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Collective Action to reduce Climate Disaster Risks and Enhancing Resilience of the Vulnerable Coastal Communities around the Sundarbans in Bangladesh and India (in short CCDRER project)

Background

Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) is a leading research and policy institute in the non-governmental sector in Bangladesh and South Asia. BCAS is working as an independent, non-profit, non-government institute and specializes in policy, research and implementation of development projects and programs at local, national, regional and global levels since 1986.

The project is being implemented by BCAS and funded by EU (DCI-ENV/2010/221-426). This 48-month project was scheduled to start from March 2011. The implementation of the action was delayed due to some unavoidable reasons. After completing all necessary procedures the project implementation work has began from October 2011.

BCAS is the lead implementer of the project in Bangladesh and in India. Development Research Communication and Services Centre (DRCSC) is the implementing partner of BCAS in Paschim Bongo state of India. Orbicon AS, Denmark is providing technical support in developing methodologies and M&E tools and capacity building of project employees.

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The Objective of the Project:

The overall goal of the project is to reduce climatic disaster risks and enhance resilience of the coastal communities around the Sundarbans by building capacity of the vulnerable communities, local actors and stakeholders through sustainable natural resource management and disaster risk reduction for promotion of livelihoods as well as by advancing community adaptation to climate change.

The specific objectives are:

to assess present and future climate change impacts in the local contexts from increased salinity, tidal inundation, flood, erosion, water logging, sea level rise and cyclone etc. to reduce their risks and promotion of livelihoods and food security of poor and marginalized people;
to identify community needs and priority to address the climate change impacts as well as to reduce the associated risks and vulnerability;
to raise understanding and awareness of the coastal communities, local actors and stakeholders about the present and future climate change impacts, risks and vulnerability of the coastal Sundarbans ecosystems;
to build the capacity of the local partners, actors and stakeholders to integrate climate change issues and adaptation into local and regional development process, livelihood protection and disaster risk reduction;
to strengthen current coping mechanisms of disaster risk reduction (DRR), enhancement of adaptive capacity of the vulnerable communities, particularly, of the poor farmer, fishers, marginal groups and women to address through natural resources management and improvement of the coastal biodiversity and ecosystem linking climatic and related risks on their lives and livelihoods;
to implement local adaptation action plans by involving communities and relevant actors to reduce risks and vulnerability;
to build partnership and network among the relevant actors and stakeholders for effective exchange and capacity strengthening to address climate change and raise voice against climate injustice in national, regional and international levels; and
to share learning, good practices, experiences and advocacy to influence policy and decision making processes at regional, national and international levels.

Implementation Area:

In Bangladesh, the project will be implemented in districts that are part of Sundarbans. The implementation work will be carried out in Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts in Bangladesh.

Country	District	Upazilla/PS	Cluster	Villages	Target Household
Bangladesh	Khulna	Paikgacha	1	15-20	500
	Bagerhat	Morrelganj	1	15-20	500
	Satkhira	Shyamnagar	1	15-20	500
India	South 24 Parganas	Patharpratima	1	10-20	600
	South 24 Parganas	Basanti	1	10-20	300
	North 24 Parganas	Sandeshkhali	1	10-20	300
	North 24 Parganas	Hingalganj	1	10-20	300

Similarly, In India, the project will be implemented in North and South 24 Pargana districts of Paschim Bongo state.

Target Beneficiaries:

The number of direct beneficiaries will be about 3000 vulnerable families from small and marginal farmers/fishermen, fish fry/crab collectors, honey/fuel wood collectors and the landless community living around Sundarbans. The target in Bangladesh part of Sundarban is 1500 household and another 1500 household will be the direct beneficiary in Indian part of Sundarban. However, the number of indirect beneficiaries will be around 15,000 households combined.

The project also aims at working with 30 LGIs/UCs, 12 Panchayets and number of NGOs. It will also facilitate formation of Climate Change Adoption Committee (CCAC).

Target groups	Needs and constraints
Small and marginal farmers	Saline water intrusion reduced the scope of the agricultural activities within the vicinity. They are not aware about the climate change risks, vulnerabilities. They need to grow crops for their food security. Saline tolerant crops are required to demonstrate.
Fishermen, fish fry, crab collectors	The cyclone and tidal surge frequently damage their resources and reduce the scope of their livelihood.
Honey/fuel wood collectors	They are exploiting the resource of the Sundarban for their livelihood. They need to rehabilitate to reduce dependency on the natural forest.
Landless Community	They have poor access to livelihood and migrating to urban slums for searching of their livelihood.

Main Activities:

The main activities of the project will be, team building and fund mobilization, conducting reconnaissance, census and baseline survey of the target group, inception report preparation, social mobilization, conducting PVA, development of local strategy and action plans for advancing community adaptation and DRR, implementation of local adaptation strategy to climate change and DRR action plans, building capacity of community and local actors including LGIs, strengthening capacity and resilience of the vulnerable community for protection of their lives and livelihoods, demonstration of sustainable drinking water systems and agriculture practices, promotion of low-cost renewable energy options, promotion of agro-forestry and social forestry, proper monitoring and evaluation, facilitating partnership and networking with actors and stakeholders as well as sharing the knowledge and dissemination of information with government, development agencies and EU partners.

Expected Results

- Understanding and awareness raised about climate change impacts and disaster risks at community and actors levels
- Greater engagement of actors and community links strengthened with actors and stakeholders including LGI and development actors
- Community capacity to address climate change and climate disasters enhancement
- Resilience in human, social and natural systems is built in general;
- Climate change adaptation and DRR are mainstreamed into local and regional development, poverty alleviation, agriculture, fisheries, food and water security, livelihoods and conservation efforts
- Energy efficiency, renewable and energy security promoted
- Natural resources conservation and community based NRM established giving DRR, adaptation and mitigation (carbon sinking) benefits
- Local and regional network and partnership strengthened.

For more information:

Dr. Atiq Rahman
Executive Director
Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS)
House # 10, Road # 16A
Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

Tel: +88-02-8818124-27, +88-02-9852904, +88-02-9851237
Email: atiq.rahman@bcas.net

Khandaker Mainuddin
Team Leader, CCDRER project
and
Senior Fellow
Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS)
House # 10, Road # 16A
Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
Cell: +8801713023856
Email: khandaker.mainuddin@bcas.net

Collective Action to reduce Climate Disaster Risks and Enhancing Resilience of the Vulnerable Coastal Communities around the Sundarbans in Bangladesh and India (in short CCDRER project)

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