“The disasters caused by climate change pose a direct threat to the human well-being. Therefore, there is no alternative to raising awareness on climate change,” said PKSF Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan during the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Climate Change and Development’ training organized by PKSF’s ECCCP-Drought project on 5 January 2025.

PKSF Chairman called for raising climate change awareness at all levels of society. He also emphasized on implementing development activities while maintaining a balance between climate change and development.

A total of 26 officials from 13 Partner Organizations (POs) of PKSF are participating in the five-day training at the PKSF Bhaban. This training will be gradually provided to 200 officials from 100 NGOs under the ECCCP-Drought project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Dr Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed, Deputy Managing Director of PKSF delivered the welcome speech. PKSF’s General Manager Dr AKM Nuruzzaman and other officials also participated in the event.        

PKSF, as the Direct Access Entity (DAE) of GCF, is implementing the Extended Community Climate Change Project-Drought (ECCCP-Drought) in 14 upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts of the Barind region. Major activities of the four-year project include enhancing the capacity of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) to cope with climate change, supporting Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO) in establishing a ‘Managed Aquifer Recharge Center’, and undertaking initiatives like pond and canal re-excavation as well as pond-based groundwater recharge. Additionally, the project will promote drought-tolerant cropping patterns and the plantation of fruit and forest trees.