The probable impacts of climate change on poverty - UNDP

2. <strong>The</strong> United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is undertaking a project “Support to Monitoring Poverty
Reduction Strategies and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Bangladesh” to enhance the institutional
capacity <strong>of</strong> the government’s General Economic Division (GED) as the National Poverty Focal Point. Enhancement
<strong>of</strong> institutional capacity includes skills and technical know how <strong>of</strong> its <strong>of</strong>ficials that would enable them to respond to
the planning perspectives <strong>of</strong> the dynamically evolving socio-economic circumstances in the country as well as
emerging challenges <strong>of</strong> <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong>. Under this project, Planning Commission under the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Planning is
carrying out a research project on “<strong>The</strong> Probable Impacts <strong>of</strong> Climate Change on Poverty and Economic Growth and
the Options <strong>of</strong> Coping with Adverse Effect <strong>of</strong> Climate Change in Bangladesh.” Bangladesh Centre for Advanced
Studies (BCAS) has been awarded this research project and signed a Memorandum <strong>of</strong> Understanding (MoU) in May,
2008 with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
2.1 Objectives <strong>of</strong> the Project
<strong>The</strong> overall objective <strong>of</strong> the project is to enhance institutional capacity <strong>of</strong> the General Economic Division to
respond to the planning perspectives <strong>of</strong> the dynamically evolving socio-economic circumstances under changing
<strong>climate</strong>. <strong>The</strong> specific objectives are;
Assessment <strong>of</strong> <strong>probable</strong> <strong>impacts</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> on MDGs with special focus on Poverty and Hunger, and
Economic Growth and formulate a strategy to deal with adverse effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> in Bangladesh;
Equip the General Economic Division with technical know-how and policy choices to respond on planning
perspective related to <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> issues <strong>of</strong> the country;
Enhance understanding and knowledge on <strong>impacts</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> on poverty (income and social) and
economic growth (overall GDP and sectoral contribution);
Develop a strategy to cope with adverse effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> (adaptation and mitigation strategy which will
include options, policy choices, institutional capacity needs for mainstreaming adaptation at national and sectoral
level, and capacity strengthening <strong>of</strong> GED to facilitate sectoral integration).
2.2 Scope <strong>of</strong> Work
<strong>The</strong> research has developed conceptual framework for understanding the linkages between <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong>
<strong>impacts</strong> & vulnerability and economic growth particularly poverty reduction and other Millennium Development
Goals. <strong>The</strong> study has focused and analyzed the <strong>impacts</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> on economic growth and poverty by
analyzing <strong>impacts</strong> on different sectors. <strong>The</strong> sectors include agriculture and land resources, water resources, health
and sanitation, housing, industry and infrastructure.
Based on the conceptual framework and analyzing available literature on <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> and poverty including
PRSP and MDGs, strategies have been developed to deal with adverse <strong>impacts</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> which will
enhance the adaptive capacity <strong>of</strong> the vulnerable sectors and communities. This strategy document includes policy
and advocacy tools which will help to enhance capacity <strong>of</strong> the personnel <strong>of</strong> GED to address <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> issues
and <strong>impacts</strong> in their planning process. <strong>The</strong> specific scope <strong>of</strong> work is given below.
Development <strong>of</strong> a conceptual framework and methodology for assessment <strong>of</strong> <strong>probable</strong> <strong>impacts</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong>
on MDGs with special focus on Poverty and Hunger, and Economic Growth;
Carryout analysis <strong>of</strong> collected data and information using the conceptual framework and methodology;
Capture expert knowledge and understanding on <strong>impacts</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> on different Millennium
Development Goals, <strong>impacts</strong> <strong>of</strong> economic growth and strategies with different actions to deal with these <strong>impacts</strong>;
Formulate a strategy to deal with adverse effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> in Bangladesh which will enhance capacity <strong>of</strong>
the General Economic Division with technical know how and policy choices to respond on planning perspective
related to <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> issues <strong>of</strong> the country.
<strong>The</strong> Probable Impacts <strong>of</strong> Climate Change on Poverty and Economic Growth and
the Options <strong>of</strong> Coping with adverse Effect <strong>of</strong> Climate Change in Bangladesh
9