The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) proudly participated in the 8th Asia Pacific Fundraisers Network (APFN) Skillshare, held from October 15–17, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand. This event brought together fundraising professionals and strategic thinkers from Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies across the Asia Pacific region to exchange insights, share best practices, and strengthen collective capacity for sustainable resource mobilization.
The overall program was designed to enhance the capacity of National Societies in resource mobilization through a mix of plenary sessions, focused workstreams, and peer-to-peer exchanges. Key topics covered included advanced Strategic Fundraising Planning, fostering Collaborative Corporate Partnerships, leveraging ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria for engagement, and sharing vital lessons from ongoing initiatives like the Joint Financial Initiative. The three-day event was a concentrated effort to ensure that National Societies are equipped with the skills and strategies needed to secure diversified and sustainable funding, enabling them to deliver effective humanitarian services in an increasingly complex environment. The robust attendance and focused agenda underscored the region’s commitment to building a financially resilient future for all member national societies.
The BDRCS was strongly represented at this highly influential regional forum. Our delegation consisted of three key members from the Fundraising Department, each contributing their expertise and experience to the discussions and networking opportunities throughout the event. The dedicated individuals who represented BDRCS were:
- Dr. Shahana Zafor, Director, Health & Fundraising Department
- Nasir Uddin Majumder, Resource Mobilization Manager
- Md. Towfiqul Islam Sikder, Officer – Communication & Digital Fundraising
The presence of this focused team highlights BDRCS’s strategic commitment to embracing best practices and regional collaboration in our pursuit of greater financial independence. By participating in these critical dialogues, our representatives ensured that BDRCS remains at the forefront of fundraising innovation and strategic partnership development within the Asia Pacific zone.
A highlight of the BDRCS’s participation was thecompelling presentation delivered by Dr. Shahana Zaforon Day 3. Her session, titled “Capacity Building and Peer Support, Lessons from the Joint Financial Initiative,” provided an in-depth look at BDRCS’s journey toward financial sustainability, powered by the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the APFN Joint Initiative on Resource Mobilization.
The experience at the 8th APFN Skillshare was greatly helpful for BDRCS. It was not only an unparalleled opportunity to learn about different and effective ways of fundraising from other partner National Societies, such as the use of innovative digital tools and new corporate engagement models, but it was also a chance to contribute our own successful strategies. By sharing our journey and lessons learned from the Joint Financial Initiative, BDRCS solidified its position as a proactive contributor to the region’s collective resilience. BDRCS Fundraising Department look forward to implementing the new knowledge gained and continuing the collaboration with the APFN network and our Movement partners to ensure a strong, sustainable future for humanitarian work in Bangladesh.
