Bangladesh Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Human Capital Development Project
The United Nations (UN) has determined that access to clean water and sanitation facilities is a basic human right. Safe drinking water and hygienic toilets protect people from disease and enable societies to be more productive economically. Equitable sanitation and hygiene solutions address the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations, such as the elderly or people with disabilities. In 2020, a report by the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development found that “Billions of people throughout the world still lack access to safely managed water and sanitation services and basic handwashing facilities at home, which are critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.”
In line with Sustainable Development Goals Target 6.1: Safe and affordable drinking water and Target 6.2: End open defecation and provide access to sanitation and hygiene, Ghashful is implementing “Bangladesh Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Human Capital Development Project” under the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) in collaboration with Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) with financial support from the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to reform institutions and improve WASH services and hygiene practices in Bangladesh.
Components of the Project:
The project has six major components :
- Component 1: Investments in water supply.
- Component 2: Investments in sanitation and hygiene.
- Component 3: Institutional strengthening.
- Component 4: Project implementation and management.
- Component 5: COVID-19 emergency response.
- Component 6: Contingent emergency response.
Among these Ghashful is contributing in the implementation of two components in collaboration with PKSF which are mentioned below:
Component 1.3 Household loans for Water Facility improvements (MFI loans to HHs)
Objective: The purpose of this loan is to provide loans to the members of the group to modernize the water supply system at their houses in rural areas. Through this, borrowers can build water supply facility in their house by connecting existing water source to pump and overhead tank, and install water lines to provide water channels to latrine, handwashing basins, or kitchen taps.
Component 2.2 Loans for Sanitation and Hygiene facilities (MFI loans for the poor)
Objective: The purpose of this loan is to provide loans to members of the group (mainly poor) or selected groups as per “target selection strategy” for setting up or upgradation of new sanitation facilities. This loan scheme will help poor households in the rural area to set up hygienic sanitation facilities under safe management, and maintain hygienic sanitation practices at their house.
Timeframe and coverage area of the project:
This project, to be implemented from 2021 to 2025. The World Bank, PKSF and DPHE will work together in 78 selected upazilas of 18 districts in 4 divisions. The convergence approach has been applied here with two other WB-funded projects and involves a geographical overlap of project locations. Approximately 1,20,000 households will get safe water supply and 10,00,000 households will get hygienic sanitation facilities under the project.
Working area of Ghashful under the project:
Ghashful is implementing the project in 03 Districts- Chattogram, Kumilla and Feni, at 05 Upazillas (Kumilla Sadar South, Feni Sadar, Chhagalnaiya, Mirsharai, and Patiya) through 08 branches.
