Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF)
An MoU was signed between BIGD and Manusher Jonno Foundation (in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh) which is one of the largest national grants making organizations in Bangladesh. With this partnership, both of parties will undertake a collaboration in research on social accountability. RPG has a particular interest in the Social Accountability mechanism for which RPG took 2 initiatives on this area in 2019 RPG. One of these studies used mixed methods to look at the impact of social accountability measures on targeting the effectiveness of social safety net programs based on gender inclusivity and pro-poor selection. RPG’s collaboration with Manusher Jonno Foundation has introduced a range of social accountability measures such as community scorecards, community groups, hotline, complaint box, etc. in 12 districts to improve social safety net delivery. The objective of this study was to compare targeting effectiveness in these areas with that of areas where this program was not implemented.
Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED)
An MoU was signed between BIGD and Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, an entrepreneurial development wing of BRAC University. With this partnership, both BIGD and CED will undertake collaboration in the research and development of the Readymade Garments and other relevant sectors in Bangladesh. At present, CED is providing assistance to BIGD and SOAS University of London with data collection for the Anti- Corruption Evidence (ACE) project on Regulations of Garments sector in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s regulatory enforcement faces difficulties due to overlapping factors that exacerbate the usual gaps in enforcement capabilities and corruption incentives. A few of these factors are- a) the heterogeneity of the sector, including the existence of the sector’s possibly long tail of poorly capitalized firms that are unlikely to be able to comply, and b) the probable mismatch between the existing regulatory requirements and what may be a feasible set of regulations. CED along with BIGD’s RPG and SOAS had been working together on a study project in this regard. This study would explore -evaluation of current building regulations and their feasibility for Bangladeshi garments industry while trying to meet these regulations, estimation of the size of the tail of firms that may be unable to comply even with the reduction in regulatory conditions suggested by the evaluation, review of evidence leading to an assessment of relative feasibility of exit strategies for this tail of firms, retraining of workers, low-cost financing for upgrading their buildings, the provision of low-rental factories in industrial zones, etc.
Campbell Collaboration
The Campbell Collaboration is an international social science research network that promotes positive social and economic change through the production and use of policy briefs, systematic reviews, and other evidence syntheses for evidence-based policy and practice. BIGD has established a partnership with Campbell collaboration where part of the agreement on capacity building is to create a hub of systematic review in Bangladesh. At present Campbell Collaboration and BIGD are working on 2 large-scale projects which are as follows-
i) Developing capacities on systematic reviews of G2P services in Asia
ii) Evidence gap mapping based on SDGs
