Narayanganj residents' adaptation plans unveiled to tackle climate risks

Practical Action in Bangladesh, in collaboration with Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) and the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA), hosted a national workshop today titled "Learning and Experience Sharing: People's Adaptation Plans for Inclusive, Climate-Resilient Urban Service Delivery in Narayanganj City Corporation."

Held at InterContinental Dhaka, the event highlighted the outcomes of a year-long Global Affairs Canada-funded initiative to embed the climate priorities of low-income communities into Narayanganj's urban planning.

Amid mounting pressures from heatwaves, waterlogging, and erratic rainfall, the project developed People's Adaptation Plans (PAPs) to ensure that the needs of the urban poor—particularly women—are reflected in the city's master plans, including the Urban Action Plan and Solid Waste Management Plan.

Narayanganj City Corporation Administrator Shakhawat Hossain Khan attended as chief guest, with key addresses from Ishrat Shabnam, Country Director of Practical Action Bangladesh, and Md Nur Kutubul Alam, CEO of NCC.

"People from 63 other districts come to Narayanganj for business, making it a challenge to provide comprehensive services to all residents," said Planner Moinul Islam. "Practical Action's People's Adaptation Plan marks a significant step towards building urban resilience."

Md Nur Kutubul Alam noted that Practical Action identified key adverse climate impacts in NCC using 76 indicators. "The assessment of 66 informal settlements enabled the identification of the most vulnerable and high-risk areas. Effective implementation of these plans could significantly advance sustainable, climate-resilient urban development."

Shakhawat Hossain Khan acknowledged that the city still lacks several essential government services. "The government has initiated the re-excavation of 26 canals within NCC to address waterlogging. The People's Adaptation Plan is highly relevant, offering evidence-based recommendations to complement government actions."

Ishrat Shabnam emphasised that climate change impacts are most severe at the grassroots. "This workshop demonstrates that community-led adaptation planning can yield sustainable solutions, such as nature-based drainage systems and green infrastructure."

Rita Lohani, Country Representative of GCA, stated that integrating community-endorsed roadmaps into NCC's master plans sets a strong precedent for other industrial hubs in Bangladesh.

The event concluded with a documentary on the PAP development process and reflections from community members who were central to the planning.