Adaptation Initiative for Climate Vulnerable Offshore Small Islands and Riverine Charland in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a low-lying topography extremely exposed to sea level rise, cyclones, tidal surges, salinity intrusion, erratic rainfall, drought and floods, causing it to be one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change. The vulnerable communities who live on chars — small alluvial islands in rivers and the Bay of Bengal are particularly at risk from climate change. These communities have already experienced several climate change impacts including frequent tidal surges, increasingly intense cyclones and salt water intrusion into fresh water and soil. Furthermore, climate change is projected to have an adverse impact on agriculture and other local livelihoods; fragile houses, access to drinking water and rural infrastructure, which includes existing cyclone protection embankments. The impacts of climate change also disproportionately affect the poor and are especially severe for women and children, who are forced to spend a greater portion of their time on livelihood and domestic activities.

The main objective of the project is to enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable communities who live on coastal islands and riverine chars in Bangladesh. The specific objectives of the project are:

1. Enhanced resilience of households through climate resilient housing, renewable sources of electrification and the provisioning of safe drinking water;
2. Increased climate resilience of communities through climate risk mapping, cyclone and flood preparedness that leaves no one behind and basic infrastructure that is resilient to cyclones and floods;
3. Improved income and food security of vulnerable households by innovating and introducing locally appropriate climate-resilient livelihoods practices;
4. Enhanced knowledge and capacity of communities, government and policymakers to promote climate resilient development on riverine and offshore islands.

Project Documents