ADB Climate Resilience and Infrastructure Programming Reference — Bangladesh (seed)

Purpose
Sector and country reference for ADB proposal drafting. Country focus: Bangladesh. Not an official document.

ADB programming context — Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of ADB's largest borrowers with an active portfolio exceeding $10 billion.
Priority sectors:
- Climate-resilient infrastructure (flood embankments, coastal protection, cyclone shelters).
- Urban development (water supply, sanitation, drainage, solid waste).
- Transport (roads, bridges, railway).
- Energy (power generation, rural electrification, energy efficiency).
- Finance sector development and social protection.

ADB Strategy 2030 alignment — Bangladesh
Bangladesh's priority alignment with ADB OPs:
- OP 1 (Poverty/Inequality): extreme poverty reduction in Char and haor areas.
- OP 2 (Gender): women's economic empowerment, WASH for women, education access.
- OP 3 (Climate): adaptation-focused infrastructure in coastal and riverine zones.
- OP 4 (Cities): urban water supply and sanitation, Dhaka metro, secondary city development.
- OP 5 (Rural): agricultural productivity, rural connectivity, market access.

Climate resilience programming
Bangladesh is among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries.
Key climate risks:
- Annual monsoon flooding affecting 20-30% of land area.
- Cyclone and storm surge risk on 700+ km coastline.
- Sea-level rise threatening coastal embankments (polders).
- Riverbank erosion displacing millions annually.
- Increasing salinity intrusion into freshwater aquifers.

ADB-aligned climate adaptation approaches:
- Polder rehabilitation and tidal river management.
- Cyclone shelter construction with multipurpose use (schools, health posts).
- Climate-resilient road embankment design.
- Early warning system integration into infrastructure O&M.
- Disaster risk financing through parametric insurance.

Climate finance rationale — Bangladesh
Most Bangladesh infrastructure investments qualify for adaptation marker:
- Infrastructure designed to withstand CC-projected flood levels qualifies as adaptation.
- Renewable energy investments (solar mini-grids, rooftop solar) qualify as mitigation.
- Integrated water resource management projects qualify for both.
Reference: ADB's Climate Change Operational Framework and UNFCCC Adaptation Fund guidelines.

Gender considerations — Bangladesh
Bangladesh has made strong progress on gender equality (GII ranking improved significantly).
Programming gender considerations:
- Women are disproportionately affected by floods and cyclones (mobility constraints).
- WASH infrastructure should address menstrual hygiene management.
- Women's employment in garment sector requires safe transport and childcare.
- Agricultural women farmers face land tenure insecurity.
ADB recommends EGM category for most rural and WASH programmes in Bangladesh.

DMF examples — climate infrastructure
Impact: Resilience of coastal communities to climate shocks improved (aligned with Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100).
Outcome: Flood protection and water management services in coastal polders improved sustainably.
Output 1: Polder embankments and drainage infrastructure rehabilitated to climate-resilient standards.
Output 2: Community-based water management committees established and functional.
Output 3: Early warning and flood response systems operational in project polders.
Assumption (Output 2 → Outcome): Community committees maintain cost-sharing arrangements for O&M.
Assumption (Outcome → Impact): National government maintains drainage maintenance budget.
