Description

The project takes a holistic and integrated approach to urban environmental improvement in vulnerable coastal towns of Bangladesh which suffer deficits in basic urban services and are severely at risk to the impacts of climate change. It will provide climate resilient municipal infrastructure, including water supply, sanitation, drainage, flood protection, urban roads, and solid waste management facilities, and will strengthen institutional capacity and local governance for operating, maintaining, and expanding access to such services. The project will also mainstream climate resilience into urban planning. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), with extensive experience in managing Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other donor supported urban projects, will be the Executing Agency for the Project. Climate change and variability are critical development issues for Bangladesh, particularly in its low lying coastal areas naturally exposed to sea level rise, storm surges, and more frequent and intense storm events. The government, in its Sixth Five-Year Plan, FY2011 FY2015, has targeted assistance to vulnerable coastal populations with improvements in climate resilient water supply, sanitation, drainage, and flood protection infrastructure. The project was prioritized in the government s 2010 Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR), prepared under the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR). , As a key component of the SPCR, the project is eligible for financing from the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) within the multi-donor coordinated Climate Investment Funds (CIF) as a pilot project for demonstrating ways to mainstream climate resilience into development. The coastal areas of Bangladesh consist of three distinct regions, namely the western, central and eastern zones comprising 19 districts. The coastal towns, with population of around 7 million, include both smaller pourashavas (secondary towns) and larger cities such as Khulna, Chittagong, and Barisal. , Infrastructure is currently inadequate in these areas as they are either damaged by natural disasters or otherwise no longer functioning effectively. Weak local governance and municipal management coupled with high poverty incidence, and remote locations, create persistent development challenges to these areas. Climate change, variability, and natural disasters further aggravate development in coastal towns, with disproportionate impacts to women and the poor. The increased incidence of drought and saline intrusion (from sea level rise and storm surges) into groundwater, coupled with high non-revenue water, is posing serious risks to drinking water supplies, requiring the potential for developing new, but costlier, water supply sources located at far distances. Poor access to sanitation in coastal towns is also posing serious public and environmental health risks (Bangladesh is currently behind in achieving its MDG Target 10 indicators for urban sanitation). Drainage systems are underdeveloped and poorly maintained, and would be made further obsolete under more intense and frequent storm events. Given this scenario, future investments in urban infrastructure need to be climate-resilient to manage the long-term costs of investments, and to ensure that such investments deliver their intended benefits.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The project will take a participatory approach to address the social, environmental, and institutional constraints to inclusive development in coastal towns, and will serve to pilot new approaches in climate adaption to be scaled up under future investments. It will reflect lessons learned from the first and second Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement (Sector) Projects (UGIIP), TA 7197 Strengthening Resilience of the Water Sector in Khulna to Climate Change, TA 7848 Climate Change Capacity Building and Knowledge Management, and recommendations from the ongoing CDTA 7890 Strengthening the Resilience of the Urban Water Supply, Drainage, and Sanitation to Climate Change in Coastal Towns related to the location of water-intake works, the appropriate design of drainage systems, and urban wastewater discharge. , The project will also closely coordinate with the World Bank and other donors working in the urban sector to avoid duplication and ensure complementarities. ADB s Country Operations Business Plan (2012 2014) lists the Coastal Towns Infrastructure Improvement Project for implementation in 2013. The project is consistent with ADB s Bangladesh Country Partnership Strategy (2011-2015) which targets assistance to vulnerable coastal areas in adapting to the risks of climate change, as well as ADB s urban and water operational plans. ,

Impact

Improved health in coastal town populations.

Project Outcome

Improved access to more reliable and climate-resilient municipal services in coastal towns.

Implementation Progress

1. Improved municipal infrastructure with climate-resilient design in coastal towns 2. Strengthened local governance and capacity for sustainable service delivery and urban planning 3. Awareness raising and behavioral change programs implemented 4. Project management and administration support established

Safeguard Categories

Environment: B
Involuntary Resettlement: B
Indigenous Peoples: C

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspect
Environmental assessment will be conducted as part of PPTA.

Involuntary Resettlement
Involuntary resettlement assessment will be conducted as part of PPTA.

Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous Peoples assessment will be conducted as part of PPTA.

Stakeholder Participation and Consultation

During Project Design
Stakeholder consultation will be conducted during PPTA.

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

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