In partnership with the environment Ministries of India and Bangladesh, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) launched the “SUNDAR-BAY” project. Implemented by GIZ India and GIZ Bangladesh, the project aimed to strengthen cross-border cooperation and financing mechanisms to ensure the sustainable management of the Sundarbans and restore coastal ecosystems in the Bay of Bengal. A key focus was enhancing coordination between governmental and non-governmental actors to support conservation and improve ecosystem services for local communities, with particular attention to women and marginalized groups.

• Identifying and promoting gender-smart financing and risk transfer mechanisms
• Mobilize additional capital for the conservation and sustainable use of the Sundarbans
• Capacity building of key stakeholders in nature and climate finance
• Identifying options for innovative and effective gender-smart financial instruments and risk transfer mechanisms.