Experts at a roundtable on Thursday called for integration of climate finance and insurance mechanisms for coastal communities, to be funded with compensation from the world's major climate-polluting countries.
Supported by CARE Bangladesh, an Organisation dedicated to work for Socio-Economic Development (AOSED) organised the "Sub-National Roundtable on Prospects of Pro-Poor, Gender Responsive, and Human Rights-Based CDRFI mechanism in the Coastal Region" at a hotel in Khulna last week.
Shamim Arfeen, executive director of AOSED, moderated the programme. Research Fellow of Centre for Climate Justice Bangladesh (CCJ-B) Moumita Das Gupta presented the outcomes of a recent study titled "Study on Scoping of Pro-poor, Gender-responsive and Human Rights-based CDRFI in Coastal Region of Bangladesh."
The study found "multi-scalar inequities" in climate finance, calling for equitable and locally accessible financing structures.
The focused on Khulna division, specifically Bagerhat and Satkhira districts, including Sarankhola and Tala upazilas. Six unions - Rayenda, Southkhali, Dhansagar, Islamkathi, Jalalpur, and Khesra - were covered through household surveys under group discussions, and key informant interviews.
The study found Union Parishads (UPs) lack financial autonomy, manpower, and the capacity to manage disaster-risk financing effectively. It also observed limited public understanding of climate insurance, though there is strong community support for grant-based assistance.
Transparency and accountability issues hamper trust in local financing mechanisms it said and assessed national mechanisms, such as social safety nets, microloans, and government relief.
It also covers reserves and international funds like Green Climate Fund (GCF), Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), and facilities under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the World Bank.
The report recommended the institutionalization of innovative finance tools and ensuring the integration of climate risk financing in the final National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy.
It also recommended exploring direct access modalities for Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) to national and international funds.
Professor Dr Tushar Kanti Ray of Urban and Regional Planning at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) places demands and views from village level to sub-national level on the matter.
65 workshops were held from the village level to divisional level where all such views and demands emerged.
The outcomes of the workshops, he said should formulate a financing policy for climate-affected poor communities and could launch a climate insurance scheme. It may pay disaster insurance premiums with funds received as climate compensation from committed wealthy countries.
He emphasised that disaster risks must be addressed holistically, considering the loss of human lives, crops, fisheries, and livestock.
Palash Mondal, regional coordinator, CARE said, "Disaster response is deeply intertwined with political economy. Unfortunately, much of our relief efforts are designed for public display."
AGM Mustafizur Rahman, scientific officer of Soil Resource Development Institute in Khulna; Rafiqul Islam, additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Khulna region; and Bidyut Kumar Saha, additional chief engineer (civil) at Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB)in Khulna; also spoke in the event, among others.
