The initiative's primary objective is to enhance access to clean water by establishing rainwater harvesting systems and installing plinth raised tube wells. To achieve this goal, the initiative will offer WASH training and awareness sessions to promote good hygiene practices. The ultimate aim of these efforts is to ensure that communities have access to safe and clean water for essential activities such as drinking, cooking, and washing while also minimising the risk of water-borne illnesses. Additionally, the initiative seeks to improve health outcomes and promote sustainable water management practices within communities.

The healthcare initiative has placed its emphasis on the mobilisation and capacity building of community health workers, who will receive training in Mental Health First Aid alongside other essential healthcare services. The initiative aims to prevent climate-sensitive diseases by providing essential healthcare services, as well as conducting screening and referral services for both general and mental health. Additionally, medical consultancy support will be available, and health awareness campaigns will be conducted within the community. The overarching goal is to enhance access to high-quality healthcare services and promote the overall well-being of all members of the community.

The initiative seeks to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices and foster green skills development, such as training in ecotourism. In order to facilitate a transition towards more sustainable and resilient farming methods, market linkage support will be provided to connect farmers with buyers and enable access to new markets. Additionally, grants and input support will be available to assist farmers in adopting such practices. These efforts aim to support farmers in adapting to the impacts of climate change, while also diversifying their livelihoods. By promoting sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism as key drivers of economic growth and development, the initiative aims to foster a culture of environmental awareness and responsibility.

The initiative prioritises the promotion of agroforestry, the integration of agriculture and aquaculture, and urban nature-based interventions. Grant support will be provided to incentivise the adoption of these practices, while capacity building sessions will be held to enhance understanding and expertise in these areas. These efforts aim to support the development of sustainable and resilient food systems, facilitate the integration of agriculture and aquaculture, and promote the use of nature-based solutions in urban areas. The overarching goal is to foster the adoption of sustainable and regenerative practices that can help mitigate the impacts of climate change while also supporting livelihoods and enhancing the overall health and well-being of communities.

Bangladesh, being a riverine country, experiences annual flooding, which affects a significant portion of the country. In response, the initiative seeks to establish a robust disaster response mechanism that enables communities to effectively prepare and respond to natural disasters and other crises. This involves equipping individuals and communities with the necessary tools and techniques to respond to emergencies, as well as coordinating humanitarian efforts to ensure that aid is delivered swiftly and efficiently. The ultimate goal is to minimise the impact of disasters on communities, foster resilience in times of crisis, and enhance the ability of communities to respond to and recover from natural disasters.

Restoring & Reviving the Saline-Affected Coastal Belt

Protapnagar, a village near the Sundarbans in Bangladesh’s southern coastal belt, faces relentless climate pressures, salinity intrusion, cyclones, land degradation, and water scarcity. Farming has become increasingly unviable, pushing families toward economic hardship and migration.

Our Approach: Driving Community-Led Agroecology

ENGAGE blends agroecological science with local wisdom to restore livelihoods and ecosystems. Our researchers lived in the community for nine months, using immersive ethnographic methods to co-create solutions. Together, we are:

• Forming farmer groups and promoting polyculture with salt-tolerant, high-value crops to restore soil health and improve nutrition and income.
• Building value chains through community co-investment in agro-processing and market linkages for long-term sustainability.

Restoring Balance to Land and Lives

• Farmers are reporting higher incomes and improved soil health.
• Biodiversity is returning, pollinators and birds are reappearing in once-degraded fields.

Building a Global Model from the South

ENGAGE aims to become a global model from the Global South, transforming fragile coastal landscapes into resilient ecosystems through community-driven innovation.

Charting the Path Forward

• Establishing Living Labs across the southern belt for innovation and learning.
• Introducing water conservation systems, including solar irrigation, groundwater recharge, and canal restoration.
• Supporting mangrove restoration and biodiversity monitoring.
• Strengthening local governance through participatory capacity building and institutional support.

Strengthening Food Security and Farmer Resilience

Climate change is threatening Bangladesh’s food systems through cyclones, floods, and rising salinity, causing widespread crop losses—up to 500 kg per farmer in Kurigram and 2,000 kg in Bagerhat during extreme weather events. With only 7% of smallholder farmers practicing Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), limited access to technology and resources continues to reduce productivity, incomes, and livelihood options.

