The study titled “Climate-Resilient Green Accountability for WASH” was officially launched at an Inception Event held on March 22, 2025, at Six Seasons Hotel, Dhaka. The event was organized by the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), WaterAid Bangladesh, ACME, and the World Resources Institute (WRI). It brought together policymakers, civil society organizations (CSOs), grassroots representatives, researchers, and media personnel to discuss climate finance transparency in the WASH sector.
Objectives of the Event
The event aimed to:
- Introduce the study and its implementation strategy to analyze challenges, gaps, and opportunities in WASH-related climate finance governance.
- Engage key stakeholders, including policymakers, CSOs, and grassroots representatives, in discussions on the study’s scope.
- Finalize the methodology and objectives of the study.
- Shape the Green Accountability (GA) Platform for improved transparency.
- Identify strategic actions to enhance financial transparency and ensure equitable climate finance distribution for WASH services in Bangladesh.
Key Discussions and Presentations
Md. Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of CPRD, moderated the event and delivered a presentation on “Global Climate Diplomacy on Climate Finance.” He highlighted that while climate finance is crucial for vulnerable countries like Bangladesh, it remains a contentious issue in global negotiations. He described climate finance as a “low-hanging carrot” that developed countries often use as leverage against emission reduction demands from the Global South. He also explained the complexities of climate financing and pointed out that despite the urgent need for trillions of dollars in adaptation funds, the COP 29 climate finance target was set at just USD 300 billion, with a long-term goal of USD 1.3 trillion by 2035, a target contingent on voluntary contributions from developing nations.
Partha Hefaz Shaikh, Director of Policy and Advocacy at WaterAid Bangladesh, delivered a critical speech on climate and WASH finance. He emphasized that despite the increasing impact of climate change, WASH remains critically underfunded receiving less than 1% of global climate finance. He underscored the need for greater accountability in climate finance flows to ensure fair distribution and prevent inequities.
Md. Razu Ahmad Masum, Bangladesh Engagement Lead at WRI, and Mr. Adnan Ibne Abdul Qader, Climate and Water Governance Specialist at WaterAid Bangladesh, presented on the Global Green Accountability Initiative and Ensuring Climate-Resilient Green Accountability for WASH. Mr. Adnan noted that WASH is often overlooked in financial planning, stating that in 2020, Bangladesh’s expenditure on WASH was approximately BDT 598 billion—only 2.18% of the country’s GDP.
Sumaiya Binte Anwar, Program Manager, Research & Advocacy at CPRD, and Sadhli Roomy, COO and Co-founder of ACME AI, provided insights into the study’s methodologicalframework, objectives, expected outcomes, and the process of formulating the Green Accountability Platform.
Panel Discussion
A high-level panel discussion followed, featuring experts from academia, government, and development organizations.
- Professor Dr. Suborna Barua pointed out that climate finance data remains highly fragmented. He noted that the lack of a universally accepted definition of climate finance complicates tracking both national and international funding flows. He also cautioned that real-time data monitoring might be too ambitious given current limitations.
- Mr. Golam Rabbani mentioned that while UNFCCC and WRI have old but separate definitions of climate finance, the study should adopt a “workable definition” based on available understanding and consensus. He also suggested redefining the study’s objectives to ensure realistic and achievable outcomes.
- Md. Ziaul Haque, Director at the Department of Environment (DoE), and Dr. Shah Abdul Saadi, Deputy Secretary, emphasized the need for structured accountability measures in climate finance governance for WASH and discussed possible ways to track finance flows effectively.
Guest Speeches
- Dr. Fazle Rabbi Sadek Ahmed, Deputy Managing Director of PKSF, highlighted segregated data as a major challenge in implementing the project. He advised that the initiative should avoid excessive complexity and suggested integrating ‘Green Accountability’ into existing structures.
- Dr. Asaduzzaman, Former Research Director of BIDS, stressed the importance of WASH in climate adaptation. He commended CPRD and WaterAid Bangladesh for initiating the study and expressed hope for its successful completion.
- Dr. Nurun Nahar, Additional Secretary, Planning Division, Ministry of Planning, served as the Chief Guest. She acknowledged that ensuring accountability in WASH and climate finance is a shared responsibility but also highlighted existing institutional limitations. She recommended that stakeholders align their efforts with national budget frameworks and coding mechanisms to improve climate finance tracking.
Outcomes and Next Steps
Participants agreed on several action points to enhance climate finance accountability for WASH:
- Developing a Green Accountability Dashboard for real-time monitoring of climate finance allocations.
- Advocating for grant-based funding mechanisms instead of loan-based financing for WASH.
- Conducting field research and stakeholder consultations in vulnerable regions to improve financial tracking.
- Strengthening partnerships among government, CSOs, and development partners to enhance WASH finance governance.
The event concluded with a “Vote of Thanks: Way Forward and Commitments” delivered by Mr. Partha Hefaz Shaikh.
Conclusion and Way Forward
The Inception Event marked a crucial step toward enhancing climate finance accountability for WASH in Bangladesh. Through engaging discussions, stakeholders identified key opportunities to improve transparency and ensure equitable distribution of climate finance in the sector. The development of the Green Accountability Platform and advocacy for grant-based funding will strengthen governance and improve access to WASH services for vulnerable communities. Moving forward, continued collaboration between government bodies, CSOs, and development partners is essential to building a resilient and sustainable WASH sector in the face of climate change.
