Bangladesh and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have launched a €1.125 million European Union-funded project to strengthen climate mobility governance in South Asia. The agreement, signed by Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Dr. Laura Tomm Bonde, Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh, aims to enhance institutional capacity and promote regional cooperation. The three-year project, titled “Promoting a Comprehensive Approach to Climate Mobility in South Asian Countries,” seeks to improve climate mobility data systems, expand research, engage diaspora in climate action, build community resilience, and foster regional collaboration.
At the signing ceremony, ERD Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing climate-induced human mobility. He emphasized the need to integrate climate mobility into national development planning, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation strategies. Siddiky also commended IOM for its support in strengthening migration governance and generating evidence for informed policymaking.
Dr. Laura Tomm Bonde, Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh, thanked the Government of Bangladesh and the European Union for their support. She expressed confidence that the project would reinforce institutional capacity, improve knowledge and data systems, and facilitate evidence-based policymaking while advancing regional cooperation. Both Bangladesh and IOM reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the country’s preparedness for climate-related mobility challenges.
The project will involve collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It is expected to create new opportunities for regional learning and cooperation across South Asia, addressing the complex challenges posed by climate-induced human mobility.
