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| Loan Name | Southwest Area Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Bangladesh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loan Number | 2200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Number | 34418- 01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fund Source/Amount[Approved] |
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| Thematic Classification |
Economic growth
Governance Gender Equity |
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| Project Outcome | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description of Outcome | Enhanced productivity and sustainability of existing FCD/I systems (forming hydrological boundaries) suffering from low productivity and poverty in the selected subregions of the southwest. [Taken from the Design & Monitoring Framework.] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Progress Toward Outcome | The Project field activities are at the initial stage of implementation towards generating the intended outcome. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Implementation Progress | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description of Project Outputs | A. Preparation of additional IWMPs for FCD/I Schemes - Participatory identification, screening, and preparation of IWMPs with feasibility studies, covering some 47,000 ha.
B. Productive and Sustainable Water Management Systems B-1 (a) Participatory Planning - Preparing subproject/subunit implementation plans B-1 (b) Beneficiary Mobilization - Developing viable WMAs to become effective community organization ready to receive investments to enhance agriculture production B-2. Water Management Infrastructure - Good quality infrastructure designed and constructed B-3 Agriculture and FIshery Development and Livelihood Enhancement B-3 (a) Agriculture Development - Agriculture support services provided as specified in SIPs and targets set up therein are achieved B-3 (b) Fishery Development - Fishery development services provided as specified in SIPs and targets set up therein are achieved B-3 (c) Livelihood Enhancement - Livelihood development services provided as specified in SIPs and targets set up therein are achieved B-4. Monitoring and Support for Sustainable O&M B-4 (a) Subproject Facilities under WMA Management - Completed subprojects sustain benefits through effective and sustainable O&M B-4 (b) Subproject Main Facilities under Joint Management - Completed subprojects sustain benefits through effective and sustainable O&M C. Project Management Systems and Institutional Strengthening C-1. National Level Institutional Strengthening through Advisor Support - Progress in national level reforms and its operationalization following the 1999 National Water Policy, and other planning and legal frameworks. C-1(a) Enhanced WARPO Operations C-1(b) Enhandced Capacities of BWDB Enhanced multidisciplinary skills, and management system of BWDB to operate NWP principles including sustainable participatory O&M C-2. Project Management Systems - Effective operation of project institutions to provide necessary services with improved procedures and arrangements including central line agencies, local governments, JMCs, WMAs, private firms, and NGOs C-3 (a) MIS for Hydrological Data C-3 (b) MIS for Scheme Performance - BWDB's O&M MIS is established and made operational in the Project area, along with other measures to improve O&M performance C-3 (c) Monitoring of Khulna-Jessore Drainage Rehabilitatin Project (KJDRP) |
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| Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities and Issues) | The loan agreement was signed on 10 May 2006 and the loan became effective on 23 August 2006. A team of consultants for institutional strengthening and project management support (ISPMS) were fielded in Feb 2007, whereas Project Coordination Office in Dhaka, Project Management Office (PMO) in Faridpur, and two subproject management offices (SMOs) in Narail district has been made operational.
