Construction training to make homes more resilient in a changing climate
Community: Rangpur division, Bangladesh
Partner: Nirapod Bangladesh Songstha
Bangladesh is at the forefront of climate change, experiencing floods, cyclones and earthquakes. However the underlying disaster is the desperate poverty in rural communities which forces people to live in hazardous locations and in poor quality housing. We aim to train 1000+ women between 2023-2025.
Rangpur division, Bangladesh
What difference will the training make?
Simple strengthening improvements can cost just 5% of the total construction cost and can provide resilience against floods and strong winds.
Our ‘build for safety’ workshops offer technologies that are affordable, appropriate and available locally. They give people real choices and control over their lives and livelihoods.
99% of women felt more confident in design and construction having attended training. 39% have implemented at least one improved building technique, within 3 months.
After attending our training, Ponchomi now lives in a secure bamboo-frame house. Read her story.
In June 2022, torrential rain and surges from upstream caused the worst flood in over a century, impacting over 7.2 million people. Hundreds of thousands of households were cut off by floodwaters, while others fled to higher ground or emergency shelters.
More than 150,000 houses, numerous roads and essential infrastructure were washed away (estimated £145 million loss). The floods caused damage to over 254,000 hectares of croplands and 4.2 million people suffered disruption to vital water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Too many houses are not fit for living, and cannot withstand these natural disasters. We need to build back better.
Why women?
Although the construction industry in Bangladesh is male dominated, typically women in rural Bangladesh manage their homestead while men work away. Ongoing maintenance and repairs are part of women’s daily life.
We strongly believe that women’s empowerment, particularly in the built environment, leads to society’s advancement.
