The densely populated coastline of Bangladesh spans over 580 km and is highly exposed to cyclones, coastal erosion and other hazards. Coastal hazard impact mitigation measures and strengthening coastal resilience remains to have a high priority due to the increasing number of communities and assets exposed and the increasing frequency and intensity of events. A long-term program is required for investment in coastal protection and resilience is required. Data and systematic analysis necessary to build such a long-term coastal investment program that incorporates climate change is however lacking for larger parts of the coastline. Generally, a project by project strategy is followed for such investments. Determining best practices and enabling knowledge exchange about these interventions will enable the government of Bangladesh to adopt a data driven holistic approach to coastal resilience which rationally integrates investment in structural and non-structural measures along the coastline. Systematically learning of past experience and considering experience with strengthening coastal resilience elsewhere in the world will support effective planning, prioritizing, and implementation of future interventions.

This Technical Assistance supports gaining a better comprehension of the threats in the coastal zone by supporting the selection of suitable solutions and strategies to lead to livelihood improvement. As this technical assistance is based on the other Technical Assistance streams of the World Bank activities related to coastal resilience which are in motion, it substantiates further the understanding of the coastal systems, the threats and vulnerabilities and last but not least proposes suitable tools and strategies (technical and non-technical) to enhance coastal resilience.

The objective of this assignment is to carry out a strategic review of the coastal resilience analytics, strengthen areas identified for improvement, and produce a coherent narrative with infographics. The analytical process and results will be presented in the context of a book which with the aim to provide a solid supporting tool for decision makers and policy planners towards a more coastal resilient Bangladesh.

Period of involvement of Delta Context: August 2020 – March 2021