Staff Reporter:
The Executive Board of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has approved $51.4 million in co-financing for a $211.7 million project in Bangladesh aimed at strengthening climate resilience, food security, and rural entrepreneurship for around 1.1 million people in the country’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
The approval was granted during IFAD’s 146th session on 9–10 December, the fund announced on Saturday.
The six-year Growth for Climate Resilient and Environmental Entrepreneurship and Nutrition (GREEN) project, running from 2026 to 2031, will focus on the Haor wetlands, Coastal Belt, High Barind, and River Char areas.
By supporting smallholder farmers, rural microenterprises, and young entrepreneurs, GREEN aims to enhance adaptive capacities to climate change, diversify livelihoods, and promote sustainable rural businesses.
The project will be executed by the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance and implemented by Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), with strategic oversight from a national steering committee including the Finance Division, Economic Relations Division, and PKSF.
Valantine Achancho, IFAD Country Director for Bangladesh, said, “The GREEN project builds on IFAD’s long-standing partnership with the government and PKSF to boost rural livelihoods through inclusive, climate-aware financing and environmentally responsible growth.
It links climate adaptation, agroecological practices, and market-responsive rural enterprises to create sustainable pathways for communities while protecting ecosystems.”
The initiative will promote climate-smart agriculture, livestock, and fisheries practices, renewable energy adoption, efficient water use, organic farming, and small-scale processing to increase productivity, conserve natural resources, and improve nutrition.
Through PKSF’s nationwide network, it will expand access to affordable, climate-informed financial services for women, youth, and microenterprises.
GREEN will also strengthen institutional capacity and policy engagement, supporting the integration of climate adaptation, nutrition, and gender equality into rural finance and development planning.
The project aligns with Bangladesh’s 8th Five-Year Plan, National Adaptation Plan, Nationally Determined Contributions, Delta Plan 2100, and key Sustainable Development Goals, including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities, and Climate Action.
This investment reflects IFAD’s broader commitment to building climate-resilient food systems and inclusive rural economies across Asia and the Pacific, ensuring vulnerable communities are better prepared for future challenges and opportunities.
