Building resilience & ensuring equitable environmental benefits for coastal Bangladesh
Background
Bangladesh’s southern coastal belt ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, facing intensified cyclones, coastal erosion, salinity intrusion, and rising sea levels. These hazards not only degrade ecosystems but also undermine the livelihoods, health, and food security of millions.
SAWAB Foundation launched this program to build resilience, protect natural resources, and ensure equitable access to environmental benefits for marginalized and at-risk communities.
Program Objectives
- Enhance Community Resilience with climate-smart skills & disaster-preparedness plans
- Raise Awareness & Advocacy through dialogues, curricula, and media outreach
- Restore & Conserve Ecosystems by rehabilitating mangroves and riverbanks
- Influence Policy & Practice via partnerships and inclusive policy dialogues
Core Strategies & Activities
Community Engagement
- Participatory training on rainwater harvesting & salt-tolerant crops
- Multimedia campaigns: radio, social media & local theater
Ecosystem Restoration
- Mangrove sapling drives along vulnerable shorelines
- Volunteer monitoring for sapling survival & growth
Capacity Building
- Training of "Climate Ambassadors" among women & youth groups
- Peer-to-peer learning & local leadership development
Policy & Research
- Roundtables & policy briefs integrating community voices
- Baseline studies & citizen science monitoring
Expected Outcomes
- 70% of households adopting climate-smart practices
- 7,000+ participants reached through awareness campaigns
- 5,000+ mangrove saplings planted & maintained
- At least two community recommendations adopted into district plans
