Submitted by Md. Salauddin (Rubel), BDRCS
25 Mar 2021

Government Forecast Based Financing/Action (FbF/A) Taskforce will accelerate FbF/A in Bangladesh

The most awaited meeting of the Forecast Based Financing/Action (FbF/A) Taskforce Committee of the Standing Orders on Disaster was held on Tuesday, 15 March 2021 at the Conference Room of Department of Disaster Management of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. As leading organization of the FbF Working Group, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and German Red Cross was able to activate the Government Taskforce to accelerate and effective coordination between the government and non-government FbF entities in Bangladesh.

According to the Standing Orders on Disaster, the Member Secretary of the FbF Taskforce Committee Mr. Md. Anisur Rahman, Director-Relief, DDM, convened the meeting on 15 March 2021. Mr. Ranjit Kumar Sen, ndc, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, presided over the meeting. About 40 participants from all concerned ministries, departments, UN representatives, FbF Working Group members and representatives from national and international organizations participated in the meeting. BDRCS and GRC played a leading role in organizing the meeting and ensured all kinds of logistical support for the meeting through its ongoing FbF project.

In spite of the flood and cyclone, the chair of the meeting opened the floor to discuss the possibility of FbF/A activities on river erosion, lightning and other hazards in Bangladesh and issues were discussed in detail in the meeting. The Taskforce of the Government has decided to accelerate the ongoing FbF/A actions through guidance, fund and will develop a common EAP/SOP and will work as an umbrella organization for the FbF/A entities in Bangladesh.

Next meeting of the Taskforce may be held in April. Vote of thanks was given to BDRCS and GRC for giving effort to activate the Government FbF/A Taskforce.