Rebuilding Lives and Empowering Women

Rebuilding Lives and Empowering Women: A Story of Resilience and Hope in the Face of Climate Change

January 13, 2025
a person posing for a picture

Sharmin, a resilient SWAPNO beneficiary from Khulna, Bangladesh, stands determined to rebuild her life and create a secure future for her family amidst the challenges of climate change.

Photo: © Nusrat Mahmud Ananna/ UNDP

For most of us, home is the ultimate sanctuary—a place of safety and comfort, shielding us from the chaos of the outside world. But what if your home couldn’t protect you? What if every storm, every flood, left it shattered, vulnerable, and uninhabitable? This is the harsh reality for many in Bangladesh, a country on the frontlines of climate change.

Bangladesh, one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, faces an escalating crisis. Rising sea levels, intensified cyclones, and unpredictable monsoons displace millions each year. In regions like Khulna, where homes are often made of clay, tin and wood, families are left to rebuild after every disaster, knowing their efforts may only hold until the next storm. According to a report, over the past decade, 58.8% of homes, 69.9% of kitchens, and 74.5% of cattle sheds in coastal villages in Khulna have been damaged by cyclones.

a little boy sitting on a rock
Photo: © Nusrat Mahmud Ananna/ UNDP

Sharmin, a 30-year-old from the village of Morrelganj in Bagerhat, Khulna, Bangladesh, is one such individual living this reality. Her story of resilience highlights not only the personal toll of climate change but also the role of initiatives like SWAPNO in creating pathways toward recovery and hope.

Sharmin’s Journey: Resilience Amid the Storms

Born into hardship, Sharmin lost her mother early and was married off at 13. With a sick husband unable to work and a young daughter to care for, she struggled to make ends meet as household help. But it wasn’t just poverty that weighed on her—every cyclone or heavy rain would leave her home waterlogged and broken. To her, home was seeking refuge in emergency shelters whenever the river overflowed.  Cyclone Remal, which struck in May this year, was no exception. The water rose 10 feet high, destroying her house and leaving her family stranded for days.

But Sharmin’s story took a turn with SWAPNO, a UNDP initiative implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD), funded by the Embassy of Sweden, and Marico Bangladesh. Since joining SWAPNO, Sharmin has been working on public infrastructure projects, earning a salary that became a lifeline after the cyclone.

Through SWAPNO's ROSCA (Rotating Savings and Credit Association) initiative, a community-based savings program where members contribute and take turns accessing funds, she won the pooled amount in a lottery system. This financial boost allowed her to repair her home, raise its foundation, and start a small business selling clothes door-to-door. Although she faces challenges, like customers paying through instalments, Sharmin remains hopeful. Her ultimate dream is to build a solid brick home where her family can feel truly secure

a little girl sitting on a bench
Photo: © Nusrat Mahmud Ananna/ UNDP

"I can endure any pain, but the pain of not having a home where my family feels safe and secure is what I cannot endure," Sharmin shares, her voice filled with resolve.

Sharmin’s story underscores the urgent need for climate-resilient housing and livelihoods. Cyclones and floods, intensified by climate change, affect millions like her, especially in coastal regions like Khulna. Statistics show that Bangladesh faces an average of 10 million climate-induced displacements annually, with women and children bearing the brunt of these impacts.

Through economic opportunities, savings programs, small business training, and skills training, SWAPNO empowers 10,188 women like Sharmin to adapt and rebuild. The program aims to ensure that the most vulnerable can rise above the challenges posed by a changing climate.

Sharmin’s journey is an example of resilience, determination, and the transformative power of community support. Her dream of a secure home reflects the aspirations of countless women in Bangladesh who are fighting for stability in an increasingly unstable world.

From storms to strength: Sharmin’s journey shows how SWAPNO empowers women to rebuild and thrive amid climate challenges.