key Highights
Contributions at a Glance
In 2022, we built partnerships with women, young people and marginalised communities, already at the frontline of shocks and stresses caused by impacts of climate change and human-induced disasters. As advocates of social justice, climate justice and equity, we played both a catalyst and facilitation role to create the space and opportunity to voice their concerns and demand justice through community mobilisation, advocacy, capacity building and programmatic interventions. In this process, we collectively contributed to 15 SDG goals towards realisation of SENDAI framework and Paris agreement, both locally and globally.
National Level
Youth participation and voice are reflected in the National Adaptation Plan as a result of advocacy and engagement from the local and national level. Along with that, to address the employment challenges of young people, the first Apprenticeship Guideline 2022 was adopted by the Government of Bangladesh through the joint advocacy of ActionAid Bangladesh and a2i. Moreover, the Cabinet approved the draft National Voluntary Policy 2022, which focuses on engaging young people in emergency preparedness and responses.
Young people voiced their demands for climate justice in front of the policymakers by organising Bangladesh Youth CoP27 with the support of AAB.
The joint initiative of ActionAid Bangladesh and a2i influenced various government institutions to update the competency standards of four skills development courses aligned with the fourth industrial revolution (4iR).
Global Platform Bangladesh capacitated 18 youth-led organisations and supported them in engaging in various social movements, such as climate justice, embankment management, safe drinking water, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
A global network for supporting youth-led campaigns on climate justice kickstarted in collaboration with ActionAid Denmark.
A programme for developing young feminist leadership in claiming climate justice launched in collaboration with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development.
The National Energy Transition Policy developed by CAB, in collaboration with ActionAid, for engaging young people in advocacy for energy transition and promoting accountability through youth-led platforms. A media wing, ‘Vokta Kantho,’ has also been formed under this partnership to address consumer complaints, including energy and renewable energy issues for just transition.
As a result of advocacy effort to ensure private sector’s participation in disaster risk reduction, the private sector working group has been included in the work plan of Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT) 2021-2025 for the first time ever.
A policy brief titled ‘Addressing the Vulnerability of Young People in Bangladesh: Policy and Resource Allocation’, published to ensure resource allocation to address the vulnerabilities of young people. This was done in collaboration with South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM).
Introduced artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions for reducing loss and damage from fire and water-logging as a part of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in partnership with the private sector.
Advocacy on various water governance issues related to the Teesta River Basin and youth-led innovations around water justice done by engaging local and international experts and young people at the 7th International Water Conference and ‘Youth Dialogue South Asian Youth Affairs: Connecting with Water’. At the local level, through WaterMove Campaign Alliance, 3,842 community people mobilised for safe drinking water in seven districts.
CSO’s position paper, Climate Diplomacy on COP27, on loss and damage adopted as a part of the Parliamentary Standing Committee discussion and resolution, creating a roadmap for the advocacy agenda prior to COP27. AAB worked with other like-minded organisations in developing this position paper.
The first ever festival of resilience arranged in Bangladesh, connecting, young people, community leaders, academia, policy advocates, local partners, and the media to reflect and encourage learning on the resilience of people of Bangladesh in overcoming various challenges.
In order to ensure fair price and equal access for women farmers, women’s corners have been established in markets and different actors have been sensitised.
Dr. Ian Fry, the first Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, visited Bangladesh and the working areas of AAB in Sunamganj and Sylhet. Meeting the community, he reiterated the demand to the international community for addressing the issues of loss and damage.
Community Level
To reduce plastic waste by promoting the principles of 3R: reduce, reuse, and recycle, AAB collaborated with the local community and young people in the southern disaster-prone coastal belt of Bangladesh.
29,486 ready-made garment workers sensitised on labour rights and entitlements through the 23 Women’s Cafés located in Dhaka and Chattogram, empowering them to exercise their due rights. 2,195 workers also received advisory and legal aid support while 3,460 workers received medical consultancy support, through these cafés, contributing to their overall well-being.
6,995 volunteers in the Rohingya camps engaged and trained on 17 modules, including household waste management, environmental awareness, life skills, human trafficking, GBV, nutrition and health, empowering them to support their communities as change agents.
Various disaster reduction and measurement measures taken in the Rohingya community, including installation of different fire-safety equipment and training volunteers on preparedness and response. 98,101 people in four Rohingya camps were benefited as a result of this initiative.
A tool to establish accountability, called Compliant Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM), ensured in the Rohingya camps to enhance transparency among the Rohingya community.
7,050 children equipped to effectively contribute to community development, advocating for children’s rights, protection, and challenging gender norms.
10,332 children sensitised with the knowledge of climate change and its impact on communities to inspire and engage people in climate action advocacy and environmental conservation.
