The inception workshop of the ECCCP-Drought project was held on 15 February 2024 at a city hotel in Rajshahi. The project aims to increase the resilience of climate-vulnerable communities and improve the quality of lives and livelihoods of 2.50 lakh people residing in three drought-prone districts – Naogaon, Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi.

PKSF’s Managing Director Dr Nomita Halder ndc was the Chief Guest in the workshop presided over by Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, Divisional Commissioner (Additional Secretary), Rajshahi. Mr. Parvez Raihan (Joint Secretary), Director, Local Government, Rajshahi Division, delivered the welcome speech at the event.

Representatives of various government organizations, universities, international development agencies, PKSF and its Partner Organizations, print and electronic media participated in the workshop.

About 2.50 lakh ultra-poor people in 14 upazilas of 3 districts would benefit directly and indirectly through the four-year Extended Community Climate Change Project- Drought (ECCCP- Drought) with the financial support of Green Climate Fund (GCF).

In the opening speech, Dr Nomita Halder said that Bangladesh is one of the climate vulnerable countries. To mitigate the climate change fallouts, the government in implementing various strategies and policies. Through the ECCCP-Drought project, PKSF will play a leading role in protecting the climate vulnerable poor and extreme poor communities.

The Chief Guest of the program, Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir said that along with the government, non-government organizations are contributing to combating the impacts of climate change. In this regard, he thanked PKSF and other development agencies.

PKSF’s Deputy Managing Director Dr. Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed said that the main objective of PKSF’s ECCCP-Drought project is to increase the capacity of government and private institutions on climate change, artificially recharging the underground water level, re-excavating ponds and canals and expansion of the cultivation of drought tolerant crops.