Increase local government budget allocation for effective disaster management in Bangladesh

This study was conducted to understand the local-level funding in practice and flood financing gap by analysing the current allocated budget for flood resilience of 10 Union Parishads in the Alliance study areas in the three flood-prone districts of Bangladesh: Faridpur, Gaibandha, and Lalmonirhat. Communities on the front lines of climate disasters need more funding. Insufficient funding for local-level flood resilience efforts has several significant implications for flood preparedness, response, and recovery.

Based on the study findings, separate discussion with local representatives, and review of available legal instruments and policies to overcome these challenges, four policy recommendations were identified to enhance the Union Disaster Management Committee (UDMC)'s effective functioning along with Union Parishads:

• Relevant government ministries need to allocate a dedicated budget for Union Parishads to enable them to fund locally led disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation that can be carried out by the UDMCs.
• Linkages between the Union Parishads and UDMCs should be strengthened by increasing the annual development budget allocation to UDMC-led disaster preparedness activities, in accordance with the SOD.
• Relevant government institutions and development partners should work together to identify the specific local capacity gaps and then deliver training on, for example: the SOD; conducting community risk assessment and preparing action plans; preparing disaster preparedness budgets; and establishing a monitoring and accountability mechanism to track progress of UDMCs.
• UDMC staff should include more community members who have a stronger incentive to conduct disaster risk reduction activities. An inclusive environment where female members are represented and able to engage is also critically important to reflect diverse needs and perspectives.