5,708 people received social safety net support in 2022 in all districts as a result of AAB’s advocacy.
A Haor livelihood plan developed to support the poor and vulnerable families.
Resilience and Climate Justice
Under the Resilience and Climate Justice priority area, AAB works to address climate injustice and build resilience within communities at risk by engaging multi-stakeholders at local, national, and international levels. At the core of each intervention is an integrated approach for response mechanism, conventional risk reduction, climate change adaptation and nature-based solution and approaches. In 2022, water governance and addressing loss and damage were among the key focuses of this priority area. In total, we reached 22,186 people.
Highlights
climate Justice
The 7th International Water Conference, ‘Teesta River Basin: Overcoming the Challenges,’ held in January 2022, emphasising the need for cooperation between Bangladesh and India in addressing challenges, generating innovative ideas, strengthening stakeholder relationships and providing a platform for policymakers to hear the voices of the affected communities. The conference facilitated knowledge sharing, capacity building, and awareness raising on water security and sustainable water management in the Teesta River Basin.
Prioritising the issue of climate-induced displacement and addressing local-level vulnerabilities, ActionAid Bangladesh developed a knowledge partnership with ‘Gobeshona Global Conference,’ an initiative of ICCCAD, to generate discussion, debates, and recommendations for policy implications.
As a lead contributor to the CSO’s position paper titled ‘Climate Diplomacy on COP27’, AAB ensured the needs and demands of vulnerable communities were noted in the Parliamentary Standing Committee discussion and resolution, leading to the preparation for COP27. The Committee adopted the resolution and included call for the international community to provide financial assistance to help Bangladesh cope with loss and damage, increase international support for adaptation and mitigation measures and take urgent actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
To enhance community’s awareness on climate change and its impacts, 10,332 children were sensitised on the topic to inspire them to be active in environmental conservation and its preservation.
Green Energy
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) continue to campaign to shift from fossil fuel. One such initiative was around Payra power plant and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal that led to the Ministry of Power Energy and Mineral Resources (MoPEMR) rethinking the proposed 3.6 GW LNG power plant and LNG terminal.
Members of Life and Nature Safeguard Platform (LNSP), including AAB, participated in a civil society mobilisation effort around the issue of integrated energy and transition, therefore advocating for an Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP). The proposals were incorporated partially by MoPEMR and JICA.
A position paper was developed to stop the accession of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), by mobilising the media and CSOs through dialogue, workshop, advocacy, and campaign.
Strengthened capacities of 59 CSOs and 90 Community Land Rights Groups (CLRG) through workshop and training on international human rights instruments and guidelines, protection of the environment, ecology, climate change, land governance and women’s land rights, transitioning to green energy and the details of fossil energy value chains in Bangladesh.
Young People
One-third of Bangladeshis are youth, who are already experiencing the brunt of climate change impacts, such as low income, unemployment crisis, dependency on scarce natural resources, and climate-induced displacement. Under the young people strategic priority area, AAB has long been working with young people, youth-led platforms, organisations, and networks at local and national levels, engaging them in different capacity-building and mobilisation initiatives. It has continued to empower young people to transform societies and make them climate resilient in 2022. We reached 33,472 young people in total, including 2,194 young people through humanitarian support.
Highlights
Climate Justice Campaigns
Youth movement for claiming climate justice initiated in 22 districts, involving youth platforms and organisations.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board allocated budget and reconstructed the damaged embankment in Satkhira as a result of advocacy by young people.
Advocacy to Claim Public Service
Waste management and drainage systems established by young people in five districts across Chattogram, Dhaka, and Khulna divisions to improve utilisation of waste bins by the community. This initiative was supported by Union Councils and Ward Commissioners.
Two digital centres established with funds allocated from the local union budget for youth development, employment, marginalised women’s empowerment, and for adapting climateresilient agriculture in Karapara, Bagerhat.
Leadership in Planning and Emergency Response
110 young people have taken over leadership positions at the local and national levels.
95 young people included in the emergency response team by the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) authority in Dhaka, Borguna, Satkhira and Chattogram to engage in community awareness raising initiatives and emergency response.
Policy Influencing
Young people mobilised from the grassroots to the national level to influence the National Adaptation Plan (2023-50) and represent their voices in its development process.
Contributed to the process of developing the National Voluntary Policy 2022 in collaboration with United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and other like-minded organisations.
The National Apprenticeship Guideline (2022) developed under the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) with joint advocacy of AAB and a2i to promote youth employment.
