The International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) was observed at the weekend with a rally and seminar held at the University of Dhaka. Participating in the rally was WorldFish Bangladesh and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
The theme for this years IDDR was ‘Women & Girls - the invisible force of resilience.' Kevin Kamp, Deputy Director of WorldFish Bangladesh, presented to the gathered attendees the transformative gender research approach for research in agricultural development, and how the new approach contributes to creating a disaster resilient society.
Presenting the keynote paper, Dr. A.Q.M. Mahbub, Professor at the University of Dhaka, expanded on the theme of women and girls, and their role in creating a resilient society. Dr. Mahbub emphasized the importance of changing traditional perceptions of women in Bangladesh, and their role in the household.
Discussing the importance of fisheries and aquaculture in improving productivity, Dr. Craig Meisnar, WorldFish Bangladesh Director, showed how increased income contributed to poverty reduction in addition to climate change and natural disaster readiness.
Other discussions held during the seminar at the University of Dhaka, were;: the contribution that women and girls are make before, during and after disasters; how the ability of women and girls to contribute is hindered by exclusion from participation and decision-making in the disaster risk reduction and management process; moving beyond the perception of women and girls as victims; and evidence of actions and initiatives by women and girls.
Special guests at the seminar included: Dr. Meisnar, Dr. Nasreen Ahmen, Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, and Matthias Anderegg. Dr. Md. Abdur Rob, Chairman of the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Dhaka, chaired the event.
About WorldFish
WorldFish, a member of the CGIAR Consortium, is an international, nonprofit research organization committed to reducing poverty and hunger through fisheries and aquaculture.
About CGIAR
CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.
For further information and interview requests with WorldFish experts please contact:
Mohammad Mahabubur Rahman,
Communications Specialist
WorldFish, Bangladesh and South Asia Office
P: (+880-2) 8813250, (+880-2) 8814624 Ext- 203
M: +88 01715431593,