Effectiveness of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) training programs: Views and voices from barisal division, a Coastal Region in Bangladesh

Abstract

Barisal division, a coastal region of Bangladesh, is one of the most vulnerable zones in terms of climate-induced disasters, where the children, women, and young people are at high risk. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) training programs for children and youth usually aim to change the way of thinking and action, which can make the future generations or the communities more resilient. Trainings can help to improve skills, knowledge, and capacities to manage any disaster event. Considering this fact, the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) of BRAC University facilitated several capacity building training programs on DRR and CCA, which have been conducted in different districts of Barisal division. Nearly 105 children and youth of 3 districts (Barguna, Bhola, and Barisal) of Barisal division have transformed into Disaster Ambassador and helped to enhance the capacities of their communities to deal with climate-induced disasters. This chapter aims to find out the effectiveness of these training programs to build disaster resilient communities through the active participation of children and young people. It finds that the trained children and youths became able to contribute positively through making decisions and developing work plans which were supported by various organizations.