The government and development partners have decided to extend the Local Governments Climate Change Initiative (LoGIC) project for two years to deliver adaptation benefits to the most vulnerable coastal populations in Bangladesh.

For all the latest news, follow the Daily Star’s Google News channel.

The decision came on June 24, 2021, during a virtual meeting attended by the Minister of Local Communities, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD & C), Md. Tazul Islam, MP, Ambassador and Head of Delegation to the European Union in Bangladesh, His Excellency Rensje Teerink. , charge d’affaires and deputy head of mission, Swedish embassy, ​​Christine Johansson, representatives of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Equipment Fund (UNCDF).

The Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC) project, led by the Local Government Division of the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government Cooperatives, is a four-year joint initiative of the Government of Bangladesh, the EU, the Sweden, UNCDF and UNDP.

The project was launched in 2016 with the aim of providing climate finance to the most vulnerable households and local government institutions in 72 unions in the districts of Khulna, Sunamganj, Kurigram, Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali and Bhola. The five-year project is designed to support around 400,000 most climate-vulnerable people through its Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRG) and Community Resilience Fund (CRF) programs.

Attend the event as the main guest, Minister LGRD & C, Md. Tazul Islam, deputy mentionned, “The LoGIC project has proven to be a good system for providing climate finance through local government institutions directly reaching climate vulnerable people to invest in local adaptation ”, He also thanked all development partners for standing alongside the most climate vulnerable people in Bangladesh alongside the government.

EU Ambassador Rensje Teerink in her remarks underlined the European Union’s support for a decade in Bangladesh in the fight against climate change. She said: “As the EU, we are helping the government create a system to bring climate finance to most households vulnerable to the climate and the economy. Division, this mechanism is in the process of being put in place. The recent addition of around EUR 7 million is a step in the right direction and brings innovation for climate finance in Bangladesh. We look forward to continuing our partnership with local government actors to ensure that climate funds are needed most, taking a long-term perspective. “

Christine Johansson represented the Swedish Embassy in Bangladesh, which is also a partner of the LoGIC project; in his speech, said: “Bangladesh is not just a victim of climate change; the country has also become a world leader in 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 tackle the greatest threat to humanity, climate change. She said, “UNDP is committed to transcending the knowledge of the LoGIC project through global networks. We hope to continue our global cooperation by working in collaboration with development partners and the government to help achieve the LDC reclassification and sustainable development goals by 2030. ”

Earlier, Saila Farzana, Co-Secretary, Local Government Division and National Project Manager, LoGIC Project, gave an overview of the project. She said: “The capacities of local government are essential to support people vulnerable to the climate. On the basis of impacts of the current phase of the LoGIC project, which ends in June 2021, the government and development partners have decided to extend it for one year to reach the most vulnerable people.

Among others, Helal Uddin Ahmed, Principal Secretary, Local Government Division, Jesmul Hasan, National Focal Point, UNCDF and Mamunur Rashid, Climate Change Specialist, UNDP, also spoke at the virtual event.