Located in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is ecologically and culturally highly diverse and the most populous landlocked country worldwide. Its economy largely depends on agriculture and agricultural commodity exports. Farming and herding are key livelihoods to more than 80% of the population. Drought is a major issue in many areas of Ethiopia which is part of the initiative Building Resilience in Africa’s Dry Lands.

Bangladesh is a low altitude country situated at the Bengal river delta, sharing a border with India and Myanmar. There are mountains in peripheral areas, such as the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the southeast. It is in the top ten most populated countries in the world, with a population of 163 million. Covering 147,570 km2, this gives a density of over 1,100 people per km2, by far the highest figure for populous lands. It is also one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, highly vulnerable to climate-related events.