Resilient Bureaucracies? Examining the Institutional Capacity for Climate Adaptation in Pakistan and Bangladesh

The growing intensity of climate change has made developing countries to face mounting challenges in adapting to its multifaceted impacts. Pakistan and Bangladesh, as two of the most climate-vulnerable nations in South Asia, face increasing risks from floods, cyclones, droughts, and rising sea levels. While national policies and frameworks for climate and disaster management exist, the effectiveness of their implementation largely depends on the agility and responsiveness of bureaucratic structures. The coping capacity of bureaucracies in both countries has improved over the years, but the system’s capacity to adapt to uncertain climate challenges remains a vulnerability. The paper explores the resilience and institutional capacity of bureaucracies in Pakistan and Bangladesh to adapt to climate-induced threats. The paper analyses structural strengths, weaknesses, and reform trajectories within the bureaucracies of Pakistan and Bangladesh to assess their capacity to respond, recover and most importantly adapt to climate-induced threats. By drawing on case studies, Cyclone Amphan (Bangladesh) and Floods 2022 (Pakistan), policy analysis, and stakeholder involvement the research identifies governance bottlenecks, resource limitations, and political factors that influence institutional adaptation. The findings offer comparative insights and highlight pathways for strengthening bureaucratic resilience, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and integrating local communities into national resilience strategies. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at enhancing institutional flexibility and long-term governance reforms essential for building sustainable climate resilience in both nations.

Key Words: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cyclone, Floods, Adaptation, Resilience, Capacity, Bureaucracy