About 200 participants from government ministries, think tanks, UN agencies, gathered at the Hotel InterContinental in the city on Monday. While speaking they said that the social safety net programmes can play role in achieving Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh. Titled “Symposium on Adaptive Social Protection: Technical and Policy Considerations,” the forum provides a platform for policymakers, practitioners and technical experts to exchange ideas and experiences on adaptive social protection in Bangladesh.
The symposium will introduce the concept of adaptive social protection, tools and methods, and clarify the future direction of adaptive social protection in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is one of the nine countries at extreme risk due to climate change. More than 80 percent of the population in Bangladesh are vulnerable to natural disasters.
These risks are compounded by rapid urbanization and globalization. In addition, Bangladesh is currently hosting more than one million Rohingya refugees which has stretched limited resources for national development needs.
This symposium was organized by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief ( MoDMR), with technical assistance from World Food Programme (WFP), the World Bank, Department for International Development (DFID) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Enamur Rahman, State Minister of Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief attended the program as chief guest. While Mr. Richard Ragan, Country Representative, WFP, Mr. Robert D Simpson, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, Ms. Mercy Miyang Tembon, Country Director, The World Bank, Ms.Judith Herbertson, Head of DFID, Mr. Hyungue Joe, Country Director, KOICA attended the program special guests.
Shah Kamal, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief presided over the programme.
“Since 2000, Bangladesh has cut down poverty by half,” said Dandan Chen, World Bank Acting Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan. “Yet, with about one-fourth population living in poverty, Bangladesh faces significant challenges, and climate change has added to the risk. Adaptive social protection-by enabling social protection to better address the impacts of climate change and natural and other disasters-will be critical for building resilience and creating opportunities for the country’s vulnerable population.”
Adaptive social protection systems help vulnerable communities to prepare and mitigate the effects of shocks and disasters in non-crises times” said Richard Ragan, WFP country representative in Bangladesh, “The symposium will identify strategic policies that are needed to establish a viable adaptive social protection in place” he said.
