Category: Analysis

Introduction

Youth constitute one-third of Bangladesh’s population and represent the nation’s greatest potential for achieving sustainable development and resilience (UNDP, 2021). Recognizing this, the Government of Bangladesh has launched several youth-centric initiatives, including the National Youth Policy 2017 and youth-targeted budget allocations across different sectors (Ministry of Youth and Sports, 2017). These frameworks aim to promote youth engagement in economic activities, governance, environmental stewardship, and innovation. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 16 on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, also underscore the critical role of youth empowerment in national progress (United Nations, 2015).

However, despite these policy efforts, young people in Bangladesh — especially those from marginalized, rural, and climate-vulnerable regions — continue to face substantial challenges. Limited access to quality education, skill development opportunities, meaningful employment, and participatory governance mechanisms restrict their potential to contribute to nation-building (ActionAid Bangladesh, 2025). Structural barriers such as poverty, urban-rural divides, gender biases, and environmental vulnerabilities further exacerbate their marginalization.

The “People’s Manifesto” initiative seeks to amplify the voices of young people from diverse backgrounds to better understand the systemic gaps and opportunities related to youth-focused budget planning. By capturing the perspectives of youth across nine districts, this study provides critical insights into how Bangladesh can create a more inclusive, participatory, and empowering framework for youth development and engagement.

Objectives

The study was designed to:

• Capture youth perspectives on development challenges and opportunities.
• Identify gaps between youth-oriented policy objectives and grassroots realities.
• Gather youth-driven recommendations for more effective and equitable budget planning.

Methodology

The research team conducted Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with youth leaders, community workers, and local government representatives, and organized Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with young people aged 18-35 across Dhaka, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Naogaon, Kushtia, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Chattogram, and Bandarban. Public hearings validated findings and gathered further insights on youth aspirations and demands.

Findings

The study revealed a complex and varied landscape of youth experiences across the different regions of Bangladesh. In many districts, young people articulated a strong sense of aspiration, creativity, and commitment to community development. However, these ambitions were consistently constrained by systemic barriers related to education, employment, civic participation, and environmental vulnerabilities.

In coastal districts like Bagerhat and Satkhira, youth emphasized the devastating impacts of climate change on their livelihoods. Traditional employment sectors such as agriculture and fisheries have become less viable due to salinity intrusion, cyclones, and water scarcity. Young people expressed frustration at the lack of alternative livelihood options and called for investments in climate-resilient economic activities, including renewable energy, eco-tourism, and green technology sectors.

In flood-prone areas such as Kurigram and Gaibandha, young people highlighted the acute lack of vocational training centers, youth-targeted entrepreneurship programs, and access to affordable credit. Seasonal flooding further disrupts education and employment opportunities, leading to cycles of underemployment and migration. The youth demanded the establishment of community-based skill centers focused on disaster-resilient livelihoods and access to government-supported start-up grants.

The situation in the hill tracts of Bandarban revealed unique challenges. Indigenous youth face systemic exclusion from formal education and economic systems due to language barriers, discrimination, and geographical isolation. Many young indigenous people reported high dropout rates and limited access to vocational training or employment services. Their demands included culturally appropriate education programs, language-inclusive job training, and representation in local governance bodies.

In urban centers like Dhaka and Chattogram, the youth narrative focused on the pressures of urban unemployment, skills mismatch, and social marginalization. University graduates expressed disillusionment over limited job opportunities and perceived disconnects between academic curricula and labor market demands. Young women in urban slums highlighted their additional barriers to accessing skill development programs and formal employment due to gender biases and safety concerns.

In Naogaon and Kushtia, rural youth faced limited career prospects beyond subsistence agriculture. Many young people in these regions expressed an urgent need for training in modern agricultural techniques, ICT skills, and small business management. There was also significant interest in community-led social enterprises, though access to mentorship, credit, and markets remained critical obstacles.

Across all districts, a common theme was the limited space for youth participation in governance and decision-making. Many youth groups felt sidelined in local development planning, budget discussions, and political processes. Despite their willingness to contribute to community resilience, young people were rarely consulted in the formulation of policies or programs that directly impacted their futures.

