Practical Action in Bangladesh

🎉 Happy New Year! 🎉 As we step into 2025, we at Practical Action Bangladesh remain committed to supporting communities in their fight against the devastating effects of climate change.  A key tool in this effort is the Disaster Alert for BD App, which provides early warnings and actionable information to minimize losses during disasters like cyclones, floods, and river erosion. We invite you to watch this inspiring broadcast, produced by Channel i, and discover how innovation and collaboration are driving resilience and safety for vulnerable communities. 📺 Watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/gYMfCatY #ClimateChange #DisasterResilience #InnovationForImpact #PracticalAction

We are seeking a Project Lead for the anticipated FCDO-funded Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) Grants. For details about the vacancy, please follow this link: https://shorturl.at/uXzAU Don't miss the opportunity to apply by 20 January 2025 if you are a suitable candidate.

🌍Digital Innovation in Early Warning Systems: Building Climate Resilience in Bangladesh 🌱 Practical Action in Bangladesh has successfully organised a National learning event for Innovations for Climate Adaptation and Resilience (iCARE) Project. The iCARE initiative supports 16 innovations facilitated by Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and Practical Action’s project is one of them, titled 'Digital Innovation in Early Warning Systems: Building Climate Resilience in Bangladesh', aiming at enhanced early warnings and actions, improved access to information, and strengthened institutional capacity to ensure no one is left behind, being implemented in the districts of Khulna, Satkhira, and Faridpur. Our innovation was initially supported by the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance and later enhanced and scaled up with the support of ADPC and the World Bank. The purpose of the event was to showcase the project's progress and impact in Bangladesh, explore community-driven and gender-responsive early warning systems to enhance resilience, and discuss evolving technologies to improve access to communities. Our honourable Country Director Ishrat Shabnam inaugurated the workshop by delivering her welcoming speech. Our Thematic Lead of Climate and Resilience Programme Tamanna Rahman shared the progress of the project with the next steps incorporating a more forward-thinking approach. A panel discussion featuring key stakeholders in disaster management was convened to explore technological advancements in early warning systems. Md Ahmadul Haque, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) and Director of the Cyclone Preparedness Programme, served as the chief guest. Special guests Professor Dr. Md. Munsur Rahman from BUET's Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM) and Dr. Robin Kumar Biswas from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) stressed the critical role of tech-driven innovations in minimizing disaster-related losses and damages. Our Country Director provided valuable insights into digital progression in Bangladesh's disaster management system. Tazeen Hossain, Head of Programme Delivery and Operations, moderated the session, facilitating dialogue on technological solutions for climate resilience. A dedicated segment provided community participants from the project area with an opportunity to share their firsthand experiences, revealing the practical challenges they encountered and demonstrating how digital innovations have empowered them to overcome critical obstacles in disaster management. Practical Action #iCAREProject #ClimateResilience #DigitalInnovation #EarlyWarningSystems #Buildingresilience #Climateadaptation #DisasterPreparedness #CommunityDrivenSolutions #GenderResponsiveAction #ResilientBangladesh #InnovationsForClimate #NoOneLeftBehind #EmpoweringCommunities #ClimateSmartSolutions #DigitalProgression

Tamanna Rahman shares her experiences and insights from the recent COP 29 climate conference, where she participated. Ms. Tamanna is the Thematic Lead – Climate and Resilience programme of Practical Action in Bangladesh. She also talks about the work that Practical Action is doing. You can listen to this interesting discussion in the podcast titled "Pragati-NBL EP Climate Talks," hosted by the eminent journalist Mr. Mollah Amzad.

On 12 December 2024, a transformative national dialogue on improving the lives of sanitation and waste management workers took place at InterContinental Dhaka. Jointly organised by Practical Action and the Bangladesh FSM Network, the event united government, private sector, and international stakeholders to discuss a draft policy focused on dignity, safety, and well-being for these essential workers. Sanitation workers stood shoulder to shoulder with policymakers from various sectors, sharing their stories of struggle, resilience, and hope. Their voices highlighted daily challenges and inspired a collective commitment to bring change. The Honourable Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. A H M Shafiquzzaman, underscored the transformative potential of this initiative, while Practical Action’s Country Director, Ishrat Shabnam, reaffirmed a collective vision of dignity and opportunity for these essential workers. Key Recommendations from the Draft Policy: ➤ Safe working conditions for all sanitation workers ➤ Access to personal protective equipment (PPE) ➤ Provision of health insurance ➤ Access to quality housing ➤ Fair and equitable wages This dialogue highlights our shared responsibility to acknowledge and uplift those who play a vital role in maintaining public health and environmental sustainability. 🌍✨ #PracticalAction #Sanitation #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #LabourRights #Bangladesh

