ActionAid Bangladesh and BSREA have signed a five-year MoU to promote renewable energy, climate finance, and a just, gender-responsive energy transition through research, advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives nationwide.
ActionAid Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association signed a five-year memorandum of understanding on Sunday to jointly advance renewable energy and promote an inclusive just energy transition aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The agreement was signed at ActionAid Bangladesh’s Gulshan office in Dhaka by Country Director Farah Kabir and BSREA President Mostafa Al Mahmud in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.
The strategic partnership seeks to make Bangladesh’s energy transition more people-centred and sustainable by strengthening coordination among policymakers, industry actors and grassroots communities. Both sides said they would work to ensure that the shift to clean energy safeguards the rights of marginalised groups while supporting national development goals.
Under the MoU, the two organisations will conduct in-depth research on climate finance, energy justice and gender-responsive transition pathways. They will also intensify national-level policy dialogue and advocacy to promote decentralised solar power and a just energy transition.
As part of the collaboration, government officials, private sector representatives and civil society actors will receive specialised training to enhance capacity on sustainable energy systems and financing mechanisms. The partnership will also focus on mobilising innovative and environmentally responsible financing, along with public-private partnerships, to attract new investment in the renewable energy sector.
BSREA will primarily serve as a technical adviser and advocacy partner throughout the five-year term of the agreement.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Farah Kabir said reducing reliance on fossil fuels and expanding renewable energy had become both a global and national priority. She stressed that the transition must be just and inclusive, protecting the rights of marginalised communities including women and young people. She said BSREA’s technical expertise combined with ActionAid’s experience in social justice advocacy would strengthen Bangladesh’s efforts to achieve energy sovereignty.
Mostafa Al Mahmud said renewable energy was not only an environmental issue but also central to the country’s economic security. He said the alliance with ActionAid Bangladesh would support evidence-based policymaking and help bring sustainable and qualitative change to the energy sector.
Participants expressed hope that the initiative would meaningfully influence policy decisions and assist the government in building a fair and environmentally sustainable energy system while strengthening accountability.
ActionAid Bangladesh has long worked to advance social and climate justice and protect the rights of marginalised communities. BSREA, the country’s largest platform of renewable energy enterprises, represents 165 member organisations and plays a significant role in expanding green energy initiatives.
Observers said the combined strengths of the two institutions could inject fresh momentum into Bangladesh’s pursuit of energy sovereignty.
