Climate Change Resilience and Food Security (CCRFS)
Name of the NGDO: Caritas Luxembourg Foundation Project Name: Climate Change Resilience and Food Security (CCRFS)
Project Location: Bangladesh, Khulna and Bagerhat District, Dacope and Mongla Upazilas
Name of partner: Bangladesh Association for Sustainable Development (BASD)
About the project...
Both project areas, Dacope and Mongla Upazilas, are located in coastal regions. Climate change and the associated rise in sea level have consequences for the people in these regions, as the mangrove forests are affected and offer people less protection from extreme weather events. Overexploitation of the mangrove forests further aggravates the problem. People in the project areas are affected by climate change through increased waterlogging, shoreline erosion, stronger cyclones, and storm surges, but also through periods of drought.
The income sources of the communities are mainly rice cultivation, livestock and fishing. Climate change causes salinisation of freshwater, resulting in reduced agricultural production. Riverbank erosion, waterlogging and other impacts of climate change are destroying livelihoods and negatively impacting the lives of the most vulnerable populations.
The project focuses on poor and vulnerable people, especially women, to strengthen resilience to climate change, to create resilient communities, to develop safe food production, livelihood and better living standards in disaster prone areas.
Knowledge about cultivating crops and vegetables, taking care of domestic animals, as well as household materials and homes is shared with the beneficiaries.
Capacity building is done for Self Help Groups (SHG), especially for poor and vulnerable women on permaculture, eco-village design and ecological approaches for improved climate change resilience and society.
Through the project, the aim is to develop more Sustainable Income Generation and Livelihoods for 2,400 women by increasing agriculture-related income. The project also puts a lot of effort in learning and sharing processes with the partners and stakeholders through trainings, meetings, knowledge transfer of specific topics, including climate change adaptation, food security and livelihood development.
The two existing networks in Dacope (Banishanta) and Mongla Municipality, as well as two new networks in the new locations, are strengthened and empowered with the assistance of 48 SHGs (Self Help Group) and ongoing networks.