Stakeholder Power and Influence in Climate Adaptation Projects in Bangladesh
Government agencies hold the highest influence due to their authority over policy formulation, funding allocation, infrastructure development, and regulatory enforcement. In Bangladesh, ministries such as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), local government bodies, and city corporations play decisive roles in project design and implementation.
However, local communities benefit the most from project outcomes. Coastal communities benefit through reduced cyclone risk, mangrove protection, and livelihood security, while Dhaka’s urban poor benefit from improved drainage, heat mitigation, and health resilience. Despite being primary beneficiaries, these groups often have limited decision-making power.
Contribution and Dependency Across Stakeholder Groups
Different stakeholders contribute in complementary ways. Governments depend on researchers for evidence, NGOs depend on government approval and donor funding, and communities depend on all actors for resources and technical support. At the same time, project success depends heavily on community participation, even though their formal power is limited.
Power Imbalances and Overlooked Voices
A major power imbalance exists between decision-makers and affected communities, especially women, informal settlers, indigenous groups, and landless households. Their voices are often consulted late or symbolically, which can undermine project effectiveness, local ownership, and long-term sustainability.
Determining Power and Influence
Power and influence were assessed based on:
Control over financial and technical resources
Authority in decision-making and policy enforcement
Ability to shape project design and priorities
Dependency relationships among stakeholders
Stakeholders with funding control and policy authority ranked highest, while those most affected by climate impacts ranked lowest in influence.