DRR & Adaptation Fair 2026 Held

Mohammad Masudur Rahman Molla, Deputy Commissioner (DC), inaugurated the Fair as the Chief Guest. Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO), and Md. Lokman Hossain, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Gaibandha Sadar, were present as Special Guests with Khondaker Zahid Shorwar, Deputy Director of SKS Foundation, in the chair. S. M. Jaglul Rajib, Program Manager of the PRODRIPTA and Humanitarian and Climate Action Program at CARE Bangladesh, delivered the welcome speech.

In his speech, the DC said, “Bangladesh has become a global role model in disaster management based on the close collaboration among government agencies, development organizations, and communities. However, DRR and adaptation measures remain essential to strengthen the country's disaster preparedness further.” The Special Guests emphasized the importance of raising public awareness and strengthening links between disaster-affected communities and service providers.

Twenty GOs & NGOs participated in the Fair, setting up their exhibition stalls. The Fair strengthened disaster awareness and preparedness among community people.

NGO-MFI Resourced Pooled Fund Launched

The 'NGO-Microfinance Institution (MFI) Resourced Pooled Fund' was launched in Bangladesh at a city hotel on 11 May 2026. SKS Foundation and 3 other partners of the Fund, namely Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO), National Development Program (NDP), and People’s Oriented Program Implementation (POPI), along with Start Hub Bangladesh, organized the event.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Minister, Ministry of LGRD&C, graced the launching ceremony as the Chief Guest. Md. Saidur Rahman Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief; Professor Dr. Helal Uddin, Executive Vice Chairman of MRA; Dr. Mohammad Zakaria, Director General of NGO Affairs Bureau; and Zakir Ahmed Khan, Chairman of PKSF, attended the event as Special Guests. Dr. Md. Shahid Uz Zaman, Chairman of Start Hub Bangladesh, chaired the ceremony.

Representatives from various development partners, international & national organizations, and officials from microfinance institutions attended the program. Launching the Fund, the Minister said, “There is no alternative to public-private partnership in ensuring rapid and effective humanitarian assistance at the local level in disaster-prone Bangladesh.

I hope the new fund will play an important role in enhancing the disaster-response capacity of marginalized communities and accelerating emergency assistance activities across the country.” The Minister said the joint fund, formed by leveraging the experience, institutional capacity, and grassroots engagement of local NGOs and microfinance institutions, would open a new horizon in humanitarian aid management, strengthening locally led humanitarian financing and making disaster response more effective, integrated & sustainable.

Job Seekers Connected with Employers

SKS Foundation connected trained young job seekers with employers through the ‘Employment Fair 2026’, organized under its Recovery and Advancement of Informal Sector Employment (RAISE) project with support from PKSF. The Fair was held on 9 May 2026 at Shadhinata Prangan in Gaibandha, bringing together job seekers, employers, trainers, and government officials.

Mohammad Masudur Rahman Molla, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Gaibandha, inaugurated the Fair as the Chief Guest. Jadav Sarkar, ADC (General), was the Special Guest, with Joseph Halder, Director, Advocacy & Communication of SKS Foundation, in the chair.

Addressing the audience, the DC encouraged young people to think beyond traditional employment. “You must think beyond finding jobs. You should think about creating opportunities not only for yourself but for others as well,” he said.

The ADC (General) urged young people to prepare themselves for the future workplace, saying, “In today’s highly competitive job market, continuous upskilling is the key to staying relevant and competitive.”

Representatives from the employers and the trained entrepreneurs shared their inspiring experiences to encourage the job seekers to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams with determination.

The Employment Fair was organized for 865 young people having completed training in 12 different trades under SKS Foundation’s RAISE project. Of them, 300 have already secured jobs, while 219 have become self-employed. The Employment Fair was targeted to connect the remaining trained job-seekers with potential employers. As many as 283 trained youth, including 180 males and 103 females, registered at the Fair, while 600 CVs were submitted. Fourteen, including national and local companies, participated in the Fair.

