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BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS - 50 years of water cooperation opportunities together - Blue ...
BANGLADESH -
THE NETHERLANDS
50 years of water
cooperation

                      creating water
                     				opportunities together

DELTA PLAN: FUTURE STARTS TODAY
WATER AND SANITATION FOR MILLIONS
FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT
TOWARDS CLEANER TEXTILE
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS - 50 years of water cooperation opportunities together - Blue ...
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS                                                                                                                                                                                                 50 YEARS OF WATER COOPERATION

                                                                                                                                                                                        Lilianne Ploumen                      Melanie Schultz van Haegen

                                         COLOPHON
                                     3
PREFACE NETHERLANDS
                                                                                                               PREFACE
PREFACE BANGLADESH                  4                                                                          BY LILIANNE PLOUMEN AND MELANIE SCHULTZ VAN HAEGEN

LONG HISTORY OF COOPERATION         6
                                                                                                               Cooperation between Bangladesh and the Netherlands in the water          levels. At the same time people in Bangladesh, like anywhere else
FACTS ABOUT BANGLADESH              8    Bangladesh - The Netherlands
                                         50 years of water cooperation in Bangladesh
                                                                                                               sector goes back over half a century. We have worked together on         in the world, rely on surface water and groundwater for the rice
                                                                                                               flood management, drainage, river basin management and coastal           they eat and the water they drink. Industries like the textile industry
                                                                                                               zone management – creating safe polders and making land available        need large quantities of water. Factories discharge wastewater into
DELTA PLAN: FUTURE STARTS TODAY     10   Published by the Netherlands Water Partnership for the Dutch
                                         Government (Partners for Water Programme), in cooperation with
                                                                                                               for the landless. And together with NGOs and the private sector we       rivers, causing severe environmental pollution. Climate change
                                         the Bangladesh ministry of Water and the environment.                 have improved access to safe water and sanitation for millions of        appears to increase the risk of extreme events: more severe floods
                                         www.dutchwatersector.com/bangladesh                                   people in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has an impressive track record for      and longer spells of drought. Economic growth and degradation
TWELVE BUILDING BLOCKS              12   Content & Editing: Bauke ter Braak
                                                                                                               growth and development, and aspires to be a middle-income country        of ecosystems in Bangladesh – and in neighbouring countries that
                                         Coordination: Christina Boomsma (NWP)                                 within the next ten years. So over the past few years our relationship   share the same water resources – may exacerbate water-related
                                         Concept and realisation Kris Kras context, content and design         has gradually evolved from a single focus on development                 risks. So we are calling for a special focus on transboundary water
DELTA ATLAS: PROBLEMS AT A GLANCE   13   For more information please contact:
                                                                                                               cooperation to a stronger emphasis on trade and investment,              management and a sensible distribution of water among households,
                                         Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP)                                   creating opportunities for Dutch and Bangladeshi companies to do         industry, agriculture and the environment. Dutch companies,
                                         Communications Department                                             business.                                                                NGOs and knowledge institutes are ready to offer their experience
BLUE GOLD: SOLID FOUNDATION         14   P.O. Box 82327
                                         2508 EH The Hague
                                                                                                                                                                                        and expertise, seek innovative solutions and team up with their
                                         The Netherlands                                                       Water has to be managed wisely to improve health, reduce poverty         counterparts in Bangladesh.
                                                                                                               and sustain economic development. People, livelihoods and
FIGHTING FLOODS AND SALINISATION    16   T + 31 (0)70 3043700
                                         E info@nwp.nl
                                                                                                               infrastructure have to be protected against floods and rising sea        We look forward to working together on these challenges.

                                         This publication was supported by the Partners for Water Programme.

WATER AND SANITATION FOR MILLIONS   18

TOWARDS CLEANER TEXTILE             20                                                                         Lilianne Ploumen                                                         Melanie Schultz van Haegen
                                                                                                               Minister for Foreign Trade and                                           Minister of Infrastructure and
                                                                                                               Development Cooperation                                                  the Environment
KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE                  22
2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 3
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS - 50 years of water cooperation opportunities together - Blue ...
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            50 YEARS OF WATER COOPERATION

