In response to the critical challenges presented by Bangladesh’s susceptibility to climate change and the additional complexities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study, jointly conducted by the BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) Programme and BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) focuses on strengthening socio-economic resilience among targeted climate migrants and climate-vulnerable ultra-poor individuals who are confronting the risks of displacement.
Researchers: Fahim Subhan Chowdhury; Md. Mohsin Hossain; Rohini Kamal, PhD; Md. Mahbub Ul Hassan Sharan
Partner: BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) Programme
Timeline: 2022–2024
Status: Ongoing
Contact: Md. Mahbub Ul Hassan Sharan; mahbubul.hassan@bracu.ac.bd
Context
Diversifying climate-adaptive livelihood options, providing access to financial services, enhancing life skills, and improving social inclusion aims to empower these vulnerable populations. This initiative aligns with various national policies and strategies, aiming to enhance both economic and climate resilience. Through collaboration with local authorities and leveraging existing policies, the project seeks to address the intertwined challenges of climate-induced migration, poverty, and vulnerability while contributing to the broader development goals of the region.
Objectives
The current project aims to address the core livelihood challenges faced by ultra-poor women who are climate change-induced migrants living in urban slums and those residing in rural climate change hotspots with the risk of displacement. UPG is BRAC’s flagship program which is implementing this project looking beyond the spectrum of ultra-poor, expanding to other dimensions as well. The project’s primary objectives include increasing the resilience of vulnerable urban communities against COVID-19 and its consequences. Specifically, the project focuses on strengthening the socio-economic resilience of climate migrants and climate-vulnerable ultra-poor participants who are at risk of displacement due to climate and pandemic-induced shocks. To achieve this, the project will work on diversifying climate-adaptive livelihood options, providing access to various financial services, enhancing life skills through counseling and knowledge sessions on climate change adaptation, social issues, and health, and fostering social inclusion by strengthening connections with government social protection services and local government agencies.
Methodology
The project methodology centers on increasing the resilience of vulnerable urban communities against COVID-19 and its consequences, with a specific focus on climate migrants and climate-vulnerable ultra-poor participants at risk of displacement due to climate and pandemic-induced shocks. To achieve this, the project will implement a multi-faceted approach that includes diversifying climate-adaptive livelihood options, providing access to a range of financial services, enhancing life skills through counseling and knowledge sessions on climate change adaptation, social issues, and health, and fostering social inclusion by strengthening connections with government social protection services and local government agencies.
Findings and Recommendations
Forthcoming
