Towards an inclusive climate governance: Addressing barriers to meaningful CSO engagement in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) development process in Bangladesh

This research explores the participation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) during the development process of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Bangladesh, under the Paris Agreement. The paper is framed within the imperative for a participatory governance structure using the theoretical context of Social Accountability Theory, which focuses on transparency, participation, and responsiveness in climate governance that actively includes multiple stakeholder perspectives, particularly the marginalized populations, that disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change. Through qualitative interviews with relevant stakeholders in climate governance, key barriers to effective stakeholder engagement were identified, including, centralized consultations, tokenistic involvement, rushed policy timelines, and social and cultural norms. The findings indicate that the existing practices often undermine genuine participation and accountability, resulting in a disconnect between governmental actions and public knowledge. Opportunities for improving inclusivity were identified, including promoting inter-ministerial collaboration, creating stronger transparency frameworks, and executing capacity-building efforts for both civil society organizations and government bodies. The research recommends the implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) to enable effective feedback mechanisms and enhance communication through less technical language. Ultimately, this study underscores that by aligning the NDC process with the principles of Social Accountability Theory, Bangladesh may formulate climate policies that are more attuned to the needs and viewpoints of all stakeholders, thereby promoting resilience and equity in its climate governance.