Govt to open climate funds to NGOs, paving way for frugal innovation

At a policy level discussion, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has announced that a landmark policy shift is underway: Bangladesh's climate change trust fund, once accessible only to government agencies, will now welcome applications from NGOs developing proven, community-centered climate solutions.

At the 8th Frugal Innovation Forum (FIF), BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh welcomed the initiative and emphasised that for countries like Bangladesh, innovation must be practical and low-cost. 

"We're rolling out integrated projects from Barendra to Satkhira, and by mid-next year, we aim to reach 300 climate-vulnerable upazilas," he said. His remarks spotlighted three focus areas: climate information services, microinsurance models, and affordable desalination for coastal drinking water.

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed set the tone in his keynote, urging Global South nations to build solutions from within, using existing resources.

Opening the forum, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan offered a sharp rebuke to wealthy nations, accusing them of deepening climate injustice by offering loans instead of reparative support. 

She underscored the need for policies that genuinely protect rivers, wetlands, forests, and farmlands, calling for both carbon reduction and grassroots adaptation to avoid collapse.

Throughout the two-day forum, over 200 participants, from researchers to grassroots innovators, exchanged ideas on climate-resilient agriculture, risk financing, and community-led design. 

Sessions led by Moutusi Kabir, Christina Chan, and Hossain Ishrath Adib explored how to enable innovation ecosystems and empower local leadership.

BRAC's senior director, KAM Morshed, opened day two by summarizing the first day's discussions.

Sessions included: "Creating an Enabling Environment" led by Moutusi Kabir; "Frugal Innovation for Climate-Resilient Agriculture" by Christina Chan; and "Community in the Driving Seat" with Hossain Ishrath Adib.

Ashley Toombs hosted talks on farmers' adaptation needs and agricultural innovations, while Kuldeep Bandhu Aryal led a session on financial products and climate risk insurance.

Jerome Oberreit, BRAC Global Executive Director, framed frugal innovation as survival-driven ingenuity, calling access to knowledge a fundamental right.

Dr Abed Chaudhury of Genofax Life Sciences applauded BRAC's direction and hinted at future collaborations.
Exhibitions featured practical innovations from partners like Sajida Foundation and World Vision, reinforcing that transformative change often starts at the margins.

Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, BRAC Chair, closed the forum with a call to embed frugal innovation in national resilience strategies. "Frugality isn't a constraint, it's a catalyst for scale," he noted.

Since 2013, FIF has become a vital platform amplifying Southern voices in the global climate discourse. With climate funding shrinking and the crisis deepening, the forum's message resonates louder than ever: future resilience lies in community-driven, affordable innovation.