Project Objectives

The goal of the project is to enhance climate resilience and economic empowerment of women and youth in the coastal regions through climate-smart agriculture, homestead nutrition gardening, and alternative livelihoods.

• Objective 1: Improve knowledge, skills and practices, integrating climate feminism in climate-smart agriculture and homestead gardening for women and youth.
• Objective 2: Enhance community capacity, engagement and advocacy for climate adaptation and mitigation.

Project Summary:

The project focuses on climate feminism with the aim to create resilience and economic empowerment among the women and youth in the coastal regions, particularly in vulnerable communities most affected by climate change. The climate feminism approach of the project emphasizes the interconnectedness of gender equality and environmental sustainability, recognizing that women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals are disproportionately affected by climate change.

The goal of the project is to enhance climate resilience and economic empowerment of women and youth in the coastal regions through climate-smart agriculture, homestead nutrition gardening, and alternative livelihoods. Through a multi-faceted approach combining capacity building, sustainable practices, and advocacy, the project addresses the critical need for climate-smart agriculture, alternative livelihoods, and community engagement.

As per the report of UNWomen (2023), by 2050, climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty and see 236 million more face food insecurity. Despite being a minimal contributor to global climate change, Bangladesh is disproportionately affected by its consequences. Khulna City, located in the coastal belt of Bangladesh, is one of the most vulnerable areas to climate change. The coastal region of Khulna, in particular, struggles with the ravages of climate change, including heavy rains and flash floods, and their devastating impacts threaten the very fabric of life, including agriculture, homestead gardens, and household usage, forcing the poorest people, including women and girls, to struggle for survival. Rivers near Khulna city have already been affected by salinity intrusion. In the last 35 years, salinity increased by around 26 per cent in the country. The saline-prone coastal region had a drastic yield loss, i.e. approximately an average 20-40% in major crops. Women in Bangladesh are often the most affected by climate change due to existing gender inequalities.

To address these challenges, an alternative livelihood project is proposed, focusing on climate-smart agriculture, improved cooking stoves, and climate education to empower the women and girls in the community. This approach advocates for their inclusion in decision-making processes and policy development related to climate action.

Key Components of the Project:

Climate-Smart Agriculture and Homestead Gardening

The project will empower women and youth in climate-smart agricultural practices, including homestead nutrition gardening (150 women) and innovative farming techniques such as watermelon cultivation (113 women and 112 men). 9 master trainers will also be developed who will provide micro level training to approx. 270 households. In addition, 9 model farms will be developed which will work as the demonstration of best practices of climate-smart homestead gardening, as well as will work as hands-on training sites. These activities aim to improve food security, sustainable agricultural practices, and climate adaptation at the community level. A baseline and endline survey will be conducted to measure the impact of the project.

In addition, 3 market linkage initiatives will be taken which will enable the participants to actively participate in income generating activities, where they will be able to sell their products from their homestead gardens which will economically empower them and bring sustainable Changes.

Alternative Livelihoods Development

90 women and girls will be trained in handicraft production, enabling them to diversify income sources. Market linkage fairs will create opportunities for participants to connect with buyers and suppliers, ensuring that their products and produce can reach broader markets. The distribution of Improved Cooking Stoves (ICS) will further support environmentally friendly and sustainable living practices.

Community Engagement and Advocacy

Climate education initiatives in the 18 schools in the target location will foster awareness and resilience among adolescents and youth, preparing the next generation to address climate challenges. Advocacy events at the district and national levels will bring together stakeholders, policymakers, and community representatives to share knowledge and informed and evidence based decision-making policies on climate adaptation and mitigation.