Title: Community-led Initiatives for Climate Justice and Resilience in the Islands and Coastal Areas of the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.

Project Period: This agreement is signed and effective from 01 April 2018 to December 2020.

Budget : USD 94,916

Background Information:

About 25% of the total population of Bangladesh live in the coastal belt of the country. Despite having the potential to accelerate growth, the coastal belt of Bangladesh is one of the depressed, if not neglected, regions of the country.

The backwardness of the region is creating inter-regional imbalance, causing confusion and frustration among the population living in this vibrant but volatile region. Bangladesh is one of the most badly affected countries by climate change, as it has been [forecasted by the IPCC (International Panel of Climate Change). IPCC AR1 predicted that 1-meter rise in sea level will inundate 17 % of the coastal land. It is said that there are only 5 to 10 % of world cyclones happen in this area but cause 80 % of the world cyclone damages. Increase salinity in drinking water and ban on fishing for a certain period of the year are another big challenge for people living in the coastal area.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is a National Apex Body on Community Media Development Working for Building a Democratic Society based on the Principles of Free Flow of Information, Equitable & Affordable Access to Information & Communication Technology (ICT) for the remote & marginalized population. Targeting this view to become the voice for voiceless, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) implementing a project titled “Community-led initiatives for climate justice and resilience in the islands and coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.” with the support of Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (COAST Trust).

It is a 3 years long project (started from 01 April 2018 and will continue up to 31 March 2021) with a view to easy access to information of coastal community not only for a democratic society building but also for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate resilience building. With the involvement of existing 8 Community Radio Stations (CRS) in the coastal and set-up a new CRS in Swandwip, BNNRC will work relentlessly to achieve the goals of the project.

Overall Goal:

Strengthening capacity of Community Radio Station and Amateur Radio in the coastal belt of Bangladesh along with facilitating information and education as empowerment through community radio especially tailoring the need of adolescents, youth, women, children and help to cope with climate change. This will directly help the coastal burghers and government to secure Sustainable Development Goal no. 1,3,6,13 (Climate Action).

Project Objectives:

• To increase and improve knowledge of community women and men including adolescent and young adults on sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR), climate change, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and cyclone preparedness through community radio programs
• To ensure Right to Information for people living hard to reach the area in the coastal belt.
• To build the capacity of Community Radio Station Managers, Program Producers, and Broadcasters, in their ability to communicate and facilitate the impact of climate change on the people living on the coastal belt.
• Built and strengthening the network of Amateur Radio by the formation of Amateur Radio Clubs in the coastal belt.

Role of BNNRC:

• Set up new Community Radio Stations (in Sandip, Chattogram, and Bagerhat) and provide all technical support to run that.
• Capacity strengthening of the staffs of the new Community Radio Stations by arranging meetings.
• To help/assist and capacity building of community radio stations (CRSs) in the coastal belt on program planning, designing and broadcasting on climate change, and the process of adaptation with it by arranging coordination meetings and producing a booklet on those issues.
• Built strong Amateur Radio network in the coastal belt and formation of Amateure Radio Clubs in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Bhola, Hatiya (Noakhali), Kutubdia (Cox’s Bazar) and Bagerhat by providing equipment and training.
• Publish Amateur Radio Handbook.
• To supplement/complement for achieving other desired goals of the project.

Activities:

• Set up new Community Radio Stations (CRS).
• Capacity building of the new CRS.
• Publish IEC/BCC material and booklet focusing on Reproductive Health, Ending Child Marriage, Violence Against Women, Cyclone Preparedness, Climate Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction issues.
• Produce and Broadcast Radio Program (on Reproductive Health, Ending Child Marriage, Violence Against Women, Cyclone Preparedness, Climate Adaptation, and  Disaster Risk Reduction)
• Set-up Amateur Radio club in Cox’s Bazar, Chattagram, Bhola, Hatiya (Noakhali), Kutubdia (Cox’s Bazar), and Bagerhat.
•  Support Amateur Radio Club with equipment and maintenance.
• Publish Amateur Radio Handbook.
• Capacity strengthening and networking of RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) Amateur Radio Hub.

Expected Result of the project:

• Community awareness on DRR, Climate adaptations, protecting adolescent, youth women, and children raised in the islands and in the vicinity of CRSs.
• Violence against women reduced.
• Adolescent dropout from school and child marriage will be reduced.
• Adolescent, youth and women empowerment will be visible and they will take part in the decision-making process in families as well as in the community.
• Amateur radio/wireless network will be active during disaster periods for emergency communication while mobile networks will be failed.
• A network of adolescent and women will be activated as a dignified citizen having facilitated dialogue with policymakers in national level.

Development Partner:  COAST Trust.

Project Area and Partners:

Community Radio Nalta 99.2 fm(Satkhira), Community Radio Lokobetar 99.2 fm(Barguna), Community Radio Sagor Giri 99.2 fm(Chattaogram), Community Rural Radio Krishi 99.8 fm(Amtoli, Barguna), Community Radio Sundarban 98.8 fm(Khulna), Community Radio Naf 99.2 fm(Teknaf), Community Radio Meghna 99.0 fm(Bhola), Community Radio Sagordwip 99.2 fm(Noakhali).

Amateur Radio clubs in Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Bhola, Hatiya (Noakhali), Kutubdia (Cox’s Bazar), and Bagerhat.