COOPERATION WITH
THE NETHERLANDS
IN THE WATER SECTOR IN
BANGLADESH

                                                                                                                                                         Anisul Islam Mahmud Minister of Water Resources

1. BACKGROUND                                                             (1977) came up with a more integrated and participatory approach.              SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT                                                 concept and the ultimate result is CDSP-I, CDSP-II, CDSP-III and CDSP-IV.
The Netherlands government established relationships with Bangladesh      A balance between the socio-economic development and technical                 The main socio-economic effects of the projects are increased              These projects have benefitted thousands of landless people through
after the recognition of Bangladesh in 1971. Since then, initiatives      development of water management has been achieved by means of the              poverty alleviation, increased agricultural productivity, changes in       rehabilitation. The construction of the cross dam concept has also been
within a cooperation programme by the Netherlands government have         Compartmentalization Project (1990), System Rehabilitation Project             land tenure, changes in employment and income, and social services.        initiated through these projects. Recently, it has been discussed that,
been started in various sectors of Bangladesh. These have helped to       (1990), Char Development and Settlement Project (1994) and so on.              Improved management of the water sector by means of protection             reclaimed lands for major rivers are suitable for modernized settlement
overcome enormous challenges - reducing poverty, improving livelihood     The contribution to the recently started Water Management                      against floods, the construction of polders and a regulated water          and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) development. Therefore, opportunities
and achieving sustainable growth. Presently, the main focuses of the      Improvement Project (2007) is also noteworthy and an example                   supply has increased agricultural production. Results of a field           have been created to improve the socio-economic conditions of
Netherlands are water and food security, with the priority areas being    of integrated water resources management. These different water                survey showed that the Early Implementation Project contributed to         Bangladesh, by learning the lesson from past projects initiated with the
good governance, gender equality and climate change. For more than        management projects initiated the concept of participatory water               increasing cropping intensity in project areas by 40%. On average,         cooperation of the Netherlands government.
five decades, the Netherlands has been involved in the development of     resources management in Bangladesh and created stakeholder                     more than a 30% yield increase had occurred through EIP. Project
the water sector in Bangladesh. The present vision of the Netherlands     ownership with regard to the projects.                                         activities also increase employment opportunities and income, which in     LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PLAN
cooperation in compliance with the vision of the Ministry of Water                                                                                       turn contributes to social livelihood improvement. The CDSP and BLUE       In recent times, the Netherlands government has made enormous
Resources is to promote the management of rivers from salinization,       COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT                                                        Gold projects/program in particular resulted in an increase in socio-      contributions to the long-term strategic planning of Bangladesh. With
land reclamation and the integrated flood management, for poverty         The Netherlands’ development cooperation programme has always                  economic development. The overall objective of the Blue Gold Program       the aid of the Netherlands, the Bangladesh government has initiated the
alleviation and improved socio-economic development for a sustainable     shown particular consideration to the coastal zone management of               is to reduce poverty for 150,000 households living in a 160,000            formulation of Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, which is a long-term strategic
environment.                                                              Bangladesh. The Delta Development Project started in 1976 with a               ha area of selected coastal polders, by creating a healthy living          plan for Bangladesh, in order to achieve the sustainable development
                                                                          vision to achieve an integrated development of land, water and human           environment and lessening gender discrimination, and by sustainable        of Bangladesh delta. The Delta Plan is more than just a one-off planning
2. CONTRIBUTION TO THEMED PROJECTS                                        resources, in south west Bangladesh. Positive achievements of the              socio-economic development.                                                exercise and aims to provide the foundation for permanent deltaic
The Netherlands government has funded a number of milestone               project included increased agricultural production, the successful                                                                                        governance in Bangladesh, through the outlining of a delta framework.
projects to contribute to different themed projects. These projects are   organisation of landless groups, and the improvement of labour                 FOOD SECURITY
contributing towards the implementation of integrated water resources     conditions. In order to develop the socio-economic conditions of the           Food security is one of the key themes in the Netherlands’ development     3. CONCLUSION
management in Bangladesh. The Netherlands contribution can broadly        poorest segment of the coastal zone and to strengthen the local                programme. Various projects carried out have always had the aim of         The Netherlands government has always aimed to assist in accelerating
be classified into the following areas:                                   institution, the Char Development and Settlement Project-I (CDSP-I)            promoting agriculture production, in order to achieve food security and    the economic growth and sustainable development of Bangladesh
                                                                          was set up in 1994, which continued up to 1999. Later on, the projects         to realize a sustainable situation. The System Rehabilitation Project      through development cooperation with a special focus on the water
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT                                                CDSP-II, CDSP-III and CDSP-IV were set up. The Integrated Coastal              started in 1990 is one example. Nowadays, the main emphasis is placed      sector. This collaboration will be continued - linking water management,
Water resources management is an important component of the               Zone Management Plan is also a milestone project funded by the Dutch           on managing water, in order to help improve and diversify agricultural     food production and market access. Bangladesh now wants to join
Netherlands’ development cooperation programme with Bangladesh.           government, where steps have been taken to create conditions, resulting        production, aquaculture and livestock farming and to set up an effective   forces with the Netherlands to work on a comprehensive approach to
Since the initiation of the cooperation programme, an integrated and      in the reduction of poverty, the development of sustainable livelihoods        control system for food security.                                          the water industry. The Netherlands will provide funding and expertise
comprehensive approach has been taken in a participatory manner for       and the integration of the coastal zone into a national process. Initiatives                                                                              and invite Dutch businesses to take part in the Bangladeshi market,
water resources management, as well as technical approaches. Early        of the Netherlands government for the coastal region of Bangladesh             LAND RECLAMATION                                                           in order to achieve its integrated vision of poverty alleviation and
Implementation Projects (EIP) started in 1975, are an illustration of a   are therefore contributing to land zoning, resources utilization,              The Netherlands government has made a notable contribution in              sustainable economic growth. Therefore, from the past experiences
direct implementation to develop water management infrastructures.        environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation and safeguarding             Bangladesh in the field of land reclamation from different rivers for      it is evident that RNE is the best friend of GoB in respect of water
The Delta Development Project (1976) and Land Reclamation Projects        people against natural disasters or climate change.                            the development of Char. The Land Reclamation Project initiated this       management and development.

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BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS - 50 years of water cooperation opportunities together - Blue ...
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        50 YEARS OF WATER COOPERATION

RELATIONSHIP BASED ON LONG HISTORY OF COOPERATION
The history of today’s intensive water cooperation between Bangladesh and
the Netherlands started long before the independence of the people’s republic
of Bangladesh in 1971.                                                                                                                                  1975 – 1992: EARLY IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT
                                                                                                                                                        One of the most successful water projects was the Early Implementation Project
                                                                                                                                                         (EIP, 1975-1992) which introduced people’s participation in various project development
                                                                                                                                                        cycles e.g. sub-project identification, feasibility, planning, design and implementation.
    1956 – 1964 ‘FLOOD ACTION PLAN’
    Professor Willem Johan van Blommenstein, a well-known Dutch
    water engineer, was one of the members of the UN mission (Krug                1960 ONWARDS: ‘POLDERS’
    Mission) that took place in 1956-1957, right after the large scale            Since the 1960s, many Dutch-style polders and embankments were                  1987: FLOOD ACTION PLAN
    flooding of 1954 and 1955. The mission provided advice to the                 constructed in coastal areas, to protect coastal communities from               After floods in 1987 and 1988 the Dutch became involved
    government about water and flood dynamics in East Pakistan. It                salinity intrusion, daily tidal movement and occasional surges, and             with the Flood Action Plan (FAP), an effort to develop a
    recommended to set up a Department of Waterways (modelled                     to support the civilian population engaged in farming and aquacul-              flood management plan for the delta.
    after Rijkswaterstaat: the Dutch agency for public works and                  ture activities.
    water management). Firstly called EPWAPDA (East Pakistan Water
    and Power Development Authority) and later renamed BWDB:                                                                                                                                                                    1990: CEGIS
    Bangladesh Water Development Board.                                                                                                                                                                                         In the 1990s, the Dutch-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Bangladesh relationship
    The Master Plan on water management was formulated in 1964. Van                                                                                                                                                             played an important role in
    Blommenstein designed a combination plan for the Brahmaputra-                                                                                                                                                               setting up the organization
    Gangesdelta. It consisted of a moveable weir in the Brahmaputra                                                                                                                                                             EGIS (now CEGIS), the
    with horizontal hydropower turbines, a channel between the two                                                                                      1996 – 2002: PWM                                                        Centre for Environmental
    rivers, a sea dike including weirs, locks, pump stations and polders                                                                                Following the success of the EIP, the Netherlands supported             and Geographic
    as well as different irrigation systems. Later the Ganges-Kodabak                                   1964: ‘THIJSSE HYDROLOGY REPORT’                the participatory water management (PWM) approach                       Information Services.
    irrigation project which enabled three rice harvests per year                                       Research by Professor J.Th. Thijsse from        implemented under Small Scale Projects (
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS - 50 years of water cooperation opportunities together - Blue ...
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS                                                                                                                                                                                                                         50 YEARS OF WATER COOPERATION

                                                                                                                                       WATER COOPERATION BANGLADESH & THE NETHERLANDS

                                                                                                                                       ONE DELTA VISION, FOUR
                      147.500 square kilometres
                     	
                                                             150 million citizens, from 50 million in 1960.

            	Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world: about 1.100
              citizens per square kilometre (almost three times as much as the Netherlands).
                                                                                                                                       THEMES, INNOVATIVE PROJECTS
                                                                                                                                       As both countries face the same water challenges, working together comes naturally. The cooperation takes place on many levels, ranging from
                                                                                                                                       the strategic Delta Plan 2100, to very concrete projects for example protecting the ‘chars’, or newly reclaimed lands of Bangladesh. The different
    	According to research executed for the Bangladesh                         	In 2012, 57% of the population (approximately        projects cover many urgent water issues in Bangladesh. But they all focus on the four leading themes in our cooperation:
      government in 2011, 31.5% of the population lived                           88 million) used improved sanitation
      in poverty (over 50 million people). Poverty dropped                        facilities, leaving about 66 million people to use
      by nearly a third, together with increased life                             unimproved sanitation facilities.
      expectancy, literacy, etc. Since 1992, more than
      15 million Bangladeshis have moved out of living
      below the poverty line.

