9 February 2026: Nominate Your Community Hero for the Avoidable Deaths Network’s (ADN) Hero Award
Every day, ordinary people take extraordinary actions to protect others, reduce disaster risks, and strengthen their communities. Some save lives through innovation. Others mobilise neighbours to solve neglected problems ignored during or post disasters. Many work quietly, by driving a snakebite victim on their motorbike to the nearest hospital without recognition, yet their impact saves lives and transforms entire communities.
Now is the moment to bring those stories forward.
We invite you to nominate individuals whose courage, leadership, and commitment have prevented harm, protected lives, or created safer futures. Whether they introduced a simple idea that changed everything, rallied a community to act, or stood up when no one else would, their story deserves to be told. Because they are unsung heroes.
If you know someone who has:
- Reduced preventable injuries or deaths
- Led a community-driven safety or risk‑reduction initiative
- Overcome barriers to protect others
- Created measurable, lasting change
Submit a nomination today to shine a light on the next ADN Hero. Each year, one ADN Hero Award is announced; however, exceptions may be made depending on the volume of nominations. The outcome of the Hero Award will be announced on 12 March, and the awardee will be invited to receive a certificate and the opportunity to speak with their nominator on 31 March at ADN’s virtual International Awareness Day for Avoidable Deaths closing ceremony at 1:00 PM (GMT).
Deadline to nominate: 25 February 2026
Submit your nomination: To nominate your community hero, email this completed submission form to contact@avoidable-deaths.net with the subject heading: “Hero Award Nomination – HAN26).”
The selection criteria and submission is available in the attached document.
University of Leicester and Kansai University Sign New Collaboration Agreement to Strengthen ADN Partnership
02 February 2026: ADN is delighted to announce the signing of a new collaboration agreement between the University of Leicester and Kansai University. Although the two institutions have been partners since 2018, this newly established agreement formally strengthens and extends their partnership specifically for ADN’s mission and activities.
This development marks a significant milestone for the Network. The updated agreement establishes a clear, streamlined pathway to establish further collaboration agreements with ADN Chapters in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Taiwan. This will support stronger engagement, improved governance and more coordinated work across regions.
Dhaka University Research Fair Spotlights ADN Bangladesh: Students Rally for Climate and Disaster Risk Action
25 January 2026: The Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Dhaka University hosted a day‑long Research Fair and Career Festival on 25 January 2026, inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Niyaz Ahmad Khan. The event showcased faculty and student research and provided career networking opportunities. A featured poster highlighted the work of the Avoidable Deaths Network (ADN) Bangladesh Chapter, including IAD4AD celebrations, flood relief activities, and student engagement opportunities. Faculty praised ADN as a timely initiative addressing climate and disaster risks, while students expressed strong interest in contributing to research, awareness campaigns, and community‑based disaster risk reduction initiatives. The poster content was developed by the ADN Future Leaders, Mohammad Fahimul Islam and Miss Sadia Afrin Sayfa Negaban under the mentorship of Prof. Nibedita Ray-Bennett. The ADN Bangladesh Chapter is convened by Dr Fatima Akter, the Chairperson of the Meteorology Department at the Dhaka University.
Launch of the Avoidable Disaster Deaths (ADD) Study Group
22 January 2026: We are pleased to announce the launch of the Avoidable Disaster Deaths (ADD) Study Group on 22 January 2026. The ADD Study Group emerged from 13 consultative meetings held under the Wellcome Discovery Award proposal, led by Professor Nibedita Ray‑Bennett of the University of Leicester’s Avoidable Deaths Network.
The ADD Study Group brings together 24 members from 14 institutions across the UK, South Asia, and Japan. The initiative was proposed by Dr Pratap Jena (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology) and approved unanimously by members attending the launch meeting.
The ADD Study Group aims to apply the Avoidable Disaster Deaths Framework to analyse open data on disaster‑related deaths and generate context‑specific interventions and toolkits to save lives and strengthen disaster death data governance.
Membership of the ADD Study Group is currently closed and by invitation only.
5 January 2026: ADN is Hiring – Operations Coordinator/ Manager
We are looking for an ADN Operations Coordinator/ Manager. Please note this role is part-time and remote.
The deadline to submit applications is Sunday 8 February 2026.
The job specification is available in the attached document.