Bangladesh Resident Mission

Partners in Progress

ADB works with nongovernment organizations (NGOs) to incorporate the experience, knowledge, and expertise of NGOs into ADB operations. ADB cooperates with NGOs in project programming and in policy development. Where desirable and appropriate, ADB promotes government-NGO dialogue and cooperation in development efforts.

NGOs are often engaged as implementing agencies for ADB loan and technical assistance projects. Such cooperation with NGOs is realized in projects concerning health, education, microcredit, rural infrastructure development, urban development, and environmental protection. As NGO capacity develops, new opportunities for such cooperation will be further enhanced.

NGOs are the main implementers of nonformal education programs established under ADB’s Nonformal Education Project in Bangladesh. A key function of NGOs in the implementation of subprojects is to effectively manage field activities—especially in carrying out baseline surveys, including target population profiles—and maintain records of student intake, delivery services, output evaluation, financial and accounting records, and outreach programs. Several examples of projects with NGO partnerships are provided.

The Second Secondary Towns Infrastructure Development Project involves NGOs in solid waste management in two wards of each town, implementation of sanitation programs, community organization, primary health care, and family planning.

The Third Rural Infrastructure Development Project involves NGOs in training members of the local contracting society on maintaining and taking care of plantations and on fostering social development skills in basic health, family planning, and nutrition. NGOs are also involved in income-generating activities.

The Second Water Supply and Sanitation Project has foreseen the role of women as disseminators of information within the family and the community about better hygiene practices and proper use of water supply and sanitation facilities. Interaction with female members of the household is planned through NGOs. This is supplemented by community campaigns by NGOs, especially targeted at women.

The Participatory Livestock Development Project involves 10 selected NGOs in providing training to women from landless and marginal households on improved livestock rearing techniques, facilitating input supply, and providing microcredit for smallholder poultry, goat-raising, and beef-fattening enterprises. Microcredit to NGOs is provided through the Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation. The project is also assisting the participating NGOs in building their technical capacities through training and technical backstopping.

The Urban Primary Health Care Project has entered into partnership agreements with 14 NGOs for providing primary health care services to the urban poor.

BRM actively promotes the participation of NGOs in programming, planning, designing, and implementing ADB’s loan and technical assistance projects. BRM meets quarterly with selected partner NGOs for dialogue and interaction on issues of mutual interest. Meetings are also regularly held with the apex body of NGOs, the Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh, and other umbrella groups of NGOs for different sectors to discuss and resolve general and specific issues.

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