Assignment Name: Baseline Survey of the Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund Projects (2nd Phase)

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: Daira Ltd., Asian Development Bank (ADB) Funded

The “Baseline Survey of Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund (Phase 2)” was conducted as part of the Urban Resilience Fund (URF) initiative, 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.

In Bangladesh, the Phase 2 baseline survey focused on three cities (Kushtia, Faridpur, and Gopalganj) for city-level assessments and two cities (Patuakhali and Bagerhat) for household-level surveys. The survey aimed to collect baseline data for designing and implementing urban resilience-building activities that address socio-economic vulnerabilities, climate risks, and systemic gaps in infrastructure and governance.

Key objectives of the baseline survey included:

• Establishing Baseline Indicators: Collect data to define starting points for measuring the program’s impact over time.
• Assessing Resilience Capacities: Evaluate household and city-level climate adaptation mechanisms and vulnerabilities.
• Mapping Demographic and Socio-Economic Characteristics: Analyze community profiles, including access to resources, infrastructure gaps, and population vulnerabilities.
• Providing Actionable Insights: Generate recommendations to guide program design, intervention prioritization, and policy integration.

The survey utilized a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative household surveys with qualitative tools such as Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) sessions and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Digital data collection tools ensured efficiency and accuracy, with all processes aligned with the M&E framework developed by Daira Ltd.

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

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 Recruitment and Training:

• Recruited and trained 8 enumerators and 2 supervisors on data collection protocols, the use of digital tools, and ethical considerations.
• Conducted refresher training sessions, including field simulations, to ensure data quality and enumerator readiness.

Data Collection:

• Conducted 200 household surveys across the target cities, including 100 surveys in Faridpur and 50 surveys each in Patuakhali and Bagerhat.
• Facilitated city-level surveys and PRAs in Kushtia, Faridpur, and Gopalganj, involving municipal officials and community representatives.
• Conducted KIIs with city mayors, urban planners, and key stakeholders to gather information on governance structures, infrastructure gaps, and climate resilience strategies.

Data Management and Quality Assurance:

• Used digital data collection tools provided by Daira Ltd. to streamline data entry and minimize errors.
• Implemented real-time quality checks during field activities, ensuring consistency and completeness.
• Reviewed and validated data before submission, incorporating feedback from supervisors and project managers.

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

This baseline survey provided critical insights into the vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities of urban populations in Bangladesh, forming the foundation for targeted resilience-building interventions under the Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund. The findings are expected to guide future phases of the program, ensuring evidence-based decision-making and impactful investments.