Action Against Hunger (ACF) organized a workshop titled “Nexus Programming for Climate Resilience in Bangladesh – Building Local Capacities” on Thursday, November 27. The event brought together government officials, development partners, donors, and NGOs to discuss how Bangladesh can strengthen community resilience to climate change and improve essential services for vulnerable communities.
The workshop, held at Hotel Crown Plaza in Dhaka’s Gulshan, shared key lessons from ACF’s programs over the past five years and promoted better coordination between humanitarian response and long-term development.
Md Razwanur Rahman, director general of the Department of Disaster Management, attended the inaugural session as the chief guest. He stated that Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone countries, with disasters becoming more frequent and severe, affecting diverse regions and communities. He emphasized strengthening disaster preparedness through improved education and earthquake awareness, stronger ward disaster management committees (WDMCs), better collaboration with the government, avoiding overlaps, and prioritizing the needs of poor and vulnerable communities.
To address these challenges, Rahman proposed a range of collaborative solutions, including developing rainwater harvesting (RWH) initiatives, working closely with local communities, enhancing flood preparedness, and strengthening coordination with health-sector professionals to ensure community well-being.
Matilda Svensson, first secretary at the Embassy of Sweden, mentioned that the Government of Sweden prioritizes three key areas for funding: empowering local communities, integrating sectors, and innovating for impact.
Dr. Md Rizwanur Rahman, director general of BNNC, attended as a special guest. He stressed the need for investment across multiple sectors, including WASH, health facilities, and nutrition.
Speaking at the event, he remarked, “Cyclone may come, water may rise, but our children must remain safe and nourished through a multi-sectoral approach.”
Md Momenul Islam, director of BMD, called for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He warned that at the current rate, global temperatures may rise by 1–2°C within this decade. He emphasized the importance of technology and integrated approaches for climate tolerance.
Dr. Mohammad Eunus Ali, director of IPHN, in his speech as a special guest, highlighted that Bangladesh is at the peak of climate vulnerability, with the health and nutrition sectors being the most affected. He stressed the importance of strengthening local capacity and adopting a holistic approach.
Following the inaugural session, two technical sessions were held. The first technical session, moderated by Mohammad Akmal Shareef, country director of Action Against Hunger, focused on localization and community resilience.
Shareef emphasized the need for community-based sustainable actions, a broader vision for interventions, and strengthening community capacity. He highlighted the importance of integrated multi-sectoral efforts, collaborative and convergent approaches involving multiple agencies—including the government—and increased investment in innovation to achieve large-scale impact.
Strategic partners representative Jahid Amin of Uttaran, Bajle Rajee of FIVDB, and Dr. Enamul Haque of Friendship shared their field experiences.
First Secretary Matilda Svensson, Oxfam Country Director Ashish Damle, and ESDO Executive Director Dr. Md Shahid Uz Zaman shared their thoughts during a panel discussion. They highlighted the need to support local actors and improve coordination in disaster-prone areas. All panellists agreed that donors and INGOs must involve local and national NGOs throughout the entire project cycle—fundraising, negotiation, project development, and implementation. They also noted that local NGOs are closest to the community and best understand their needs. Panellists also highlighted the need for a strong platform for coordination and leadership for local NGOs.
The second session highlighted how climate change affects WASH, health, and nutrition services, especially for children under five.
A keynote presentation from the Right2Grow Project stressed the importance of climate-resilient services. Panellists included Imam Mahmud Riad, a WASH expert; Dr. Md Shakhaoat Hossain, associate professor and chairman, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University(JU); and Dr. Tariqul Islam, country director, Max Foundation Bangladesh. They discussed the importance of collaboration to protect vulnerable communities.
The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Nurul Qadir, former secretary, Government of Bangladesh. Panellists agreed that increased use of modern technology and sustainable actions is essential for climate resilience.
Dr. Md Shakhaoat Hossain, associate professor and chair at Public Health and Informatics of JU, noted that climate change affects both urban and rural populations and poses significant health risks.
Dr. Tariqul Islam, country director of Max Foundation Bangladesh, highlighted that people spend 71 percent of their income in the market. Therefore, synchronized service mapping, inclusive policies, breaking silos, and sensitizing market forces are necessary for sustainable climate resilience.
Around 100 development and humanitarian activists participated in the workshop, along with 30 government stakeholders from DDM, BMD, IPHN, DPHE, DoE, and academia. All participants highlighted the need for holistic and sustainable development and stressed the importance of promoting localization to strengthen community resilience.
ACF reaffirmed its support to the Government of Bangladesh and its partners in building a safer and healthier future for all.
Bangladesh remains highly exposed to climate-related disasters, including cyclones, floods, salinity intrusion, and sea-level rise, which continue to affect lives and livelihoods. ACF has been working in Bangladesh since 2007 in the areas of food security, livelihoods, DRR, climate change adaptation, WASH, health, nutrition, and MHPSS.