Capacity Development in WASH Sector in Bangladesh: Climate Change Adaptation, DRR & Emergency Preparedness (Phase 1)
A nationwide capacity development initiative commissioned by UNICEF and DPHE across 5 divisions and 26 climate-vulnerable districts, equipping 210 senior engineers, NGO leaders, and government officials with climate-resilient WASH expertise.
Client / Funder
UNICEF & DPHE
Location
Barishal, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Dhaka (26 Districts)
Timeline
October 2023 – December 2023
Project Executive Summary
AIDE Private Limited designed and executed a flagship capacity development program commissioned by UNICEF and the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE). Implemented across 5 divisions (Barishal, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Dhaka) and 26 climate-vulnerable districts, this initiative strengthened 210 frontline WASH professionals in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and emergency preparedness.
Context & Core Sector Challenges
Bangladesh’s low-lying geography and proximity to the Bay of Bengal expose millions to cyclones, floods, severe droughts, and saltwater intrusion. Over 200 natural disasters in the past three decades have damaged critical WASH infrastructures, repeatedly leaving communities without safe drinking water or sanitation.
High Vulnerability to Climate Hazards
- Over 200 natural disasters in 30 years damaging water points & latrines.
- Frequent saline intrusion in coastal belts & monsoon flooding in lowlands.
Weak Climate Resilience in WASH Systems
- Conventional tubewells & latrines not engineered for storm surges.
- Absence of climate-adapted technologies leading to prolonged service outages.
Technical Capacity Gaps
- Frontline DPHE engineers & NGO staff lacked DRR & adaptation training.
- Limited application of international Sphere Standards during emergencies.
Fragmented Coordination & Data
- District-level WASH clusters were inactive or lacked standardized structures.
- Reactive planning without real-time digital monitoring platforms.
The AIDE Solution & Interventions
Click across the four intervention pillars below to explore how AIDE delivered structured training, hands-on disaster simulation, WASH cluster institutionalization, and digital monitoring tools.
Capacity Development & ToT Rollout
Designed a comprehensive 2-day modular training curriculum covering climate change impacts, DRR integration, emergency preparedness, and climate-resilient WASH technology options.
Key Implementation Highlights
Training of Trainers (ToT): Conducted in Dhaka to equip senior DPHE engineers and NGO representatives to act as master facilitators.
Divisional Rollout: Executed 5 divisional training programs in Barishal, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, and Dhaka.
Equipped 210 key frontline actors across 26 climate-vulnerable districts.
Participant Representation
Core operational workforce trained across 26 target locations (210 Total Participants)
Key Results & Development Alignment
Strengthening institutional capacity, scaling long-term emergency response protocols, and advancing international Sustainable Development Goals.
Institutional & Technical Impact
- Created a permanent pool of ToT facilitators within DPHE and NGOs to replicate and scale future training.
- Standardized district-level WASH Cluster structures with quarterly meeting protocols & 5W matrix accountability.
- Accelerated emergency infrastructure status reporting using Kobo Toolbox digital forms.
Global SDG Alignment
- SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation): Ensures resilient, safely managed water and sanitation infrastructure during disasters.
- SDG 13 (Climate Action): Integrates DRR and forecast-based anticipatory action into national engineering guidelines.
- Humanitarian-Nexus: Bridges rapid emergency response with long-term climate resilience building.
Project Photo Gallery
Field photography capturing workshop rollouts, ToT sessions, and cluster coordination meetings.
Capacity Development Workshop & Plenary
Opening session of the national climate change adaptation training program with DPHE and UNICEF representatives.
Training of Trainers (ToT) in Dhaka
Intensive ToT program equipping senior DPHE engineers and NGO leads to facilitate divisional rollouts.
Divisional Workshop & Collaborative Group Planning
Engineers and district officers developing contingency plans and emergency response frameworks.
District WASH Cluster Meeting & 5W Matrix Adoption
Institutionalizing district-level coordination and 5W matrix accountability across Barishal, Khulna & Mymensingh.
Digital Kobo Toolbox Infrastructure Assessment
Piloting real-time digital monitoring for rapid WASH status reporting during disasters.
Need Capacity Building or Technical Consultancy?
AIDE Private Limited combines technical excellence with deep field execution experience to deliver climate-resilient WASH infrastructure and capacity development programs across Bangladesh.