Water challenges in Bangladesh’s textile sector are urgent, interconnected and increasing in complexity — from declining groundwater levels to pollution and climate-related disruptions. The AWS Accelerator was designed to address shared water risks like these by bringing sites together to collaborate, build knowledge and take action at the catchment level.
This report shares insights from the first AWS Accelerator in Dhaka, where 16 sites completed the programme, working together to strengthen water stewardship practices and implement solutions that benefit businesses, communities and ecosystems.
The AWS Accelerator is a place-based programme that supports sites in areas facing high water risk to move beyond isolated action and work collaboratively on shared water challenges. Through training, data gathering, stakeholder engagement and collective action, the programme helps participants:
Instead of working in isolation, multiple sites from industrial and agricultural sites to others came together in the AWS Accelerator to share learning, reduce costs and coordinate actions. Our company… gained practical experience in catchment identification, stakeholder engagement processes, and analysing stakeholder concerns on water-related issues.
Stakeholder engagement and community awareness activities helped strengthen relationships and build trust. Most importantly, alignment with global standards such as Higg FEM and ZDHC has enhanced our credibility with brands, improving our long-term business positioning.
We see the AWS Collective Action Accelerator not just as a training programme or compliance requirement, but as a milestone in our water stewardship journey. AWS
has been a transformative experience, setting a
strong precedent for future sustainability.
The graphic below shares the key milestones for the AWS Accelerator in Dhaka:
Through the AWS Accelerator, brands gained guidance and support to implement brand initiatives to reduce water use, reduce chemical use and increase water efficiency. As they developed their water stewardship strategies and plans, they could better meet brands’ expectations. Sites also shared that participating in the Accelerator enhanced their credibility with key brands.
A key component of water stewardship is engaging with other stakeholders in the catchment. The Accelerator helped strengthen collaboration between factories, communities, government and other stakeholders through workshops and shared learning. This improved communication, built trust and enabled more coordinated action to address shared water challenges at the catchment level.
By demonstrating commitment to responsible water use and collective action, many sites enhanced their credibility with brands, regulators and local communities. Increased stakeholder engagement and alignment with global standards contributed to stronger reputation and trust within the catchment.
The AWS Accelerator helped drive internal improvements at sites. Participation in the programme helped improve staff awareness of water risks, leading to better operational practices and resource efficiency, which in turn reduced costs and environmental risks. Sites also reported stronger teamwork, accountability and engagement with the programme.
Primark is a strong supporter of the AWS Accelerator programme and has seen firsthand how it can help our suppliers strengthen their water stewardship practices. Their work contributes to our global approach to water, not only at the site level, but also by collaborating beyond the fenceline at the catchment level. It has helped foster collective action and build resilience, bringing benefits to the sites, the surrounding community and ecosystems, all of which are central to Primark’s commitment to a thriving company that supports the planet and future generations.
2030 Water Resources Group is pleased to see the AWS Accelerator driving real momentum toward improved water stewardship in Bangladesh’s industrial hubs. By enabling factories, municipalities, and national agencies to work from a shared platform, the initiative strengthens the foundations for sustainable water management and enhances the resilience of both industry and surrounding communities. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with AWS and partners to scale these efforts across priority catchments
The AWS Accelerator has demonstrated that meaningful progress in industrial water stewardship is only possible when all stakeholders, government, brands, manufacturers, and technical partners work together with shared commitment. RWA is honoured to contribute to this journey and remains dedicated to advancing scalable, finance-ready solutions that strengthen water security for both industry and communities in Bangladesh