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Danish development assistance in Bangladesh
Waler Supply and Sanitation Sector Programme
Denmark has been supporting the water supply and sanitation sector in Bangladesh since 1972, first through the nation-wide GoB/UNICEF rural water and sani-, tation programme and from 1990 in selected towns in five priority coastal districts through the Urban Water Supply, Sanitation and Drainage project.
. The Sector I’rogramme Support (SI’S) to the Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) sector commenced inJuly 1999 wtha budget ofDKK491 million (about Tk.482 crore or USD 79million)forafiveyearpcrioiL This amount includes unallocated funds ' of which DKK 29 million remains. The SPS to WSS sector will facilitate implementation pf the National
PolicyforSafc DrinkingWatcr Supply and Sanitation 1998. Inparticular.it aims at facilitating access to basic levels of water supply and sanitation services, with special focus on the poorandunderserved who have little access to government facilities and who in particular are vulnerable to crisis situations such as water borne diseases. The SPS also supports capacity building of local government institutions and communities, improved hygiene behaviour, ownership and increased involvement of women, and accountability and transparency as elements of good governance.
The SPS to the water supply and sanitation sector comprises activities related to:
• Institutional support, compris ing support for
policy implementation.
• Human resources development and capacity building of local government institutions, NGOs, CBOs, private sector actors, communities, and sector professionals.
• Service delivery In the urban areas.
• Service delivery In the rural areas.
• Arsenic mitigation.
• Service delivery In the Chittagong HillTYacts
The SI’S includes seven components involving cooperation with the Ministries of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Education, and Chittagong Hill TYacts Affairs as well as NGOs.
Agricultural Sector Programme
Support
Denmark commenced support to the agricultural sector in Bangladesh in 1978 primarily focussing on theconcept of rural development in the Greater Noakiiali region. The aquaculture extension and smallholder livestock development activities started to be a part of the sector in late 1980s/carly 1990s spreading to Greater Mymensingh as well as Central-Western regions. In the second half of the 1990s, Danish support to the agricultural sector concentrated on soil and plant resources management, production and extension services improvements independently in three sub-sectors : crop, aquaculture, andlivestock.
The Fifth Five-Year Plan (1997-2002) of the Government of
Bangladesh and sector policy guidelines are the basis for planning and implementation of activities related to the agricultural sector programme support (ASPS) in Bangladesh. The ASPS commenced in July 2000. The development objective of the ASPS is to create optimised, integrated, and sustainable smallholder agricultural production for improved living conditions in the poorest areas of Bangladesh. The activities comprise policy and planning support and development of human resources through partnership approach with ‘special focus on poverty alleviation and women's participation in the development process. Further, the aim is to promote good governance through target group ownership, Institutional development and improvements in the administrative systems. Due consideration is given to nutritional and environmental aspects.
The ASPS, with a time frame of five years and a perspective of fifteen years, has a budget of DKK 486 million (more than Tk. 477 crore or US $ 78 million). It comprises activities related to:
• Crops production, comprising,, i.a., policy formulation, training and exten sion on soil fertility management, integrated pest management, quality control laboratory, cost recovevyand operation, seed certifiction, veget ble and vegctablcseedproduction.,
« Aquaculture extension, including training and extension.micro-credit, techncal and social development, sustaiable services of NGOs and private sector.
• Livestock development, co prising, i.a., refinement and monitoring of a poultry develoment model, manage ntenl information system, breeding strategy and multiplication programme.
• Institutional support, covering policy and planning initiatives at national level.
The ASPS presently includes 9 different components. The budget also includes unallocated funds for activities that were not identified at the time of the programme's inception. The ASPS comprises cooperation with the Ministries of Agriculture, and Fisheries and Livestock, as well as various govern' mental departments, para-statal organisations and NGOs.
Transport Sector Programme Denmark commenced support to the transport sector in Bangladesh in 1981 and delivered throughout the 1980s a total of 10 Roll-on Rolloff ferries and nine landing stations. In the second half of the!990s, Danish support to the transport sector was concentrated on the rehabilitation of the Dhaka-Aricha highway, rehabilitation of minor roads and market places in Patuakhali and Barguna districts and. on a more preparatory level, on inland waterways.
Bangladesh's Fifth Five-Year Plan (1997-2002) formsthebasisfor planning and implementation of activities related to the transport sector in Bangladesh and thus also for the current TYansport Sector Programme Support (TSPS). The present TSPS commenced in September 2000 with poverty allevi-at io n as its overall aim. The objective of the TSPS intervention is to create the basis for a substantial increase in economic activities and improved possibilities for income generating activities in some of the poorest areas of Bangladesh. The interventions will support rehabilitation of transport and trade networks with a special focus on poverty alleviation and women's participation in the development process. Further, the aim is to promote good governance through institutional development and improvements in the administrative systems. Due consideration
is given to environmental aspects, including conditions in working environments.
The TSPS, with a time frame of five years, was initially approved with a budget of DKK 959 millions (more thanTk. 941 crore or US $ 155 millions). After cancellation of 3 Inland Water TYansport agreements in June 2002, the available grant now stands at DKK 709 million. . Currently the programme comprises 5 activities related to:
• Major Roads including rehabilitation and upgrading of existing major roads and small ferries, the latter to ensure inter-connectivity between major roads.
• Minor Roads comprising rehabilitation and upgrading of existing minor roads, and markets.
• District Maintenance Systems covering major as well as minor roads.
The budget also includes unallocated funds for activities that were not identified at the time of the programme's inception. The TSPS lias comprised cooperation with the Ministries of Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives and Communication, and Chittagong Hill TYacks Affairs, as well as various governmental departments and para-statal organisations.
(Abridged)