Call for Finance: Achieving Gender Equality in Climate Action Bangladesh
Women in Bangladesh bear a disproportionate burden during disasters, often prioritising their families' needs over their own, putting them at greater risk during floods, cyclones, and other crises, said experts.
According to them despite women's vital role in disaster recovery, their sacrifices and contributions frequently go unrecognised, further entrenching gender inequality.
Experts made the remarks at a roundtable discussion on 17 October titled "Integrating Gender Equality in Climate Finance Strategies for Bangladesh."
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The roundtable, jointly organised by The Business Standard (TBS) in collaboration with Manusher Jonno Foundation and Sweden Sverige, was held at TBS's office in Eskaton Garden, Dhaka.
Participants advocated for a gender-responsive budget that includes women and vulnerable communities while addressing climate change impacts.
The discussion was moderated by TBS Deputy Editor (Reporting) Sajjadur Rahman, with Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, as the chief guest.
Shaheen Anam
Executive director, Manusher Jonno Foundation
"Integrating Gender Equality in Climate Finance Strategies for Bangladesh" is an existential issue for the country's progress. The meaningful involvement of women in this area is crucial. Although the government has taken steps to address gender inclusion in development, the outcomes have often fallen short of expectations.
Women are disproportionately affected by disasters, including climate-related events. This reality makes it vital to see women as agents of change, as recognising their role can accelerate positive transformations. With women actively involved, we can build effective policies to drive sustainable impact.
Although 35% of our climate budget is allocated to address women's needs, the reality is different. Developed countries have also fallen short on their commitments in this regard. If the allocation fails to improve women's lives, it loses its purpose. Observing the challenges faced by women in coastal and char regions underscores this point; budget allocations need to be carefully monitored to ensure they make a tangible difference.
Allocating funds is a good start, but field monitoring is crucial to track "where the money has gone." First and foremost, we need to monitor allocations recognising women as essential agents and ensuring these investments lead to real change in their lives.
There has been a lack of transparency in the use of climate funds, but I am hopeful that going forward, we will clearly see how much money is allocated to each sector and how it is being spent. We are optimistic that the specific funds allocated for women will be used effectively.
Improved coordination is essential among NGOs, CSOs, and both small and large organizations in civil society, as well as with the government. We need to leverage existing opportunities and coordinate our efforts to present our priorities on a global stage effectively.
I believe the government will strongly advocate for Bangladesh to receive appropriate funding for loss and damage. This year, the government plans to make a compelling case to the international community, and we, alongside the government, aim to emphasise the critical need for this allocation.
The allocation received should be adequate and its effective use ensured. We need to consider this more deeply. As our country develops industrially, we must also contribute to adaptation efforts. In the upcoming COP, a strong call for climate finance is crucial—not only from our end but also through a firm stance from the government on this issue.
Zakir Hossain Khan
Chief executive of Change Initiative Ltd
The scope of natural disasters in our country has expanded significantly over the past 30 years, now encompassing issues like extreme heat, drought, declining groundwater levels, and increasing water salinity. Urban air pollution also poses a major challenge. Climate change impacts are closely connected to environmental factors, demanding an integrated response.
For example, when polluted air from India reaches Satkhira, it affects the people there, illustrating that borders do not limit environmental impacts. Similarly, any harm to the Sundarbans on the Bangladesh side inevitably affects the Indian side as well. Most of Bangladesh's air and water pollution stems from sources in neighboring India, and our contribution to the plastic pollution accumulating in the Bay of Bengal is minimal, with a large share of plastic waste originating from neighboring countries.
Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate change, despite contributing only 0.56% of global carbon emissions. This vulnerability stems from the indiscriminate flow of pollution, resulting in low emissions but severe impacts for Bangladesh. From 2000 to 2019 alone, Bangladesh faced 185 extreme disaster events, causing a loss of $3.72 billion.