                                                                                                        In 2014 Bangladesh
                                                                                                        experienced the highest
                                                       	Bangladesh has the aspiration to
                                                                                                        temperature in 54 years,
                                                         become a middle-income country
                                                                                                        which has led to an acute
              	In 2012 85% of the population            by 2021, on its 50th birthday. GDP
                                                                                                        water shortage in rivers
                (approximately 131 million               growth will need to increase towards
                                                                                                        and low lying areas.
                people) used an improved                 7.5 to 8 percent per year most likely
                drinking water source.                   based on accelerated export and
                                                         remittance growth.

FACTS ABOUT BANGLADESH
                      	For the past decade economic growth (GDP)
                                                                                 5% of Bangladesh is less than 10 meters above
                                                                                7
                        has averaged 6 percent annually.
                                                                                sea level and 80% consists of flood plains. 93%
                                                                                of the river discharge comes from outside of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           water, sanitation and
                                                                                Bangladesh, from 57 trans-boundary rivers.                             water and food                                                             hygiene

                  	In Bangladesh the rivers Ganges, Meghna and Brahmaputra
                    converge in a delta covering almost the entire country.
                                                                                        	Each year about 20-25% of
                                                                                          the country of Bangladesh is
                                                                                          flooded, causing loss of lives and
      Annual floods inundate up to 60% of the country. Storm waves                       infrastructural damage. During
       from the Bay of Bengal, cyclone Sidr in 2007 and Aila in                           severe floods such as those of
       2009 demonstrate the country’s fragile relations with water                        1998, the affected area may exceed
       resources. Climate change increases both the unpredictability                      67% of the country. The floods have
       and the intensity of such events as do the longer-term                             caused devastation throughout
       consequences of higher sea water levels such as more salt                          Bangladeshi history, especially
       intrusion and longer dry periods.                                                  during the years 1954-1955, 1987,
                                                                                          1988 and 1998. The 2007 South
                                                                                          Asian floods also affected a large
                                                                                          part of Bangladesh.

    FACTS ABOUT THE NETHERLANDS

                                             •S urface area: 41,528 km²                  •T  hree big European rivers
                                               (18.41% water)                                (Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt) reach the
                                             • Total population: over 16.5 million
                                             • Population density: 488 people per km2
                                                                                             ocean via the Netherlands and create
                                                                                             an important delta.                                     water and textile                                                         water management
                                             • Highest point: 323 m                       • 26% of the Netherlands is under
                                             • Lowest point: -6.7 m                          sea level.
                                                                                                                                       For more information please visit: www.dutchwatersector.com or contact the Dutch Embassy in Bangladesh: bangladesh.nlembassy.org

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BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS - 50 years of water cooperation opportunities together - Blue ...
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS                                                                                                                                                                                                                 50 YEARS OF WATER COOPERATION

BANGLADESH
DELTA PLAN 2100
THE DISTANT FUTURE STARTS TODAY

                                                                                                                                                                                                             TOWARDS
     Bangladesh is undergoing a rapid economic growth while facing              Economic Division (GED) of the Ministry of Planning. This Ministry
     some extensive challenges in the field of climate change, water            of Planning is responsible for holistic long term planning at national
     safety and food interfering with the continuation of this growth.          level. The Bangladesh Delta Plan serves as an umbrella that               Nineteen issues
                                                                                                                                                                                                             THE DELTA
     Actually the country is one huge delta along a vulnerable coastal          integrates all sector plans and policies with long term perspectives.
     area. This combination exposes Bangladesh to flood danger                  It will change the individual sectorial approach of project planning      The Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 works on nineteen
     and large water quality problems. For that reason, in close                and implementation to a multi-lateral coordinated approach. This          integrated issues, organised in eight blocks:
     cooperation with Dutch experts, Bangladesh is working towards              plan can be linked to short term plans such as Five Year Plans

                                                                                                                                                                                                             PLAN
     the Delta Plan 2100: an integrated and holistic long term vision.          and Vision 2021. The plan will enable the government policies and             Water Resources
     The Delta plan prepares the country for a sustainable future and           institutions to formulate and implement climate change adaptation        1	Morphological dynamics of Bangladesh Delta
     at the same time optimizes short and mid-term approach.                    programs in a more consistent way. The Delta Plan can facilitate         2  Water resources
                                                                                conservation of natural resources in a comprehensive manner,             3  Coastal Polder issues
     In 2014 a consortium consisting of Dutch and Bangladeshi experts           especially the river floodplains and coastal ecosystems.
                                                                                                                                                              Water Supply and Sanitation
     initiated the design of the Delta plan in connection with an implemen-                                                                              4	Public heath, water supply and sanitation        An important milestone towards the Bangladesh Delta Plan
     tation program. The vision for developing the Bangladesh delta is to       The plan enhances the capacity of good governance through its                                                                2100 was the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding
     achieve long term sustainable development through adaptive water           focus on institutional arrangements, strengthening and capacity               Disaster Risk Reduction                        (MoU) on May 2012 in Dhaka to jointly develop a long
                                                                                                                                                         5    Climate change issues
     governance, based on long term analysis and scenario’s as well as          building, equity and justice among all sectors. The funding process                                                          term national flood protection plan. Planning Minister AK
                                                                                                                                                         6    Disaster management
     integration of relevant policy sectors and the creation of adequate        will be more comprehensive among different governmental and                                                                  Khandker of Bangladesh and former Minister for International
     institutional arrangements and capacity. The Delta Plan will create a      non-governmental stakeholders, thus using limited funds more                  Spatial Planning                               Cooperation Ben Knapen of the Netherlands signed the
     clear vision or grand design of the future in 2100.                        effectively. The Bangladesh Delta Plan is a means of strengthening       7    Land resources                                 MoU. The signing ceremony was attended by the honorable
                                                                                international cooperation with neighboring countries as well as          8    Urbanization and settlement                    Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The MoU outlines a strategic
     LONG AND SHORT TERM                                                        development partners.                                                                                                        partnership with the Dutch government. Planning Minister
                                                                                                                                                              Food Security
     The plan will translate the vision for the future to the current                                                                                                                                        AK Khandker: ‘We have wasted many resources to implement
                                                                                                                                                          9   Agriculture and food security
     situation known as ‘back casting’.                                         The authorization was granted by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign           10   Fisheries and livestock                        those single-unit plans. That’s why the government has taken
                                                                                Affairs, in close coordination with the Bangladesh Ministry of                                                               the holistic approach, encompassing different sectors like
     Based on forecasting and back casting, while engaging with a wide          Planning and values the approximate amount of €6,5 million.                   Environmental Management                       agriculture, fisheries, industry, forestation, water management
                                                                                                                                                         11   Ecological Settings
     community of relevant stakeholders and professionals, actions leading      Process time of developing/implementing the Delta plan is 2.5                                                                and sanitation.’
                                                                                                                                                         12   Forests and biodiversity
     from the present day to the desired future are designed. Short and         years. The project connects with the Dutch policy on development         13   Environmental pollution
     medium term projects become an integrated part of the ‘grand               aid: the goal of the Netherlands is to contribute to a better water                                                          The Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 Formulation Project was formally
     design’, instead of just ‘trial and error’ actions. Based on that vision   management in specific countries deploying companies and                    Economics and Finance                            inaugurated on 27 August 2014. At the launch of the project
     short term ‘no-regret’ measures and actions leading from the present       knowledge institutions. The interchange of knowledge with third          14
                                                                                                                                                          	Growth of Population and Management in the       Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal stressed the need for
     day situation to the desired future can be defined. Stakeholder            parties in Bangladesh will ensure continuity after completion of            context of resources setting                     development efforts to be sustained, and mentioned that climate
                                                                                                                                                         15
                                                                                                                                                          	Socio-economic and demographic condition
     participation is an important element of success in the development        the project.                                                                                                                 change is a global phenomenon affecting everyone, everywhere.
                                                                                                                                                          	Sustainable Transportation Infrastructures
                                                                                                                                                         16
     of the Delta Plan. The basic idea behind this participatory approach is
     the increasing degree of involvement and trust between parties and         The consortium outlining the Delta plan is managed by consultancy             Governance                                     He also thanked the Government of The Netherlands for their
     ownership on problems and solutions: sharing certain influence or          agency Twynstra Gudde. The Bangladeshi parties are the Centre for        17
                                                                                                                                                          	Information and creation of knowledge            cooperation with Bangladesh in tackling delta management
     power with other parties on different levels.                              Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) and                 management institution                         issues. At the ceremony H.E. Mr. Gerben de Jong, Ambassador of
                                                                                                                                                         18
                                                                                                                                                          	Institutional framework/arrangement
                                                                                the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM). The other Dutch consortium       19 Regional cooperation
                                                                                                                                                                                                             the Netherlands to Bangladesh mentioned that the Netherlands
     UNDER ONE UMBRELLA                                                         partners are Euroconsult MottMacDonald, Ecorys, Witteveen+Bos,                                                               as a delta faces challenges similar to those in Bangladesh, and
     Upon recommendation of the Prime Minister’s Office of the                  D.EFAC.TO, Deltares, Wageningen University, Unesco-IHE and                                                                   expressed enjoyment to work together to share knowledge on
     Government of Bangladesh, the project is led by the General                Foundation Climate Adaptation Services.                                                                                      delta management issues.
                                                                                                                                                              More information: www.bandudeltas.org

