This report is developed on information from a phone-survey on 278 deceased garments workers who left behind children.

ActionAid Bangladesh, with the support of partner organizations, launched the LEADR Project (Liberation and Empowerment: Attaining Dignity and Rights for Sex Workers and their Children in Bangladesh) in December 2011. This project has been funded by AECID (Agencia Española de Cooperación y Desarrollo) and its core goal is to promote the rights of this segment of society in order to improve their wellbeing and prevent human trafficking.

In 2012, we spent a significant time for creating understanding on our new Country Strategy Paper (CSP-IV) and developing programmes in line with the document. Substantial amount of time was also invested in change management process and capacity building of the staff and partners on new CSP and HRBA programming approach. We worked with excluded people and individuals living in poverty and their organisations, movements to build active agencies so that they can lead their own social change process. Our core constituencies were spread across age, sex, location and diverse categories of exclusion. Also, to support people’s action as part of solidarity, we worked with state and non-state actors and institutions.

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.

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.

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.