Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform (AP-PLAT)
Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform

AP-PLAT capacity development programme: Workshop on “Compound & Cascading Disaster Risk Management in Bangladesh”

Date 14 January 2024
Venue Hotel Sarina, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Language English and Bengali
Session title Workshop on “Compound & Cascading Disaster Risk Management in Bangladesh”
Organizers Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Bangladesh
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ)

The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) hosted a consultative workshop on 14 January 2024, Sunday, at Hotel Sarina, Dhaka, in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Bangladesh, and with the technical support of MOEJ under the capacity development program of the Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform (AP-PLAT). Mr. Md. Mijanur Rahman, Director General, DDM, Bangladesh graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. More than 45 personnel from relevant government agencies, educational institutes, and international NGOs participated in and contributed to the workshop.

The event was organized in three sessions, including opening, technical and closing ones.

The opening session started at 10:30 AM, Mr. Netai Chandra Dey Sarker, Director, DDM made a welcome address from the Bangladesh side while Ms. Emiko Matsuda, Deputy Director, MOEJ & Mr. Osamu Mizuno, Programme Director, IGES, made opening remarks from the Japanese side. Then, Ms. Nahid Sultana Mallik, Joint Secretary and Director (Research & Training) DDM addressed the occasion as the Chair.

  • The technical session which began at 10:50 AM and saw presentations on the issues below:
    • workshop purpose and outline
    • CCDRM Guidebook
    • current disaster management capacity-building initiatives in Bangladesh & future needs.
    • National Adaptation Plan in light of CCA-DRR integration

The technical session was followed by a group exercise.

The closing session started at 03:00 PM when the dignitaries made their final comments and ways forward.

Key messages:

  • In practice, Bangladesh has been managing CCDs as a multi-hazard term. CCD is a new concept to the stakeholders. The guidebook and the workshop help bring the concept to the forefront so that Bangladesh can redefine its approach to disaster management to make it more efficient and successful. The occasion also outlines how Bangladesh can build capacity for CCDRM.
  • The project “CCDRM in Bangladesh,” initiated by MOEJ and implemented by IGES, has already hosted three (3) workshops (online & in-person). As a result, the disaster managers in the government system are mostly aware of this concept by now.
  • The dignitaries and participants have agreed that the concept needs to be included and reflected in the existing relevant plans and policy documents.
  • It is time to disseminate the concept among broader groups of stakeholders while building the country’s capacity for it.
  • We should explore if the private sector can engage in and contribute to CCDRM.
  • The guidebook serves as a general training guide. So, any sectoral organization can utilize the guidebook to serve its institutional focus.
  • Urban disasters, notably the outbreak of Dengue Fever should be considered as cascading hazards as it is said to have a connection with heavy rainfall or untimely rainfall.
  • CCA and DRR are yet to integrate in Bangladesh which is causing duplication in projects and waste of time and money. CCA-DRR integrated approach can save huge time & money.

Way forward:

The workshop found the following ways forward.

  • The next workshop should occur in early March. The duration should be one and a half days. On the half day, only the high-level officials will be invited.
  • The next day will start with the technical session followed by a group exercise and interactive discussion to find specific interventions that will be helpful to prepare a GCF project concept note.
  • Integrating CCA and DRR in Bangladesh is a demand of the day. However, climate change and disaster management are handled by two different ministries. The next workshop will invite Ministers and high officials from both ministries and their line agencies.

(Posted : 04/MAR/2024)

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