Youth-led Transitions
The Student Forum for Energy Transition (SFET) established as a platform for student activism and campaigns to promote energy transition. Additionally, with the support of AAB, a media wing ‘Vokta Kantho’ started its operation under CAB to enhance accountability mechanisms for promoting transition and ensuring equitable access to power.
Young people initiated three agroecological interventions in Kurigram
40 schools in 32 districts introduced climate clubs with the support of the Global Platform Bangladesh (GPB). Through these clubs, students were engaged in collecting and recycling plastic bottles and promoting plantations through youth-led engagements.
Engaging with Youth-led Networks
AAB collaborated with Fridays for Future Bangladesh and 87 youth platforms to mobilise young people in climate strikes and raise voices for climate justice and green transitions.
AAB developed partnership with Water Move Campaign Alliance in seven districts, connecting 3,842 community people for advocating for safe drinking water.
Capacity Building
Over 2,900 young people from vulnerable communities equipped under the GPB platform to challenge loss and damage in collaboration with different stakeholders, including International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD).
Global Platform Secretariat Network Unit formed to strengthen Global Platform’s (GP) network, promote joint youth-led actions on climate justice, expand localised seven GP hubs in remote areas, and bridge the digital divide for the inclusion of young and marginalised women.
Women Rights and Gender Equity
The impact of climate change is not the same for all genders. Women and children are more vulnerable to climate-induced loss and damage, as they represent a higher percentage of marginalised communities. Women are also highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihoods. Whenever a disaster strikes, they experience gender inequalities in terms of human rights, political and economic status, land ownership, exposure to violence, education, and health. In 2022, AAB continued implementing initiatives for women to improve their adaptive capacity and combat gender-based violence and reached 1,16,964 women, including 21,291 sponsored and non-sponsored children.
Highlights
Gender Justice
Sonali Khatun, a member of the acid survivors’ network, ‘Shetu Bondhon Gori’, completed the Secondary School Certificate exam from the Vocational group with a GPA of 4.96. Sonali was attacked when she was only 18 days old. Her success is a testament to her perseverance against the tremendous odds, she overcame in her life.
On the occasion of 16 Days of Activism to prevent violence against women, AAB continued to lead in raising awareness about online violence by unveiling research findings in its national-level event. The research was a follow-up to the one conducted in 2021, which highlighted the prevalence of cyber and online violence against women and girls. Post- event, the Digital Literacy Centre, under the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, appreciated the effort and agreed to collaborate with AAB to address online violence against women.
In three districts, ‘Nari Nirjaton Protirodh Committee’ (NNPC)s were initiated to prevent gender- based violence, by orienting 63 government service holders on their roles through the work of stopping violence against women (SVAW).
208 frontline GBV and non-GBV actors, including officials from the Department of Women Affairs, Department of Social Service, Government Standing Committees, representatives from local NGOs, and women-led organisations, were trained by UNFPA in collaboration with AAB under the ‘Emergency Response’ project to act as first responders to GBV survivors.
300,000 people in Satkhira, Gaibandha, Khulna, Jamalpur, Noakhali and Kurigram districts were reached with GBV awareness messages through 41 different campaigns with the support of the network members and local implementing partners.
9,858 survivors of gender-based violence in Rohingya refugee camps were supported with psychological counselling, psychosocial support, case management, and referral services, aiding their healing and recovery.
4,679 children protested early marriage in vulnerable communities as a result of exclusive awareness sessions and exercises on the demerits of child marriage, run by AAB, with the children and their caregivers. Mass community awareness and engagement with caregivers have built support systems and created linkages necessary for preventing such harmful practices.
63 incidences of child marriage prevented by the Stopping Violence Against Women (SVAW) network (38) and Strengthening GBV Prevention and Response Services project, through an integrated GBV and A/SRHR approach in disaster-prone areas of Bangladesh.
Through a concerted advocacy effort by AAB and the Sex Workers’ Network, 70 children of sex workers enrolled in mainstream schools in Rangpur and Saidpur. Their education was interrupted during the pandemic, and they were unable to re-enrol post-pandemic because of the social stigma attached to the profession of sex workers in Bangladesh.
The loss of education is the loss of childhood, along with all the aspirations to grow as a human being. Therefore, continuous efforts have been made, resulting in successfully reducing school dropouts among girls. The activities included parent-teacher meetings, street dramas performed by children in the community, scholarships for students, and the inclusion of vulnerable girls’ families in income-generating activities.
Two of the girls from Happy Home cleared the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam with a GPA of 4.93 out of 5.00. Five girls from Happy Home got admitted to universities. Two of them also secured scholarships. Four girls successfully secured part-time jobs, marking a step towards financial independence. These achievements signify how underprivileged girls can excel in life when they have access to equal opportunities.
