Hope Over Fate - by Scott MacMillan (Paperback)

About the Book

Fazle Hasan Abed (1936-2019) was a former finance executive with almost no experience in relief aid until he founded BRAC in 1972. BRAC went on to become the world's largest nongovernmental organization, and Abed's methods changed the way global policymakers think about poverty. His story has never been told until now.

Book Synopsis

Fazle Hasan Abed (1936-2019) was a former finance executive with almost no experience in relief aid until he founded BRAC in 1972. BRAC went on to become the world's largest nongovernmental organization, and Abed's methods changed the way global policymakers think about poverty. His story has never been told until now.

Review Quotes

Are you a wonk, keen to know how the worldrsquo;s largest nonprofit came to be (while maintaining a fairly low profile) and how they use evidence and business savvy to deliver effective, scaled programs around the world? Or are you keen to understand the human stories behind the scenes of one of the best but untold stories of fighting poverty one household at a time? Either way, this book will grab you, as it follows the story of the unsung hero Fazle Hasan Abed and the path to scale for fighting poverty.

Hope Over Fate is the inspiring story of a brilliant, self-effacing man, the incredible organization he created, and the largest, most successful poverty eradication effort in history. Scott MacMillan unpacks the building blocks in the life and work of Fazle Hasan Abed, a remarkable man whose name and incredible achievements are worthy not just of the honours he received, but of careful study by anyone involved in the work of ending poverty.

I can think of few people who have done so much for humanity as Abed. He was a friend and someone I deeply admired and learned from: While US aid efforts in Afghanistan often flopped, his succeeded.

About the Author

Scott MacMillan is the director of learning and innovation at BRAC USA, an affiliate organization of BRAC, where he has worked since 2011. A former journalist, he served as the speechwriter of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC, prior to Abed's death in 2019. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and daughter, along with a cat, dog, and four horses.