Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Engagement in Local Governments (CARE-LG)

The Kingdom of Bhutan is highly vulnerable to climate-induced water scarcity, glacial lake outburst floods, landslides, windstorms, and forest fires. These hazards affect farmers, damage roads, homes, and critical infrastructure like schools, health facilities, and government offices, and harm crops and livestock. This threatens livelihoods and creates food and water insecurity. To address these challenges, the project aims to enhance technical and institutional adaptive capacities and knowledge and support locally-led climate-responsive practices. It focuses on placing communities at the center of adaptation planning and budgeting, ensuring interventions meet the needs of local governments and communities. The project will establish a grant facility covering at least 60 gewogs (groups of villages) with an adaptation-focused investment grant package of up to USD 125,000 USD per gewog. It targets the most vulnerable communities identified in the country’s 2023 Climate Vulnerability Risk Assessment Report. Additionally, the project will support gender-friendly farm mechanisation, provide equipment, promote green initiatives, and implement nature-based solutions to enhance ecosystem services and community resilience.