IsDB approves $56 million for hygiene project in Bangladesh

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) will provide $56 million for developing inclusive and integrated sanitation and hygiene system in Bangladesh.

The bank's board of executive directors approved the five-year project titled: "Inclusive and Integrated Sanitation and Hygiene Project in 10 Priority Towns in Bangladesh" in its 342nd meeting, said a press release.

IsDB president and chairman of the IsDB Group, Dr Muhammad Al Jasser presided over the meeting.

The IsDB supported project will include $19.6 million as grant from the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) of IsDB along with $36.4 million as other mode of financing for which the Government of Bangladesh submitted an official request in October 2020.

The project was developed based on the initial feasibility studies by the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, the press release added.

IsDB Regional Hub of Dhaka collaborated with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) through Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) Technical Assistance (TA) Hub to enhance the feasibility study in supporting the preparation of the project.

The project aims to ensure good lives and livelihoods for 1.4 million people by providing adequate and accessible sanitation and hygiene facilities and services for all with a focus on poor urban women and children guided by the CWIS approach.

The scope of the project will cover ten selected priority towns namely – Narsingdi, Shariatpur, Cumilla, Lakshmipur, Jamalpur, Natore, Pabna, Sirajganj, Bagerhat, and Patuakhali.

Specific objectives of the project are: (i) Protect soil and groundwater from microbiological contamination; (ii) Contribute to the reduction of incidence of water-borne diseases; (iii) Create sanitation-related jobs and businesses, and (iv) Develop CWIS model in the ten project towns. In addition, 1,000 sanitation-related jobs and businesses will be created including at least 33% women.

Furthermore, 550,000 people will be reached through awareness campaigns including 50% women in 10 cities.

The project will be implemented by the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) over the period of five years from 2022 to 2027 at an estimated total cost of $66 million comprising $56 million – including 35% as grant from LLF by IsDB and $10 million by the Government of Bangladesh.

IsDB is a AAA-rated multilateral development bank (MDB) with 57 Member Countries and a mandate of delivering social and economic development in its Member Countries and Muslim communities worldwide.

Bangladesh is a founding member of the IsDB since 12 August 1974. The first IsDB operation in Bangladesh was undertaken in March 1977. To date, the IsDB has financed about $22.52 billion in Bangladesh for a total of 469 portfolios; 83 of which are active and 386 have been completed, the press release further added.