[Activities in 2007] A joint ADB-Netherlands Government inception mission was fielded from 29 May to 7 Jun 2007 at which time national workshop was organized to explain the Project and its participatory implementation arrangements. Activities in 2007 were slow, and very little field work was able to be done, due to the delay in assigning project staff, establishing project offices and other logistics such as procurement of project vehicles and motorcycles. These logistical constraints suffered the Project implementation all throughout 2007. On the other hand, the existing embankments in Chenchuri subproject breached in two sections (Chandichar and Noagram) due to ongoing river erosion, calling for immediate embankment retirement and riverbank protection works. [Activities in 2008] Field activities of the Project were initiated in Jan 2008 with the organization of a ditrict level workshop (on the occasion of a joint Project review mission) to discuss the arrangements and work plan for the two subprojects in the Narail district. While many stakeholders expressed support and asked for early starting of the Project, concern was also raised on the limited Project information made available to the local population thus far. It was clarified that (i) the Project field work will be initiated by starting the union level consultations; (ii) local representatives will be entrusted to confirm their request for the local interventions prior to starting their planning and design; and (iii) physical implementation will be started after the consent of the concerned local population and formation of local water management associations (WMAs) On the basis of the workshop, the first round of union level consultations were organized covering all unions in Narail and Chenchuri Beel subproject areas in 2008. The EA also initiated a Project information campaign, with the establishment of a Project bulletin board in each village union office of Chenchuri Beel and Narail subproject areas, and posting of project brochure and flyer, maps showing the proposed structure works, a list of proposed works and programs, and implementation procedure, in Bengali. The bulletin board has been established in all unions in the two subproject area. In paralell to the above, 6 hydrological subunits were identified in Narail and Chenchuri Beel subproject areas following the local interests and demand, and subunit implementation plan (SIP) preparation was initiated. (The SIPs are specifying the specific scope of the project works within the subunits, including the infrastructure, agriculture and fishery development, livelihood enhancement programs, and social and environmental safeguards. They are also developed wtih incorporation of local demands.) A local NGO was engaged and mobilized to support participatory SIP preparation and WMA formation. In paralell to the above consultative process, emergency work was implemented in Chenchuri subproject area in 2008 to rehabilitate the breached embankments, of which works were mostly completed by early 2009. In consultation with local stakeholders, it was also decided that necessary riverbank protection measures (to provide revetment using sand-filled geo-textile bags) implemented in 2009-2010. [Activities in 2009] During the first half of 2009, SIP preparation process for the six subunits continued, and four SIPs (SIP-8 [Tularampur&Mulia] and 9 [Mulia&Kalora] in Narail, and SIP-16 [Purulia&Peruli] and SIP-17&18 [Purulia&Peruli] have been drafted, based on which stakeholder consultation is ongoing as of July 2009 including the endorsement by the concerned union parishad, which are to be followed by district level interdepartmental meeting to proceed to the next step. Upon completion of these participatory planning processes, the Project activities in the 2nd half of 2009 will pursue the next step, viz., WMA formation and detailed design of the adopted structures. The concerned civil works are expected after WMA formation and the endorsement of the detailed design. Regarding the measures to cope with riverbank erosion in Chenchuri subproject, basic design of riverbank protection was prepared by Jan 2009, based on which detailed design and tendering was initiated. Two contractors are being mobilized in the two eroding sections as of July 2009, and the works are expected to be implemented in 2009/10 (underwater eroding slope protection) and 2010/11 (wave protection). In response to the cyclone "Aila" that hit the country in late May 2009, the Government of Bangladesh requested external funding agencies to transfer part of the ongoing water sector project fund for the purpose of emergency cyclone damage renabilitation works. The Project has been requested to provide $6.9 million fund (ADB loan and EKN grant combined) to support the works in Khulna and Satkhira districts. The necessary procedures to support this end is being pursued by the Government, ADB, and EKN. |
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| Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | Water fundamentally affects rural livelihoods in Bangladesh, with the country's major regional river systems bringing about massive annual floods, severe dry-season water scarcity, and periodic natural disasters. Its effective management is critical to address pervasive rural poverty problems. Yet the task is complicated due to fairly diverse and complex stakeholder interests and vulnerable natural ecosystems. It is thus paramount to plan, develop, and manage water resources in a strategic and integrated manner with mobilization and empowerment of diverse stakeholders. While the country has established a large number of FCD/I infrastructures, their performance remains suboptimal, due to lack of effective management systems that can meet diverse stakeholder needs in particular the vulnerable poor, and most critically, providing sufficient O&M. Within the country, Southwest areas face the most acute problems, due to the reduced dry-season inflow and associated social and environmental hardships including salinity intrusion, along with annual monsoon flooding.
