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 Bangladesh is ranked as the most climate-vulnerable country in the world. Located between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal, the country is prone to floods, torrential rains, erosion, and cyclones. Fifty-three percent of the world’s deadliest cyclones have occurred in the country. With the projected sea level rise and increasingly frequent and intense cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh’s densely populated, low-lying coastal regions will be even more vulnerable to violent storm surges and tidal flooding.
After a cyclone killed 140,000 people in 1991, the government made the expansion of emergency preparedness a top priority. Extensive reconstruction of polder embankments to protect the most vulnerable coastal regions was undertaken as part of a broad-based strategy to provide stronger protections to communities. Although considerable progress has been made in recent years, much more must be done to build climate resilience and reduce risk.
The government’s overall strategy is to promote climate-resilient agriculture and food security, improve coastal embankments and afforestation, and fortify water supplies and infrastructure in 12 vulnerable coastal communities. Although the country has emergency shelters in many of the coastal districts, the capacity is limited. Further, a government evaluation of the shelter system has shown that only about 40 percent of the people actually use the shelters during extreme weather because the shelters often are inconveniently located and cannot accommodate livestock.
The government is now studying the possibility of developing low-cost, storm and cyclone–proof housing to supplement traditional emergency shelters. A proposed PPCR pilot program would construct single-family homes that meet specific disaster-resilient criteria, including safe drinking water and sanitation systems and detachable solar systems for electricity. Small grain storage areas could be converted into livestock refuges when a storm hits. Roads and bridges connecting the communities would also be improved.
Financing for the disaster-resilient homes would require a small initial contribution from the homebuyer, a substantial government grant, and a low-interest loan that is managed through a local microfinance organization. A key goal is private sector engagement, which will enable the program to continue independently of PPCR. Decentralized government structures and community groups will also play a pivotal role in ensuring that programs are flexible and adapted to local needs.
Expected Results: Pilot communities in 12 vulnerable coastal areas will be better protected against the impacts of climate change through fortified and reforested protective embankments and improved water supplies and sanitation. With CIF funding, the government is also supporting the development of a climate-resilient housing program.
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