Bangladesh : Coastal Towns Environmental Infrastructure Project

Project Name

Coastal Towns Environmental Infrastructure Project

Project Number

44212-013

Country / Economy

• Bangladesh

Project Status

Active

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Grant
• Loan

Source of Funding / Amount

Loan 6001-BAN: Coastal Towns Infrastructure Improvement Project (Project Design Advance)

Source	Amount
Asian Development Fund	US$ 3.50 million

Grant 0394-BAN: Coastal Towns Infrastructure Improvement

Source	Amount
Strategic Climate Fund	US$ 10.40 million

Grant 0395-BAN: Coastal Towns Infrastructure Improvement

Source	Amount
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation	US$ 1.60 million

Loan 3133-BAN: Coastal Towns Environmental Infrastructure Project

Source	Amount
Asian Development Fund	US$ 52.00 million

Loan 8284-BAN: Coastal Towns Infrastructure Improvement

Source	Amount
Strategic Climate Fund	US$ 30.00 million

Grant 0524-BAN: Coastal Towns Environmental Infrastructure Project

Source	Amount
Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund under the Urban Financing Partnership Facility	US$ 6.00 million

Strategic Agendas

• Environmentally sustainable growth
• Inclusive economic growth

Drivers of Change

• Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
• Governance and capacity development
• Knowledge solutions
• Partnerships

Sector / Subsector

• Transport / Urban roads and traffic management

• Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Other urban services - Urban flood protection - Urban policy, institutional and capacity development - Urban sanitation - Urban solid waste management - Urban water supply

Gender

Gender equity theme

Description

The project will strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness in eight vulnerable coastal pourashavas (secondary towns) of Bangladesh. The project takes a holistic and integrated approach to urban development and will (i) provide climate-resilient municipal infrastructure; and (ii) strengthen institutional capacity, local governance, and public awareness for improved urban planning and service delivery considering climate change and disaster risks. Key infrastructure investments include (i) drainage; (ii) water supply; (iii) sanitation; (iv) cyclone shelters; and (v) other municipal infrastructure including emergency access roads and bridges, solid waste management, bus terminals, slum improvements, boat landings, and markets. Investments will benefit the poor and women.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The project is prioritized in the government's Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (2010) under the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience, and will demonstrate new approaches for integrating climate resilience into urban development in coastal pourashavas (with a population of 15,000 to 60,000). The government's Sixth Five-Year Plan, 20112015 targets assistance to vulnerable coastal populations requiring investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and urban planning. The project is consistent with the Bangladesh country partnership strategy, which targets assistance to vulnerable coastal areas in adapting to the risks of climate change, and is consistent with the ADB Urban Operational Plan to promote climate-change-resilient cities.

Climate change is a critical development issue for Bangladesh. The country's low-lying coastal zone (consisting of 19 districts with an estimated population of 38.1 million, of which 8.6 million is urban) is highly vulnerable to cyclones, storm surges, sea level rise, and salinity intrusion. A 1.5

C increase in temperature and 4% increase in precipitation (the median projections for Bangladesh from general circulation models) would potentially result in sea levels in the Bay of Bengal rising by 27 centimeters or more by 2050. Warmer temperatures would result in more frequent and intense cyclones and storm surges, damaging roads and bridges and rendering existing drainage, water supply, and sanitation systems ineffective, as well as threatening public health and safety. The central and southwestern regions of the country are particularly vulnerable. Cyclone Sidr in 2007 (a Category 5 storm with wind speed of 260 kilometers per hour) resulted in economic losses of $1.7 billion (2.6% of gross domestic product). The poor and women are disproportionately affected and have the lowest capacity to cope with losses. There is a high demand for climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster preparedness to improve the wellbeing of residents and reduce migration to larger cities.

Coastal towns suffer from large infrastructure deficits and natural resource constraints that exacerbate sensitivity to climate change. A shortage of drains and severe siltation and solid waste build up result in severe flooding and extended water logging (lasting up to 7 days during monsoon rains). Water supply suffers from (i) low access to piped water, (ii) salinity contamination of shallow and middle aquifers, and (iii) unsustainable groundwater extraction. Feasibility study surveys found that residents without piped water supplies who rely on community pond sand filter systems pay as much as 24 times more for water of inferior quality compared to similar towns with piped supplies. There is a high willingness to pay (up to 50%more) for improved services. While there is generally high coverage of household sanitation (up to 94% of households have toilets), there is no septage management or treatment systems, resulting in polluted waterways and a high incidence of waterborne diseases, with large outbreaks occurring after disasters. Emergency access roads are in poor condition, and most cyclone shelters are structurally unsafe as a result of extensive exposure to cyclones and poor maintenance. There is an acute need for new, higher-capacity multi-use cyclone shelters located in core urban areas accessible to poorer populations. It is critical that new investments are designed that consider climate change to manage the long-term costs of natural disasters and ensure investments deliver intended benefits.

The high vulnerability of coastal towns is also linked to poor governance and low adaptive capacity. Urban planning is in its infancy and development controls are only now emerging. Many pourashavas lack established mechanisms for public participation, particularly in the allocation of municipal budgets. Low tax collection efficiency (on average 57% in coastal towns) reflects outdated financial management practices, including limited computerization of accounts and billing systems, and irregular tax assessments. There is an urgent need to strengthen institutional capacity, public awareness, and knowledge management to complement physical investments as part of an integrated approach for building climate change resilience.