Lessons-Learned Workshop Held on Rapid Response

SKS Foundation organized a lessons-learned workshop on the Rapid Response for Storm-Affected Community project. The Project provided emergency assistance to 300 storm-affected families in Rajahar Union of Gobindaganj Upazila, Gaibandha. Supported by Start Fund Bangladesh, the Workshop was held at SKS Inn, Gaibandha, on 7 May 2026.

Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO), was the Chief Guest. Rafiqul Islam, Chairman, Rajahar Union, was the Special Guest with Khondaker Zahid Shorwar, Deputy Director of SKS Foundation, in the chair.

The participants pinpointed that timely damage assessment and accurate identification of affected households were fundamental to delivering rapid assistance. Alongside effective coordination among government agencies, local representatives, community members, volunteers, and humanitarian organizations proved essential for ensuring a timely, transparent, and effective emergency response. Cash assistance with technical guidance worked for house repairing and psychosocial counselling helped affected families meet immediate needs, rebuild temporary shelters, and begin their recovery. The workshop recommended establishing emergency response and rapid damage assessment systems in all areas, regardless of whether they are traditionally considered disaster-prone.

The Chief Guest said, “Delivering assistance quickly after a disaster remains one of the biggest challenges, as emergency response demands rapid action and timely decision-making under pressure. Despite these challenges, SKS Foundation and Start Fund Bangladesh identified affected families and delivered assistance transparently and effectively within a very short time.”

National Seminar on Water Rights in Bangladesh Held

FANSA Bangladesh and its secretariat, SKS Foundation, organized a National Seminar on Water Rights in Bangladesh jointly with CSIRS-UIU of United International University (UIU), and ITN-BUET. The Seminar was held on 25 April 2026 at United International University, Dhaka.

Farhad Hossain Azad, MP, the State Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources, was the Chief Guest. Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, a prominent economist and Executive Chairman of PPRC, was the Guest of Honor. Mohammad Saiful Islam Majumder, Joint Secretary, Policy Support Branch, was the Special Guest. Professor Dr. Md. Abul Kashem Mia, Vice Chancellor of United International University, presided over the Seminar. CSIRS-UIU Director Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman, and ITN-BUET Director Professor Dr. Rawshan Momtaz presented 2 keynotes in the Seminar.

The Chief Guest, in his speech, emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable & sustainable water distribution across the country. He called for strong collaboration between government institutions, academia, and civil society to ensure that water security is linked to national development and to support evidence-based policy.

The Guest of Honor emphasized the need to view the right to water not only as a resource issue, but also as a matter of social justice & good governance. The 7 panelists shed light on the need for a rights-based approach to water management in line with the theme of World Water Day 2026, 'Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows'.

The Chair emphasized that universities play a vital role in promoting research, innovation, and policy dialogue on water rights. He also expected this Seminar to make an important contribution to creating sustainable solutions for water management.

Public Gathering Against Child Marriage Held

SKS Foundation organized a public gathering against child marriage under its Community-based Resilience, Women's Empowerment and Action (CREA) project, supported by Manusher Jonno Foundation, on 16 April 2026 at Fulchari Government Pilot High School in Fulchari Upazila, Gaibandha.

Participants, including government officials, CBO representatives, community leaders & residents, and discussed the problem & highlighted the high prevalence of child marriage in remote char areas and identified the lack of accessible secondary schools as one of its major drivers. They explained that many adolescents, particularly girls, have limited opportunities to continue their education after completing primary school, increasing their vulnerability to early marriage.

The speakers emphasized that enabling girls to continue their education is one of the most effective ways to delay marriage and improve their future opportunities. They urged the authorities to establish more secondary schools in underserved char areas.

Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Fulchari, who attended the event as Chief Guest, said, “Although laws and penalties are already in place, stronger public awareness and active community participation are essential to making those measures effective.”
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