Bangladesh: Financing women’s leadership for early action

ORGANISATION
ActionAid Bangladesh

LOCATION
Ramjannagar Union, Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira District, Bangladesh

Roksana, a homemaker from Ramjannagar Union in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, has lived her entire life under the threat of cyclones. Married at fifteen and mother of two daughters, she has witnessed her community repeatedly devastated by storms, tidal surges and salinity intrusion. Her life changed when she joined ActionAid Bangladesh’s Women-Led Humanitarian Response to Disasters — a programme that channels targeted financing into disaster risk reduction (DRR) by empowering women to lead preparedness and anticipatory actions before disasters strike.

Recognising that women in Bangladesh’s coastal belt are not merely victims but potential leaders in disaster preparedness, ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB) invested in building their capacity to act early and safeguard their communities.

Building capacity for community preparedness

In 2022, forty women, including Roksana, received training on disaster risk reduction, prevention of gender-based violence during disasters, and women’s leadership in humanitarian response. Another forty followed in 2023, creating a strong, sustainable network of women first responders who now play key roles in early warning dissemination, public awareness, community mobilisation and local decision-making.

In the targeted area, fourteen community groups have developed hazard-specific disaster preparedness work plans (DPWPs) that collectively cover approximately 1,500 people. Each group focuses on the unique hazards in their locality such as cyclones, storm surges or salinity intrusion, and implements year-round activities adapted to those hazards.

Early action saves lives

In May 2024, as forecasts warned of Cyclone Remal, ActionAid Bangladesh activated its contingency fund, enabling Roksana and her network to mobilise the community. They held meetings, went door-to-door, and used rescue materials to ensure early evacuation, prioritising pregnant women, the elderly and families with children. The group procured and distributed dry food, oral rehydration salts, safe drinking water and dignity kits for girls and women across twelve cyclone shelters, reaching 1,500 people.

These early actions, supported by pre-positioned DRR financing, reduced panic, ensured timely evacuation, minimised casualties and property damage, and strengthened community self-reliance.

Lessons learned and broader impact

Reflecting on this transformation, Roksana shared:

“Before, people waited for the cyclone to strike and now, we act early. As a trained leader in disaster risk reduction, gender-based violence prevention during emergencies, and women’s leadership in humanitarian response, I know exactly what steps to take before, during, and after a crisis to protect lives, uphold dignity, and ensure no one is left behind.”

This approach aligns closely with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), which aims to substantially reduce disaster mortality, the number of affected people, direct economic losses, and damage to critical infrastructure. By fostering women’s leadership and inclusive community preparedness, AAB’s intervention contributes directly to these global targets by reducing loss of lives and property through proactive, community-driven action.

By financing women’s leadership and anticipatory actions, ActionAid Bangladesh has built a system of preparedness that enables coastal communities to stand on their own during emergencies. The initiative demonstrates that strategic investment in women-led DRR not only reduces human and economic losses but also transforms early warnings into meaningful, life- and asset-saving action. Roksana’s journey stands as proof that when women are trusted and resourced, they become the strongest line of defence against disasters, protecting lives and helping communities recover stronger than before.

This International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, GNDR calls for governments, donors, the private sector and financial institutions to prioritise funding for resilience, not just funding for disasters when they strike.

All photos: ActionAid Bangladesh