Overall, young people across the nine districts called for more inclusive policies, greater investments in youth capacity building, and meaningful platforms for civic engagement and leadership development.

Discussion

The findings underscore a critical disjuncture between national youth policies and the everyday realities faced by young people across Bangladesh’s diverse regions. While strategic documents highlight youth as “drivers of change,” their lived experiences reveal persistent exclusion, underinvestment, and unfulfilled potential.

One of the most glaring gaps is in education and skill development. Although national initiatives have expanded vocational training offerings, the reach, quality, and relevance of these programs remain highly uneven. Rural, indigenous, and climate-affected youths continue to have limited access to quality education and market-relevant skills training. Without targeted interventions that bridge this urban-rural and socio-economic divide, Bangladesh risks perpetuating cycles of unemployment, underemployment, and disenfranchisement among its youth population.

Employment emerged as a critical pressure point. Even for educated youth, job markets remain constrained and often disconnected from the skillsets acquired through formal education. Moreover, climate change impacts in coastal and flood-prone areas are eroding traditional livelihood bases without adequate investment in green jobs, climate-smart enterprises, or alternative livelihoods for youth. Young people are thus caught between diminishing traditional sectors and inaccessible modern sectors.

Participation in governance and civic processes is another area where youth experience systemic exclusion. Despite policy rhetoric promoting youth participation, actual opportunities for meaningful engagement remain rare. Local government structures often lack youth quotas or mechanisms to integrate youth voices into development planning and budgetary processes. As a result, policies tend to reflect adult-centric priorities, sidelining innovative ideas and solutions proposed by young people.

Furthermore, youth from marginalized communities — indigenous, female, rural poor — face compounded layers of exclusion. Their multiple identities intersect to deepen vulnerability and limit access to development resources. Addressing youth development, therefore, demands an intersectional lens that recognizes and addresses the diverse realities and needs of different youth groups.

Lastly, there is a significant lack of monitoring and data systems capable of tracking youth-specific budget allocations and outcomes. Without disaggregated data, it is difficult to assess whether investments are truly reaching young people or impacting their lives meaningfully.

The discussion points to the urgent need for a paradigm shift — from viewing youth merely as beneficiaries of development programs to recognizing them as active partners, innovators, and leaders in building a resilient, prosperous Bangladesh.

Recommendations

1. Expand and Localize Skill Development Programs

Youth-specific skill development initiatives must be expanded beyond urban centers and tailored to the needs of diverse geographic regions. Vocational training centers should be established in rural, coastal, flood-prone, and indigenous areas, offering courses aligned with local market demands and emerging economic sectors, such as ICT, renewable energy, eco-tourism, and sustainable agriculture. Programs should also integrate life skills, entrepreneurship training, and leadership development to equip youth holistically for the future economy.

2. Promote Youth Entrepreneurship and Access to Finance

Dedicated youth entrepreneurship funds should be created at district and upazila levels, offering accessible start-up grants, low-interest loans, and financial literacy programs. Establishing mentorship networks, linking young entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders, can help bridge knowledge gaps and build sustainable business ecosystems. Special support should be directed towards promoting social enterprises led by young people that address community needs while generating economic returns.

3. Institutionalize Youth Participation in Governance and Decision-Making

Formal mechanisms must be established to ensure youth engagement in governance processes. Youth Advisory Councils should be formed at union, upazila, and district levels, linked to local government bodies. These councils should be empowered to contribute to local development plans, budgetary discussions, and project monitoring. Additionally, youth representation should be mandated in national consultative forums dealing with climate action, education, and employment planning.

4. Invest in Green Jobs and Climate-Resilient Livelihoods

Climate-smart employment opportunities must be created for youth, particularly in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, ecosystem restoration, waste management, and green technology sectors. Training programs should prepare youth for these new sectors while investment incentives encourage private sector actors to hire and support young people in green jobs. Special emphasis should be placed on developing local green enterprises in vulnerable districts.

