Ten grassroots women from across Bangladesh were honoured as Climate Champions 2025 at a national convention organised by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) under the EmPower: Women for Climate Resilient Societies (Phase II) project, supported by UN Women Bangladesh.

The event, held at Aloki Convention Centre, celebrated women’s leadership in environmental conservation, community mobilisation, and local adaptation initiatives. Over 100 women-led civil society

organisations joined the Annual Community of Practices (CoP) Network Convention 2025, showcasing gender-responsive and locally led climate resilience practices.

Awardees: Madhabi Rani Robidas (Kurigram), Shibani Sardar (Khulna), Nazma Begum (Cox’s Bazar), Jannatul Hafsa (Cox’s Bazar), Neelima Chakrabarti (Khulna), Falguni Rani Mondal (Khulna), Murshida Khatun (Khulna), Bilkis Parvin (Satkhira), Rubiya Khatun (Satkhira), and Shafali Bibi (Satkhira).

Chief guest Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Environment Adviser, highlighted the need for investment in micro-level adaptation and inclusion of women’s innovative initiatives in national planning.

“Real change begins at the grassroots — women are leading the fight for survival and climate resilience,” she said.

Nicolas Weeks, Ambassador of Sweden, and Diepak Elmer, Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy, praised Bangladesh’s women leaders for transforming communities through innovation and collective action.

Gitanjali Singh, UN Women Bangladesh Country Representative, and Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of MJF, underscored that empowering women is central to building a climate-secure Bangladesh.

The convention also featured stalls of grassroots innovations and parallel sessions on renewable energy, gender-responsive policy, and women’s collective leadership. The event concluded with a joint pledge to strengthen collaboration between local actors and policymakers to ensure women remain at the heart of climate resilience efforts.