DHAKA — In the highly climate-vulnerable char, haor, and coastal regions of Bangladesh, over 1.2 lakh women have successfully fortified their communities and secured greater economic independence. This milestone was achieved through Oxfam’s ambitious Resilience through Economic Empowerment, Climate Adaptation, Leadership and Learning (REE-CALL) programme, which shared its transformative outcomes at a high-level dissemination event at the Cirdap auditorium in the capital on Monday.
Launched in October 2017 and scheduled to conclude in July of this year, the REE-CALL project represents a cornerstone of Oxfam’s innovative response to the escalating needs of frontline communities. Implemented in association with 14 partner organizations, the initiative champions economic justice, women’s empowerment, proactive climate action, and disaster risk reduction.
To date, the program has directly reached 1,20,802 people—primarily women—and indirectly benefited another 2,86,060 individuals across 44 unions and 18 upazilas spanning 13 districts.
Measurable Impact on the Ground
During the event, Kazi Rabeya Ame, Oxfam Bangladesh Rural Manager, briefed government officials, researchers, and civil society leaders on the project’s striking on-the-ground outcomes:
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Economic Growth: The average monthly income of program beneficiaries surged from Tk 7,734 to Tk 12,981.
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WASH Advancements: Prior to the project, a mere 13% of households had access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Today, an impressive 98.7% have access to safe drinking water, and 83.2% utilize improved latrines.
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Climate Preparedness: The adoption rate of sustainable disaster management practices among beneficiaries skyrocketed from 10% to 87.8%.
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Women in Leadership: 1,535 women leaders from 435 community-based organizations (CBOs) now hold representational roles in local government standing committees focusing on education, health, and disaster management.
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Inclusivity: 12,370 community members received dedicated training on disability inclusion.
Voices of Support
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Swapan Bhattacharjee, State Minister for Rural Development and Cooperatives, praised the initiative’s alignment with national goals:
“The purpose of Oxfam’s REE-CALL programme is aligned with the mission of our prime minister who is working to empower women and create resilience among the vulnerable communities in different parts of Bangladesh.”
He expressed deep appreciation for Oxfam’s dedication to advancing such critical resilience projects in the face of the country’s ongoing climate challenges.
Reflecting on Oxfam’s historic ties with the nation—dating back to relief and reconstruction efforts following the Liberation War—Ashish Damle, Country Director of Oxfam in Bangladesh, emphasized a sustained commitment to the country’s development:
“There are many proud moments and we want to carry forward the legacy of our work,” he said.
As the REE-CALL programme enters its final months, its legacy provides a proven, scalable blueprint for embedding climate adaptation and gender equity into the heart of Bangladesh’s most vulnerable regions.