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BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS - 50 years of water cooperation opportunities together - Blue ...
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      50 YEARS OF WATER COOPERATION

     TWELVE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A DELTA APPROACH
     Urban areas in delta’s worldwide are facing        The delta approach is a strategic planning           Bangladesh Delta Plan 2010. Three of which
     similar challenges: rapid population growth,       process for delta development that integrates        are of vital importance for the cooperation in
     flood risks, lack of spatial planning, scarce      sustainability, institutional, physical and          Bangladesh:
     natural resources. While solutions for each        social economic aspects. It is an integrated         •	long-term approach vs. short-term
     delta may be different, the preconditions          water management planning approach that                  measures
     for a sustainable delta approach are the           has proven to be very successful in the              •	collaboration with other government
     same. In close collaboration with urban            Dutch Delta program, and has been tested                 levels and stakeholders
     delta’s worldwide, the Netherlands has             and developed together with international            • integrated approach
     developed the ‘twelve building blocks for a        partners. The twelve building blocks are             More information on the building blocks can
     delta approach’. In short: the ‘must haves’ for    essential for a delta approach and therefore         be found here:
     sustainable delta management.                      play an important role in the design of the          www.dutchwatersector.com/delta

     ‘HOLISTIC VISION MAKES BANGLADESH
     DELTA PLAN SPECIAL AND INNOVATIVE’                                                                                                                               DELTA ATLAS:
     Jaap de Heer (Twynstra Gudde), project leader for the Netherlands
     of the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, is positive about the
     cooperation and progress. In his view however in some aspects
                                                                                  priorities. Concrete sort term plans and overall plans for the mid-term
                                                                                  are defined. Beyond short and mid-term we work with scenarios. In our
                                                                                  approach different possible future scenarios are being formulated. The
                                                                                                                                                                      DELTA-PROBLEMS
                                                                                                                                                                      AT A GLANCE
     things could be moved up a gear.                                             strategic measurements are tested in the different scenarios, where
                                                                                  strategies that score well on all scenarios are considered to be massive.
   ‘Our cooperation has become rather solid. In the first phase people
   were somewhat reserved: in past time there have been so many                   Our approach also provides actual necessary measures that in no
   comprehensive plans worldwide that have never actually become                  way essentially disconcert with the Delta Plan: the so-called no regret
   more than partially executed. But our own first Dutch Delta plan has           measures. We mean a massive investment program for management                                                                                                                           SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR
   given
Urban      us aninexcellent
         areas               reputation:
                   deltas worldwide   arethe extensive
                                           facing       plan
                                                   similar   has not only
                                                           challenges:    been
                                                                       rapid      and maintenance,
                                                                             population  growth, floodas risks,
                                                                                                         a partspatial
                                                                                                                 of the new  five year
                                                                                                                         planning,      programme
                                                                                                                                    scarce   natural starting
                                                                                                                                                      resources.                                                                                                          DELTA PROBLEMS
   produced
While          but for
        solutions   fullyeach
                          accomplished
                              delta mayas bewell.                                 from June delta
                                             different, the preconditions for a sustainable  2015. approach
                                                                                                    So the total  ofthe
                                                                                                                are  oursame.
                                                                                                                          ‘adaptive  delta cooperation
                                                                                                                                 In close  management’with
urban deltas worldwide, the Netherlands has developed the ‘twelve building        approach
                                                                                     blocks differs largely
                                                                                            for a delta      from theIn
                                                                                                          approach’.   traditional
                                                                                                                          short: theapproach   in Bangladesh,
                                                                                                                                      ‘must haves’    for
                                                                                                                                                                   Many relevant data are collected for the Delta Plan 2100. In                                           Scientific and technical cooperation
   We are appreciated
sustainable                since people are aware of the fact that a large
               delta management.                                                  which usually applied a one dimensional solution for a one                       the context of the plan a total of nineteen research projects are                                      in the field of space technology can
   part of the Netherlands is situated below sea-level. In the eyes of            dimensional problem.                                                                                                                                                                    contribute to the solution for food, water
   the Bangladeshi that makes the Dutch situation more urgent than
                                                                                                                                                                   being carried out. But how can one get an overview, and view the                                       and climate related issues in the delta
   the situation in their own country: it all depends on how you look at          Obviously the realisation and implementation of the Delta Plan is                challenges at a glance? Well: by processing all these data in maps,                                    of Bangladesh. Therefore the Dutch
   it. Besides, we are building upon the intensive cooperation that has           largely a matter of money. At the start it was acknowledged that                                                                                                                        National Air and Space laboratory (NLR)
   been going on between the two countries ever since the seventies. Of           financing should be an integrated part of the project. Otherwise the
                                                                                                                                                                   and to literally overlay them. Exactly as is already being done in the                                 and CEGIS from Bangladesh contracted a
   course I would sometimes want things to speed up somewhat, we have             outcome is another nice glossy plan that will never be applied. For              case of the digital climate atlas ‘Delta Atlas’ for Bangladesh, which                                  cooperation agreement. The satellite alert
   to deal with many rules and stakeholders. But at the same time things          that reason the World Bank had initially been contacted. They are                                                                                                                       systems produced by the NLR lead to an
   are moving fast, compared to the duration of the preparation and the           working on a review of their Bangladesh Country Assistance Strategy.
                                                                                                                                                                   was developed by the Dutch knowledge institute Alterra.                                                improved information and communication
   decision making on the recent Dutch Delta plan.                                Sustainable vision and meaningful strategies were considered to                                                                                                                         infrastructure.
                                                                                  be more necessary than ever before and recognised in the Delta                   Hasse Goosen (Alterra): ‘We collect all the        In the same way, by combining and overlaying
   The Ministry of Planning is responsible for the project, regarding             Plan. This has led to a unique Memorandum of Understanding on                    available map material in our touchable,           map data, the drought problems in the North         The NLR is an independent knowledge
   its cross-sector and long term character. I work closely together              investment planning between Bangladesh, the Netherlands and the                  a powerful computer with a very large              west, the cyclones and the salination at the        institution in the aerospace sector.
