SIDA-funded project to enhance Bangladesh's climate, environmental governance: Adviser Rizwana

A new project funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) is set to significantly enhance the institutional capacities of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Department of Environment (DoE), and the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD), said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to both the MoEFCC and the Ministry of Water Resources, today (3 July). 

Speaking at a ceremony at the DoE in Dhaka, where she received the Grant Agreement for the project titled "Strengthening Capacity of MoEFCC, DoE, and BFD for Natural Resource Management and Improved Climate Resilience", Rizwana Hasan said the initiative would reinforce Bangladesh's resilience to climate change while helping to preserve its rich biodiversity.

The Grant Agreement was formally signed by AKM Shahabuddin, secretary (Routine Charge) of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Maria Stridsman, chargé d'Affaires and head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden. 

Also in attendance were Lubna Yeasmin, joint secretary of the MoEFCC, and Nayoka Martinez Bäckström, first secretary and deputy head of Cooperation. 

Supported by a SIDA grant of  5 million Swedish Krona (SEK) (approximately $0.53 million or Tk64.4 crore), the project will be implemented through three interconnected components:

The first component focuses on institutional capacity-building, with the MoEFCC leading efforts to align biodiversity conservation with national and international commitments, including the National Adaptation Plan (2023–2050) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Key activities include developing monitoring frameworks, conducting specialist training on environmental impact assessment, and equipping the DoE with modern tools to track pollution in key rivers such as the Buriganga and Turag.

The second component centres on the monitoring and restoration of Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs), particularly Sonadia Island. Planned interventions include baseline environmental assessments, mangrove restoration, sand dune stabilisation, and the establishment of a turtle hatchery. Local communities will be actively engaged through Village Conservation Groups (VCGs), promoting both biodiversity protection and sustainable livelihoods. 

The third component involves the creation of a Wildlife Trust Fund, to be established following a scoping study and stakeholder consultations. This fund aims to support conservation of endangered species and address human-wildlife conflicts, while reducing reliance on government funding.

With interventions spanning from mangrove reforestation to grassroots-level conservation, the project represents a major step in advancing Bangladesh's environmental sustainability agenda.

Present at the event were also Additional Secretary Md Khayrul Hasan; Md Kamruzzaman, director general of the DoE; and Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, chief conservator of Forests.