Abbey Abramson

  Budget realities behind the budget rhetoric Country Lenses (Philippines, India, and Bangladesh): the budget realities behind the rhetoric Philippines. Flood control and reforestation receive dedicated appropriations across multiple agencies. The integrity risks intensify where national “big ticket” projects interface with local execution—especially if local maintenance budgets lag. Open postings of project “cards” at the barangay level, with price, dimensions, and O&M contacts, have shown promise when paired with citizen oversight and national audit follow-up—very much in the spirit of CoST’s multisector approach. (This aligns with the IPCC’s emphasis on inclusive governance for effective adaptation.) (IPCC, 2023; CoST).  Bangladesh. Coastal resilience programs mix embankment upgrades, polders, and cyclone shelters. Performance depends on the discipline of O&M funding and community committees with real authority. Char-land forestry (“chars” are newly emerged river...