Environmental Projects of Bangladesh

• Arsenic Mitigation and Water Supply Project: [ More Details ] [Project TOR]
Arsenic Mitigation and Water Supply is a US$ 44.4 million project, jointly financed by
World Bank, Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency and GOB. The objective
of the Arsenic Mitigation--Water Supply Project is to alleviate arsenic water
contamination as a factor in the reduction of arsenic-induced mortality and morbidity.

The on-site mitigation component will include interventions in rural areas and urban areas.
Physical interventions in towns will include (a) installation of deep tubewells; (b) provision of
hardware for rainwater harvesting and/or sanitation plants; and (c) expansion of distribution
systems. For the rural program, physical works will include installation of shallow and deep
tubewells, ponds with filter, handpumps, treatment and rainwater catchment systems. The
second component will support increased understanding of the arsenic problem through
monitoring of groundwater quality, and studies on causes and impacts of arsenic release in the
groundwater as well as socially and economically sustainable approaches to mitigating arsenic
contamination. The institutional strengthening component will support improved data
collection, management and dissemination, capacity building in participatory design, appraisal
and implementation of grassroots level projects and the definition of strategies for policy and
institutional reforms in the water supply sector.

[ More detail Project List ]

• Dhaka Urban Transport Project:[ More Details ]
This is a US$ 177 million World Bank funded project of the Government of Bangladesh.
The project has two major objectives: (i) to improve urban transport services in an
economically and environmentally sustainable manner; and (ii) to strengthen the institutional
and policy framework and address long-term transport planning issues in Greater Dhaka
Metropolitan Area.
• Air Quality Management Project: [ More Details ]
This learning and innovation loan project of US$ 5 million will address the rapidly worsening
air pollution problems in Dhaka and selected cities. The project includes (a) air pollution control
strategies for the transport sector, particularly cleaner fuels and lubricants for two-stroke engine
vehicles; (b)air pollution monitoring equipment and training; and (c) air pollution inventory and
source assessment analysis.
• Sustainable Environmental Management Program
A US $ 26 million UNDP funded programme on Sustainable Environment Management
(SEMP) for environmental capacity building.  This is the largest ever environmental grant
provided by UNDP globally.

SEMP is a follow-up action programme for implementation of the National Environment
Management Action Plan (NEMAP). The programme will unite the government and other
development agencies in Bangladesh including NGOs and the private sector dealing with
major environmental issues under an umbrella national programme to address national
environment objectives.

Activities under SEMP will be undertaken in five main areas for implementation in Bangladesh
related to policy and institutions, participatory eco-system, management at grass root-level,
community based environment, sanitation, advocacy and awareness, and training and
education.

It is expected that the partnership of the private sector, government and other development
agencies in the programme will help strengthen government efforts in poverty alleviation
through adoption of environmental measures leading to sustainable use of resources and
management and for sustainable human development.
 

• Bangladesh Environmental Management Project - A CAN$ 12 million CIDA project for
environmental capacity building in DoE;

Bangladesh's environment faces increasing pressure as the country attempts
to serve an expanding population which is nearing the carrying capacity of its natural
resource base. Natural resource degradation is not being addressed effectively and is
constraining opportunities for the rural poor. The Department of Environment is the
technical arm of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and is responsible for
environmental planning, assessment, management, monitoring and enforcement. This
CIDA funded project will strengthen the institutional capacity of the Department of
Environment to enable it to carry out its legislative powers, mandate and functions.
Components of the institutional capacity development project include: Institutional Planning;
Policy and Legal Reform; Environmental Management Demonstration Areas;
Environmental Initiatives; Environmental Awareness Activities; Resource Information
Systems, Human Resource Development and Project Management. Canada has a wealth
of environmental management expertise to offer in all of these areas.
 

• Bangladesh Environment Initiative Fund -A CAN$ 500,000 CIDA project.
The project is a responsive small projects fund that finances small scale
environmental projects conceived by Bangladeshi organizations and institutions. Projects
can relate to policy development, increasing awareness, small scale action research
activities and dissemination of information on the environment. Notable examples are the
publication of a newsletter by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyer's Association and a
report on monitoring and mitigation of arsenic in ground water.
• Sundarbans Biodiversity Conservation Project - ADB/GEF US$82.2 million project to protect the Sundarbans.
Comprising 6,000 square kilometers in the south-west of the country, the Sundarbans
Reserve Forest (SRF) offers regional storm protection, and is a rich area of biodiversity and
natural resources. It forms part of the world's largest contiguous mangrove forest, and is a
globally significant resource which provides habitat for endangered species, including the
Bengal tiger. It also offers subsistence to approximately 3.5 million people in the 17 thanas
(subdistricts) of the impact zone bordering the SRF. The Project will introduce modern
management systems which will involve stakeholders, and take a participatory approach to
community development in the impact zone, to achieve long-term sustainable use and
conservation of the SRF.

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Last modified: 24 August 2001.