IFAD approves $70m project to boost rural climate resilience
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has approved a new US$70 million project to help rural communities in Bangladesh's flood- and drought-prone regions adapt to environmental shocks and improve their livelihoods.
The Climate Resilient Agriculture and Livelihood Enhancement Project (CRALEP) was approved at IFAD's 144th Executive Board session held in Rome on 14 May. The project will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, with oversight from the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance.
Targeting 1.34 million people in 33 upazilas across the Haor and High Barind regions, CRALEP aims to strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure, expand income-generating opportunities, and improve institutional capacity to manage climate risks effectively.
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The project will invest in the construction of 334 kilometres of climate-resilient village roads and 58 rural markets, enhancing connectivity and access to essential services in remote areas. In 240 villages, it will also build walkways, tubewells, and sanitation facilities to improve daily living conditions and public health.
To support livestock protection during floods, CRALEP will construct 72 elevated platforms (killas). It will also introduce nature-based protection systems in 280 villages and strengthen early warning systems for floods and droughts through the Climate Resilient Local Infrastructure Centre (CReLIC) to enable timely, community-led disaster response.
Youth empowerment is a core element of CRALEP. The project will offer vocational training to 34,000 youth and provide entrepreneurship support to 10,000 others, helping them build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the rural economy.
"This project builds on the strong and longstanding collaboration between IFAD and the Government of Bangladesh," said Valantine Achancho, IFAD Country Director for Bangladesh. "CRALEP takes that partnership further by strengthening community resilience and well-being through climate-resilient infrastructure and diversified livelihoods that integrate nature-based solutions and climate information services. Meeting the needs of vulnerable rural women, men, and youth requires coordinated and sustained efforts. Through this initiative, we will contribute to building a more secure and dignified future for the rural population in Bangladesh."
In a letter to the Adviser of the Ministry of Finance and IFAD Governor, IFAD President Alvaro Lario reaffirmed IFAD's strong partnership with Bangladesh and praised the country's consistent performance in implementing development initiatives.
