RESEARCH & EVALUATION
SAJIDA has 25+ years of hands-on experience serving the underprivileged, has laid down a strong foundation for multidisciplinary research activities. In 2020, the research department was established to complement the organisational shift to design evidence-based programmes and impactful interventions. SF research department collaborates with external research consultants to conduct needs, baseline and endline assessment for effective project implementation. Furthermore, SAJIDA research department engages in academic-NGO affiliation with the idea of facilitating community-based research partnerships to co-create new knowledge. SF wants to contribute to drive sector level and national level policy formulation to create an inclusive society
URBAN POOR
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF COVID-19 RETRENCHED GARMENT WORKERS
The needs assessment aimed to understand the current and future livelihood conditions of retrenched workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reveals the vulnerability of RMG workers who have lost jobs. Based on the findings, specific interventions have been recommended to support the workers in the short run and attain sustainable livelihoods in the long run. Click here to read more.
CONCERNS, CHANGES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY THE EXTREME URBAN POOR IN DHAKA AND CHITTAGONG DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
SAJIDA Foundation’s urban poverty team conducted a rapid response survey in order to understand the impact of COVID-19 in order to inform their programming and practice. The survey explored changes in living location, food security, income and employment, violence experienced as well as health status, key concerns, and plans post lockdown. As such, the survey provides a rare insight into the realities of city dwellers who experience extreme economic and social marginality and who are typically excluded from conversations surrounding urban poverty. Click here to read more


CONCERNS, CHANGES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY THE EXTREME URBAN IN DHAKA AND CHITTAGONG DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
SAJIDA Foundation’s urban poverty team conducted a rapid response survey in order to understand the impact of COVID-19 in order to inform their programming and practice. The survey explored changes in living location, food security, income and employment, violence experienced as well as health status, key concerns, and plans post lockdown. As such, the survey provides a rare insight into the realities of city dwellers who experience extreme economic and social marginality and who are typically excluded from conversations surrounding urban poverty. Click here to read more
CONCERNS,CHANGES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY THE EXTREME URBAN POOR IN DHAKA AND CHITTAGONG DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN: JUNE FOLLOW-UP SURVEY
SAJIDA Foundation’s urban poverty team have conducted two rapid response surveys with a cohort of 572 service users of the Amrao Manush project in order to inform their programming and practice in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first survey in April, explored changes in living location, food security, income and employment, violence experienced as well as health status, key concerns and plans post lockdown.
The second survey, two months later, covered key follow-up questions from the first survey, with some additional questions regarding borrowing patterns and how rental payments (if applicable) were being managed. Click here to read more

IMPROVING LIVES OF ORPHAN CHILDREN IN DESTITUTE (ILOD)
The ILOD project was implemented to improve the lives of financially vulnerable orphan children through providing education, health support, access to entitlement. More than one hundred households enrolled in ILOD project participated in a survey that aims to understand their livelihood status, their perception on key social issues and behavioral changes in terms of their children’s education and healthcare throughout the project timeline. The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the impact of the intervention and to understand the future prospects of possible replication of this project. Click here to read more
COVID-19 KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTIONS, AND PRACTICES AND PRACTICES OF THE URBAN EXTREME POOR IN DHAKA AND CHITTAGONG (SURVEY)
SAJIDA Foundation’s Urban Poverty team conducted a Rapid Response Survey (Survey #3) with a group of 515 urban extreme poor who are service users of the ‘Amrao Manush’ project. The Amrao Manush (we are people too) project aims to improve the lives and livelihoods of pavement, squatter and ‘under-developed’ slum dwellers. The survey aimed to investigate the knowledge, perceptions and practices regarding COVID-19 amongst the urban extreme poor in Dhaka and Chittagong. The survey was conducted to ensure SAJIDA’s ongoing project work with the urban extreme poor is evidence-based and responsive to the contextual factors and emergent needs of this population. Click here to read more