Impact

Improved well-being in coastal towns.

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Increased climate and disaster resiliency in coastal towns benefiting the poor and women.

Progress Toward Outcome

Community level hazard mapping and Vulnerability Adaptation Assessments (VAA) have been done for Batch 1 and 2 Towns. Urban Master Plan Revision (UMPR) and vulnerability assessment reports have been prepared for Batch 1 and 2 Towns.Rallies were conducted in October 2017, and Sanitation Month was observed in 7 Pouroshova in coordination with BRAC. Livelihood training was conducted on basic computer literacy (office software), beauty parlor, and sewing were conducted in Batch 1 and 2 Pouroshova in March 2018. 917 people trained (100% were women) on various income generating activities (IGA); Total number of livelihood training participants to date is 10,674 (63.30% women).A total of 15 water and sanitation user groups for hand tube wells have already been established in Amtali. Training manuals for the sustainable O&M of HTWs, as well as for public and community toilets, have already been prepared.To strengthen climate change disaster resilience and citizen participation and social accountability, ICCDC provides continuing support to the SCDMs and other committees like TLCCs, WCCs, GRCs, and PGCs by ensuring their regular meetings and providing support.Conducted an awareness rally during the observation of the International World Women's Day on 8th March 2020.Preparation of video documentary on CTEIP is completed

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

1. Improved climate-resilient municipal infrastructure

2. Strengthened institutional capacity, governance, and awareness

3. Project management and administration supported

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Emergency access: A total of 130.84 km of upgraded roads, bridges, culverts constructedLocal economic infrastructure, 19 sub-projects completed out of 19 sub projects which were developed under stage 2 including services to poor areas.Drainage: A total of 106.11 km of new and improved drains constructedCyclone shelters: A total of 22 shelters constructed, with separate and safe facilities for women.A total of 194.8 kmof pipes installed or upgraded; 12,388 new service connections, including services to poor areasSanitation: A total of 71units public/ community toilet with separate and safe facilities for women constructed.Solid waste, management: 2 septage management sub-projects are under implementationurban master plans (cumulative 8) incorporating climate change considerations prepared (37% of participants to consultations were women).Generic Climate Change Adaptation Building Standards Guide including design features for women prepared and endorsed by Paurashavas, LGED and DPHE in earlier years.Recommendations on Mainstreaming Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment into LGED and DPHE Engineering Design Standards in the Urban Sector prepared and endorsed by LGED and DPHE in earlier yearsOne (cumulative 9) water safety plan prepared where leadership role of women in water safety planning and monitoring is clearly defined. Preparation for one WSP and updating of 8 WSPs are ongoing.Regular monitoring undertaken. O & M plans of 10 Pourashavas including tariff plan for cost recovery were prepared and approved in earlier years (35% women participation during consultations).GAPs and PRAPs for Batch 1, 2, & 3 Towns prepared and endorsed by respective Paurashava councils in earlier quarters.Regular monitoring undertaken. Computerized billing systems were established and functional in all Batch 1, 2 and 3 Pourashavas in earlier years.917 women (cumulative 10,674 participants [women = 63.30%]) received livelihood trainings and participated in knowledge-based awareness programs on climate change.Quarterly progress reports with gender-disaggregated data submittedAccording to the Project Performance Monitoring Format, the overall project progress is 98%; compared to an elapsed loan period of 96%, for an extended contract period to 30th June 2022.

Geographical Location

Safeguard Categories

Environment

B

Involuntary Resettlement

B

Indigenous Peoples

C

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

No significant environmental impacts. IEEs and EARF prepared. EA is providing update in the quarterly progress reports and duly submit semi-annual reports starting from June 2015. For all works packages, IEEs and EMPs are prepared as part of the bidding document.

Involuntary Resettlement

No significant Involuntary Resettlement impacts envisaged. However, sample RPs prepared for pilot sub projects and RA prepared for future sub projects. EA is providing update in the quarterly progress reports and submitting semi-annual reports. For all works packages, resettlement plans (RPs) or Due diligence reports as appropriate are prepared as part of the bidding document.

Indigenous Peoples

No impacts anticipated.

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

A consultation and participation plan prepared.

During Project Implementation

A consultation and participation plan prepared.

Business Opportunities

Consulting Services

All consultants will be recruited according to ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (March 2013 as amended from time to time). An estimated 1,413 person-months (110 international and 1,303 national) of consulting services are required. There are two major packages: (i) project management and supervision consultancies, and (ii) institutional capacity and community development consultant will be recruited following the quality- and cost-based selection (QCBS) or quality-based selection (QBS) with a 90:10 ratio.

Procurement

All procurement of goods and works will be undertaken in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines (March 2013, as amended from time to time). Since this project involves both ADB-administered cofinancing resources and ADF resources, universal procurement will apply.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Mamun, S A Abdullah Al

Responsible ADB Department

South Asia Department

Responsible ADB Division

Bangladesh Resident Mission (BRM)

Executing Agencies

Department of Public Health Engineering

Local Government Engineering Department

Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives

Timetable

Concept Clearance

31 Jul 2012

Fact Finding

01 Sep 2013 to 16 Sep 2013

MRM

28 Oct 2013

Approval

06 Aug 2012

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

28 Nov 2023

Funding

Grant 0394-BAN

Grant 0395-BAN

Grant 0524-BAN

Loan 3133-BAN

Loan 6001-BAN

Loan 8284-BAN