Publication

Published by the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia (AKP) in October 2012, this report summarizes the findings of the case studies on the determinants and effectiveness of local-level adaptation to climate change in Bangladesh. Conducted from February to June 2012, the case studies draw on AKP’s work in progress to disseminate and exchange adaptation knowledge among a wider audience.

The two initiatives have different local contexts with one relating to a coastal ecosystem, and the other to a drought-prone upland of Bangladesh. The adaptation actions were identified after considering the climatic factors, natural disasters, and the associated risks and vulnerability faced by the local communities, including small farmers, fishers, forest produce collectors, and women. The effectiveness of the two projects was determined by a set of common and diverse local determinants. Participatory planning, awareness raising and communication of climate risks, social mobilization and community interest, local capacity and institution building (farmers’ clubs and CBOs); improvement in farm production and management of natural resources; and blending of scientific knowhow with indigenous knowledge were some of the common determinants that increased the efficacy of these two local adaptation initiatives in Bangladesh