Document of The World Bank FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Report No. 53624-BD PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH JOINT IDA-IMF STAFF ADVISORY NOTE ON THE POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PAPER April 19, 2010 This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization. INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH Joint Staff Advisory Note on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Prepared by the Staffs of the International Monetary Fund and the International Development Association Approved by Kalpana Kochhar and Thomas Dorsey (IMF) and Isabel Guerrero (IDA) April 19, 2010 I. Introduction 1. Bangladesh's second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper ­ "Steps Towards Change: National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction II (NSAPR II)" ­ provides a framework for implementing the government's agenda during FY09-FY11. First prepared 1 by a Caretaker government, the NSAPR II was later revised by the current elected government to reflect its priorities. The NSAPR II outlines five strategic priorities and describes the supporting strategies to achieve them. This Joint Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) provides feedback on priority areas for strengthening the NSAPR II and its implementation. 2. The NSAPR II is a first step in achieving the government's long-term Perspective Plan. The government is currently preparing a long-term Perspective Plan (2010-2020) to lay out its development vision. To realize this vision, the government will begin implementing the Sixth Five Year Plan (2010-2015) starting July 2010. While the NSAPR II and the Sixth Five Year Plan are expected to overlap significantly, in the staffs' view, a clearer description of how the two fit together would have been useful. 3. All levels of society were consulted during the preparation of NSAPR II. Discussions took place with Central Ministries, local governments, development partners, academia, civil society organizations, and the private sector. For the first time, the NSAPR II was placed before the Parliament. In staffs' view, while the NSAPR II summarizes the consultations, a description of how the feedback was reflected in the final document would have been useful. 4. The NSAPR II provides a basis for improving the effectiveness of aid. At various stages of preparing the strategy, the government consulted the development partners. In addition, 1 There is a constitutional provision in Bangladesh for a 90-day transition period between two elected governments to ensure fair elections, during which time the country is run by a caretaker government. For various domestic political reasons, this caretaker government remained in power for two years (2007- 2008). An elected government was formed in January 2009 by the Awami League party. 1 the government held the Bangladesh Development Forum in February 2010 during which the NSAPR II was publicly disseminated and formed the basis for discussions with development partners and the civil society. Staffs concur that the NSAPR II provides a starting point to harmonize and align development assistance with a view to reducing transactions costs for the government. In this respect, it is noteworthy that the NSAPR II makes a reference to the upcoming Joint Cooperation Strategy between government and the development partners. 5. Staffs welcome progress made since the implementation of the first NSAPR in 2005. Real GDP grew on average by 6.2 percent during FY05-09, while per capita incomes rose at an average rate of 4.9 percent. As a result, all available projections point to a decline in poverty during this period. In the area of human development, having attained gender parity in primary and secondary education, Bangladesh is on track to achieving the targets of halving the number of people living below the poverty line, net primary enrolment ratios in primary education and reduction of child mortality. Since 2003, infant and child mortality declined by 20 and 25 percent respectively, outstripping progress in other South Asian countries. This progress was accompanied by substantial narrowing of the gender gap in neonatal, infant and child mortality. Other outcome indicators such as the Doing Business indicators have also shown improvements since 2005. Meanwhile, Bangladesh made progress on the governance front as reflected in improvements in some global governance rankings and a recent National Public Perceptions survey. Political turbulence gave way to elections in December 2008 leading to a peaceful transfer of power. Key reforms during 2005-09 include: improved public financial management through adoption of a medium-term budget framework (MTBF) and generally sound public procurement regime; passage of a Right to Information Act; corporatization of state-owned banks; gains in regulatory reform; and increased local accountability through strengthened local government capacity and the revival of elected local councils. Poverty diagnostics 6. In staffs' view, the poverty diagnostic in the NSAPR II is well prepared and of good quality. Using the 2005 Household Income and Expenditure Survey, the NSAPR II provides evidence that Bangladesh made progress in reducing poverty and identifies three main challenges: poverty of women, regional inequality, and extreme and chronic poverty. In addition, the NSAPR II identifies potential causes of these challenges and suggests policy interventions. In staffs' view, given Bangladesh's vulnerability to recurring shocks, the availability of high- frequency poverty estimates is important. Staffs acknowledge that while the projection of poverty estimates in 2009 is a useful exercise to respond to needs for high-frequency poverty data, the reliability of such projections is limited as recognized in the NSAPR II. Therefore, staffs recommend that ways of increasing the frequency of reliable poverty data be explored to enhance the government's capability to respond to shocks in a timely manner. 