BANGLADESH WEATHER AND CLIMATE SERVICES REGIONAL PROJECT EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS FOR BETTER RESILIENCE APPROVAL DATE: END DATE: TOTAL COMMITMENT: IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES: BASIC INFORMATION June 03 December 31 $113 million Bangladesh Meteorology Department (BMD), 2016 2022 Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) OVERVIEW The country is self-sufficient in food production but in the event of significant natural disaster, progress can be hampered. The Bangladesh Weather and Climate Services Regional Project (BWCSRP) seeks to modernize the country’s weather, water, and climate information systems for forecasting and strengthening of service delivery in priority sectors and communities. It aims to build institutional capacity and coordination of agencies which are vital to strengthening disaster preparedness and climate resilience in Bangladesh. 90 CHALLENGE TOWARDS THE Due to its unique geographical position, Bangladesh is exposed to extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones FUTURE associated with storm surges, floods, thunderstorms and drought. Unavailability of reliable forecasting and information The project hopes to bring in on weather and climate can affect the productivity of key sectors such as agriculture. Hence, the country needs to innovation, both technological and modernize hydrological and meteorological (‘hydromet’) services and strengthen early warning systems. operational, to help the country access This requires substantial investment in and transformation of its hydromet service providers: the Bangladesh Meteorology the latest advances in the field and Department (BMD) and the Hydrology Division of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). Currently both have build capacity through collaboration inadequate observation network, hardware, software and human resource capacity. They also require a re-visioning of with universities. their agencies to meet the rapid advances in science and technology. There is considerable unmet demand from user The Department of Agricultural sectors such as agriculture, water, disaster management, aviation, energy ministries. Extension is implementing the third Implementation challenges relate to the inherent technical complexity and multi-institutional nature of the issues being component of the project: generating addressed. agromet advisories for farmers in all 64 districts, twice a week, in collaboration with research agencies and BMD. These advisories also APPROACH include livestock, poultry and fisheries The Bangladesh Weather and Climate Services Regional Project aims to modernize the country’s overall meteorological sectors. National level advisories are system, including weather forecasting, early warning systems, and delivery of weather and climate services. It also aims also prepared and disseminated once to improve access to such services by priority sectors and communities. The project will help strengthen meteorological a week. Early warning systems for information services, hydrological information services and early warning systems and support the development and lightning, dissemination mechanisms delivery of agrometeorological information. In addition, a contingent emergency response is available, which enables and medium are being designed and immediate reallocation of project funds to support disaster response following a request from the government in the event developed. of a major natural disaster. EXPECTED RESULTS 100,000 vulnerable people to receive Improved capacity for weather Farmer groups Establishment of early warning alerts for significant forecasting (with 24-hour will receive agro- a user satisfaction weather and water hazards public weather forecasts) advisories measurement system Approximately 1 million people in 4 districts to receive 300,000 farmers will Agro-met Kiosks will be installed community-level early warning systems for extreme weather events have access to information in 487 Upazilas THE WORLD BANK IN BANGLADESH | 91