The National Alliance for Risk Reduction and Response Initiative (NARRI) Consortium from Bangladesh, which is led by ActionAid, has been awarded the 2013 UN Sasakawa Award – the highest award for contributions to disaster risk reduction. The UN award is given to an individual or institutions that have taken active efforts in reducing disaster risk in their communities and advocates for disaster risk reduction. The award team was impressed with the achievement of the NARRI Consortium in working together in the fields of disaster risk reduction and resilience.

Many of us at the country office and friends in the rural areas contributed in this second issue of the e-magazine. We are more than happy to be able to get to you people’s stories from the grassroots – people who are constantly bringing change in their lives.

I hear wailing horn of the ambulance losing to sirens from a heavy jeep hoisting the flag of Bangladesh and being escorted by special order protocol men carrying walky-talkies, dust masks and khaki vests making haste to make way behind their goggles. Critically injured survivors needing transfer to any hospital inside the city will have to suffer this tailback ordeal – I keep thinking zeep-ing towards the site this morning

It’s like the adrenaline rush before the deep dive in a rollercoaster ride, only a day left to One Billion Rising! The entire ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB) team is on their toes: some making placards while others are hanging banners on the streets and but the team that can’t take the glee of their face is the ones responsible for distributing flyers and brochures on the streets

Yesterday, it was foggy winter morning when we set out to Modhupur, Tangail, located in central part of Dhaka Division. The temperature was so low that we all were literally shivering. We were 9 from different organisations under one platform – the women forum. On January 8, we travelled from Dhaka to Modhupur to protest recent rape of incident. We were looking to take part in a human chain, a press meet and also to speak with people concerned. But, we were fully unaware that Modhupur has planned something else for us!

When I was applying for the Inspirator Program, I was very unsure of what my specific job would be. Then I read this “Inspirators are a boost to local partner organizations to help them focus, re-think or just being better at implementing specific activities through shared learning and critical reflection. It is thus essential that the Inspirator can provide and outside perspective and present new ideas.” Sound interesting and impossible at the same time. How can I provide insight to an already functioning organization? But still I applied, and then when I was approached by the MENA regional office to join them in helping build the Activista Arabia Network.

The purpose of this study is to share the results of the Action Research for Community Adaptation in Bangladesh (ARCAB) evaluation of effectiveness of ActionAid Bangladesh’s (AAB) two community based adaptation (CBA) projects. The aim of this evaluation itself is to assess the impact of these interventions in facilitating progress towards the long-term goal of transformed resilience of the climate vulnerable poor. It is also to provide recommendations on how AAB can further support the communities they have engaged with in moving towards this aim.

‘Learning Document Series 11-13’ contains three development alternatives. The first alternative talks about formation of ‘participatory video’ team, what it takes to be ‘participatory’ and how to proceed in terms of research, issue, script etc. As a tool, participatory video has had significant success in campaigning on rights and change of mindsets. The second alternative features how grassroots leadership helps promoting right to education. Case in point is remote char (island) areas and the means suggested is Government registration of formal schools set up by communities. Journey towards this has never been easy with policy hurdle, logistic limitation, faculty shortage etc. posing constraints. This article suggests ways to overcome these difficulties. Finally the learning about Lokokendra (people’s organisation in the communities) shows what drives Lokokendras ahead, how they come into being etc. We also come to know about how to create enabling space for people to determine action points to take against inequalities and injustice

This Reference Handbook is made under the supervision of Education Department of ActionAid Bangladesh in an attempt to strengthen education rights and strengthen the right-based education movement. The main objective of which is to provide a quick source of information on the rights of education to every educational worker, constitutional and national responsibility for establishing rights, national and international commitments in education.

Doha COP18 will go down in history as the COP that incorporated Gender in the main negotiation text. The draft circulated co chairs of SBI Agenda 21, which was prepared with contributions from many, especially Mary Robinson, and circulated by EU, was opened for consultation on 29th of November. After two days of consultations among delegates from participating countries a draft text was submitted for consideration in SBI with the suggestions that it go to COP.

ActionAid Bangladesh, in association with experts, academicians, scientists and other stakeholders, conducted the study “Financing Local Adaptation: Ensuring Access for the Climate Vulnerable in Bangladesh”. It captures ground experiences to provide some guidelines for a structure that ensures equitability, transparency and effectiveness. AAB will remain dedicated for achieving justice and a climate-resilient future for those most at risk.

The first issue of our e-magazine captures our work that took place with support from partner NGOs as well as external development practitioners. We hope you find it interesting and appreciate the efforts of the authors as we as the members of editorial boards.