at you if you do no such thing. But you may feel happy if you do it. I am suggesting a way which may make you a happier person.

A Learning Process

It is a great learning process. You are doing things which you never did before. You are thinking in a way which you never did before. You are surprised to see you are enjoying it a lot. You start digging into your experiences to see what is relevant for the task. You check through the reservoir of technology that you are familiar with, start contacting the pool of experts that you have gotten to know in your business, to achieve your new goal. You start exploring a new world which was totally unknown to you. You realise that you are now wearing "social business glasses" on your eyes, you see things which you never saw before. You start sensing that your eyes were fitted with "profit-maximizing glasses" all along, while you thought these were your natural eyes in your economic world.

Now when you turn your eyes to your own profit-making businesses you start noticing things which you never noticed before. You bring new-gained experiences from your new business to your old businesses. Slowly you move towards becoming an multi-dimensional person, rather than a robot-like person.

Some people ask me why can't you run businesses with some profit and some social benefit — "doing well by doing good", as it is popularly described.

Of course, it can be done. I am never against it. But I am trying go to the ultimate point where you don't make any profit for yourself at all. This is easy to identify, easy to handle in day to day decision making.

When you mix profit and social benefit it gets complicated for the CEO. His thinking process gets clouded. He does not see clearly. More often this CEO will take decision in favour of profit, and exaggerate the social benefit. Owners will go along with it. Social business gives a clear unambiguous mandate to the management. There is no balancing act involved. If you can agree to take a "small" profit, you can also persuade yourself to take zero profit. Once you get there you get rid of all old ways of thinking. You prepare yourself to explore a new world, a new way of seeing things, and doing things in a different way. When you were in the world of a "small profit" you were still operating in the old world, with old ways of doing things, only restraining yourself here and there.

Another way to put the same question is: Why can't you allow thee investors in social business to get a small fixed profit — say, 1% dividend. My answer is the same. I may describe this situation by saying something like this: you are in a "no smoking" building, you are arguing "Why can't I be allowed to take just one small puff ?" Answer is simple — it destroys the attitude. In Ramadan, Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink until the after the sunset. Why not take a sip of water during the day? It destroys the strength of the mental commitment. You lose a lot for a small favour.

Social business is about making complete sacrifice of financial reward from business. It is about total delinking from the old framework of business. It is not about accommodation of new objectives within the existing framework. Unless this total delinking from personal financial gain can be established you'll never discover the power of real social business. Some times you can set up a technically correct social business with the purpose of making profit through your other companies by selling products or services to this social business company. This will be a clear sabotage of the concept. There may be many other subtle ways by which one can weaken the concept and practice of social business. A genuine social business investor must make all efforts so that he does not walk into this trap unwittingly.

Capitalism has created poverty by focusing exclusively on profit. It built a fairy-tale of prosperity for all. This never happened. That's why Europe decided to entrust the government to take care of poverty, unemployment and health. They were smart enough to figure out the emptiness of capitalism in solving these problems.
Author's Summary on Creating a World without Poverty
While free market capitalism is thriving globally, almost unopposed now, and bringing unprecedented prosperity to many, half of the world lives on two dollars a day or much less. Eradication of poverty remains the biggest challenge before the world. Colossal social problems and deprivations, mostly poverty-related and very unevenly distributed around the globe, continue to shame us everyday. Obviously the free market has failed much of the world. Many people assume that if free markets can’t solve social problems, then governments can. After all, the government is supposed to represent the interests of society as a whole. But decades and even centuries of experience has shown that while government must do its part to help alleviate our worst problems, it alone can not solve them.

Fortunately for us there is a keen desire among many to lend a hand through charity, for addressing the problems of poverty and other social problems. Charity is rooted in basic human concern for other humans. These days concern is usually expressed in the shape of non-profits and NGOs which may take various names and forms. Then there are aid organizations sponsored by rich governments–bilateral and multilateral. Nonprofits and aid organizations are trying to keep the problems within some control. But charity is a form of trickle-down economics; if the trickle stops, so does help for the needy. On the other hand multilaterals like World Bank focus only on growth as the means of helping the poor, but can not see that the poor people can be actors themselves. There are serious questions about the type of growth that can help the poor. As another response to the global social problems some businesses are identifying themselves with the movement for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and are trying to do good to the people while conducting their business. But profit-making still remains their main goal, by definition. Though they like to talk about triple bottom lines of financial, social, and environmental benefits, ultimately only one bottom line calls the shot: financial profit.

I always believed that poverty can be totally conquered in our own lifetimes if the right approach is adopted. I based my belief on the inherent ability of the poor that can be unleashed once they are given the opportunity to help themselves. This I have proved in action through my three decades of experience with Grameen Bank. The concept of microcredit did not exist before I initiated Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, which basically recognized that credit without collateral is a fundamental right of the poor. Our success with this in my own country has been widely replicated all over the world including in some of the richest countries; and the Nobel Peace Prize 2006 for Grameen Bank and myself is one recognition of that success. The story of Grameen Bank has been told in my earlier book: ‘Banker to the Poor’. In this new book I have described the further evolution of Grameen System. But more importantly I have introduced and elaborated here my broadened concept of social business, that the Grameen experience has led me into.

Grameen allowed the poor to be an actor in the free market and to enjoy some of its fruits to try to come out of poverty. It is fundamentally a business model, pure and simple, but a social business. There can be other social businesses. They are just like any other business; but for social objectives and not for personal gain or dividend. I have tried to show in the book why social business can succeed in addressing social problems where other means mentioned above have failed. social business should not be confused with the term social enterprise which is used in a more encompassing sense and includes NGOs, personal initiatives, charities, etc., and may include social business too.

Social business introduces a totally revolutionary dimension to the free market economy. It does not interfere with the mechanism through which the normal Profit Making Business (PMB) works and prospers – capitalization, expert business management, competitiveness etc., – but investors here do not receive any dividend, though they can recover their investment if they want to, to reinvest in other social businesses or PMBs. The satisfaction gained in achieving the stated social goals are the only motive behind the investment, and the business will be evaluated according to that standard. Essentially it is a non-loss, non-dividend business aimed at social objectives – education, health, environment, whatever is needed to address the problems faced by society. The profits here remain with the business and help it to grow further. The whole thing is based on the premise that entrepreneurs need not be motivated only by the profits they personally receive, but can also be motivated by social goals and may enjoy success there with equal satisfaction. The important thing is not to mix up a Social Business with a PMB. In fact the inclusion of Social businesses alongside PMBs in the business world will give the free market capitalism a larger, nobler and a more fulfilling purpose. Its advantages over straightforward charity are many – efficiencies, continuous use with each turnover, competition with PMBs following the same rules, utilization of business innovations being some of the most important ones.

There can be two types of social business. Type One focuses on businesses dealing with social objectives only, as has just been mentioned. Type Two can take up any profitable business so long as it is owned by the poor and the disadvantaged, who can gain through receiving direct dividends or by some indirect benefits. There are various ways how the ownership can go to the poor. The two types can be mixed together in the same social business as has happened in the case of Grameen Bank. In a similar mixture of the two types, a socially beneficial rural toll road or bridge can be built by a company as a social business whose ownership will belong to the poor. On the other hand a huge project such as the Deep-Sea Mega Port in Bangladesh, which I have been advocating for, which will be used by several countries in the whole region and can potentially change the economic face of Bangladesh, can be built as a social business owned by the poor women of the country.

