The residents of Dholua Union in the southern delta of Bangladesh battle daily with climate change-related flash flooding and water-logged roads that would periodically cut them off from essential services and community meeting points, including schools, health centers and places of worship. Community know-how, combined with the vision of a local government leader and ‘change agent’ has unlocked the potential of the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility approach to deliver transformative adaptation results.

Mokhlesur Rahman first made a name for himself as a change agent during his days as a grocer, when he would chat with his customers and take pride in offering advice or helping them seek solutions to their woes. His reputation and charisma earned Mr Rahman the support of his community and when he ran in local elections some years ago; he won – taking his problem-solving skills from a part-time hobby to a full-time job.

In his early days as a grocer, Mr. Rahman used to resolve disputes within the community, assist in the marriage of girls from low-income families, and advocate for elderly and widowed individuals to receive their entitled benefits. As sea-levels rise and floods increasingly threaten his low-lying district, Mr Rahman has bigger and bigger problems to solve, that require more planning, take place on a grander scale and require larger investment of funds.

“My community needs a culvert. Therefore, I'm working to put together the resources to build one here,” said 52-year-old Mr Rahman, describing the latest climate-related project he’s set his sights on. “I won't let up until I succeed. It will lessen my people's anguish [and] sufferings.”

In Bangladesh LoCAL is implemented through the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change, or LoGIC, which focuses on climate change adaptation in seven climate-vulnerable districts. To date, LoGIC has delivered a total of 852 Performance Based Climate Resilient Grants (PBCRG).

Using the LoCAL approach of channeling grants to local government authorities to finance locally identified climate resilience projects, LoGIC works with a network of individuals like Mr Rahman, and it is their commitment and drive that takes project plans from the concept stage to their fruition. One such transformative investment is a recently constructed road that runs off into an adjacent canal, financed through LoGIC but realized as a result of the commitment of Mr Rahman and his community.

“This road made our life easier,” said Mohammad Abdul Rob, 50, a resident of Dholua Union, who makes his living selling cows. “Before we used to carry patients this long way [to the hospital] but now auto[mobiles] can come and pick up the patient.”

The road initially seemed like a pipe-dream, even when finance became available through a Performance Based Climate Resilience Grant, not least because stretches of land needed for its construction were privately owned. Mr Rahman led the way, contributing 1.5 katha (approximately 1,000 sq metres) of his personal land to the project and encouraged others to follow suit.

Very soon the community rallied around, with residents contributing land to the road and canal project for the wider good of everyone who lives there. When Mr Rahman donated an additional 190,000 Taka or over US $1,700 of his own money to the works, others that could afford to do so followed suit, generating a total community investment of some US $3,000. The new road enables motorized rickshaws to link residents with basic services, whatever the weather. In total, some 1,464 households have benefited and can readily access schools, health services and their places of worship.

While deluges had made travels difficult, frequent and enduring periods of drought were also devastating farmer’s livelihoods in the region. Another LoGIC-funded project, overseen with enthusiasm by Mr Rahman, is a solar-powered irrigation system. With just under US $7,000 in funds from LoGIC and additional US $3,700 in co-financing generated and donated by the community.

With the new and reliable irrigation system, farmers have been experimenting with new and high-value crops such as tomatoes, green chilis and aubergines, as well as Irri, Aush and Amon rice varieties. LoGIC provided training for the farmers on new crop varieties, planting and resilient farming practices, which farmers say ensured motivation levels remained high. The return on investment is encouraging with 350 local farmers estimating that they have generated some US $100,000 in earnings as a direct result of the irrigation system.

“We used to wait for ‘Joyar’ [the tide] to come for access to water,” said Sohrab Hossain, 51, a farmer. “Now we can easily have the access to water through solar irrigation pump and cultivate Irri, Aush and Amon rice whereas we used to grow only one rice a year.”

While Mr Hossain had struggled with water shortages, another ward on the banks of the Bishkhali River in Dholua Union were beset by persistent deluges that left their fields waterlogged. Working with LoGIC, Mr Rahman and the community identified the solution and implemented a drainage system.

In total, some 1,950 men and 1,800 women are directly benefiting from the LoGIC projects in Dholua Union, made possible with the commitment of Mr Rahman and the Dholua Union community. Residents point to the projects as proof that by working together, locally-led adaptation to the impacts of climate change deliver results – and a better future for all.

Find out more about LoGIC here

Find out more about LoCAL here

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