Poverty and Development

From PKSF, we participated in the Virtual GCF-IEU Learning-Oriented Real-Time Impact Assessment (LORTA) Workshop from September 28 to November 16, 2020, organized by the Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Over 65 people from 16 different countries from Asia, Africa, and South America, representing 16 GCF projects, attended the workshop. As per IEU’s feedback report, the feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive and many have asked for more of these capacity-building workshops to be held in the future. GCF-funded PKSF’s project  “SAP008: Extended Community Climate Change Project-Flood (ECCCP-Flood) ” contributed well to the LORTA program.  

Research and policy both recognize that Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate change. Bangladesh faces a variety of climate-related hazards because of its geographical position and the low-lying topography. Tropical cyclones with storm surges, saline water intrusion into freshwater ecosystems, droughts, floods, sea-level rise, and unfavorable conditions for fishing and agriculture are some of the common climatic hazards in Bangladesh with other social challenges. In terms of local-level organizations, it is the microfinance providers that have the widest network involved with 60% people. The objective of this presentation is to understand the contributions of microfinance organizations to reducing vulnerability to climate change in Bangladesh. For this research, one national-level and one local-level microfinance organization working in disaster-prone areas of coastal areas in southern Bangladesh were studied as case studies. Data were collected through interviews, focu...

Abstract Microfinance Organisations (MFOs) are working with more than 175 million families around the world. In theory, they can be instrumental in reducing social vulnerability to climate change, yet their effect on social vulnerability to climate change has not been well demonstrated. This study aims to explore the role that MFOs play in reducing social vulnerability to climate change in Bangladesh, a country that not only pioneered microfinance but also is one of the most vulnerable to climate change. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through interviews with 60 households across four villages in a disaster-prone coastal area in south-western Bangladesh, along with observations and interviews with key informants. The quantitative data was used to develop a social vulnerability index based on an assessment of livelihood capitals (human, physical, natural, financial, and social), which was compared with different levels of membership with microfinance organisations...

Poverty is a dynamic and multidimensional condition. It is formed by the interaction of social, economic, political, and environmental processes, individual and community characteristics, and historical circumstances (Leichenko and Silva, 2018). The characteristics of the poor or being poor vary within the country and between countries. It is increasingly recognised that, along with other drivers of poverty, climate change poses a serious threat to poverty reduction efforts. Climate change threatens to frustrate the accomplishments of development efforts that are achieved over decades. It also prolongs the already existing poverty cycles, increases inequalities, deepens food insecurity, and delays the poverty reduction process and sustainable development. As we already know, poor people’s livelihoods are highly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors and they lack the basic infrastructure for dwelling or for services at a community level. In addition, many of them live in areas hig...