People-led climate plans for low-income communities in Ctg unveiled

Findings from the locally led People's Adaptation Plans for inclusive water and sanitation services in 106 low-income communities across 17 wards of the Chattogram City Corporation were presented at a national-level consultation held in Dhaka on Monday.

The consultation aimed to share the results of the People's Adaptation Plans, collect feedback from stakeholders, identify gaps, and establish a consensus on the next steps to finalise the plans, says a statement.

More than 60 key stakeholders participated in the event, including representatives from Chattogram WASA, Chattogram City Corporation, the Local Government Division, the British High Commission, and civil society organisations.

The People's Adaptation Plans were developed through a locally led process facilitated by WaterAid Bangladesh and DushthaShasthya Kendra (DSK), with support from the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK Government. The initiative aims to inform the World Bank-financed Chattogram Water Supply and Sanitation Project (CWSIP).

As part of the adaptation planning process, local partners WaterAid Bangladesh and DSK conducted climate risk profiling and participatory risk assessments in the 106 communities.

This community-driven data collection was complemented by scientific climate risk assessments conducted by Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology (CUET). The project, initiated in June 2024, has received endorsement from Chattogram City Corporation and Chattogram WASA.

The plans, shaped by the local communities, focus on addressing the specific vulnerabilities and needs of each area. They have been refined through a series of consultations at both the ward and city levels, incorporating valuable input from local authorities and stakeholders.

"Climate change is an everyday reality; not a distant threat -- but its complexity, cloaked in jargon, often alienates the very people it impacts most. To make adaptation meaningful, we must internalise climate action, embed it into national planning, and empower locally led responses," said Ms. Hasin Jahan, Country Director for WaterAid Bangladesh.

Dr. M Feisal Rahman, Country Manager of Global Center on Adaptation Bangladesh; Md. Fazlur Rahman, Additional Secretary, Water Supply Division, Local Government Division and Managing Director, Dhaka WASA; A B M Feroz Ahmed, Livelihood Adviser and Deputy Team Leader for Climate Change and Environment team at the British High Commission Dhaka; Sheikh Mohammed Tauhidul Islam, Chief Executive Officer, Chattogram City Corporation; and Mahbubul Alam, Superintending Engineer, Chattogram WASA; spoke at the event.