   with the General Economics Division of the Planning Commission,                World Bank. A comparable arrangement is supported by the Asian                   touch screen. The next step is to integrate        coast can be mapped. The ambition is to             Knowledge centre CEGIS (Centre for
   of the Bangladeshi government, functioning as a think-tank. Our                Development Bank.                                                                and connect all that data. We overlay              visualize several different climate scenarios and   Environmental and Geographic Information
   team consists of twelve Dutch and approximately thirty Bangladeshi                                                                                              several layers to make the risks in the area       demonstrate the great lengths that the water is     Services) from Bangladesh focusses on
   experts, all highly educated employees in every discipline the project         Last but not least: water governance and institutional development               comprehensible. And so we can provide insight      threatening to enter the land due to the rising     resource management planning, system
   requires. More often than not the Bangladeshi experts have partly              are important issues. In relation to the Delta Plan the governance               in for instance the effects of flashfloods,        sea level.                                          development, knowledge development
   been educated in the Netherlands.                                              cycle must be developed on a national level, combined with the                   sudden and heavy floods by abundant rainfall                                                           and research. Both parties are exploring
                                                                                  functionalization and equipment of the implementing organisations. An            in the North-Eastern part of the country on        Obviously we receive a lot of input from            commercial possibilities in the field of climate
   The holistic vision and approach in combination with the long-                 approach for monitoring and evaluation for the review and modification           the rice cultivation. On one side you find the     Bangladeshi and Dutch monitoring experts.           change, climate adaptation, reduction of
   term view make the Bangladesh Delta Plan special and innovative.               of the implementation, also related to the adaptive delta management             flood charts and on the other the charts with      The base of our information is formed by their      calamity risks and the design of integrated
   Our focus is not only on flood danger, but also on water related               approach will be developed as well. Most certainly these challenges              the data on which type of rice cultivation takes   findings, but besides we make sure to be fully      environmental analysis in Bangladesh.
   agricultural aspects, economic and spatial development. A total of             should not be underestimated. To come to a safer and more prosperous             place and location and time of the harvest.        informed by our sources in the region. Together     CEGIS and NLR want to support bilateral
   nineteen coherent issues have been labelled, but with mutual evident           Bangladesh, solving these challenges is a key issue.’                            The harvest right before the monsoon is the        we help to build a secure fundament for the         programs in cooperation with partners from
                                                                                                                                                                   most vulnerable.                                   Bangladesh Delta Plan.’                             Bangladesh and the Netherlands.

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BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS - 50 years of water cooperation opportunities together - Blue ...
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          50 YEARS OF WATER COOPERATION

THE BLUE GOLD                                                                                                                                               CHAR DEVELOPMENT AND SETTLEMENT PROJECT
PROJECT:                                                                                                                                                    The Char Development and Settlement            flats, foreshores and embankments, which         Forestry -, Micro Finance - and Tube Well User
                                                                                                                                                            Project Phase IV (CDSP IV) is the fourth       also provide income generation possibilities     Groups. They are closely involved in planning
PROVIDING                                                                                                                                                   phase in a series of projects that have been   for Social Forestry Groups. For example: to      and implementing the project as well as in
                                                                                                                                                            developing newly accreted land (chars)         improve the climate-resilient infrastructure     the operation and maintenance upon the
A SOLID                                                                                                                                                     in Bangladesh for over two decades. The        the project facilitates the building of roads,   completion of interventions.
                                                                                                                                                            project activities of CDSP IV focus on         bridges, culverts, cyclone shelters, schools,
FOUNDATION                                                                                                                                                  the development of five new chars: Char        refuges for livestock, markets, boat landing     While forming these field level institutions,
                                                                                                                                                            Nangulia, Noler Char, Caring Char, Urir        facilities and bus stops. CDSP IV leads          female participation is promoted. The overall
                                                                                                                                                            Char and Char Ziauddin. Together these         the administrative process for the official      goal of the Gender action plan in CDSP IV is to
Less poverty, a safer living environment                                                                                                                    encompass around 30,000 ha, with an            registration of the land titles. This includes   make stakeholders in the project more gender
and a sustainable social-economic                                                                                                                           estimated population of 155,000 people         public hearings to confirm the landless          sensitive and to ensure sufficient women
development, of which around 150,000                                                                                                                        living in 28,000 households. CDSP IV           households, registering the title in both the    participation in the field level institutions
households in an area of 160,000 hectares                                                                                                                   started in March 2011 and will be completed    wife’s and husband’s name, and the digital       established by the project.
will profit. That is Blue Gold, the largest                                                                                                                 in March 2017. The first three phases of       land record management system.
programme of the Dutch embassy, aiming                                                                                                                      CDSP were co-financed by the Government
on water management in the polders of                                                                                                                       of Bangladesh and the Dutch government.        The agricultural support subcomponent
the three districts: Patuakhali, Khulna en         Blue Gold not only aims on technical                 polder level. The aim is to create effective        The International Fund for Agricultural        aims at enabling farmers to make better
Satkhira. The programme enables local              management and safety of water, but also on          cooperations with a minimum of thirty percent       Development (IFAD) has joined in the           use of their land resources. Farmer Forums
communities to focus on sustainable water          a higher production and a better accessibility       female participants, which would be a major         fourth phase, which shows good donor           are established, and a program to promote
management. The programme started in               of new markets, to stimulate economic growth.        breakthrough in women empowerment. In the           harmonization.                                 agricultural technologies is implemented.
2013 and has a duration of 6 years.                A project like Blue Gold will fit in seamlessly in   field of Integrated Water Resource Management                                                      Four NGO’s provide micro-finance services,
                                                   the Delta plan, especially in relation to climate    within Blue Gold works like the repair of the       The project enhances protection from           provide training on income-generating
The name of the multi-annual programme refers      change. The effects of climate change seem to        dikes and other elements of the polder system       climate change on the chars by building        activities and disaster management, raise
to the fact that for its economic Bangladesh,      become even more dramatic than was initially         are carried out. Water distribution and drainage    embankments, drainage sluices, channels        awareness for legal rights and extend health
globally the largest river delta, is largely       feared. It may involve a one metre sea level         is also improved. The aim is constantly at          and closures. Water Management Groups are      and family planning services. To ensure
dependent on integrated and sustainable            rise, when already at this time during heavy         a close cooperation between governments             formed to operate and maintain the developed   people’s participation in the interventions
water resource management. The three most          rainfall half of the country is under water. Due     and local communities. Together these are           infrastructure. In addition, protective        of the project, community based groups are
important river stream areas determine the         to continuous land reclamation the incline is        a necessary condition for the improvement           plantations of trees are established on mud    formed, such as Water Management-, Social
physiography of this country and its people. The   getting smaller and smaller, so drainage of          of food security, further development of
water, the blue gold, made Bangladesh to what      rainwater to the sea is getting problematic.         agriculture and, following that, economic

