Diplomatic Desk:
Elmer Diepak, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, has underscored the importance of strengthening local-level initiatives, effective policies, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to safeguard the health and well-being of vulnerable coastal populations in Bangladesh in the face of climate change.
Speaking at a national-level workshop on behalf of the Swiss Embassy, he noted that climate resilience is fundamentally linked to human life and well-being. Consequently, it is essential to foster effective coordination across sectors such as health, climate, water, governance, and social inclusion.
The REACH initiative—supported by Switzerland’s ‘Climate Action at Local Level’ program—has provided critical evidence on how climate change impacts the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents within vulnerable coastal communities.
During the workshop, Elmer Diepak highlighted the need to translate evidence gathered at the local level into effective policies, scale up successful community-based initiatives, and strengthen partnerships to develop more resilient health systems.
He emphasized that addressing the challenges of climate change requires valuing the experiences and realities of local communities. Furthermore, long-term positive change can be achieved by scaling up effective local initiatives and enhancing the capacity of relevant institutions.
Switzerland remains committed to supporting local initiatives in Bangladesh that empower communities, strengthen institutional capacity, and contribute effectively to the policy-making process.