Is this an utopia? Will there be social businesses outside the realm of microcredit? Who will invest in such social businesses? I could answer these questions confidently in my new book, not only because I have faith in my idea and on the ability of the entrepreneurs to have social motives as well as profit making motives; but also because I am seeing this actually to happen at this very moment. I have devoted a good part of the book on the details of the first such social business we have started – Grameen Danone Company which went into operation in early 2007. The idea of the company was born over just a casual lunch I had with Franck Riboud, the Chairman and CEO of Groupe Danone, a large French corporation – a world leader in diary products. It took just that time for me to convince him that an investment in a social business is a worthwhile thing for Danone shareholders. Even though it will not give any personal dividend to them, he agreed to the proposition even before I fully explained it to him. It took somewhat more time to fix up the modalities, the product (a fortified sweet yogurt for the poor malnourished children of Bangladesh at a price they can afford), the financing, tax and regulatory issues, new yard sticks for evaluating business and many other such details. And I have devoted many pages of the book on these details to show how all these things can be taken care of. The yogurt ‘Shokti Doi’ (Energy Yogurt) is already in the market.

The Grameen System has invested in a second social business – this time an Eye Hospital where the poor can have eye treatment and cataract operations at a very low cost and all others in the small town and the villages around will have an excellent medical facility where there was not any like that before.

Social business is a new concept and its practice is just beginning. As my book reveals, it has to make a lot more exploration while gaining more experience. There are challenges to be faced and solutions to be developed. For example, we had to invent a totally innovative marketing system to keep the market fragmented so that the low cost ‘Shokti Doi’ is reserved only for the poor children and does not disappear in the urban market for the well to do. I have also touched upon other issues such as how can the ownership of the Type Two social business be transferred to the poor, or how can the wonderful opportunities offered by IT be best deployed for social business.

One thing is very clear to me – that with social business taking off, the world of free market capitalism will never be the same again, and it then will really be able to deliver a deathblow on global poverty. I am sure, many business wizards and successful business personalities will apply their abilities to this new challenge – the challenge of creating a poverty-free world within a short time. At the moment we are seeing merely the line of horizon. Soon a good part of business genius, creativity and innovation of the world will devote itself to this new goal of social good. A whole new stock market with its new indices will thrive in the financial capitals of the world motivated by this new incentive. It will accelerate the process of poverty eradication to an unthinkable pace using the same market mechanism which accelerated the global prosperity for the rich in the first place.

Welcome to the new world of social business.

=============

http://www.socialbusinessforum.com/what-is-social-business/

What is a Social Business?

Reconciling some of the most interesting business, organizational and technological phenomena of the last five years, a Social Business is
An organization that has put in place the strategies, technologies and processes to systematically engage all the individuals of its ecosystem (employees, customers, partners, suppliers) to maximize the co-created value

In a nutshell, a Social Business is like an organism that adapts to its environment and is thus able to consciously and frequently re-calibrate itself and the experience provided to its constituents based on intercepted stimuli:
[pic]
To learn more see http://bit.ly/e8E6Ce

Why is Social Business so relevant to my company?

In the last few years, an extensive set of studies have shown how Social Business can accelerate organizational efficiency and increase the potential of your business in a number of areas. For example:

INSIDE YOUR ORGANIZATION:

• Improved business performance (profit, productivity, margins, etc) • Increased operational efficiency • stronger outcomes from knowledge intensive work • Capturing and retaining institutional knowledge • Better awareness about business opportunities and colleagues needing help • Richer cross-department contamination and collaboration • Reduced email traffic and information overload • Cheaper and quicker mechanisms to connect colleagues, find and reuse knowledge • Improved cross-departmental communication • Reduced travel expenses • Facilitating the emergence of collective social capital and limiting duplication of effort • Stronger employee engagement and motivation • Increased satisfaction of partners and suppliers • Reduced supply chain costs • Lower on-boarding, training and talent retention costs • New levels of business agility and reactivity • Improved internal processes through customer insights

OUTSIDE YOUR ORGANIZATION:

• Reduced customer care costs • Improved client satisfaction and loyalty • Increased number of leads generated and deal closed • Shorter sell cycles • Lower marketing costs • Amplify qualified brand reputation and visibility through advocates • Higher sales and conversion rates through ambassadors and online communities • Reduced customer churn and deflection • Increased customer lifetime value • Attract better talents • Improved customer cross-channels

ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION:

• Improved product development processes and reduced time to market • Smaller product development costs • Access to an unlimited source of ideas and feedbacks for product improvement • Better risk mitigation and increased number of successful ideas when launching a new product • Easier development of new business models

What does it take to become a Social Business?

There is no social business if the organization is not able to: 1. Serve the individual. Consider individuals (inside and outside the company) at the same level as traditional stakeholders. 2. Listen. The company break down silos and boundaries to constantly intercept signals coming from the people (inside and outside it). 3. Respond. The company engages all the constituents to produce an effective, reactive, coordinated, transparent, appropriate response to the stimuli received, regardless of the channel of origin. 4. Learn and evolve. The company extracts meaning from the captured signals (coming both from inside and outside) in order to continuously improve the working mechanisms and thereby maximizing the benefits for all parties involved 5. Become social. All the processes are dynamically and organically optimized based on collected feedbacks and in line with the experience of all the individuals in the ecosystem.

Body of the Report:

NOBEL Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus yesterday urged the senior officials of British Council for South Asia region to engage young people in the region to make them involved more in transforming their societies through tools such as social business.
Yunus spoke at a daylong meeting with the South Asia regional management team of British Council at Yunus Centre in Dhaka.
British Council Bangladesh organised the meeting that was attended by 35 participants from the senior management of the council in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The meeting is held in every six months to review the work and performance of British Council in the region.
The Nobel laureate interacted with the participants during a specially organised session on social business and its relevance to solve the society's pressing problems. The session was followed by a question and answer session, Yunus Centre said in statement yesterday.
"We are glad to hold our meeting at Yunus Centre today, and pleased to get an opportunity to hear first hand about Professor Yunus' work in Bangladesh and around the world," said Rosemary Arnott OBE, director of British Council Bangladesh.
The British Council is the UK's leading international organisation for educational and cultural relations between the United Kingdom and 110 other countries. It has been operating in Bangladesh for more than 60 years

Conclusion:
The Seven Principles of Social Business will clear our ideas on Social Business:

These were developed by Prof. Muhammad Yunus and Hans Reitz, the co-founder of Grameen Creative Lab: ▪ Business objective will be to overcome poverty, or one or more problems (such as education, health, technology access, and environment) which threaten people and society; not profit maximization ▪ Financial and economic sustainability ▪ Investors get back their investment amount only; no dividend is given beyond investment money ▪ When investment amount is paid back, company profit stays with the company for expansion and improvement ▪ Environmentally conscious ▪ Workforce gets market wage with better working conditions ▪ Do it with joy

Curriculum Vitae of Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chairman of Yunus Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh
|Personal Information |
| | |
|Name | |
|PROFESSOR MUHAMMAD YUNUS | |
| | |
|Present Address | |
|Chairman, Yunus Centre | |
|Grameen Bank, Mirpur-2 | |
|Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh | |
|Phone no: 880 2-801-1138 | |
|Fax: 880 2 801-3559 | |
|E-mail: yunus@yunuscentre.org | |
|Website: www.muhammadyunus.org | |
| | |
|Date of Birth | |
|June 28, 1940 | |
| | |
|Marital Status | |
|Married | |
| | |
|Nationality | |
|Bangladeshi | |
| | |
|Education | |
|Ph.D in Economics, Vanderbilt University, U.S.A.(1970) | |
| | |

