The government and development partners have decided to extend the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC) project for another two years for delivering adaptation benefits to the most vulnerable coastal people of Bangladesh. The decision came on Thursday at a virtual meeting attended by the Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives (LGRD&C) Minister Tazul Islam, Ambassador and the Head of Delegation to the European Union to Bangladesh, Rensje Teerink, Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden, Christine Johansson, representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). Read CSOs, MPs demand Tk 150 bn for coastal protection The LoGIC project, led by the Local Government Division of the Ministry of Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives, is a joint initiative of the Government of Bangladesh, EU, Sweden, UNCDF and UNDP. The project was initiated in 2016 with an aim to deliver climate finance to the most vulnerable households and the local government institutions in 72 unions of Khulna, Sunamganj, Kurigram, Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali and Bhola districts.  The project is designed to support some 400,000 most climate-vulnerable people under its Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRG) and Community Resilience Fund (CRF) schemes, says UNDP. Also read: Bangladesh to host V20 Climate Vulnerables Finance Summit in July Tazul Islam said the LoGIC project is proven as a good system to deliver climate finance through local government institutions directly reaching the climate-vulnerable people to invest in local adaptation. Ambassador Rensje Teerink highlighted European Union’s decade-long support to Bangladesh in combating climate change.  She said as EU they are supporting the government to create a system to bring climate finance to most climate- and economic- vulnerable households.  Read UN: Don’t forget to save species while fixing global warming "Through LoGIC, together with Sweden, UNDP, UNCDF and thanks to the strong ownership of the Local Government Division, this mechanism is now being put in place. The recent addition of approximately 7 million EUROES goes in the right direction and brings innovation for climate finance in Bangladesh. We look forward to continuing partnering with local government actors to ensure climate funds go where they are most needed, embracing a long-term perspective.” Christine Johansson, representing the Sweden Embassy in Bangladesh, which is also a partner of the LoGIC project said, “Bangladesh is not just a victim of climate change; the country has also become a global leader on adaptation. LoGIC is one example. Sweden is proud to be part of the solutions with the people of Bangladesh.” Also read: Climate Change to get priority in Bangladesh alongside Covid support:ADB Van Nguyen, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, stressed the importance of a collaborative approach like LoGIC to deal with the greatest threat to mankind, climate change.  She said, “UNDP is committed to transcending the knowledge from the LoGIC project across global networks. We hope to continue our global cooperation by working collaboratively with development partners and the Government to help attain the LDC graduation and Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.” Earlier, Saila Farzana, Joint Secretary, Local Government Division & the National Project Director, LoGIC Project, gave the overview of the project.  Read Next 10 years final chance to avert climate catastrophe: UN chief She said, “The Local Government’s capabilities are key to support climate-vulnerable people. Based on the positive impacts of the current phase of the LoGIC project, which ends in June 2021, the government and development partners decided to extend it one more year to reach out to more vulnerable people. Among others, Helal Uddin Ahmed, Senior Secretary, Local Government Division, Jesmul Hasan, Country Focal Point, UNCDF and Mamunur Rashid, Climate Change Specialist, UNDP, also spoke in the virtual event. Read COP26: Young people urged to raise voice to save planet