Coastal adaptation project strengthens resilience of over 7 lakh people
A landmark seven-year initiative has bolstered climate resilience for over 700,000 residents in southwestern Bangladesh, delivering safe drinking water, advancing women-led climate-adaptive livelihoods, and enhancing the capacity of communities and government agencies to tackle climate challenges.
As the Gender-responsive Coastal Adaptation Project draws to a close, government officials, development partners, and local communities have advocated for the continuation and expansion of its successful models in other climate-vulnerable coastal regions.
This appeal was made during the project's Learning Sharing and Closing Workshop in Dhaka, where stakeholders assessed achievements, lessons, and strategies to sustain impact beyond the project's duration.
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Running from January 2019 to June 2026, the project received support from the Green Climate Fund and was led by the United Nations Development Programme, in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the Department of Women Affairs, and the Department of Public Health Engineering.
The initiative reached 719,229 individuals in Khulna and Satkhira, supporting 24,724 households to adopt climate-resilient livelihoods and enabling 144,597 people to access safe, reliable drinking water year-round.
More than 15,700 climate-resilient water systems were established, and 720 government officials enhanced their skills in climate risk-informed planning and management.
Mohammad Masud Rana Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, said, "For sustainable development, there is no alternative to adopting a whole-of-society approach."
Sonali Dayaratne, Deputy Resident Representative and Officer-in-Charge of the Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme Bangladesh, emphasised that sustainability must remain central as the project ends.
"As we reflect on the project's accomplishments, we must prioritise sustainability. The true measure of success will be the lasting benefits to communities after project completion. The United Nations Development Programme remains committed to supporting the Government of Bangladesh in scaling up successful adaptation models, strengthening local capacities and mobilising resources for climate-resilient development," she said.
Md Abdul Hye Al Mahmud, Additional Secretary and National Project Director of the Gender-responsive Coastal Adaptation Project, stressed that empowering women requires sustained income-generating opportunities.
Through salinity-tolerant agriculture, crab farming, hydroponics, homestead gardening, and other livelihood options, participating women diversified incomes and improved household food security.
Community-managed water systems reduced reliance on unsafe sources and saved women and girls significant time previously spent collecting water.
Participants noted that the project provides a robust foundation for scaling integrated, locally led, and gender-responsive climate adaptation across coastal Bangladesh.
Sarder M Asaduzzaman, Assistant Resident Representative and Head of Resilience and Inclusive Growth at United Nations Development Programme Bangladesh; Sajal Kanti Banik, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs; Md Monir Hossain, Additional Director; and Ehtesamul Russel Khan, Additional Chief Engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering, also addressed the workshop.