Scholarships / Fellowships 1. Awarded Fulbright Fellowship to study in the U.S.A. for 1965-66. 2. Awarded Vanderbilt University research and teaching fellowships during 1966-69. 3. Awarded Eisenhour Exchange Fellowship for 1984. 4. Senior Fellow, The Institute of Mediterranean Studies,Universita della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland (2000 - ).
Professional Experiences
|1962 - 65 |Lecturer of Economics, Chittagong College, Bangladesh |
|1969 - 72 |Assistant Professor of Economics, MTSU, Tennessee, USA |
|1972 (July-Sept) |Deputy Chief, General Economics Division, Planning Commission, Government of Bangladesh. |
|1972 - 75 |Associate Professor of Economics and Head of the Department of Economics, Chittagong University, |
| |Bangladesh |
|1975 - 1989 |Professor of Economics, Chittagong University and Director, Rural Economics Programme, Chittagong, |
| |Bangladesh |
|1976 - 1983 |Project Director, Grameen Bank Project, Bangladesh |
|1983 - 2011 |Managing Director, Grameen Bank, Bangladesh |
|1996 (April-June) |Cabinet Minister (Advisor) in the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh |

Membership of Committees and Commissions (National) 1. Was member, National Committee on Population Policy set up by the President of Bangladesh, in 1981. 2. Was member, Land Reform Committee, set up by Chief Martial Law Administrator, headed by the Minister of Agriculture, in 1982. 3. Member, Education Commission (1987-88), Government of Bangladesh. 4. Member, Presidential Committee on Health Education and Service (1987-88). 5. Appointed as the Chairman of the Socio-economic Committee of the National Disaster Prevention Council set up by the President of Bangladesh (1989-90). 6. Member of the National Debt Settlement Board headed by the President of Bangladesh (1989-90). 7. Member of the Task Force for reviewing the operation of the Nationalised Commercial Banks (1989). 8. Appointed as the Convenor of the Task Force on Self-Reliance set up by the Planning Advisor (1991). 9. Member of the National ICT Task Force Committee, Ministry of Planning, Bangladesh (2002 - ).
Membership of Committees and Commissions (International) 1. Appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations as a member of the International Advisory Group for the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China (1993-1995). 2. Appointed as a member of the Global Commission on Women's Health for the period 1993-1995 by the Director General, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. Appointed as member of Advisory Council for Sustainable Economic Development, World Bank, Washington DC, USA (1993-to-date). 4. Appointed as member of the UN Expert Group on Women and Finance: Transforming Enterprise and Finance Systems, UNIFEM, Washington DC, USA (1993 to date). 5. Chairman of the Policy Advisory Group for the CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest), World Bank , Washington D.C., U.S.A. (1995 - 2000). 6. Member of the Council of Patrons of Friends of the Earth International, Amsterdam, Netherlands to support it in its continued campaigns to protect the environment (1996). 7. Member of the Advisory Committee, Asian Ecotechnology Network. 8. Co-Chairman , State of the World Forum, San Francisco, U.S.A. (1996 - ). 9. Co-Chairman, Council of Practitioners, Micro-Credit Summit, U.S.A. (1997 - ). 10. Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee, Center of Arab Women For Training And Research (CAWTAR), Tunisia (1997 - ). 11. Member of the Advisory Group, Institute For Democracy And Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Sweden (1997 - ). 12. Honourary Member, Club of Budapest, London, U.K. ( 1997 - ). 13. Member of the Advisory Group, Council of Women World Leaders, Kennedy Schools of Government Harvard University, U.S.A. (1997 - ). 14. Member of the Advisory Committee, 2020 Vision for Food, Agriculture and the Environment initiative, IFPRI, U.S.A. (1998 - ). 15. Member of the Advisory Committee, INTERNEWS, Arcata, San Francisco, U.S.A. (1999 - ). 16. Member of the International Consultative Committee, International Forum, Mujeres & Hombres, Lima, Peru (1999 - ). 17. Member, AGFUND Prize Committee, AGFUND, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1999 - ). 18. Member, Hilton Humanitarian Prize Jury Committee, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, U.S.A. (1999 - ). 19. Member of the Presiding Council of the ProVention Consortium (a global partnership to address the increasing vulnerability of developing countries to the risk of natural and technological catastrophes), World Bank, Washington DC, U.S.A. (2000 - to-date). 20. Member of the High Council of International Exhibitions, International Bureau of Expositions, Paris, France (2000 - ). 21. Member of the High-Level Advisory Group on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), United Nations, New York, U.S.A. (2000 - ). 22. Member, Advisory Committee, Queen Sofia Chamber Orchestra (Orquestra de Camara Reina Sofia), Madrid, Spain (2001 - ). 23. Member, Global Steering Committee for the Fish for All Initiative, ICLARM, Malaysia (2002 - ). 24. Member, International Jury Committee of the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, India (2002 - 2004). 25. Co-Chairman, Ambassadors' Council, Freedom from Hunger, U.S.A. (2003 - to-date). 26. Member, Africa Progress Panel, UK (2007 - to-date). 27. Member, Elders Project, South Africa (2007 - to-date). 28. Co-Chairman, Women's World Forum, Republic of Korea (2007 - to-date) 29. Member, Foundation Board of the Global Humanitarian Forum, Geneva, Switzerland (2007 -to-date).
Member, Board of Advisors (International) 1. Calmeadow Foundation, 4 Kind Street West, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1B6, Canada. 2. The Synergose Institute, 100 East 85th Street, New York, NY10028 U.S.A. 3. Living Economics, 42 Warriner Gardens, London SW11 4DU, U.K. 4. International Council for Freedom From Hunger, U.S.A. 5. International Council, Ashoka Foundation, Washington DC, USA. 6. Advisory Council, Women for Women of Bosnia, Washington DC, USA. 7. Advisory Board, The Center For Visionary Leadership, Washington D.C., U.S.A. 8. International Advisory Board, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, U.S.A. 9. International Advisory Board, Foundation for the Research of Societal Problems Ankara, Turkey. 10. Advisory Board, Credit for All, Inc. Denver, U.S.A 11. Advisory Board, The Gleitsman Foundation International Activist Award, California, U.S.A. 12. International Council, Asia Society, New York, U.S.A. 13. International Advisory Panel, UNESCO, Paris, France. 14. International Advisory Board, The Center For Visionary Leadership, Washington D.C. U.S.A. 15. International Council on the Future, UNESCO, Paris, France. 16. Global Advisory Board, EARTH ONE (a radio service for the world community) Borehamwood, United Kingdom. 17. Global Public Goods Advisory Board, Office of Development Studies, UNDP, New York, U.S.A 18. Advisory Board, Information Technologies and International Development, MIT Media Laboratory, Cambridge, U.S.A. 19. Advisory Board, Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Germany. 20. Advisory Panel, ESCAP/UNDP Joint Initiative in Supporting the Achievement of Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific Region, Thailand. 21. Founder Member, The Global Academy for Social Entrepreneurship, Ashoka, U.S.A. 22. Advisory Board, Prague Institute for Global Urban Development, Czechoslovakia. 23. Honorary Advisory Council, Alliance for the New Humanity (ANH), U.S.A. 24. Advisory Council for the new Templeton Freedom Awards, Atlas Economic Research Foundation , U.S.A 25. Advisory Board, Holcim Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland. 26. Advisory Board, Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence, Virginia, U.S.A 27. Honorary Board Member, Center for International Studies Micro- Credit Program, Houston, Texas, U.S.A. 28. Honorary Board Member, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, the Netherlands. 29. Advisory Board Member, “Global Health Agenda for Girls” project at the Center for Global Development, Washington D.C., U.S.A. 30. Advisory Board Member, Multimedia Super Corridor Malaysia International Advisory Panel (IAP), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 31. Member, Advisory Committee, Ritsumeikan Asian Pacific University, Japan. 32. Honorary Advisor, Super Naissance Academic Project at Super Naissance Incorporated, Tokyo, Japan.
Member, Board of Directors (National)

