BRIDGE is founded in response to the urgent need for homegrown, integrated, and forward-looking policy leadership in the Bay of Bengal region, which is considered one of the most densely populated, ecologically fragile, and strategically significant areas on Earth. Spanning South and Southeast Asia, the region is home to over 1.7 billion people and represents a $7 trillion-plus economy. Despite this immense potential, it remains constrained by systemic challenges that are increasingly interconnected and transboundary in nature.

Fragile democracies across the region face deepening governance gaps, with the V-Dem Institute reporting a 40% decline in democratic freedoms. This erosion of civic space and accountability undermines the region’s ability to respond to growing climate and development pressures. Meanwhile, the climate emergency looms large: an estimated 50 million people could be displaced or severely impacted by climate change by 2050, from rising seas to more frequent and intense cyclones and floods.

These challenges demand not only stronger national policies but also new regional architectures of cooperation, especially on shared rivers and oceans, fisheries, energy systems, and disaster preparedness. Yet existing platforms have largely failed to unlock this potential, leaving vital collaboration on the table.

BRIDGE has emerged to fill this void: a think-and-do institute that breaks silos, builds trust, and connects policy with people and planet. We convene diverse voices, from academia and government to grassroots leaders and youth, to co-create solutions that are democratic, inclusive, and evidence-driven. Through cross-border dialogue, leadership development, and locally grounded action, BRIDGE seeks to catalyze sustainable prosperity across the Bay of Bengal and beyond.