A three-day Capacity Building Workshop on Climate Migration, Urban Development and Investment Opportunity was held from 5–7 June 2026 in Cox’s Bazar, bringing together 17 officials from Jashore Municipality to strengthen their understanding of climate migration-sensitive urban development, climate finance, institutional coordination, and resilient infrastructure planning.
The workshop was organised under the Shompritee – Towards Locally Led Cooperation for Climate Migrants project of Swisscontact Bangladesh, jointly funded by the Embassy of Switzerland/the Government of Switzerland and Lokales Wasser/Max Ditting AG. The initiative forms part of an ongoing collaboration between Swisscontact Bangladesh and Jashore Municipality to strengthen locally led responses to climate migration and support the development of a Municipal Adaptation Plan (MAP).
As one of Bangladesh’s growing secondary cities, Jashore is increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate-induced migration. Population growth driven by climate-related displacement is creating additional pressure on urban services, infrastructure, housing, healthcare, education, and municipal management systems. Recognising these emerging challenges, the workshop focused on strengthening municipal preparedness for future urban growth while integrating climate migration considerations into long-term planning processes.
The workshop brought together municipal officials with climate and urban development experts, including Dr. Ainun Nishat, Emeritus Professor of BRAC University and Advisor to the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER); Dr. Md. Golam Rabbani, Director of C3ER; Roufa Khanum, Assistant Director of C3ER; and climate and urban development expert Shaikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan.
Throughout the workshop, participants examined climate migration trends, national policy frameworks, urban development challenges, stakeholder coordination mechanisms, climate finance opportunities, and private sector investment pathways. The workshop formed part of a broader municipal capacity-strengthening process under the Shompritee project. Building on the Strategic Planning Workshop held in December 2025, which helped establish priority sectors, coordination mechanisms, and a shared vision for climate-responsive urban development. This workshop focused on strengthening municipal readiness to translate those priorities into long-term planning, investment, and adaptation actions.
A major component of the workshop involved participatory group work where municipal officials identified priority urban development challenges associated with climate migration. Safe drinking water, sanitation and waste management, drainage and waterlogging, healthcare, housing, education, transportation, community safety, and planned urban development emerged as key priority areas requiring attention. Participants also explored potential financing pathways, including municipal budgets, government allocations, climate finance mechanisms, development partners, public-private partnerships, and international funding agencies.
The discussions reinforced that climate migration is not a standalone issue but a cross-sectoral urban governance challenge requiring coordinated planning, investment, and institutional collaboration. Participants emphasised the need for improved data systems, climate migrant databases, stronger inter-agency coordination, and evidence-based decision-making to support future urban planning efforts.
The workshop also explored opportunities for climate finance and investment mobilisation to support resilient urban development. Participants examined potential funding sources and discussed how municipalities can strengthen their readiness to access climate finance and attract strategic investments.
Key Outcomes
Building on the foundation established through the Strategic Planning Workshop, this workshop marked another important step in strengthening Jashore Municipality's capacity to respond to climate migration and future urban challenges. The insights generated will inform the ongoing Municipal Adaptation Plan process and future climate finance initiatives, supporting the municipality's efforts to advance climate-resilient and inclusive urban development.