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Publications

Working Paper

Empowering Female Domestic Workers Through Digital Finance

Date: 2025

Author(s): Malde, Bansi; Rahanaz, Maliha; Wahhaj, Zaki

Topic(s): Wee-DiFine

Publisher: BIGD

Journal Article

Poverty and stigma in urban Bangladesh: conceptual contributions and empirical explorations

Date: 2025

Researcher(s): Roelen, Keetie; Rohwerder, Brigitte; Al Mamun, Saklain & 1 other

Topic(s): Cities, COVID-19

Publisher: Journal of Poverty and Social Justice

Policy Brief

Bridging Data Gaps for a Better Social Protection System in Bangladesh

Date: 2025

Researcher(s): Saadman Faisal

Topic(s): Datahub

Publisher: International Growth Centre

Report

Preserving Institutional Memory in the Bangladesh Civil Service: Existing Practices, Challenges, and the Way Forward

Date: 2025

Researcher(s): M Shahan, Asif; Akter, Nahida; Ahamed, Raihan & 2 others

Topic(s): Digitization, Governance and Politics

Publisher: BIGD

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This research investigates the impact of agrivoltaics—using land simultaneously for farm and solar energy production—on solar providers and farmers to assess its scale-up potential in Bangladesh. It seeks to identify the economic and environmental outcomes of agrivoltaics, key adoption factors for farmers and solar providers, and policy solutions to facilitate its scale-up. It aims to support Bangladesh's renewable energy goals while ensuring a fair transition for farmers.

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Evidence on Childcare (ECC)

There is limited evidence on effective and sustainable models for expanding childcare services for low-income households, especially in Bangladesh, where childcare needs are widely regarded as a barrier to women’s employment. BRAC aims to run a project to support caregivers and working mothers living in such neighbourhoods and has been piloting a home-based childcare model that uses a play-based approach. This study aims to measure the impact of childcare services on mother as well as generate formative evidence of home-based childcare for new entrepreneurs.

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Events

Upcoming Event

18 Jan 26

International Conference on Economic Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities

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Previous Event

21 Dec 25

Dhaka Winter Conference in Economics 2025

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Research Programs

Rapid Research Response (RRR) 2024

As Bangladesh stands on the brink of significant reform and an uncertain political future, BIGD is launching a Rapid Research Response (RRR 2024) initiative to provide real-time data and policy insights to support the interim government in its nation-building efforts to help make the best out of the opportunity presented by the changing regime and a new rise of citizenry. The initial phase of RRR ’24 is scheduled to happen between August ’24 and February ’25. The following research activities are either ongoing or planned as part of the initial phase.

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Women’s Economic Empowerment and Digital Connectivity (WEE-Connect)

WEE-Connect aims to bridge critical knowledge gaps on how digital connectivity can advance women’s economic empowerment. Building on the WEE-DiFine framework, it will create a knowledge hub, promote inclusive research funding, and establish a global scholarly community focused on gender and digital inclusion—particularly in the Global South, where women face barriers like limited access, device ownership, and safety concerns in the digital space.

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Blogs

7 January 2026

Spotlight on Caroline Wainaina

Caroline Wainaina, a public health researcher and PhD fellow at UMC Utrecht, explores how digital financial services (DFS) shape women’s economic empowerment and maternal mental well-being in rural Kenya. Supported by WEE-DiFine, her research reveals both the empowering potential and hidden risks of mobile money platforms like M-Pesa and Fuliza. By combining qualitative methods such as “deep hanging out” with empowerment frameworks, her work highlights the need for inclusive, protective, and gender-sensitive approaches to digital financial inclusion.

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24 December 2025

She Won the Election, But Who Holds the Phone?

Monika Jain and Shweta Mishra

Despite constitutional guarantees bringing over 1.4 million women into local governance in India, real power often remains elusive. Our interviews with 81 Sarpanches reveal that while 90% of men report having final authority, only 18% of women feel the same. A key barrier is “proxyism,” where male relatives exercise control—often through mobile phones. Rather than empowering women leaders, digital tools can reinforce patriarchy unless accompanied by confidence, skills, and agency-building support.

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9 December 2025

How Changing Village Politics is Reshaping Citizen-State Relationship in Rural Bangladesh

Nur-E-Jannat Alif

Village politics in Bangladesh has transformed significantly between 2009 and 2024. Once shaped by personal relationships and community trust, the Union Parishad has become increasingly influenced by ruling party networks. With MPs steering local decisions and party symbols introduced in elections, access to services now often depends on political links rather than rights. Citizens engage more but participate less freely, highlighting the need for renewed democratic practices at the grassroots.

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Working Paper

Journal Article

Policy Brief

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Studies

Sustainable Business Model for Agrivoltaic Pilot Project in Bangladesh

Evidence on Childcare (ECC)

Events

Upcoming Event

18

Jan 26

Previous Event

21

Dec 25

Research Programs

Rapid Research Response (RRR) 2024

Women’s Economic Empowerment and Digital Connectivity (WEE-Connect)

Blogs

Multimedia

গ্রাম রূপান্তর | Changing Village

Tong Alaap Ep 13 | Policies, Politics, and Programs on Disability

Tong Alaap Ep 12 | Implementation Challenges of Reform Commissions' Recommendations

Tong Alaap Ep 11 | Pulse Survey Explained: What is the Nation Thinking

Tong Alaap Ep 10 | Governance and Learning Outcomes in Primary Schools

Tong Alaap Ep 009 | Beyond the Ballot Box

Tong Alaap Ep 008 | The State of Public Data in Bangladesh

Tong Alaap Ep 007 | Changing Villages of Bangladesh

Tong Alaap Ep 006 | The Future of Energy in Bangladesh: Findings from the White Paper

Tong Alaap Episode 005 (unplugged) | Poverty & Climate Adaptation: Robin Burgess with Rohini Kamal

Beyond Clay Bricks: BIGD’s Experimental Study for a Sustainable Future

Envisioneers #CareerTalks Ep 02 | Navigating PhD Applications: Tips For Aspiring Economists