USAID's DRR Activity Officially Launches in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Bangladesh, 9 February 2023: CARE Bangladesh and World Vision Bangladesh jointly organized an inception event for USAID’s Disaster Risk Reduction Activity at Lakeshore Hotel in the capital.

USAID is collaborating with World Vision Bangladesh and CARE Bangladesh to implement two comprehensive DRR projects: The Supporting Disaster Risk Reduction (SDRR), implemented by World Vision Bangladesh in Khulna and Satkhira districts, and the Strengthening Household Ability to Respond to Development Opportunities (SHOUHARDO III DRR) Activity, implemented by CARE Bangladesh in Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Sunamganj districts.

Bangladesh is the seventh most vulnerable country in the world to climate change according to the 2021 report of the Global Climate Risk Index. On average, one million people in Bangladesh are affected by climate disasters every year and the government is estimated to lose USD 1 billion each year to climate-induced incidents*. A major factor behind these events is a lack of awareness and poor disaster preparedness and management at the grassroots level. The USAID’s DRR Activity is devised in response to these critical issues.

The SHOUHARDO III DRR and SDRR projects form part of USAID’s initiatives to address climate change and disaster risk management in Bangladesh. The USAID DRR Activity’s principal goal is to enhance the disaster management capacity of communities by strengthening the Area-Based Disaster Management Coordination Model. The projects will link disaster management practices at the local level with national disaster management policies and strategies.

Mr. Md Kamrul Hasan, NDC, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief, graced the event as the chief guest. Mr. Md. Mijanur Rahman, Director General, Department of Disaster Management; Ramesh Singh, Country Director of CARE Bangladesh; Mr. Abdusattor Esoev, Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Suresh Bartlett, National Director of WVB were present as special guests. Ken W. Hasson, Ph.D. Deputy Director, Humanitarian Assistance Office (HAO)-USAID attended as the guest of honor.

“The people of Bangladesh are becoming resilient economically, soon we will also become resilient to climate-induced disasters.” - Mr. Md Kamrul Hasan, NDC, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief

“It is now more important than ever to build linkages between national and local-level disaster risk management. Only by working together can we create durable solutions to the climate crisis facing Bangladesh.” -Ken W. Hasson, Ph.D., Humanitarian Assistance Office (HAO)-USAID

The SHOUHARDO III DRR Activity will conclude on 31 August 2024 and the SDRR project will conclude on 30 September 2024.

For more information, contact:

Devashish Ranjan Sarker
Communications Manager (Media Relations)
mobile: +88 01612800421
email: devashish_ranjan_sarker@wvi.org | skype: Devashish.bd