The government is going to take a hundred million dollar project aiming at developing climate-resilient enterprises to ensure sustainable livelihoods for the vulnerable community, officials have said.
The project is targeted to poor and ultra poor communities living in four climate hotspots - flood, flash flood, drought and salinity-prone areas. The project will be operated in some 40 upazilas of 20 climate change-vulnerable districts and benefit some 0.1 million people.
Of the total 100 million dollars $50 million will be spent to develop climate-resilient initiatives and the rest $50 million will be provided to people as micro credit for starting business.
The Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) will implement the project with the financial assistance of the World Bank.
A concept paper of the project, jointly prepared by the PKSF and the World Bank, said the project will primarily focus on adaptation but will take some measures to address both adaptation and mitigation.
"In particular, the project will build resilience of the affected communities through developing resilient enterprises, support transfer and adoption of appropriate technologies for protection of livelihoods, support capacity building of institutions at community and village level, support resilient infrastructure development and inclusive financing," it said.
The paper said climate-sensitive livelihood options based on agriculture, fisheries, livestock rearing and other forms of natural resources management will be made resilient and sustainable through technology transfer and capacity building of the community.
Besides, economically-viable innovations will be assisted in developing their economic potential for expansion and for reaching a market.
"The combination of technological innovation and development with economic analysis and planning will ensure climate resilience and economic growth to be sustained against the adverse impact of climate change," the paper said.
The objectives of the project are capacity development of partner organisations and communities to identify climate change challenges and opportunities and design response options in technical as well as in institutional terms, and ensuring sustainable livelihoods in climate-vulnerable areas through technology innovation and transfer and through value chain development.
Besides, the project also aims to ensure inclusive financing for development of enterprises based on climate-resilient production system in the targeted communities.
An official said the PKSF is implementing the community climate change project (CCCP), financed by the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilient Fund (BCCRF). The concept note of the new project is prepared during the fifth implementation support mission of the World Bank on CCCP project.
He said the new project will build on experience from CCCP but take it further. Its focus will be on housing, access to water, potable and for irrigation, food, health and knowledge.
A senior official at the ministry of finance told the FE that the ministry was examining the project concept paper to check its suitability.
He said it will be sent to the economic relations division (ERD) for further actions relating to funding of the project.
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