Today 25 February 2026, the GiHA (Gender in Humanitarian Action) Noakhali Chapter convened its first quarterly meeting at Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB), Noakhali. The meeting brought together 25 participants, reflecting strong engagement from chapter representatives, GiHA members and representatives from partner organizations. The session was chaired by Ms. Kamrun Naher, Deputy Director, Department of Women Affairs Noakhali, who underscored the importance of strengthening survivor support systems and sustaining dialogue on gender-based violence within the district.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Naher situated the discussion within a Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) framework, emphasizing that protection, dignity, and equitable access to services are essential to effective preparedness and response in humanitarian settings. She highlighted the role of One-Stop Crisis Centre (OCC) services in providing referral and shelter support, while noting that underreporting continues to mask the scale of gender-based vulnerabilities, particularly during crises. She stressed that fragile social dynamics and disaster-related shocks often heighten risks of violence and exclusion.
The aim of the meeting was to develop an yearly work plan of the GiHA Members throughout the year 2026. The plan focused on four thematic area- capacity building. Networking, information sharing and disaster risk assessment.
Since December 22, 2025, PRAAN is leadeing Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Noakhali Local Chapter marking an important milestone in advancing inclusive and gender-responsive humanitarian efforts in Noakhali. GiHA network emphasizes addressing the distinct needs, capacities, and roles of women, men, girls, and boys throughout emergency preparedness and response, including gender-sensitive assessments, equitable access to aid, prevention of gender-based violence (GBV), and meaningful participation in decision-making.For PRAAN, this leadership builds on a strong foundation. Since 2019, PRAAN has been at the forefront of preventing GBV in emergency response, collaborating with GBV coordination mechanisms in Noakhali and supporting vulnerable communities. Two women-led community centres already functioning in GBV-prone areas of Hatiya Upazila stand as a testament to this commitment.
The meeting concluded with participants collaboratively developing a combined workplan, setting a shared direction for coordinated action on gender-responsive humanitarian priorities in Noakhali.
