DESCRIPTION
The project comprises five components:
Component One–Sector Support and Capacity Strengthening of Department of Public Health Engineering and Pourashavas: TA to support the institutional capacity of the pourashavas. Scorecard for institutional improvements for water service delivery and operational sustainability during built-up. Strengthening DPHE to effectively support the delivery of water supply and sanitation services at the municipal level.
Component Two–Investment for Water Supply Infrastructure. This component will support investments in water supply infrastructure development in the project pourashavas. Investments will include construction of intake at raw water source, water treatment plants, treated water storages, and distribution networks.
Component Three–Improving Sanitation and Drainage. This component focuses on environmental improvement through improving sanitation especially, safe management of fecal sludge; sewage disposal, and drainage system improvement, including identification and implementation of locally-adapted low-cost solutions for gray wastewater treatment.
Component Four–Project Implementation and Management Support. This component will include project management and implementation support to assist DPHE in ensuring seamless coordination, efficient implementation and compliance with the relevant policies. The component entails the following elements: (i) project management consultant; (ii) project annual audits; and (iii) project communications, citizens’ satisfaction surveys and report cards. This component will also ensure that gender aspects and social inclusion are covered in all stages of the project cycle.
Component Five–Contingent Emergency Response. Bangladesh is prone to natural disasters like floods, cyclones, storm surge, river bank erosion, earthquakes, drought and salinity intrusion. The component has been included with a provisional zero amount to allow for re-allocation of funds in case of emergency for early recovery assistance.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION
The Bank has decided to use the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies (Safeguard Policies) since (i) these are consistent with the Bank’s Articles of Agreement and materially consistent with the provisions of the Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy and relevant Environmental and Social Standards; and (ii) the monitoring procedures that the World Bank has in place to ascertain compliance with their Safeguard Policies are appropriate for the Project. Under the World Bank’s Safeguard Policies, the Project has been assigned Category B. An Environmental Management Framework (EMF) was prepared in July 2018 and disclosed by DPHE on its website. Likewise, the Resettlement and Social Management Framework (RSMF) and Small Ethnic Community Planning Framework (SECPF) have been completed (August 2018). Guidance on Environmental and Social Assessment followed by preparation of subproject specific Environmental and Social Plans will follow the provisions of the EMF and RSMF. All documents have been consulted and disclosed in the website of the DPHE and the World Bank. The project has a robust Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) at the pourashavas, in compliance with the policies of the Bank. Under the aegis of the World Bank, a Gender Action Plan has been prepared. The Gender Action Plan will ensure women’s participation in decision making and provision of income from O&M, as and when such opportunities are feasible.
