Staff Reporter: Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has announced that USAID will provide a grant of $15 million for the USAID ClimAct Project. This initiative will assist the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in implementing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to promote green and climate-resilient pathways for Bangladesh. The project will focus on three key areas: policy and planning, accessing finance, and governance of climate actions.

Environment Advisor made this announcement today  following a meeting with a USAID delegation led by Director Joseph Lessard at her office in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The discussions centered on enhancing climate resilience and environmental sustainability through the ClimAct Project.

During the meeting, Hasan highlighted the importance of international collaboration, stating, The ClimAct Project is a crucial step in our fight against climate change, and USAID's support will strengthen our efforts to protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems. She emphasized the need for global partnerships to address climate challenges, adding, Collaborating with partners like USAID will enhance our ability to mitigate the impacts of climate change, particularly in flood-prone, river-eroding, and coastal areas.

Joseph Lessard reaffirmed USAID's commitment to working with Bangladesh on environmental initiatives, praising the country's proactive approach to climate issues and pledging continued support for long-term climate resilience.

Secretary, Additional Secretary of the ministry and Bronwyn Llewelyn. Team Leader, Environment, USAID; Robert Kenny, Director, Forestry and Natural Resources Mangement, WinrockInternational USA; Firras Traish, Associate Director, Environment and Energy Division, Winrock; International USA Ms Katie Lazar, Associate Director, Environment and Energy Division, Winrock International were also present in the occasion. 

Biniyougbarta/Sam//