7. While the NSAPR II provides a good description of poverty diagnostics, it does not analyze the growth and distributional impacts of policies and programs implemented in the past, especially during the first PRSP period. In staffs' view, such an analysis could have sharpened the focus of the NSAPR II and could also form the basis for formulating the forthcoming Sixth Five Year Plan. The NSAPR II should also discuss the mechanisms in place to ensure the Government's annual budget and MTBF are broadly consistent with the strategy's poverty alleviation objectives. 2 II. Priorities and Critical Areas for Success A. Pro-Poor Economic Growth Macroeconomic framework 8. The NSAPR II is ambitious in terms of the targeted acceleration of growth, underpinned by higher investment, including additional public investment financed from increased tax revenue. The macroeconomic framework is broadly in line with the reform scenario outlined in the IMF staff report for the 2009 Article IV consultation. If implemented, the NSAPR II's medium-term macroeconomic framework could put the economy on a path to achieve a growth rate of 8 percent as the global economy recovers. However, achieving the ambitious growth targets would require a break from the past, particularly with regard to investing more in infrastructure, alleviating energy constraints, addressing productivity losses arising from unplanned urbanization and improving labor skills. In addition, plans to reform tax policy and administration need to be expedited while capacity constraints and governance issues, which prevent increased implementation of the government's Annual Development Program (ADP), need to be addressed. Here, the immediate challenge is to stem the decline in the public investment rate seen in recent years and raise it to above 5 percent of GDP, as envisaged in the NSAPR II. 9. The critical importance of raising domestic revenue is underscored by the large resource gap projected for the three-year NSAPR II implementation period. The NSAPR II is looking to mobilize US$12.5 billion from external sources. However, gross aid disbursements amounted to US$1.7 billion in FY09 and are not likely to exceed US$2.5 billion per annum in the coming years. Even for FY10, there may be a shortfall in net financing from external loans and grants compared to the original FY10 budget (2.0 percent of GDP) and the NSAPR II's macroeconomic framework (2.4 percent of GDP). However, under-spending on ADP and Public Private Partnership (PPP) budgets in FY10 is likely to keep domestic borrowing well within the budget target despite a shortfall in net foreign financing in FY10. 10. In staffs' view, the inflation targets set forth in the NSAPR II may be unrealistically low given recent developments and an accommodative monetary policy stance. Currently, private sector credit and broad money growth, at 19.3 and 21.3 percent, respectively, in January 2010 (on a year-on-year basis), are well in excess of targets set in the NSAPR II's macroeconomic framework. These factors, together with recent increases in international commodity prices, may cause inflationary expectations to rise and make it harder to bring inflation under control later, thus putting at risk the NSAPR II's poverty reduction objectives. 11. The uncertain global outlook underscores the importance of government delivering on its domestic reform agenda. Textile and garment exports and workers' remittances have provided important support to domestic demand and poverty reduction in recent years. However, the current weakness in exports and likely slowdown in remittance growth arising from a recent large decline in the number of migrants makes the macroeconomic framework's balance of payments projections appear somewhat optimistic. In this regard, the NSAPR II could have more extensive discussion of trade and trade-related policies, implementation of which is necessary for broadening export base. In the absence of such reforms, the current weakness in exports could put the onus for demand growth squarely on the domestic economy. Thus, the NSAPR II could have paid more attention to the potential contribution of financial sector reform to help secure Bangladesh's growth potential, notably strengthening banks' capital and allowing more flexible interest rates in order to deepen financial markets, building on the recommendations made in the 3 joint IMF-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) Update in 2009. At the same time, and in view of the relatively modest inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Bangladesh, it is encouraging that the NSAPR II notes that attempts will be made to attract higher FDI inflows by addressing relevant infrastructure bottlenecks. In this context, FDI can also be enhanced by establishing a strong institutional framework for the PPP initiative and by improving the business climate, which is also a condition for successful PPPs. Private sector development 12. Overall, staffs welcome the objectives related to the development of the private sector set forth in the NSAPR II and agree that private enterprise should form the basis for sustainable growth and employment in Bangladesh. To create a private-sector friendly environment as well as a pre-condition for PPPs to work, staffs encourage the government to improve the overall investment climate and streamline business regulations to make them less burdensome. Such improvements in the overall investment climate will also help in the growth of the Small and Medium Enterprises, which the NSAPR II considers central to pro-poor growth. 13. Apart from poor infrastructure and burdensome regulations, staffs concur with the NSAPR II that access to finance and availability of land are two important constraints to private sector development. Regarding access to finance, the staffs' view is that making financial markets efficient and inclusive will require a somewhat broader and more systemic approach than outlined in the NSAPR II, along the lines of the recommendations made in the recent update of the FSAP. Staffs encourage further reforms to state-owned banks, increased access to long-term finances, improvements to the regulatory capacity of Bangladesh Bank, and a strengthening of the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the Micro-Finance Regulatory Authority. Regarding lack of availability of land, staffs agree with the NSAPR II's focus on facilitating efficient land markets and developing modern economic zones to help manage land better as well as to achieve environmentally-and-socially-compliant industrialization. Modernizing the land management system and clearly articulating economic zones policy and regulations could help attract the private sector into the development of economic zones. 