To uphold and protect human rights of children, 13 groups of ‘Child Rights Champions’, each consisting of 10 members, were formed engaging community members, parents, and caregivers. In addition, 7,050 children were equipped to effectively advocate for children’s rights and protection, and challenge gender norms at the community level. In Rohingya camps, AAB formed seven Community-Based Child Protection Committees (CBCPCs), consisting of 91 members, to play a crucial role in monitoring, addressing concerns, and creating a safe environment within the community to prevent and respond to various forms of violence to protect children.
To raise awareness about children’s rights, Child Rights Week 2022 was celebrated across 11 working areas of AAB, reaching 7,050 children. Activities like football matches, dramas, picnics, and competitions like drawing, debate, swimming, and quiz were organised to promote the practice of survival skills and to challenge gender stereotypes.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
1,490 adolescent girls directly benefited from AAB’s initiatives in breaking stigmas surrounding menstrual hygiene. AAB worked closely with children, schools, and community leaders in marginalised communities to address this issue, ultimately improving the girls’ school attendance and reducing dropout rates. Furthermore, 3,000 hygiene and menstrual hygiene kits were distributed among women and girls in Rohingya camps for addressing period poverty.
To promote the health rights of women and girls, a medical camp was organised in Satkhira district in collaboration with UNFPA, benefiting 2,000 women and adolescent girls.
Gender Responsive Public Services
Seven breastfeeding corners and nine Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) corners established as a result of youth-led advocacy, promoting gender-responsive public service for marginalised women and adolescents in Satkhira, Kurigram, Dhaka, and Chattogram.
Economic Empowerment of Women
A dedicated women’s market corner established by AAB in Ghoraghat, Dinajpur, helping women farmers to gain direct access to markets to sell their products, in addition to raising awareness among market actors about the importance of women-friendly markets. In addition, ten rural women entrepreneurs were successfully on-boarded with the e-joyeeta online platform of Joyeeta Foundation, under the Ministry of Women & Children Affairs (MOWCA), giving them access to online market for their products.
70 acid survivors were integrated into various income-generating activities as means to support themselves through capacity-building initiatives and financial support provided by the acid survivors’ network, ‘Shetu Bondhon Gori’.
2,000 women and adolescent girls supported with livelihood grants to encourage them to take up income generating activities and become financially independent.
Worker Rights
Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) pilot project for Ready-Made Garment (RMG) workers was launched by the Government of Bangladesh, as a result of the advocacy of AAB and other likeminded organisations. This is the first ever scheme of its kind, designed specifically for RMG workers in Bangladesh. It enables RMG workers to access financial compensation in the event of an accident or injury that occurs at the workplace or during their commute.
Humanitarian and Emergency Response
AAB has decades of experience in humanitarian and emergency response. Our strength lies in early response with the aim to meet the most pressing needs of the community at risk. We also invest in DRR and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) by investing in building community resilience and cutting-edge innovations. In 2022, we responded to all the major humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh, including continuing to work in Rohingya response, with the support of our different partners. We witnessed exemplary leadership of women and young people from the grassroots, as well as from the volunteers of the Rohingya community, in both prevention and response work during disasters. We reached 935,220 people through disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response, including 900,150 people through Rohingya response.
Urban Fire Response
ActionAid Bangladesh responded to the urban fire at Kallyanpur Pura Basti in Dhaka North City Corporation on 20 March, 2022, by supporting 194 affected individuals with cash grants, dignity kits, and psychosocial support. While the cash grants helped the families to cope with the immediate loss, the dignity kits containing different hygiene items, such as soap, sanitary pads, toothbrushes, and other personal care products, helped them to maintain personal hygiene and therefore dignity and well-being. Furthermore, psychosocial support was provided, creating a safe space for discussions and recreational activity to promote healing from the trauma
Cold Wave Responsive
During the cold wave in 2022, 2,000 sponsored children and their families from Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts were supported by AAB. They received winter clothes and blankets to keep them safe from health hazards associated with the cold weather
Disaster Risk Reduction
To promote private sector’s engagement in DRM, the first ever Private Sector Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC) was established to support 4,500 members of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry in their preparation for hazards and quick response during disasters. PEOC is also providing a platform to the major actors in urban Dhaka to coordinate disaster preparedness and response, including 25,000 cottage, small, and medium enterprises (CSME). It is an initiative to reduce loss and damage from disasters.
AAB is co-leading the activation of private sector working group in the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team, helping to develop required instruments for effective coordination among private sectors and other humanitarian actors in Bangladesh.
DCCI, the representative of the private sector, participated in Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange (DREE) 2022 for the first time. This is a huge progress in ensuring private sector’s participation in DRM.
