Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Policy

Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF)

Head Office: Sayman Road, Cox’s Bazar-4700, Bangladesh

Established: 2010

Registration Deed No.: 17789, Chittagong Government Registrar, Court Building, Lal Dighi, Chittagong

Effective Date: 01 January 2010

Last Updated: 16 September 2026

1. Introduction

Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF) is committed to promoting equality, dignity, inclusion, fairness, and respect in all aspects of its organizational activities. BNF recognizes that people may experience different opportunities, responsibilities, risks, barriers, and access to resources based on gender and other social, economic, cultural, personal, or contextual factors. These differences can affect participation in conservation, climate resilience, livelihoods, education, research, employment, decision-making, and community development.

BNF therefore seeks to ensure that its programs and organizational practices are inclusive and that no person is unfairly excluded, disadvantaged, harassed, or treated adversely because of their gender or another protected or otherwise irrelevant personal characteristic. This policy establishes BNF’s commitment to gender equality and non-discrimination across its governance, employment, projects, research, community engagement, partnerships, procurement, communications, and other activities.

2. Purpose

The purposes of this policy are to:

  • promote equality of opportunity and participation;
  • prevent discrimination, harassment, exclusion, and unfair treatment;
  • strengthen meaningful participation of women and people of all genders;
  • integrate gender considerations into BNF’s programs and projects;
  • promote safe, respectful, and inclusive working and community environments;
  • support equitable access to project benefits and opportunities;
  • identify and reduce gender-related barriers;
  • ensure fair employment and professional opportunities;
  • promote inclusive decision-making;
  • protect the dignity and rights of individuals participating in BNF activities; and
  • strengthen accountability for gender equality and non-discrimination.

3. Scope

This policy applies to all BNF activities and to individuals associated with the organization, including:

  • General Committee members;
  • Executive Committee members;
  • management;
  • employees and project personnel;
  • consultants and technical experts;
  • researchers;
  • volunteers and interns;
  • contractors and suppliers;
  • partner organizations;
  • community representatives;
  • project participants and beneficiaries; and
  • other persons involved in or affected by BNF activities.

The policy applies to activities conducted at BNF offices, project sites, communities, training venues, research locations, meetings, workshops, field activities, online platforms, and other settings connected with BNF.

4. Core Principles

BNF’s approach to gender equality and non-discrimination is based on the following principles.

4.1 Equality

People should have fair opportunities to participate, contribute, access resources, develop their capabilities, and benefit from BNF activities.

4.2 Non-Discrimination

BNF does not support unfair discrimination, exclusion, harassment, or adverse treatment based on gender or other irrelevant personal characteristics.

4.3 Inclusion

BNF seeks to include people who may face barriers to participation, particularly where social, economic, cultural, geographic, disability-related, or other circumstances affect access to opportunities.

4.4 Dignity and Respect

Every individual involved with BNF should be treated with dignity, professionalism, courtesy, and respect.

4.5 Participation

BNF promotes meaningful participation in planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and decision-making.

4.6 Equity

Equal treatment does not always mean identical treatment. Where appropriate, BNF may adopt reasonable measures to address identified barriers and enable equitable participation.

4.7 Accountability

Gender equality and non-discrimination are organizational responsibilities and should be reflected in management decisions, project implementation, and stakeholder engagement.

5. Gender Equality

BNF recognizes gender equality as an important component of sustainable development, conservation, community resilience, and equitable livelihoods. BNF seeks to ensure that women and people of all genders have meaningful opportunities to:

  • participate in project planning;
  • contribute to community decision-making;
  • access training and capacity development;
  • participate in livelihood activities;
  • access appropriate project resources and services;
  • contribute to environmental and natural-resource management;
  • participate in research and knowledge development;
  • access employment and professional opportunities;
  • participate in leadership and committees; and
  • benefit fairly from project outcomes.

BNF will consider gender-related barriers during project design and implementation rather than treating gender as a separate issue only after activities have been planned.

6. Gender Mainstreaming in Programs and Projects

Where relevant to a project, BNF will integrate gender considerations throughout the project cycle. This may include:

  • gender-sensitive needs assessments;
  • identifying gender-related barriers;
  • considering different roles and responsibilities;
  • ensuring meaningful consultation with women and other relevant groups;
  • considering access to resources and decision-making;
  • incorporating gender-responsive activities;
  • monitoring participation and benefits;
  • collecting appropriate sex-disaggregated data where useful and ethical; and
  • adapting activities when monitoring identifies unequal access or unintended impacts.

Gender considerations will be proportionate to the nature, scale, location, and objectives of each project.

