Young Climate Action Network (YOUCAN) and Coastal Development Partnership (CDP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen locally-led climate resilience, gender-responsive climate action, community participation, and inclusive climate governance in Bangladesh.
The YOUCAN and CDP MoU was signed on 3 October 2026 at the Bangladesh NGO Foundation in Dhaka under the PROCEED Project “Promoting Gender-sensitive Climate Resilience & Effective Climate Governance through Locally-Led Climate Resilient Development Model.”
The agreement was signed by Yudhishtir Chandra Biswas, Founder & Executive Director of YOUCAN, and S. Jahangir Hasan Masum, Executive Director of Coastal Development Partnership (CDP).
Strengthening Climate Resilience in Bangladesh
The partnership aims to support locally-led climate resilience in Bangladesh by connecting youth leadership, community experience, climate advocacy, and development expertise.
Through the MoU, YOUCAN and CDP will work together to promote climate solutions that respond to the needs and priorities of climate-vulnerable communities. The collaboration will also seek to strengthen participation of young people and communities in climate decision-making and governance.
The partnership will focus on several key areas, including:
- Locally-led climate adaptation and resilience
- Gender-responsive climate action
- Community participation in climate governance
- Youth leadership and engagement in climate action
- Environmental justice and inclusive development
- Community-driven solutions to climate challenges
- Strengthening local capacity for climate resilience
Partnership for Inclusive Climate Governance
Effective climate action requires more than national policies and international commitments. Communities facing floods, cyclones, salinity, displacement, extreme heat and other climate risks need meaningful opportunities to shape the decisions and solutions that affect their lives.
Through this partnership, YOUCAN and CDP will work to strengthen inclusive climate governance in Bangladesh, ensuring that community knowledge, youth perspectives and local priorities are better reflected in climate resilience initiatives.
The collaboration will particularly emphasize approaches that are participatory, gender-responsive and locally led, helping communities play a more active role in identifying climate risks and developing practical responses.
YOUCAN (Young Climate Action Network) is a youth-led climate organization focused on climate advocacy, youth participation, environmental action, policy engagement and community mobilization. The organization works to strengthen the role of young people in climate decision-making and connect grassroots experiences with wider climate policy processes.
Coastal Development Partnership (CDP) is a long-standing Bangladeshi development organization working on climate resilience, environmental justice, community empowerment and sustainable development. Its grassroots experience provides valuable knowledge for developing locally relevant and community-driven approaches to climate action.
By combining youth-led climate advocacy with grassroots development experience, the partnership seeks to create stronger pathways between local communities, young people and climate governance processes.
Collaboration Under the PROCEED Project
The partnership is being implemented under the PROCEED Project, which promotes gender-sensitive climate resilience and effective climate governance through a locally-led climate resilient development model.
The project is supported by Brot für die Welt, the globally active development and relief agency of the Protestant Churches in Germany. Brot für die Welt works with local partners to advance social justice, human rights, gender equality and sustainable development.
The support provides an important foundation for strengthening locally-led approaches to climate resilience and ensuring that climate action is more inclusive and responsive to the realities of vulnerable communities.
A Shared Commitment to Locally-Led Climate Action
The signing of the MoU marks an important step toward stronger collaboration between youth-led climate action and community-based development work in Bangladesh.
Through the partnership, YOUCAN and CDP will seek to support communities in developing and advancing locally driven climate solutions while strengthening youth and community participation in climate governance.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building a more resilient, inclusive and climate-just Bangladesh, where communities and young people are recognized not only as those affected by climate change, but also as key actors in developing solutions.
About YOUCAN
Young Climate Action Network (YOUCAN) is a youth-led climate organization working on climate advocacy, youth empowerment, environmental action, policy engagement and community mobilization. YOUCAN works to amplify youth and community voices and promote meaningful participation in climate decision-making.
About Coastal Development Partnership (CDP)
Coastal Development Partnership (CDP) is a Bangladeshi development organization working to advance climate resilience, environmental justice, community empowerment and sustainable development, with a strong focus on grassroots engagement.
About the PROCEED Project
The PROCEED Project — Promoting Gender-sensitive Climate Resilience & Effective Climate Governance through Locally-Led Climate Resilient Development Model — focuses on strengthening locally-led climate resilience, gender-sensitive approaches and effective climate governance through community-centered development models.
Date: 3 October 2026
Location: Bangladesh NGO Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Organizations: YOUCAN × Coastal Development Partnership (CDP)
Project: PROCEED Project
Project Support: Brot für die Welt