About Business Network
DCA in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, and highly disaster prone with risks of cyclones, flooding and drought. Bangladesh is a low lying country adversely impacted by climate change- as sea levels rise, soil salinity increase has a devastating impact on the agricultural industry (Bangladesh’s primary economy for the poorest communities). Scientists predict that by the year 2040, the southern part of Bangladesh will be flooded, leaving more than 30 million people homeless.
Almost one third of the population (24.3%) live below the poverty line, with women particularly facing barriers in lifting themselves out of poverty. In 2017 a surge of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State saw more than 700,000 Rohingya flee across the border to neighboring Bangladesh. They joined refugees already seeking shelter in Cox’s Bazar District; one of the poorest districts in Bangladesh, and the total number of people in need is now more than 1.2 million. DCA responded immediately, and has established programming in GBV, education in emergencies, livelihoods, cash, and Site Improvement and Emergency Response. This programme now hires more than 140 staff, and has reached 68,866 refugees and vulnerable host communities.
Across the rest of Bangladesh, DCA supports local NGO partners to aid poor and marginalized communities, including women and youth, with programming that reduces poverty through improving livelihood opportunities with innovative approaches toward value chain development.