From 30 November - 1 December, UNDP-Bangladesh in partnership with Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) organized a Strategic Planning Workshop titled as the ‘Scoping of Climate Change Responsive Investment in MoDMR’, in Bangladesh. Organized under the UNDP’s regional Governance of Climate Change Finance programme, this workshop was part of UNDP’s technical support to the MoDMR for increased focus and investment on climate change with the Ministry of Budget Framework (MBF) and Annual Development Plan (ADP).

With a broad objective of identifying the scopes of climate change and gender responsive investments in MoDMR, the workshop generated a number of future project ideas that the ministry finds important within its mandate to reduce the risk of climate change induced disaster for the most vulnerable, particularly the women and other excluded population.

The participants at this 2-day workshop stressed the importance of incorporating gender responsive climate change adaptation approach in disaster management while taking part in a rigorous exercise of reviewing two most potential projects of Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR).

During the workshop participants also reviewed two ministry priority projects still in development stage, on (i) resilient settlements in landslide risk areas and (ii) managing climatic risks in Haor area, and incorporated gender responsive climate change angle in them.

Speaking at the discussion as the chief guest, Md. Shah Kamal, Secretary of MoDMR said, “The workshop has created a wonderful opportunity in strengthening the bond between UNDP and MoDMR for working closely in the important area of CCA and DRR.” Reiterating the commitment of MoDMR for investing in addressing climate change, he said that designing a DRR project that really addresses the need of the most vulnerable people to climate change is highly important for making the investment effective.    

Dr. Feisal Rahman, Faculty of International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) facilitated at the workshop as an external expert in setting the context of CCA-DRR nexus in Bangladesh.

The workshop generated an action plan with clear distribution of responsibilities and timeline for full-fledged development of the two projects that the MoDMR has committed to implement as a priority.  

The workshop was attended by 13 senior MoDMR officials, including the Director General of Department of Disaster Management, four Additional Secretaries and others of the rank of Joint Secretary and Deputy Secretary.

Led by the Assistant Country Director of UNDP-Bangladesh Mr. Khurshid Alam, the UNDP team at the workshop was comprised of the Climate Change and Disaster Management experts.