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BIGD Reviews

Evidence and Insights

Child Labour: Action-Research-Innovation in South and South-Eastern Asia

Date: 2024

Author(s): Aktar, Taslima; Mamun, Saklain Al; Sultan, Maheen & 1 other

Topic(s): COVID-19

Publisher: BIGD

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Evidence and Insights

Can Words Bridge Gaps? Exploring the Effects of a Communication Intervention Between Parents and Adolescents on Child Marriage

Date: 2024

Researcher(s): Hossain, Marjan; Islam, Md. Rohmotul; Jahan, Nusrat

Topic(s): Education, Gender Justice, Social Transformation

Publisher: BIGD

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Working Paper

Analysis of Voice and Agency in Countering Backlash Against Gender Justice: Synthesis of Three Policy Cases in Bangladesh

Date: 2024

Researcher(s): Maheen Sultan, Mohaiminul Islam, Pragyna Mahpara, Iffat Jahan, Shamsad Navia Novelly

Topic(s): Gender Justice

Publisher: Institute of Development Studies

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Journal Article

Globalising Southern Approaches to Reducing Extreme Poverty: Policy Adoption of BRAC’s Targeting the Ultra Poor Graduation Program

Date: 2024

Researcher(s): Hashemi, Syed M.; Montesquiou, Aude de

Topic(s): Ultra-Poor Graduation

Publisher: Development in Practice

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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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Hope – আশা

The virtual research center within BRAC University focused on psychosocial development, mental health, and well-being. It is envisaged that this will house knowledge resources on educational research on the focus area of children affected by crisis and conflict. This will primarily focus on Bangladesh but will also include relevant international material. Research projects often involve the development of companion websites or information hubs.

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21 April 2025
Imran Jamal, PhD

While In-depth Interviews (IDIs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) are staples of qualitative research, expanding our methods can yield richer, more reflective data. Building rapport is essential for deep insights, which is often limited in one-off interviews. Repeat interviews, diary or audio log-keeping, and participatory tools like decision-making games and hypothetical scenarios help bridge the gap between what people say and do. These approaches allow participants to reflect more deeply, engage critically, and express themselves more freely. By creatively broadening our qualitative toolkit, we can better capture complex human experiences and move beyond surface-level responses to understand how people think, feel, and act in context.

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23 January 2025

Low-income women workers in rural Karnataka, India, face financial struggles due to short-term liquidity issues. Despite steady incomes, many resort to informal loans or cutting back on essentials like food, healthcare, and education, impacting their well-being. A study of 834 garment factory workers (October 2023–July 2024) reveals coping mechanisms like reducing expenses, deferring payments, or borrowing small interest-free loans. Nearly 27% reported cutting expenditures, with food and school fees most affected.

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16 January 2025
Anahit Tevosyan, Scott Graham, Nathaniel Mayende, and Joeri Smits

What happens if a woman is given the responsibility of the household? A WEE-DiFine study conducted in Uganda finds that more usually than not the burden of financial responsibilities falls squarely on the woman, without allowing her to save. This blog underscores the importance of the local context for rigorous measuring of women’s economic empowerment while giving insights into specific measures of economic empowerment related to women’s savings behavior.

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Multimedia

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

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

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

Sustainable Business Model for Agrivoltaic Pilot Project in Bangladesh

This research investigates the potential of agrivoltaics in Bangladesh, where limited studies have hindered scaling this solution. The project aims to explore the impacts of agrivoltaics on solar providers and farmers, focusing on land-use challenges, policy limitations, and socio-economic impacts. It will assess the viability of combining solar power generation with agriculture by testing three experimental plots across diverse agroclimatic zones. The research seeks to identify key adoption factors for farmers and solar providers, including economic and environmental outcomes, and provide policy recommendations to enable agrivoltaics. It aims to support Bangladesh's renewable energy goals while ensuring a fair transition for farmers and the textile industry.

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Bricks to Blocks: Information and Coordination Challenges for Transitioning to a Cleaner Building Technology

This study, conducted by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), explores barriers to adopting soil-stabilized blocks (SSBs) as a sustainable alternative to fired clay bricks (FCBs) in construction projects in Bangladesh. SSBs offer major environmental benefits, including lower CO2 emissions and reduced air pollution, compared to FCBs, which dominate the market and cause significant environmental harm. Despite supportive policies, adoption remains low. Through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) across 66 Upazilas, the study tests interventions—such as exposure programs, site visits, market linkages, and skills training—to increase SSB use. Findings aim to address key coordination gaps and promote greener construction practices in Bangladesh.

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