7. Women and Community Participation

BNF recognizes the important role of women in household livelihoods, natural-resource management, environmental stewardship, community resilience, and local decision-making. In relevant programs, BNF may support:

  • women’s participation in community organizations;
  • women’s leadership and decision-making;
  • skills development;
  • livelihood diversification;
  • small enterprise development;
  • market access;
  • alternative livelihoods;
  • financial and business capacity;
  • environmental education;
  • climate adaptation activities; and
  • participation in conservation and natural-resource management.

Participation will be based on the needs and context of each community and will avoid treating women or any other group as a single, uniform category.

8. Non-Discrimination

BNF does not permit unfair discrimination in employment, recruitment, project participation, training, procurement, partnerships, research, community engagement, or access to organizational opportunities. Depending on the context, discrimination may involve unfair treatment based on characteristics such as:

  • gender;
  • sex;
  • age;
  • disability;
  • socioeconomic circumstances;
  • family or caregiving responsibilities;
  • geographic or community background;
  • educational or professional background;
  • or other characteristics unrelated to a person’s legitimate role or eligibility.

BNF will consider applicable legal and organizational requirements when addressing discrimination concerns.

9. Recruitment and Employment

BNF aims to maintain fair and transparent employment practices. Recruitment and selection should be based on relevant qualifications, skills, experience, suitability, integrity, and legitimate organizational requirements. BNF will seek to avoid:

  • discriminatory recruitment criteria;
  • gender-based exclusion without legitimate justification;
  • unequal access to employment opportunities;
  • discriminatory compensation practices;
  • unfair denial of training or professional development;
  • harassment or hostile conduct; and
  • retaliation against persons raising legitimate concerns.

Where appropriate and lawful, BNF may take reasonable measures to address identified barriers to participation and professional development.

10. Equal Opportunity in Professional Development

BNF seeks to provide fair access to:

  • training;
  • workshops;
  • professional development;
  • research opportunities;
  • leadership responsibilities;
  • field assignments;
  • project responsibilities; and
  • other legitimate professional opportunities.

Selection should be based on transparent and relevant criteria while taking into account reasonable inclusion considerations.

11. Prevention of Harassment and Gender-Based Misconduct

BNF does not tolerate harassment, intimidation, humiliation, or abusive conduct connected with gender or another personal characteristic. Prohibited conduct may include:

  • unwanted sexual attention;
  • sexual harassment;
  • gender-based insults;
  • degrading or humiliating comments;
  • threatening behavior;
  • repeated unwanted conduct;
  • inappropriate physical contact;
  • sexually suggestive communication;
  • discriminatory jokes or remarks;
  • circulation of offensive material; and
  • other conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or unsafe environment.

Serious safeguarding concerns, including sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment, should also be handled under BNF’s Safeguarding Policy.

12. Gender-Based Violence

BNF recognizes gender-based violence as a serious concern that can affect individuals and communities. BNF will seek to ensure that its activities do not contribute to violence, exploitation, abuse, intimidation, or coercion. Where relevant, project planning may consider:

  • safety risks;
  • safe access to project activities;
  • privacy and confidentiality;
  • safe participation in field activities;
  • referral pathways;
  • safeguarding measures; and
  • risks associated with unequal power relationships.

BNF personnel should not attempt to investigate sensitive allegations beyond their responsibilities. Appropriate concerns should be referred through established safeguarding or reporting mechanisms.

13. Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Groups

BNF recognizes that gender-related inequality may overlap with poverty, disability, age, geographic isolation, social exclusion, disaster exposure, or other circumstances. In relevant programs, BNF may therefore consider the needs and barriers experienced by:

  • women from economically disadvantaged households;
  • persons with disabilities;
  • older people;
  • children and young people;
  • socially or economically marginalized groups;
  • disaster-affected households;
  • people living in remote or underserved areas; and
  • other groups facing identified barriers.

Any special measures should be appropriate to the project context and designed to improve equitable access rather than create unjustified exclusion.

14. Children and Young People

BNF recognizes the importance of protecting children and young people from discrimination, exploitation, abuse, harassment, and other harm. Children should be treated with dignity and their participation in BNF activities should be appropriate to their age, circumstances, and best interests. Activities involving children must also follow BNF’s Safeguarding Policy and applicable project-specific procedures.

15. Disability Inclusion

BNF seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities are not unnecessarily excluded from organizational or project activities. Where reasonably practicable and appropriate, BNF may consider:

  • accessible venues;
  • communication needs;
  • physical access;
  • reasonable participation arrangements;
  • accessible information; and
  • alternative methods of engagement.