                                                                                                                                                               Flood alert through voice-sms
it is today. Bangladesh water management will      Blue Gold started at a local level by forming        development. Through the embassy in Dhaka
continue to be a huge challenge, offering great    Water Management Groups at village level             Dutch government contributes 50 million euro
opportunities at the same time.                    and Water Management Associations at                 to Blue Gold. Bangladesh contributes 7.5 million.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Forecasting flooding in Bangladesh is improving, but it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     continues to be difficult to reach the people in all villages in

SOUTH WEST PROJECT
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     remote areas as well. Voice sms makes that possible. Dutch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     consultancy agency HKV and knowledge institute Deltares
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     have recently carried out the project ‘Mobile Services For Flood
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Early Warning’ in Bangladesh. The main goal of the project was
From 2006 to 2015, the South West Water            Water fundamentally affects rural livelihoods        and strengthen WMA’s. Implementing partner                                                                                   to reach rural communities with flood warnings.
Resources Planning and Management Project          in Bangladesh as the country’s major regional        is Bangladesh Water Development Board
has been working on the improvement of             river systems bring about annual floods,             (BWDB). The results are fairly good; each of                                                                                 In that framework a voice SMS system was piloted, in
national water resources management by             severe dry-season water scarcity and periodic        the 102 WMG’s have established operation and                                                                                 which flood forecasts are provided in Bangladesh. The Flood
involving the local communities, both men          disasters. The South West areas are facing the       management accounts and are performing                                                                                       Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) in Dhaka produces
and women, to play an expanded role; from          most acute problems.                                 operation and management independently.                                                                                      adequate flood forecasts for the main river systems. The
planning and design to operations and                                                                                                                                                                                                FFWC disposes of an extensive system for the collection and
management. The project infrastructures            Effective water management is critical to the        The income per household increased by                                                                                        production of hydrologic and other data as input for forecast
are handed over to the Water Management            addressing of pervasive rural poverty problems.      about 32% and the total accrued benefit from                                                                                 models. The system is used to give flood forecasts and alerts
Associations (WMA) for operation and               The South West Project has introduced                enhanced crop & fish production is around USD                                                                                and spread these daily to governmental and non-governmental
maintenance. Almost one million people in          participatory Integrated Water Management            430 million by 2012-2013. The Dutch Embassy,                                                                                 organisations, media and other parties. The information was
South West Districts benefit from improved         Plans (IWMP’s) for Flood Control & Drainage/         Government of Bangladesh and the ADB are                                                                                     spread to the people through volunteers. In the test case these
livelihoods. The South West Project (total         Irrigation schemes covering about 43,000 ha          discussing a possible second phase of the                                                                                    official forecasts of the FFWC have been translated to forecasts
budget USD 43,4 million) was funded by The         of land in the Southwest area. The project also      project.                                                                                                                     for any given location in Bangladesh. All user groups have been
Netherlands, the Asian Development Bank            aimed to improve productive and sustainable                                                                                                                                       trained to use this technology and understand the content of
(ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh.            water management systems and to establish                                                                                                                                         the voice SMSes.

14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       15
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS - 50 years of water cooperation opportunities together - Blue ...
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS                                                                                                                                                                                                       50 YEARS OF WATER COOPERATION

BALANCE ISLAND WEAPON IN FIGHT                                                                                                                               Oysters and mangroves as a first line of defence
AGAINST SALINISATION
                                                                                                                                                                             Artificial oyster reefs and mangrove         to 500 metres with full grown mangrove
                                                                                                                                                                             forests add to a sustainable coastal         trees is needed. In the long term this
                                                                                                                                                                             defence, they form an extra line of          results in a self-repairing coastal
                                                                                                                                                                             defence to protect vulnerable earthen        protection system of oyster reefs and
                                                                                                                                                                             embankments from storms and floods.          mangrove forests. Researchers have
                                                                                                                                                                             Besides the reefs and forests are a source   concluded that this relatively cheap and
                                                                                                                                                                             of food as well as an income source for      sustainable method of eco-engineering
                                                                                                                                                                             the local people. That is what Dutch and     contributes to the coastal defence. The
                                                                                                                                                                             Bangladeshi experts determined in a          reef and the mangrove forest attract fish
                                                                                                                                                                             pilot financed by the Netherlands, that      and crabs, subsequently forming a source
                                                                                                                                                                             was finalised end 2014. The Bangladeshi      of food besides the oysters. Furthermore
                                                                                                                                                                             government has shown interest in larger      crabs have an additional economic value
                                                                                                                                                                             pilot projects.                              as a potential export product.

                                                                                                                                                                             Oyster reefs influence streams and waves.    For the appearance of this sustainable
                                                                                                                                                                             The appearing sand drifts between reef       and self-healing system the oyster reefs
                                                                                                                                                                             and beach make planting of mangrove          and the mangrove forests must be very
                                                                                                                                                                             trees possible. An artificially formed       well managed: wood nor oysters should
                                                                                                                                                                             oyster reef, with a concrete base, will      be removed. Good cooperation with local
                                                                                                                                                                             speed up the growth of the mangrove          communities alongside the coastline is
                                                                                                                                                                             forest. For the realisation of coastal       essential for sensible management of this
                                                                                                                                                                             protection a broad strip of at least 250     natural line of defence.
     Impression of balance island in the Netherlands

 he concept of ‘Balance Islands’ possibly
T                                                      of Building with Nature as it extends existing    world. The concept of the Balance Island won
offers an effective solution for the                   shallow coastal zones through sand suppletion.    both the prestigious Dutch Delta Water Award
salinization of drinking water and agricultural        This creates a natural barrier that will guide    and the international Delta Alliance Young
areas in river deltas. A multi-disciplinary            salt water along pre-determined channels.         Professional Award in 2012.
Dutch consortium is conducting an
international feasibility study to determine            he key advantage is that it makes use of the
                                                       T                                                  he study is funded by the Global Water
                                                                                                         T
the situation in Bangladesh and Vietnam.               delta’s own dynamics and strengthens the          program, financed by the Dutch Ministries of
                                                       natural values, while at the same time offering   Infrastructure and the Environment and Foreign
 he Balance Island is a concept to reduce
T                                                      solutions that make the delta area more           Affairs. The project partners will carry out
coastal salt water intrusion by constructing off-      inhabitable. Balance Island can also support      the study in close collaboration with existing
shore sand islands that create a tidal area with       conservation efforts for (aquatic) fauna, flora   initiatives, local research institutes and policy
brackish water. Balance Island is an example           and eco-systems in many river deltas around the   makers.