14. In staffs' view, promoting employment is an appropriate objective of the NSAPR II. While government's skill-development programs in the NSAPR II are useful, it is important that skills meet industry needs. As such, in staffs' view, it is necessary to form links with the private sector to develop a demand-driven skills agenda. As part of employment generation, the NSAPR II emphasizes migration and proposes a new Expatriate Welfare Bank to support this. However, instead of creating yet another state-owned bank, staffs recommend the use of existing banking channels for achieving this goal. Staffs also encourage the government to focus on entering into agreements with the governments of destination countries to facilitate safe and legal migration. 15. Staffs concur with the potential of PPPs as an important tool to close the infrastructure gap and to improve the delivery of public services. Staffs agree that well- formulated-and-executed PPPs can potentially help develop infrastructure and relieve strain on the government budget by attracting local and foreign private investment. However, for this to work, staffs recommend: (i) forming a PPP cell with adequate staffing and resources; (ii) updating the 2004 Private Sector Infrastructure Guidelines to establish a sustainable PPP framework with clear guidance on interface with the line ministries and Ministry of Finance; (iii) reforming the Private Investment Committee by redefining its role in the context of the new PPP Cell; and (iv) adopting adequate safeguards for fiscal contingencies prior to embarking on large- scale PPPs. In addition, to ensure long-term financing for provision of infrastructure using PPPs, 4 it is important for the central bank and the Securities and Exchange Commission to take steps for creating a vibrant market for long-term financial intermediation. Agriculture, water and land use 16. The NSAPR II identifies agriculture and rural development as a priority area for poverty reduction, food security, employment, and growth. The main policy thrust of the strategy is to use technology for productivity gains in agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors. The NSAPR II highlights public-private-partnerships, the potential for community-based methods in extension and fisheries management, and the recognition of the nutrition dimension of food security. In staffs' view, the rural-non farm sector ­ necessary for sustaining growth and reducing reduction ­ receives insufficient attention. 17. The set of strategies and policies for agriculture and rural development should be prioritized and sequenced. Simultaneous implementation of the proposed policies is unrealistic in view of the resource constraints, low institutional capacity, and weak coordination among the subsector ministries and agencies. The NSAPR II would have benefited from an institutional analysis for improving the performance of public institutions and developing a policy environment for stimulating agricultural performance. In addition, the interventions to foster PPPs in agricultural research, technology and marketing could be elaborated. 18. While the NSAPR II focuses on policies and strategies in the water sector, it could better address emerging challenges and opportunities. The main challenge is the weak institutional capacity for maintaining the water infrastructure, including for irrigation and for managing the use of rivers in a sustainable manner. To overcome these capacity constraints, the NSAPR II could have benefitted from identifying specific interventions to build long-term capacity of the lead water institutions. In addition, the NSAPR II could have highlighted the benefits of regional cooperation in trans-boundary rivers. Given the capacity and financial constraints in the sector, the targets set forth in the NSAPR II could be made more realistic. 19. The NSAPR II appropriately focuses on land use and sets forth modest targets. To achieve these targets, the NSPAR II could have specified measures to address the capacity constraints as well as legal and regulatory documents that need to be amended. Infrastructure and urban development 20. Staffs concur that the vast gap between the demand and supply of energy in Bangladesh is a serious impediment to sustainable development. The proposed policies and strategies to address these problems are appropriate and the list of projects and activities proposed is comprehensive. However, many of the proposed projects are capital intensive and will have long gestation periods. The private sector could play a much more substantial role in the energy sector, but this will require that the sector's image be improved, especially with respect to financial solvency and governance. With regard to finances, staffs recommend that government rapidly implement the Power Sector Financial Restructuring Plan as well as the balance sheet cleansing activity, both of which already been approved. On Governance, staffs welcome the government's recent efforts to improve procurement transparency, economy, and efficiency, but note that continued vigilance is still required. 21. Staffs welcome the importance given to coordinating activities related to generation, transmission, and distribution of power and suggest that the gas infrastructure be included in this coordination effort. Power shortages, loss of revenue, severe staffing constraints and 5 governance issues are some of the problems facing the rural electrification program. More needs to be done than simply restoring this program to its former effectiveness. Significant reforms are needed to ramp up performance to meet the challenge of universal electrification by 2020. With respect to natural gas, staffs recommend that government take steps to rectify the severe under pricing. More market-oriented price signals will help attract the investors needed to expand domestic gas supplies. They also will encourage customers to curtail wasteful practices and use this non-renewable resource more efficiently. Finally, a power-purchase tariff geared towards renewable energy would serve to encourage private sector entry into this market. 