CIF's $30 Million for Climate Resilience: Meeting at COP Venue on Disbursement and Projects

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam has met senior officials of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) to discuss the disbursement process, priority project selection and effective use of the $30 million (3 crore dollars) in financing announced for Bangladesh to tackle the impacts of climate change and strengthen the country's climate resilience.

The meeting was held on Saturday (14 November) at noon local time at the CIF office at the COP conference venue. CIF Chief Executive Officer Tariye Gbadegesin and Jacob Thopil, head of the partnerships and stakeholder engagement division, took part.

The meeting discussed various aspects of using the $30 million announced for Bangladesh under CIF's ARISE programme.

CIF representatives said the programme aims to turn climate risk into investment opportunity and to protect the economy from the financial shocks created by climate change.

Under the programme, there are opportunities to build climate resilience in the agriculture, water, energy, transport and industry sectors. Alongside the use of various financial instruments — grants, conditional grants, low-interest loans, equity investment and guarantees — there is also scope for co-financing through six multilateral development banks.

On the disbursement process, CIF representatives said a country-led investment plan would be prepared taking into account Bangladesh's national priorities and the needs of its climate-vulnerable sectors. The plan will be formulated with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and financing implementation will proceed on that basis.

At the meeting, State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam highlighted the climate risks and infrastructure challenges of Bangladesh's coastal region. He said many cyclone shelters built in coastal areas 10 to 15 years ago have been damaged by salinity, while the crisis of safe drinking water is making life difficult for people in those areas.

The state minister stressed making the shelters suitable for multipurpose use, so that besides serving as shelters during disasters they can host education and livelihood activities at other times of the year. He also discussed installing solar power systems on shelter rooftops and the possibility of supplying surplus electricity to the national grid.

On afforestation and coastal protection, the state minister said the prime minister personally monitors the progress of the national tree-planting programme every week. The programme plans to keep mangrove species at 35 to 40 percent of total planting, aiming at carbon storage, coastal protection and livelihood opportunities for local communities.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of Bangladesh's Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR). CIF representatives said Bangladesh has full experience of the programme, which began in 2008, from planning to evaluation.

A CIF delegation on results evaluation, governance and communications will visit Dhaka in January 2027 to complete the closing activities of the PPCR investment plan. The government has also agreed to host a CIF governance meeting in Bangladesh in April 2027, possibly on 24 April, to be attended by CIF board members, observers and representatives of development banks.

Climate finance specialist Shah Adnan Mahmud and Amanullah Parag of Youth for NDC were present in the Bangladesh delegation at the meeting.

Both sides agreed to continue cooperation on strengthening Bangladesh's climate resilience, ensuring effective use of the announced financing and implementing priority projects.