Sirajganj, a Generation Restoration pilot city, developed a comprehensive restoration plan for the Katakhali Canal, an important waterway in Sirajganj. The project engaged more than 80 residents in hands-on restoration activities, and more than 2,000 people gained increased awareness of restoration, while enabling municipal capacity development and city-to-city learning.

About the city

Sirajganj has a population of approximately 200,000 residents. It is situated on the banks of the Jamuna River in the northwest of Bangladesh, about 110 kilometers from the capital, Dhaka. Sirajganj has a tropical, monsoon climate, with mild winters, hot summers, and generally high humidity throughout the year. Sirajganj is known for its intricate waterways, which facilitated the flourishing of its agricultural industry and trade along its road, rail, and river networks. Its jute industry remains a mainstay of the Sirajganj economy. 

Local challenges

As a riverine city, flooding poses a significant risk in Sirajganj. Changing rainfall variability due to climate change is resulting in an increase in excessive precipitation during the monsoon season. Coupled with the build-up of silt in the Jamuna River, these conditions are exacerbating flooding in Sirajganj, especially in densely populated urban areas. Increasing temperatures and heatwaves are also projected to increase with climate change. Sirajganj has also struggled with ecosystem degradation due to pollution and urban encroachment. 

These issues converge in the Katakhali Canal, a historically important canal in Sirajganj that once supported water flow regulation, biodiversity, agriculture, and community livelihoods, including trade. The canal is currently significantly degraded, due to severe pollution, water stagnation, bank erosion, and loss of native vegetation. It has seen a decline in aquatic species and native plants, while invasive species have proliferated, further obstructing water flow. Vegetation along the banks includes mango, jackfruit, berry, and mahogany trees, but many areas lack significant greenery, increasing soil erosion risks. The channel’s water quality is poor, with high levels of solid waste pollution and direct wastewater discharge from surrounding households. Residential, commercial, and recreational spaces, including key public gathering areas, surround the canal, making its restoration an urgent priority to improve ecological conditions and quality of life in nearby communities.  

Action through Generation Restoration

The Generation Restoration Pilot project in Sirajganj was designed to lay the foundation to create and maintain a riverside green corridor to provide recreational spaces for citizens, reduce urban heat, and promote habitat for urban wildlife, while restoring the ecological and social vibrancy of the Katakhali Canal, a historically significant waterway. This project aimed to rejuvenate the canal’s blue and green spaces, restore biodiversity, and re-establish it as a thriving part of the community. The project area, home to an active community center, is an essential gathering place for residents. By transforming this space into a safe, green, and biodiverse hub, the project aimed to create new opportunities for recreation, environmental education, and social engagement.

The project initiated with a baseline assessment of the current environmental status of the Katakhali Canal, which combined community surveys, secondary data review, field observations, and expert consultations. The project team conducted a survey among 200 community members who live near the canal, to gather data on community perceptions related to water quality, biodiversity, safety, and restoration preferences. This was complemented by expert consultations, review of existing environmental surveys and data, and field observations of areas requiring urgent interventions.

The project team also conducted detailed focus group discussions with a total of 80 community members living close to the canal. Groups included separate meetings with local men, women, and adolescents, to ensure inclusiveness and diverse voices represented in project inputs and design, and covered the identification of local problems, community preferences for restoration, and potential barriers. From these inputs, the project team produced a set of actionable, phased interventions to restore the canal, including waste collection, stabilizing culverts, drainage upgrades, water quality monitoring, and community stewardship programs, among others. 

Various workshops were organized to validate findings and gather feedback. Three workshops were held with stakeholders from the municipality, ward, and community, respectively, to review the findings from the baseline survey and focus group discussions, provide feedback on the draft restoration plan, and contribute insights to strengthen its design. Following the three workshops, a final kick-off workshop was held to present the finalized restoration plan, outlining the implementation and monitoring framework, and ensuring stakeholder engagement throughout the process. The final restoration plan includes four focus areas: pollution control and waste management, habitat restoration, urban biodiversity restoration, and recreational facility development. The implementation plan also includes a stakeholder mapping and plan for capacity building and training among different stakeholders.