22. The NSAPR II provides an ambitious vision for the transport sector beyond the NSAPR II period, but prioritization is essential. Construction of new infrastructure is emphasized, but the NSAPR II does not prioritize areas where resources and efforts should be concentrated. While the strategy identifies the private sector as a potential partner, its role remains unclear and there is no clear vision of how to tap into this potential. Staffs concur that more attention to road maintenance is required for increased sustainability. Poor governance in the roads sector remains a serious risk that may jeopardize government programs. Meanwhile, while the strategy identifies key actions such as the reform of Bangladesh Railways, creation of a Road Authority and a Road Fund, a greater commitment is needed to speed up these actions. Similarly, the Intermodal Transport Policy which should provide the basis for balanced development and complementarity between modes, including for facilitation of regional trade, has been in draft status for a long time and remains to be adopted. 23. The NSAPR II focuses largely on the role of government-owned telecommunications companies. While it recognizes the developments in the largely private sector-led telecommunications sector, there is a need for the NSAPR II to provide better clarity in the regulatory framework going forward, especially in the areas of license renewal and the sector's taxation regime. While the NSAPR II emphasizes the role of telecommunication companies in improving access to ICT and telecommunication services, it does not provide a strategy for how ICTs and telecommunications infrastructure will be further developed. Clarity and stability in the telecommunications regulatory environment is important to ensure sustained private investments for infrastructure and service expansion in the sector. Moreover, policy actions to increase broadband access in Bangladesh have not been discussed. In the postal sector, the NSAPR II needs to recognize changing demand for services in the sector, capacity limitations to deliver new ICT services and identify PPP-based strategies. 24. For urban development, the NSAPR II has correctly identified key challenges and strategies to address them. However, an important omission is the issue of overall urban governance, particularly in the larger metropolitan areas i.e., Dhaka and Chittagong. Strategies proposed to address the urban problems suggest that time is ripe to consider some sort of a "metropolitan government" empowered to plan, budget and monitor urban issues. In the absence of such a government the problems identified are likely to continue. As for the investments suggested, the list needs to be prioritized and more thought needs to be given to financing modalities. Particularly, how the private sector can be used to a much larger extent, both in financing and operation of urban facilities, needs to be explored. In addition, while the NSAPR II has correctly suggested the creation of a statistical database for urban planning, equal attention needs to be given to building capacity for consultative urban planning itself. Overall, in the absence of some sort of prioritization of the investments proposed, it is unclear how all of them can be achieved during the stipulated period. 6 B. Promoting Human Development Education 25. Staffs welcome the emphasis on improving quality education as well as the collaboration between the government and NGOs to achieve universal access and increased student learning in primary and secondary education. However, the target for 100 percent literacy by 2014 seems overly ambitious given the high dropout rates, limited time for classroom instruction, and an insufficient number of trained teachers. In secondary education, many of the NSAPR II recommendations are consistent with improving access and quality. Increasing enrolment and retention is a challenge, but the identified actions are focused, especially to reach the under-served populations. The use of non-formal education methods will also be important for reaching the remaining students and for addressing adult literacy. The NSAPR II also lacks discussion on the better measuring of student learning levels on a systematic and standardized basis. It is important for policymakers to have better information on student learning levels on a regular basis. Finally, the NSAPR II could have noted the cross-sectoral link with school health and nutrition that is important for students coming to school healthy and prepared to learn. 26. In staffs' view, the focus on higher and technical and vocational education and training is appropriate. The plans proposed in the NSAPR II should lead to a more demand- driven, efficient and cost-effective system. The goals of increasing the skill levels and of raising the value of human resources in the global labor market are commendable. In higher education, the challenge of ensuring adequate resources for assuring quality and expansion, as well as introducing measures to bring both innovation and accountability within universities and enhance the technical and institutional capacity of the higher education sector remain core concerns. Finally, an elaboration on the vision for digital Bangladesh in higher education would be useful. Health, nutrition and population 27. In staffs' view, the health, nutrition and population outcomes and indicators selected in the NSAPR II are appropriate, but the targets could be made more realistic. The NSAPR II highlights progress achieved in reducing infant and child mortality, while acknowledging the need to tackle the high maternal and neonatal mortality rates. However, staffs feel that the NSAPR II could be more candid about the persistently high malnutrition rates. Bangladesh is no longer on track to meet the MDG target for malnutrition and is unlikely to meet the NSAPR II target of a 10 percentage point reduction in prevalence by 2011. Moreover, the NSAPR II recognizes that the challenge of reducing malnutrition requires coordinated multi- sectoral interventions on a sustained basis, but staffs recommend a clearer articulation of how the government intends to integrate and mainstream nutrition in relevant sectors. 