BRAC, UN Women launch gender-responsive disaster risk reduction project

BRAC, in collaboration with UN Women and with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), has launched the Gender Responsive Disaster Risk Reduction in Bangladesh (GRDRRIB) project. The inception workshop took place at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday.

The initiative comes in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal, which struck Bangladesh in 2024 and highlighted the heightened risks faced by women and children during disasters. A United Nations report on Remal's Impact on Women of Bangladesh underscored how delayed evacuation, caregiving responsibilities, overcrowded shelters, and lack of privacy and sanitation significantly increased women's exposure to insecurity and gender-based violence. The report stressed that empowering women in disaster preparedness and response is critical to addressing these vulnerabilities.

K M Abdul Wadud, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, attended the workshop as chief guest. Special guests included Navanita Sinha, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women Bangladesh; Matilda Svensson, First Secretary, Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka; Kazi Golam Towsif, Director General, Department of Women Affairs; and Rezwanur Rahman, Director General, Department of Disaster Management. The event was chaired by Md Liakath Ali, PhD, Director, Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change and Urban Development Programmes, BRAC.

The GRDRRIB project aims to strengthen national and local institutions, civil society, and coordination platforms to ensure that women and girls are both protected during disasters and empowered to lead disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. By integrating gender perspectives into disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies and practices, the initiative seeks to reduce vulnerabilities, promote equitable disaster management, and enhance resilience across the country.

Speaking at the event, K M Abdul Wadud said that although loss of life during disasters has decreased, economic losses remain high. He emphasised the need for greater awareness, preparedness, and the acceptance that disasters are inevitable, supported by early warning systems and forecasts. He also highlighted the importance of adequate funding, capacity-building, and the introduction of disaster risk insurance to mitigate financial losses.

Navanita Sinha said Bangladesh has been recognised as a leader in resilience, with strong political commitment to placing gender at the centre of disaster response. She noted that women are already driving action on the frontlines, but their leadership must be further strengthened.

Matilda Svensson stated that gender equality is no longer optional but essential for disaster resilience. She underscored that intention must be translated into impact through gender analysis, gender-responsive data, and prioritised financing for women-led resilience initiatives.

Kazi Golam Towsif observed that women constitute a significant share of the population and that building their leadership skills in disaster management is crucial. He said initiatives such as this will support the development of a gender-responsive disaster risk management framework, enabling women and girls to take on greater leadership roles.

Rezwanur Rahman noted that disaster risk reduction efforts must prioritise women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. He stressed that representation of these groups is essential to ensure their voices are heard and to enable women to play an active role in preparedness.

In his closing remarks, Md Liakath Ali emphasised the importance of integrating climate considerations and projections into all projects to ensure that communities can build back better. He assured that feedback from stakeholders will guide the project's implementation and stressed the importance of local context and knowledge in achieving success.

The welcome address was delivered by Dilruba Haider, Programme Specialist, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change and Humanitarian Actions, UN Women. Abdul Latif Khan, Project Lead of GRDRRIB, presented the keynote outlining the project.

The workshop brought together representatives from government ministries and departments, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, and the media to foster collaboration for effective implementation.

Running from August 2025 to December 2026, the project will be implemented in 12 disaster-prone districts: Kurigram, Jamalpur, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Cumilla, Noakhali, Feni, Bhola, Chattogram, Sirajganj, Khulna, and Satkhira. The initiative will support the development of a gender-responsive National Plan for Disaster Management, build the capacity of government officials and community actors, and strengthen coordination platforms such as the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Working Group.