Bangladesh

Bangladesh is widely regarded as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. This is due to its geographical location, low-lying terrain, and dense population. Climate change has exacerbated the frequency and intensity of climate-induced disasters in the country. Every year, Bangladesh faces various climate-induced disasters such as floods, cyclones, tornadoes, droughts, and landslides.

Uniquely, Bangladeshi society has a robust tradition of civil society and humanitarian action, especially evident since the Great Cyclone of 1970, and the subsequent 1971 Liberation War, which saw a surge in home-grown self-help groups for relief, rehabilitation, and development. Today, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)—including National NGOs (NNGOs) and Local NGOs (LNGOs), and sometimes here referred to as Local and National NGOs (L/NNGOs)—are estimated at 250,000 with around 50,000 legally active. They vary from philanthropic groups to citizen coalitions and private agencies, focusing on underserved populations, empowerment, advocacy, and service provision.