5. Strengthen Data Systems and Monitoring for Youth-Focused Programs

It is essential to invest in comprehensive, disaggregated data systems that track youth participation, outcomes, and impacts of development interventions. Youth-responsive budget tracking dashboards should be established at district levels to enhance transparency and accountability. Periodic youth surveys should be conducted to assess needs, measure program effectiveness, and inform evidence-based policymaking.

6. Address Intersectionality and Promote Inclusive Development

Youth development strategies must explicitly recognize the intersecting identities and vulnerabilities of marginalized youth groups — including indigenous youth, young women, youth with disabilities, LGBTQI youth, and those in climate-affected regions. Programs must be tailored to address these specific needs, ensuring equity in access to resources, services, and leadership opportunities.

7. Expand Mental Health Support Services for Youth

Given the rising mental health challenges among young people due to unemployment, climate anxiety, social isolation, and other stressors, it is critical to integrate mental health support into youth programs. Establishing youth-friendly mental health clinics, helplines, and awareness campaigns can foster emotional resilience and well-being among young populations.

8. Foster Digital Inclusion and Innovation

Bridging the digital divide is essential for youth empowerment. Investments should focus on expanding internet connectivity in rural and remote areas, providing digital literacy training, and supporting youth-led innovations in technology and digital entrepreneurship. Special programs should encourage young innovators to develop solutions for local development challenges.

Conclusion

The “People’s Manifesto” underscores the immense untapped potential of Bangladesh’s youth. Young people are not simply passive recipients of development; they are active changemakers, innovators, and leaders. Realizing this potential requires bold investments, inclusive policies, and transformative shifts in how youth are engaged in national development. Centering youth voices, bridging urban-rural divides, expanding opportunities for decent work, and fostering civic leadership are not just youth issues — they are national imperatives for building a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Bangladesh.

References

• ActionAid Bangladesh. (2025). People’s Manifesto: Voices from the Ground on Gender, Climate, and Youth Budgets. Dhaka: ActionAid Bangladesh.
• Ministry of Youth and Sports. (2017). National Youth Policy of Bangladesh 2017. Dhaka: Government of Bangladesh.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2021). Youth as Agents of Change: Accelerating Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals. New York: UNDP.

United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: United Nations.

Introduction

Bangladesh has made notable strides in promoting gender equality over the last decades, especially through the introduction of gender-responsive budgeting initiatives. Since 2005, gender budgeting has been formally included in Bangladesh’s public finance management system, aiming to integrate women’s empowerment and gender equity goals into national and sectoral budgetary frameworks (Ministry of Finance Bangladesh, 2024). These efforts align with global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on Gender Equality (United Nations, 2015). The Gender Budget seeks to ensure that public spending contributes to reducing gender disparities in access to health, education, employment, and public services.

Despite these initiatives, persistent structural challenges continue to undermine the full realization of gender-responsive budgeting. Women, especially those from marginalized communities, still experience systemic exclusion from decision-making processes, inadequate access to essential services, and insufficient investment in economic empowerment initiatives (ActionAid Bangladesh, 2025). Additionally, the absence of reliable gender-disaggregated data and weak local-level monitoring mechanisms hampers evidence-based planning and accountability (UNDP, 2021).

This study, part of the broader “People’s Manifesto” initiative, seeks to bridge this gap by amplifying the voices of grassroots women across nine districts of Bangladesh. Through participatory consultations, the research captured local priorities, systemic barriers, and community-driven recommendations for a more inclusive, equitable, and transformative approach to gender budgeting. Understanding these localized experiences is crucial for shaping national policies and ensuring that gender equality becomes not just a policy aspiration but a lived reality across all regions of Bangladesh.

Objectives

The study was designed to:

• Assess district-specific gender inequalities and challenges.
• Identify gaps between national gender budget priorities and local needs.
• Capture grassroots women’s demands for improved gender-responsive budgeting.

Methodology

Primary data were collected through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with local government officials and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with women’s groups, community leaders, and activists in Dhaka, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Naogaon, Kushtia, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Chattogram, and Bandarban. Findings were validated through district-level public hearings, ensuring authenticity and local ownership of the results.

