TCI’s global footprint with the addition of two new hubs.
The Challenge Initiative (TCI) is proud to announce its official expansion into Bangladesh and Indonesia. These two new “regional accelerator hubs” join TCI’s existing network of six hubs, further solidifying TCI’s commitment to advancing sustainable, demand-led urban health interventions.
Following comprehensive scoping visits to both countries in early 2025, TCI successfully identified local implementing partners and initiated the co-design of strategic workplans tailored to the unique health challenges facing both countries.
“The expansion into Bangladesh and Indonesia represents an important step in our mission to empower local governments to lead and sustain their own health programs,” said TCI’s executive director Kojo Lokko. “By integrating these new hubs into our existing global network, we will continue scaling up our proven, high-impact interventions to the communities that need them most.”
Start-up activities underway in Bangladesh with the SAJIDA Foundation.
The new hubs are currently conducting start-up operations, including developing toolkits for TCI University that are adapted to each country’s local context. Implementation activities are expected to begin in June 2026.
Strategic Partnerships in Bangladesh and Indonesia
In Bangladesh, TCI partnered with SAJIDA Foundation following a rigorous vetting process and a collaborative effort involving key government officials and UNFPA. Technical preparations are underway, supported by a landscaping workshop that included representatives from TCI’s established hubs in Pakistan, India, and the Philippines. Full implementation is expected to commence following final government approval.
In Indonesia, colleagues from TCI’s Philippines hub participate in a landscaping activity with representatives from the Jalin Foundation.
In Indonesia, TCI has selected the Jalin Foundation as its local implementing partner. Working closely with the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), TCI and Jalin co-developed a workplan and budget for the first year if implementation. The Indonesia hub has completed the recruitment of its leadership and monitoring teams, benefiting from the technical mentorship of the TCI Philippines hub.
A Proven Model for Urban Health
The addition of Bangladesh and Indonesia brings TCI’s total to eight hubs globally. These new entries will leverage TCI’s groundbreaking model that has already proven successful across the six established hubs in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda), Francophone West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Senegal, and Togo), India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Philippines.