28. The NSAPR II identifies critical areas where effective interventions and policy reforms are needed to alleviate existing constraints to achieving goals, but the strategy requires more specificity, sequencing, and setting of achievable priorities. Staffs agree that decentralization of administrative and financial authority and increased community participation can lead to improved quality of services at the local level though increased accountability and ownership. In this regard, the NSAPR II would benefit from elaborating how the incentives will be structured to ensure that service delivery responds to the needs of the poor. In addition, social insurance is identified as a strategy to finance affordable health care, but is absent from the sections covering social protection. 7 Social protection, inclusion, and empowerment 29. The NSAPR II addresses the relevant areas for improving social protection and staffs welcome the attempt to consolidate individual policies of different ministries. The NSAPR II also focuses on better targeting and coverage. However, since these are complex issues, and a phased approach would be useful with detailed actions spelt out year on year. While the strategy's focus on the rural poor is appropriate, the increasing vulnerability of the urban poor also needs to be highlighted. Moreover, staffs agree that local governments have an important institutional role to play for reducing the adverse impacts of natural disasters on the poor, and that NGOs and the private sector also play a key role. Staffs recommend that the role of these actors be better defined when devising future social protection strategies. In addition, exploring more innovative approaches, such as health insurance to mitigate risk would be useful. 30. The NSAPR II acknowledges that disaster risk management is important for protecting people's livelihoods. The strategy reflects the cross-sectoral nature of disaster risk management and recognizes the importance of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development planning. Given its location in a seismically active area, the strategy could mainstream seismic risk reduction and mitigation in Bangladesh's disaster management strategy, devise preparedness interventions, and build capacity at various levels. 31. The NSAPR II emphasizes the needs of the most vulnerable groups in society. Staffs concur with the strategy that takes a strong rights-based approach on the vulnerability of groups which include women, children, indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, and disadvantaged and extreme poor. Staffs agree with the thrust of the proposed policies and the integrated approach. The NSAPR II would, however, benefit from concrete actions to take the proposed agenda forward, accompanied by strong baseline information and realistic targets. This highlights the need for better data collection and more effective use of gender-disaggregated data. Staffs also recommend that the proposed policy reforms be realistically costed. C. Governance as a Supporting Strategy 32. The NSAPR II appropriately identifies improving governance as a key supporting strategy for achieving economic growth and reducing poverty. Staffs welcome the government's commitment to a broad, ambitious reform agenda as well as the specific policy measures laid out in the NSAPR II. However, the breadth of approach and vagueness of expected results in some areas of reform weaken the strategic focus. Given that Bangladesh's governance challenges have deep roots, achieving improvements across the board will necessarily require a long-term effort. Staffs recommend prioritization of governance initiatives based on anticipated improvements in service delivery, and through focusing improvements in sector-level governance in areas that have the highest impact on growth and poverty reduction such as infrastructure and local governance. 33. The NSAPR II properly emphasizes commitment to transparency and countering corruption through enhancing citizens' access to information, e-governance, and sustaining the work of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Requirements for public authorities to release information and promotion of e-governance have the potential to change the way in which the citizens interface with the state. While the NSAPR II notes that the passage of the Right to Information Act marked a major step towards improving governance, it does not outline how to realize the Act's potential to create incentives for better governance. Staffs recommend that the Act be operationalized through passage of relevant rules and regulations and building capacity for public institutions to implement the Act. Staffs welcome the NSAPR II's emphasis on promoting 8 e-governance and using ICT for improving efficiency of public services while reducing opportunities for corruption. The NSAPR II also commits to enforcing anti-corruption measures and sustaining the ACC as an independent body. Staffs recommend that the ACC retain robust investigative and prosecutorial powers, and be given the space to operate independently. 34. The NSAPR II proposes specific actions to deepen the ongoing public financial management reform, a key area for improving governance. In particular, the NSAPR II emphasizes rolling out medium term budget framework to all 49 ministries for strategic and prioritized resource allocation, increasing parliamentary oversight and for following up on annual audits. However, in staffs' view, the NSAPR II could have provided specific measures for (i) improving revenue mobilization as expected in the NSAPR II's costing table (apart from the recent work on modernizing tax administration, starting with VAT), (ii) integrating capital and recurrent budgets, and (iii) ensuring the independence of the Comptroller and Auditor-General by promulgating the Audit Act, all of which are included in the government's public financial management reform strategy. 