The Bangladesh National Adaptation Plan mandates the creation of a framework for climate action that is participatory; locally led; and socially, gender, disability and youth-inclusive. This report presents a national locally led adaptation (LLA) framework and an indicative action plan for implementation. Bangladesh has led the way globally in different forms of climate adaptation and is well placed to pioneer LLA for national priorities. The principles and main building blocks for LLA have been endorsed internationally and provide guidelines for the bespoke development of LLA strategies at the national level.
The main building blocks of LLA include policy and legislative frameworks; budgeting and finance; institutions; climate-resilient planning; and monitoring, evaluation and learning systems. The framework and the action plan proposed address each of these components.
A diagnostic approach was used to develop the framework, thus, benefiting from a wide consultation with key stakeholders, including members of divisional LLA hubs. Visits were made to different climate-vulnerable areas during feasibility assessment to discuss climate change and adaptation with local people and officials.
There are various important initiatives across Bangladesh using LLA approaches. These include government, development partner and nongovernment organization-led programs. There is much to learn that can be incorporated into the national framework. The framework focuses on issues on how to support LLA that is aligned with decentralization in the local government. For adaptation to be effective, appropriate amounts of subsidy in governance and devolved decision-making are necessary. These aspects were considered through the lens provided by the principles of decentralization.
The various scales of prevalent climate risks indicate that different levels of government should coordinate different types of climate action. The Union Parishad and the Upazila Parishad or Upazillas need to be subsidized by the central government to develop and implement local climate action with a designated budget. Climate vulnerability assessments should be coordinated by local government authorities, i.e., the Union Parishad and Upazillas, to develop the plans.
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