ActionAid Bangladesh

Women are consistently identified as one of the most vulnerable groups to natural hazards and climate change. Their lack of mobility and exclusion from decision-making processes compounds their vulnerabilities. It is therefore essential to recognize that the vulnerabilities of women are integrated in social, economic, and political processes — and the gaps in growth that reproduce them. Grassroots women’s exclusion from decision-making is a factor that significantly contributes to their vulnerability. This exclusion is one of the reasons for the absence of linkage between development and disaster risk reduction programmes and grassroots women’s priorities. ActionAid Bangladesh ushered in the women-led emergency response (WLER) approach during the period of Cyclone Mahasen that hit the central southern part of the country in May 16 this year. The WLER Project was piloted in Kalapara sub-district of Patuakhali, one of the districts hit hard by Cyclone Mahasen. The success the pilot project earned was tremendous. The women of Baliatali, Nilganj and Mohipur unions under Kalapara, led the entire project cycle at community level – selecting the programme participants, carrying out the need assessment and budgeting to rebuild the shelter, procuring construction materials and supervising the reconstruction work – keeping aside the teasing and the browbeating by the vested quarter.

Testimonials

Laily Begum

Union Parishad Member, Kalapara, Patuakhali

Women as active agents of change We believe goals can be achieved through collective efforts, ideas and energy; hence networking iscritical towards this end. "We are working collectively to reduce disaster risk, and raising awarness of women, excluded and marginalised groups. If others from community come forward and join us, we will be able to achieve even greater results for building a resilient community.

Sabita Hawlader

Woman leader from Nilganj Union.

"We actively worked in the field, identified the loss, assessed the resources and supported the people to rebuild their houses and return. It was amazing! We, the women, really did something for our locality!"

Sufia Begum

Women Led Emergency Response’ implementation committee.

"It’s a totally new experience for us. Generally our men folk do this kind of work such as purchase of building material, hiring carpenters etc. We didn’t know anything about them. But we now know what to do and how"

Shunanda

Shunanda, Sunsilk Diva and Goodwill Ambassador of Happy Home

Happy Home is a wonderful initiative which has been providing the girl children for a long time. Visiting the home has been an amazing experience for me. Spending time with the children fulfilled me with much positive energy. I am willing to provide for them as much as possible from my side and I expect others will come forward as well to secure a bright and safe future for the Happy Home girls.