About US
Welcome to the Gender-responsive Coastal Adaptation (GCA) project, led by the Bangladesh Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. This project supports the Government of Bangladesh in helping coastal communities, especially women, adapt to the challenges of climate change, including salinity that threatens their livelihoods and water security.
The GCA project began its journey in 2019 with financial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and co-financing from the Government of Bangladesh. Running until 2026, the project focuses on empowering the people of Khulna and Satkhira, regions most affected by climate change. Women and adolescent girls are at the heart of this effort, taking the lead in building resilient livelihoods and finding safe drinking water solutions. By equipping them as "change agents," the project helps communities plan, implement, and manage adaptive strategies to cope with the growing impacts of climate change.
The project aims to deliver key outcomes, including climate-resilient livelihoods with a focus on empowering women and strengthening the capacity of coastal agricultural communities. It also provides gender-responsive, year-round access to safe and reliable climate-resilient drinking water solutions. Additionally, the project enhances institutional capacities, knowledge sharing, and learning for climate-risk-informed management of livelihoods and water security. Through this project intervention It is estimated that a total of 719,229 people from 39 coastal unions of five upazilas in the two coastal districts will benefit directly and indirectly through this project intervention.
The project pays attention on Climate Resilient Livelihoods, Safe Drinking Water and capacity Building.
Basically, the GCA project shifts from short-term, technology-led interventions to community-driven solutions that build ownership and capacity across stakeholders. This approach promotes long-term adaptive responses to protect livelihoods and water security. By raising awareness, building skills, and linking communities to markets, the project helps people move from non-adaptive livelihoods to climate-resilient ones, reducing vulnerabilities to future climate risks.
Climate-resilient water technologies, like rainwater harvesting and pond systems, provide alternatives to groundwater, helping communities adapt to seasonal changes and salinity issues. Strengthening the capacities of government, NGOs, and the private sector ensures that climate risks are incorporated into livelihood and water management strategies, while empowering women as "change agents" to lead adaptation efforts. Additionally, improving the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs' (MoWCA) ability to integrate gender and climate considerations into policies enhances social targeting and climate-resilient development across sectors.