A virtual platform for PEOC has been developed to work as a lifeline for operation during any large scale disaster in Bangladesh, including physical infrastructure collapse in Dhaka city. The virtual platform is hosted through an independent website of DCCI, creating scope for hosting other technological innovations and promoting a culture of technology driven DRM in Bangladesh.
Highlights
Infrastructure
To support the Rohingya refugees residing in camps,12,057
meters worth of construction work accomplished with the
financial assistance of development partners, for building
pathways, stairs, bamboo bridge, drainage, and slope
protection, to improve accessibility and safety.
1,000 people benefited
from solar street-light facility to ensure safety and
security at night.
Protection
905 members from
40 community groups
trained to become effective agents of change, empowered to
advocate for their rights and hold duty-bearers
accountable.
WASH
7,727 people received
WASH facilities, including sanitation, tube well water, and
bathing facilities in both local communities (2012) and
camps (5715), helping them to maintain their hygiene
standards.
Livelihood
3,973 participants
trained in various livelihood skills, including mechanical
work, handicrafts, sanitary napkin production, masonry
work and wood crafts, with the aim to improve their living
standards by offering them employment opportunities. It
reduced reliance on external support.
DRR
As preparedness initiatives, AAB installed fire stands,
water body fencing, fire-fighting water tanks and portable
water pumps which enhanced the safety of
98,101 people in four
camps from fire hazards.
360 risk-hotspots
identified as a part of emergency preparedness through four
risk assessments in the camps to help the community to be
better prepared for disasters and take appropriate
mitigation measures to reduce loss and damage.
500 trees planted in the local communities for mitigating
the climate change impact, improving air quality, enhancing
overall environmental resilience, livelihood, food security
and psychological well-being.
400 camp management volunteers trained on emergency response
and work, in collaboration with the Camp in Charge (CiC)
office, UN agencies, and various sectors, which helped them
to be better prepared for responding and supporting the
community during disaster. 594 households received support
in 111 weather-related incidents, in coordination with
shelter, food, and WASH actors, to recover better from the
immediate impact of the incidents.
Awareness on Social Issues
31 theatre shows held in camps to raise awareness on
social issues among 1,037 people and promote the culture
of dialogue for resolving issues.
13,869 community-led audio-listening group messaging
sessions organised for diverse members of the community,
including 7,372 for imams and 2,752 for female religious
teachers. The issues covered in these sessions were
related to child marriage, COVID-19, monsoon preparedness,
fire-safety, child protection, disease prevention, human
trafficking etc.
Infrastructure
To support the Rohingya refugees residing in camps,12,057 meters worth of construction work accomplished with the financial assistance of development partners, for building pathways, stairs, bamboo bridge, drainage, and slope protection, to improve accessibility and safety.
1,000 people benefited from solar street-light facility to ensure safety and security at night.
Protection
905 members from 40 community groups trained to become effective agents of change, empowered to advocate for their rights and hold duty-bearers accountable.
WASH
7,727 people received WASH facilities, including sanitation, tube well water, and bathing facilities in both local communities (2012) and camps (5715), helping them to maintain their hygiene standards.
Livelihood
3,973 participants trained in various livelihood skills, including mechanical work, handicrafts, sanitary napkin production, masonry work and wood crafts, with the aim to improve their living standards by offering them employment opportunities. It reduced reliance on external support.
DRR
As preparedness initiatives, AAB installed fire stands, water body fencing, fire-fighting water tanks and portable water pumps which enhanced the safety of 98,101 people in four camps from fire hazards.
360 risk-hotspots identified as a part of emergency preparedness through four risk assessments in the camps to help the community to be better prepared for disasters and take appropriate mitigation measures to reduce loss and damage.
500 trees planted in the local communities for mitigating the climate change impact, improving air quality, enhancing overall environmental resilience, livelihood, food security and psychological well-being.
400 camp management volunteers trained on emergency response and work, in collaboration with the Camp in Charge (CiC) office, UN agencies, and various sectors, which helped them to be better prepared for responding and supporting the community during disaster. 594 households received support in 111 weather-related incidents, in coordination with shelter, food, and WASH actors, to recover better from the immediate impact of the incidents.
Awareness on Social Issues
31 theatre shows held in camps to raise awareness on social issues among 1,037 people and promote the culture of dialogue for resolving issues.
13,869 community-led audio-listening group messaging sessions organised for diverse members of the community, including 7,372 for imams and 2,752 for female religious teachers. The issues covered in these sessions were related to child marriage, COVID-19, monsoon preparedness, fire-safety, child protection, disease prevention, human trafficking etc.