Practical Action in Bangladesh

10/08/2026

As part of the Strengthening Human-Centred Innovations for Early Warning Systems and Disaster Risk Financing (SHIELD) Project, a two-day workshop on Project Strategy and Implementation Guideline Development was held on 2–3 August 2026 in Feni.

The workshop brought together project staff from Coast Foundation and Practical Action to strengthen their understanding and practical capacity on participatory approaches to implement project interventions and develop implementation guidelines. The sessions focused on how locally grounded risk and vulnerability information can better inform climate resilience, early warning and disaster risk financing initiatives.

The workshop was an important step toward strengthening human-centred, evidence-based approaches to understanding climate risks and designing solutions that respond to the realities and priorities of vulnerable communities.

The SHIELD Project is implemented by Practical Action in partnership with COAST Foundation, with support from the Swiss Re Foundation.

09/08/2026

📢 We’re Hiring

Practical Action in Bangladesh is looking for three Drivers to join our team and support our work through safe, reliable, and responsible transportation.

If you have the required experience and are interested in becoming part of Practical Action, we encourage you to explore this opportunity.

📌 Position: Driver
👥 Number of Vacancies: 3
📍 Location: Bangladesh
🔗 Job Details & Application: https://bdjobs.com/h/details/1519224?ln=1

06/08/2026

At the Poribesh Mela (National Environment Fair 2026) marking World Environment Day, our colleague Ishmum Rahman walked visitors through our hands-on recycling work.

Instead of seeing waste as something to throw away, we see it as a resource. Ishmum showed how we take everyday plastic waste and transform it into valuable products that communities can use.

Watch Ishmum explain the magic of rethinking waste! 👇

♻️ পরিত্যক্ত পলিথিন ও প্লাস্টিক বর্জ্য থেকেই তৈরি হচ্ছে জ্বালানি তে...

02/08/2026

We are delighted to celebrate the achievement of Anika Afia Jahan Nodi , who has joined the University of Dhaka as a Lecturer! 🎉

During her time at Practical Action in Bangladesh, she served as Assistant Officer-Communication, where her creativity, dedication, and passion made a meaningful contribution to the organization.

We wish her every success in this new role. May she continue to inspire young minds and help shape the next generation of changemakers.

30/07/2026

Practical Action in Bangladesh, alongside Narayanganj City Corporation, organised an inception workshop on “Gender-Sensitive Multidimensional Poverty Measurement: Implementing the Equality Insights Survey Tool in Narayanganj City Corporation" study.

Implemented with the support of the International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) and funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this project will use the Equality Insights Survey Tool to understand people’s individual experiences of poverty across multiple dimensions. The workshop explored how this evidence can contribute to more inclusive policies, urban planning, and service delivery in Narayanganj. During the workshop, Tahmid Hossain, Manager-Urban Resilience of Practical Action in Bangladesh, delivered a comprehensive presentation on how the study will be conducted and its expected impact. The workshop was facilitated by Shamsul Arefin, Lead-Urban Resilience, Practical Action in Bangladesh.

We were honored to welcome Advocate Md. Shakhawat Hossain Khan, Administrator of Narayanganj City Corporation, as our Chief Guest. The workshop also featured valuable insights from Ishrat Shabnam, Country Director of Practical Action in Bangladesh, Dr. Gayatri Ramnath, Data Use and Engagement Manager, Equality Insights and Amelia Greaves, Senior Program Manager, Equality Insights. By bringing together the City Corporation alongside relevant stakeholders, the meeting strengthened our shared commitment to evidence-based and gender-responsive development.

26/07/2026

On this International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, Practical Action is proud to launch CoastalCommons.Asia, a regional platform built for the last mile of climate action, where climate shocks are felt first and hardest, and where responses must work in real time.

CoastalCommons.Asia brings together climate change adaptation and resilience, disaster risk reduction, resilient livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and environmental stewardship into one integrated system that serves coastal communities across Asia.

As a bridge to this significant day, and in step with this initiative, Practical Action in Bangladesh has inaugurated a Mangrove Afforestation programme across 10 ha of land in Munshiganj, Shyamnagar, Satkhira under the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, with support from Uttaran. This effort will also complement the Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) approach we are currently working on in the region.

Visit the website to connect with us. Your voice, and your organisation's presence on this platform, matters.

Website Link: https://coastalcommons.asia/

Like the mangroves we're planting today, hope takes root only when it's nurtured and given time to grow. Join us, because hope needs action. Practical Action!

21/07/2026

We are happy to share the successful restoration of the 1,370 metres Botbunia Canal in Baruikhali, Chalna Municipality, Dakop Upazila, Khulna under the Zurich Climate Resilience Programme (ZCRP), with support from UTTARAN. The initiative aligns with the Government of Bangladesh's priority to restore natural drainage systems through canal re-excavation, contributing to improved water resource management.

