Narayanganj Workshop Highlights Community-Led Climate Adaptation

Practical Action in Bangladesh, in collaboration with Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), hosted a national workshop titled “Learning and Experience Sharing: People’s Adaptation Plans for Inclusive, Climate-Resilient Urban Service Delivery in Narayanganj City Corporation.” The event, held at InterContinental Dhaka, showcased the outcomes of a year-long initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada to integrate the climate priorities of low-income communities into the city’s urban planning.

Narayanganj faces mounting pressure from heatwaves, waterlogging, and erratic rainfall. To address these challenges, the project formulated People’s Adaptation Plans (PAPs) to ensure that the needs of the urban poor, especially women, are reflected in the city’s masterplans, including the Urban Action Plan and Solid Waste Management Plan.

The workshop was graced by Ad. Md. Shakhawat Hossain Khan, Honourable Administrator of Narayanganj City Corporation, as the Chief Guest. Key speakers included Ishrat Shabnam, Country Director of Practical Action in Bangladesh, and Md. Nur Kutubul Alam, CEO of NCC.

Ad. Md. Shakhawat Hossain Khan, Honourable Administrator, NCC, said: “The People’s Adaptation Plan is a landmark step for Narayanganj. By listening directly to our residents in informal settlements, we are building a city that is not only resilient to climate change but also inclusive of its most vulnerable citizens.”

Ishrat Shabnam, Country Director of Practical Action in Bangladesh, stated: “Climate change hits the hardest at the grassroots level. This workshop proves that when communities are empowered to lead their own adaptation planning, the solutions such as nature-based drainage and green infrastructure are more sustainable and effective.”

Rita Lohani, Country Representative, GCA, remarked: “Locally led adaptation is the heart of global climate resilience. The integration of community-endorsed roadmaps into NCC’s masterplans sets a powerful example for other industrial hubs in Bangladesh.”

Tamanna Rahman, Thematic Lead- Climate Resilience, Practical Action, explained: “Our focus was to ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable those living in informal settlements are not just heard but are actionable. Through the PAPs, we have identified specific, nature-based solutions for waterlogging and heat stress that are tailored to the unique geography of Narayanganj’s wards.”

Dr. Haseeb Mohammad Irfanullah, Expert, People's Adaptation Plan Development, noted: “The PAP process is a shift from traditional 'top-down' planning to a truly 'bottom-up' approach. By combining scientific climate risk assessments with local knowledge, we have created a roadmap that allows the City Corporation to prioritize investments where they are needed most, ensuring no community is left behind in the face of climate change.”

Riadadh Hossain, Program Officer, Locally Led Adaptation, GCA, added: “At GCA, we believe that local leadership is the key to effective adaptation. This project demonstrates how city authorities and residents can co-create resilience strategies. The Narayanganj model provides a scalable framework for other rapidly urbanizing cities across the Global South to integrate locally led adaptation into formal urban governance.”

The event concluded with a video documentary on the PAP development process and reflections from community participants who were central to the planning process.