The vulnerability of the coastal people in Bangladesh can be defined in three ways: climate-sensitive livelihoods; vulnerable settlements in low-lying areas; and scarcity of safe drinking water.  Many coastal residents depend on seasonal subsistence agriculture and agriculture wage labour, which are highly climate sensitive. Moreover, many coastal inhabitants live in houses built of mud and plants which are severely affected by cyclones, storm surges, and high tides. The lack of climate-resilient housing poses a serious poverty trap as significant portions of the incomes of coastal communities go towards house repairs.  

The primary goal of the RHL project is to enhance the climate resilience of the vulnerable coastal communities of Bangladesh. The project will attain this goal by financing the development of climate-resilient housing and livelihood technologies while raising knowledge and awareness about the impacts of climate change. The project will build climate-resilient homesteads through the establishment of new, climate-resilient building codes. It will also develop adaptive livelihood options for highly vulnerable and women-headed households– fostering a safer and more resilient future for homes in coastal areas.