Vaalo - Consultancy and Technical Work

VAALO Delivers Keynote at National Workshop on Urban Health and WASH Programme

Consultancy and Technical Work 03Jul

VAALO avant-garde Ltd. played a pivotal role as keynote presenter in the National Dissemination Workshop on the Integrated Rehabilitation Programme for Health and WASH Services, held on July 02, 2025 at the BRAC Centre Inn, Dhaka. The event, organized by BRAC Urban Development Programme (UDP) and funded by the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Programme (KAAP) through the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), highlighted transformative improvements in health, sanitation, and hygiene for underserved urban communities in Bangladesh.

Key Achievements of the Programme
The five-year initiative, implemented in Mirpur, Mohammadpur (Dhaka North City Corporation), and Saidpur Municipality, achieved remarkable progress:
1. Sanitary toilet usage surged from 10% to 69% among low-income urban households.
2. Access to safe water increased from 51% to 80%.
3. Sanitary pad usage among women rose from 53% to 90%.
4. Antenatal care coverage (4+ visits) improved from 45% to 71%, while postnatal care coverage doubled from 21% to 49%.
5. 94% of households now have access to clean drinking water.
6. Mosquito control efforts expanded from 54% to 85% in target areas.

VAALO’s Role in the Project
VAALO avant-garde Ltd. conducted the endline survey of this impactful project, which benefited over 200,000 urban residents. Dr. Nazneen Akhter, Managing Director of VAALO, delivered the keynote presentation, sharing critical insights from the survey, project impacts, and recommendations for future scaling.

Highlights from the Workshop
The event brought together 100+ stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, NGOs, and community representatives. Key discussions included:
• Brigadier General Imru-al-Quais Chowdhury, Chief Health Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Chief Guest, emphasized the economic returns of WASH investments-every dollar spent yields $4.30 in benefits. He stressed the need for institutional collaboration to sustain progress.
• Dr. Shayla Islam, Associate Director of BRAC Health Programme, highlighted improvements in postnatal care and tuberculosis management, crediting community engagement as a key driver of behavioral change.
• Md. Arif Shahid, Country Coordinator of KAAP at IsDB, advocated for co-financing strategies with community contributions to ensure sustainability.
• Dr. Md. Liakath Ali, Director of BRAC’s Climate Change and Urban Development Programme, underscored the need to institutionalize the programme’s outcomes for long-term impact.

Community Voices & Way Forward
Community representatives from Dhaka and Saidpur shared their experiences, reinforcing the importance of inclusive dialogue and collaborative action in addressing urban health challenges. The workshop concluded with a call to scale up successful interventions and strengthen partnerships for resilient urban health systems.

VAALO avant-garde Ltd. is honored to contribute to this milestone in strengthening Bangladesh’s health and WASH infrastructure. The findings from this initiative will guide future policies and interventions to improve living conditions in urban slums.

Successful Completion of Field Visit – Endline Assessment Under Rehabilitation Program of BRAC

Consultancy and Technical Work 02Jun

VAALO avant-garde Ltd. has successfully completed the field visit and data collection of the Endline Assessment of Integrated Health, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Services under the Rehabilitation Program for the Upliftment of Ultra-Poor Slum Dwellers for BRAC.

1. Saidpur (Nilphamari District): 18–23 May 2025
2. Mirpur & Mohammadpur (Dhaka City): 26 May–2 June 2025

The fieldwork was conducted across three key urban locations, engaging directly with community members to gather valuable insights on access to health, WASH, solid waste management, and socio-economic development services. A team of 10 committed professionals from VAALO, including experienced field researchers and technical experts, led this effort with diligence and professionalism.

This phase marks a critical step in generating community-driven evidence to inform the final assessment report. We extend our sincere gratitude to the participating communities, local stakeholders, and our dedicated team for their support and cooperation.

VAALO Facilitates HR & Finance Policy Review Workshop for NGDO

Consultancy and Technical Work 29Apr

As part of our continued commitment to strengthening institutional systems and promoting good governance, VAALO avant-garde Ltd. successfully conducted a comprehensive HR and Finance Policy Review Orientation Workshop for the National Grassroots Disability Organization (NGDO) on April 28, 2025, at the DISHA Training Centre, Mirpur-12, Dhaka.