For years, communities in this area have suffered from prolonged waterlogging and flooding events due to shortage of local natural drainage capacity. Again, in many places, farmers were also deprived of irrigation opportunities as the canal gradually dried up due to reduced water flow, siltation, and earth filling.

For sustainable benefits, we have also planted 2,200 native fruit-bearing trees along the banks of the canal to stabilize the canal banks, reduce soil erosion, enhance biodiversity, and create a healthier ecosystem for surrounding communities.

This canal re-excavation is a landmark initiative that strengthens sustainable agriculture, improves local livelihoods, and demonstrates how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can address multiple challenges through a single intervention.

17/07/2026

Practical Action in Bangladesh participated in the week-long Department of Environment (DoE) Fair, held from 9–15 July in Agargaon. Throughout the fair, our stall showcased how we are advancing environmentally friendly technologies and innovative solutions across Bangladesh.

As part of our participation, we hosted a special side event on 14 July, bringing together sector leaders, practitioners, and environmental advocates to discuss practical pathways towards a more sustainable future.

Inspired by the World Environment Day 2026 theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” the seminar highlighted Practical Action’s ongoing work in integrated waste management, circular economy models, clean energy, and climate-resilient urban development.

During the session, Mr. Fariduzzaman Shapon, Programme Manager, Practical Action Bangladesh, presented a range of innovative and environmentally friendly technologies and solutions being promoted through our programmes across the country.

A key highlight was the panel discussion featuring Mr. Raju Basak, Senior Programme Manager, BRAC, and Mr. Abdullah Al Mamun, WASH Lead, WSUP. The discussion explored how successful initiatives can be scaled nationally by strengthening collaboration between the government and non-governmental organisations, particularly in safe sanitation and waste management. The panelists also discussed critical priorities for addressing plastic pollution in Bangladesh and how circular economy approaches can transform waste into valuable resources.

The discussion was facilitated by Shamsul Arefin, Lead – Urban Resilience, Practical Action Bangladesh, who highlighted the strategic importance of the Government of Bangladesh’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiative. He emphasised that EPR is not only an environmental regulation but also an important economic reform that makes producers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products.

The event concluded with an interactive quiz competition designed to strengthen climate awareness and encourage audience participation.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Department of Environment for providing this valuable platform and to everyone who joined us in exploring how local action, collaboration, and innovation can contribute to lasting national impact.

16/07/2026

Can Black Soldier Fly farming become a practical waste management and livelihood solution for Bangladesh? 🪰

That is the question driving our work.

Over the past few months, our team at Practical Action Bangladesh has been building and optimizing a BSF production system in Faridpur as part of the "Black Soldier Fly Farming: A Scalable Business Case for Bangladesh Waste Workers" project. The project is working to demonstrate how locally available organic waste can be converted into two valuable products: high-protein insect larvae for animal feed and nutrient-rich frass fertilizer for agriculture, while creating new livelihood opportunities for waste workers through a decentralized circular economy model.

A recent milestone has strengthened that journey.

Independent laboratory analysis by the Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI) confirmed that the frass produced at our pilot facility meets all 17 Government of Bangladesh quality standards for organic fertilizer. The results showed a nutrient-rich fertilizer containing 2.90% nitrogen, 0.98% phosphorus and 1.18% potassium, nutrients essential for healthy plant growth. Compared with commonly used cow dung compost reported in the literature, our frass contains substantially higher nutrient levels, meaning farmers can apply a smaller quantity to deliver similar or greater nutrient value. The analysis also showed a low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (8.16:1), indicating that nutrients can become available to crops more quickly after application than in slower-decomposing organic materials. With a near-neutral pH of 7.08, the frass is suitable for most agricultural soils without creating acidity or alkalinity concerns. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel were all measured many times below the national safety limits, providing confidence for agricultural use.

These results provide independent evidence that locally available organic waste can be transformed into a safe, high-quality fertilizer to improve soil health, reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and create value from materials that would otherwise be discarded.

As we move into the next phase, we will expand farmer demonstrations, continue feed trials, pursue product certification, and further refine a business model that enables waste workers to produce and market BSF products as a sustainable livelihood opportunity across Bangladesh.

13/07/2026

🚀 Immediate Hiring | Join Our Team!

Practical Action in Bangladesh is looking for a Project Officer to support effective project implementation and contribute to meaningful development work.

We are seeking a motivated professional with strong coordination, communication, and project implementation skills. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

👉 Apply now: https://bdjobs.com/h/details/1508903?ln=1