The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $71 million loan to improve flood control, irrigation, and water resources management in rural communities in Gopalganj and Madaripur districts in Bangladesh to strengthen their preparedness and resilience to face climate change challenges, says a press release.
Based on Global Climate Risk Index, Bangladesh ranked seventh in terms of vulnerability to climate risk. The country faces increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather and slow-onset climate events.
Without effective adaptation measures, the country could lose about 30 percent agricultural gross domestic product by 2050 because of climate variability and extreme events impacting rural communities, especially women who depend on climate-sensitive agricultural practices for their livelihoods.
"The project will sustain the gains achieved under the ADB-financed Southwest Area Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management Project, which has improved agricultural production, community infrastructure, and increased rural households incomes," said ADB Senior Project Management Specialist Pushkar Srivastava.
"This ADB additional support will further boost economic growth and productivity, increase incomes and sustainable livelihoods, especially for women and vulnerable groups, and reduce poverty rural areas of southwest Bangladesh," he said.
The project is expected to benefit more than 600,000 people and will introduce climate-resilient flood control, drainage, and irrigation (FCDI) measures and also reduce saline intrusion.
It will adopt nature-based solutions to strengthen FCDI infrastructure and improve drainage in four subbasins. The project will develop and enhance integrated water management plans, construct training centers for water management organizations, and other community infrastructure.
It will further promote participatory water resource management to foster local ownership and ensure sustainability. It will strengthen the capacity of water management groups in the design, construction, and operation and maintenance of facilities and support the establishment of joint management committees.
The project will also build the capacity of Bangladesh Water Development Board to improve coordination of government agencies concerned with water resources management, supervise the activities of water management organizations, and integrate climate adaptation in its operations, the press release said.
