BANGLADESH FIRST TO RECEIVE GCA LOCAL ADAPTATION CHAMPIONS AWARD

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) Chief Executive Officer, Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen has awarded its Local Adaptation Champions Award to Bangladesh, during his official visit.

Accepted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is the first government to receive the global Local Adaptation Champions Award, won in the Innovation in Devolving Finance category for the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC).

Implemented by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-Operatives, Government of Bangladesh, LoGIC provides a mechanism for accessing and managing climate finance from various sources, a platform for sharing best practices and lessons learned, as well as a system for monitoring and evaluating effectiveness and impact.

“This recognition underscores our commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience, and we are grateful for the Global Center on Adaptation’s invaluable support in our journey towards a prosperous and resilient future,” said the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Professor Verkooijen said the GCA’s Global Hub on Locally Led Adaptation, inaugurated by the Prime Minister in 2022, is dedicated to amplifying the voices of the most vulnerable.

“The insights and ownership in their locally led People’s Adaptation Plans are invaluable for guiding international financial institutions,” he added in a statement.

Professor Verkooijen also welcomed the offer from the Prime Minister to establish a permanent GCA regional office in Bangladesh embodying the latest climate resilient technology and design.

During his two-day official visit, Professor Verkooijen visited Chattogram to engage with local communities supported by the GCA. These communities are developing People’s Adaptation Plans to inform investments by the World Bank-supported Chattogram Water Supply Improvement Project (CWSIP).

He also held discussions with Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali and Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, on strengthening partnerships to advocate for the doubling of climate finance by 2025 and exploring new avenues for climate adaptation projects in Bangladesh.

-- BERNAMA