81319372-Supporting the Localization of National Climate Adaptation Targets in Bangladesh (LOCAT)

Bangladesh was ranked seventh in the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, highlighting substantial vulnerability to climate change. Challenges such as rising sea levels, urbanisation, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events threaten urban areas, with informal settlements being particularly at risk. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, largely due to inequitable access to resources and involvement in decision-making. Although the Government of Bangladesh has acknowledged the importance of climate adaptation through policies like the National Adaptation Plan (NAP 2022), Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), and the Delta Plan 2100, urban-level implementation remains insufficient and demands a more coordinated strategy. Currently, city administrations lack adequate technical, financial, and institutional capacity to design and execute climate adaptation initiatives that are participatory, gender-responsive, and holistic. The objective of LOCAT is to enhance the technical guidance framework for developing and implementing City Climate Action Plans (CCAPs) in accordance with the NAP across cities in Bangladesh. It seeks to address prevailing challenges by bolstering capacities in climate risk analysis, participatory planning, and project execution at the municipal level, while simultaneously assisting national authorities in establishing enabling policy frameworks. Comprehensive support will be provided to two pilot cities, Sirajganj and Chapainawabganj, for the development of CCAPs, execution of gender-responsive adaptation demonstration initiatives, and facilitation of inclusive community engagement. Insights gained from these pilot cities will be disseminated to eight additional partner cities through knowledge-sharing platforms and policy dialogues, ensuring broader impact and scalability. The project is structured around three key outputs. Output 1 focuses on strengthening the technical and methodological foundations for developing CCAPs at the local level. This includes supporting the pilot cities in conducting climate vulnerability assessments, planning spatially localised adaptation measures, and implementing integrated demonstration projects that prioritise the needs of women and vulnerable groups. Output 2 supports national-level actors, particularly the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), in translating local experiences into standardised tools, process descriptions, and training modules for CCAP development and implementation. These instruments will be institutionalised through entities such as the Center for Climate Resilient Local Infrastructure (CReLIC) and the Muktopaath e-learning platform. Output 3 fosters cross-level learning and collaboration, enabling horizontal exchanges between cities and vertical dialogue between municipal and national institutions. Municipal associations and planning institutions will facilitate the transfer and uptake of practical approaches, reinforcing alignment with national climate policy goals. The project utilises a multi-tiered approach to capacity building, addressing individual professionals, organisational structures, and systemic frameworks. It aims to equip decision-makers, urban planners, and civil society representatives with the necessary competencies to advance inclusive, climate-resilient urban development strategies. By 2026, anticipated outcomes include: the issuance of two national directives regarding CCAP formulation, dissemination of learnings from two demonstration projects in two pilot cities, and the adoption of five national guidance documents across ten municipalities. The project"s objectives are aligned with the "Leave No One Behind" commitment of the 2030 Agenda, prioritising gender equity and fostering participatory, sustainable urban climate adaptation in Bangladesh.