From Sweden to the front lines of climate adaptation in Bangladesh

As an environmental consultant in Bangladesh, Noore Wazid Lamin works closely with communities on the frontlines of climate change. He has worked with the Upazila Governance and Development Project, and Helen Keller International. Noore has trained hundreds of local development facilitators in different parts of Bangladesh.

‘Studying in Sweden sharpened my analytical skills and deepened my understanding of environmental sustainability. The research I did there now guides my work on resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions and community-driven climate adaption’ Noore says.

Working where climate change hits hardest

Much of Noore’s work has taken place in the Bandarban district in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, one of Bangladesh’s most climate‑vulnerable regions. This area is affected by both flash floods and prolonged droughts.

Here, Noore and his colleagues piloted Half Moon Bunds, simple, semi‑circular earthen structures built to capture rainwater run‑off. By slowing water flow, the bunds reduce soil erosion, help retain moisture and support vegetation.

‘Through hands‑on training, more than 3,000 community members, mainly women and young people, learned how to construct these bunds’, Noore explains.

Over time, around 500 Half Moon Bunds were built in the district, helping indigenous communities retain water and protect their land during dry seasons.

In Bandarban, Noore also witnessed serious pesticide-related accidents. To help prevent this, he trained around 200 field facilitators on safe chemical use. The facilitators shared what they had learned, reaching thousands of people.

Some of Noore’s work took place in remote hill areas, where access to water is often limited. There, he worked with mobile, solar‑powered pumps that could be carried by hand or moved on wheels.

‘They had to be easy to move,’ he says. ‘During floods or landslides, the pumps were sometimes the only way people could charge their phones when the power was out.’

He also supported rainwater harvesting and tested local water points for contaminants such as arsenic and E. coli. In addition, he worked with the inventor of biodegradable Sonali Bags, piloting their use in tree planting as an alternative to plastic. This collaboration helped refine the technology and offer sustainable, plastic-free ways for communities to plant new trees.

 A hidden gift from the hills

One initiative is particularly close to Noore’s heart. In 2020, after a devastating fire destroyed homes and infrastructure in Talukdarpara village, Noore led a rapid disaster response to secure safe drinking water.

‘I listened to the community’s stories of severe flooding each rainy season. I insisted on higher ground for the main water system, despite resistance from authorities who preferred easier sites’ Noore explains.

The project faced many challenges. Once installed, however, the system protected the water point from annual floods, keeping it above water and making it the only reliable water source during flooding.

It turned out, the location unexpectedly revealed a natural spring that continues to supply clean water today:

‘To everyone’s surprise, including mine, I discovered a natural spring: an unexpected, free, perennial source with no pumping costs. It felt like pure luck, a hidden gift from the hills’, says Noore.

The community took ownership of the system, expanded it and now shares clean water with neighbouring villages, restoring sanitation and reducing health risks long after the emergency response ended.

The lasting influence of Sweden

Noore credits his studies in Sweden as a turning point in his career:

‘I will always be grateful to the Swedish Institute (SI) for enabling me to pursue my childhood dreams and support the communities most vulnerable to climate change in Bangladesh’, Noore concludes.