Empowering Local Communities: BPATC Trainers Gain Specialized Skills for Climate Change Adaptation Course Development

The Bangladesh Public Administration Training Center (BPATC) is taking big steps to tackle climate change. Recently, they held a five-day workshop focused on enhancing locally-led adaptation (LLA) strategies. This training wraps up on May 16 at BRAC-CDM in Savar.

The workshop is a collaborative effort led by the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), along with the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) and the Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD). The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is also supporting this initiative.

Anju Sharma, GCA’s Global Lead for Locally Led Adaptation, emphasized the importance of integrating climate adaptation into all sectors, stating, “Climate change affects everything—from agriculture to health.” She pointed out that BPATC is well-suited for this role because it educates public administrators from various fields. By weaving climate adaptation into their training, BPATC can help officials translate national policies into real, local actions.

This training focuses on solutions driven by the communities themselves. Rather than being a one-time event, the training will be a permanent feature of governance in Bangladesh. Faculty members at BPATC are developing course materials tailored to local needs, collaborating with international experts and engaging with communities.

Fifteen faculty members are honing their skills to effectively teach the new LLA course module. Hasan Murtaza Masum, BPATC’s Director, mentioned the insights gained during the training, saying, "We learned a lot about climate change and how vital it is to include LLA in our courses."

This initiative links directly to Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan for 2023-2050, which aims to embed adaptation strategies across various economic sectors to combat climate change impacts.

Community members from Patuakhali, a highly vulnerable area, shared their experiences in the workshop. They discussed how they identified 112 settlements at risk and shortlisted 33 based on factors like vulnerability and climate migration. This grassroots effort showcases the power of locally led responses to climate challenges.

In this ongoing journey, it’s encouraging to see communities and institutions come together to create sustainable solutions. The insights and training from this workshop could serve as a model for other regions facing similar climate challenges. For more details, you can check out the Global Center on Adaptation for additional resources on climate adaptation strategies.

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