HEALTHCARE
SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE, POST-RECOVERY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES AMONGST PATIENTS OF COVID-19 IN BANGLADESH
A mixed-method study aims to investigate the socio-demographic profile of patients of COVID-19 admitted to a hospital dedicated solely to patients with COVID-19. It will also examine the post-recovery consequences of COVID-19 on the physical and mental health of the patients over time after recovery from the last symptom related to COVID-19. Click here to read more
RAPID NEEDS ASSESSMENT ON HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Rapid needs assessments have been conducted in Sunamganj, Netrokona and Manikganj districts to identify the needs and gaps of the existing healthcare system. A mixed method study to unpack the existing health behaviour and belief in the community, existing healthcare service structure, current health problems, health service requirements in the region and community perception of SAJIDA foundation. Click here to read more
MENTAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF FRONTLNIE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, INDIVIDUALS INFECTED WITH COVID-19 AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS
The advent of the novel coronavirus and its subsequent spread across the globe has put people at risk of adverse physiological and psychological risk. To address this multidisciplinary crisis, SAJIDA Foundation conducted a need-based assessment of the mental health status of four groups of individuals in Bangladesh: front-line healthcare workers (FLHW), family members of FLHWs, COVID-infected individuals, and family members of COVID-infected individuals. Using qualitative approach, a semi-structured interview guideline was developed and 65 participants including doctors, lab technicians, nurses and paramedics, cleaners, chauffeurs, and security guards were interviewed at the SAJIDA Foundation COVID-19 hospital in Narayanganj, in July 2020. The study highlights an array of psychological challenges and behavioural changes among participants, Needs and coping strategies of the participants and also recommended support for psychological adjustment for Covid-infected individuals and their families, and FLHW. Click here to read more
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR COVID-19 AFFECTED POPULATION
SAJIDA Foundation, British Asian Trust (BAT) and Psychological Health and Wellness Clinic (PHWC), have taken a set of initiatives focusing on mental health during the COVID-19 crisis. A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the intervention against the intended results. This study measures the impact of the intervention in enabling the mentally vulnerable groups to deal with the COVID-19-induced mental health challenges. It also highlights the underlying factors that contribute to the mental health crisis during the ongoing pandemic Click here to read more
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY AND MANAGEMENT SUPPLEMENTED BY IMPROVED SANITATION SERVICES: AN EVALUATION
A mixed method study aimed to assess WASH program activities by SAJIDA in Jamalpur. Component of the intervention includes Community Water Supply, WASH in Health and WASH in School. The evaluation shared an insight on the effectiveness of the project. It also gives an overview of project’s sustainability and the efficiency. Moreover, the study evaluates how the inputs and resources were utilized in achieving the outputs, the relevance of the project to the priorities and needs of its recipients, and the consistency with the attainment of its overall objective of the project. Click here to read the summary and Click here to read the report
PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES
“Working in the Dark”: Experiences of Frontline Health Workers in Bangladesh During COVID-19 Pandemic
A qualitative study aimed to describe the challenges faced by frontline healthcare workers in Bangladesh in terms of information on COVID-19, managing patients with COVID-19, and what motivated them to continue providing service during the pandemic. The study offers rare insights into the lives of frontline healthcare workers and their experiences amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read more
Sociodemographic, economic, physical, and mental health status of previously hospitalised patients with COVID-19 symptoms in Bangladesh: Protocol for a mixed-method study
Not much is known about the long-term consequences of COVID-19, popularly known as long COVID. This is particularly so in terms of patterns and clusters of symptoms over time, sociodemographic and economic characteristics of patients, and related clinical history. This is crucial for resource-constrained health systems such as Bangladesh to address long COVID as a forthcoming challenge. This protocol aims to investigate the consequences of COVID-19 over time for physical and mental health and how these are associated with demographic and socio-economic factors. Click here to read more
SAJIDA FOUNDATION INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of SAJIDA Foundation is an administrative body formed to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects participating in research activities conducted under SAJIDA Foundation.
The IRB will review all research protocols for ethical compliance following national and international guidelines. It will also critically examine the appropriateness of the research methods proposed to maximize the chances that information, time, and efforts donated by the research participants yield evidence and knowledge for the improvement of human wellbeing in general and those in similar situations as that of research participants in particular. The IRB has the authority to approve, disapprove, monitor, terminate any study, and ask for modifications in all research activities that fall within its jurisdiction.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of SAJIDA Foundation formally starts its journey in 2023. At present, the IRB committee consists of nine experienced and renowned members of varying discipline and background as desired of any IRB.
Research Proposal Form for IRB: Click Here