The meeting took place at the office of Jhalakathi Deputy Commissioner Md Johor Ali on Monday, with the presence of additional secretaries from the ministry of environment, forest, and climate change, Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik and Md Mizanul Haque Chowdhury, as reported by the UNDP. During the discussion, Malik Fida A Khan, the executive director of CEGIS, emphasized the significance of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP). He highlighted that NAP is a collaborative and country-driven process aimed at addressing Bangladesh's medium to long-term adaptation needs, ultimately transforming the country into a climate-resilient nation. Khan also mentioned that NAP would focus on addressing the climate vulnerability of coastal regions, bridging existing capacity gaps, and establishing a knowledge management system for climate change adaptation. During the consultation, the focus was on discussing the significant climatic risks faced by various coastal districts, the strategies farmers use to adapt to these risks, and the factors influencing their choice of strategies. Areas like Jhalakathi are particularly vulnerable to rising salinity levels in both groundwater and surface water due to sea level increases caused by global warming. Participants acknowledged that smallholder farmers' livelihoods are impacted by climatic risks such as cyclones, soil and water salinity, storm surges, heavy rainfall, flooding, and waterlogging. They emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan to tackle these challenges. AKM Azad Rahman, a climate change program officer at the UNDP, assured that the organization will offer full support to Bangladesh in its efforts to combat climate change. Sanjay Bhowmik explained that they are collaborating closely with the government to develop sustainable projects in coastal areas. He mentioned that the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) will guide their adaptation efforts and complement national planning. Bhowmik also stated that ownership of the NAP will be delegated through consultation. He stressed the importance of partnerships at both national and local levels for successful implementation of the NAP. Mizanul, the national project director of the NAP Formulation Project, added that the NAP will align with national planning processes and support various existing plans. He highlighted the need to raise awareness about climate change, environmental protection, and adaptation efforts. Johor Ali suggested that rainwater harvesting could be an effective adaptation strategy for coastal regions. The event was jointly organized by the ministry, Economic Relations Division, and the UNDP, with assistance from the Green Climate Fund.