Runa Khan, Founder of Friendship, has received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as the ‘Nobel Prize of Asia’, in recognition of her remarkable work with char island marginalised communities in Bangladesh.

Hasib Ahsan writes:

“This recognition is particularly meaningful for us in DecouplingIT, as Friendship has been our key partner for the Bangladesh case. Our joint research has been conducted in the remote char (riverine island) communities of northern Bangladesh – the very communities where Friendship’s work began and continues to have a strong presence. Together, we have worked particularly around climate-smart agriculture, climate and health, and the role of digital technologies in addressing the challenges faced by climate-vulnerable communities.

What began with a single hospital ship has grown into a comprehensive development model spanning healthcare, education, climate adaptation, livelihoods, and social inclusion.

It is wonderful to see Runa and Friendship’s long-standing commitment to these communities receive such significant international recognition. On a personal note, it has been a privilege to work with Friendship for the past 15 years and part of the design of their mHealth (Digital Health) system in char areas.”