ObjectivesFund scope
According to the Climate Risk Index 2020, Bangladesh ranks seventh among the 10 countries in the world most affected by climate change and disasters. The country has been experiencing changes in rainfall, rising temperatures, and high frequency of extreme weather events, including cyclones, floods, and rising sea level, which has led to the increased salinity of water resources and soil. According to the Ministry of Planning, it estimates that in the five major disasters since 1998, the country has suffered a loss of nearly 15% of GDP. These events exacerbate poverty and the vulnerability of people in Bangladesh on a regular basis.
The Government recognizes the severity of climate change and policies are gradually being mainstreamed into national development policy planning and financing through the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), which provides programmatic direction. While local government institutions (LGIs) are mandated to implement many actions related to climate effects, these actions need to be included in the local plans as climate proofing initiatives. However, LGIs, civil society organizations and other institutions working at the local level often lack the capacity and incentives to integrate climate change into their development planning. The Joint Local Government Initiative on Climate change (LoGIC) addresses gaps at local and national levels by harnessing the potential of the local community and building capacity through technical support, access to finance and leadership.
Strategic framework
Designed to support approximately 200,000 of the most vulnerable households in 72 unions in seven districts in Bangladesh, the Joint Programme is built around six areas of work:
- Building capacity, awareness and empowerment of the vulnerable people to generate plans;
- Developing the capacity of the local government to integrate climate change into their local development plans;
- Building capacity and engagement of local actors and government extension workers at local level to work as driver for accountability of climate action;
- Providing grants to local government as additional resource to climate-proof their investment on community based adaptation work;
- Providing direct support to the vulnerable households to meet their adaptation needs; and,
- Promoting a local climate financing mechanism through evidence based advocacy for delivering climate finance at scale.
Over time the Joint Programme helps to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable people and local stakeholders for accountable planning and financing on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction actions for building resilience, as well as enhance LGI and vulnerable household access to climate funds for climate resilient infrastructures and adaptive livelihoods. Furthermore, programme stakeholders establish evidence-based advocacy tools to secure financing to boost local resilience, all of which contribute to the reduction of poverty and vulnerability in Bangladesh.