Project teams should consider disability inclusion when designing activities that may affect participation.

16. Community Engagement

BNF seeks to engage communities in a manner that is respectful, inclusive, and culturally appropriate. Community consultations should, where relevant:

  • provide meaningful opportunities for women to participate;
  • consider meeting times and locations that create unnecessary barriers;
  • use understandable communication;
  • recognize different community roles and responsibilities;
  • provide appropriate opportunities for marginalized participants to express concerns; and
  • avoid allowing a small group to speak on behalf of all community members without appropriate consultation.

BNF will seek to understand local circumstances rather than applying a uniform approach to every community.

17. Access to Project Benefits

BNF seeks to ensure that project benefits are distributed fairly according to project objectives and eligibility criteria. Benefits may include:

  • training;
  • livelihood support;
  • technical assistance;
  • enterprise development;
  • conservation opportunities;
  • employment;
  • access to knowledge;
  • capacity development; and
  • participation in community initiatives.

Where monitoring identifies significant barriers or unequal access, BNF may consider corrective measures.

18. Gender Equality in Conservation and Natural Resource Management

BNF recognizes that women and men may have different roles, responsibilities, knowledge, and levels of access to natural resources. Relevant conservation and natural-resource management activities may therefore consider:

  • gender-differentiated resource use;
  • access to fisheries, forests, wetlands, coastal resources, and other ecosystems;
  • participation in conservation decisions;
  • local and traditional knowledge;
  • livelihood dependence;
  • climate-related risks; and
  • distribution of project benefits and responsibilities.

This approach supports conservation outcomes while recognizing the social and livelihood dimensions of environmental management.

19. Research and Data

Where BNF conducts or supports research, gender considerations should be incorporated where relevant to the research question. Researchers should consider:

  • appropriate participant inclusion;
  • informed participation;
  • privacy and confidentiality;
  • gender-sensitive data collection;
  • ethical treatment of participants;
  • appropriate use of sex-disaggregated data;
  • avoidance of stereotypes; and
  • responsible interpretation of findings.

Gender-related information should only be collected where it is relevant and appropriate, and should be handled in accordance with applicable research ethics and data-protection requirements.

20. Gender Equality in Monitoring and Evaluation

Where appropriate, BNF projects may monitor:

  • participation by gender;
  • access to project services;
  • training participation;
  • leadership participation;
  • livelihood outcomes;
  • distribution of project benefits;
  • barriers to participation; and
  • unintended gender-related impacts.

Monitoring should focus on meaningful participation and outcomes rather than relying solely on numerical targets.

21. Procurement and Partnerships

BNF expects contractors, consultants, suppliers, and partners working with the organization to respect principles of equality and non-discrimination. Where relevant, BNF may consider whether partners and service providers have appropriate measures for:

  • workplace conduct;
  • non-discrimination;
  • safeguarding;
  • prevention of harassment;
  • fair treatment; and
  • inclusive stakeholder engagement.

Contractual or partnership arrangements may include relevant requirements where appropriate.

22. Communications and Public Information

BNF will seek to communicate about communities, women, men, children, and other groups respectfully and accurately. Communications should avoid:

  • degrading stereotypes;
  • discriminatory language;
  • exploitative representations;
  • unnecessary disclosure of personal information;
  • portraying beneficiaries solely as victims; or
  • using images or stories without appropriate authorization.

Photographs, videos, personal stories, and other communications involving individuals must also follow BNF’s Privacy, Safeguarding, and relevant communications procedures.

23. Complaints and Reporting

Anyone who believes they have experienced or witnessed discrimination, harassment, gender-based misconduct, or another violation of this policy is encouraged to raise the concern through an appropriate BNF reporting channel. Reports may be made through BNF’s:

  • Complaints & Feedback mechanism;
  • Whistleblower mechanism;
  • Safeguarding reporting mechanism; or
  • designated management or governance channel.

Complaints & Feedback: info@bdnature.org

Reports will be handled with appropriate confidentiality, fairness, and sensitivity.

24. Protection Against Retaliation

BNF does not tolerate retaliation against a person who, in good faith:

  • reports discrimination or harassment;
  • raises a gender-related concern;
  • makes a safeguarding report;
  • provides information during an investigation; or
  • participates in an authorized review.

Retaliation may itself constitute a violation of BNF policy and may result in appropriate action.

