USAID Bangladesh Multipurpose Disaster Shelter Support (MPDS) Activity

The purpose of this activity is to support communities in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban to anticipate and be resilient to natural hazards and disasters, thereby mitigating the magnitude of future humanitarian crises. By increasing access to multi-purpose disaster shelters (MPDS) and improving other basic services and protection measures, communities will have safe, accessible shelters and resilient infrastructure that is adapted to natural hazards. MPDS will double as primary schools or community centers when not in use as a shelter, providing safe classrooms that are essential for effective learning or community centers that serve as a gathering place to foster social cohesion, support training on disaster risk reduction, and meet other demand-based community needs. In addition, through complementary local capacity building, communities will be more resilient and better prepared for disasters. Activities will support the following objectives: Mitigate the impacts of natural disaster through construction of shelters and resilient community infrastructure Increase access to spaces conducive to learning and cohesive communities Strengthen disaster preparedness The contemplated activity will support the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), particularly the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, and local governments, to provide infrastructure that is essential to the disaster preparedness and resilience of communities in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban.