Four impactful projects, implemented by Habitat for Humanity Australia, in partnership with local organisations, are working to empower vulnerable communities in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, and Vietnam.
These initiatives aim to strengthen communities, improve shelter conditions, and create climate-smart strategies that will enhance resilience to natural disasters, water scarcity, and other environmental challenges.
Building Stronger Futures:
Enhancing Housing, Livelihoods, & Climate Resilience in Dhaka’s Urban Slums
Building Resilient Urban Slum Settlements in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Local Partner: Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh
Duration: 1 August 2024 – 30 June 2027
This project focuses on improving the resilience of vulnerable urban communities living in informal settlements in Dhaka.
The goal is to enhance access to housing, clean water, sanitation, and essential services for people living in urban slum settlements.
By strengthening community capacity and fostering stronger relationships with urban stakeholders, the project aims to improve overall living conditions.
The initiatives will support housing renovations that withstand seasonal flooding and high temperatures, empower local residents through the delivery of livelihood training, including technical and vocational support, and further provide the resources and knowledge to advocate for better services and sustainable urban development, ensuring long-term resilience against climate change.
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Gender-Inclusive Resilience:
Strengthening Women’s Role in Climate-Adapted Shelters in Cambodia
Gender Inclusive Approach to Shelter & Resilience Building in Cambodia
Location: Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
Local Partner: Habitat for Humanity Cambodia & Gender & Development Cambodia (GADC)
Duration: 1 August 2024 – 30 June 2027
This project aims to address the gender disparities that affect the vulnerability of women to climate change in Cambodia.
By focusing on gender-inclusive climate adaptation, the project works directly with local communities to identify the shelter and climate needs of women and vulnerable groups. Women-led community action groups; Participatory Approach for Safe Shelter Awareness (PASSA) have been formed to help address shelter vulnerabilities through community-led interventions, such as improving housing and providing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities.
The project also supports alternative livelihoods, training in financial and business management, and offering micro-grants to increase household income. By engaging with local authorities, the project advocates for stronger gender integration into climate change policies and adaptation strategies, ensuring women and vulnerable groups have a voice in local resilience efforts.
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RISEN Nepal: Resilient, Inclusive & Sustainable Eastern Nepal (RISEN)
Building Disaster-Ready Communities for a Safer, Sustainable Future
Location: Eastern Nepal
Local Partner: Habitat For Humanity Nepal, Sahara Nepal, Mahuli Community Centre
Duration: 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2025
Project RISEN aims to enhance the disaster resilience of communities in Eastern Nepal. By strengthening the capacity of local governments and communities, the project focuses on developing climate-smart, people-centred Disaster Risk Reduction and Response (DR3) plans, and policies.
The initiative ensures that communities are equipped to mitigate and respond to natural disasters in a way that is sustainable and inclusive. The project empowers local stakeholders to lead the creation and implementation of these disaster-resilient strategies, improving the overall climate adaptation of the region.
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Adaptation for All:
Strengthening Climate Resilience Across Vietnam’s Vulnerable Communities
Location: Vietnam
Local Partner: Habitat for Humanity Vietnam
Duration: 1 August 2024 – 30 June 2027
In partnership with Habitat for Humanity Vietnam, this project focuses on increasing community resilience to diverse climate change impacts across Vietnam’s northern and southern provinces. While the northern region faces landslides, floods, and land subsidence, the southern provinces contend with heatwaves and prolonged droughts.
The project engages local communities through the Participatory Approach for Safe Shelter Awareness (PASSA), empowering them to identify and address their climate vulnerabilities. The initiative includes constructing critical Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure such as wells and rainwater harvesting systems. Additionally, the project provides climate-resilient housing and sanitation solutions to vulnerable populations, including women-led households, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
By documenting successful strategies and hosting knowledge-sharing workshops, the project aims to influence government climate policies and promote wider adoption of its innovative approaches.
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All four projects are designed to empower marginalized communities by providing essential services, improving housing conditions, and advocating for greater inclusion in climate resilience strategies.
These initiatives promise to create long-lasting change by strengthening the foundations of community-led development and gender-inclusive adaptation strategies. By demonstrating a strong commitment to building climate resilience through community-driven education, and action, they empower local populations to not only address immediate environmental challenges but also influence long-term policy change, ensuring hope for future generations.
Each of these projects receives support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and is in partnership with our implementing partners, Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, and Vietnam.
