| Sumario: | Rural women from the floodplain and char areas in the northern region of Bangladesh use Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to survive flood impact. Yet, the role of women's IK in flood risk reduction has been undervalued for decades. This study addresses the critical knowledge gap by examining women's indigenous flood adaptation strategies using the Flood Coping Strategy Index (FCSI) in two flood-prone unions of Gaibandha district. Although a mixed-method approach has been adopted, the research is predominantly qualitative. A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the socio-economic status and identify the degree of frequently used 21 IK-based practices. Qualitative tools have also been adopted to gather detailed information about using IK, people's experience, perceptions and local histories in the form of stories and narratives. The findings suggest that the adoption of different IK depends on the socio-demographic characteristics such as gender, occupation, financial condition and so on. Another key finding indicates that while IK offers valuable adaptive strategies, it often proves insufficient during high-magnitude flood events increasingly common in historically novel climate-change contexts. Therefore, integrating institutional initiatives with IK may offer a more comprehensive and effective solution for building long-term resilience.
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