With an aim to explore pathways for achieving disaster risk reduction in the Sundarbans delta through adaptive mechanisms, SAJIDA Foundation and the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) collaboratively organised the inauguration workshop of "ENGAGE: Eliciting Needs-based Grassroots Action through Cross-Group Engagement" yesterday.

The event, which seeks to enhance social resilience by fostering the exchange of multi-disciplinary knowledge and implementation strategies was held at a hotel in the capital.

The workshop commenced with opening remarks from Imran Rahman, vice chancellor of ULAB, and Muhymin Chowdhury, director of Impact Partners, Partnerships, and Communications at SAJIDA Foundation. Distinguished guests, including researchers, representatives from various NGOs, government officials, and relevant stakeholders, were in attendance.

As the event's special guest Corinne Henchoz Pignani, deputy head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, said, "I believe the coordination among the different stakeholders in the Sundarbans, the community authorities, and the development partners on how to have a coherent, consistent, and meaningful action together right now is very significant."

"From data to information to knowledge, it is similar to an ecosystem, and we use knowledge to influence policies. It should be a continuous process, and course corrections should be made along the way, said Saber Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of the Bangladesh Parliament, who was the event's chief guest.

ENGAGE is a 3-year action research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).