Integrated Water Resource Management in the Barind tract

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

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

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

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

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

Resultados previstos:  

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

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

Fase 1 01.08.2014 - 30.06.2018   (Completed)