                                                         Satellite for crops
                                                         Satellites provide unbiased and                 conditions, for supporting
                                                         consistently collected data of large            ACI’s management information system.
                                                         areas, which, if properly processed, are
                                                         the basis for agricultural monitoring           This will eventualluy result in better
                                                         and information services for farmers            services to their customers, the
                                                         and decision makers.                            farmers, and improvement to farm
                                                         ACI, a large agribusiness in Bangladesh         inputs, higher production and profits.
                                                         is launching customer for a new pilot           The satellite data and other (basic)
                                                         in this field.                                  data are available through an open
                                                                                                         Data Portal in order to make the data
                                                         A Dutch consortium will support ACI in          directly accessible for direct users and
                                                         demonstrating that reliable information,        other stakeholders, as well as other
                                                         based on satellite data, can be provided        potential business services by the
                                                         year round, under various weather               Dutch consortium.

16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 17
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS - 50 years of water cooperation opportunities together - Blue ...
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        50 YEARS OF WATER COOPERATION

                                                   SANITATION                                         The fundament of the BRAC WASH

                                                   AND DRINKING
                                                                                                      approach is the formation of Village
                                                                                                      WASH Committees (VWC’s) with their             CLEAN
                                                   WATER FOR
                                                                                                      own responsibility in reaching the goals
                                                                                                      for drinking water and sanitation in small     CANALS AS
                                                   MILLIONS OF
                                                                                                      communities. Each VMC consists of six
                                                                                                      women and five men, a group that is            SAFE CITY
                                                   PEOPLE
                                                                                                      representative of the village community.
                                                                                                      Together they select the best spots for        FOUNDATION
                                                                                                      water dwells, raise money and supervise the
                                                                                                      managing and maintenance of the latrines.
                                                   Bangladesh has made huge progress in               The VMC is also responsible for granting
                                                   the field of health. Even though spending          micro credit to poor families to help them
                                                   less on health care compared to some               start their own facilities. Meanwhile over
                                                   neighbouring countries, Bangladesh has the         65,000 VWC’s have been formed. The
                                                   highest life expectancy, the lowest fertility      working area of BRAC WASH covers more
                                                   number and the lowest starvation number            than half of Bangladesh.                       The Dhaka Water Supply & Sewerage                system from processing the huge amounts            planning. In this context the UDDP covers
                                                   of children below five years in South-Asia.                                                       Authority has started a ten year program to      of water resulting from the monsoon.               the introduction of smart monitoring systems
                                                   The BRAC WASH program, supported by the            Having 120,000 employees in twelve             clean all canals in Dhaka. Part of the program   Leading to floods yearly and soiling of the        as well.
                                                   Netherlands, has been contributing to these        countries and a yearly turnover of 819         is the Urban Dredging Demonstration Project      neighbouring district. VEI has demonstrated
                                                   numbers since 2006. Currently the program          million dollars, BRAC is the largest NGO in    (UDDP) that has started in June 2014 as a        how these problems could be attacked with          Another part of the project is addressing
                                                   secures access to sanitation for 32.4 people,      the world. The budget of BRAC WASH II for      cooperation between Dhaka WASA and Vitens        methods, techniques and apparatus developed        behavioural change together with a
                                                   safe drinking water for 2.2. million people        the period 2011-2015 is 34.7 million euro’s.   Evides International (VEI) as a part of the      in the Netherlands. Simultaneously starting an     Bangladeshi NGO: people must stop throwing
                                                   and hygienic education that reaches 63.6           The Netherlands pays the larger part, 27.3     Water Operators Partnership (WOP).               intensive training program for local managers,     everything in the canals. The UDP project runs
                                                   million people. The second phase of BRAC           million euro’s. IRC International Water and                                                     supervisors and contractors to sufficiently        to September 2016 and is financially facilitated
                                                   WASH has started in October 2011 and will          Sanitation Centre, a Dutch NGO, is involved    The canals that form the main sewage system      prepare, plan and execute the dredging within      by Dhaka WASA, VEI and the Embassy of the
                                                   run up to 2015.                                    to handle the technical support.               of Dhaka are heavily silted up, preventing the   a management and maintenance long term             Netherlands.

‘I like washing my hands’                                                                                                                            DRINKING WATER AND                                                                                  participants. Through collaboration with
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         water companies in developing- and transition

SUISAYA’S STORY                                                                                                                                      SANITATION:                                                                                         countries, VEI has extensive experience with
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         improving water supply, water quality and

                                                                                                                                                     BETTER PERFORMANCE                                                                                  wastewater services. Simavi, a Dutch NGO, also
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         joined the Water Operators Partnership.