Two community restoration workshops and associated training sessions were conducted with residents living along the Katakhali Canal, aiming to strengthen community knowledge and capacity on nature-based solutions and urban farming practices while fostering active participation in the restoration process. The first training session introduced participants to the core principles and applications of nature-based solutions, while the second session provided hands-on training on urban farming techniques, including the preparation and use of tri-compost. In total, more than 80 community members, including 16 trained volunteers, participated in these workshops.

The project also involved an extensive awareness-raising campaign that targeted local community members, municipal staff, school students, and government stakeholders. Activities included mobilizing a youth volunteer group that then led three awareness and cleaning events, biodiversity awareness with students from a local school, and media coverage and messaging, including distribution of flyers and installation of billboards to support the project’s visibility. Overall, these activities reached more than 2,000 people, helping to strengthen institutional and community commitment to the project and to ecosystem restoration. 

To strengthen municipal capacity to deliver nature-based solutions and climate action, the project also involved a municipal capacity development component. This involved a mapping of capacity needs versus the current practices of environmental management, biodiversity restoration, and nature-based solutions within government agencies. Subsequently, three capacity building workshops took place with 35 municipal officials from various departments, including engineering, health, and planning. Workshops focused on integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning, training on municipal restoration plans, and practical applications of nature-based solutions, such as small-scale restoration options and community engagement strategies. 

The project also facilitated a horizontal exchange workshop to promote peer learning among municipalities. Held in Sirajganj, the workshop brought together participants from five municipalities, Savar, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Bogura, and Tangail, alongside Sirajganj municipality officers, local schools, and project partners. The workshop created an opportunity for municipal officials and stakeholders to share experiences, discuss challenges, and identify future directions in applying nature-based solutions for urban ecosystem restoration, using the pilot project in Sirajganj as a demonstration site for showcasing restoration activities and community engagement approaches.

Main outcomes

The pilot project resulted in the development of a phased intervention plan to restore Sirajganj’s Katakhali Canal, rooted in robust baseline and diagnostic work including surveys, site visits, focus group discussions, and integration of existing data. Through this process, notably through extensive community engagement and feedback sessions, the pilot project engaged in an iterative co-design process that centered community needs and vision in a comprehensive development plan. Over 150 participants attended the four feedback workshops, each of which played a critical role: validating baseline findings, refining the draft plan, addressing local priorities, and ultimately endorsing the final restoration framework. The process not only strengthened the restoration plan but also created a culture of shared responsibility among the municipality, local communities, and partner institutions.

The project resulted in two restoration workshops, which engaged more than 80 community members on hands-on restoration practices. Workshops raised awareness of nature-based solutions and provided hands-on demonstrations of urban agriculture and biodiversity conservation. The strong turnout to the workshops highlighted both the community’s interest and the growing capacity to sustain ecosystem restoration efforts along the Katakhali Channel.

The project also resulted in many important outcomes for municipal capacity development, within and beyond Sirajganj. Municipal officials who attended the capacity building workshops gained an improved understanding of nature-based solutions and their relevance to climate resilience in Sirajganj, as well as practical training on urban farming, linking restoration opportunities to improved livelihoods. The workshops strengthened cross-departmental dialogue and encouraged officials to view biodiversity and climate action as integral to municipal development planning.

Horizontal learning also resulted in important outcomes that increased the visibility of the project and elevated it to other municipalities, beyond Sirajganj. The pilot project was presented as a replicable model for ecosystem restoration across Bangladesh, and a strong example for the other municipalities present. Workshop outcomes included the commitment of the municipalities to replicate the lessons learned from the project and contribute to stronger, more resilient urban ecosystems in Bangladesh.

