Delivering improved WASH services to strengthen climate resilience in Bangladesh (Phase – 01)

To enhance the resilience of people living in climate-vulnerable areas, PROTTYASHI implemented a project that prioritized contextualized strategies with strong community participation and active stakeholder engagement. At the outset, PROTTYASHI conducted a comprehensive needs assessment to identify the challenges and risks faced by the target communities. This process allowed for the development of community-generated strategies, ensuring that the voices of local residents and relevant stakeholders guided the interventions.

Throughout the project, PROTTYASHI delivered the most essential support to community members, with a focus on increasing their resilience to the adverse effects of climate change and disasters. The interventions were designed to be inclusive, addressing the specific needs of vulnerable groups, including men and women, adolescents, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities—without discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, or age.

One of the critical gaps identified was the inadequacy of sanitation systems, which posed significant health risks, particularly to women and children. To address this, household-level sanitary latrines were established, significantly reducing open defecation and lowering the risk of waterborne and sanitation-related diseases.

To promote sustainable hygiene practices, the project conducted hygiene awareness sessions in schools and organized menstrual health management (MHM) sessions for adolescent girls, boys, and caregivers. These sessions contributed to enhancing awareness of sexual and reproductive health rights, especially for girls and women in the face of climate-induced vulnerabilities.

Additionally, national and international observances such as Menstrual Hygiene Day and Global Handwashing Day were celebrated to increase community awareness on hygiene and health practices. WASH, MHM, and hygiene initiatives, particularly those centered around the needs of women and girls, played a key role in ensuring their safety, health, and dignity amid shifting environmental conditions.

By the end of the project, tangible improvements had been achieved in sanitation coverage, hygiene knowledge, and community preparedness. These achievements have contributed to reducing gender inequalities and strengthening climate resilience across the targeted communities. Overall, the project marked a significant step toward inclusive development and has laid a solid foundation for sustained health, dignity, and resilience in the face of climate change and future disasters.

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