CBA Bangladesh: Coping with Climate Risks by Empowering Women in Coastal Areas (GBSS)

In Southwestern Bangladesh, Dashmina Upazila in the Patuakhali district consists of six unions.  Two of these unions, Alipura and Banshbaria Unions, are highly vulnerable to natural hazards brought on by climate change.  The unions are surrounded by the Tetulia and Sutabaria rivers and are situated at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal in one of the most remote areas of Patuakhali District. Due to its close proximity to water bodies, villages and farmlands in the area are at risk from rising water levels, salinity intrusion, floods, droughts, and cyclones. Rice cultivation is the main income source for approximately 95 percent of households with a small portion engaging in fishing as well. Climate change driven challenges in the project sites include: 1.) scarcity of fresh water due to less rain and higher evapo-transpiration in the dry season, 2.) drainage congestion due to higher water levels in the confluence with the rise of sea level,3.)riverbank erosion, 4.)high frequency of floods, 5.)  prolonged duration and widespread drought, 6.) increased salinity in the surface, ground and soil in the coastal zones. Additionally, recent cyclones have severely damaged crops, decreased fish stocks and compromised fresh water sources. These climate change impacts have reduced production yields leading to food insecurity and limited economic growth in the communities. The surrounding wetland region is rich in biodiversity and economic potential, and is critical in controlling floods and water surges. However, it also faces massive destruction from recent severe cyclonic events. Given the risk of natural hazards, isolated geography, lack of infrastructure, low economic development and dependence on natural resources, the project area contains one of the most vulnerable communities to climate change in the district, and it is at risk of losing villages and livelihoods.  Faced with these challenges, villagers are selling possessions, taking high-interest loans, and becoming more dependent on government relief services, all of which are temporary solutions that negatively affect long-term adaptive capacity.

Additionally, women in the project area are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts given their limited access to resources and limited stake in decision-making. The degradation of natural resources makes it increasingly difficult for women to perform household responsibilities, such as collecting firewood, securing potable water and making food for their family. As a result, women must travel further from the home and work harder to gather supplies that detract from other productive activities like vegetable farming. Their dependency on degraded natural resources makes women especially vulnerable to diminished livelihoods and increased poverty. 

This CBA Project targets four villages in Dashmina Upazila: Mirmadan & Purba Alipura village of the Alipura Union and Banshbaria & Dhandania village of the Banshbaria Union. With a population of 40,519 people (44% female, 56% male), the main objective of this project is to restore livelihood options and opportunities of vulnerable communities by improving the ecosystems they rely on, of which are being threatened by climate change impacts.  The development of nurseries and plantations will protect seeds and grains and maintain the communities’ food-grain self-sufficiency.  The introduction and exploration of cattle and goat breeding provides income-generating and income-diversification opportunities.  Additionally, as the marginal groups in the project sites (women and girls) are more vulnerable to climate change because they do not have access to government services due to social norms, the establishment of Women Resource Centers (WRCs) at the village group ensure that all their needs are heard and addressed.  The WRCs also provide a support system where they learn new skills on financial management including negotiation skills and operational skills needed to run a community-based organization (CBO), as well as providing a bridge for various community outreach organizations that provide support to women in the areas of livelihood opportunities, health and sanitation, agriculture and other issues for women in the changing climatic conditions.