Highlight impact metrics

  • Broad community engagement through awareness sessions, consultations, and participatory planning activities involving local residents, students, and youth groups
  • Active interest and support from Sirajganj Municipality, with multiple government departments contributing technical guidance and coordination according to their mandates
  • Strengthened institutional collaboration on NBS, resulting in follow-up initiatives, including the involvement of stakeholders in additional NbS programs supported by partners such as GIZ
  • Increased local awareness of environmental pollution, ecosystem services, and sustainable management practices linked to the Katakhali Channel

Pilot City

City Map

Partners

Ecosystem Types

Freshwaters and Urban areas

Project Budget

$62,000 USD

Project Duration

June 2024 – August 2025

Climate, Biodiversity, and Pollution Risks Addressed

  • Extreme precipitation / flooding
  • Habitat destruction
  • Invasive species
  • Species loss / extinction
  • Ecosystem degradation
  • Water pollution
  • Soil contamination
  • Waste mismanagement

Restoration Techniques Applied

  • Canal restoration
  • Invasive species control
  • Pollution control
  • Riverbank restoration
  • Soil restoration
  • Urban agriculture
  • Waste management

Key learnings & next steps

The pilot project in Sirajganj generated numerous key learnings related to stakeholder engagement, municipal capacity development, and broader city-to-city collaboration:

  • Robust project planning during uncertainty times: In spite of initially smooth process, political instability led to delays in focus group discussions and review processes, requiring adjustments to implementation timelines. This experience underscored the importance of flexibility, strong local partnerships, and contingency planning to keep projects on track even in uncertain circumstances. Despite these challenges, the project’s stakeholder engagement strategy was a resounding success, with support from municipal authorities, local NGOs, and community groups ensuring that all key activities remained on schedule. This success has reinforced the value of adaptability and collaboration, proving that strong community involvement can drive meaningful change even in challenging conditions.
  • Strengthening government capacity: The municipal capacity development workshops garnered various learnings that could strengthen government capacity to implement nature-based solutions. Participants identified the need to obtain advanced technical trainings, including GIS-based mappings, biodiversity monitoring, and project design rooted in nature-based solutions. Furthermore, institutional strengthening around nature-based solutions, community engagement, and partnership and resource mobilization would all support government agencies’ capacities to implement and scale urban restoration projects. 
  • Collaboration across municipalities: The horizontal learning workshops also emphasized the need for long-term collaboration among municipalities, particularly to ensure sustainability once project funding concludes. Participants recognized the importance of community engagement, including the involvement of women, youth, and schools.

In the future, the project envisions a self-sustaining environmental management system in Sirajganj. In these plans, a community-led monitoring team would oversee project maintenance, while local schools would continue to engage in awareness campaigns and environmental education. Activities such as expanding the green corridor with bamboo crib walls and structured vegetation, strengthening community-led waste management, and scaling up biodiversity restoration, would transform Katakhali Channel into an ecological and economic asset. The addition of fish cultivation, urban farming, and eco-tourism opportunities would generate local income, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Meet the community

We have seen how a river changed into a narrow and polluted canal. Now we feel we can contribute to turning it back into an asset for our area.

— Mina Begum, community member

The project helped us connect biodiversity restoration with urban planning. It showed how nature-based solutions can reduce environmental risks, improve public spaces, and create livelihood opportunities at the same time.

— Ganapaty Roy, administrator, Sirajganj Municipality

Participating in the workshops changed how we see our city. We learned that restoring nature is not just about plants and water, it’s about our future, our health, and our community.

—Nirjhor, student volunteer

Thanks to the project, we are now more aware of environmental pollution, and it has given us the opportunity to work closely with the municipality in this field. We are now also engaged in another nature-based solutions initiative with GIZ (the LOCATE Project).

—Md. Sajedul Islam, headmaster, Victoria School

Beyond Restoration

Sirajganj’s efforts align with national climate and urban resilience priorities, including the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, the National Adaptation Plan, and the National Urban Policy, all of which emphasize nature-based solutions for managing floods, improving water systems, and strengthening ecological resilience. At the local level, the city’s restoration work complements Sirajganj’s own Resilience Strategy and municipal development plans, which identify urban water management, green space enhancement, and disaster preparedness as key areas. Sirajganj is also featured in the Compendium on Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Resilience in Bangladesh, a national strategy document that supports scaling-up of nature-based solutions throughout Bangladesh. 

Sirajganj has various programs that seek to restore its ecosystems while promoting improved livelihoods among its residents. One project focuses on engaging in climate-adaptive urban agriculture among vulnerable communities, particularly among climate migrants, through urban food production. Additionally, the city has engaged in improvements to its water supply and sanitation infrastructure, including through rainwater harvesting and solid waste management.