|1976 - 1983 |Founder and Project Director, Grameen Bank Project. |
|1983 - to-date |Founder and Managing Director, Grameen Bank, Dhaka. |
|1991 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Krishi (Agriculture) Foundation, Rangpur. |
|1990 - to-date |Founder and Executive Trustee, Grameen Trust, Dhaka. |
|1990 - to-date |Designer and member of Governing Body, Polli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), Dhaka. |
|1979 - to-date |Member, Board of Directors, Centre for Mass Education for Science, Dhaka. |
|1994 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Fund (a Social Venture Capital Fund), Dhaka. |
|1994 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Motsho (Fisheries)O PasuSampad (Livestock) Foundation, Dhaka. |
|1994 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Uddog, a non-stock, non-profit organization dedicated to promote the |
| |interest of the handloom-weavers of Bangladesh. |
|1995 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Telecom, a cellular telephone company to provide nationwide telephone |
| |service. It will provide telephone service in the rural areas of Bangladesh primarily through the poor|
| |women in rural areas. |
|1995 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Shamogree (Products), Dhaka. |
|1995 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Gona Shyastha Grameen Textile Mills Ltd., Dhaka. |
|1996 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Cybernet, Dhaka. |
|1996 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Communications, Dhaka. |
|1996 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Kallyan (well-being), Dhaka. |
|1996 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Shakti (energy), Dhaka. |
|1996 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Yunus Foundation, Dhaka. |
|1996 - to-date |Member, Advisory Council of the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Dhaka. |
|1997 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Shikkha (Education), Dhaka. |
|1997 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Knitwear Ltd., Dhaka. |
|1998 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Capital Management Ltd, Dhaka. |
|1999 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Software Ltd, Dhaka. |
|2000 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen IT Park Ltd, Dhaka. |
|2002 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Star Education Ltd, Dhaka. |
|2002 - to-date |Founder and Chairman, Grameen Information Highways Ltd, Dhaka. |

Member, Board of Directors (International)

|1987 - 1997 |Board of Directors, RESULTS, A Citizen's Lobby, Washington DC, U.S.A. |
|1987 - 1995 |Board of Trustees, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (A Grameen Replication Project in |
| |Malaysia.) |
|1989 - 1994 |Board of Trustees of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines. |
|1990 - to-date |Chief Patron, Credit and Savings for Hardcore Poor, (CASHPOR), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |
|1990 - 1992 |Steering Committee, The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Geneva, Switzerland. |
|1992 - 2002 |Board of Directors, Calvert World Values Fund, Washington DC, USA. |
|1993 - to-date |Board of Directors, Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA), U.S.A. |
|1995 - to-date |International Crisis Group, Washington D.C., U.S.A. |
|1996 - to-date |Patron, United Kingdom Social Investment Forum, London,U.K. |
|1998 - to-date |Board of Directors, United Nations Foundation , Washington, U.S.A. |
|2000 - to-date |Founding Patron, C21: Tomorrow’s Leaders for a Safer Planet, Oxford Research Group , Oxford, United |
| |Kingdom. |
|2001 - to-date |Board of Directors, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship , Cologny, Switzerland. |
|2002 - to-date |Board of Director, ManyOne Foundation, Canada. |
|2006 - to-date |Board of Trustees, Coexist Foundation, University of Cambridge, UK. |
|2007 - to-date |Board of Director, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Monaco. |
|2007- to -date |Board of Directors, Chirac Foundation, France. |
|2007- to -date |Board of Directors, Grameen Danone Food Ltd, Bangladesh. |
|2007- to -date |Board of Directors, Danone Communities Fund, France. |
|2007- to -date |Board of Directors, Grameen Credit Agricole Microfinance Foundation, Luxemburg. |
|2007- to -date |Board of Directors, Sing For Hope, New York, U.S.A. |