Findings

The study uncovered stark regional variations in gender-related challenges, deeply influenced by socio-economic, environmental, and cultural factors. Across all districts, women reported significant barriers to accessing health services, economic opportunities, and safe public spaces, with compounded vulnerabilities among women in coastal, flood-prone, and indigenous communities.

In coastal districts like Bagerhat and Satkhira, salinity intrusion and water scarcity have disproportionately affected women’s health, particularly maternal and reproductive health. Salinity-related complications were cited as major contributors to pregnancy-related health risks. Women also face declining agricultural livelihoods due to environmental degradation, with little access to alternative income opportunities. The communities highlighted the urgent need for health services tailored to women’s needs, access to saline-tolerant agricultural inputs, and alternative livelihood programs.

In flood-prone areas such as Kurigram and Gaibandha, displacement and recurring natural disasters exacerbate women’s vulnerability. Women living in char (riverine) areas reported limited access to reproductive health services, safe shelters, and vocational training. Public demands included the establishment of gender-sensitive disaster shelters, enhanced healthcare services for pregnant and lactating women, and increased investments in women’s skill development.

The hilly district of Bandarban presented a unique set of challenges for indigenous women. Geographic isolation, language barriers, and socio-cultural discrimination contribute to lower education rates, limited healthcare access, and exclusion from formal employment systems. Indigenous women called for culturally sensitive education programs, greater investment in women’s cooperatives, and initiatives to promote indigenous women’s participation in local governance.

Urban centers like Dhaka and Chattogram revealed a different dimension of gender inequality. Women in urban slums face heightened risks of gender-based violence, poor sanitation, inadequate maternal healthcare, and limited economic mobility. Participants strongly advocated for women-friendly infrastructure, safe public transport systems, legal support services for survivors of violence, and greater representation of women in local decision-making bodies.

In Naogaon and Kushtia, rural women voiced their concerns about the lack of access to affordable credit, training for entrepreneurial ventures, and safe workplaces. Many expressed frustration at the limited reach of government programs intended to support women’s economic empowerment. There were also concerns about the increasing rate of child marriage, attributed partly to the socio-economic precarity of rural families.

A recurring theme across all districts was the minimal participation of grassroots women in budget formulation and development planning processes. Most women reported that they had neither been consulted nor informed about gender budgeting initiatives at the district level. The absence of gender-disaggregated data further weakened targeted policy formulation and monitoring.

Community-driven demands centered around several key areas: expansion of reproductive and maternal health services, creation of women-only vocational training centers, provision of microfinance and credit for women-led businesses, establishment of safe shelters for victims of violence, and the institutionalization of women’s participation in budget planning.

Discussion

The findings clearly demonstrate that while Bangladesh has made commendable progress in institutionalizing gender-responsive budgeting at the national level, a wide gap remains between policy frameworks and local realities. One of the most striking issues is the mismatch between the allocations presented in the Gender Budget and the actual accessibility and effectiveness of services at the grassroots level.

Despite significant budgetary allocations — Tk 454,211.3 crore across 44 ministries in FY 2024-25 — the impact on the ground remains uneven and insufficient (Ministry of Finance Bangladesh, 2024). In coastal regions, for instance, gender-sensitive budgeting has not adequately addressed the health emergencies arising from environmental stressors such as salinity intrusion. Similarly, in flood-prone areas, disaster preparedness plans often fail to integrate the specific vulnerabilities of women, particularly pregnant women and female-headed households.

Participation remains another critical shortfall. Although gender budgeting intends to make planning more inclusive, local-level women’s voices are largely absent from the decision-making process. This disconnect results in a top-down approach where interventions are designed without adequately understanding or addressing women’s lived experiences. The lack of consultation not only undermines the legitimacy of gender budgeting but also limits its effectiveness in achieving real transformation.

Moreover, the persistent scarcity of gender-disaggregated data restricts the ability of planners and policymakers to design responsive and targeted interventions. Without accurate data on women’s needs, service usage, and outcomes, budgetary decisions are often based on assumptions rather than evidence. This creates a vicious cycle where marginalized women, particularly in rural, indigenous, and disaster-prone areas, continue to be invisible in formal development frameworks.