This workshop was a key component of VAALO’s consultancy and technical support under the "Action for Change Bangladesh" project, funded by CBM UK. VAALO was engaged as the lead facilitator and policy consultant to guide the process of reviewing, revising, and validating NGDO’s core HR and finance policies.

Through in-depth consultation with NGDO’s leadership and relevant teams, VAALO led the development of updated policy drafts aligned with organizational values, operational realities, and compliance with national and donor standards. The orientation workshop served as a validation forum where Executive Committee (EC) members and stakeholders provided critical feedback on the revised drafts.

The session not only ensured participatory review but also strengthened stakeholder ownership of the updated policies—an essential step for effective implementation and sustainable organizational development.

VAALO avant-garde Ltd. is proud to have played a central role in facilitating this process, reaffirming our mission to provide creative and impactful solutions for humane development, innovation, and institutional strengthening.

VAALO Completes Data Collection for BRAC Outcome Survey in 13 Camps

Consultancy and Technical Work 25Mar

On March 16-25, 2025, as part of BRAC’s ongoing initiative titled “Addressing Gaps in Refugee Access to Health in Cox’s Bazar,” the VAALO avant-garde Ltd. team has successfully completed field visits to 13 targeted camps within Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas. The visits mark a significant step forward in conducting the Outcome Survey designed to assess the current status, challenges, and opportunities in health service access among the Rohingya refugee population.

The targeted camps under Ukhiya Upazila included: Camps 1E, 1W, 2E, 7, 8E, 8W, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16. In Teknaf Upazila, the VAALO team visited Camp 22.

Prior to the commencement of fieldwork, VAALO provided training to the data enumerators on quantitative data collection on 17th March 2025 at the Hotel Bay View conference room in Cox’s Bazar. The training aimed to equip enumerators with the necessary tools, techniques, and ethical considerations required for high-quality data collection in humanitarian settings.

Throughout the field visits, the VAALO team engaged with key stakeholders, health workers, and community members to collect critical data. This process is aimed at evaluating health outcomes and service gaps, while identifying ways to strengthen community-level health systems within the humanitarian response framework.

The Outcome Survey is a part of BRAC’s broader effort to ensure inclusive and equitable access to essential health services for Rohingya refugees. VAALO's role includes field data collection, analysis, and contributing to evidence-based recommendations to enhance ongoing interventions.

VAALO’s multidisciplinary team applied a participatory approach during the visits, ensuring that community voices are reflected in the survey outcomes. The data gathered will inform future programming and policy decisions aimed at improving health access, with a focus on gender sensitivity, equity, and accountability.

The fieldwork also aligns with VAALO's commitment to working in solidarity with humanitarian actors and affected communities to promote sustainable and transformative development solutions.

VAALO Leads Update of Health National Adaptation Plan-2024

Consultancy and Technical Work 07Mar

VAALO avant-garde Ltd has successfully completed and submitted the final version of the updated Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP)-2024, Bangladesh, marking a key milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen health resilience in the face of climate change.

The update process began in April 2024 and the initial version was submitted in August 2024. Following a detailed review, the World Health Organization (WHO) Bangladesh provided technical feedback, which was carefully addressed by VAALO’s team. The final version was officially submitted in February 2025.

VAALO avant-garde Ltd, through its team of consultants and technical expert, led the entire revision process of the updated HNAP — from document reviews to stakeholder consultations and final drafting — with technical support from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Bangladesh. The revised plan reflects Bangladesh’s evolving climate-health context and outlines strategic adaptation measures to address emerging health challenges.

The updated HNAP incorporates recent climate-health evidence, identifies emerging risks, and outlines new adaptation priorities for the health sector. It draws on national expertise and input from NGOs, technical experts, and government officials, ensuring broad-based participation and alignment with global best practices.

The final plan includes a clear implementation and monitoring framework, paving the way for coordinated action across sectors.

HNAP 2024 marks a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s journey toward a climate-resilient health system.