In recent years, the Government has progressively improved policy, institutional, and planning framework for the water sector, with the coordinated support of external financiers including ADB. The National Water Policy (NWP) 1999 adopted key principles including integrated water resource management (IWRM) and sustainable service delivery and O&M with progressive transfer of facility management to WMAs. This is being followed by ongoing institutional reforms of sector agencies for better governance, and the recent adoption of the National Water Management Plan (NWMP) in 2004 that provides a sector strategy and priority programs with a long-term perspective. Key challenge now is to transform these initiatives into genuine sector operations. Within this framework, enhancing and sustaining performance of existing FCD/I systems has been accorded high priority, given their need to strengthen flood resistance and their scope for generating high impacts with short lead time with relatively low costs. On this account, ADB has played lead roles in supporting the initiative for small-scale schemes, being implemented with increasingly better performance. The Project is needed to develop and institutionalize effective mechanisms to be applied to larger FCD/I schemes building on the good practice and lessons learned, to support the process of participatory and holistic planning, inclusive WMA development, infrastructure and support services to meet critical local development needs, and sustainable O&M. Successful implementation of the Project will demonstrate the way to fully operating key NWP principles in FCD/I systems, with further improved governance of the sector institutions. ADB's country strategy and program (CSP) for Bangladesh was prepared in 2005 following the Government's Povety Reduction Strategy Paper. Given the high incidence of rural poverty, the CSP prioritizes investments in agriculture commercialization, rural infrastructure, and rural water management. The strategy for the water sector is to institutionalize integrated planning, development, and management with sustained O&M, while providing support for critical infrastructure where high growth and poverty impacts are expected. The programs build on good practices and lessons, and promote further improved institutional framework in harmony with development partners. All are consistent with ADB's water policy. |
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| Geographical Location | Selected subregions in the Southwest Areas of Bangladesh (covering the districts of Faridpur, Gopalganj, Jessore, Magura, Narail, and Rajbari) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Safeguard Categories
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| Environment | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resettlement | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indigenous People | C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary of Environmental and Social Issues |
The Project will have positive impacts on the environment, including (i) improved flood management; (ii) improved water use efficiency through water retention and storage with reduced pressure on groundwater extraction; (iii) reduced salinity intrusion through water regulating structures thereby preventing land degradation; and (iv) reduced water logging through drainage improvement. On the other hand, negative impacts will include (i) possible exacerbation of downstream salinity intrusion due to excessive river water abstraction; (ii) obstruction of fish migration between the rivers and internal water bodies by regulators and other structures; (iii) water quality deterioration due to agriculture intensification; and (iv) impacts during structure and embankment construction. They are mitigated through (i) implementing salinity monitoring and information sharing program at the Project and downstream areas with promotion of coordinated water abstraction; (ii) introducing and promoting fish-friendly design and operation of regulators with provision of fish culture opportunities; (iii) introducing integrated pest management and effective soil nutrient management; and (iv) ensuring safe and environmentally sound practices of construction. These are incorporated in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the summary EIA for the sample subprojects. For further subprojects, initial environmental examinations (IEEs) and EIAs if required following the IEEs, will be undertaken by BWDB with the consultant support, in accordance with the Government and ADB requirements, and following the EIA prepared for sample subprojects.