The findings also expose a missed opportunity regarding women’s economic empowerment. While programs to promote women’s entrepreneurship and employment exist, their scale, accessibility, and relevance remain inadequate. In many rural districts, women reported difficulties accessing credit, training, and markets — critical components for successful economic participation.

Lastly, the issue of gender-based violence emerged as a cross-cutting concern. From the hills of Bandarban to the slums of Dhaka, women expressed fear and frustration at the pervasive threat of violence and the limited availability of support services. Budget allocations for prevention, legal support, and rehabilitation services remain minimal and fragmented across sectors.

Addressing these systemic challenges requires a fundamental shift in the way gender budgeting is approached. It demands not only increased allocations but also a transformation of budgeting processes to be genuinely participatory, evidence-driven, and locally responsive. Without such a shift, gender budgeting risks becoming a symbolic exercise rather than a transformative tool for equity and empowerment.

Recommendations

1. Enhance Participation of Grassroots Women in Budget Planning

Institutionalize mechanisms for engaging grassroots women, particularly from marginalized communities, in all stages of budget formulation, implementation, and evaluation at the district level.

2. Improve Gender-Disaggregated Data Collection and Analysis

Invest in comprehensive gender-disaggregated data systems to inform evidence-based planning, budgeting, and monitoring at both national and district levels.

3. Expand Investment in Women’s Health and Safety

Prioritize funding for reproductive and maternal health services, safe shelters for survivors of violence, legal aid centers, and gender-sensitive disaster management systems.

4. Promote Women’s Economic Empowerment

Increase allocations for women’s skill development, entrepreneurship support programs, microfinance schemes, and market linkages, especially in rural and climate-affected regions.

5. Mainstream Gender Across All Development Sectors

Ensure that gender perspectives are fully integrated into all sectoral policies, including health, education, agriculture, urban development, and climate resilience initiatives.

6. Strengthen Monitoring, Transparency, and Accountability

Develop gender-responsive budgeting scorecards, district-level expenditure dashboards, and public reporting mechanisms to promote transparency and ensure accountability in gender budgeting practices.

Conclusion

The “People’s Manifesto” shines a light on the persistent gaps between Bangladesh’s ambitious gender equality frameworks and the lived realities of women across diverse regions. While gender-responsive budgeting has set an important precedent, much more needs to be done to ensure that budgets translate into tangible improvements in women’s lives. Centering the voices of grassroots women, investing in critical services, expanding economic opportunities, and institutionalizing accountability mechanisms are essential steps forward. True gender equity in budgeting will only be realized when women are not only beneficiaries of policies but active architects of the country’s development journey.

References

• ActionAid Bangladesh. (2025). People’s Manifesto: Voices from the Ground on Gender, Climate, and Youth Budgets. Dhaka: ActionAid Bangladesh.
• Ministry of Finance Bangladesh. (2024). Gender Budget Report FY 2024-25. Dhaka: Government of Bangladesh.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2021). Participatory Budgeting for Gender Equality: Best Practices and Lessons Learned. New York: UNDP.

United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: United Nations.

Introduction

Bangladesh, recognized globally as one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, faces increasingly frequent and severe climate-induced disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts, and salinity intrusion (IPCC, 2022). The nation’s efforts to integrate climate considerations into its fiscal planning through initiatives like the Climate Budget are commendable. Introduced with the support of UNDP in FY 2017-18, the Climate Budget was designed to align national development planning with climate adaptation and mitigation goals (Ministry of Finance Bangladesh, 2024). However, challenges persist in effectively localizing and operationalizing these budgetary initiatives. Regional disparities, lack of meaningful grassroots participation, and weak monitoring frameworks hinder the realization of climate resilience on the ground (ActionAid Bangladesh, 2025).

Furthermore, while Bangladesh’s national policy documents — such as the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) — emphasize community-centered adaptation, implementation often remains top-down, missing the unique vulnerabilities and priorities of coastal, flood-prone, drought-affected, and hilly regions (MoEFCC, 2009). Research shows that inclusive, participatory budgeting processes lead to better outcomes for climate resilience by ensuring that marginalized voices are incorporated into decision-making (UNDP, 2021).

