ACCESS4ALL Group

In the Sundarbans Resilience Project, the stakeholders with the greatest influence and power are national government agencies such as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Bangladesh Forest Department, and key implementing ministries responsible for disaster management and infrastructure. These actors control funding allocation, policy decisions, regulatory permissions, and project prioritization. The groups that benefit most from the project’s outcomes are local communities, particularly fishing households, forest-dependent populations, women’s groups, and marginalized rural families who rely on the Sundarbans ecosystem for livelihoods and protection from climate disasters.

Government ministries act as primary decision-makers, donors (e.g., multilateral banks and UN agencies) provide financial and technical support, while NGOs and CBOs facilitate implementation, training, and social mobilization. Local communities contribute indigenous knowledge and safeguard restored ecosystems, but their formal influence over decision-making is relatively low compared to institutional actors.

Researchers and universities add scientific insights and monitoring capacity.

There are visible power imbalances, particularly between central government institutions and grassroots actors, women, and indigenous populations. These groups are highly impacted by outcomes yet often underrepresented in agenda setting and resource allocation. Ensuring inclusive participation is essential for equity and sustainability.

Power and influence were determined based on who controls funding, legal authority, project approval mechanisms, and implementation capacity. Benefit level was assessed by dependency on ecosystem services, exposure to climate risk, and livelihood connections to the Sundarbans.

Going forward, actively elevating local voices especially women’s cooperatives, fisherfolk associations, and youth, would strengthen ownership and long-term resilience of the project.