Empowering Coastal Communities: GCA Project Launches Month-Long Cascade Training for Climate Resilience

DHAKA, MARCH 2026 – In a significant move toward strengthening the climate resilience of Bangladesh’s vulnerable coastal regions, the Dnet and BSAFE Foundation consortium has officially commenced its field-level “cascade training” sessions. The initiative, part of the Gender-responsive Coastal Adaptation (GCA) project supported by the UNDP and the Green Climate Fund, began on March 4 and is scheduled to run through March 30, 2026.

Scaling Impact through Field Facilitators

Following the successful completion of foundational training for lead facilitators, the project is now transitioning to its “cascade” phase. This strategy utilizes trained field facilitators to deliver direct capacity-building and livelihood support to coastal communities. The focus remains on enhancing the adaptive capacities of communities—particularly women—to cope with the increasing threat of climate-induced salinity.

Focus on Sustainable Value Chains

The training sessions are designed to provide practical, hands-on knowledge in several key areas identified in the project’s Inception Report:

• Climate-Resilient Livelihoods: Training in aqua-geoponics, crab fattening, and salinity-tolerant vegetable cultivation.

• Market Linkages: Strengthening the role of Community-based Livelihood Management Associations (CbLMA) to ensure farmers receive fair prices.

• Gender Empowerment: Addressing the specific needs of women-led households to ensure they have the tools and financial independence to withstand environmental shocks.

“Our goal is to turn knowledge into action,” said Md. Hashem Ali Akash, Deputy Director of BSAFE Foundation. “By cascading this training directly to the field level, we are ensuring that the most remote coastal farmers have the technical expertise to secure their livelihoods despite the challenges of rising salinity.”

Collaboration and Oversight

The implementation plan, which includes a rigorous schedule of workshops across various coastal venues, is being conducted under the guidance of the UNDP’s GCA project team. Mr. Khandoker Md Ruhul Amin, Market Development Associate at UNDP, has been invited to oversee and support the sessions, ensuring that the training aligns with the project’s overarching goal of sustainable market development.

Looking Ahead

As the sessions continue through the end of March, the Dnet-BSAFE consortium will monitor the progress closely, adapting the curriculum to meet the real-time needs of the participants. This phase marks a critical milestone in the GCA project’s mission to build a more resilient and equitable future for the coastal population of Bangladesh.