Bangladesh is experiencing a marked increase in the frequency and intensity of climatic events, leading to significant loss of lives, property and livelihoods. A recent report The Daily Star highlighted that the country experienced 15 weather events between May 2023 and September 2024. These include four cyclones, nine floods, several episodes of heavy rainfall and extreme temperature events like waves of heat and cold waves. In response to these growing challenges, strengthening adaptive social protection (ASP) has become an urgent priority, complementing ongoing climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts to address the growing impacts of climate change.

The ASP improves the resilience of climate-vulnerable households by strengthening three capacities: preparing for, coping with and adapting to climate and other shocks. (i) Its development is motivated by several complementary factors: i) the proven success of the measures social protection, particularly cash transfers, to reduce poverty and build resilience; (ii) the common goal of building resilience in the areas of social protection, disaster risk management (DRM) and climate adaptation; iii) the increasing use of cash transfers in disaster response over the past two decades; and (iv) the potential to leverage social protection mechanisms, such as beneficiary registries and digital payment systems, to quickly provide cash to people affected by a disaster.

Despite their complementarities, social protection, DRM and climate adaptation have distinct objectives. Social protection focuses primarily on reducing poverty, with building resilience as a secondary outcome. However, reliance on poverty-based indicators for beneficiary selection often excludes climate-vulnerable households that do not meet these criteria. In contrast, DRM prioritizes resilience through interventions such as infrastructure development, disaster preparedness and response. After a shock, DRM aims to restore livelihoods and help communities “bounce back” to their pre-shock state. Climate adaptation takes a broader approach, enabling communities to “bounce forward” addressing climate vulnerabilities and promoting sustainable development through strategies such as improving economic conditions, promoting human capital and facilitating migration to safer areas. The ASP exploits the complementarities between these approaches while filling their gaps to establish a comprehensive framework for addressing the impact of climate change.

Since the adoption of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSSS) in 2015, Bangladesh has established a life cycle-based social protection system that addresses risks faced at different stages of life, including pregnancy, early childhood, school age, disability and old age. The main programs under this framework include the Mother and Child Benefit Program (MCBP), the Primary Education Allowance Program (PESP), the Disability Allowance Program, the widows’ allowance and the old age allowance (OAA) program. These are complemented by several DRM-related programs such as Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF), Employment Generation Program for the Poor (EGPP), Food for Work, Work for Cash , test help and free help. Lifecycle and DRM programs are well developed, with extensive coverage, substantial funding, digital beneficiary registries and mobile payment systems, thus positioning Bangladesh well for a transition to ASP.

Bangladesh could explore the following avenues to establish a strong SPA framework.

First, implement universal coverage for life cycle programs in climate vulnerable areas. Providing continuous, long-term cash transfers to vulnerable groups (e.g. children, people with disabilities, widows and the elderly) would significantly improve their resilience. Currently, more than 70 percent of poor and deserving people are excluded from social protection due to a flawed selection process based on indirect poverty indicators such as housing conditions and visible assets. International evidence shows that these methods exclude 29 to 96 percent of eligible poor. Transitioning to universal coverage would ensure that no climate-vulnerable person is left behind. Given the program’s already high coverage, extending universal access to areas vulnerable to climate change would be both strategic and strategic. affordable.

Second, strengthen coping and adaptation capacity through complementary cash (or in-kind) transfers. Supplementary cash or in-kind transfers can be provided to beneficiaries of lifecycle programs in anticipation of or after climate shocks, using existing beneficiary lists and mobile banking-based payment systems. Funds for these complements can come from DRM-related programs and climate adaptation funds, without increasing the social protection budget and promoting synergy between these approaches.

Third, support other vulnerable households through DRM-related programs. DRM programs would provide cash or in-kind assistance to households not covered by life cycle programs, in anticipation of or after climate shocks.

Fourth, invest in sustainable livelihoods and degree programs. Climate funds can support livelihood development and graduation programs to improve economic resilience and adaptive capacity to enable vulnerable households to “bounce back.”

Fifth, establish institutional arrangements for the ASP. Effective implementation of the ASP requires strong institutional frameworks, including revised policies, updated operational guidelines and formal agreements on financing, collaboration and coordination mechanisms among relevant ministries and agencies.

Although full-scale implementation of PASP will take several years, Bangladesh is well-positioned to embark on this transformational journey. By pursuing these pathways, the country can strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable populations, improve its adaptive capacity and establish itself as a global leader in ASP.

Fazley Elahi Mahmud is a social protection specialist and international social protection consultant. He can be reached at (protected email).

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.

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