Transforming vulnerability into resilience: assessing and addressing vulnerability in climate-displaced populations through the housing ecosystem

 

In South Asia, an estimated 700,000 rural settlements are at risk of displacement due to the climate crisis. This displacement is estimated to be absorbed by 8,000 urban centres. As floods become increasingly frequent and more severe, there is an urgent need to understand and improve governance of climate-induced displacement in the region.

This project will explore the coping mechanisms of displaced populations in Nepal, Bangladesh and India and identify opportunities to enhance community participation in governance of displacement in the region. It will assess resilience of housing eco-systems in communities vulnerable to climate crisis-induced displacement; enhance the capacities of communities at risk and government authorities to identify the vulnerability of climate-displaced families in rehabilitation and relocation plans; and facilitate knowledge exchange among stakeholders.

With a focus on vulnerabilities of women and girls in housing solutions during climate-induced displacement, the project offers valuable contributions to gender-inclusive approaches for governance of displacement in the region. The outputs from this project include a unique rapid assessment tool for displacement vulnerability, which can be readily used by communities and government authorities. The research will also develop a model to mitigate vulnerabilities for communities at risk of displacement, including recommendations for risk-resilient housing solutions.