Building bridges through co-production: Stakeholder dissemination workshop

Workshop Brings Together Stakeholders to Discuss Coastal Water Governance in Bangladesh

A one-day dissemination workshop was held at the Rupantar NGO office to present the findings from Afsana Afrin Esha’s PhD research on drinking water governance in coastal Bangladesh. The event gathered key stakeholders from government, local government institutions (LGIs), NGOs, and donor agencies to reflect on the challenges and pathways to improving water access in hazard-prone regions.

Esha’s research, conducted through fieldwork in 2024 and 2025, explores how the incentives, actions, and aspirations of diverse actors shape the success or failure of drinking water systems. The workshop served as a platform for co-production, enabling two-way dialogue between researchers and practitioners in the sector.

Participants discussed core issues such as project planning, stakeholder coordination, technology selection, and community involvement—particularly the inclusion of women. Key concerns raised included a lack of project monitoring databases, top-down decision-making, weak inter-agency coordination, and challenges in sustaining infrastructure post-project.

Through hands-on activities and open discussions, stakeholders identified critical areas for reform, including improving transparency, enhancing local ownership, and adapting payment systems to ensure access for the poorest communities.

Esha noted the importance of such workshops: “This dialogue adds depth to understanding water governance and creates space for mutual learning. Stakeholders were eager to share their concerns and welcomed the opportunity to shape future solutions.”

The workshop marks the first in a series of dissemination events aimed at translating research into actionable insights and fostering collaboration across the water governance landscape in Bangladesh.

Photo credit: Afsana Afrin Esha 2025

Esha sharing her PhD objectives to participants.