22/06/2026
A day-long Refresher Training of Trainers (To T) programme with DPHE officials on Climate Resilient Drinking Water Technologies for the Coastal Region of Bangladesh was held on 18 June 2026 at Sheraton Dhaka, Banani.
The programme was jointly organised by the C3ER, BRAC University and Nature Conservation Management (NACOM), with support from UNDP Bangladesh.
The day began with registration, followed by the Welcome Remarks and Project Brief delivered by Mr. A.H.M Khalequr Rahman, Superintending Engineer, Store Circle, DPHE. The session set the context of the programme by highlighting the importance of strengthening climate-resilient drinking water solutions for coastal communities, particularly in areas facing salinity intrusion, climate variability, and increasing water insecurity.
The next session, “Reminiscing about the To T Journey,” was conducted by Ms. Sharmin Nahar Nipa, Assistant Director, C3ER, BRAC University. This session revisited the aim and objectives of the previously conducted To T, including the key learning areas, training approach, and the importance of building a pool of trained officials who can further share knowledge at the field and institutional levels.
The morning sessions also included a recap of the previous To T days. Participants reflected on key learning points from Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3, including climate change impacts, coastal water challenges, and different climate-resilient drinking water technologies. The discussions helped refresh participants’ understanding of how suitable technologies can be selected, planned, and assessed under different climatic and local conditions.
A Mock Lecture Session was facilitated by Mr. A.H.M Khalequr Rahman and Ms. Sharmin Nahar Nipa. During this interactive session, participants practiced training delivery and received feedback on different aspects of facilitation. The session focused on communication skills, engagement skills, presentation style, clarity of information, and how to make a technical session more interesting and audience-friendly.
The session also included group-based discussion and Q&A. Participants discussed practical questions such as the difference between weather and climate change and how solar-powered Rainwater Harvesting Systems work. These discussions helped connect technical knowledge with real-life field-level application.
The “Approaches to Successful Training Facilitation” session, led by Ms. Sharmin Nahar Nipa, focused on how to conduct effective and participatory training. Participants reflected on the importance of engaging the audience, providing proper information, avoiding one-way information sharing, maintaining audience interest, and ensuring the proper role and placement of resource persons during sessions.
The afternoon session continued with the Gender Power Walk session, facilitated by Ms. Roufa Khanum, Deputy Director, C3ER, BRAC University, and Ms. Sharmin Nahar Nipa. The session encouraged participants to reflect on gender roles, power relations, access to resources, and the importance of integrating gender-responsive approaches in climate-resilient water technology planning and implementation.
Later, Casework on Identifying Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Water Resources, facilitated by the C3ER and NACOM team. Participants worked on identifying climate change-related challenges affecting coastal water resources and discussed how these impacts influence drinking water security in vulnerable coastal areas.
The programme then continued with an Overview of Key Terminologies, conducted by Ms. Sharmin Nahar Nipa. This session helped clarify important technical and conceptual terms related to climate change, resilience, adaptation, and drinking water technologies, ensuring a common understanding among participants.
Later in the day, another casework session was conducted on Selecting Climate Resilient and Gender Responsive Coastal Drinking Water Technologies, facilitated by Mr. A.H.M Khalequr Rahman. Participants discussed how to select appropriate water technologies by considering climate risks, local context, community needs, technical feasibility, and gender responsiveness.
The evening session included speeches from distinguished guests. The session was chaired by Dr. Ainun Nishat, Advisor and Professor Emeritus, C3ER, BRAC University. In his speech, he reflected on the growing urgency of climate adaptation in Bangladesh’s coastal region and stressed that drinking water security must be addressed through science-based planning, institutional collaboration, and gender-responsive approaches.
Mr. Eheteshamul Russel Khan, Additional Chief Engineer (Planning), DPHE, delivered the speech as Special Guest. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of translating training knowledge into practical field-level actions, especially for coastal communities where safe drinking water access is becoming increasingly challenging due to climate stress.
Mr. Md. Abdul Awal, Chief Engineer, DPHE, delivered the speech as Chief Guest. He appreciated the initiative and emphasised the role of DPHE officials in promoting technically sound, locally appropriate, and climate-resilient drinking water solutions. He also encouraged participants to apply the learning from the To T in future planning, implementation, and community-level service delivery.
The programme concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Md. Golam Rabbani, Director, C3ER, BRAC University, and Mr. Rashiduzzaman Ahmed, Director, NACOM. They thanked the participants, resource persons, DPHE officials, UNDP Bangladesh, and the organising teams for their active engagement throughout the day. The closing remarks also highlighted that the refresher To T was not only a review of previous learning, but also a step toward strengthening future training rollout, institutional capacity, and practical application of climate-resilient drinking water technologies in coastal Bangladesh.