Awards:
|BANGLADESH |
|President's Award: 1978 |
|Originator of the concept of Three share Farming (Tebhaga Khamar) as a joint farming operation. Organised Nabajug Tebhaga Khamar |
|in Jobra, Chittagong in 1975, around a deep tubewell which was lying unused because of management problems. Government of |
|Bangladesh adopted the concept and introduced it in the country under the name of "Packaged Input Programme" (PIP) in 1977. |
|Nabajug Tebhaga Khamar was awarded President's Award in 1978 for introducing an innovative organisation in agriculture. |
| |
|PHILIPPINES |
|Ramon Magsaysay Award: 1984 |
|Awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Field of "Community Leadership" in 1984 for "Enabling the neediest rural men and women to |
|make themselves productive with sound group managed credit." |
| |
|BANGLADESH |
|Central Bank Award: 1985 |
|Awarded the Bangladesh Bank Award 1985 in recognition of the contribution in devising a new banking mechanism to extend credit to |
|the rural landless population, thereby creating self employment and socio economic development for them. |
| |
|BANGLADESH |
|Independence Day award: 1987 |
|Awarded the Independence Day Award, 1987, by the President for the outstanding contribution in rural development. This is the |
|highest civilian national award of Bangladesh. |
| |
|SWITZERLAND |
|Aga Khan Award For Architecture: 1989 |
|Awarded Aga Khan Award For Architecture, 1989 by Geneva based Aga Khan Foundation for designing and operating Grameen Bank Housing|
|Programme for the poor, which helped poor members of Grameen Bank to construct 60,000 housing units by 1989, each costing on an |
|average $ 300. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Humanitarian Award: 1993 |
|Awarded 1993 Humanitarian Award by the CARE, U.S.A. in recognition of role in providing a uniquely pragmatic and effective method |
|of empowering poor women and men to embark on income generating activities. |
| |
|SRI LANKA |
|Mohamed Sahabdeen Award for Science (Socio Economic): 1993 |
|Awarded Mohamed Sahabdeen Award for Science (Socio Economic) in 1993. |
| |
|BANGLADESH |
|Rear Admiral M. A. Khan Memorial Gold Medal Award: 1993 |
|Awarded Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan Memorial Gold Medal Award in 1993. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|World Food Prize: 1994 |
|Awarded 1994 World Food Prize by World Food Prize Foundation, U.S.A. in recognition of the lifetime achievements of an economist |
|who created a bank loan system that has given millions of people access to adequate food and nutrition for the first time in their|
|lives. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Pfeffer Peace Prize: 1994 |
|Awarded 1994 Pfeffer Peace Prize by the Fellowship of Reconciliation, U.S.A. for his vision of non collateral lending through the |
|Grameen Bank and the courage of persevere in the concept that credit is a human right. |
| |
|BANGLADESH |
|Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim Memorial Gold Medal Award: 1994 |
|Awarded Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim Memorial Gold Medal Award in 1994. |
| |
|SWITZERLAND |
|Max Schmidheiny Foundation Freedom Prize: 1995 |
|Awarded Max Schmidheiny Foundation Freedom Prize in 1995. |
| |
|BANGLADESH |
|RCMD Award: 1995 |
|Awarded Rotary Club of Metropolitan Dhaka Foundation Award in 1995. |
| |
|VENEZUELA & UNESCO |
|International Simon Bolivar Prize: 1996 |
|Awarded International Simon Bolivar Prize in 1996. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|"Distinguished Alumnus Award" of Vanderbilt University: 1996 |
|Awarded "Distinguished Alumnus Award" of Vanderbilt University in 1996. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|International Activist Award: 1997 |
|Awarded International Activist Award Gleitsman Foundation, U.S.A., in 1997. |
| |
|GERMANY |
|Planetary Consciousness Business Innovation Prize: 1997 |
|Awarded "Planetary Consciousness Business Innovation Prize" by the club of Budapest in 1997. |
| |
|NORWAY |
|Help for self help Prize: 1997 |
|Awarded "Help for self help Prize" by the Stromme Foundation in 1997. |
| |
|ITALY |
|Man for Peace Award: 1997 |
|Awarded "Man for Peace Award" by the Together For Peace Foundation in 1997. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|State of the World Forum Award: 1997 |
|Awarded "State of the World Forum Award" by the State of the World Forum, San Francisco in 1997. |
| |
|U.K. |
|One World Broadcasting Trust Media Awards: 1998 |
|Awarded “One World Broadcasting Trust Special Award” by the One World Broadcasting Trust in 1998. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|The Prince of Austurias Award for Concord: 1998 |
|Awarded “The Prince of Austurias Award for Concord” by The Prince of Austurias Foundation in 1998. |
| |
|AUSTRALIA |
|Sydney Peace Prize: 1998 |
|Awarded “Sydney Peace Prize” by the Sydney Peace Foundation in 1998. |
| |
|JAPAN |
|Ozaki (Gakudo) Award : 1998 |
|Awarded “Ozaki (Gakudo) Award” by the Ozaki Yukio Memorial Foundation in 1998. |
| |
|INDIA |
|Indira Gandhi Prize: 1998 |
|Awarded “Indira Gandhi Prize” for Peace, Disarmament and Development by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust in 1998. |
| |
|FRANCE |
|Juste of the Year Award: 1998 |
|Awarded "Juste of the Year" by the Les Justes D'or in 1998. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Rotary Award for World Understanding: 1999 |
|Awarded “Rotary Award for World Understanding” by the Rotary International in 1999. |
| |
|ITALY |
|Golden Pegasus Award: 1999 |
|Awarded “Golden Pegasus Award” by the TUSCAN Regional Government in 1999. |
| |
|ITALY |
|Roma Award for Peace and Humanitarian Action: 1999 |
|Awarded “Roma Award for Peace and Humanitarian Action” by the Municipality of Rome in 1999. |
| |
|INDIA |
|Rathindra Puraskar: 1998 |
|Awarded “Rathindra Puraskar for 1998” by the Visva-Bharati in 1999. |
| |
|SWITZERLAND |
|OMEGA Award of Excellence for Lifetime Achievement: 2000 |
|Awarded “OMEGA Award of Excellence for Lifetime Achievement” in 2000. |
| |
|ITALY |
|Award of the Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Senate: 2000 |
|Awarded “The Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Senate” in 2000. |
| |
|JORDAN |
|King Hussein Humanitarian Leadership Award: 2000 |
|Awarded "King Hussein Humanitarian Leadership Award" by the King Hussein Foundation in 2000. |
| |
|BANGLADESH |
|"IDEB Gold Medal" Award: 2000 |
|Awarded IDEB Gold Medal Award by the Institute of Diploma Engineers in 2000. |
| |
|ITALY |
|"Artusi" Prize : 2001 |
|Awarded "Artusi" prize by Comune di Forlimpopoli in 2001. |
| |
|JAPAN |
|Grand Prize of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize: 2001 |
|Awarded "Grand Prize of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize " by the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize Committee in 2001. |
| |
|VIETNAM |
|Ho Chi Minh Award: 2001 |
|Awarded “Ho Chi Minh Award” by the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples’ Committee in 2001. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|International Cooperation Prize Caja de Granada: 2001 |
|Awarded “International Cooperation Prize Caja de Granada” Caja de Ahorros de Granada in 2001. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|“NAVARRA” International Aid Award: 2001 |
|“NAVARRA” International Aid Award by the Autonomous Government of Navarra together with Caja Laboral (Savings Bank) in 2001. |
| |
|U.S.A |
|Mahatma Gandhi Award: 2002 |
|Awarded “Mahatma Gandhi Award” by the M.K Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, in 2002. |
| |
|U.K. |
|World Technology Network Award: 2003 |
|Awarded "World Technology Network Award 2003" for Finance by the World Technology Network in 2003. |
| |
|SWEDEN |
|Volvo Environment Prize: 2003 |
|Awarded "Volvo Environment Prize 2003" by the Volvo Environment Prize Foundation in 2003. |
| |
|COLOMBIA |
|National Merit Order Award: 2003 |
|Awarded "National Merit Order" by the Honorable President of the Republic of Colombia in 2003. |
| |
|FRANCE |
|The Medal of the Painter Oswaldo Guayasamin Award: 2003 |
|Awarded "The Medal of the Painter Oswaldo Guayasamin" by the UNESCO in 2003. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|Telecinco Award: 2004 |
|Awarded "Telecinco Award for Better Path Towards Solidarity" by the Spanish TV Netwark - Channel 5 in 2004. |
| |
|ITALY |
|City of Orvieto Award: 2004 |
|Awarded "City of Orvieto Award" by the Municipality of Orvieto in 2004. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|The Economist Innovation Award: 2004 |
|Awarded "The Economist Award for Social and Economic Innovation" by The Economist in 2004. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|World Affairs Council Award: 2004 |
|Awarded "World Affairs Council Award for Extra-ordinary Contribution to Social Change" by the World Affairs Council of Northern |
|California in 2004. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Leadership in Social Entrepreneurship Award: 2004 |
|Awarded "Leadership in Social Entrepreneurship Award" by Fuqua School of Business of Duke University, U.S.A. in 2004. |
| |
|ITALY |
|Premio Galileo 2000 - Special Prize for Peace: 2004 |
|Awarded "Premio Galileo 2000 - Special Prize for Peace" by Ina Assitalia Fireuze in 2004. |
| |
|JAPAN |
|Nikkei Asia Prize: 2004 |
|Awarded "Nikkei Asia Prize for Regional Growth" by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Inc. (Nikkei) in 2004. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|Golden Cross of the Civil Order of the Social Solidarity: 2005 |
|Awarded "Golden Cross of the Civil Order of the Social Solidarity" by the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in May, |
|2005. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Freedom Award: 2005 |
|Awarded "Freedom Award" by the America's Freedom Foundation, Provo, Utah, U.S.A. in July, 2005. |
| |
|BANGLADESH |
|Bangladesh Computer Society Gold Medal: 2005 |
|Awarded "Bangladesh Computer Society Gold Medal" by the Bangladesh Computer Society, Bangladesh in July, 2005. |
| |
|ITALY |
|Prize Il Ponte: 2005 |
|Awarded " Prize Il Ponte " by the Fondazione Europea Guido Venosta, Italy in November, 2005. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|Foundation of Justice: 2005 |
|Awarded "Foundation of Justice 2005" by the Foundation of Justice, Valencia, Spain in January, 2006. |
| |
|U.S.A |
|Harvard University, Neustadt Award: 2006 |
|Awarded "Neustadt Award" by Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, U.S.A. in May, 2006. |
| |
|U.S.A |
|Global Citizen of the Year Award: 2006 |
|Awarded "Global Citizen of the Year Award" by Patel Foundation for Global understanding, Tampa, Florida, U.S.A in May, 2006. |
| |
|NETHERLAND |
|Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom Award: 2006 |
|Awarded "Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom Award" by Roosevelt Institute, Middleburg, Province of New Zeeland, The Netherlands in May,|
|2006. |
| |
|SWITZERLAND |
|ITU World Information Society Award: 2006 |
|Awarded "ITU World Information Society Award" by International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, Switzerland in May, 2006. |
| |
|KOREA |
|Seoul Peace Prize: 2006 |
|Awarded "Seoul Peace Prize 2006" by Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, Seoul, Korea in October, 2006. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|Convivencia (Good Fellowship) of Ceuta Award: 2006 |
|Awarded "Convivencia (Good Fellowship) of Ceuta 2006" by Fundacion Premio Convivencia, Ceuta, Spain in October, 2006. |
| |
|Norway |
|Nobel Peace Prize: 2006 |
|Awarded "Nobel Peace Prize 2006" in October, 2006. |
| |
|INDIA |
|Disaster Mitigation Award: 2006 |
|Awarded "Disaster Mitigation Award 2006" by FIRST INDIA Disaster Management Congress 2006, Delhi, India in November, 2006. |
| |
|INDIA |
|Shera Bangalee:2006 |
|Awarded "SHERA BANGALEE 2006" by ETV, India in February, 2007. |
| |
|U.S.A |
|Global Trailblazer Award: 2007 |
|Awarded "Global Trailblazer Award 2007" by the Vital Voices, Washington DC, USA in March, 2007. |
| |
|U.S.A |
|ABICC Award For Leadership In Global Trade: 2007 |
|Awarded "ABICC Award For Leadership in Global Trade 2007" by ABICC, Miami, USA in March, 2007. |
| |
|U.S.A |
|Social Entrepreneur Award: 2007 |
|Awarded "Social Entrepreneur Award 2007" by the Geoffrey Palmer Center for Social Entrepreneurship and the Law, Pepperdine School |
|of Law, USA in January, 2007. |
| |
|U.S.A |
|Global Entrepreneurship Leader Award: 2007 |
|Awarded "Global Entrepreneurship Leader Award 2007" by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, USA in April, 2007. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|RED CROSS Gold Medal: 2007 |
|Awarded "Red Cross Gold Medal 2007" by the Red Cross Society, Spain in 2007. |
| |
|INDIA |
|Rabindra Nath Tagore Birth Centenary Plaque: 2007 |
|Awarded "Rabindra Nath Tagore Birth Centenary Plaque 2007" by the Asiatic Society, Kolkata, India in May, 2007. |
| |
|NETHERLAND |
|EFR-Business Week Award: 2007 |
|Awarded "EFR-Business Week Award 2007" by the University of Rotterdam, The Netherlands in May 2007. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal: 2007 |
|Awarded "Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal" by the Vanderbilt University, U.S.A. in May, 2007. |
| |
|GERMANY |
|Vision Award: 2007 |
|Awarded "Vision Award 2007" by the Global Economic Network, Berlin, Germany in June, 2007. |
| |
|U.S.A |
|BAFI Global Achievement Award: 2007 |
|Awarded "BAFI Global Achievement Award 2007" by the Bangladesh-American Foundation Inc., U.S.A in July, 2007. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Rubin Museum Mandala Award: 2007 |
|Awarded "Rubin Museum Mandala Award" by the Rubin Museum, USA, October 2007. |
| |
|INDIA |
|Sakaal Person of the Year Award: 2007 |
|Awarded "Sakaal Person of the Year Award 2007" by the Sakaal Group of Publications, India in November, 2007. |
| |
|PHILIPPINES |
|First AHPADA Global Award: 2007 |
|Awarded "1st AHPADA Global Award" by the ASEAN Handicraft Promotion and Development Association (ASPADA), Philippines in November,|
|2007. |
| |
|Brazil |
|Medal of Honor: 2007 |
|Awarded "Medal of Honor" by the Government, Santa Catrina State, Brazil, November 2007. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Award for UN South-South Cooperation: 2007 |
|Awarded the "UN South - South Cooperation" by the United Nations, USA, December 2007. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Project Concern Award: 2008 |
|Awarded "Project Concern Award" by Project Concern International, Santa Barbara, California, January 2008. |
| |
|New York |
|International Women's Health Coalition Award: 2008 |
|Awarded "IWHC" Award by the International Women's Health Coalition, February 2008. |
| |
|Japan |
|Kitakyushu Environmental Award: 2008 |
|Awarded "The Kitakyushu Environmental Award" by the Mayor of City of Kitakyushu, Japan, February 2008. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Chancellor's Medal: 2008 |
|Awarded " Chancellor's Medal" by York College, USA, February 2008. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|President's Medal: 2008 |
|Awarded "President's Medal" by Lehman College, USA, March 2008. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Human Security Award: 2008 |
|Awarded " Human Security Award" by Muslim Public Affairs Council, USA, March 2008. |
| |
|AUSTRIA |
|Annual Award for Development: 2008 |
|Awarded "2008 Annual Award for Development" by OPEC Fund for International Development(OFID), Austria, June 2008. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Humanitarian Award: 2008 |
|Awarded "2008 Humanitarian Award" by The International Association of Lions Clubs, U.S.A., June 2008. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|Friend of Children Award: 2008 |
|Awarded "Friend of Children 2008" by Save the Children, Spain, October 2008. |
| |
|GERMANY |
|AGI International Science Award: 2008 |
|Awarded "AGI International Science" by University of Cologne, Germany, October 2008. |
| |
|GERMANY |
|Corine International Book Award: 2008 |
|Awarded "Corine International Book Award" by the Bavaraian Government for the book, "Creating World Without Poverty", Germany, |
|November 2008. |
| |
|GERMANY |
|TWO WINGS prize: 2008 |
|Awarded "TWO WING prize 2008" by the Freie Universitat, Berlin, Germany, November 2008. |
| |
|California |
|Global Humanitarian Awards: 2008 |
|Awarded "Global Humanitarian Awards 2008" by the Tech Museum, San Jose, California, November 2008. |
| |
|California |
|World Affairs Council Awards: 2008 |
|Awarded "World Affairs Council Awards 2008" by the World Affairs Council of Northern California, San Francisco, California, |
|November 2008. |
| |
|Portugal |
|Estoril Global Issues Distinguished Book Prize: 2009 |
|The Estoril Global Issues Distinguished Book Prize was awarded to Muhammad Yunus’s Creating a world without Poverty. It is the |
|biggest award in the field of international studies. It is awarded on an annual basis to books, which offer outstanding analysis |
|of global issues. May, 2009. |
| |
|USA |
|Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service: 2009 |
|Awarded the Dwight D. Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service from the Eisenhower Fellowships at a ceremony in Philadelphia, |
|May, 2009. |
| |
|Slovakia |
|Golden Biatec Award: 2009 |
|Awarded Golden Biatec Award by the Economic Club, Slovakia, June, 2009. |
| |
|USA |
|Gold Medal of Honor Award: 2009 |
|Awarded the Gold Medal of Honor Award from the ATLAS, U.S.A, June, 2009. |
| |
|USA |
|PICMET Leadership in Technology Management: 2009 |
|Awarded the "PICMET (Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology) Leadership in Technology |
|Management" from PICMET, U.S.A. on August 4, 2009. This award recognizes and honors individuals who have provided leadership in |
|managing technology by establishing a vision, providing a strategic direction, and facilitating the implementation strategies for |
|that vision. |
| |
|USA |
|Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2009 |
|Awarded the highest US civilian honor "The Medal of Freedom" by President Barack Obama at White House on August 12, 2009. The |
|Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests |
|of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|The Sustainable Development Award: 2009 |
|Awarded "The Sustainable Development Award 2009" by Ecology and Development Foundation, Spain on October 22, 2009. |
| |
|GERMANY |
|The Bayreuth Leadership Award: 2009 |
|Awarded the "The Bayreuth Leadership Award 2009" by the University of Bayreuth, Wiesbaden, Germany on November 5, 2009 in |
|recognition of work to create opportunities for economic and social development with the aim of eliminating world poverty. |
| |
|USA |
|Prize for Ethical Business Award: 2010 |
|Awarded the "Prize for Ethical Business Award 2010" by the Creighton University, Omaha, USA in February, 2010. |
| |
|USA |
|Presidential Medallion Award: 2010 |
|Awarded the "Presidential Medallion Award 2010" by the President, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA in March, 2010. |
| |
|USA |
|Presidential Medal Award: 2010 |
|Awarded the "Presidential Medal Award 2010" by the Emory University, Atlanta, USA in March, 2010. |
| |
|SPAIN |
|SolarWorld Einstein Award 2010 |
|Awarded the "SolarWorld Einstein Award 2010" by the SolarWorld AG, Germany at the 25th European Phtovoltaic Conference in |
|Valencia, Spain on September 6, 2010. |
| |
|USA |
|Presidential Medal Award 2010 |
|Awarded the "Presidential Medal Award 2010" by the Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida, USA in September, 2010. |
| |
|USA |
|Congressional Gold Medal 2010 |
|Awarded the highest civilian honor "Congressional Gold Medal" by US Congress in September, 2010. |
| |
|PERU |
|Order of the Sun in the Grade of Grand Cross |
|Awarded the highest national award given by the Nation of Peru |
| |
|CHINA |
|Global Award, the Third China Poverty Eradication Awards 2010 |
|Awarded Global Award, the Third China Poverty Eradication Awards by The State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation |
|and Development Management, Government of People's Republic of China and China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation in Beijing on |
|October 17, 2010. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|St. Vincent de Paul Award 2011 |
|Awarded the “St. Vincent de Paul Award by DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois on September 23, 2011. |
| |