Practical Action in Bangladesh is actively engaging at the National EW4All Interpillar Coordination and Roadmap Designing Workshop, organised by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), held from 09-11 December 2024. This roadmap aims to strengthen cross-pillar collaboration involving various stakeholders and establish a robust Multi-Hazard Early Warning System, helping to create a safer, more resilient Bangladesh. At Practical Action, we are proud to lead innovative climate resilience strategies. Our Thematic Lead for Climate and Resilience, Tamanna Rahman, presented "An Innovative Approach to Integrating Risk Knowledge into Communication," where we highlighted our efforts to enhance risk knowledge, diversify early warning dissemination channels, and build resilience in the most vulnerable communities. Our honourable Country Director, Ishrat Shabnam, delivered her valuable reflections on this workshop highlighting the key insights of this workshop came out of the brainstorming sessions as well as our long-term contribution to enhancing EWS in Bangladesh with a strong commitment to strengthening the country’s EWS and resilience across sectors. This workshop marks an exciting step forward in our collective efforts to ensure safer, more resilient communities, ensuring EW4All and we look forward to continuing this important work collaboratively. Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance Practical Action Practical Action in Bangladesh United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) #UNDRR #ITU #WMO #IFRC #BDRCS #WFP #ZZurichfoundation #AsianDisasterPreparednessCenter #EW4All #EarlyWarningForAll #Resilience #NationalRoadmap #ClimateAction #EarlyWarning #voicemessage #DisasteralertforBD #localresilineceagent #digitalweatherboard #lossesanddamages

This year, our journey of empowerment takes on even greater significance during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. We’re not just speaking up; we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible stories of our female colleagues. Through their voices, this video captures the essence of resilience, empowerment, and unity. 🎉 This year is extra special as we celebrate a remarkable milestone: reaching our highest number of female staff ever, with 21 amazing women now part of our team! Through their voices, we honor strength, resilience, and the collective power of standing together for a world free from violence and inequality. We invite you to watch, reflect, and join the conversation. Let’s move from awareness to action to end gender-based violence together. 🧡 #NOEXCUSE #16DaysOfActivism #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #GenderEquality #BigChangeStartsSmall #PracticalAction

An Inter-Ministerial Workshop on the Revision of the National Action Plan for Clean Cooking (NAPCC) was held on 05 December 2024 at the Power Division Conference Room, Bidyut Bhaban, Dhaka. Representatives from various ministries discussed the role of traditional cooking in air pollution and the need for improvements in health and environmental outcomes. They highlighted the importance of considering cultural habits and cooking behaviors to ensure a successful transition to modern cooking technologies. Health concerns were raised, with a call to include health indicators in the action plan. The workshop also focused on the need for renewable, affordable energy solutions for electric cookstoves and the integration of the action plan with national policies for a unified approach. The workshop concluded that a coordinated approach is essential to drive meaningful change, ensuring both technological solutions and cultural considerations are addressed. #CleanCooking #Sustainability #EnergyTransition

On 2 December 2024, at the NOSHTRI (National Occupational Safety & Health Training and Research Institute) office, Ishrat Shabnam, the Country Director of Practical Action in Bangladesh handed over important training manuals on the sanitation sector to the Inspector General of the DIFE (Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments). This milestone strengthens our collaboration with the government to enhance worker safety and skills. A Training of Trainers (ToT) session is planned for NOSHTRI officials to support this initiative. This will equip them to use the manuals effectively, benefiting workers in hazardous jobs across sectors like sanitation and the tannery industry. This initiative builds on years of progress, from empowering sanitation waste workers in Faridpur, Barguna, Satkhira, and Kalaroa to developing training manuals on health, safety, and waste management with the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB). We also created additional manuals on Entrepreneurship, Professional Health Safety, Labor Laws, and sustainable Plastic Waste Recycling. This handover is another step toward building cleaner, safer, and more inclusive cities for everyone.

Practical Action shared the progress of the Digital Innovation in Early Warning Systems: Building Climate Resilience in Bangladesh project, a World Bank initiative under the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CARE) for South Asia project. This iCARE project supports 16 innovations by ADPC. In addition to the funding supported by the Z Zurich Foundation, Practical Action is driving innovation in climate resilience efforts by rolling out the Disaster Alert for BD app among communities. Through this project, we worked on the app's further development, reaching 169,000 people this year—helping save lives and livelihoods in last-mile communities. At an event in Dhaka, our Country Director, Ishrat Shabnam, shared her insights as a panellist in a discussion on the effectiveness, sustainability, and scalability of innovations. The event also highlighted innovations from NAXA, Cropin, and Durham University, alongside Practical Action, providing an overview of the project’s progress to the Government of Bangladesh, international agencies, and key stakeholders. We’re excited to scale the Disaster Alert for BD app further across Bangladesh. The World Bank Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) Z Zurich Foundation #WorldBank #ADPC #ZZurichFoundation #PracticalAction #DisasterAlertBD #ClimateResilience #InnovationForChange #Sustainability #SouthAsia #DisasterResponse