URBAN SULUM DWELLERS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

IN DHALPUR , JATRABARI, DHAKA

MASTERS THESIS PRESENTATION

APRIL 5, 2016
BY

MD TANVIR AHMED BHUIYAN

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

PROF. DR. A Q M MAHBUB

DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER AND HUMAN SECURITY MANAGEMENT
BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONALS

Contents
Objective of the research
Problem definition
Scope of work
Methodology
Result analysis
Conclusion
Recommendation

Objective of the research

Identify the adverse impact of climate change on

urban slum areas.

Determine urban slum dwellers and community

stakeholders climate change adaptation techniques

Understanding their future plan regarding climate

change adaptation

Problem definition
Global climate change will have enormous impacts on

urban areas in the Bangladesh. The known and

growing effects of climate change increased
temperatures, rising seas, and increased incidence of
severe storms will be especially significant for cities
due to the location of many along the urban, the
population and capital assets at risk, and the important
role of urban slum dwellers climate change adaptation.
Mitigation and adaptation are indeed interrelated, yet
the focus of this thesis is primarily on slum dwellers
and community adaptation processes

Methodology
My research work followed qualitative method. This

study is based on
Survey
Case studies
Group discussion

Methodology
General research approach

Case studies

Slum dwellers of the Dhalpur Jatrabari , adaptation to the climate change

Educated Community people s climate change adaptation adaptation

Focused group

A focus group discussion is a form of group interviewing in which a small group usually 10 to 12
people in a group

Stakeholder workshop

The aim of these workshops was to provide a forum in which participants could
network and exchange experience and knowledge.

Analysing the focus group discussions

Case Studies
Case studies for research into adaptation
To analyse how CCA processes are enacted, this study draws

on two overall
empirical studies of slum dwellers and community
stakeholders adaptation processes focusing on:

Slum dwellers of the Dhalpur Jatrabari , adaptation to the climate change

Educated Community people adaptation

A small qualitative survey was undertaken among 40

households to identify their experiences of climatic

variability, hazards and coping strategies. The households
were chosen at random based on location, housing
conditions, ownership and length of residency in the area.

Findings
Water logging and flooding
Water logging and flooding are major issues facing Dhalpur
Jatrabari slum dwellers. Increased rainfall is more than the
capacity of the existing drainage systems and causes disruptions
in communication, trade and maintain their day to day livelihood
Human Health and Livelihoods
Climate change increases the growth of vector borne diseases such
as dengue, especially due to changes in rainfall patterns just as
flooding causes the breeding of the dengue vector. As a result of this
there is severe disruption in health services; damaged transport
infrastructure keeps people from accessing the nearest clinics and
hospitals, and obstructs emergency services from reaching people

Water, Sanitation, Drainage and Solid Waste

Water supply, sanitation facilities and drainage suffer severe
pressure due to the effects of climate change. As a consequence
of water logging, pipe water becomes contaminated.

Some Adaptation Techniques

Urban slum dwellers of Jatrabari following some

climate change adaptation techniques.

Multi purpose vegetable cultivation foe example aelovera,

Use local u shape bar which is made by mud to protect from
fire ,protection while cooking
Keep water and sand close to stove
Preserve rain water in rainy season
Keep dry food at home for emergency situation
Keep emergency contact numbers on wall
Participate different training and meeting regarding climate
change and disaster risk reduction

Steps

Case study backgrounds

The Dhalpur Jatrabari Slum Area

At present Dhalpur Jatrabari covers an area of

approximately 90 acres, with an estimated population of
more than 100,000. The settlement has attracted lowincome people engaged mostly in service jobs, for
example cleaners, household help and rickshaw pullers
as well as workers in the ready-made garment industries.
The high population density, the lack of proper ervices
and the location close to the vulnerable waters edge
impose threats from climate variability and climate
change

Focus group discussions

Risks and challenges
Whether or not these risks were climate or non-

climate related
Timing
Consequences of the risks,
Factors affecting risk levels and adaptation strategy
availability
Adaptation strategies (planned or implemented),
and
Various types of actors

Slum dwellers activities

Community stakeholders activities

Limitations of study
Although this research was carefully prepared, I am

still aware of its limitations and shortcomings.

First of all, the research was conducted in the two
urban classes which have lasted for eight weeks. Eight
weeks is not enough for the researcher to observe urban
slum dwellers of two areas. It would be better if it was
done in a longer time.
Second, the population of the slum people is small, only
forty slum dwellers and this might not represent the
majority of the slum dwellers climate change
adaptation techniques and strategy.

Recommendation
It is critical to establish a knowledge-sharing

community for relevant stakeholders in Dhalpur

Jatrabari slumto address information gaps, develop
pilot projects, and share expertise in program design
by local NGO
Policy formulation, dissemination, and
implementation regarding climate change adaptation
from Government of Bangladesh

Conclusion
There is a conscious decision by governments to ignore the settlements most at

risk, and a view that governments cannot provide infrastructure to illegal

settlements.
An inability to perceive the problem (national agencies responsible for disasters
having a perception of disasters as being rural and related to famine and drought,
while urban authorities do not see preventing disasters as their responsibility).
A lack of awareness of the value of the assets lost by affected poor populations
(and of their importance to city economies). No local data to demonstrate the
extent of the problem (often related to institutional inadequacies).
An inability to act, or an absence of structures to address the problem (for
instance, local government being responsible for providing the infrastructure that
should greatly reduce risks but having a very small proportion of total government
funding).
An absence of political channels to allow vulnerable communities to demand
action on reducing unacceptable levels of risk.