COASTAL EMBANKMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT - PHASE I PROTECTING COASTAL COMMUNITIES FROM CALAMITIES APPROVAL DATE: END DATE: TOTAL COMMITMENT: IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES: BASIC INFORMATION June 26 December 31 Total $400 million Bangladesh Water 2013 2020 (IDA: $375 million + $ 25 million from Development Board (BWDB), Pilot Program for Climate Resilience) Ministry of Water Resources. OVERVIEW Coastal embankments are an integral part of the disaster risk reduction program for Bangladesh. There is clear evidence that embankments provided an effective buffer during the tidal surge resulting from Cyclone Sidr. The Coastal Embankment Improvement Project (CEIP) continues to help Bangladesh mitigate some of the large impacts of cyclones and flooding and improve emergency response in the coastal region. 92 CHALLENGE TOWARDS THE FUTURE Bangladesh’s coastal zone spans over 580 km of coastline and includes territory where 28 percent $25 million out of the total of $400 million for the Coastal of the country’s population resides. The proportion of people living below the absolute poverty line Embankment Improvement Project (CEIP) is from the Pilot is higher in the coastal area than in the rest of the country. A recent World Bank study on the cost of Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), a targeted fund within adapting to extreme weather estimated that 8 million people are currently vulnerable to inundation the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) framework. PPCR continues depths greater than 1 meter due to cyclonic storm surges. In a changing climate and without further to pilot ways in which climate risk and resilience may be adaptation measures, this number will increase to 17 million people. Moreover, about 13.5 million integrated into core development planning and implementation. people would be exposed to inundation depths greater than 3 meters. There is an urgent need to Future projects may follow CIF’s programmatic approach and rehabilitate and upgrade polder protection and enhance the resilience of coastal areas to cyclones, investment, with a focus on strengthening the capacity of tidal and flood inundations, and salinity intrusion. key institutions on adaptation and establishing web-based mechanisms for information and knowledge management. APPROACH The project aims to: (i) increase the area protected in selected polders from tidal floods and storms, which are expected to become more severe due to climate change; (ii) improve agricultural production by reducing saline water intrusion in selected polders; and (iii) improve the government’s capacity to respond promptly and effectively to a crisis or emergency. The project supports the rehabilitation and upgradation of protection polders to protect the areas from tidal flooding and frequent storm surges and reduce saline intrusion to enhance agricultural productivity. Rehabilitation of 17 polders in six coastal districts will provide direct protection to 760,000 people including 380,000 females living within the polder boundaries. This will enhance their livelihoods as increase agricultural productivity, and strengthen the overall resilience of the coastal areas. A comprehensive analysis will be undertaken to better understand the coastal dynamics to increase climate resilience in the coastal area. EXPECTED RESULTS 17 Polders to be rehabilitated in 6 coastal Improved protection for 760,000 100,800 hectares Cropping intensity districts: Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Barguna, people living within polder of area to be protected to be increased by Patuakhali, and Pirojpur boundaries have better protection 180% THE WORLD BANK IN BANGLADESH | 93