Assignment Name: Baseline Survey of the Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund Projects (1st Phase)

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: Daira Ltd.; funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB)

The “Baseline Survey of Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund Projects (Phase 1)” was conducted as part of the Urban Resilience Fund (URF) Program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The program aimed to strengthen urban climate resilience in 25 cities across eight developing member countries, including Bangladesh. This initiative focused on enhancing community-led resilience planning and the implementation of small-scale projects to complement larger ADB-funded infrastructure initiatives.

The baseline survey was designed to collect foundational data to guide program interventions and measure future progress. The phase 1 of the baseline study targeted two cities in Bangladesh—Bagerhat and Patuakhali—which face significant vulnerabilities to climate-induced hazards such as flooding, waterlogging, and sea-level rise. The primary goal was to assess household-level and community-level resilience to climate change, identify vulnerabilities, and provide insights into the socio-economic and environmental challenges faced by urban populations in these cities.

Key objectives included:

• Establishing baseline indicators for household adaptation, infrastructure resilience, and community-level capacities.
• Mapping vulnerable communities and analyzing socio-economic and demographic data to guide resilience-building initiatives.
• Evaluating the functionality and gaps in community-based climate resilience mechanisms.
• Identifying opportunities for integrating climate resilience into urban development planning.

The study employed a participatory and mixed-method approach, combining quantitative household surveys with qualitative tools such as Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The findings served as critical inputs for ADB’s resilience-building efforts and provided a foundation for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in subsequent phases of the program.

DM WATCH LIMITED successfully implemented the project through a structured and collaborative approach, fulfilling all requirements outlined in the ToR. Key tasks included:

Project Inception and Planning:

• Conducted inception meetings with ADB, Daira Ltd., and local stakeholders to align objectives, refine methodologies, and finalize deliverables.
• Prepared a comprehensive project plan, including timelines, logistics, staffing, and data collection frameworks.

Survey Design and Tool Development:

• Developed structured questionnaires for household surveys and community-level assessments, tailored to capture climate resilience indicators.
• Designed participatory tools for FGDs and KIIs to explore community perspectives on climate risks, adaptation strategies, and resilience mechanisms.
• Translated and tested survey tools to ensure cultural and linguistic appropriateness.

Enumerator Training:

• Trained a team of local enumerators and field supervisors on data collection protocols, ethical considerations, and the use of the Digital Data Gathering (DDG) tools provided by Daira Ltd.
• Conducted mock interviews and pilot testing to validate data collection instruments and ensure enumerator proficiency.

Data Collection:

• Conducted 100 household surveys in the two selected cities (50 in each city), focusing on socio-economic conditions, climate risks, and adaptive practices.
• Facilitated 10-14 community-level interviews with key informants, including local government officials, community leaders, and NGO representatives.
• Organized 6-8 FGDs with diverse community groups, capturing qualitative insights on vulnerabilities, resilience priorities, and barriers to adaptation.

Data Management and Quality Assurance:

• Supervised data collection activities to ensure accuracy, completeness, and adherence to ethical standards.
• Performed real-time quality checks on data using Daira’s online management system, addressing inconsistencies and gaps promptly.
• Transcribed and translated all qualitative data into English for analysis.

Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Processed, cleaned, and coded the collected data using advanced statistical software for analysis.
• Prepared a field data collection report summarizing activities, challenges, and observations.
• Prepared and submitted assignment completion report to Daira.

Key Deliverables:

• Field data collection completion report
• Submitted a clean dataset in Excel format with accompanying coding files.
• Field notes
• Qualitative transcripts
• Audio transcripts

The baseline survey provided essential insights into the vulnerabilities and resilience capacities of urban communities in Bagerhat and Patuakhali. It served as a critical input for the Urban Resilience Fund’s climate adaptation initiatives, ensuring evidence-based planning and implementation. The study’s findings also laid the groundwork for future monitoring and evaluation activities under the program.