The Project will have positive poverty reduction impacts on income, employment opportunities including those for tenant farmers and sharecroppers (that are arising from labor constraints experienced by larger farmers), and food security. According to the socioeconomic survey, poverty incidence in the two subproject areas is about 55%, and is concentrated among those in agriculture, fishery, and labor as primary occupation, and among landless and marginal and small farmers with up to 1 ha landholding. Annual incremental crop income will be 16¿18% for all sizes of farms. Increase in hired labor income will be 14¿16% and will go almost entirely to marginal and landless households. The Project is highly participatory in design and will be implemented following a process approach involving all stakeholders in decision making. The project subregion does not have any indigenous peoples. Its poverty reduction and socal development strategy includes (i) pro-poor procedures and guidelines for beneficiary selection and employment; (ii) membership and credit access to WMAs; (iii) WMA participation in design, planning, implementing, and monitoring with inclusive by-laws; (iv) a comprehensive capacity development plan highlighting project staff, WMAs, and village groups; (v) guidelines for social activities such as conflict resolution, anti-dowry drives, and women representation; and (vi) procedures for networking and linkages among WMAs and service-providing agencies. The strategy will also establish consultative platforms at the village level for LGIs and NGOs before appropriate interventions are planned for water infrastructure, farming and nonfarming production, and income generation. The role of women and their participation will be enhanced through a gender action plan that support sufficient women participation in these activities. Subproject implementation will require strip acquisition of land for resectioning and realigning embankments and placement of structures. In the two sample subprojects, land acquisition and resettlement needs associated with water infrastructure works were studied during the PPTA. A resettlement framework (RF) and sample RPs were prepared, following ADB's involuntary resettlement and other social safeguards policies. In the sample subprojects, a total of 56 ha of land need to be acquired. Under the Project, the RF will be followed, and all affected persons (APs) will be entitled to compensation for land taken for the purpose of the project interventions, for lost assets, and for incomes at replacement cost to improve or at least restore their preproject living standards, income levels, and productive capacity. In implementing the RPs, a grievance redressing mechanism will be established. An independent M&E agency will also be engaged to assess performance and impacts. |
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| Consultations Planned or Carried Out |
The Project is highly participatory in design and will be implemented following a process approach involving all stakeholders in decision making. The Project subregion does not have any indigenous peoples. Specific strategy includes (i) pro-poor procedures and guidelines for beneficiary selection and employment; (ii) membership and credit access to WMAs; (iii) WMA participation in the design, planning, implementation and monitoring with inclusive by-laws; (iv) a comprehensive capacity development plan highlighting project staff, WMAs and village groups; (v) guidelines for social activities such as conflict resolution, anti-dowry drives, and women representation; and (vi) procedures for networking and linkages among WMAs and service providing agencies.
The specific consultations undertaken during the project preparatory stage include (i) TA inception workshop (24 October 2003) with Government, Elected local government institution (LGI) representatives, NGOs, donors, local experts; (ii) Union level participatory rapid rural appraisal and focus group discussions with vunlerable groups, followed by sub-district and district level workshops (December 2003 - June 2004); (iii) Regional level workshops for interm TA findings held in Jessore (12 May 2004), followed by national workshop (15 May 2004); (iv) consultation and survey with affected persons in the two sample subproject areas to prepare sample resettlement plans (Jne - August 2004); (v) workshop in draft summary EIA (21 Sept 2004) with Government, donors, and other environmental experts including NGOs in particular those active in environmental issues in water resources sector; (vi) national workshop to discuss draft TA final report; and (vii) consultations by ADB loan processing missions with elected LGI representatives, local stakeholders including project affected people and vulnerable groups, donors, and Bangladesh-based experts (March - June 2005). During the Project implementation, a series of national, regional, and local consultations will also be undertaken. The Project will be implemented on the basis of defined hydrological subunits within the individual subprojects, with the formation of local water management associations. Individual subunit implementation plans will be prepared with full consultation with the concerned WMAs, and finalized upon their endorsement before starting their implementation. |
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| Responsible ADB Officer |
Kenichi Yokoyama |
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| Responsible ADB Department |
South Asia Department |
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| Responsible ADB Division |
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Social Services Div, SARD |
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| Executing Agencies |
Bangladesh Water Development Board Mr. Ziaur Rahman Project Director BWDB pdsw.bwdb@yahoo.com |
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| Timetable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fact-finding | 10 Mar 2005 to 23 Mar 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appraisal | 22 May 2005 to 06 Jun 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Board Approval | 23 Nov 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Review Mission | 23 Jul 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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