ACCESS4ALL Group

A successful example of Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) in Bangladesh I have observed is the use of rainwater harvesting system in the coastal regions, where communities face salinity intrusion and freshwater scarcity.

The initiative addresses the following challenges:

• Salinity intrusion into groundwater and surface water

• Scarcity of safe drinking water during the dry season

• Health issues caused by consuming saline or contaminated water

For effective planning and decision-making, local people identified safe drinking water as one of their highest priorities. They actively participated in installing, maintaining, and managing rainwater storage tanks in their homes. Most importantly, local knowledge about rainfall patterns and water storage was included in planning and decision-making, and the NGOs and government agencies provided technical and financial support to help local people manage the systems.

Effective strategies and tools for stakeholder identification and mapping:

• Stakeholder mapping matrix to assess power and influence of stakeholders.

• Identifying stakeholders based on their roles, responsibilities, and level of involvement in the project.

• Determining each stakeholder's interests, potential benefits, and contributions to understand how they may affect or be affected by the project.

• Engaging with local communities and incorporating local knowledge to ensure that important stakeholders are not ignored.

How negotiation and communication skills can help manage conflicting interests among stakeholders:

• Who holds the most influence, and who benefits the most from the project’s outcomes?

  The government agencies and international donors hold the most influence, as they have decision-making power and regulatory authority, while also controlling project resources. Therefore, they directly decide how to design, execute, and prioritize different aspects of the project.

  The local communities and marginalized groups (e.g. women, children, fishermen, farmers etc.) benefit the most from the project’s outcomes because they depend on the project to improve their safety, livelihood, and participation in coastal management.

• What was each stakeholder’s role, potential benefits, and level of influence within the project?

  Based on the case study, the following stakeholders have been identified, along with their roles, potential beenfits, and level of influence:

  
  

  Government agencies