IUCN Women Leading the Tide

JIBONDHARA Foundation is proud to announce the launch of our new initiative, “Women Leading the Tide: Gender‑Transformative Water Governance in CharLata.”

CharLata, a small island in Rangabali, Patuakhali, located in the Bay of Bengal estuary of Meghna River Basin, is home to resilient fishing and farming families who face the daily challenges of cyclones, tidal surge and salinity. Women here carry the responsibility of managing water and households, yet their voices are often missing from the decision‑making tables.

Through this project, we will work hand‑in‑hand with 60 women leaders to strengthen their role in community water committees, disaster preparedness groups and basin‑level dialogues. Together with our partner INDEPTH Limited, we aim to create space for women’s leadership, amplify their voices and co‑develop a Women’s Water Governance Action Plan that reflects their priorities and vision for a safer, more resilient future.

This initiative is part of the BRIDGE programme, supported by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and represents a step forward in building inclusive and climate‑resilient governance. By centering women’s leadership, we believe CharLata can become a model for communities across Bangladesh and beyond.