Honorary Degrees Received by Professor Muhammad Yunus:
|U.K. |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, by the University of East Anglia, U.K., in 1992.|
|U.S.A. |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Humanities by the Oberlin College, U.S.A. in 1993. |
|CANADA |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Law, honoris causa, by the University of Toronto, Canada in 1995. |
|U.S.A. |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Law by the Haverford College, U.S.A. in May, 1996. |
|U.K. |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Law by the Warwick University, U.K. in July, 1996. |
|U.S.A. |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Public Service by the Saint Xaviers' University, U.S.A. in May, 1997. |
|U.S.A. |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa by the University of the South, U.S.A. in |
| |January, 1998. |
|BELGIUM |Awarded a Degree of Doctor Honoris Cause by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium in February, |
| |1998. |
|U.S.A. |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa by the Yale University, U.S.A. in May, |
| |1998. |
|U.S.A. |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the Brigham Young University, U.S.A. in|
| |August, 1998. |
|AUSTRALIA |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science in Economics by the University of Sydney, Australia in|
| |November, 1998. |
|AUSTRALIA |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University by the Queensland University of Technology, |
| |Brisbane, Australia in February, 2000. |
|ITALY |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor in Economics and Business (Laurea Honoris Causa) by the |
| |University of Turin, Turin, Italy in October, 2000. |
|U.S.A. |Awarded a Degree of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa by the Colgate University, Hamilton, U.S.A. in May |
| |2002. |
|BELGIUM |Awarded a degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University Catholique of Louvain in February, 2003. |
|ARGENTINA |Awarded a Degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Universitad Nacional De Cuyo in April, 2003. |
|SOUTH AFRICA |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Economics, honoris Causa by the University of Natal in December 2003. |
|INDIA |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa by the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswayvidyalaya, |
| |India in February, 2004. |
|THAILAND |Awarded a Degree of Doctor of Technology, Honoris Causa by the Asian Institute of Technology in |
| |August, 2004. |
|ITALY |Awarded a Degree of Doctor in Business Economics, Honoris Causa by the University of Florence in |
| |September, 2004. |
|ITALY |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor in Pedagogyst by the University of Bologna in October, 2004. |
|SPAIN |Awarded a Degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Universidad Complutense, Madrid in October, 2004. |
|SOUTH AFRICA |Awarded a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Economics by the University of Venda, South Africa in May, |
| |2006. |
|LEBANON |Awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters by the American University of Beirut, Lebanon in June, 2006. |
|SPAIN |Awarded a Doctor of Honoris Causa by the University of Alicante in Valencia, Spain in June, 2006. |
|SPAIN |Awarded a Doctor of Honoris Causa by the University of Valencia, in Valencia, Spain in June, 2006. |
|SPAIN |Awarded a Doctor of Honoris Causa by the University of Jaume I in Valencia, Spain in June, 2006. |
|BANGLADESH |Awarded a Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh in February, 2007. |
|JAPAN |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities by the Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan in July, |
| |2007. |
|MALAYSIA |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Economics by the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia |
| |in August, 2007. |
|KOREA |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by the Ewha Womans University in September, 2007. |
|COSTA RICA |Awarded a Doctor of Humanities Honoris Causa Degree by the Earth University in December 2007. |
|U.S.A. |Awarded an Honorary Degree by the Regis University, U.S.A. in March 2008. |
|CANADA |Awarded an Honorary Degree by the University of British Columbia in March 2008. |
|RUSSIA |Awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree by Moscow State University, Russia in April 2008. |
|ITALY |Awarded an Honoris Causa Degree in Science of Cooperation and Development by Sapienza University of |
| |Rome, Italy in June, 2008. |
|U.K. |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Letters (D. Litt) in Glasgow Caledonia University, Glasgow,|
| |UK in December 2008. |
|U.K. |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctorate in University of Glasgow, UK in December 2008. |
|JAPAN |Awarded an Honorary Degree in Kobe University, Japan in March 2009. |
|U.S.A. |Awarded an Honorary Doctors of Law Degree by University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia in May 2009. |
|JAPAN |Awarded an Honorary Degree from Hokkaido University, Japan in September 2009. |
|TURKEY |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctorate in Istanbul Commerce University, Istanbul in October 2009. |
|U.S.A. |Received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Duke University, Durham, USA on May 16, 2010. |
|JAPAN |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctorate in Kwansei Guakin University, Kobe, Japan on 18 July 2010. |
|CANADA |Awarded a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada on September 1, 2010.|
|PERU |Awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa from San Ignacio de Loyola University, Lima, Paru on September 27, |
| |2010. |
|PERU |Awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Paru on September |
| |27, 2010. |
|BELGIUM |Awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa from University of Mons in Mons on October 18, 2010. |
|U.K. |Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science in Economics from London School of Economics at London|
| |on November 24, 2011. |
|Japan |Awarded Honorary Degree of Doctorate from Tohoku University, Japan on 11 March, 2012. |

