Initiative to Break the Build-Neglect-Rebuild Cycle in Bangladesh’s Coastal Polders

Bangladesh’s coastal polders were built to prevent flooding and saltwater intrusion, but poor governance, weak maintenance, and disjointed coordination have led to waterlogging, erosion, and reduced agricultural productivity. This cycle of inadequate upkeep and recurring failures forces costly reinvestment, perpetuating the Build-Neglect-Rebuild (BNR) pattern.

The Polders of the Future – Sustainable In-Polder Water Management and Resilient Livelihoods in Polder 31 project is an inception phase designed to lay the groundwork for long-term improvements in water management and climate resilience. It builds on findings from the BNR Root Cause Analysis Report and aims to develop a scalable, coordinated approach for better water governance in Bangladesh’s coastal polders.

This six-month inception phase (January – June 2025) is supported through a €300,000 subsidy under the Partners for Water Bangladesh Delta programme. The key outcome of this phase is to secure financing and partnerships for the longer term, full-scale implementation of solutions.

Laying the Foundation for Sustainable Water Management

The inception phase will focus on:

• Defining a Functional Institutional Model: Establishing clear roles for the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Local Government Institutions (LGIs) and Water Management Organisations (WMOs) to ensure effective coordination.
• Developing a Pilot Implementation Plan: Designing targeted interventions for improved in-polder water management, drainage and salinity control.
• Identifying Financing Pathways: Engaging relevant stakeholders to secure additional funding for full-scale implementation and long-term sustainability.
• Fostering Co-Learning and Advocacy: Establishing a knowledge-sharing platform to support policy reform and drive systemic change in polder water governance.
• Engaging Local Actors for Long-Term Maintenance: Ensuring that those who will ultimately be responsible for managing and maintaining water infrastructure are part of the co-creation process.

Who is Involved?

This project is funded under the Partners for Water programme and implemented by:

• Centre EGIS – Leading applied research institute in water and environmental management in Bangladesh (Lead Applicant)
• Institute Water Management (IWM) – Technical expert in water resources modelling and management
• Uttaran – NGO with a strong track record in community-driven water management and rural development
  Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) – Providing advisory support and linking the project to broader polder rehabilitation efforts

The Road Ahead: Scaling Beyond the Inception Phase

The Polder 31 initiative is not a standalone project, but the first step of a broader effort to transform water governance in Bangladesh’s coastal polders. A critical goal of this inception phase is to secure additional financing and partnerships for full-scale implementation. This will involve collaboration with government agencies, development partners and the private sector to establish a sustainable, scalable model for integrated water management and resilient livelihoods.

By addressing the root causes of the BNR cycle, this initiative directly supports the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 and national climate adaptation strategies, ensuring that coastal water infrastructure is managed proactively rather than reactively.