Empowering Communities, Driving Change

A non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable development through research, advocacy, and community engagement.

Introduction

The Empowerment and Progress Research Center (EPRC) is a non-profit organization committed to fostering sustainable development across various sectors. Through rigorous research, strategic advocacy, and active community participation, we address critical challenges and promote positive change. Our work spans multiple domains, including water and sanitation, environmental sustainability, agricultural development, livelihood enhancement, health improvement, disaster resilience, educational advancement, human rights advocacy, and renewable energy solutions.

Our Programs and Research

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

EPRC identifies key challenges in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, particularly in rural and flood-prone regions. Access to safe drinking water remains a critical issue, with millions affected by groundwater contamination from arsenic and saline intrusion. In urban slums, inadequate sanitation facilities contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases, while poor waste management and limited hygiene education exacerbate public health risks. The monsoon season further disrupts water and sanitation infrastructure, deepening these challenges. Despite efforts by the government and various NGOs to address these issues, significant gaps remain in infrastructure, funding, and public awareness, hindering the achievement of sustainable improvements in WASH services across the country.

To address those challenges EPRC is contributing to:

  • Drinking Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in rural and urban areas.
  • Conducts pioneering research and implements initiatives aimed at developing safe drinking water supplies and water safety plans.
  • Planning and screening for arsenic contamination and marking tube wells.
  • Water quality test and analysis.
  • Conduct Community Situation Analyses (CSA), water points feasibility studies, equity-based site selection and compiling WASH inventories.
  • Providing training and capacity building on operation and maintenance (O&M) of various kinds of WASH technologies.

Environmental Sustainability

The living environment faces significant challenges due to rapid urbanization, overcrowding, and environmental degradation. Many urban areas, particularly Dhaka, struggle with inadequate housing, poor sanitation, and limited access to clean water, leading to health risks. Air pollution is a severe issue, worsened by industrial emissions and traffic congestion. Rural areas also grapple with environmental concerns like soil erosion, flooding, and waterlogging. Climate change further exacerbates these problems, with rising sea levels and extreme weather events displacing communities. Inadequate waste management, deforestation, and lack of green spaces compound the environmental crisis, affecting overall quality of life.

Thus, EPRC is implementing the activities below:

  • Solid Waste Management
  • Fecal Sludge Management (FSM)
  • Air Quality Monitoring
  • Waste Water Management
  • Integrated Water Resources

Agriculture and Food Security

Agriculture and food security in Bangladesh face multiple challenges, including climate change, flooding, erratic weather patterns, and soil degradation, which impact crop yields. The majority of farmers rely on monsoon-fed irrigation, making them vulnerable to droughts and irregular rainfall. Land fragmentation, inadequate access to modern farming technology, and poor infrastructure further limit agricultural productivity. Food insecurity remains a concern, particularly in rural areas, due to poverty and unequal access to resources. Despite progress in improving rice production, nutrition issues persist, with malnutrition affecting large portions of the population. Sustainable agricultural practices and better policy interventions are urgently needed.

Therefore, EPRC is doing:

  • Promotion of high yielding crops
  • Application of safe, secure and standard fertilizer, pesticides and insecticides
  • Promotion of Green Technology in quest of reducing overexploitation of ground water and energy
  • Promotion of organic farming
  • Optimum use of land by crops diversity

Livelihood Enhancement

Livelihood challenges are primarily driven by poverty, limited access to resources, and vulnerability to natural disasters in Bangladesh. Many people depend on agriculture, which is increasingly affected by climate change, floods, and soil degradation. Urban migration has led to overcrowded cities with limited job opportunities, especially in informal sectors. Education and skills gaps further hinder access to better-paying jobs. Women, rural communities, and marginalized groups face additional barriers, including limited social protection and unequal economic opportunities. Despite government and NGO efforts to support rural livelihoods and create economic opportunities, sustainable development remains a significant challenge.

