Researchers from RMIT have partnered with the Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in Bangladesh to build 40 sustainable and resilient housing solutions for vulnerable rural communities.
Recognising the critical need for adaptation and mitigation to climate change, the project aims to addresses critical housing challenges, utilising research, and capacity-building efforts to ensure long-lasting impacts on housing policy and practice in Bangladesh.
The cross-college, cross-disciplinary RMIT project team comprised of Dr. Shahadat Khan (Team Lead), Professor Paul Childerhouse from the School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain (AISSC), by Professor Usha Iyer-Raniga (School of Property, Construction and Project Management) and Dr. Mittul Vahanvati (School of Global, Urban and Social Studies).
Upskilling organisations on the ground
As part of the collaboration, the RMIT team developed a fellowship program for 16 PKSF participants, designed to provide comprehensive teachings of sustainable housing practices to upskill the organisation to drive change collectively.
"We were showcasing Australian best-practice-based features of sustainable and resilient housing in Victoria, ACT, NSW and QLD," said Khan, speaking on behalf of the broader team.
"Over the next seven months we will be implementing these advancements via the construction of 40 houses in vulnerable coastal areas in Bangladesh."
The first stage of the fellowship took place during October at RMIT University in Melbourne, and included visits interstate to areas such as ACT, NSW and Queensland, where the Fellows gained insights into flood-resilient construction methods that could be adapted for rural Bangladesh.
Coastal populations in countries like Bangladesh face disproportionate threats from the impacts of climate change.
The team explained they wanted to develop a long-term solution to the problem in Bangladesh and other low-lying coastal populations, with a focus on sustainability and minimising adverse environmental impact.
"This is why our project is focused on developing more resilient housing for a range of vulnerable coastal locations in Bangladesh," said Khan.
"By incorporating sustainable materials and building processes, we're aiming to develop long-term, low-impact solutions to these unfolding disasters."
