Germany will provide €9.5 million to Bangladesh through two major technical cooperation agreements aimed at enhancing biodiversity conservation and promoting climate-smart urban development.  The agreements, signed today, will fund initiatives focused on strengthening local governance, biodiversity conservation, and the restoration of coastal ecosystems in Bangladesh.  The two projects are: 1. Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Financing for Sustainable Management of the Sundarbans and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems in the Bay of Bengal (SUNDAR-BAY) 2. Innovations for Climate-smart Urban Development (INCLUDE), said a press release. The agreements were signed by Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, and Andreas Kuck, Country Director of GIZ, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bangladesh.  The SUNDAR-BAY project, with a funding of €2.5 million, will be implemented by the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) under the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.  This project focuses on fostering stronger cross-border collaboration between Bangladesh and India for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration in the Sundarbans and surrounding coastal areas.  Key measures include capacity-building for forest authorities, joint workshops for frontline rangers, women-led businesses, and youth councils, along with gender-smart financing and risk-transfer mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of the project.   The INCLUDE project, with a funding of €7 million, will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives.  The project aims to enhance climate-resilient urban development in several districts, including Sirajganj, Gaibandha, Charghat (Rajshahi), and Chapainawabganj.  It focuses on driving local, innovative solutions to improve urban infrastructure and climate adaptation efforts, helping these communities better address the impacts of climate change.  These initiatives reflect the strong partnership between Bangladesh and Germany in advancing sustainable development goals and addressing climate challenges in the region.  Both projects are expected to have a significant impact on local communities, strengthening governance systems, conserving critical ecosystems, and enhancing climate resilience at the grassroots level. More news in this