Therefore, EPRC is operating following activities:

  • Livestock Rearing & Management
  • Promotion of ICT education
  • Handicrafts & tailoring
  • Small Business
  • Grocery Shop
  • Fisheries, Sericulture, Apiculture and etc.

Health Improvement​

Preventive and public health initiatives focus on reducing disease burden through vaccination, hygiene, sanitation, and health education. In Bangladesh, nutrition remains a key concern, with efforts aimed at combating malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, especially among children and women. Reproductive health services are improving, yet challenges remain in access to maternal care, family planning, and awareness. Child health programs emphasize immunization, nutrition, and reducing infant mortality. Occupational health and safety standards are often underdeveloped, particularly in informal sectors like textiles and agriculture, leading to workplace hazards. Government and NGO programs are working to address these issues, but systemic improvements are needed.

In this sector, EPRC is conducting the activities below:

  • Operate make shift clinic for OPD services of pregnant women, lactating mothers, aged person and girls of under privileged group of the society.
  • Conduct public health awareness campaign among root level health workers, students, teachers and LGI members.
  • Assessment of occupational health safety and measures to be taken.
  • Awareness raising on nutrition and reproductive health among mothers and adolescent girls.
  • Promotion of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) education and safe disposal of pads or stuffs.
  • Awareness raising on communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Disaster and Climate Change Resilience

Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to disasters exacerbated by climate change, including floods, cyclones, and river erosion. Its low-lying geography, dense population, and reliance on agriculture make it particularly susceptible to rising sea levels, erratic monsoons, and extreme weather events. Coastal areas face increasing salinity, affecting freshwater sources and livelihoods. Frequent cyclones cause widespread destruction, displacing millions. The country is taking adaptive measures, such as building resilient infrastructure and improving early warning systems, but urgent global action on climate change is crucial for long-term survival and sustainable development.

Regarding this, EPRC is functioning in the following fields:

  • Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
  • Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
  • Networking at the national level through different HCCT

Educational Advancement

In Bangladesh, underprivileged groups face significant barriers to accessing education, with challenges in general, technical, and religious education. General education for marginalized communities often suffers from inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, and socio-economic barriers. Technical education is limited, though initiatives like vocational training programs aim to provide skills for employment. Religious education is more accessible, especially through madrasas, which offer both religious and basic education, but often lack modern curricula and facilities. Despite efforts by NGOs and government programs to improve access, systemic issues persist, hindering educational equity for the country’s disadvantaged populations. Graduation and post-graduation research in Bangladesh face challenges like inadequate funding, limited access to modern research facilities, and lack of mentorship. Students often struggle with poor infrastructure, outdated resources, and insufficient academic support, hindering the quality and scope of their research, despite increasing academic interest in higher studies.

To address those challenges EPRC is actively doing education program in the following fields:

  • Nonformal education for dropout children
  • Technical education
  • Research work for graduation or post-graduation students from Bangladesh and other countries
  • Operate an Islamic institution

Human Rights Advocacy

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a serious issue, with widespread cases of eve-teasing, domestic violence, public sexual harassment, and trafficking. Social norms, gender inequality, and weak law enforcement perpetuate violence, particularly in rural areas. Eve-teasing is rampant in public spaces, and women often face harassment in both domestic and workplace settings. Domestic violence remains underreported due to cultural stigma and a lack of support systems. Trafficking of women, children, and adolescent girls for forced labor and sexual exploitation is a growing concern. Despite legal reforms and advocacy, cultural barriers and limited victim support hinder effective prevention and justice.

To address this challenges, EPRC is conducting:

  • Awareness and motivational campaign in local schools, colleges, CSO and Union council to redress gender-based violence (GBV); eve-teasing, domestic and public sexual harassments as well as trafficking in women, children and adolescent girl.

