Ocean Literacy for Climate Resilience
An urgent initiative to empower Bangladesh's coastal communities against climate change by fostering a deep, actionable understanding of our ocean.
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People Engaged
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Resilient Livelihoods
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Youth Advocates Created
Program Details & Context
This section provides a foundational understanding of the OLCR program, its core mission, the dedicated team driving it, and the critical problem it seeks to solve. Understanding these details is essential for grasping the comprehensive nature of our initiative.
Program Overview / Executive Summary
The "Ocean Literacy for Climate Resilience" (OLCR) program, spearheaded by Nirmol Welfare Foundation of Bangladesh (Nirmol Bangladesh), is a comprehensive and innovative initiative focused on promoting ocean literacy and building climate resilience within Bangladesh's vulnerable coastal communities. This program was initiated by Nirmol Bangladesh in July 2022.
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What is the program?
A multi-faceted initiative enhancing public understanding of the ocean's vital role in climate regulation and its importance for Bangladesh's Blue Economy. It cultivates a resilient citizenry through training, conferences, field visits, surveys, workshops, seminars, and mass awareness campaigns.
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What problem does it address?
Confronts Bangladesh's coastal vulnerability to climate change impacts (sea-level rise, cyclones, extreme weather) threatening livelihoods and infrastructure. It also tackles environmental degradation and the need for greater public awareness of ocean-climate interconnectedness.
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What is its primary goal?
To significantly elevate awareness and understanding of climate change and ocean issues among youth, women, and coastal communities, fostering responsibility and environmental stewardship. Aims to empower communities with knowledge and skills for climate mitigation and adaptation, targeting ~10 million people for ocean literacy training.
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Who are the main beneficiaries?
Primary beneficiaries include vulnerable village women, students (high school to university), and unemployed youth. Secondary targets are local stakeholders (teachers), government officials, and coastal communities reliant on marine resources.
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Expected Key Outcomes:
- Widespread Ocean Literacy: Engaging over 10 million coastal inhabitants to cultivate a deeply ocean-literate community.
- Enhanced Socio-Economic Resilience: Improving economic stability, climate resilience, and employment for over 10,000 individuals through skill development and eco-friendly startups.
- Systemic Educational Integration: Integrating ocean literacy concepts into primary and secondary national education curricula.
- Informed & Engaged Community: Fostering a community recognizing environmental conservation and sustainable practices.
Program Management Team
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Md. Alamgir Hossain
Program Manager
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Dr. Mohan Kumar Das
Program Supervisor
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Ishrar Tahmin Anika
Research Officer
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Habibur Rahman
Research Assistant
Key Personnel Roles (to be added/filled): M&E Specialist, Communications & Outreach Lead, Curriculum Development Specialist, Partnership & Donor Relations Officer.
Problem Statement / Needs Assessment
Ocean Illiteracy as a Barrier to Climate Resilience in Coastal Bangladesh: An Urgent Call to Action for the UN Ocean Decade
The core challenge the OLCR program addresses is the alarmingly low level of ocean literacy among coastal communities in Bangladesh, a deficit that critically exacerbates their already severe vulnerability to the escalating impacts of climate change. This profound knowledge deficit actively hinders effective adaptation, sustainable resource management, and the ability of communities to build intrinsic resilience.
Evidence and Data Supporting the Problem/Need:
Direct Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Bangladesh:
- Sea Level Rise: 85 cm by 2050, potentially displacing 19.9 million people.
- Salinity Intrusion: Increased by 27% since 1970s.
- Extreme Weather Events: 185 events (2000-2019), 7th most vulnerable country.
- River Erosion: 11% coastline "very high vulnerability".
Low Ocean Literacy Rates:
- Baseline ocean literacy: below 30% in southern coastal belt.
- Farmers & Fishermen: mere 12% literacy rate.
- Gender disparities: Women generally lower rates.
Consequences of Low Ocean Literacy:
- Ineffective Adaptation Strategies: Maladaptive practices, failure to implement effective resilience.
- Unsustainable Resource Exploitation: Overfishing, habitat destruction, improper waste management.
- Limited Participation in Policy and Planning: Less advocacy, ineffective top-down solutions.
- Increased Vulnerability and Displacement: Livelihood insecurity, forced migration, heightened poverty.
Who is Affected by this Problem?
