Integrated Water Resource Management in the Barind tract

Project completed

A novelty for Bangladesh, this project will bring the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management to the sub-district and community level. Poverty in the Barind tracts is higher than national average and water scarcity uncovers economic, ecological and equity issues. Elected local governments will be capacitated to regulate water use and increase availability of water for the benefit of about a million people in the target region.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Bangladesh
Governance
Water
nothemedefined
Decentralisation
Water sector policy
Water supply
01.08.2014 - 30.06.2018
CHF  4’800’000
Background

The Barind tract in North-Western Bangladesh is a dry area classified as “hard to reach” by the GoB with above-average incidences of poverty, marginalization and water scarcity (the latter as result of over-extraction, changing rain patterns and contamination).

The Bangladesh Water Act, which includes important elements of IWRM and stipulates active roles of the LGIs, has been approved 2013 but is not yet implemented.

 

Objectives

The competent local government institutions (LGIs) have contributed to increase the availability of water for disadvantaged people in the Barind areas through sustainable, effective, inclusive management and use of water resources.

Target groups
  • The people affected by water scarcity and limited accesses to water resources, i.e. 250’000 direct and about 750’000 indirect beneficiaries in 35-40 unions and 4-6 urban municipalities in the Chapai Nawabganj and Rajshahi districts
  • 70% of the beneficiaries will be disadvantaged, i.e. poor and living in hard-to-reach communities.
  • LGIs of partnering unions, municipalities and upazilas
  • The Ministry of Water Resources and Local Government division of the GoB

 

Medium-term outcomes
  • Outcome 1: Citizens, particularly the disadvantaged in the project area, have actively participated and pursued their interests in the IWRM process and piloted IWRM models.
  • Outcome 2: LGIs in the project area have adopted and institutionalized the IWRM process for improved water related services.
  • Outcome 3: The GoB adopted necessary rules and regulations to implement IWRM aspects of the National Water Act.

 

Results

Expected results:  

  • Citizen and community organizations are capacitated to actively engage with the LGIs in relation to the IWRM process
  • Citizen and community organizations are equipped to develop and operate water schemes based on the 4R principles (Re-use, Reduce, Recycle, Restore)
  • LGIs piloted and developed different models of IWRM based on the 4R principles
  • LGIs have established and operated an incentive-based regulatory system of IWRM
  • WARPO has built its institutional capacity to implement the National Water Act
  • WARPO has developed a knowledge management and monitoring system re. IWRM and communicated lessons learnt for policy formulation
  • LGIs and line agencies at local level coordinate to implement and monitor the IWRM process

 


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
Foreign state institution
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • Sub-National State SouthEast
  • Swiss Red Cross


Coordination with other projects and actors

Other SDC projects: HLP, Sharique, WASH, MMC, GIZ, LOGIN

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    4’800’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    4’716’737
Project phases Phase 2 01.07.2018 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)

Phase 1 01.08.2014 - 30.06.2018   (Completed)