35. The NSAPR II appropriately focuses on strengthening local government, which in turn can lead to better delivery of public services. Given that the current high degree of centralization has not led to desired service outcomes, there is scope for decentralization to create better incentives for delivery of public services at the local and metropolitan levels. The NSAPR II identifies several steps towards improving the performance of local government and making it more accountable to local populations. Staffs recommend a clearer articulation of the overall legal framework for local and metropolitan governments' functional responsibilities and the allocation of corresponding human and financial resources. 36. The strategic goals and policy actions in the NSAPR II for Digital Bangladesh present an ambitious agenda for implementation. The NSAPR II has documented the potential for using ICTs to enhance the quality of governance and delivery of services. Given the vast policy agenda and investments needed, staffs recommend prioritization of activities, while simultaneously undertaking key enabling actions in the areas of institutional arrangements, legal and regulatory framework, infrastructure and services for e-governance. Staffs also urge addressing of key challenges to achieving the goals for Digital Bangladesh which will require change management, project management and IT skills within and outside government agencies. Further, with the substantial investments that will be made in a national identification card program, more thought needs to be given to how the program can be leveraged for more effective delivery of citizen and business services. Staffs recommend greater clarity on how the private sector can be utilized to a much larger extent, both in financing and delivering on the Digital Bangladesh agenda. Staffs also encourage greater coordination between initiatives planned under Digital Bangladesh and sectoral interventions. D. Environment and Climate Change 37. The NSAPR II correctly emphasizes environmental sustainability as a key supporting strategy to achieve growth and poverty reduction. In Bangladesh, the environmental challenges posed by increasing population pressure and rapid unplanned urbanization are being further compounded by climate variability. The NSAPR II calls for both an enhanced financial allocation and, more importantly, a substantial upgrading of the capacity, convening and coordination role of the Ministry of Environment and Forest. The current low budgetary allocation of the Ministry (Tk. 0.87 billion or 0.3 percent of total ADP) is an indicator of the Ministry's limited capacity and weak convening power, which is a major constraint in administering an expanding set of interlinked actions to meet the outlined challenges. 9 38. The policies and strategies are comprehensive, covering an integrated environment and climate change agenda, with a national government program to take up sectoral and multi sectoral measures for arresting and preventing environmental degradation, scaling up climate proofing of existing vulnerable infrastructures and undertaking of adaptation programs. The sequencing suggested for the policy, planning, regulations, and capacity building elements is appropriate. However, further delegation of responsibilities to proper stakeholders and Ministries based on their mandate and comparative advantage would enhance effectiveness. The capacity building elements included in the NSAPR II largely focus on enhancing awareness and research but it should also include institutional capacity building. There are 11 strategic goals in the NSAPR II; however important goals including climate change adaptation, reforming institutions to improve effectiveness are not included and may hinder effective implementation of the strategy and affect the main objective of poverty reduction. 39. The key challenge is to strengthen the capacity of the lead Ministry as well as to improve its convening authority and broaden its focus. Targets are ambitious, and deservedly so, in view of the increase of industrialization, population density, commercial activities, urbanization, and the country's vulnerability to climate change. The challenge for the government is to match the proposed strategy, policy and outcomes with appropriate institutional arrangements, effective monitoring, and adequate funding. III. Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation 40. The implementation arrangements and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system are clearly articulated in the NSAPR II, and the focus now needs to shift towards building capacity. The NSAPR II recognizes the importance of the M&E system to track progress of the reform process. The institutional framework is described in detail to clarify accountability and responsibilities of various agencies in the government. Also, Annex 3 provides an exhaustive list of policy goals with corresponding concrete monitoring indicators. While clear accountability lines and concrete indicators are important steps in creating a solid M&E system, they also require adequate capacity to monitor, analyze, validate and disseminate information on inputs, outputs, and outcomes at every level. The NSAPR II recognizes the need for capacity building, but it does not directly address the existing capacity gaps. Assessing the adequacy of the proposed M&E arrangements requires a candid assessment of the existing capacity constraints. Staffs recommend that a capacity building strategy and action plan be developed to support the proposed M&E arrangements, both at the systemic and human resources levels. 41. Moving forward, it is an urgent priority to clearly identify which monitoring instruments will be used to create the indicators suggested, and to identify the corresponding implementation agencies. The NSAPR II indicates that Household Income and Expenditure Survey and other surveys would be used to create monitoring indicators, but even recognized sources of data are not specified in Annex 3. In addition, the frequency and regularity, implementation agencies, and financial sources of survey instruments need to be decided since clarification of these is crucial for ensuring the reliability and feasibility of the M&E system. Given the importance of the M&E system to track progress of reforms under the NSAPR II, staffs recommend that the progress in identification of monitoring indicators, survey instruments, and implementation agencies be reported annually. 