Bangladesh and UNDP to make transformational changes for women vulnerable to climate change

December 27 2018, Dhaka - The Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an agreement at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) for the implementation of the six-year project 'Enhancing adaptive capacities of coastal communities, especially women, to cope with climate change induced salinity,’ financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Approved for funding in February 2018, the US$33 million-project will benefit almost 700,000 people from the disaster-prone Satkhira and Khulna districts, with a focus on women and adolescent girls. It is the first project of its kind in Bangladesh, financed by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs ($8 million) along with Green Climate Fund, which is providing the rest as a co-financier to plan, implement, and manage climate-resilient solutions.

Attending the signing ceremony, Sudipto Mukerjee, Resident Representative at UNDP Bangladesh said, “The project will limit the impact of climate change as much as possible so that Bangladesh’s commitment to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals is smooth, leaving no one behind.” He stressed the importance of bringing transformative changes in the lives of marginalized women, to set an example for other countries.

Monowar Ahmed, Secretary, ERD, as the chair of the ceremony said, “The government is committed to building a climate resilient Bangladesh and this project will particularly help women and girls to fight climate change.” Mahmuda Sharmeen Benu, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Ministry said, “The project will enhance the leadership capacity of women to fight climate change. The girls will learn new skills for adaptation.”

Earlier Mamunur Rashid, Climate Change Specialist, UNDP Bangladesh, highlighted the summary of the project. Among others, Sultana Afroz, Additional Secretary, ERD, Md. Saifur Rahman, Chief Engineer, Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), also spoke at the event.

Learn more:

PRESS RELEASE: 'Bangladesh to empower women and girls in the face of increasing climate impacts' - GCF Board funding approval (February 18, 2018)

PROJECT WEBPAGE: 'Enhancing Adaptive Capacities of Coastal Communities, especially Women, to Cope with Climate Change-Induced Salinity in Bangladesh'