ADB has awarded three of its top performing project teams in Bangladesh in an effort to recognise efficient project implementation, it said in a statement yesterday.

The awardees are Dhaka Water Supply Sector Development Project by Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA); Participatory Small Scale Water Resources Sector Development Project by Local Government Engineering Department; and Secondary Education Sector Development Project by Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.

M Teresa Kho, ADB country director in Bangladesh, presented the awards to the winners at a ceremony in Dhaka on Sunday. Senior government officials, project directors of various ADB-assisted projects, members of the winning project teams, and ADB staff attended the ceremony.

The best project team recognition program, initiated in 2001, is part of an ongoing effort by ADB to improve effectiveness of the projects finances.

“The awards recognised the project teams' efficiency, results delivery, transparency in procurement, effective project implementation, efforts to empower women, and other criteria”, Kho said.

The Dhaka Water Supply Sector Development Project, with $202.5 million in ADB assistance, works to improve water supply services in Dhaka, for better health and sustainable economic growth. It also supports rehabilitation and optimisation of the water distribution network of the Dhaka WASA to minimise losses and allow for 24-hour pressurized water supply and assure water quality.

The Participatory Small Scale Water Resources Sector Development Project, with a $55 million ADB loan, is improving small-scale water services to help cut rural poverty, improve food production, increase access to water, and address the adverse impacts of climate change. It works on improving flood management, drainage, water conservation, irrigation, and developing water management cooperative associations.

The Secondary Education Sector Development Project, which ADB is financing with $89.05 million, supports implementation of policy reforms, helps improve efficiency and quality of secondary education, while enhancing equitable and inclusive access including establishing schools in under-served areas, furnishes and equips schools, updates the curricula, and helps the government modernise madrasah education.

As a major development partner of Bangladesh, ADB is currently supporting a wide range of development programs under 60 government projects worth more than $5 billion.

News: The Daily Star/Bangladesh/11th-Dec-12