                                                                                                                                                     FOR URBAN POOR                                                                                      On 11 February 2015, DWASA and VEI signed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         a Memorandum of Understanding expressing
Suisaya, a pupil of the fourth grade class of      and hygiene (WASH), combined with                                                                                                                                                                     their commitment to intensify the existing
the Yangsa School in Golkhali (Bangladesh).        other programs on safe motherhood and                                                             In Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh the          on the improvement of the performance of           partnership and explore future opportunities.
Only one year ago, the school did not have         nutrition. Between 2012 and 2016, the MAX                                                         Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority        deep tube wells, the reduction of non-revenue
any water or sanitation facilities. She did        value for WASH program in the south of                                                            (DWASA) is signaling rapidly declining           water and the providing of safe drinking water     This partnership focusses on technical support
not have anything to drink all day and when        Bangladesh will reach 800,000 people in                                                           groundwater tables, severe environmental         and sanitation to inhabitants of low income        on operations and maintenance of drinking
she needed to use a toilet she had to walk         rural Bangladesh with water, sanitation and                                                       pollution, climate change, deteriorating         communities in Dhaka. The Urban Dredging           water infrastructure, on demonstration of
into the field. Being a girl, this made her        hygiene education.                                                                                infrastructure and a fast growing and            Demonstration Project (see article) is also part   urban dredging technologies as well as on
feel vulnerable. Since one year the Max                                                                                                              demanding population. In order to prepare        of the WOP.                                        the extension of services into Dhaka’s low
Foundation has started a MAX-WASH project          It is estimated that the coastal zone of                                                          itself for the future, DWASA acknowledges                                                                income communities. Engr. Taqsem Kahn,
at her school, together with the school            Bangladesh is the home of 38 million people                                                       that action is required. One of the actions      Dhaka Water Supply &                                       Managing Director of DWASA and Mr.
management. Now, there is a water well in          (7.5 million households). Of these, 38% live                                                      being undertaken is the Water Operators          Sewerage Authority                                           Marco Schouten, CEO of VEI signed
the school yard and there are separated            below the poverty line and have limited                                                           Partnership (WOP) between Dhaka WASA and         (DWASA) was established in                                    the memorandum of understanding.
latrines for girls and boys. Suisaya smilingly     access to food, income, water, sanitation                                                         Vitens Evides International, which started       1963 and today its service                                    Engr. Taqsem Kahn reinforced: “The
says: ‘I wash my hands when I have used            and healthcare. The communities identified                                                        in 2012.                                         area covers more than                                         partnership between DWASA and
the toilet. If you do not wash your hands          lack of safe drinking water and sanitation                                                                                                         360 square km, serving a                                     VEI is an excellent one. So far we
after using the toilet you might get ill. I like   as the number one issue in their daily lives.                                                     The partnership aims to enhance the              population of an estimated                                  have had good results; now we are
washing my hands!’                                 58% of households in Barisal Division don’t                                                       operational performance and the management       12,5 million people.                                      replicating these results and we are
                                                   have access to hygienic latrine facilities. As a                                                  of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage                                                                doing some rethinking.
The Dutch Max Foundation aims to prevent           result child mortality rates in the region are                                                    Authority (DWASA). And also to support           Vitens Evides International (VEI) is a joint
child mortality through an integrated              above the national average (5% of children                                                        DWASA in providing water, sanitation and         venture of the two largest water companies         Now is the time to start the preparation for
approach: work in the field of water, sanitation   under 5 year, source Worldbank).                                                                  hygiene promotion services (WASH) to the         in the Netherlands: Vitens and Evides. Two         exploring new opportunities so we can expand
                                                                                                                                                     urban poor. The two partners decided to focus    other Dutch water companies act as additional      and extend in the future”.

18                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     19
BANGLADESH - THE NETHERLANDS                                                                                                                                                                                                                            50 YEARS OF WATER COOPERATION

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Cleaner production:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           G-Star one of the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           front runners
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           A group of leading textile and fashion brands works hard
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           on cleaner production in Bangladesh. One of them is
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           G-Star. G-Star collaborates with seven garment factories in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Bangladesh that are predominantly vertically integrated. This
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           means they perform all steps in the production process in-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           house, from spinning to garment making.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ‘Frouke Bruinsma, Corporate Responsibility manager,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           explains why G-Star has joined PaCT: ‘G-Star wants to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           help reach lasting progress in the garment industry of our
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           production countries by improving social and environmental
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           sustainability in cooperation with our suppliers. Within
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           the PaCT program, we are able to work one on one with
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           our suppliers in Bangladesh to achieve this goal and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           guide suppliers towards improved chemical management,

BANGLADESH WATER PACT                                                                                                                                                                                                      reduction of water and energy consumption, reduction of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           waste water generation, improved water quality and better

TOWARDS CLEANER TEXTILE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) conditions. The PaCT
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           program supports G-Star on coaching and capacity building

                                                                                                                                                             Boosting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           of suppliers and the local G-Star team in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh textile industry is the second largest in the world. The factories annually consume                                                                                                                         Working in the PaCT program together with other

                                                                                                                                                             innovation
1,500 billion litres of groundwater and contaminate surface water through inadequate effluent                                                                                                                              international brands encourages industry cooperation,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           sharing expertise and profound supplier engagement. This
treatment. International fashion brands are increasingly aware of their social responsibility concerning                                                                                                                   leads to progress that goes beyond our own supply chain,
the sustainability of their supply chain to achieve a cleaner textile production process. Together with                                                                                                                    improving the conditions in the entire garment industry
                                                                                                                                                             In the forthcoming period the Textile Technology Business     in Bangladesh.’
some well-known fashion brands, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Solidaridad and other                                                         Centre ‘TTBC’ will focus on the development of innovative
organizations established the Bangladesh Water PaCT: Partnership for Cleaner Textile, in 2014,                                                               and practical showcases. An ‘Innovation hub’ that will
                                                                                                                                                             include an innovation fund for the support of promising
leading textile brands.                                                                                                                                      new techniques will be developed.

PaCT seeks to bring about systemic, positive         SUSTAINABLE AND                                      Bangladesh’s textile sector and improves its       The Innovation Hub will create an enabling environment
environmental change for the Bangladesh              COMPETITIVE                                          environmental sustainability. It is part of our    for demonstration pilots and best practices for wet
textile wet processing sector, its workers and       Dutch Minister Lilianne Ploumen: “The                broader initiative to help the sector thrive and   processing factories on cleaner production technologies.
surrounding communities, and to contribute to        Netherlands aims to support this industry            remain competitive,” said Jeeva Perumapillai-      This can include both globally innovative solutions as
the sector’s long-term competitiveness. PaCT’s       in becoming more sustainable and globally            Essex, Regional Business Line Manager for IFC.     well as local uptake of proven (best) practices in other
inaugural Annual Event was in June 2014.             competitive. Bringing in cleaner production                                                             contexts. The pilot factories function as the ‘launching
Ms. Lilianne Ploumen, Minister of Foreign            practices and technologies that significantly        Through its strong local and international         customer’ to demonstrate practices.
Trade and Development Cooperation of the             reduce water consumption and effluent will           network, the TTBC collects, analyzes and
Netherlands launched the Textile Technology          make the sector more resource-efficient and          translates practical information on best           The Innovation Fund will provide seed capital to support
Business Center (TTBC), the first of its kind in     more competitive”. “Launching the TTBC is an         available technologies, business-to-business       pilots and field-testing of innovations in the Bangladeshi
Bangladesh, as a part of the PaCT-program on         important step towards a sustainable garment         linkages, and financing. It is shared with         context. The Innovation Fund aims to stimulate local wet
26th May 2014. The TTBC was set up by the            industry,” said BGMEA Vice President Md.             factories, service providers, input suppliers,     processing factories to start piloting cleaner production
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Ex-             Shahidullah Azim. “The need of an institution        knowledge institutions and other stakeholders      technologies - with a focus on water sustainability – that
porters Association (BGMEA) with support from        that connects the industry with academia and         in the textile sector. The TTBC provides           are new or uncommon for Bangladesh. Besides, technology
the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands            provides localized, tailor-made solutions is vital   unbiased information on Cleaner Production         suppliers will be challenged to offer globally innovative
(EKN) and the International Finance Corpora-         if we are to ensure the long term sustainability     (CP), Occupational Health and Safety               technologies that are appropriate to the local context of
tion (IFC). One of the key roles of the TTBC is to   of the Bangladesh textile sector.”                   (OHS) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene            the factories. Suppliers can demonstrate their technologies
assist the textile industry in adopting resource                                                          (WASH). TNO, a reputable Dutch research            to create awareness for improving opportunities that are
efficiency measures including waste water and        “Supporting the Textile Technology Business          organization, provided technical support in the    supported by business models. Factories can submit their
ground water management systems.                     Center aligns with IFC’s commitment to               establishment of TTBC.                             demonstration projects to the innovation fund.

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