Renewable Energy Solutions

Domestic cooking energy is primarily reliant on traditional biomass sources like wood, charcoal, and crop residues, leading to indoor air pollution, health issues, and deforestation. Access to cleaner cooking technologies, such as LPG or improved cookstoves, remains limited in rural areas of Bangladesh due to high costs and inadequate infrastructure. Solar energy holds significant potential, but challenges include the high upfront cost, lack of awareness, and limited reach in remote areas. Although solar adoption has increased, particularly for lighting, widespread use for cooking and electricity generation is hindered by financing barriers, technical limitations, and insufficient policy support.

Regarding this, EPRC is working on the following fields:

  • Cow dung/Poultry Litter Feed Bio-gas plant
  • Promotion of Energy Efficient Improved Cooking Stove
  • Promotion of Solar Energy

Networking and Collaboration

Networking and Collaboration

Networking is crucial for research-based NGOs to enhance their impact and sustainability. Collaboration with government agencies, international organizations, academia, and local communities enables access to diverse resources, expertise, and funding. It fosters knowledge exchange, strengthens advocacy efforts, and promotes the sharing of best practices. Effective networking also helps NGOs stay updated on relevant policies and research developments, ensuring their initiatives are aligned with national priorities. Additionally, partnerships can amplify the scale and effectiveness of interventions, increasing the likelihood of achieving long-term social change and influencing public policy on critical issues like health, education, and the environment.

Therefore, EPRC is maintaining the network with:

  • Development Partners
  • GOs/NGOs/INGOs
  • Research Institutes
  • Universities
  • Private organizations
  • GARNET-SA

Overview of GARNET-SA:

The Global Applied Research Network -South Asia (GARNET-SA) is one of the EPRC’s programs and its global coordination is conducted by EPRC in collaboration with an Advisory Committee. The main objective of the network is to build capacity of the professionals/practitioners based on exchange of applied research related information on drinking water, sanitation, environment, agriculture, and climate change adaptation. It is a member demand-based network. The specific activities and topics of interests are updated /modified according to the suggestions of the members. It is a voluntary and open-to-all knowledge exchange initiative organized by local and international professionals.

The network advisory committee comprised of representatives from Bangladesh Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO), Department of Environment (DOE) World Health Organization Bangladesh, UNICEF Bangladesh, BCSIR, WEDC, Loughborough University UK, OSAKA, Japan, Indian Institute of Bio-Social Research and Development (IBRAD), All India Institute of Public Health and John Hopkins University USA. Recently GARNET-SA India has been launched by Indian Institute of Bio-Social Research and Development (IBRAD). Professor S. B. Roy, Chairman of IBRAD is coordinating it in collaboration with Dr Bilqis Amin Hoque.

The GARNET-SA began functioning formally in Bangladesh in April, 1992. It was launched by a group of professionals from ICDDRB, UNICEF, Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Department of Disaster Management (DDM), DFID, WHO, Bangladesh Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (BCSIR), Agency for Social, Forestry & Environmental Conservation (ASFEC), Development Association for Cooperation in Bangladesh (DACOB), CARE Bangladesh, following a workshop on “Mobilization of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) in water supply and sanitation” in BRAC Auditorium Rajendrapur on April 12-13, 1992. The GARNET-Bangladesh joined the global GARNET by the Water Engineering and Development Center (WEDC) at Loughborough University, UK and The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) in 1995.

The Network then scaled-up its activities to South Asia and international level in 1997 in collaboration with WEDC (as GARNET-SA). The secretariat of GARNET-SA moved from ICDDRB to EPRC in 2000. Currently there are approximately 600 organization members from different kinds of organizations in Bangladesh and other countries in South Asia, USA, UK and Japan. The memberships are offered to different organizations. Individuals can become members in specified cases. Application forms can be obtained from EPRC offices and this website. Dr. Bilqis Amin Hoque was the Coordinator/Principal Investigator of the network since its formation until her death in August 01, 2023. Now the network is coordinated by Dr. M Mozzammel Hoque, Executive President, EPRC.