Extended Community Climate Change Project (ECCCP-Drought)
Project Period: March 2024 – October 2027
Donors: Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Location: 4 unions — Niamatpur Sadar, Bhabicha, Hajinagor, and Chandonnagor — under Niamatpur Upazila, Naogaon District
Target Beneficiaries: Climate-exposed households and community members (600 HHs in the first phase)
Background
The Extended Community Climate Change Project (ECCCP-Drought) is being implemented in the drought-prone Barind region to address the severe challenges posed by prolonged dry spells and water scarcity. In the selected unions of Niamatpur Upazila, with a combined population of around 117,332 (Census 2018: 57,980 male, 59,352 female), a significant portion of residents face recurring drought impacts that threaten agriculture, livelihoods, and water security.
Through a combination of infrastructure development, sustainable agriculture, and community engagement, the project seeks to enhance local resilience to climate change. It focuses on improving water availability, promoting drought-resilient livelihoods, and strengthening institutional and community capacity for climate adaptation.
Objectives
The project aligns with PKSF’s broader mission to improve quality of life for underprivileged communities while enabling them to adapt to climate change impacts. Funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) under the UNFCCC framework, ECCCP-Drought specifically aims to:
- Enhance community capacity and awareness on climate change adaptation.
- Ensure sufficient irrigation and drinking water supply by improving groundwater and aquifer recharge through interventions such as pond and canal re-excavation and Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) systems.
- Promote drought-resilient livelihoods through sustainable agricultural innovations, including climate-adaptive cropping patterns, drought-tolerant crop and fruit cultivation, and access to agricultural loans.
- Strengthen community ownership and participation in interventions to ensure sustainability and long-term resilience against drought impacts.
Key Outputs and Activities
- Output 1: Climate change adaptation capacity strengthened at the community level
- Beneficiary selection, Climate Change Adaptation Group (CCAG) formation and mobilization
- Development of socio-economic profiles of beneficiaries
- Monthly CCAG meetings on climate change issues
- Training programs for beneficiary groups
- Exchange visits for CCAG members
- Output 2: Increased availability of surface and groundwater for irrigation and drinking
- Pond re-excavation
- Tree plantation along pond and canal embankments
- 1 km of canal re-excavation
- Installation of MAR systems
- Output 3: Sustainable drought-resilient livelihoods promoted
- Introduction of drought-adaptive cropping patterns and crop varieties (with loan support)
- Promotion of drought-tolerant fruit cultivation (with loan support)
Project Impact
- Increased awareness about climate change, water usage, and drought-resilient practices among local populations.
- Improved water storage and reduced reliance on groundwater for irrigation, leading to sustainable water use practices.
- Enhanced agricultural resilience through the promotion of drought-resistant crops and fruits.
- Increased groundwater recharge through the installation of MAR systems, contributing to long-term sustainability.