The Yunus Centre () is a think tank and global resource hub based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, dedicated to promoting and disseminating the philosophy of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, with a primary focus on social business, poverty alleviation, and sustainability.
Established initially as the Yunus Secretariat in October 2006 following Yunus and Grameen Bank's joint receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize, it was renamed the Yunus Centre in July 2008. The organisation serves as the central coordinating body for social business initiatives worldwide, acting as a one-stop resource for Grameen-related social business activities, forging international partnerships, and maintaining high visibility for the global social business movement through events, social media, publications, and academic collaborations.
, the Centre is chaired by Professor Muhammad Yunus and its executive director is Ms. Lamiya Morshed. It has established 114 Yunus Social Business Centres (YSBCs) at universities and institutions around the world as of August 2025.
The Centre's core activities include the Poverty-Free World Campaign (aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals and the vision of a poverty-free Bangladesh by 2030), international networking, support for new and existing social businesses, research and publications, development of academic programs on social business, and archiving Yunus's awards and career milestones for a planned museum and digital library. It organises major annual events such as âÂÂSocial Business Dayâ (the 15th edition held 27âÂÂ28 June 2025 in Savar, Bangladesh, themed âÂÂSocial Business is the Most Effective Way to Ensure Healthcare for AllâÂÂ) and facilitates immersion programs, exposure visits, internships, and the 3ZERO Club initiatives.
After Prof. Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank received the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2006, a personal office for Prof. Yunus under the name of 'Yunus Secretariat' was formed. From the very beginning on, the Yunus Secretariat was mainly aiming at promoting Prof. Yunus' philosophy of social business and served as a one-stop resource centre for anyone interested in social business.
In July 2008, it was renamed the Yunus Centre and continues to develop new social businesses, provide technical help to social business start-ups and liaise with anybody interested in the topic. They also publish a quarterly newsletter on new developments in the field of social business.
Following Muhammad Yunus's appointment as chief adviser to Bangladesh's interim government in August 2024, several organisations affiliated with the Yunus CentreâÂÂincluding Grameen Bank and other Grameen entitiesâÂÂreceived a series of official approvals and regulatory benefits, prompting public scrutiny and criticism. Among the developments were the approval of Grameen University, the issuance of a manpower export licence to Grameen Employment Services Limited, and a digital wallet licence for a Grameen Telecom concern. Additionally, the government stake in Grameen Bank was reduced from 25% to 10%, and its five-year tax exemption was reinstated. Critics, including jurists and civil society members, raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of the approval processes, especially as several legal cases against Yunus and his associates were dismissed soon after he assumed office. While the interim government maintained that all approvals followed due process, transparency advocates called for greater disclosure to mitigate perceptions of undue influence.
Yunus Centre is working to promote the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in Bangladesh and all around the world and is especially committed for making Bangladesh free of poverty by 2030.
Disseminating the ideas and philosophy of Prof. Yunus on social business and microfinance.
Acting as the primary source of information on social businesses worldwide and providing consulting services to start-ups. Its New Entrepreneur Project funded 385 projects in 2014.
Created in 2009 by Yunus Centre and Grameen Creative Lab, the Global Social Business Summit has become the main platform for social businesses worldwide to encourage discussions, actions and collaborations in order to find effective solutions to crucial problems plaguing the world.
Developing curricula for classes on social business. Amongst other, current partnerships exist with Harvard University, HEC (Paris), the Asian Institute of Technology (Bangkok), Bocconi University (Milan) McGill University (Montreal), Glasgow University, University of Florence and University of Salford.
The Yunus Centre has established 114 Yunus Social Business Centres (YSBCs) at universities and institutions worldwide, as of 3 August 2025.