Research Projects

This report documents the results of the study on “Water Management Challenges in Coastal Polders of Bangladesh: Rethinking Institutional and Policy Issues”. The study was carried out to deeper comprehend the role of Water Management Groups (WMGs) and Water Management Associations (WMAs) in the polders in order to plan for a participatory bottom-up approach and propose policy adjustment for comprehensive water management to increase resilience. For effective water management in coastal polders of Bangladesh, the study recommends that the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) have the overseeing role of managing Water Management Organizations (WMOs), as it has a strong local presence and a mandate for agricultural development. WMOs members also recommended the same. The focus should be on empowering WMOs by outlining their rights, mandates, and responsibilities, ensuring that they remain central in managing polder operations. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) should continue providing essential engineering support and submitting rehabilitation requests based on local needs. By strengthening the coordination among stakeholders and placing WMOs at the centre of water management, these measures can ensure long-term sustainability and resilience for Bangladesh’s coastal communities. This study was conducted by the Institute of Development Studies and Sustainability, United International University and International Rice Research Institute, with the support from the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas.

By: Salma Begum, Ahmad Salahuddin, Nelson, K, Md. Ruhul Amin

This field brief draws on findings from a study conducted as part of Inclusive Governance and Nutrition-Sensitive Agri-Food Systems Transformation work within CGIAR’s Asian Mega Deltas (AMD) Initiative. The data for the study was collected in the Paikgachha sub-district of coastal Bangladesh between September 18 and 23, 2024

By: Salma Begum, Indu K. Sharma, Deepa Joshi, James Garrett

For effective water management in coastal polders of Bangladesh, this policy brief recommends Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) to have the overseeing role of managing Water Management Organizations (WMOs) as it has a strong local presence and a mandate for agricultural development and has been recommended by Water Management Organizations (WMOs) members to take the lead. Focus should be on empowering WMOs by outlining their rights, mandates, and responsibilities, ensuring they remain central in managing polder operations, and adjusting existing rules and regulations for membership and funding enabling WMOs to manage resources effectively, ensuring long-term sustainability without project-specific dependency. Polders and their sub-catchments should be used as primary development units, allowing agencies to work through established WMOs and avoid creating new groups for each project, thus reducing costs and enhancing impact, and designating a lead coordination agency, such as the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for agriculture-based areas or the Department of Fisheries for fisheries-focused polders, would improve WMO oversight and collaboration. The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) should continue providing essential engineering support, coordinating with other agencies, and submitting rehabilitation requests based on local needs. The lead agency overseeing the WMOs in a particular polder can coordinate and request other existing actors to respond to the water management need of the WMOs. BWDB being an important actor should be available at upazila level coordination meetings concerning water management.

By: Hamidul Huq, Salma Begum, Ahmad Salahuddin, Md. Ruhul Amin

Cropping intensity of thousands of acres of agricultural land could be increased and yields doubled if water management issues were resolved,” the Water Management Group (WMG) members from costal polders emphasized. They described obstacles posing challenges despite their mandated role in local water management: “No matter how much we try, critical water bodies like canals, river branches, and beels (large perennial water bodies) are leased out to vested interest groups, which hinders crop cultivation,” members opinioned."

By: Salma Begum, Ahmad Salahuddin, Hamidul Huq

Recognizing women’s roles in agriculture is key to unlocking economic empowerment, bolstering food security and improving nutrition nationwide.

By: Salma Begum, Indu k. Sharma