CaST Network

About

Catalyzing Sustainable Transformation (CaST) Network is an action and policy research and advocacy institution that provides systematic and evidence-driven solutions to some of the complex development challenges of the Global South. We aim to become a think and do tank that generates on the ground evidence on the challenges and opportunities for sustainable transformation of our socio-economic, political and ecological systems and catalyze necessary policy reforms.

CaST has expertise in the field of

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Social Research

including Labour Rights, Natural Resource Governance and Political Economy Analysis

Market Systems Innovation

Food Systems Innovation

Climate Change and Disaster Resilience

Social Protection

Health Systems Development

What We Do

Shaping Public Opinion and Discourse

CaST brings the distinguished scholars and intellectuals in the focus areas to push the envelope in shaping the public opinion and policy discourse.

Evidence Based Research

CaST consolidates the evidence generated from its field research to identify factors and influencers that can create conducive environment for development of the grassroots community.

Enterprise Ecosystem Development

CaST aspires to develop a business ecosystem, with a pipeline of investments and technical support available for the impactful microentrepreneurs. CaST enterprise development wing supports highly impactful and innovative enterprises to scale up through raising funds, providing technical support and strengthening internal governance.

Team

Our experts come from a strong background in climate resilience, food systems, data science, policy and governance who work together and bring systems thinking approach to catalyse sustainable transformation of the socio-economic systems through research and policy innovation.

Our Approach​

Action Orientation

CaST has a strong understanding of the business, economic, socio-political ecosystem of Bangladesh and it translates the cutting knowledge from its critical research work and capacity building to policy actions, social movements and green business models.

Context Driven

CaST Network takes a systems approach to tackle endemic development challenges. Our research is rooted in a particular region’s anthropological and social history that defines cultural and social norms. At CaST, we take a bottom-up approach to identifying the indigenous practices and behaviors that shape the region’s food system, WASH, and climate resilience. There is also a complex political nexus with the sociocultural norms, and our methodical approach considers this complexity to design solutions that are sustainable and amenable to the local ecosystem. We offer a comprehensive methodical approach to our partners so that their assessments, business incubations, and evaluation are holistic and strongly grounded in the local context.

Thought Leadership

CaST Network has focused areas of expertise in Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Climate Financing, Sustainable Food Systems, and Inclusive WASH. CaST Network brings in global and national experts to shape the narrative in these focus areas toward a humane, inclusive, and ecologically balanced socio-economic system. We offer rigorous research and insights as well as business incubation and capacity development to our partners to translate rigorous evidence into concrete actions and policy advocacy.