Adaptive & Transformative Learning

Overview

Adaptive and transformative learning is about enabling coastal communities to navigate uncertainty, experiment with solutions and share lessons. Projects in Khulna and Satkhira show that strengthening the adaptive capacities of coastal communities, particularly women and adolescent girls, can reduce vulnerability to climate-induced salinity. Communities are empowered as “change-agents” to plan, implement and manage resilient livelihoods and drinking-water solutions. The approach moves away from short-term responses and technology-led interventions towards community-centric solutions that build ownership and cross-stakeholder capacity. Expected outcomes include climate-resilient livelihoods focusing on women, gender-responsive access to year-round safe water, and strengthened institutional capacities, knowledge and learning for climate-risk informed management.

Sub-themes

1. Climate-resilient livelihoods and economic diversification

Promote adaptation strategies such as cultivating saline-tolerant crops, integrated aquaculture–agriculture systems, beekeeping in mangrove forests and eco-tourism. Ensure women’s economic empowerment is central; adaptation projects show that focusing on women leads to stronger community resilience

2. Gender-responsive water security and social inclusion

Address the disproportionate burden women and girls bear in water collection and household adaptation. Highlight initiatives that provide safe and reliable drinking water solutions year-round, reducing the time and health burden on women. Incorporate menstrual hygiene management and disability inclusion in WASH programs.

3. Institutional capacity and knowledge sharing

Build the capabilities of local government bodies, water user associations, NGOs and community volunteers to analyze climate risks, manage water infrastructure and disseminate adaptation practices. Encourage knowledge-sharing platforms between communities, universities and policy makers, allowing successful innovations (e.g., rainwater harvesting, household filtration) to spread.

4. Community-led learning and indigenous knowledge

Recognize and incorporate indigenous practices (e.g., floating gardens, earthen rainwater storage) alongside modern scientific knowledge. Facilitate participatory monitoring (e.g., citizen science for salinity levels) and storytelling that captures local adaptation experiences and transfers lessons to younger generations.

5. Transformative education and youth engagement

Develop educational curricula and extracurricular programs focusing on climate change, water stewardship and sustainable livelihoods. Empower youth as ambassadors of change, leveraging digital tools and social media to raise awareness and mobilize action.