Bangladesh

Promoting inclusive solutions to climate change

Project Name

Actions to Climate Change Ensuring Sustainable Solutions (ACCESS)
Project Phase

2024 to 2027
Funding

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Donations

Cyclones, floods, salinity intrusion, and riverbank erosion threaten vulnerable communities across Bangladesh. Through the ACCESS Project, HELVETAS supports climate-vulnerable hotspots in the north and southwest to build resilience, strengthen livelihoods, and reduce climate risks, enabling communities to advance toward a more resilient and sustainable future.

Across Bangladesh, communities are already experiencing the severe impacts of the climate crisis. More frequent and intense floods and cyclones are putting lives, livelihoods, and household wellbeing at increasing risk. Along the coastal belt, rising salinity is penetrating deeper into the soil, affecting crop production and reducing the availability of freshwater, with serious consequences for people’s health, food security, and livelihoods.

Building on the experience and lessons learned from the Panii Jibon (Water is Life, 2013–2023) and Recovery in Dignity (2021–2022) projects, Helvetas is implementing the Actions to Climate Change Ensuring Sustainable Solutions (ACCESS) Project under the Water, Food and Climate Domain. The project works in two climate-vulnerable hotspots of Bangladesh, the northwestern and southwestern regions, to strengthen community resilience, reduce disaster risks, promote climate adaptation, and enhance the capacity of vulnerable communities to prepare for and respond to climate-related hazards.

ACCESS works through three interconnected pillars:

Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management
Promoting Climate Justice and Good Governance
Ensuring Inclusive Water Access

Enhancing Climate Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management

ACCESS strengthens the resilience of climate-vulnerable communities by promoting climate-smart agriculture, diversified livelihoods, disaster preparedness, and access to timely climate information. The project promotes locally appropriate practices such as salt-tolerant crops, sustainable fish farming, and other climate-smart technologies, while Climate Information Service Centres (CISCs) help farmers and communities’ access and use climate and weather information for agriculture, livelihoods, disaster preparedness, and adaptation planning. ACCESS also promotes planned, informed, and safe migration through Migration Information Hubs, which connect potential migrants with information on skills development, employment, finance, and services at destinations. At the same time, the project strengthens early warning systems, builds the capacity of Disaster Management Committees (DMCs) and communities, improves critical infrastructure and the accessibility of shelters and basic service points, and help vulnerable groups better anticipate, withstand, and recover from climate and disaster-related shocks.

The southwestern coastal belt of Bangladesh is particularly exposed to extreme climate events such as cyclones and floods, and slow onset ones such as salinity intrusion © Helvetas/KM ASAD

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Vermicompost production at Mst. Laily Begum’s household in Char Tupamari, Berubari, Nageswari, Kurigram, demonstrating an eco-friendly and climate-smart livelihood practice.

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Climate Information Service Centre (CISC): A step toward localized climate information dissemination system.

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A youth member of a Climate Migration Hub providing information and guidance on safe and planned migration, Berubari, Kurigram.

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Promoting Climate Justice and Good Governance

ACCESS promotes climate justice by supporting communities affected by climate-related loss and damage, including cyclones, floods, salinity intrusion, and other hazards, while strengthening their capacity to protect livelihoods, recover from climate impacts, and adapt to changing conditions. The project strengthens civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), and community groups to engage effectively with local government and promotes the meaningful participation of vulnerable groups and women in local planning and decision-making. It also raises awareness of climate finance, public resources, and climate-responsive budgeting, enabling communities and local stakeholders to identify priorities, advocate for climate action, mobilise resources, and support the recovery of livelihoods and essential infrastructure in collaboration with local authorities.

Members of the Mothers’ Parliament submitting a petition to the Upazila administration advocating for increased WASH budget allocation.

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Locally planned disaster risk reduction initiative: a floating bridge constructed in Protapnagar, Assasuni, Satkhira, with co-financing from the Union Parishad and the local community. ©ACCESS Project/UTTARAN

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A lightning-safe farmer shelter equipped with lightning arresters, providing protection for farmers and rural workers during thunderstorms.

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Livelihood restoration support for climate-affected households to recover from loss and damage, Koyra, Khulna.

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Inclusive water access

ACCESS addresses the growing challenge of safe and reliable freshwater access, particularly in the northwestern and southwestern coastal belt, where salinity intrusion, water scarcity, flooding, and contamination are placing increasing pressure on freshwater sources. Its works with communities to promote climate-resilient and inclusive WASH solutions, including double-platform deep tube wells, climate-resilient attached toilets, and inclusive WASH blocks in disaster shelters and educational institutions. The project strengthens local enterprises and service providers to promote climate-adaptation technologies and create employment opportunities, particularly for women, while supporting communities and CBOs to advocate for improved water resource management and increased public investment in WASH infrastructure. ACCESS also promotes research, innovation, nature-based solutions, and the Green School Approach in collaboration with government departments and other stakeholders to develop locally appropriate, sustainable, and climate-resilient solutions for water, sanitation, education, and community resilience.

Community-level double-platform deep tube well installed in Pratapnagar, Assasuni, Satkhira, ensuring access to safe water during emergencies.

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Renovation of an inclusive WASH block at Salmara Islamia High School, Berubari, Nageswari, Kurigram, ensuring safe and accessible WASH services during normal and emergency situations.

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