25. Fair Handling of Complaints

BNF will seek to ensure that complaints and allegations are handled objectively and without predetermined conclusions. Depending on the nature of the matter, BNF may:

  • conduct an initial assessment;
  • take immediate protective measures;
  • refer the matter to the appropriate policy or responsible person;
  • conduct an internal review or investigation;
  • appoint an appropriately independent investigator;
  • take corrective action; or
  • refer the matter to an appropriate authority where necessary.

Both complainants and persons who are the subject of allegations should be treated fairly, while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and safeguarding protections.

26. Responsibilities

General Committee and Executive Committee

The governing bodies provide oversight and support BNF’s commitment to equality, inclusion, and non-discrimination.

Executive Director

The Executive Director is responsible for supporting implementation of this policy across BNF’s organizational and program activities.

Managers and Project Leaders

Managers and project leaders should:

  • promote respectful and inclusive working environments;
  • consider gender and inclusion during project planning;
  • respond appropriately to concerns;
  • prevent discriminatory practices; and
  • ensure relevant personnel understand their responsibilities.

All Personnel

All BNF personnel are expected to:

  • treat others with dignity and respect;
  • avoid discriminatory or harassing conduct;
  • support inclusive participation;
  • raise serious concerns appropriately; and
  • comply with applicable BNF policies.

Partners and Contractors

Partners, consultants, contractors, and suppliers are expected to respect this policy when working with or on behalf of BNF.

27. Training and Awareness

BNF may provide appropriate orientation, training, or awareness activities on:

  • gender equality;
  • non-discrimination;
  • respectful workplace behavior;
  • safeguarding;
  • prevention of harassment;
  • inclusive community engagement;
  • gender-responsive project design; and
  • reporting mechanisms.

Training needs may vary according to the responsibilities and risks associated with different roles and projects.

28. Confidentiality and Privacy

Information concerning complaints, allegations, personal circumstances, or investigations will be handled responsibly. BNF will seek to limit access to sensitive information to individuals with a legitimate need to know and will avoid unnecessary disclosure of personal information. Confidentiality requirements will be balanced with legitimate safeguarding, investigation, organizational, donor, regulatory, and other applicable requirements.

29. Accountability and Monitoring

BNF will periodically review the implementation of this policy and may consider:

  • participation patterns;
  • identified barriers;
  • complaints and reported concerns;
  • project monitoring results;
  • staff and community feedback;
  • training needs;
  • safeguarding risks; and
  • lessons learned.

Where appropriate, BNF may incorporate gender and inclusion indicators into project monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

30. Policy Compliance

Failure to comply with this policy may result in appropriate corrective or disciplinary action, subject to the nature and seriousness of the conduct and applicable BNF procedures. Serious cases involving harassment, exploitation, abuse, fraud, corruption, retaliation, or other misconduct may also be addressed under relevant BNF policies and procedures.

31. Relationship with Other BNF Policies

This policy should be read together with BNF’s broader organizational framework, including:

  • Safeguarding Policy;
  • Whistleblower Policy;
  • Complaints & Feedback Policy;
  • Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy;
  • Conflict of Interest Policy;
  • Environmental & Social Safeguards Policy;
  • Research Ethics and Research Integrity policies;
  • Code of Conduct;
  • Privacy Policy; and
  • other applicable organizational and project-specific policies.

Where policies overlap, BNF will seek to coordinate the relevant procedures appropriately.

32. Policy Review

BNF will periodically review this policy to ensure that it remains appropriate for the organization’s programs, workforce, communities, partnerships, and operating context. The policy may be updated in response to:

  • organizational changes;
  • project experience;
  • stakeholder feedback;
  • identified risks;
  • lessons learned;
  • changes in applicable requirements; or
  • developments in good organizational practice.

33. Commitment Statement

Bangladesh Nature Foundation is committed to creating an organizational and program environment in which people are treated with dignity, have fair opportunities to participate, and are not subjected to unjust discrimination, harassment, exclusion, or retaliation. BNF recognizes that meaningful gender equality requires more than equal participation numbers. It requires attention to barriers, decision-making, access to resources, safety, dignity, and equitable outcomes. Through its governance, conservation, climate, livelihood, research, education, and community development activities, BNF will continue to promote inclusive participation and seek to ensure that its work contributes to equitable and sustainable outcomes for people and nature.

34. Contact

Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF)

Sayman Road, Cox’s Bazar-4700, Bangladesh

General Contact: info@bdnature.org

Complaints & Feedback: info@bdnature.org

Whistleblower/Integrity Reporting: info@bdnature.org

Safeguarding: info@bdnature.org

Website: https://bdnature.org/

Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF) is committed to equality, dignity, inclusion, non-discrimination, meaningful participation, and respect for all people involved in or affected by its work.