DataSense

27/05/2026

May your home be filled with happiness, your heart with peace, and your days with love and togetherness. Eid Mubarak to you and your family. 🌙🤍

21/05/2026

A national consultation titled, “𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀” was held on May 19, 2026. This was the second part of our consultation based on the feedback obtained from the first consultation held on May 06, 2026. Both of these consultations are a part of the project titled, “Gender-Responsive Climate Budgeting: Monitoring Gender Budgets for Climate Action through a Practical Guide”, organized by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) under the CREA initiative funded by the Swedish Government. iSocial and its research unit DataSense served as the research partner of this initiative and the implementing partner of the consultation.

The event brought together 21 representatives from 13 ministries, alongside representatives from think tanks, academia, NGOs, INGOs, development organizations, and civil society organizations, including representatives from organizations working with people with disabilities and indigenous communities, who shared their insights on strengthening the integration of gender considerations within climate budgeting and public finance systems in Bangladesh.

Ms. Banasree Mitra Neogi, Director – Rights and Governance Programs, Manusher Jonno Foundation, opened the session by emphasizing the importance of making existing climate budgeting processes more gender-responsive and reflective of region-specific vulnerabilities faced by communities at the grassroots level.

Ms. Shaheen Anam, Executive Director, Manusher Jonno Foundation, highlighted the importance of recognizing women’s economic contributions within climate and development policy frameworks and stressed the need for stronger policy-level commitment to gender-responsive climate budgeting.

Dr. Ananya Raihan, Chairperson, iSocial, presented the draft guideline and policy recommendations on Gender-Responsive Climate Budgeting through a practical framework involving climate tagging, gender tagging, and combined climate-gender tagging at ministry and project levels. He also emphasized the importance of integrating gender considerations into Development Project Proposals (DPPs) and Medium-Term Budgetary Frameworks (MTBFs), along with the need for stronger institutional coordination and gender-disaggregated data systems.

The consultation also included an open discussion where participants emphasized the importance of addressing region-specific climate vulnerabilities and ensuring the inclusion of women, persons with disabilities, indigenous communities, and other marginalized groups within budgeting processes.

Dr. Nurun Nahar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and Ms. Mst. Suraiya Begum, Additional Secretary, Administration Wing, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA), attended the event as Special Guests. They emphasized the importance of implementation, impact analysis, inter-ministerial coordination, and stronger engagement with the Ministry of Finance to institutionalize gender-responsive climate budgeting in Bangladesh.

Key Highlights:
🟢 Strong emphasis on integrating climate and gender budgeting systems rather than treating them separately.
🟢 Need for improved gender-disaggregated data for evidence-based planning and monitoring.
🟢 Proposal to integrate climate and gender markers directly within the DPP and MTBF processes.
🟢 Importance of institutional coordination and ministry-level implementation mechanisms.
🟢 Recognition of the Ministry of Finance as a key actor in institutionalizing gender-responsive climate budgeting.
🟢 Importance of ensuring that climate finance mechanisms address the realities of vulnerable and marginalized communities.
The consultation generated valuable technical feedback and reinforced the importance of inclusive, accountable, and gender-responsive climate finance governance in Bangladesh.

07/05/2026

A consultation based on the project titled, “𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲” was held on May 06, 2026, implemented by Manusher Jonno Foundation under the CREA initiative and funded by Swedish Government. 𝚒𝚂𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕-আইসোশ্যাল and its research unit DataSense is the research partner of this initiative, as well as the implementing partner of this consultation.

The event brought together representatives from 13 ministries, along with representatives from think tanks, academia, NGOs, INGOs, and civil society organizations, each of whom shared their insights on how gender considerations can be better integrated into climate budgeting processes in Bangladesh.

Ms. Shoma Datta, Program Manager, Manusher Jonno Foundation, opened the session by highlighting the importance of ensuring that climate finance and public budgeting processes address gender-differentiated vulnerabilities and resilience needs.

Professor Sharmind Neelormi, Department of Economics, Jahangirnagar University, shared findings and recommendations from her experience with UNDP-supported initiatives and discussed existing gaps in gender budgeting practices, including the lack of integrated climate and gender budgeting mechanisms and limited public access to tracking outputs and results.

Ms. Nuzhat Imam, Independent Consultant for this project presented findings from the draft policy analysis, highlighting challenges across different stages of the national budget cycle, including limited sex-disaggregated data, institutional coordination gaps, and technical capacity constraints.