10 IV. Conclusion and Issues for Discussion 42. Staffs consider the NSAPR II a starting point for Bangladesh to move forward in addressing challenges to growth and poverty reduction. The strategy is comprehensive and addresses all issues that impede sustainable development in Bangladesh. It provides a starting point for donors to harmonize and align their assistance. Given the numerous development challenges facing Bangladesh, staffs urge that the implementation of NSAPR II and the formulation of the Sixth Five Year Plan be guided by continuous learning and analytical work. 43. The NSAPR II would have benefited from a candid assessment of past achievements and progress made under NSAPR I. Some lessons from implementation of NSAPR I and recommendations of the previous JSAN have been incorporated in the NSAPR II, but they could have been spelled out more clearly. The NSAPR II would have benefited from a discussion of the lessons learned from implementing NSAPR I and how they helped shape the NSAPR II. Such an evaluation would also be of help in formulating the Sixth Five Year Plan. 44. Staffs recommend a prioritized and sequenced implementation of the programs in the NSAPR II period. The NSAPR II identifies resource needs of around US$12.5 billion from external sources, which implies a considerable resource gap to address all the priorities identified in the NSAPR II. Staffs consider that priorities for accelerated and inclusive growth include: increasing tax revenue and the quantity and quality of public investments; enhancing the business environment for the private sector; reducing environmental degradation and vulnerability to climate change; improving social service delivery including through decentralization; and enhancing accountability. These are medium-to-long term priorities which go beyond the period of the NSAPR II and would have to be addressed by the forthcoming Sixth Five Year Plan. 45. The NSAPR II faces implementation risks. Low implementation capacity makes the list of policy measures identified in the NSAPR II overwhelming. These measures need streamlining for decision-making, implementation, and monitoring purposes. Similarly, more attention needs to be devoted to simplifying the M&E framework, while developing the capacity to expand the amount, quality, and timeliness of information. Wavering commitment to reforms combined with weak governance (which affects the effectiveness of expenditure) also pose challenges to the implementation of NSAPR II. Uncertainty on continuation of political support for regional cooperation can truncate its likely gains. Finally, slow progress in decentralized decision-making and local empowerment can limit improvements in delivery of services. 46. Issues for discussion. In considering the authorities' NSAPR II and the associated JSAN, do Executive Directors agree with main areas identified by staffs for further strengthening? Do Executive Directors agree with the main risks to implementation identified above? 11 Steps Towards Change National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction II FY 2009 ­ 11 (Prepared in the light of Election Manifesto of the Bangladesh Awami League 2008) General Economics Division Planning Commission Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh December 2009 Cover Design: GED, Planning Commission Copies Printed: 3,500 (English) Message Our government's aim is to achieve Vision 2021 by implementing economic policies delineated in our Awami League Party's Election Manifesto. Vision 2021 envisages Bangladesh as a middle income country, free from poverty and with healthy growth, stable commodity prices, reduced income and social disparity, secured health and education, entrenched democracy, and capacity to meet the challenges of climate change. The endeavors would be aided by modern information and technology, which also would realize our goal of a "Digital Bangladesh" by 2021. Since independence, our effort to free Bangladesh from poverty was hindered by disruption of democracy a number of times. The short periods of democracy we experienced, saw some progress in our struggle against poverty, and appreciable success in respect of some of our Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Now with democracy restored in Bangladesh, our government is confident of freeing our people from poverty and meeting the targeted MDGs, by implementing our economic policies as promised to the people in our Election Manifesto. In our government's bid to overcome poverty, the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission has revised the second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) in the light of our Election Manifesto. The document entitled "Steps Towards Change: National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction II (FY 2009-11)," or "NSAPR II" is in consonance with Vision 2021 of a middle income Bangladesh with qualitative change in the lives of the people. However, the success of NSAPR II depends on implementation of action plans by all government Ministries and agencies. I am confident all Ministries and agencies of the government would succeed in achieving the targets of the revised NSAPR II. They would, however, need resource support of our development partners, whom I urge to come forward and join hands with the government in achieving our common goals. Let us together all move forward on the road to a poverty free Bangladesh, to "Sonar Bangladesh" as was envisioned by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. (Sheikh Hasina) Message The second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP-2) of Bangladesh titled `Steps Towards Change: National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction (FY 2009-11)' has been revised in the light of the government's development vision and Election Manifesto of the Awami League. It embodies policies as well as strategies for achieving accelerated poverty reduction during FY 2009-11. The revised NSAPR II outlines a comprehensive medium­term strategy for poverty reduction through faster pro-poor economic growth through pro-poor macroeconomic management, creating decent employment opportunities, enhancing productivity and efficiency through science and technology and also in development of small as well as medium