This study, conducted under the “People’s Manifesto” project, aims to address these systemic gaps by capturing district-level climate challenges and public demands through participatory approaches. The findings provide critical insights into how Bangladesh can move towards a more equitable, decentralized, and community-driven climate budgeting framework — essential for meeting its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Objectives

The study was designed to:

• Assess regional climate vulnerabilities and adaptation needs.
• Identify gaps between national climate budget allocations and local priorities.
• Collect citizen-driven recommendations for improving climate-resilient budgeting.

Methodology

A participatory, qualitative approach was employed, combining Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with local government officials and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with communities across nine districts: Dhaka, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Naogaon, Kushtia, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Chattogram, and Bandarban. Validation hearings were conducted in each district to ensure the authenticity and ownership of the findings.

Findings

The research revealed substantial regional disparities in climate vulnerability, budget allocation, and adaptation needs across Bangladesh’s diverse geographical landscapes. Coastal districts such as Bagerhat and Satkhira are facing chronic exposure to cyclones, tidal surges, and saline water intrusion, severely affecting agriculture, drinking water supply, and public health. Communities in these areas emphasized the urgent need for embankment repair, saline-resistant crops, and investment in freshwater infrastructure. Additionally, shrimp cultivation practices were cited as exacerbating salinity problems, leading to the collapse of traditional farming practices and food insecurity.

In flood-prone districts like Kurigram and Gaibandha, river erosion emerged as a major crisis displacing thousands annually. The affected populations demanded enhanced flood protection infrastructure, resilient housing, early warning systems, and livelihood recovery programs. Local stakeholders pointed out that post-flood recovery projects are often delayed or poorly targeted, failing to protect vulnerable families from sliding into deeper poverty.

The hilly regions of Bandarban presented a distinct set of vulnerabilities. Communities here are grappling with soil erosion, deforestation, loss of natural water sources, and poorly regulated stone extraction activities. These challenges, compounded by climate change, are threatening the sustainability of indigenous livelihoods. People’s demands centered on forest conservation programs, rainwater harvesting systems, and better regulation of mining activities.

In Naogaon and Kushtia, which are categorized as drought-prone regions, farmers reported acute water shortages impacting rice production. Participants stressed the necessity for investment in efficient irrigation systems, promotion of drought-resistant crop varieties, and sustainable land management practices. In Dhaka and Chattogram, urban populations highlighted climate-induced problems such as waterlogging, urban heat islands, and poor air quality. There was widespread consensus on the need for green infrastructure, waste management systems, and investments in renewable energy projects to create more climate-resilient cities.

Across all nine districts, a common concern was the significant mismatch between the climate-related needs of communities and the resources allocated by the government. For instance, in Satkhira alone, a funding gap of approximately Tk 3,000 crore was identified between required and actual allocations. Similar shortfalls were reported in Bandarban and Kurigram, indicating systemic inequities in the distribution of climate adaptation resources.

In terms of community demands, several priorities emerged. These included the restoration and protection of rivers and canals, expansion of rainwater harvesting initiatives, promotion of solar-powered irrigation and electrification systems, and establishment of community-managed climate adaptation funds. Citizens also demanded more participatory planning processes, where local knowledge and lived experiences could directly inform climate budget formulation.

Discussion

The findings of this study reflect a critical disconnect between national-level climate budgeting and the ground realities experienced by communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Although the Climate Budget initiative symbolizes Bangladesh’s political commitment to resilience, its execution remains flawed due to systemic biases, regional disparities, and a lack of participatory mechanisms.

One of the most pressing issues is the persistent regional inequality in budget allocations. Despite bearing the brunt of climate impacts, districts like Satkhira, Kurigram, and Bandarban receive disproportionately lower financial support compared to urban centers or politically influential regions. This perpetuates cycles of vulnerability and undermines the government’s broader climate resilience goals. In practice, resource allocation seems less influenced by vulnerability assessments and more by administrative convenience or political considerations.

