With the booming urbanisation and urban population, urban development remains a challenge to address for Bangladesh to ensure standard living conditions for all. To enhance basic living conditions of the urban poor, ActionAid Bangladesh has been working with Urban INGO Forum Bangladesh, a consortium of more than 20 International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs). The platform has been working on the diverse issues related to urban development in Bangladesh.

In observation of the Public Service Day 2019, Udayankur Seba Sangstha (USS) organised a seminar at Gomnati Union Parishad in Nilphamari with the support of ActionAid Bangladesh. In the seminar on 23 June 2019, speakers urged to improve efficiency and develop skills of young people through increasing more vocation training opportunities.

Marking the World Refugee Day 2019, GIHA in association with several United Nations bodies, refugee agency and other voluntary organizations organized an exhibition showcasing artwork from women and girls of the Rohingya community living in the Rohingya camps.

The Rohingya community taking shelter in the camps 11 and 12 of Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar observed the World Refugee Day 2019 with different activities. The observation ceremony started with a rally followed by tree plantation. Handcraft products, paintings by the Rohingya people were also exhibited in the occasion. The cultural ceremony also included drama and ludu game.

The informal sector of Bangladesh employs nearly 87% of the country’s total workforce, yet there remains serious lack of compliance to ensure decent work environment. The workers working in the informal sector have significant contribution in keeping the country’s economy going and growing. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, we should put emphasis on protecting the rights of the workers giving them the environment of decent work.

ActionAid Bangladesh advocates for women rights to food and nutrition security and as well as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. To address the issues AAB has several flagship projects including Making Market Work for Women (MMWW), Promoting Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment and Rights (POWER) and others. AAB believes that collaborated coordination of different organizations working for ensuring SRHR and nutrition rights can deepen understanding of these issues.

Defining life can be a complex task but not impossible when it comes to recognising river as a living being. Water is one of the most essential elements for human life and river is one of the prime sources of it. While South Asian countries are blessed with hundreds of rivers, many of which are trans-boundary, these resources are being killed through unplanned development, encroachment, pollution and climate change impacts.

It has been 18 months since the mass influx of Rohingya people fleeing violence in Myanmar and coming to Bangladesh. But now, with continuous efforts and interventions, the scenario of the Rohingya camps have been changed a lot. Now the women are taking initiatives for bringing betterment.

Empowering women and young people through ensuring their leadership has been one of the key working areas of ActionAid Bangladesh. Last year, Angikar Samaj Unnayan Sangstha (ASUS), with the support of ActionAid Bangladesh, involved 150 young people through establishing a youth digital club at Panchagarh. Through this initiative 27 young girls came into leadership and initiated different advocacy.