Fisherfolk communities
Farmers in coastal areas
Women and children
Low-income households & the poor
Indigenous communities
Informal sector workers
Future generations
An Urgent Call to Action
This section introduces the critical challenge the OLCR program is designed to address. The data presented highlights the severe and compounding environmental threats facing coastal Bangladesh, coupled with a critical gap in community knowledge. Understanding this dual challenge is key to appreciating the program's purpose and urgency.
The Escalating Climate Threat
Bangladesh's coastal regions are on the front line of the climate crisis. The statistics below are not just numbers; they represent millions of lives, homes, and livelihoods at risk from rising seas, intensifying storms, and degrading land.
The Critical Knowledge Gap
Effective adaptation is impossible without understanding. Ocean literacy among those most affected is alarmingly low, hindering their ability to adapt, innovate, and participate in building their own resilience. This knowledge gap is a direct barrier to a secure future.
Our Comprehensive Solution
To address the complex challenges outlined, the OLCR program implements a multi-pronged strategy. This section details our five core components, each designed to tackle a specific aspect of the problem, from foundational education to high-level policy engagement. Click through the tabs to explore how each component builds towards our collective goal of a resilient, ocean-literate Bangladesh.
Component 1: Curriculum & Educational Integration
We are embedding ocean literacy into the very fabric of the national education system. By developing scientifically accurate, culturally relevant curricula and training teachers, we ensure that the next generation grows up with an intrinsic understanding of the ocean's importance.
- Develop age-appropriate OLCR curriculum for primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
- Conduct "Train the Trainer" workshops for educators.
- Create engaging educational materials like digital content and field guides.
- Advocate for formal integration of OLCR into the national curriculum.
Component 2: Community Empowerment & Livelihood Diversification
Knowledge becomes power when it leads to action. This component provides practical, hands-on training for coastal communities, focusing on climate-resilient practices and creating new, sustainable economic opportunities that work in harmony with the ocean.
- Train communities in sustainable aquaculture, eco-tourism, and waste management.
- Run "Idea Incubation Training" to launch ocean-friendly startups.
- Partner with vocational centers for certified courses in blue economy sectors.
- Support community-led adaptation projects like resilient housing and mangrove restoration.
Component 3: Policy Dialogue & Multi-Stakeholder Engagement
Lasting change requires systemic support. We bring together government policymakers, scientists, civil society, and community representatives to co-create effective policies. Our goal is to ensure that ocean health and climate resilience are priorities in national and local development planning.
- Organize national and regional stakeholder dialogues.
- Produce evidence-based policy briefs for decision-makers.
- Train local government officials to integrate OLCR principles into planning.
- Actively pursue endorsement as a UN Ocean Decade Action.
Component 4: Youth Leadership & Ocean Advocacy
The future of our oceans rests in the hands of our youth. We are identifying and nurturing the next generation of ocean leaders through fellowships, mentorship, and by providing platforms for them to conduct research, lead campaigns, and influence policy.
- Manage an annual "Young Climate Fellowship for Ocean Resilience" program.
- Support youth-led awareness campaigns using creative media.
- Facilitate youth participation in national and international policy forums.
- Develop a digital platform for young leaders to collaborate and share knowledge.
Component 5: Public Awareness & Communication
To foster a truly ocean-literate society, we must reach beyond classrooms and workshops. This component uses mass media, community outreach, and digital platforms to engage the broader public, building widespread support for marine conservation and climate action.
- Launch national campaigns on television, radio, and online platforms.
- Organize interactive roadshows, film screenings, and beach clean-ups.
- Develop a robust social media presence to foster online communities.
- Produce accessible reports, infographics, and videos to share our findings.
Key Projects & Achievements
Since its initiation in July 2022, the OLCR program has delivered tangible results through impactful projects. One significant initiative was the "Building a Resilient Community through Ocean Literacy: Empowering Women, Students, and Unemployed Youth" project (May-October 2023), supported by a seed grant under this program to initiate a project in the title of: Building a Resilient Community through Ocean Literacy: Empowering Women, Students, and Unemployed Youth. View Full Report Here.
Who: OLCR (Ocean Literacy and Community Resilience) team led by Nirmol Bangladesh.
What: Responded to a tropical cyclone in Cox’s Bazar, providing technical support and collecting crucial data.
Outcome: Engaged with local communities, demonstrating the project’s relevance in addressing immediate climate-related challenges.
Who: Nirmol Bangladesh and the OLCR team.
What: Launched a hybrid course targeting early-career professionals and graduate students.
Outcome: Enhanced knowledge and skills related to climate change and ocean literacy among 40 young researchers.
