Impact Connect

I met Khala today at her tea stall after a few months. We had spoken over the phone a little during this time, but seeing her in person was different. Her business is doing well—she runs it from 5 AM to 9 PM every day. Between 5 AM and 7 AM, the Milk Vita delivery truck stops in front of her tea stall to distribute milk. Around 15–20 people work as a team there, and many of them come to her stall for tea and biscuits. Khala told me that during these two hours alone, she earns about 300 taka. She is also receiving her widow allowance regularly—thanks to Bashir, who kindly helped her get access to it. She collects the money quarterly and has been saving it carefully. With her savings, she bought 1.25 khata of land in Gomostapur, Rajshahi, for 370,000 taka. She has already paid 300,000 taka and expects to complete the payment within five months. “Who will own this land?” I asked her. She replied loudly, “ME.” I felt a deep sense of empowerment hearing her say that. Once the paymen...

Digital transformation is essential, but only with the right design. If the design does not align with citizens’ actual needs, it may fail to create any meaningful impact. Citizens play a crucial role in this process, and their needs must be properly addressed. The question is: how will this be ensured? In government, there are often people who include the word “need” in documents, but in many cases, there is no clear process for how these needs will be assessed. A more critical question is: how will it be monitored—especially in contexts where citizens are supposed to be engaged and hold the government accountable? And how will the “right design” be developed with the “right people”? Are they just consultants? Who are these consultants? What terms of reference (ToR) do they follow to deliver? Often, government officials or donors simply follow the documents they have prepared—without truly addressing citizens’ needs. The same wheel keeps turning, doesn’t it? This is not about b...

Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a collaborative approach that empowers communities to identify needs, develop plans, and drive actions for local development. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) - comprising systems like digital IDs, payment platforms, and data exchanges, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of PAR by enabling broader participation, faster information flow, and stronger accountability. PAR + DPI = empowering citizens to use digital tools to co-create and act. DPI can support PAR at multiple stages. During community engagement, digital platforms and mobile applications can extend outreach and ensure that even the most marginalized individuals are included. Digital IDs can authenticate participants, ensuring transparent and inclusive representation. For data collection, DPI-enabled tools, such as mobile surveys and geo-tagged mapping, enable the real-time gathering and analysis of community insights. In the action phase, digital payment systems facilit...

I want to learn more about high oleic oil because it relates to safe food issues. I plan to explore its health benefits, pricing, safe food awareness, and marketing strategies. I’ve already learned - High oleic oil is a heart-healthy option, rich in monounsaturated fats that help reduce bad cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease. Unlike traditional vegetable oils, high oleic oils—such as sunflower, safflower, and canola—contain a higher percentage of oleic acid, a beneficial fat also found in olive oil. These oils are stable at high temperatures, making them ideal for cooking and frying without breaking down into harmful compounds. Their clean taste and long shelf life also enhance food quality.

I had the privilege of meeting the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, dear Abed Chowdhury bhai, at the Bangladesh Agro Conclave 2025 held today, May 25, at Amari Dhaka. The event, organized by SAF Bangladesh and LightCastle Partners, brought together national and global stakeholders to discuss the transformation of Bangladesh’s agriculture sector. Thanks to Mizan bhai for the networking opportunity.

The idea of using mangroves for climate resilience is not entirely new. Large-scale reforestation programs are increasingly common, but many fail due to two key reasons: Planting the wrong species in unsuitable locations. There are around 110 species of mangrove trees, and their suitability depends on factors such as land quality, salinity, and timing. Overlooking the socio-economic drivers of mangrove degradation. This is crucial for long-term sustainability. Mangroves take 5 to 20 years to mature, and during this period, communities need viable alternative sources of income. The critical question is: How can communities take ownership of these initiatives? For long-term success, local livelihoods must be closely tied to the mangrove ecosystem. If communities do not see direct, tangible benefits, they are unlikely to engage with or sustain restoration efforts.