UNDP, govt launch $20.7m project to mainstream climate adaptation into development planning

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have jointly launched a national project to integrate climate change adaptation into Bangladesh's development planning.

The initiative was formally inaugurated through an inception workshop titled "Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Sustainable Development Pathways of Bangladesh", held at the Department of Environment Auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The $20.7 million project—supported by a $5.7 million grant from the Global Environment Facility's Least Developed Countries Fund (GEF-LDCF)—will run from 2022 to 2026 and aims to build resilience across five agro-ecological zones (AEZs): Barind, the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Chittagong Coastal Plains, Eastern Surma-Kushiara Flood Plains, and the Teesta Floodplain. The project is expected to directly benefit 1.2 million people living in some of the country's most climate-vulnerable regions.

Dr Fariha Ahmed, Secretary of MoEFCC, attended the event as Chief Guest, alongside Additional Secretary Md Khaytul Hasan and UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller as Special Guests. The session was chaired by Dr Md Kamruzzaman, ndc, Director General of the Department of Environment.

National Project Director Md Khaled Hasan opened the workshop, and UNDP Environment Specialist Arif Faisal presented the keynote paper, detailing the project's goals and anticipated outcomes.

Speaking at the event, Dr Fariha Ahmed said, "Integrating climate change adaptation into our national development planning is no longer an option—it is a necessity. This project reflects our commitment to protecting vulnerable communities, enhancing institutional capacity, and ensuring our growth remains resilient and inclusive."

UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller noted, "Through the Global Environment Facility, Bangladesh has mobilised $362 million to advance climate resilience and biodiversity. UNDP is proud to support this progress by aligning resources with the country's sustainable development priorities."

He added that UNDP will continue to support both the National Adaptation Plan and the operationalisation of Local Adaptation Plans grounded in evidence and shaped by community voices.

This project is aligned with Bangladesh's Delta Plan 2100, the National Adaptation Plan, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022–2026's strategic goal of promoting a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment.