ABOUT US
We work for an environment-friendly and poverty-free society with equity and justice
The Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) is a non-partisan, voluntary organization that is organized, operated, and guided by a group of sociocultural and professional activists. We work with around 50,000 people all over Bangladesh through our partners and the members of the Bangladesh Working Group on External Debt (BWGED). As the focal point of the South Asia Just Transition Alliance (SAJTA), we work in the South Asia sub-region.
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OUR VISION & MISSION
To establish an environment-friendly and poverty-free secular society with equity and justice in Bangladesh. Towards the vision, our mission is to enable communities to achieve their rights over nature and natural resources for a healthy environment and sustainable socio-economic development.
To achieve the mission, we focus on five interconnected Thematic Pillars from Climate Justice to Energy Transition to Food Security to Financial Accountability. To achieve our objectives, we work with farmers, women producers, fishermen, forest peoples, indigenous communities, and other marginal producers to protect common natural resources and the atmosphere from powerful groups.
We ground our Thematic Pillars and strategies at the community level to make sure our efforts are translated to the local communities and tailored to local realities. We involve students, academicians, researchers, social leaders, media, local government, and policymakers to create an enabling environment for people and the ecology.
CLEAN POLICIES
Environment Policy 2025
The Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN)'s Environment Policy is a pledge to ‘walk the talk. ’ It is a framework to guide our actions, challenge our habits, and hold ourselves accountable. For a small, rights based organisation with limited resources, this policy is not about expensive, large-scale interventions. It is about fostering a culture of mindfulness, resourcefulness, and responsibility. It is about proving that every action, no matter how small, contributes to the larger fight for a just and sustainable planet. The primary objectives of this Environment Policy are: 1) To systematically reduce our organisational carbon and environmental footprint in our offices, field operations, and events. 2) To foster a deep-rooted culture of environmental consciousness, responsibility, and sustainable living among all staff, consultants, and partners. 3) To ensure operational cost-effectiveness by minimising the use of energy, water, and non-renewable materials. 4) To integrate environmental considerations into all programmatic and operational decision-making processes. 5) To strengthen our advocacy for environmental rights by demonstrating practical, replicable, and low-cost sustainable practices.
Gender Policy 2025
The Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN)'s Gender Policy 2025 is a pledge to foster a culture of gender equality, equity, and justice within the organization and its programs. Approved on December 21, 2024, it aims to create a safe, respectful, inclusive, and empowering workplace for all individuals, including staff, volunteers, consultants, and partners, regardless of gender identity or expression. The policy is grounded in national laws and international human rights standards such as CEDAW, UDHR, and ILO Conventions. It addresses gender mainstreaming across various areas including recruitment, promotion, workplace environment, travel, leave, child allowance, capacity building, and programmatic integration. Additionally, it establishes clear grievance mechanisms with whistle blower protection and outlines disciplinary actions for infractions like various forms of harassment and discrimination.
HR Policy 2025
The Human Resource (HR) Policy 2025 of the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) is designed to foster a supportive, fair, equitable, and productive work environment where staff can contribute effectively to the organization’s mission. It establishes clear guidelines and procedures for all HR matters, ensuring transparency, consistency, and compliance with the laws of Bangladesh as well as international labour standards. Rooted in the principles of social justice, respect for human dignity, and environmental stewardship, this policy reflects CLEAN’s commitment to embedding these values within its internal practices. This policy applies to the following groups: 1. Executive Committee members, in matters relevant to their engagement; 2. Full-time and part-time employees including both probationary and confirmed staff; 3. Contractual staff and consultants; 4. Interns, volunteers, and fellows; 5. Partners, when collaborating on CLEAN projects, expected to adhere to the spirit of the policy.
JEDI Policy 2025
This Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Policy is guided by the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, which guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens without discrimination and directs the state to take additional measures for the toiling masses, peasants, workers, women, children and other backwards sections. It is further informed by international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) conventions, particularly Convention C190 on Violence and Harassment. This document affirms our unwavering commitment to creating a workplace that embodies the principles of justice we advocate for in our communities
GOVERNANCE
CLEAN is governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees from different sectors of society. The trustees oversee all our policies, strategies, and action plans. For day-to-day management, the Board of Trustees elects a five-member Executive Committee for two years of tenure to assess our progress and approve our fundraising and grantmaking decisions. The Committee also appoints the Advisers and Chief Executive of the organization. We hold the Board meetings annually and Committee meetings quarterly. The Advisers are a group of leaders who provide advice to our management and act as our ambassadors to facilitate the organization’s collaboration with wider communities.
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WHERE WE WORK
We are one of the major organizations in Bangladesh working in the sectors of Energy and Power, Climate Justice, and Forest Biodiversity. Besides our working areas, we work in partnership with local, national, and international organizations, networks, alliances, and forums to amplify people’s voices for rights, justice, and equality.
As the secretariat of the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED), we work in the districts of Bagerhat, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka, Jamalpur, Khulna, Mymensingh, Narayanganj, Netrokona, Noakhali, Panchagarh, Patuakhali, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Satkhira, Sunamganj and Sylhet.
We are also responsible for operating the secretariat of the South Asia Just Transition Alliance (SAJTA). Through SAJTA, we work with the grassroots campaign and research organizations of India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
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OUR APPROACH
We emphasize narrative building, knowledge management, policy advocacy, popular mobilization, networking, campaigns, and capacity building to achieve our development goals. We monitor large infrastructures and development projects financed under external debt, especially those financed by the Multilateral Development Banks (MDB), to ensure a just and equitable transition towards green development.