When floods strike Assam or Tripura across the border, for instance, neither the BSF nor the BGB can stop the floodwaters from crossing into Bangladesh. Nature's forces know no borders, underscoring the need for an integrated, effective management system. Terms like "flood control" and "river control" are misleading—we need to focus on flood and river management.
Gender is a critical dimension within these challenges. After floods, for instance, child marriage rates rise, people incur debt, and women face exploitation by local agents, with relief allocations often failing to reach them properly. To be effective, climate adaptation must be gender-responsive.
Bangladesh faces a $40 billion climate finance gap, a challenge echoed across South Asia. To address this, continuous advocacy is essential. While development partners introduce new ideas, there is often a lack of integration. Independent monitoring is therefore necessary to ensure effective implementation and accountability.
Farah Kabir
Country director, ActionAid Bangladesh
Despite discussions on gender-responsive budgeting, have we achieved meaningful changes in the past 50 years? The UN Secretary-General warns it may take 150 to 200 years to see true progress, and while Bangladesh has made strides in disaster management, events like the recent Feni flood underscore gaps in anticipation and preparation.
Addressing these requires strong political will and targeted policy advocacy, yet funding for research, knowledge-building, and community participation remains low. Economic losses are visible, but secondary impacts—like increased child marriage and disruption in education—are often overlooked, underscoring the need for comprehensive planning.
Although Bangladesh's climate fund was self-initiated, reports of mismanagement are common, signaling a need for cultural change and greater community involvement. Integrating sectors like water, health, and climate is essential, and countries most responsible for climate change must take proactive steps by investing in gender-responsive climate funds. Globally, a $5 trillion annual allocation is needed for effective climate action, yet current contributions fall far short, with fossil fuel and military spending dwarfing climate funding. Questions also linger about the proper use of existing funds for emissions reduction.
At the upcoming COP-29 conference, Bangladesh will advocate for $1 trillion in core public funding. However, political leaders often make ambitious promises without follow-through. With a new government in Bangladesh that has a more people-centered agenda, there is hope for stronger commitments and effective actions in climate finance and gender equity initiatives. While expectations were high for the previous administration, the current government's unique approach raises fresh hopes for meaningful progress.
S M Munzurul Hannan Khan
Nature Conservation Management (NACOM)
When it comes to development indicators, we often report on the kilometers of roads and infrastructure built, but we lack clear data on how many women we've genuinely uplifted. The same applies to climate fund allocations, where political leaders often prioritize projects within their territories rather than addressing real climate vulnerabilities. While development indicators may allocate for women, funding is often directed to less essential projects instead of those with high impact.
Regrettably, Bangladesh was the first country to establish a self-financed climate fund. Originally, this fund was supposed to be held in a government bank but was instead placed in a private bank, resulting in significant losses. Of the allocated Tk831 crore, only Tk74 crore remains in the bank, with the rest allegedly misappropriated. The fund's primary purpose was compromised, leaving no trace of most of the money, and it's uncertain if any of it will be recovered.
Our international commitments regarding climate funds often become mere rhetoric, as climate negotiations frequently prioritise words over action. Bangladesh has secured only one project from the Global Climate Fund in the past nine years, highlighting inefficiencies in our approach. Moreover, the global goal of the Green Climate Fund has shifted toward a business-focused agenda, with developed countries reluctant to allocate funds without a profit-driven motive. Despite their commitments, action remains lacking.
As a vulnerable country, we must raise our voices at international conferences, emphasising the plight of women who are disproportionately affected by climate change. It is essential to address their mental health needs and work towards a coordinated response. Our ability to fully utilise allocated funds will depend on our capacity to meet the necessary due diligence, which is the responsibility of the government.
When assessing our allocated funds, we see that climate issues have been transferred to various sectors, including health and infrastructure. Unfortunately, climate finance has increasingly been redirected toward business interests. Therefore, those negotiating on behalf of the Bangladeshi government must scrutinise the documentation carefully, as even minor details can carry significant implications.
