Climate Resilient Inclusive Smart Cities (CRISC)

Project description

Title: Climate Resilient Inclusive Smart Cities (CRISC)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Bangladesh
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (MoLGRD&C)
Overall term: 2019 to 2022

Context

Bangladesh is one of the most affected countries by the consequences of climate change. Natural hazards such as floods, rising sea level and cyclones have strong impacts on rural and urban areas. Therefore, the integration of climate change adaptation and mitigation aspects in national and local development planning and their effective implementation are vital to ensure the sustainability of development in Bangladesh. Climate change Impacts and the unplanned development of cities are recognised as major challenges by the Bangladesh government. 

Cities act as catalysts to generate enormous growth and innovation impulses deep into the surrounding rural areas. However, the issue of internal climate migration due to climatic impacts in Bangladesh is yet to be integrated in urban and regional development policies and frameworks in Bangladesh, for instance, in land-use planning. Investment decisions in urban infrastructure and service deliveries need to be future oriented and protected against the recurring and intensifying negative consequences of climate change.

At the policy level, climate risks and the needs of vulnerable groups need to be taken into account in the urban development planning and its implementation process. Responsible city governments and national authorities need to implement their investment projects in a more climate-sensitive manner and in line with the local needs of the vulnerable population.

Objective

The planning of selected cities for urban development, including corresponding investment projects now takes into account the local adaptation needs for the cosequences of climate change.

Approach

As part of the German Development Cooperation, the programme supports to put the growing cities of Bangladesh on a climate-sensitive development path. In particular, the integrated urban development plans and the methods, participation procedures and competencies established in the pilot cities provide the basis for urban development decision-makers to take long-term account of climate risks and local needs.

The programme provides advisory support to political partners to review existing urban development and investment planning policies to integrate the climate change risks and impacts for nationwide roll-out. In this way, the programme works to improve the planning and implementation capacity of the city authorities, the public representatives and the key persons of other public institutes.

The capacity development strategy takes into account multisectoral aspects, interdepartmental coordination and gender specific needs of target groups as cross cutting issues. Furthermore, the institutionalised multi-stakeholder dialogue and exchange platforms, which will be strengthened in the framework of the project, will contribute to the increased accountability of public institutions. Again, it will support the integration of the needs of the local population into urban development plans and budgets.