ICCCAD, OECE and DESM organize short course on Locally Led Adaptation and Local Loss and Damage: A Nexus Approach

The International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) in collaboration with the Outreach, Extension and Continuing Education (OECE) unit of the Office of the Pro-Vice Chancellor and the Department of Environmental Science and Management (DESM) organized the first international short course titled “Locally Led Adaptation and Local Loss and Damage: A Nexus Approach” from June 22- June 25, 2023.

The four-day long short course was taught to a diverse cohort of 23 national and international participants, representing India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, the Netherlands, and Bangladesh. The course module consisted of sessions conducted by multidisciplinary experts; a field visit to CCDB Climate Centre; and peer-to-peer learning through climate adaptation pitches (CAPs) given by each participant.

Six knowledge sessions were conducted during the first two days of the short course that covered the aspects of climate change science and impacts, the evolution of LLA, the difference between Community-based adaptation (CBA) and Locally Led Adaptation (LLA), LLA from principles to practice, financing in LLA, monitoring, evaluation, and learning for LLA, LLA in global dialogues and research, the importance of mainstreaming LLA into national policies and Plans, global goals on adaptation, sustainable development goals, and the interlinks between LLA and Loss and Damage (LnD).

The first two days highlighted how people’s lived realities are complex, multidimensional, and contextual, and hence their way of adapting also varies. Power and justice are amongst the most critical enablers of successful and effective LLA. Big jargon, and global mandates such as Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), no matter how well they are written, will require incorporation of local communities’ lived realities. For transformative adaptation to happen, the needs and priorities of local communities and their existing networks need to be considered. On the third day of the short course, the participants visited the CCDB Climate Center based in Sreepur, Gazipur to enhance their knowledge and introduce themselves to the innovative adaptation technologies of Bangladesh. The fourth and final day of the short course was dedicated for the participants to pitch their climate adaptation ideas incorporating the learnings from the short course, and their experience, and expertise. They shared their innovative ideas to enhance local communities’ leadership in tackling climate change in a context-specific manner.

The short course ended with a certificate giving ceremony. Prof. Mizan R Khan, Deputy Director, ICCCAD, Mr. Sarder Shafiqul Alam, Senior Research Coordinator, ICCCAD, Prof. Dr. Md. Abdul Khaleque, Professor, DESM, and Dr. Rumana Sultana, Assistant Professor, DESM, IUB handed over the certificates to the participants. The short course not only served as a platform for knowledge exchange but also helped the participants to build a greater network across the region.

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