How sustainable are alternative income generating activities? A case study of

mega adaptation projects from Bangladesh

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Authors: (1) Remeen Firoz, Environmentalist/Freelance Consultant, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Email:

firozremeen@gmail.com and (2) Haseeb Md. Irfanullah, Programme Coordinator, IUCN

Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Email: HaseebMd.Irfanullah@iucn.org

Adaptation, AIGAs and Maladaptation

• Adaptation is defined as the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In human systems, adaptation seeks to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities (IPCC)

• AIGAs are the activities are targeted at reducing people’s dependency on natural resources, for providing sustainable livelihood options and capacitating the local people so that they are better able to cope with the changes in climate and unpredictability of climatic events

• Maladaptation is actions that may lead to increased risk of adverse climate-related outcomes, vulnerability to climate change or diminished welfare, now or in the future (IPCC)

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Methodology for the Research

• ‘How sustainable are the in-situ adaptation activities - AIGAs that are promoted in Bangladesh?

• Investigates selected adaptation initiatives of 5 mega projects implemented by GoB, development partners and NGOs

• Attempts to identify the good practices as well as the ‘maladaptation’ activities, so that AIGAs are sustainable and climate resilient

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Name of Project Implementing/Donor Agency Timeline

1. Reducing Vulnerability to

Climate Change (RVCC)

CARE Bangladesh/USAID January 2001 – February 2006

(completed project)

1. Promotion of adaptation to

climate change and climate

variability in Bangladesh

(NCAP)

IUCN Bangladesh/Netherlands

Climate Assistance Programme

(NCAP)

December 2004 – September

2008 (completed project)

1. Community Based

Adaptation in Ecologically

Critical Areas (CBA ECA)

Department of

Environment/Climate Change

Trust Fund (Government of

Bangladesh), UNDP and

Embassy of the Kingdom of

Netherlands

June 2010 – June 2015

(completed project)

1. Adaptation to Climate

Change and Rehabilitation

of Livelihoods in Selected

Districts of South

Bangladesh (CLAP)

Bangladesh Agricultural

Research Council (BARC),

Ministry of Agriculture (MoA),

Government of Bangladesh/GIZ

2011 – 2016 (on-going project)

1. Climate Resilient

Ecosystems and

Livelihoods (CREL)

Winrock International/USAID October 2012 – 2017 (on-going

project)

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Project Activities On-farm

(e.g. crop

cultivatio

n)

Off-farm

(e.g.

agro-

processin

g)

Non-farm

(such as

making

bicycles)

RVCC 1. Floating gardens using water hyacinth

or banana stumps

X

1. Homestead vegetable gardening in

pots, bamboo baskets and raised

platforms

X

1. Local and salt tolerant varieties such

as maize, cucumbers, sweet potato

groundnut, chili, watermelon, sesame,

etc.

X

1. Raising different types of livestock

and poultry

X

1. Crab fattening and cage aquaculture X

1. Access to affordable credit for

starting -up cottage industries such as

mat-making with reed (mele)

X X

1. Pilot marketing initiatives for selling

crabs, mats made of reed and

vegetables grown in floating gardens

(okra, tomato and red amaranth)

X

NCAP 1. Demonstration plots for pilot scale

field testing of salinity resistant high

yielding rice varieties (BR 47)

X

1. Construction of improved disaster

resilient deep-sea fishing boats

X

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CBA-ECA 1. Establishment of micro capital grants

(MCG) for alternative livelihood options

X X X

1. Construction of solar irrigation and de-

salinization plants

X

1. Construction of watchtowers in selected

ECA sites for ecotourism and

surveillance

X

1. Cattle and poultry rearing X

1. Plantation and marketing of betel leaf

and betel nut

X

1. Fish processing and merchandizing X

1. Sewing and tailoring X

1. Mat weaving with local varieties of reed

(murta)

X

1. Making beaded jewelry and ladies

handbags

X

1. Cane seats and handicrafts X

1. Shops, tea stalls and pharmacies X

1. Rickshaw pulling X

1. Small businesses like making/selling

sugar coated peanuts and wigs using

discarded human hair

X

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CREL 1. Aquaculture (Tilapia and Carp) X

1. Horticulture (Vegetables like capsicum

and fruits such as strawberry)

X

1. Livestock (chicken and ducks) X

1. Handicrafts (embroidery, cap sewing,

tailoring, handloom, net making)

X

1. Ecotourism (eco-guide training and

eco-tourism enterprises)

X

1. Climate-resilient technology and

farming practice adaptation through

demonstration and skill transfer

X

CLAP 1. Technology and input for salt tolerant

varieties of rice

X

1. Homestead gardening (fruits and

vegetables) by women

X

1. Livestock and poultry rearing X

1. Small scale enterprises such as grocery

stores, tailoring shops and tea stall

X

1. Production of traditional fishnets and

textile by Rakhaine indigenous women

X

Positive successes• Income and livelihood security builds resilience• AIGAs empower women• AIGAs support basic needs• Capacity and skill development pays off• External linkages support sustainability

Negative challenges • AIGAs lack focus• Local context overlooked• Impact assessments ignored• AIGAs devoid of market linkages• Climate change-sensitive options focused• Social exclusion occurred

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Paving the way for Future AIGA Projects

Guidelines for AIGA Options• Selection of options• Local contextPrinciples for Implementing Agencies• Integrated approach• Promoting suitable AIGAsCreating an Enabling Environment• Creating Market linkages• Capacity of partners

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Climate-resilient Bangladesh• Bangladesh is recognized as one of the most vulnerable in

the world to the manifestations of climate change• Policies, financing, institutional framework, governance

and implementation of adaptive strategies have been geared towards creating resilient communities

• Alternative Income Generating Activities (AIGAs) have gained much popularity as in situ adaptation activities

• These have been successful in most instances and transformed the lives of hundreds and thousands of rural poor

• If adaptation activities are not specific to the local context, owned by the communities and do not sustain beyond the scope of the project period, these may lead to increased risk of adverse climate-related outcomes

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The message: Because climate change uncertainties are there, it is crucial that adaptation activities be planned judiciously so that people are not pushed into further

vulnerability…

• AIGAs that follow guiding principles can become transformational adaptation activities

• AIG based in situ adaptation activities can empower vulnerable communities and make them more resilient to climate change

• Further research of forward and backward market linkages and appropriateness of AIGs are essential

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Sustainable AIGA in practise…

Woman weaving a traditional mat with ‘murta ghaash’ in northern Bangladesh

THANK YOU

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