Urban Management of Internal Migration due to Climate Change (UMIMCC) / Urban Management of Migration and Livelihoods (UMML)

Project description

Title: Urban Management of Internal Migration due to Climate Change (UMIMCC) / Urban Management of Migration and Livelihoods (UMML)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-funded by the European Union (EU)
Country: Bangladesh
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Social Welfare (MoSW) and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Overall term: 2018 to 2023

Context

In Bangladesh, millions of people are being forced to leave their rural homes because of the effects of climate change already today. As a result, they are migrating to the cities. Within these recipient cities, climate migrants often have to settle in slum areas, where living conditions are poor and they have considerably imited access to few local job opportunities. Local governments do not have the required capacities and resources to provide sufficient support for the integration of climate migrants into the local labour market. Similarly, access to public social services is insufficient and hence there is very limited scope for climate migrants to improve their living conditions. This situation has worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Bangladesh has acknowledged the considerable need for action. However, it still lacks appropriate measures to provide lasting support for climate migrants as well as for other vulnerable urban poor individuals.

Objective

The living conditions of climate migrants and other vulnerable urban poor in 47 slums, and those of EU returnees in the cities of Barishal, Khulna, Rajshahi, Satkhira and Sirajganj have improved.

Approach

This project is the first initiative funded by the German Government to address the issue of climate-induced migration. It comprises seven areas of action:

  • Slum dwellers, local government representatives, and other stakeholders jointly identify and plan appropriate poverty-reducing measures. The objective is to improve living conditions in the slums.
  • The project is setting up centralised information hubs in each partner city. These provide information on the available public social services of various ministries as well as assistance to the slum dwellers in accessing them.  
  • EU returnees and slum dwellers acquire vocational and entrepreneurial skills through needs-based training implemented by the GFA Consulting Group. This enables them to better integrate into the local labour market or start a small business.
  • Founders of small companies receive support in the form of equipment or financial support.
  • The project raises awareness about debt prevention. In addition, it provides advice on accessing microloans. The aim is to enable slum dwellers to manage their personal debt problems better.
  • In collaboration with Caritas Bangladesh, especially vulnerable slum dwellers receive unconditional cash payments to offset lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information campaigns advise them on how to prevent being infected by COVID-19 and what to do in case of infection.
  • Lessons learned and good practices of the project are integrated into the policy dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh.

Results

Over 20,000 slum households have received detailed information about public social services through the information hubs and with the help of tailored education campaigns. Advice on how to apply for public social services is provided daily in the information hubs in all five partner cities.

Over 20,000 slum households have been informed about measures to prevent COVID-19 infections. They also now know where and how to get help if they are infected.

Customised vocational training courses have been launched in all five partner cities. They are designed to help slum dwellers aquire the required skills so that they can find a decent job in the local economy. The training courses are tailored to the participants’ preexisting education level.  

Over 7,500 slum households receive unconditional cash payments over a period of three to four months to offset lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic. They receive the payments by mobile phone. This money is provided to especially vulnerable slum dwellers. More than 82 per cent of the recipients are women.

Last update: April 2021

Additional information