In Aftabnagar, a rapidly developing residential area in Bangladesh’s capital city of Dhaka, one woman has taken it upon herself to support the residents of the informal settlement in her neighbourhood. What started as a food distribution initiative was quickly transformed into a full-fledged community project working towards self sufficiency, food security and solidarity. Maheen Khan reports. This is the …

In Rafiq Nagar, a low-income neighbourhood  in Mumbai, India, COVID-19 is an addition to the existing public health issues that are already faced by its residents. Shamimbanu Salim Sheikh shares her neighbourhood’s predicament. This is the fifth story in the series of ‘Voices from the Frontline’ by ICCCAD and CDKN.   “If you ever come here, you will find people …

As COVID-19 intensified globally between February and May, the government of Fiji reinforced different levels of lockdown throughout the country. Despite relatively fewer cases, communities across the region have felt the impact of the crisis in their own way, such as the Nanuku settlements in Vatuwaqa, Suva. Jioje Fesaitu reports. This is the fourth in a series of stories from …

Mama Jobe Jeng is a farmer in The Gambia’s west coast region and member of the local organisation Tresor Women Warrior. She recounts how belonging to the group has strengthened her ability to cope with COVID-19 and argues that the government should support women’s groups with resources and information in order to shore up community resilience more widely. Hbibatou Drammeh …

Prakritik Krishi Biponon Kendra implemented a transparent supply chain for organic food products by sourcing directly from farmers in 13 locations in Bangladesh and delivering the produce to the homes of more than 200 families in the capital, Dhaka. When COVID-19 hit, this supply chain was disrupted. Like elsewhere across Bangladesh, the livelihoods of the farmers were also suddenly threatened. …

Sheela Patel answers key questions surrounding the impact of COVID-19 on informal settlements. “There are no protocols or procedures to address the issues of the informal settlements”, says SDI’s Sheela Patel giving us a closer look at the ground reality of the slums in India. “There is a local infrastructural linked response to the needs of the people during the …