“It is important that almost everything we do is climate resilient”

Sarah Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of Practical Action, recently visited Bangladesh. During a conversation with The Daily Star's Tanjim Ferdous, she discussed the various development initiatives that Practical Action is currently working on in Bangladesh, as well as their future plans for the country.

The Daily Star (TDS): What are the areas of focus for Practical Action's work in Bangladesh?

Sarah Roberts (SR): Practical Action is an international development organization that has been operating for over 50 years in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. According to our founder, "development had to start from the realities and needs of people living in poverty."

In Bangladesh, we are working in four areas. Our goal is to make cities livable and enjoyable for everyone, including the urban poor, by working with municipal authorities to find long-term solutions for sanitation and waste management. We are providing these services to people living in difficult circumstances.

We are working to ensure that everyone has access to clean, safe, and affordable energy. We are also supporting smallholder farming communities, particularly those at risk of climate change, to have long-term sustainable livelihoods. In today's world, it is important that almost everything we do is climate resilient. Therefore, we are ensuring that the lives and livelihoods of the urban and rural poor can be adapted to face the future in a changing world.

TDS: In addition to these four priorities, what is Practical Action's next plan for Bangladesh? Will you be expanding to other sectors as well?

SR: We plan to continue working on these priority areas, as we have had success in these areas in the past. Our goal is to measure what works in different contexts and settings, based on where people live and how they can lift themselves out of poverty with the right support. We also have a range of partners, including local NGOs, working to support the rural and urban poor in Bangladesh. These partners are collaborating with municipal authorities and the private sector to ensure that meaningful changes can be delivered.

TDS: What are the achievements or impacts that Practical Action has created in poverty reduction in Bangladesh?

SR: One of the challenges of rapidly growing urbanization is providing affordable, effective waste management services to communities. However, I recently saw a waste treatment center in Faridpur that is capable of turning faecal sludge into bioenergy products, adding value to the waste stream. This suggests that the situation may be improving.

There is a sustainable way to provide waste management services through service-level agreements between corporations and municipal communities. We are using this approach to tackle the problem of plastic waste by organizing people to collect and process it in a way that creates a valuable product, such as fuel. This not only provides a source of revenue for the service, but also helps to reach many people who currently lack access to waste management systems.

We visited areas that are at high risk of flooding and saw a positive change: people are saving money for the future to use as a resource in times of crisis. We are also working with local authorities to implement early warning systems and ensure that the messages reach everyone in a way that is easily understandable. This is part of our national approach to addressing this issue.

TDS: We would like to know about climate credit or financing and how Bangladeshis can access the resilience fund. What role does Practical Action play in that regard?

SR: One of the things I have come to learn since I have been here is that a lot of Bangladeshis do not have the access to clean cooking. And that is so important in terms of health, cost and fuel efficiency. The finance to roll out solutions, in terms of reaching everyone who needs modern energy in affordable ways, is not happening faster in Bangladesh.

We have been discussing how we can put together some really good proposals that can access that kind of finance. We are hoping to get some innovative carbon finance to see if we can develop insurance products that would work for the smallholders' farmers because there is going to be a risk from climate impacts and finding a type of insurance product affordable.

It is really important to have affordable clean energy. So, it is one of our objectives. In fact, we host an organisation called The Global Distributors Collective, which brings together all sorts of organisations that are trying to get clean cooking, home systems, renewable energy, and other kinds of life-changing products to those who really need them.

TDS: Do you want to mention any innovation that has amazed you?

SR: In 2005, I visited char lands where there were no agricultural activities. Our team conducted an experiment where they grew pumpkins for six months during a period when the water level was high. The trial was successful, and over time it expanded to five regions. The productivity was very high, and the produce is now sold in 17 regions and six overseas markets, benefiting 100,000 people. This project doubled the income of those living in the area, and it was highly impactful. What amazed me was how the project spread, and this is exactly the kind of impact we strive for at Practical Action.

TDS: What changes would you recommend to improve the effectiveness of development interventions in Bangladesh?

SR: Bangladesh is a fascinating place for me, with its rich history and impressive development progress. In my discussions with various organizations here, I have been struck by the effective combination of different forms of governance at work. I have had the opportunity to attend meetings with union councils and see first-hand how local government is functioning. It is crucial to have strong disaster management systems in place at the local, regional, and national levels in order to reach those in need. Bangladesh also has a vibrant local NGO sector, and it is important for us to continue working with a variety of partners to sustain and build upon the development gains made in the country.

TDS: Any advice for the young people of Bangladesh on how they can contribute to development intervention?

SR: It is crucial that everyone is focused on the actions they can take to address the impacts of climate change. In my opinion, the agriculture sector in Bangladesh has the potential to drive innovations and take the industry to the next level through these efforts.