Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies

Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies
Name	Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies
Formation	1984
Founder	Saleemul Huq
Headquarters	Dhaka
Location	Bangladesh
Fields	Environment; Development; Climate change

Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies is a Dhaka-based non-governmental organization focused on environmental science, sustainable development, and climate change policy research. Founded in 1984, it serves as a national think tank linking international development institutions, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and local stakeholders to address disaster risk and adaptation. The centre has engaged with multilateral agencies, national ministries, and academic institutions across South Asia and beyond.

History

The organisation was established in 1984 by a coalition of Bangladesh-based researchers and practitioners including Saleemul Huq, with early partnerships among International Union for Conservation of Nature, World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, Overseas Development Institute, and regional actors such as The Energy and Resources Institute. During the 1990s it contributed to preparatory work for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations and regional dialogues tied to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation initiatives. In the 2000s the centre expanded programming to link community adaptation pilots with funding mechanisms associated with Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, and bilateral projects with United Kingdom Department for International Development, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and United States Agency for International Development. Its timeline intersects with major events such as the 1991 Bangladesh cyclone response, the formulation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, and later implementation related to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Mission and Objectives

The centre’s stated mission aligns with international frameworks including the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar Convention, and Paris Agreement—promoting evidence-based policy, capacity building, and community resilience. Objectives emphasize applied research that informs national policy instruments such as the National Adaptation Programme of Action and supports implementation of sectoral plans tied to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Bangladesh), Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (Bangladesh), and municipal authorities like Dhaka North City Corporation and Chittagong City Corporation. It pursues measurable outcomes in biodiversity conservation, coastal zone management, and urban resilience while engaging with donor institutions including Asian Development Bank and European Union programs.

Organizational Structure and Governance

Governance follows a board-led model with an executive director and program directors overseeing divisions in research, policy, and community engagement. The centre’s board has historically included members drawn from academia such as University of Dhaka, research institutes like Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, and international partners including International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and Stockholm Environment Institute. Operational staff collaborate with field offices and local NGOs including BRAC, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, and networks such as Climate Action Network International and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. Financial oversight and audit functions conform to standards expected by multilateral financiers such as UNDP and World Bank safeguards.

Research and Programs

Programs span climate adaptation, ecosystem services valuation, water resource management, and sustainable livelihoods. Notable research topics include coastal saline intrusion and mangrove restoration linked to Sundarbans, river morphodynamics in the Ganges Delta, and urban flooding in metropolitan areas like Dhaka. Project work has intersected with technical partners such as International Water Management Institute, CIFOR, and IWMI on basin-scale modelling, and with CARE International, OXFAM, and Save the Children on community-based adaptation pilots. The centre has produced policy briefs informing national planning aligned with Seventh Five Year Plan (Bangladesh) priorities and sector strategies for agriculture-adjacent ministries and fisheries and livestock institutions.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Collaboration networks include bilateral donors (DFID, SIDA), multilateral funds (GEF, GCF), research consortia (e.g., Future Earth, Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions), and UN agencies (UNEP, UNDP, UNESCO). Regional ties extend to ICIMOD, SEI Asia, and South Asian university partners such as Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and Jahangirnagar University. The centre coordinates with international NGOs including WWF, IUCN, and Practical Action to implement pilots and scale lessons into national policy dialogues, and participates in forums like Conference of the Parties sessions under the UNFCCC and regional summits of SAARC.

Funding and Financial Support

Funding sources combine project grants, consultancy income, and core donations from entities such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Commission, and bilateral agencies including Australian Aid. Competitive grants from philanthropic foundations and research calls from programs like Global Challenges Research Fund and Horizon 2020 have supported collaborative studies. Financial reporting aligns with donor requirements from institutions like UNDP and auditing standards common to NGOs working with International Financial Institutions.

Impact and Recognition

The centre has influenced national adaptation policy, contributed to vulnerability assessments referenced by the IPCC and national climate communications, and been recognized in peer networks alongside institutions such as IIED and Chatham House. Its community-level interventions informed design elements adopted in projects funded by ADB and World Bank and have been cited in reports by Oxfam International and CARE. Award mentions and invitations to speak at international fora, including sessions of the United Nations General Assembly side events, reflect its role in linking Bangladeshi experience to global policy debates.

Category:Non-governmental organizations based in Bangladesh Category:Climate change adaptation