WaterAid workshop reviews urban wash project for poor communities

WaterAid Bangladesh, with support from the Embassy of Sweden, hosted a national workshop on 15 March 2026 to review the outcomes of the "WASH for UrbanPoor (WASH4UP) Phase II" project.

The workshop highlighted the project's key achievements, lessons learned, challenges and stakeholder reflections. Implemented from April 2023 to March 2026, the project focused on improving inclusive and climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for the urban poor in Bangladesh.

The event also presented baseline and endline findings and explored priority areas for sustaining and scaling up such services in urban areas.

Joint Secretary of the Policy Support Branch at the Local Government Division Mohammad Saiful Islam Mazomder attended the event as chief guest.

"Many important issues have emerged from today's event. These will be reflected in our policies, and the necessary steps will be taken to support their implementation," he said.

Special guests included First Secretary (Environment and Climate) and Deputy Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström, and Chief Social Welfare and Slum Development Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation Mohammad Mamun-Ul-Hasan.

Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström said, "Our partnership with WaterAid extends well beyond the two phases of this programme. In fact, we have worked with WaterAid for almost two decades. In many parts of the world, we collaborate with the organisation on accessible, quality and lasting water, sanitation and hygiene services and infrastructure. We also place strong emphasis on the fact that the WASH sector does not stand in isolation."

Mohammad Mamun-Ul-Hasan said, "Alongside maintaining infrastructure and services, responsibilities towards local citizens must also be fulfilled. We hope the work through which WaterAid is helping illuminate our city will expand even further."

The event was chaired by WaterAid Bangladesh Country Director Hasin Jahan, who also delivered the vote of thanks.

In her closing remarks, she said, "Inspired by WaterAid's work, the Directorate of Education has undertaken various initiatives with its own funding to promote positive WASH behaviour among students at school level."

She also stressed the importance of coordinated research involving the Department of Public Health Engineering, WASA, city corporations and private institutions to strengthen knowledge, skills and evidence-based decision-making.

The programme included welcome remarks by WaterAid Bangladesh Director of Business Development and Quality Assurance Azman Ahmed Chowdhury, a project presentation by Director of Programme and Policy Advocacy Partha Hefaz Shaikh, and an open discussion led by Policy and Advocacy Lead Fayazuddin Ahmad.

In his remarks, Azman Ahmed Chowdhury said sustainable urban WASH systems had been established by emphasising alignment between urban WASH policy, planning and civil society engagement.

The event was attended by policymakers, government officials, donor representatives, academics, think tanks, sector experts, and NGO and INGO representatives. Around 120 participants joined the workshop.