Special Honour:
|PHILIPPINES |Legislature of Negros Occidental, a province of the Philippines, passed a resolution awarding the |
| |status of "Adopted Son of Negros Occidental" for the contribution made to the poorest of the poor of |
| |the province, in 1992. |
|BANGLADESH |Chosen by The Daily Star, a daily newspaper of Bangladesh, as the "Man of the Year 1994". |
|U.S.A. |Was Chosen as the" Person of the Week" |
| |Professor Muhammad Yunus was chosen as the "Person of the Week" by American TV ABC's World News |
| |Tonight with Peter Jennings on September 15, 1995 at the conclusion of the World Summit on Women held |
| |in Beijing. |
| |This is how Peter Jennings announced the news : |
| |"Finally this evening, our Person of the Week. As we reported elsewhere in this broadcast, the |
| |International Women’s Conference in China is now over. And the women there, from many parts of the |
| |world, will go home and try to inspire others to translate all the talking into action which will |
| |benefit women. On this final day of the women’s conference, we choose a man. He was on the agenda of |
| |the women’s conference because he truly understands the value of women." |
|HONG KONG |The ASIAWEEK, a weekly international news magazine has selected as one of the "Twenty Great Asians |
| |(1975 1995)". |
|INDIA |The Ananda Bazar Patrika a daily leading newspaper of India has selected as one of the “Ten Great |
| |Bangalees of the century" (1900-1999). |
|HONG KONG |The ASIAWEEK, a weekly international news magazine has selected as one of the “Asians of the Century |
| |(1900-1999). |
|U.S.A |The U.S. NEWS a weekly leading news-magazine of U.S.A. has selected as one of the 20 Heroes in the |
| |world in 2001. |
|U.S.A |Appointed as an International Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS by the United Nations in June, 2002. |
|BANGLADESH |Elected as a Fellow of the Society by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh in September, 2003. |
|U.S.A |PBS Documentary : The 25 Most Influential Business Persons of the Past 25 Years |
| |Professor Yunus was chosen by Wharton School of Business for PBS documentary, as one of "The 25 Most |
| |Influential Business Persons of the Past 25 Years" Among others were : Bill Gates, George Soros, Oprah|
| |Winfrey, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Warren Buffertt, Michael Dell, Alan Greenspan, Lee Lacocca, |
| |Charles Schwab, Frederick Smith, and Sam Walton. PBS aired the programme on January 19, 2004, in their|
| |"Nightly Business News". |
|U.S.A. |Profiled in Discovery Channel |
| |In 2004, TV Cable Channel Discovery produced an autobiography documentary film series titled |
| |"Crossings". In each episode it featured "one individual who made significant contribution to society |
| |as a result of certain experiences in life." Twelve Asians were profiled in this series. Professor |
| |Muhammad Yunus was one of them. He was the only one from the South Asian countries. Among others were |
| |: Chinese actress-director Joan Chan, international action movie star Jackie Chan, Thai elephant |
| |keeper Saudia Shawalla, and Malaysian cartoonist Datuk Laat. |
|FRANCE |Inducted as a Member of the Legion d'Houneur by President Chirac of France in May, 2004. |
|BELGIUM |Appointed as a Special Advisor to Hon'ble Mr. Louis Michel, E.U. Commissioner for Development and |
| |Humanitarian Aid in March 2005. |
|FRANCE |Awarded "Professeur Honoris Causa" by the most prestigious business school of France, HEC, in October,|
| |2005. |
|TURKEY |Addressed the "Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly" at the invitation of the Speaker of the|
| |Grand National Assembly Mr. Bulent ARINC, on May 15, 2006. |
|COLOMBIA |Received the "Key of Bogota City" from the Mayor of Bogota City, the capital of Columbia in October, |
| |2006. |
|COLOMBIA |Addressed Upper House of Parliament (Senate) and formal conferment of the title of "Knight", Colombia |
| |in October, 2006. |
|CHINA |Appointed as "Honorary Professor" by Peking University, China on October, 2006. |
|HONG KONG |"TIME" a weekly International news-magazine has selected as an "ASIAN HERO" of their "60 Years of |
| |ASIAN HEROS" issue in November, 2006. |
|USA |MSN chosen as one of "Ten Most Influential Men of 2006" in their MSN LIFESTYLE : MEN category in |
| |December, 2006. |
|FRANCE |Diploma of Honor given by Friends of the Indian Ocean, December 2006. |
|KOREA |Selected as a "Distinguished Fellow" of the Ewha Academy for Advanced Studies, EWHA WOMENS UNIVERSITY,|
| |Seoul, Korea in March, 2007. |
|BAHRAIN |Conferred the highest honour "Medal of the First Order of Merit" by the Kingdom of Bahrain in |
| |February, 2007. |
|VENEZUELA |Conferred the highest honor of Government of Venezuela “Order of the Liberator in First Class with |
| |Grand Decoration” by President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela in Caracas, May 2007. |
|U.S.A. |“Business Week” a weekly international news magazine has selected as one of the “Greatest |
| |Entrepreneurs of All Time” in July, 2007. |
|CHINA |The Government of Hainan Province of the People’s Republic of China has honoured as an Adviser to the |
| |Government of Hainan Province in July, 2007. |
|SAUDI ARABIA |Conferred by HM King of Saudi Arabia the highest Civil Award "King Abdul Aziz Medal" in September, |
| |2007. |
|SAUDI ARABIA |Establishment of a Research Chair at King Saud University in the name of Professor Muhammad Yunus in |
| |September 2007. |
|SAUDI ARABIA |Conferred Honorary Professorship of the University in the Department of Economics, King Saud |
| |University, Saudi Arabia in September 2007. |
|ECUADOR |Conferred Key to the City of Guayaquil and named Distinguished Guest of the City of Guayaquil declared|
| |by the District of Guayaquil, December 2007. |
|ECUADOR |Conferred Key to the City of Quito and named Distinguished Guest of the City of Quito declared by the |
| |District of Quito, December 2007. |
|ECUADOR |Visiting Fellow Catholic University of Guayaquil, Guayaquil, December 2007 . |
|USA |Bill White, Mayor of the City of Houston, USA has honoured Muhammad Yunus through proclaiming January |
| |14, 2008 as Muhammad Yunus Day, January 2008. |
|BENIN |Commander of the National Order of Benin : Conferred " Commander of the National Order of Benin" by |
| |the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Benin in Cortonou in February, 2008. |
|RUSSIA |Conferred Honorary Professorship at Higher School of Economics by Evgeniy Yasin, Academic Supervisor, |
| |Alexander Shokhin, President and Yaroslav Kuzminov, Rector, The State University of Moscow - Higher |
| |School of Economics in March 2008. |
|RUSSIA |Decorated by the Presidium of the International Movement of "Eastern Dimension" with the International|
| |Order of Eastern Dimension for asserting the world's highest ideals, humanism, and progress and for |
| |enhancing of friendship between Russian and Bangladeshi people, Russia in April 2008. |
|UKRAINE |Awarded highest honor of the National Taras Shevchenko University in Kiev, Ukraine in April 2008. |
|U.S.A. |Delivered commencement speech at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Massachusetts, USA on 6 |
| |June, 2008. |
|U.K. |Delivered Adam Smith Lecture at Glasgow University, Glasgow, UK in December 2008. |
|U.K. |Delivered Romanes Lecture at Oxford University, UK in December 2008. |
|U.S.A. |Delivered commencement speech at Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia,|
| |USA on 17 May 2009. |
|JAPAN |Conferred the Distinguished Professor of the Kyushu University, Japan on July 17, 2010. |