To address these challenges, SAJIDA Foundation, as the Bangladesh implementation partner, has launched the Building Climate Resilient Food Systems (BCFS) program in collaboration with Citi Foundation. Running from November 2023 to January 2026, the program is reaching 980 climate-vulnerable farmers in Rowmari (Kurigram) and Sarankhola (Bagerhat).

Key Interventions

• Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): Training on sustainable practices, use of climate-resilient (CRA) seeds, and reduction of chemical inputs.
• Green Finance Access: Supporting farmers to adopt CRA technologies and inputs through tailored financing mechanisms.
• Agro-weather Advisory: Regular SMS updates and expert consultations to help farmers anticipate and respond to climate variability.
• Soil & Crop Resilience: Introduction of vermicompost sheds and sustainable soil enrichment techniques.
• Post-Harvest Solutions: Establishing flood-resilient storage facilities and providing training on harvesting and storage methods.
• Market Linkages: Supporting group-based sales models and value addition to increase farmers’ bargaining power.

Our Impact

The BCFS project is implementing Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices among farmers in climate-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh to address climate change-induced livelihood losses and food insecurity, while improving community resilience. The interventions directly contribute to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) as a cross-cutting priority. Beyond increasing agricultural production, the project focuses on ensuring fair prices through market linkages and value addition, thereby empowering farmers to enhance their livelihoods and build sustainable resilience.

Pioneering Climate-Adaptive Mental Health Solutions

In Bangladesh’s heat-prone urban slums, extreme temperatures are intensifying mental health challenges, particularly for women already burdened by poverty, stress, and displacement. Rising heat is directly linked to heightened levels of anxiety and depression, creating a new layer of vulnerability in already fragile communities.

Investigating the Heat–Mental Health Nexus

Through HeatMind, SAJIDA Foundation is leading pioneering research to uncover how extreme heat affects mental health and whether community-based interventions can provide resilience. In partnership with the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) and BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, we are:

• Conducting real-time temperature monitoring and mental health assessments in high-heat urban slums.
• Deploying SAJIDA’s Community Mental Health Intervention (CMHI) model, adapted for heat-stressed environments.
• Implementing cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys to track the prevalence and impact of common mental disorders (CMD).
• Monitoring indoor temperature and humidity in slum households.
• Capturing lived experiences through qualitative research on barriers and enablers of mental health resilience.

Generating Evidence for Scalable Solutions

This research aims to:

• Produce robust evidence on the climate–mental health nexus in Bangladesh.
• Validate CMHI as a heat-resilient mental health solution.
• Offer scalable recommendations for policymakers, health systems, and cities under heat stress.

Pioneering a Global South Model

HeatMind is designed to be the first-of-its-kind model from the Global South that links climate science, mental health, and urban resilience, amplifying the urgent need for climate-adaptive mental health systems for vulnerable populations.

Catalysing Investment in Circular RMG Solutions

The Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector is Bangladesh’s largest export earner but also one of its most resource-intensive industries. Every year, it generates 0.4–0.5 million tons of waste, consumes one-third of all industrial energy, and uses 85% of the sector’s water in wet processing. Despite global demand for sustainable practices, SMEs in the sector face steep barriers to financing circular solutions due to collateral requirements, ticket size mismatches, and limited access to early-stage capital.

Exploring New Pathways for Financing Sustainability

In partnership with Truvalu Bangladesh, SAJIDA Foundation is leading a scoping study to examine the feasibility of establishing a Challenge Fund for SMEs in Bangladesh’s RMG and textile sector. The study focuses on:

• Assessing the business case for circular innovation while mapping capacity and financing gaps.
• Engaging investors and ecosystem actors to co-create pathways for resource-efficient practices.
• Designing a fund structure that mobilizes capital for SMEs to adopt cleaner, traceable, and globally aligned practices.

Positioning Bangladesh as a Regional Leader

The vision is to replicate the “Good Fashion Fund” model in Bangladesh, anchored through an investment firm, and position it as a regional Challenge Fund that can expand to other RMG producing countries across South Asia and beyond.