Grassroots voices drive SDG action at regional south-south collaboration
A regional conference titled "From Grassroots to Global Goals: Advancing SDGs through ANCSSC" was held on 1 July at the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, Dhaka. The event brought together development practitioners, government officials, academics, youth leaders, and civil society actors to explore how South-South cooperation can accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Organised by the Bangladesh Country Office of Global One in collaboration with the Alliance of NGOs and CSOs for South-South Cooperation (ANCSSC), the conference highlighted inclusive, community-driven development. Global One is a UK-based, women-led international NGO operating across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Its global workforce reflects substantial gender equity, with women comprising 58% of the workforce in Asia, 67% in Africa, and 63% in the Middle East.
Global One Bangladesh Country Director Raihan Mahmood Kadery opened the conference, stressing the value of grassroots voices and cross-sectoral partnerships. Dr Husna Ahmad, OBE, CEO of Global One and Global Coordinator of ANCSSC, delivered the keynote, calling for bold collaboration among NGOs and CSOs to build more equitable systems.
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In a multi-sectoral panel, KAM Morshed, Senior Director at BRAC, shared BRAC's model for scalable and inclusive community development. Prof. Dr. Shafiun Nahin Shimul, Director of the Institute of Health Economics at Dhaka University, emphasised the need for stronger health financing and policy engagement by NGOs. AMAL Foundation Director Esrat Karim highlighted challenges faced by marginalised women and youth and called for culturally sensitive, grassroots-led solutions. Md. Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive, CPRD, focused on climate vulnerability and the need for joint advocacy and mitigation strategies.
Abu Momtaz Saad Uddin Ahmed, Chairman of BRTA, called for stronger government-NGO–NGO collaboration, while Saif Uddin Ahmad, COO of Global One, emphasised the need for transformative leadership rooted in community realities.
The conference was supported by the Seba Foundation and Momota Samaj Kallayan Sangostha (MSKS), with The Business Standard serving as the media partner, Sajeeb Group as the beverage partner, and the Goethe-Institut as the venue sponsor.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks and crest handover by Md. Ramzan Ali, Deputy Country Director, Global One Bangladesh.