Awards Received by Grameen Bank
|SWITZERLAND |
|Aga Khan Award For Architecture: 1989 |
|Awarded Aga Khan Award For Architecture, 1989 by Geneva based Aga Khan Foundation for designing and operating Grameen Bank |
|Housing Programme for the poor, which helped poor members of Grameen Bank to construct 60,000 housing units by 1989, each costing|
|on an average $ 300. |
| |
|BELGIUM |
|King Baudouin International Development Prize: 1993 |
|Awarded "The King Baudouin International Development Prize 1992" for its recognition of the role of women in the process of |
|development and the novelty of a financial credit system contributing to the improvement of the social and material condition of |
|women and their families in rural areas. |
| |
|BANGLADESH |
|Independence Day Award: 1994 |
|Awarded Independence Day Award for outstanding contribution to Rural Development. |
| |
|MALAYSIA |
|Tun Abdul Razak Award: 1994 |
|Awarded the Independence Day Award, 1987, by the President for the outstanding contribution in rural development. This is the |
|highest civilian national award of Bangladesh. |
| |
|UNITED KINGDOM |
|World Habitat Award: 1997 |
|Awarded “World Habitat Award : 1997” by Building and Social Housing Foundation. |
| |
|INDIA |
|Gandhi Peace Prize: 2000 |
|Awarded "Gandhi Peace Prize :2000" by Government of India. |
| |
|U.S.A. |
|Petersberg Prize: 2004 |
|Awarded "Petersberg Prize 2004" by the Development Gateway Foundation, U.S.A. in 2004. |
| |
|Norway |
|Nobel Peace Prize: 2006 |
|Awarded "Nobel Peace Prize 2006" in October, 2006. |