13 November 2009: The World Bank awarded close to US$5 million to 26 innovative climate adaptation projects, through a contest for community-based ideas to tackle the effects of climate change.
Winning projects include SZTR Sunce’s initiative to mitigate the effects of climate change-induced bacterial blooms on commercial fishponds (Serbia); the University of Los Baños ‘Bell and Bottle’ initiative, which provided a low cost, high-efficacy flood and landslide warning system (the Philippines); and the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan’s idea to build elevated bamboo houses, lifting communities in flood zones out of harm’s way (Ecuador).
The ninth annual Development Marketplace was co-sponsored by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the World Bank. [World Bank Press Release]