Coastal Climate Resilient Infrastructure Project

The project's rationale is rooted in the particular situation of Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in South Asia and one that is particularly affected by the current adverse climate conditions. In addition to addressing climate change effects, the Coastal Climate Resilient Infrastructure Project will also meet the needs of rural producers, especially poor and small producers, who suffer from two main constraints that limit development of their livelihoods:

• poor road and market infrastructure that restricts access to larger markets, increases cost for inputs and transportation, and lowers prices due to remoteness;
• limited access to demand-driven financial services, and inadequate access to good technology and support services such as vaccination for livestock

CCRIP will construct climate-resilient road infrastructure and cyclone shelters, and improve access to markets to address acute poverty and climatic vulnerability in south-west Bangladesh.

The project will be implemented in 32 upazilas (sub districts) of 12 south-western districts: Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Jhalokati, Patuakhali and Pirojpur Districts in Barisal Division; Gopalganj, Madaripur and Shariatpur Districts in Dhaka Division; and Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira Districts in Khulna Division. These districts are known to be very poor, least developed and vulnerable to natural disasters such as tidal surges, cyclones and floods.

The goal is to achieve improved livelihoods (higher incomes and food security) for poor households (women and men) in selected upazilas of 12 coastal districts. The development objective is to achieve enhanced climate resilience of coastal road and market infrastructure and people in selected upazilas of 12 project districts.

The target group comprises the population in the catchment areas of project markets and roads, in particular small and marginal farmers, small traders and microentrepreneurs, landless people and poor women. It is estimated that 3.5 million people will benefit from the project.