Md Golam Rabbani
Head of Climate Bridge Fund, BRAC
Seventeen countries have focused on gender inclusion in the adaptation gap report's finance gap report. Over the past 27 years, a total of $230 billion has been allocated to various global funds, yet Bangladesh's share remains woefully inadequate. It is crucial to verify whether any funds are genuinely allocated under the guise of co-financing. Without addressing the root causes, we are unlikely to find solutions, even in the next 200 years.
To achieve gender responsiveness, at least $1 billion per year is necessary. Currently, only one Pacific country out of 17 worldwide has successfully implemented gender-responsive budgeting, highlighting the need for caution in our own efforts.
Similar to the lack of significant budget allocation for gender responsiveness in our national budget, women are also overlooked in the climate budget. It is essential to prioritise gender-responsive issues when allocating sector-wise budgets. Given the current government's focus, we have heightened expectations for progress in this area.
Sajjadur Rahman
Deputy editor (reporting), The Business Standard
Addressing gender inequality is crucial in climate budgeting and implementation, yet significant deficiencies remain that warrant further discussion. With the upcoming COP-29 conference featuring various negotiations, it is essential to provide policymakers with recommendations in advance.
I believe such discussions can be instrumental in this context, as they extend beyond financial matters to encompass technical expertise and other considerations.
The issue of gender inequality must be taken seriously in all future discussions and decisions. We need to consider how to approach climate finance objectively, without being driven solely by business interests.
Khodeja Sultana
Country Director of Diakonia
In discussions around climate finance and its distribution, we tend to focus more on adaptation than on mitigation. It's crucial that we shift some of our attention to mitigation efforts. Our investments should also prioritize women's leadership, as increasing allocations for mitigation can empower women and elevate their voices on key platforms.
We must ensure that those displaced by natural disasters are included in our loss and damage frameworks. To achieve this, we need to improve our data management practices. By doing so, we can collaborate with climate funds to accurately assess the situation faced by women. Currently, there is a significant gap in data both at the national level and among various organizations, which hampers our efforts.
Md Abul Hasan
Coast Foundation
Each year, the COP conference on climate events brings hope, but we often leave feeling disappointed once it concludes. While new funds may emerge from this year's conference in Azerbaijan, we must ensure we have the capacity to access them.
Additionally, it's crucial to evaluate the current state of policy and implementation. We need to showcase the outcomes of past investments. It's time to focus on supporting climate victims, as this sector can no longer be overlooked.
Noor Ali Shah
UN Women
We need to improve our financial mechanisms to ensure effective climate finance. It's essential to consider climate finance frameworks and capacity building. Even where fund guidelines exist, gender issues are often inadequately addressed, and we must work to rectify this. A deeper understanding of gender relevance is crucial.
While we have made strides in capacity development, we lack a strong awareness of its importance. We can outline a three-step approach to effectively utilize climate finance, which will facilitate easier monitoring as we phase in these funds.
Banasree Mitra Neogi
Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation
In our country, there is significant concern about how effectively gender budgeting reaches the grassroots level. It is crucial for every citizen to recognize their own responsibility in this process. Additionally, state accountability plays a vital role in ensuring that funds are used effectively.
The COP conference is not just about what we can do; it requires thorough preparation. Currently, we are not adequately prepared—this applies to governments, NGOs, and other organizations. To address this issue, we need a coordinated effort, with the government taking a more proactive stance.
Sheikh Nur Ataya Rabbi
CPRD
When it comes to climate funds, quality matters more than quantity. Since independence, significant amounts of money have been mobilised in Bangladesh's climate sector, yet our output remains negligible. Proper utilisation of the allocated funds is essential to improve the status of our projects, which can serve as a crucial guide for future funding.
In recent years, we have primarily focused on constructing roads and bridges with climate finance, but little attention has been paid to gender issues. Across all sectors, there appears to be an increasing reliance on large installations and projects. While these efforts may be seen as progress in combating climate change, we must also prioritise initiatives that address gender equality and community resilience.
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