Brief Concept
Urbanisation greatly influences health in the twenty-first century. Currently, over 55% of the global population lives in cities, and this is predicted to increase to 68% by 2050. However, the 4.2 billion people living in urban areas face various challenges such as inadequate housing, transportation, sanitation, waste management, and poor air quality. Additionally, there are other forms of pollution like noise, water and soil contamination, urban heat islands and a lack of space. These factors not only contribute to the spread of noncommunicable diseases but also worsen/exacerbate the direct and indirect impacts of climate change (WHO, 2024).
Recent global occurrences, including the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, rising debt levels, and challenges related to food and energy security, have disproportionately affected the Global South. The specific priorities and requirements of these countries often go unnoticed on the world stage. With the ongoing climate crisis, challenges to urban health equity will only multiply if transformative rights and justice-based approaches to achieving equity are implemented in local, regional and global scales.
Bangladesh is classified as a lower-middle-income country and has an urban population of about 57 million. It is expected that by 2050, the proportion of the urban population in Bangladesh will increase to 56%. In a rapidly urbanising landscape, there are a multitude of obstacles, especially for vulnerable communities. For over 1.8 million people residing in Dhaka’s urban slums daily life is characterised by a lack of basic needs and access to rights - congested living spaces, disrupted access to clean water, and poor waste management (BBS 2022; Mohit, 2012). In addition, the experiences of people living and working in informal settlements is also shaped by intersecting axes of inequity, such as gender, age, disability and citizenship and there is a need to ensure action in these areas that prioritise equity, justice and human rights.
Thus, with the purpose of establishing a collective platform for discussions, learning and sharing on the concerns, interests, and priorities related to urban health and equity that impact the Global South, the “EquiCity 2024” conference is being organised by BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, the International Society of Urban Health (ISUH), and the Accountability and Responsiveness in Informal Settlements for Equity (ARISE consortium)
About the Organisers
BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University
BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), BRAC University, was founded by Late Sir Fazle Hasan Abed in 2004 in Dhaka, Bangladesh to address the unmet public health challenges particular to Asia, Africa, and South America. The School is dedicated to contributing to public health by creating public health leaders and innovative solutions through cutting-edge and experiential Education, Training, Research, and Advocacy. BRAC JPGSPH envisions being the leading global public health institute for the world’s pressing health challenges affecting disadvantaged communities. The School builds capacity and contributes to Public Health by preparing individuals to become public health leaders, practitioners, critical thinkers, researchers, advocates, and stewards to enable concrete changes to improve the lives of disadvantaged populations locally, regionally and internationally. The School’s Institutional partner is BRAC, the world’s largest NGO, reaching over 100 million people in Bangladesh and working in 11 countries in Africa and Asia.
BRAC JPGSPH is celebrating its 20 years anniversary. Find out more about it
Learn more about the School herePHASE Nepal
PHASE (Practical Help Achieving Self-Empowerment) Nepal is a Nepali non-governmental organization registered under the Organization Registration Act 2034 of Nepal with the District Administration Office (DAO), Kathmandu (Regd. No. 531/062/063) and is affiliated with the Social Welfare Council (SWC) under section 13 of the Social Welfare Act, 1992 (SWC affiliation No. 19336) in February 2006. Their mission is to improve the quality of life of rural people by providing immediate support through health care and education services, creating opportunities for livelihoods and self-empowerment, and enhancing risk reduction and better preparedness for shocks and disasters.
PHASE Nepal’s (PN) integrated development projects incorporate healthcare, education and livelihood components to promote holistic development of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations across the country with support from various, national and international partners. PN has been working to improve health, education, and livelihood of deprived communities at extremely remote areas with scant resources, harsh climate, difficult terrain, and limited or no access to basic services, since its inception in 2006. PN also successfully contributed to the relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts at areas impacted by the mega-earthquake of April 2015. PN has been providing immediate relief to the communities affected by disasters in its project areas and also implemented risk mitigation works where resources are available. PN has expanded its research activities in different areas, such as health, nutrition, livelihoods, pandemic and disaster resilience since 2016.
BRAC JPGSPH is celebrating its 20 years anniversary. Find out more about it
Learn more about the School hereInternational Society of Urban Health
The International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) was founded by The New York Academy of Medicine in 2002. It has become the only global non-governmental organization solely focused on advancing urban health and health equity by addressing the broader determinants of health. Through its annual global conference and program activities, the ISUH serves as a platform for interdisciplinary academic researchers and educators, practitioners and policymakers from multiple sectors in government and the private sector – NGOs and business – to learn from each other and advance evidence and action that improves urban health.
Learn moreARISE consortium
Launched in January 2019, the ARISE (Accountability and Responsiveness in Informal Settlements for Equity) Hub is an interdisciplinary, multi-country research consortium dedicated to addressing the complex development challenges of ill-health, inequity, and insecurity in informal urban settlements in low- and middle-income countries. Funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the ARISE Hub collaborates with ten partners from the global South and North. The project engages with the most marginalised dwellers in Bangladesh, Kenya, India, and Sierra Leone, supporting them in identifying their priorities and making their conditions visible to key service providers. Through innovative community-based participatory research methods, the ARISE Hub co-produces knowledge and evidence to inform policies and practices that improve health and well-being for marginalised people living in informal urban settlements.
ARISE Bangladesh is led by BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), BRAC University under the Centre of Excellence for Urban Equity and Health (CUEH). The community mobilisation activities are done in partnership with BRAC Urban Development Program (BRAC UDP) and NGO Forum for public health. The target population for the research included marginalised dwellers in informal urban settlements; including extreme poor households, women-headed households, pregnant women, people with disabilities, etc. The study sites included 5 informal settlements in 3 cities (Dhaka, Khulna, and Satkhira). The key interventions and health initiatives which were carried out in the study sites included construction of drain systems, footpath, communal toilets, and deep tubewell, benefitting over 400 households. Interventions also included health awareness and COVID-19 response campaigns including setting up handwashing stations, distributing face masks, implementing health camps and vaccination registration drives, registering residents for COVID-19 vaccination.
Central to ARISE’s success was the active involvement of 11 community researchers (8 females and 3 males) from 9 informal urban settlements. These researchers received extensive training, enabling them to contribute effectively to the research process and facilitating their personal and professional growth. They participated in developing and refining data collection tools, ensuring questions were accessible and relevant, and conducted fieldwork to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Additionally, they engaged in stakeholder meetings at various levels. Acting as liaisons between the community and the research team, the researchers provided valuable insights, ensured the community’s voice was heard, and their efforts in organizing and facilitating data collection activities significantly enhanced community trust and participation.
The ARISE project led to substantial improvements in community health, infrastructure, education, and economic opportunities:
- Health and Wellbeing: Increased healthcare access and awareness resulted in better health outcomes. Community capacity building significantly strengthened the community’s ability to address health challenges.
- Infrastructure: Enhanced sanitation, drainage systems, and water access improved living conditions and reduced health risks.
- Training and Empowerment: Awareness programs and training empowered over 200 individuals, fostering social mobility and economic independence.
- Community Leadership: Community researchers gained social recognition and leadership roles.