Safeguard and Risk management

Social and environmental safeguard is mandatory and systematically integrated into the field operation of GCA project. The regulations of the Government of Bangladesh (GOB), Environmental and Social Policy of GCF and Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP are the key guiding tools for social and environmental safeguard in this project. The project focuses on the gendered dimensions of climate change and has considered environmental sustainability and sensitivity to marginalized groups in the intervention area. The implementation activities of this project have the potential to cause moderate environmental and social impacts which are identified in the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) of the project document. The identified risks and mitigation measures are implemented in the field level using the Safeguard Operation Manual (OM). The manual provides

direction and information to the field level employees of RP-NGOs and implementing agencies to address environmental and social issues during facilitation to the local communities in making the decision with respect to implementation of project activities/schemes under resilient livelihood and potable water solutions.

Process and steps of the Implementation of Mitigation Measures

The project has also developed a gender-sensitive Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to deal with any complaints and/or grievances and issues that may arise as a result of the project. This Grievance Redress Mechanism has been developed line with UNDP Social and Environmental Standards as well as harmonized with local experience in administering such mechanisms.

Building the resilience and adaptive capacity of vulnerable, extreme poor women and girls, and their communities, in the most climate change affected areas of south-western Bangladesh is an essential investment to support the basic socio-economic human rights of beneficiaries. Budgeting for environmental and social interventions and the application of mitigation measures to enhance positive impacts for the project is an investment in the future, as it will reduce the environmental and social liability at local, regional and national levels.