Another significant concern is the lack of local participation in climate budgeting processes. Community voices, particularly those of women, indigenous groups, and youth, remain largely excluded from decision-making forums. As a result, many climate adaptation interventions are poorly tailored to local contexts, leading to suboptimal outcomes. For example, embankments constructed without consulting local communities often fail to address actual flood dynamics or maintenance realities.

The mainstreaming of climate resilience across sectors also remains weak. Urban development projects in Dhaka and Chattogram largely overlook the growing risks of extreme weather events. Agricultural policies in drought-prone areas fail to sufficiently promote climate-smart technologies. This siloed approach undermines the holistic, integrated adaptation strategies recommended by global best practices.

Additionally, nature-based solutions — such as mangrove restoration, reforestation, and wetland conservation — are underutilized despite their proven effectiveness and cost-efficiency. Communities in Bagerhat and Bandarban expressed frustration that while projects for hard infrastructure receive significant funding, initiatives for ecosystem restoration are often neglected or tokenized.

Lastly, the accountability mechanisms for climate budget utilization remain extremely weak. District-level officials often lack the tools or authority to monitor implementation, while communities have limited access to information about budget allocations and project outcomes. Without robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems, it becomes difficult to course-correct or improve planning based on evidence.

The discussions at district-level hearings highlighted a strong desire among communities to shift towards more decentralized and participatory climate governance. Citizens are not merely passive recipients of adaptation projects; they are active agents with critical knowledge and innovative solutions. Acknowledging this agency and institutionalizing their participation in budgeting and planning processes could lead to more effective, equitable, and sustainable climate adaptation outcomes in Bangladesh.

Recommendations

1. Strengthen Equity in Climate Budget Allocations

Future climate budgets should be based on comprehensive vulnerability assessments, ensuring that high-risk districts receive proportional funding support. Developing and utilizing a district-level “Climate Vulnerability Index” could provide a data-driven foundation for equitable resource allocation.

2. Institutionalize Participatory Climate Budgeting

District-level Climate Budget Committees should be established, involving local governments, civil society organizations, women’s groups, and youth organizations. These committees should have formal roles in budget formulation, monitoring, and review processes.

3. Mainstream Climate Resilience Across All Development Sectors

Climate risk assessments must be integrated into agriculture, urban planning, transport, energy, and disaster management programs. Sectoral policies should explicitly outline climate adaptation goals and funding mechanisms.

4. Scale Up Investments in Nature-Based Solutions

Mangrove restoration in coastal areas, reforestation in hill tracts, and wetland rehabilitation in flood-prone districts must be prioritized. Such investments not only build resilience but also provide co-benefits for biodiversity conservation and livelihoods.

5. Strengthen Monitoring, Transparency, and Learning Systems

District-level climate expenditure dashboards should be developed to make budget tracking accessible to the public. Annual public hearings should be institutionalized to review progress, identify gaps, and refine future planning.

Conclusion

The “People’s Manifesto” has revealed a profound gap between Bangladesh’s national climate resilience aspirations and the on-the-ground realities faced by its most vulnerable citizens. Without structural reforms in climate budgeting — centered on equity, participation, transparency, and local empowerment — Bangladesh risks falling short of its own development and adaptation goals. A truly resilient Bangladesh will not be built in conference rooms alone but must emerge from the collective actions and lived experiences of its diverse communities. Empowering these communities through equitable resource distribution, participatory governance, and sustained investments in resilience will pave the way towards a more climate-just future.

References

• ActionAid Bangladesh. (2025). People’s Manifesto: Voices from the Ground on Gender, Climate, and Youth Budgets. Dhaka: ActionAid Bangladesh.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2022). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Cambridge University Press.
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). (2009). Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP). Dhaka: Government of Bangladesh.
• Ministry of Finance Bangladesh. (2024). Climate Budget Report FY 2024-25. Dhaka: Government of Bangladesh.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2021). Participatory Budgeting for Climate Resilience: Global Lessons for Local Action. New York: UNDP.