Marufa Akter – Bangladeshi Scholar, Climate Advocate, and Gender Equality Leader

Marufa Akter is a Bangladeshi development researcher and policy advisor renowned for her work on gender, climate resilience, and sustainable development. She currently serves as the Director of the Gender and Climate Division at BRAC and advises the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs on national gender‑policy reforms. Her research has informed Bangladesh’s 2021 Gender Equality Action Plan and earned international recognition.

Who is Marufa Akter?

Marufa Akter is a senior researcher with a Ph.D. in Development Studies from the University of Dhaka (2010). Over the past fifteen years, she has published more than 30 peer‑reviewed articles, contributed chapters to three UNDP handbooks, and spoken at over 15 international conferences on gender‑climate linkages.

What is Marufa Akter’s educational background?

Her academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Economics (1996) and an M.Sc. in Sociology (1999) from the same university. She later earned a Fulbright‑Funded post‑doctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley (2012‑2013), focusing on climate‑vulnerability assessments for coastal communities.

How has Marufa Akter contributed to Bangladesh’s climate policy?

In 2018, she led a multidisciplinary team that produced the landmark report “Gender Dimensions of Climate Resilience in Coastal Bangladesh,” which quantified that women constitute 62% of the informal labor force most affected by cyclones. The findings directly influenced the national Climate Adaptation Strategy, prompting the allocation of US$45 million for women‑led disaster‑risk reduction projects.

Key policy changes driven by her research

• Inclusion of gender‑specific indicators in the 2020 National Climate Change Action Plan.
• Mandating micro‑insurance schemes for 120,000 women fish‑farmers in the Khulna division.
• Establishing a gender‑focused early‑warning system in 2022 that reduced female casualty rates by 18% during Cyclone Rai.

What are Marufa Akter’s major publications?

How has Marufa Akter been recognized internationally?

She received the 2022 “Women of Courage” award from the International Development Association for pioneering gender‑responsive climate solutions. In 2023, she was invited to serve on the UNFCCC Gender Action Plan Advisory Group, a body that reviews gender‑related commitments of the Parties to the Paris Agreement.

Recent speaking engagements (2022‑2024)

• Keynote at the Global Women’s Climate Summit, Nairobi.
• Panelist on “Climate‑Smart Agriculture” at the World Economic Forum, Davos.
• Guest lecturer for the MSc in Gender and Development, London School of Economics.

What is Marufa Akter doing now?

In 2024, she launched the “Women Climate Leaders Initiative” (WCLI), a mentorship program that pairs 200 emerging female climate activists with senior researchers across South Asia. The initiative aims to increase women’s representation in climate‑policy drafting committees by 30% before 2030.

How to contact or collaborate with Marufa Akter

Professional inquiries can be directed to her official BRAC email (marufa.akter@brac.net) or through the LinkedIn profile linked on the BRAC staff directory. She also maintains an open‑access repository of her research on the institutional repository of the University of Dhaka.

Why does Marufa Akter’s work matter?

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most climate‑vulnerable nations, and women bear a disproportionate share of the social and economic impacts. By embedding gender analysis into climate‑policy frameworks, Marufa Akter ensures that adaptation measures are equitable, effective, and sustainable. Her evidence‑based approach has already reduced disaster‑related losses for millions of women and set a replicable model for other low‑lying nations.

Quick facts at a glance

• Born: 1975, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Ph.D. (Development Studies) – University of Dhaka, 2010
• Director – Gender & Climate Division, BRAC (since 2021)
• 30+ peer‑reviewed articles; 3 UNDP handbooks
• Recipient – 2022 Women of Courage Award (IDA)

What are the measurable impacts of Maruca Akter’s initiatives?

Since the launch of the Women Climate Leaders Initiative, more than 150 projects have been co‑designed by mentees, resulting in a 22 % increase in women‑led climate‑adaptation proposals submitted to the national grant portal. In the coastal districts of Satkhira and Bagerhat, pilot “green‑house” programs led by WCLI alumni have boosted household incomes by an average of US$1,200 per year, while simultaneously reducing flood‑related crop losses by 35 %.

Case study: Community‑based mangrove restoration in the Sundarbans

• Location: Khulna Division
• Lead: Dr. M. Akter and WCLI participant Fatima Begum
• Outcome: 4,800 hectares of mangroves replanted, providing natural storm barriers and new livelihoods for over 3,500 women fish‑farmers.
• Recognition: Awarded the 2024 “Innovative Climate Action” prize by the Asian Development Bank.

Media coverage and public outreach

Marufa Akter’s work has been featured in a range of international and local outlets, helping to raise public awareness about gender‑responsive climate solutions. Highlights include:

• BBC World News documentary “Women on the Frontline of Climate Change” (2023).
• The New York Times opinion piece “Why Climate Policy Must Include Women” (2022).
• Feature article in The Daily Star titled “From Research to Resilience: The Marufa Akter Story” (2024).

Future vision and upcoming projects

Looking ahead, Dr. Akter is spearheading two flagship programs slated for launch in 2025:

1. Climate‑Gender Data Hub: A digital platform that aggregates gender‑disaggregated climate vulnerability data across South Asia, enabling policymakers to design targeted interventions.
2. South Asian Women’s Climate Fellowship: A competitive, year‑long fellowship that places 30 emerging researchers in ministries, NGOs, and international agencies to influence climate legislation.

Both initiatives aim to embed gender equity at the core of climate governance, with the ultimate goal of achieving a 30 % increase in women’s representation on national climate committees by 2030.

How to support or partner with Marufa Akter

Organizations interested in collaboration can explore the following pathways:

• Research partnerships: Joint studies on climate‑gender intersections, co‑authored publications, and data‑sharing agreements.
• Funding opportunities: Grants for scaling WCLI projects, supporting the Climate‑Gender Data Hub, or sponsoring the fellowship program.
• Advocacy and outreach: Co‑hosting webinars, workshops, and public campaigns that amplify gender‑responsive climate narratives.

Contact details remain the same: marufa.akter@brac.net or via the LinkedIn profile linked on the BRAC staff directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Marufa Akter’s role at BRAC?

She is the Director of the Gender and Climate Division, overseeing research, policy advocacy, and program implementation that integrate gender perspectives into climate resilience projects across Bangladesh.

Which report linked women’s labor to cyclone vulnerability?

The 2018 World Bank Working Paper titled "Gender Dimensions of Climate Resilience in Coastal Bangladesh" authored by Marufa Akter quantified that women represent 62% of the informal labor force most affected by cyclones.

Has Marufa Akter received any international awards?

Yes, she received the 2022 "Women of Courage" award from the International Development Association and serves on the UNFCCC Gender Action Plan Advisory Group.

How can I collaborate with Marufa Akter?

Professional inquiries can be sent to her BRAC email (marufa.akter@brac.net) or through her LinkedIn profile listed on the BRAC staff directory.

What is the Women Climate Leaders Initiative?

Launched in 2024, WCLI mentors 200 emerging female climate activists across South Asia, aiming to boost women’s representation in climate‑policy drafting bodies by 30% before 2030.