Who: Nirmol Bangladesh and the OLCR team.
What: Produced a short documentary film on climate change and marine pollution.
Outcome: Shared on social media platforms, reaching a wide audience and raising awareness about ocean conservation.
Who: Nirmol Bangladesh, the OLCR team, students, teachers, and staff.
What: Organized seminars and a rally at Rupnagar Govt. Secondary High School, Dhaka.
Outcome: Raised awareness among 300 participants about ocean literacy, climate change, and environmental conservation.
Who: Nirmol Bangladesh, the OLCR team, high school students, and teachers.
What: Conducted a workshop at Gohira AJYMS Bohu Mukhi High School, Chittagong.
Outcome: Raised awareness among more than 300 participants about the impact of climate change on ocean health.
Who: Nirmol Bangladesh, the OLCR team, university students.
What: Initiated the “Young Climate Leaders” program to train students in ocean and climate literacy.
Outcome: Over 20 leaders appointed, promoting awareness on different university campuses.
Who: Nirmol Bangladesh, the OLCR team.
What: Organized an awareness campaign in Cox’s Bazar, focusing on beach cleaning, environmental protection, and climate change.
Outcome: Directly engaged 110 individuals and indirectly impacted more than 10,000 through publicity and awareness activities.
Who: Organized by Nirmol Bangladesh.
What: Conducted the “Ocean Literacy for Climate Resilience” Training Program.
Outcome: Empowered 20 individuals with skills for scientific data collection in the coastal regions, contributing to meaningful research.
Our Vision for 2030
This section outlines the specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives that guide our work. The interactive timeline below maps our journey, showing key milestones and demonstrating our clear, phased plan for achieving our ambitious goals. Explore the timeline to understand how we turn vision into action.
Foundations & Fellowships
By mid-2026, we will launch our "Young Climate Fellowship" and convene high-level stakeholder meetings to build a collaborative foundation for action.
Empowerment & Innovation
By the end of 2027, we will have run multiple "Idea Incubation Trainings", fostering at least 20 new green startups and empowering hundreds with sustainable skills.
Education & Awareness
By 2028, our aim is to formally integrate OLCR content into national curricula and launch a massive public awareness campaign reaching millions.
Our Intended Impact
Ultimately, our program is about people and their future. This section illustrates the tangible, long-term changes we aim to create. From strengthening livelihoods to nurturing a new generation of environmental stewards, our impact is measured by the enhanced resilience and well-being of the communities we serve.
Empowered Women
Providing women with alternative livelihood skills and knowledge, enhancing their economic independence and role in community decision-making.
Engaged Youth
Creating a new generation of ocean advocates and climate leaders equipped with the knowledge and skills to drive change.
Resilient Farmers
Helping farmers adapt to salinity and extreme weather through training in climate-smart agricultural practices.
Sustainable Fishers
Promoting sustainable fishing practices to ensure the long-term health of marine ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them.
Alignment with Global Goals
Our work is not happening in a vacuum. The OLCR program is strategically designed to contribute to the global agenda for a sustainable future. This section explicitly shows how our activities align with the key challenges of the UN Decade of Ocean Science, demonstrating our commitment to being part of a coordinated, worldwide effort.
Challenge 4
A Sustainable & Productive Ocean
By promoting green livelihoods and sustainable startups, we help create an ocean economy that is both productive and environmentally sound.
Challenge 8
A Predictable Ocean
Our educational initiatives equip communities with the scientific literacy needed to understand, predict, and respond to ocean changes.
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An Accessible Ocean
We break down complex science into accessible knowledge for all, especially vulnerable communities, through our tailored educational resources.
Challenge 10
An Inspiring & Engaging Ocean
At its core, our program aims to transform humanity's relationship with the ocean, fostering a culture of stewardship and engagement.
Program Funding Status
The OLCR program primarily seeks funding from UN Bodies, INGOs, NGOs, and governments. Currently, the program is funded by Nirmol Bangladesh, with specific phases receiving additional support.
1st Phase: July 2021 to June 2023
Partially Funded by: Korea SHE Foundation
Funding Period: 6 Months
Amount: $3000
2nd Phase: July 2023 to June 2025
Currently in this phase.
Partially Funded by: Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB)
Current Activity: A capacity building work is ongoing in Cox's Bazar under this funding.
3rd Phase: July 2025 to June 2027
Seeking Fund
4th Phase: July 2027 to June 2029
Seeking Fund
5th Phase: July 2029 to June 2030
Seeking Fund
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