The World Bank announced on Saturday that the financing will benefit rural communities by reducing poverty and creating new opportunities for livelihood. The funds will also support local communities in Cox's Bazar who are hosting Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. According to Qimiao Fan, the World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, the projects will specifically target vulnerable populations and help them escape poverty, while also enhancing the country's ability to adapt to climate change. The Sustainable Forests & Livelihoods Project, which will receive $175 million, aims to increase forest cover by involving local communities in collaborative forest management and planting trees in 79,000 hectares of forest, including a coastal green belt to boost climate change resilience. Madhavi Pillai, a World Bank Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, stated that the project aims to increase income for approximately 40,000 households in various districts of Bangladesh, including Cox's Bazar where many Rohingya refugees have sought shelter. The project will focus on developing and implementing protected area management plans for 10 Protected Forest Areas with the participation of community members. The $240 million Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project by the World Bank will work towards enhancing fisheries management, promoting mariculture, and enhancing aquaculture biosecurity and productivity in 10 coastal districts. Additionally, the project will support female workers through alternative livelihoods, skills training, and nutrition education. The overall goal of the project is to enhance fisheries management systems, infrastructure, and value chain investments. Milen Dyoulgerov, the World Bank Senior Environment Specialist and Task Team Leader for the project, stated that this will lead to increased productivity and availability of fish. An additional $100 million in financing for the Second Rural Transport Improvement Project will aid in the rehabilitation of rural roads in 26 districts affected by heavy rainfall and floods last year. The project has already repaired over 5,000 km of rural roads, benefiting numerous individuals in accessing markets, hospitals, and schools. The financing will prioritize climate-resilience in the planning, design, implementation, and maintenance of the roads.