Location 
Gidari and Kamarjani Unions in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila (sub-district) under Gaibandha district is in the North-west region of Bangladesh. The Union is situated about 70 km northwest from the Bogra City and about 300 km from Dhaka (see location map).

Transport and Communication 
The area can be reached by road from any place in Bangladesh. The field trip organizer is planning to arrange sufficient number of vehicles for all interested persons to visit the site from Dhaka.

Accommodation facilities 
Parjatan Motel, Bogra is the only standard accommodation unit with all facilities and best location for travel to field. The Parjatan Motel of the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation is providing the following facilities.

1. 18 AC Twin Rooms with modern furniture & fittings

2. 14 non AC Twin Rooms with modern furniture and fittings

3. Colour TV

4. 24 hour reception and room service

5. Intercom Telephone

6. Laundry service

7. Hot and cold running water

8. Restaurant etc

Local Host Organizations 
Practical Action Bangladesh and Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK) will host the field visit in Gabandha for CBA workshop participants.

Practical Action Bangladesh works to build the technical skills and capacity of the small scale producers and their institutions in selected areas of the country so that the beneficiaries can improve their livelihoods. It provides technical assistance to NGO/GO staff through skills training, information dissemination, and research, and demonstration, exploration of market opportunities and policy advocacy since 1997 in Bangladesh.

Practical Action Bangladesh is now at the threshold of a new and challenging future. Since 2003 its work is based on three thematic areas:

1. Reducing Vulnerability

2. Markets and Livelihoods

3. Infrastructure Services

Gana Unnayon Kendra (GUK) 
Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK) has been working in Gaibandha district as a local non-profitable voluntary organization from 1985 with numerous development programmes for the people who are deprived, neglected, helpless, poor and very poor. These programmes have been implemented with the collaboration of the Bangladesh Government. 

The aim of GUK is to create overall development through active participation of the community. It always puts an emphasis on disaster afflicted people and areas. It also works to empower women in raising their voice to ensure their rights. It also works to drive out specific social problems such as early marriage, polygamy, divorce, dowry, rapping, physical torturing and other violent acts committed against women. 

Core Programmes of GUK:

1. Development of human resources and sustainable institution building program 

2. Improvement of livelihood and protection of income, erosion program 

3. Promotion of gender equality and women empowerment program

4. Promotion of accountability and good governance program 

5. Disaster and environment management program 

Climate change and environment related problems in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila
Thousands of poor people live with the constant threat of homelessness, damage to, and loss of, their possessions and means of livelihoods, and risks of injury and death due to weather – related natural disasters – flooding, river bank erosion, storm, cyclone, drought, cold wave and desertification.

Meteorological data reveals that temperature has increased over the last 30 years with seasonal variations in this region. Increasing winter temperatures have negative effects on winter crop, particularly potato production.

Climate change adaptation measures should be taken by the communities at local level to reduce their vulnerabilities. Climate related variability has already affected the lives and livelihood of different occupational groups e.g, farmers, fishermen, wage laborers, small traders, rickshaw pullers etc.

Recent study findings have identified the following areas for reducing vulnerabilities:

1. Awareness to the communities, 

2. Strengthen livelihoods through adaptation, 

3. Capacity building of the community and other stakeholders and 
   Policy influence and linkages

Practical Action Bangladesh is currently working with the community and other stakeholder to create awareness and strengthen their capacity to cope with the vulnerability:

1. Focus on the most vulnerable areas and populations

2. Greater awareness of climate change issues for policy-makers and the general people
   Involvement of vulnerable groups and a wide range of stakeholders in adaptation planning

3. Appropriate information on climate change shared with different stakeholders

4. Focus on strengthening and diversifying livelihoods to help people cope, as well as infrastructure-based projects to strengthen physical structures such as flood proofing housing 

5. Includes climate change planning in long term development and sectoral planning

List of activities by village to visit:

• Climate Change refugees living on the embankment of Gidari union under Gaibandha –s upazila of Gaibandha District

• Observe some adaptation activities (strengthening livelihoods) in the communities ( e.g. Fish culture in cage, floating seed bed, integrated duck and fish culture, home gardening) in Gidari union

• Observe flood proof and storm resistant houses for climate change refugees in Gidari union
  Observe community awareness activities through posters; bill board and rickshaw tin plates in Gidari union

• Observer some mitigation initiatives by establishing tree nursery, community based tree plantation and improve cook stove in Gidari union.

• Observe some raised Homestead, raised Tube- well and flood copping activities in Kharjani Villages.

• Observe bank protection activity of the Brahmaputra river at Kamarjani. 

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