Bangladesh, IOM sign EU-funded project to strengthen climate mobility response

Bangladesh and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have signed an agreement to launch a 1.125 million euro ($1.3 million) European Union-funded project aimed at strengthening responses to climate-induced migration and displacement across South Asia, according to a government press release.

The three-year initiative, titled "Promoting a Comprehensive Approach to Climate Mobility in South Asian Countries", seeks to strengthen governance and institutional capacity on climate mobility while supporting regional cooperation on climate-related displacement and migration.

The project will focus on improving climate mobility data and information systems, expanding research and knowledge exchange, enhancing community resilience, promoting diaspora engagement in climate action, and supporting evidence-based policymaking. It also aims to integrate climate mobility into national development planning, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies.

The agreement was signed on 23 July at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance. Representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and other government agencies attended the signing ceremony, reflecting what the government described as a cross-departmental approach to addressing climate-related mobility challenges.

Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, secretary of the Economic Relations Division, said the initiative supports Bangladesh's migration and climate priorities. He commended the IOM for "promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration in line with Bangladesh's development priorities".

Siddiky also "stressed the importance of integrating climate mobility into national development planning, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation strategies to build resilience and protect vulnerable communities".

He further "expressed confidence that the new initiative would reinforce institutional capacity, improve knowledge and data systems, and facilitate evidence-based policymaking while advancing regional cooperation".

Dr Laura Tomm Bonde, chief of mission of IOM Bangladesh, "acknowledged the European Union for its generous financial support in making the initiative possible". She also "expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for its guidance and collaboration".

According to the press release, both Bangladesh and the IOM "expressed confidence that the project would make a significant contribution to advancing Bangladesh's climate mobility agenda while creating new opportunities for regional learning and cooperation across South Asia".