Supporting women and girls in community-led action for habitat restoration and marine protection
The Sundarbans region in Bangladesh faces multiple threats, including unregulated fishing, land use changes, degradation of mangroves and other critical habitats, and saline intrusion.
Fisherfolk communities that depend on the Sundarbans – particularly women who act as tradition custodians – often lack recognition, ecological awareness and organised collective action to address these challenges. They also experience increased rates of poverty and gender-based violence.
The project seeks to empower women fisherfolk groups and cooperatives to engage in habitat restoration, conserve regulated fishing and strengthen marine protection. It will apply tested social mobilisation tools and methodologies, including courtyard awareness sessions, community meetings, group-led restoration monitoring, coordination with public agencies and national-level advocacy.
Direct beneficiaries include 1277 women fisherfolk households, of which 223 are home to religious minorities and 179 belong to girls and women living with disabilities. The project will support a total of 5,376 community members across 15 villages, with fisherfolk registering for fisherfolk cards and girls and women living with disabilities able to report on incidents of gender-based violence.
Photo credit: Badabon Sangho
