Despite increasing global climate finance commitments and national adaptation strategies, vulnerable communities on the frontlines of climate change, such as those in Bangladesh experiencing river erosion and cyclone displacement, often do not benefit from these funds. This disconnect stems from a complex financial chain where decision-making power resides with international organizations and national institutions, shaping priorities before funds reach local levels. While large-scale projects require central coordination, the top-down model often overlooks the intensely local nature of climate impacts and community-specific knowledge. Bangladesh's embrace of a "locally led adaptation" approach, aiming to give affected people more control over resources and decisions, marks a potential shift, though its success hinges on genuinely changing power structures rather than just adopting new terminology.