Project for climate-vulnerable people extended by 2yrs
The government and development partners decided to extend the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC) project for two more year at a virtual meeting yesterday for delivering adaptation benefits to the most vulnerable coastal people of Bangladesh.
The project, led by Local Government Division of Ministry of Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives, is a joint initiative of the Bangladesh government, the European Union (EU), Sweden, UNCDF and UNDP.
The project was initiated in 2016 to deliver climate finance to the most vulnerable households and local government institutions in 72 unions of Khulna, Sunamganj, Kurigram, Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali and Bhola districts.
The project is designed to roughly support 4,00,000 of the most climate-vulnerable people under its Performance-based Climate Resilience Grants and Community Resilience Fund schemes.
Attending the event as chief guest, Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam said the project has proven to be a good system to deliver climate finance through local government institutions, and it directly reaches climate-vulnerable people for investment on local adaptation.
Rensje Teerink, ambassador/head of the EU delegation to Bangladesh, highlighted the EU's decade-long support to Bangladesh in combating climate change.
She said, "Through LoGIC, together with Sweden, UNDP, UNCDF, and thanks to the strong ownership of Local Government Division, this mechanism is now being put in place."
The recent addition of approximately EUR 7 million will go in the right direction and bring innovation for climate finance in Bangladesh, she continued.
"We look forward to continuing partnering with local government actors to ensure climate funds go where they are most needed, embracing a long-term perspective," she added.
Christine Johansson -- chargé d'affaires and deputy head of mission of Embassy of Sweden, which is also a partner of the project -- in her speech, said, "Bangladesh is not just a victim of climate change; the country has also become a global leader on adaptation. LoGIC is one example. Sweden is proud to be part of the solutions with the people of Bangladesh."
Van Nguyen, deputy resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, stressed the importance of a collaborative approach like LoGIC to deal with the greatest threat to mankind, climate change.
She said, "UNDP is committed to transcending the knowledge from LoGIC project across global networks. We hope to continue our global cooperation by working collaboratively with development partners and the government to help attain the LDC graduation and Sustainable Development Goals by 2030."
Among others, Helal Uddin Ahmed, senior secretary to Local Government Division, and Jesmul Hasan, country focal point at UNCDF, also spoke in the virtual event.
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