Workshop on Tools Validation for the Research on GGiFI

Centre for Research and Development (CRD) has organized a day-long workshop on "tools validation for the research on gender gap in financial inclusion in Bangladesh (GGiFI)". The event was held at FARS Hotel & Resort, Puran Paltan, Dhaka, on March 24, 2022.

 

The GGiFI is a country-wide, large-scale empirical study that aims to investigate the pattern and extent of financial inclusion of women both in rural and urban Bangladesh. The study is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The study has engaged the respective stakeholders in every step of the study. The main focus of this third workshop was to discuss and validate draft quantitative and qualitative tools for data collection.

 

The background of the research, proposed methodology, and data collection tools were presented by the research team. Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman Sagar, CEO and lead consultant, gave a brief presentation on the background of the research, which was followed by a session on the proposed methodology of the research. The session was led by Professor Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, Lead Economist, GGiFI Project, and Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka. Afterwards, Dr. Lila Rashid, Policy Expert-GGiFI Project (and former Executive Director, Bangladesh Bank), discussed different areas of inquiry covered under the HH Survey Tool. The last and most important presentation was given on qualitative tools (FGD, IDI, and KII) by Professor Dr. Ayesha Banu, Gender Expert, GGiFI Project (and Professor, Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka). She discussed different aspects and inquiries about the qualitative tools and epistemological standpoint of the research team.

 

All the sessions were heavily interactive; participants and sectoral experts shared their important thoughts, opinions, suggestions, and concerns. The research team and CRD are grateful to all the participants and organizations, including PKSF, A2I Micro Finance Regulatory Authority (MRA), SANEM, Bangladesh Bank, Bank Asia, Dutch Bangla Bank, bKash, Rocket, the Department of Women and Gender Studies (DU), and the Department of Economics (DU), for their participation and contribution.