Dr. Ananya Raihan presented the draft Practical Guide for Gender-Responsive Climate Budgeting, introducing a proposed framework that integrates climate and gender markers into budgeting and Development Project Proposal (DPP) processes.

Key Highlights:
🟢 Strong emphasis on integrating climate and gender budgeting systems rather than treating them separately.
🟢 Need for improved sex-disaggregated data for evidence-based planning and monitoring.
🟢 Proposal to integrate climate and gender markers directly within the DPP process.
🟢 Importance of institutional coordination and ministry-level implementation mechanisms.
🟢 Recognition of the Ministry of Finance as a key actor in institutionalizing gender-responsive climate budgeting.

The consultation generated valuable technical feedback and reinforced the importance of inclusive, accountable, and gender-responsive climate finance governance.

A dissemination event will be held later this month based on the insights and feedback obtained in this consultation.

01/05/2026

DataSense wishes you a Happy Buddha Purnima. Let the values of wisdom and mindfulness inspire a more informed and empathetic future.

01/05/2026

Labor builds dreams, and skills shape the future.
Behind every data point is the effort and resilience of workers who drive our economy forward. Strengthening skill development and evidence-based policies is key to building a more resilient and equitable future.
Let us work towards a Bangladesh that is skilled, informed, and inclusive.

22/04/2026

Read more here: https://www.thedailystar.net/slow-reads/unheard-voices/news/what-the-government-can-really-do-returnee-women-migrants-4156866

21/04/2026

We are pleased to share our article published in the Slow Reads section of The Daily Star newspaper!

Read here: https://www.thedailystar.net/slow-reads/unheard-voices/news/what-the-government-can-really-do-returnee-women-migrants-4156866

For many women like Fatima, migrating abroad is a desperate bid to save their families—but what happens when they return home to a society that treats them as outcasts?

This harrowing "Slow Reads" feature explores the systemic abuse and social stigma faced by returnee women migrant workers in Bangladesh. By examining the gaps in current reintegration efforts, the article advocates for a "whole-of-society" approach to provide the economic resilience and psychosocial support these women urgently need.

To read the full article, find the link in the comments.

14/04/2026

ডেটাসেন্স এর পক্ষ থেকে নববর্ষের শুভেছা 🌸

01/04/2026

New publication alert!🎉

As Bangladesh accelerates its journey toward digital governance, the digitalization of the Old Age Allowance (OAA) stands out as a critical reform. Regardless, an important question remains: is this transformation delivering dignity, accessibility and real empowerment for the elderly citizens of our country?

We are pleased to share our latest report, “𝐀 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥-𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞”, which explores both the promise and the gaps within this transition. The report highlights key insights on transparency, efficiency, and financial inclusion, while also identifying critical areas where vulnerable populations, especially rural beneficiaries may still be left behind.

Learn more via our digital artefact based on this report:
English: https://oaa.datasense.com.bd/
Bangla: https://oaa.datasense.com.bd/bn/

Download the report here: https://datasense.com.bd/publications/reports/a-look-into-old-age-allowance-digitalisation-relational-dynamics-at-the-digital-social-interface/

To ensure relevance and grounded perspectives, a policy dialogue hosted by the DataSense research unit of iSocial in October 2025 brought together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and sector experts. Their valuable feedback and insights have been incorporated into this report, strengthening its practical and policy relevance.

At this pivotal moment, following the formation of a newly elected government in Bangladesh, this report serves as a timely call to action. It aims to inform and encourage policymakers to:
✅ Build on the positive gains of digitalization
✅ Address existing barriers and exclusion risks
✅ Act on evidence-based recommendations
✅ Strengthen systems that ensure both access and agency

While digital systems can enhance delivery, inclusive design determines the ultimate impact.

We invite policymakers and all of our stakeholders to engage with the findings and bring forth a more inclusive, accountable, and human-centered approach to social protection in Bangladesh.

26/03/2026

ডেটাসেন্স এর পক্ষ থেকে স্বাধীনতা দিবস এর শুভেচ্ছা!
DataSense wishes you a happy Independence Day!

20/03/2026

𝗘𝗶𝗱-𝘂𝗹-𝗙𝗶𝘁𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗸! 🌙✨
As we celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, may this occasion inspire reflection and empathy toward a more inclusive and equitable society.