Who are we
Locally Rooted. Feminist. Community-Led.
Association of Voluntary Actions for Society (AVAS) is a non-profit, non-political and community-based organization working with communities to advance rights, equality, dignity and resilience.
Association of Voluntary Actions for Society (AVAS) is a feminist, community-based development and humanitarian organization headquartered in Barishal, Bangladesh. Since 1998, AVAS has worked alongside communities, local government, civil society organizations and development partners to promote human rights, gender equality, social inclusion, climate resilience and humanitarian action.
Governance & Accountability
AVAS maintains a clear governance and management structure to ensure strategic oversight, compliance, transparency and accountability. The organization is governed by a 21-member General Committee, a 7-member Executive Committee and a 3-member Advisory Committee. The Executive Committee is elected from the General Committee for a three-year tenure and meets quarterly or as required.
Programme implementation is managed through a structured system involving project teams, senior management team, the Executive Committee and relevant stakeholders. The Senior Management Committee, led by the Executive Director and senior officials, meets monthly to review programme progress, coordination, compliance and operational decisions.
AVAS operates through approved institutional policies and guidelines covering human resources, financial management, safeguarding, PSEA, complaints response, whistleblowing, anti-fraud and anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing, cyber security, risk mitigation, environmental governance, do-no-harm and code of conduct.
The organization has designated committees and focal persons for gender, child protection, PSEAH, sexual harassment prevention, emergency response, right to information and safeguarding. These mechanisms strengthen internal accountability and provide clear responsibilities for prevention, response and reporting.
AVAS also maintains an approved Financial Management Policy and an experienced finance team responsible for budgeting, procurement, accounting, disbursement and donor compliance. Annual external audits are conducted by approved audit firms, and project-specific audits are undertaken when required by donors. Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems are used to track progress, collect community feedback, respond to complaints and improve programme quality.
CORE VALUES
Equity
AVAS promotes fairness, dignity and equal opportunities for all, especially women, children, persons with disabilities, minorities and marginalized communities.
Accountability
AVAS ensures transparency, responsible use of resources, compliance with approved policies and accountability to communities, partners and donors.
Inclusion
Ensuring meaningful participation of excluded and vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities and people affected structural and non-structural vulnerabilities.
Integrity
AVAS upholds honesty, ethical practice, safeguarding standards and responsible decision-making across all programmes and institutional operations
Resilience
AVAS strengthens the capacity of communities to adapt, recover and lead sustainable solutions in the face of poverty, climate risk, disaster and social vulnerability.
Empowerment
AVAS supports people and communities to build confidence, skills, voice and self-reliance so they can claim rights and shape their own development.
Human Rights & Social Justice
AVAS promotes and protects fundamental rights through awareness, advocacy, service delivery and action against discrimination, violence and exclusion.
Local Leadership / Participation
AVAS encourages active community participation in planning, decision-making and monitoring, specially focusing on women, youth and local community leadership.
Our Thematic Areas
We work alongside communities to build an environmentally responsible, gender-sensitive, fair and self-reliant plural society.
Inclusive Development, Sustainable Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment
AVAS supports skills training, entrepreneurship, agriculture, market access, savings, financial services and climate-resilient livelihoods for marginalized people and youth.
Gender Equality, Women’s Rights & Empowerment
AVAS advances women’s and girls’ rights through leadership, economic empowerment, GBV prevention, legal support, equal participation and gender-transformative action.
Child Rights, Protection & Safeguarding
AVAS protects children from violence, exploitation, hazardous labour and child marriage while supporting safeguarding, education, health and psychosocial well-being.
Health, SRHR, Nutrition & WASH
AVAS improves access to health, SRHR and nutrition services while promoting safe water, sanitation, hygiene, disease prevention and adolescent-friendly healthcare.
Climate Change, DRR, Humanitarian Action & Environmental Sustainability
AVAS strengthens climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, early warning, anticipatory action, emergency response, recovery, green energy and ecosystem protection.
Education, Youth Development & Leadership
AVAS expands inclusive education, life skills, vocational and digital learning while strengthening youth leadership, civic engagement, volunteerism and innovation.
Good Governance, Human Rights, Social Inclusion & Accountability
AVAS promotes human rights, legal empowerment, inclusive local governance, public accountability and participation of persons with disabilities and excluded groups.
Legal Status
Partners & Networks
Partners
AVAS has worked with and received support from national and international partners including ActionAid Bangladesh, Concern Worldwide Bangladesh, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Christian Aid Bangladesh, Department of Public Health Engineering, DANIDA, Department of Women Affairs, Ain o Salish Kendra, USAID, CIDA, BRAC, HYSAWA, NGO Forum for DWSS, Save the Children, Bangladesh Freedom Foundation, Oxfam, LGED, WAVE Foundation, VERC, CODEC, International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Aga Khan Foundation, Plan International Bangladesh, Start Fund Bangladesh and others.
AVAS is also active in government committees, civil society coalitions and technical platforms related to child rights, women’s rights, humanitarian action, WASH, health, disaster risk reduction, climate action, good governance, social harmony, right to information, SDGs and localization. AVAS hosts the Sundarban Coalition and Bangladesh Women Humanitarian Platform.
Member
1. Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF),
2. National STD/AIDS Network.
3. Access to Justice & Information Network (AJIN)
4. Alliance of Food Sovereignty Campaign (AFSC)
5. Jatio Nari Nirjatan Protiroth Forum (JNNPF),
6. Governance Coalition,
7. Barisal NGO Development Network (BNDN)
8. ICS Network
9. Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL),
10. FANSABD (Fresh Water Action Network South Asia Bangladesh),
11. GAD Alliance,
12. Community Food Growers Network (CFGN),
13. Gender & Water Alliance (GWA),
14. START Network
15. Bangladesh Youth Network.
16. Stop Violence Coalition (SVC).
17. Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC),
18. Girls Advocacy Alliance (GAA),
19. Nirapad Mattrito Bishayok NGO Network.
20. Girls Not Brides (GNB)
21. Bangladesh Education Network (BEN),
22. Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh (ADAB)
23. National Alliance of Humanitarian Actors, Bangladesh (NAHAB),
24. Democratic Budget Movement( DVM),
25. Core Humanitarian Standard Alliance (CHS Alliance)
26. GNDR-Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR)
27. Start Fund Bangladesh
28. Child Marriage Protection Committee, Barishal district.
29. Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), BD.
30. Need Assessment Working Group (NAWG)
31. Feminist Humanitarian Network (FHN)
32. Bangladesh ECD Network (BEN)
33. Start Bangladesh HUB34. CMRA Network
35. BWHP
36. SHAER Net
37. Member of WASH and Health UN cluster
38. Business and Human Rights ASIA ((BHR)
39. CHS Allaince
40. Sundarban Coalition
Recent Activities
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Patuakhali Readiness Project
Goal of this Project is To reduce climate- and disaster-induced risks and losses for vulnerable communities by strengthening locally led ecosystem-based adaptation systems, resilient livelihoods, ecosystem restoration, local governance and preparedness mechanisms.
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Daily Activities | Blog | Events | News
AVAS and Barishal University Signed MoU
The Association of Voluntary Actions for Society (AVAS) and the University of Barishal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11 November 2026 to strengthen collaboration in research, practical learning and student internships.
