Bangladesh : Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement (Sector)

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban policy, institutional and capacity development

The Project will assist the selected Pourashavas to (i) enhance accountability in municipal management and strengthen capabilities in the provision of municipal services, and (ii) develop and expand physical infrastructure and urban services to increase economic opportunities, and to reduce vulnerability to environmental degradation, poverty, and natural hazards. The Project will also promote the active participation of women citizens in municipal management and services as well as upgrade the conditions of the poorest and most needy groups in the slum area.

The Project comprises three parts: Part A , Urban Infrastructure Improvement, covers the improvement/expansion of (i) roads and bridges, (ii) storm water drainage, (iii) low-cost sanitation, (iv) solid waste management, (v) municipalities (e.g. bus and truck terminals, kitchen markets, and slaughterhouses), and (vi) slum improvement. Under specific circumstances inclusion of water supply rehabilitation schemes will also be considered. Part B, Urban Governance Improvement, includes implementation of an action program in five key result areas: (i) citizen awareness and participation; (ii) women's participation; (iii) integration of the urban poor; (iv) financial accountability and sustainability; and (v) administrative transparency. Pourashavas will need to achieve well-defined performance targets that will be closely monitored and evaluated during project implementation. Part C, Building and Implementation Assistance, covers (i) project management, detailed engineering design, construction supervision, nongovernment organization support to community-based activities, and facilitation of community mobilization; and (ii) institutional capacity-building programs for Pourashavas to successfully implement the UGIAP, including (a) an orientation program for Pourashava chairpersons and ward commissioners, (b) a tailored program for female ward commissioners, (c) training programs for municipal secretaries to implement the community-based activities under the UGIAP, (d) computerization of tax records and billing, (e) computerization of accounting management, (f) infrastructure inventory assessment and mapping, and (g) training for decentralized township planning.

The condition of urban infrastructure is in a very poor state of repair, and services are inadequate or nonexistent, all of which is seriously detracting from the communities' quality of life, and restricting their human capital development. In secondary towns, people without access to sanitary facilities range between 30 to 70 percent of the community. Solid waste collection efficiency varies between 6 and 65 percent, with the majority being well below 50 percent. Most urban areas have poor drainage systems, and suffer from localized flooding problems. The living environs are contaminated by uncontrolled organic waste from roadside markets and rudimentary slaughtering areas, and very high air pollution loads from the traffic congestion.

Provide assistance to the urban sector for rehabilitation and expansion of urban development and services in Pourashavas throughout the country, and to further assist in decentralization and strengthening of urban governance.

1. Develop and improve urban infrastructure facilities to increase economic opportunities and to reduce vulnerability to environmental degradation, poverty, and natural hazards.

2. Enhance accountability in municipal management and strengthen the capabilities of urban local municipal service delivery.

Infrastructure facilities improvements are progressing well; extensive capacity building and beneficiaries participation across municipalities are improving management of municipal service delivery; and the various key performance targets (citizens and women's participation, integration of the poor, financial accountability/sustainability, and administrative transparency) have been met by most of the 22 selected municipalities in Phase 1 completed in June 2006, and the Phase 2 started in July 2006 for total 30 municipalities (19 qualified from Phase 1, and 11 new including replacement of 3 disqualified).

The Project's overall progress has accelerated. All civil works (roads, drains) of Phase 1 comprising total 102 packages have been completed.

PART A: Urban Infrastructure Improvement

Part B: Urban Governance Improvement

Part C: Capacity Building and Implementation Assistance

The Project has positive environmental impacts in reducing incidences of various diseases,improving environmental conditions in urban areas, and reducing flooding. The negative impacts will mostly relate to construction activities, which will be temporary, during construction only.

Other potential negative impacts, such as groundwater contamination from sanitary landfills and disposal of sludge from latrines, can be addressed by applying proper environmental andsanitary engineering technologies during the design, construction, and operation stages.