scale enterprises. The document also emphasizes on protection of the vulnerable people, regional balance, fundamental human rights, good governance and effective public service delivery. The firm commitment of the government to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the South Asian Development Goals (SDGs) and other international agreements relevant to economic and social development was taken into due consideration during formulating the strategies. It is evident that the incidence of poverty has been declining in Bangladesh over time. The national head count index of poverty measured by the upper poverty line declined from 56.6 percent in 1991-92 to 40.0 percent in 2005. During the period, urban poverty reduced at a faster rate than rural poverty. At the same time, all indicators of human poverty like life expectancy at birth, infant mortality rate, population having access to drinking water, and adult literacy rate have shown improvements. However, the absolute values of many of the indicators are still high. Household income for all groups has improved, though the distribution has become more unequal. In achieving faster poverty reduction, the revised NSAPR II puts emphasis on the activities that are targeted to benefit the extreme poor, women in poverty, landless poor and other vulnerable groups. To protect the poor from falling into deeper poverty, five priority areas have been identified in the strategy paper, which include social safety net programmes, food security, disaster management, micro-credit and rural non-farm activities. In this regard, significant budgetary allocation has been made in the revised NSAPR II to expand the Social Safety Net Programmes (SSNPs). During recent years, climate change has been posing a critical threat to the fight against poverty in Bangladesh. The prevailing high incidence of poverty and population density makes Bangladesh more vulnerable to climate change. Climate change and variability have already been creating adverse impact on the life and livelihoods of a vast population, particularly those who are living in the coastal areas and in the arid and semi-arid regions of the country. A significant proportion of population of the country is likely to be displaced because of climate-induced flooding, tropical cyclones and storm surges. Revised NSAPR II thus emphasizes mainstreaming and strengthening climate change adaptation across various sectors- improved crop production practices, watershed and coastal zone management including aforestation, building cyclone shelters, embankments, improving salinity control measures, public awareness, emphasize climate research, and data collection. Accordingly, a Climate Change Fund with domestic resources has already been created. A multi-donor Trust Fund has also been under process to supplement the government initiatives. The estimated total resource requirement for implementing the goals and targets set out in revised NSAPR II is Tk. 2,814.81 billion at FY08 prices, most of which will be met from the domestically generated resources. However, there will be a resource gap of around Tk.874.84 billion at FY08 prices or around US$ 12.50 billion for three years which has to be mobilized from external sources and increasing domestic revenues. The revised NSAPR II has been prepared after extensive consultations with the stakeholders, academia, researchers, NGOs and civil societies both at the national and regional levels. It is prepared by the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission as the National Poverty Focal Point (NPFP) with active cooperation from all the Ministries/Divisions and government agencies. Short-term local consultants were hired to assist at the GED for revision of NSAPR II. Since the NSAPR II (FY2009-11) is a policy and strategy document, its implementation will be continuously monitored and it will be updated and adjusted drawing lessons from the practical field. I congratulate the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission for successfully revising the document, `Steps Towards Change: National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction (FY2009-11)'. I thank BIDS and the members of the `Independent Committee for monitoring and evaluation of PRS and attainment of MDGs' for their valuable suggestions and cooperation. I am most grateful to the Finance Minister and the Economic Affairs Adviser to the Honorable Prime Minister for their valuable guidance and concerns. I am also grateful to all the participants in the NSAPR II consultation meetings at the national and regional level. I gratefully acknowledge the encouragement of the Honorable Prime Minister towards completing the revised NSAPR II. Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) A.K. Khandkar Foreword Following completion of the Fifth Five Year Plan in 2002, the Government of Bangladesh changed its development strategy and adopted PRSP in an attempt to reduce poverty on a fast track basis. The Government vision for `a Poverty free Bangladesh' is to reduce poverty within the shortest possible time through attaining higher economic growth. In line with its objectives, NSAPR II (FY 2009-11) was approved by the then Caretaker Government in 2008. Present Democratic Government came to power in January, 2009 and decided to align the NSAPR II in line with its development vision and election manifesto in terms of poverty reduction, economic growth, efficiency through use of science and technology as well as other socio- economic goals. In this regard, General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission as the National Poverty Focal Point with cooperation from all the Ministries/Divisions and government agencies has revised the NSAPR II. The poverty reduction strategy framework of the revised NSAPR II is based on the reality of multidimensionality of poverty and takes into account the dynamics of the socio-economic factors that reinforce and perpetuate poverty in the country. The strategy framework consists of five strategic blocks and five supporting strategies, these are: (i) macroeconomic environment for pro-poor growth; (ii) critical areas for pro-poor growth; (iii) essential infrastructure for pro- poor growth; (iv) social protection for the vulnerable; and (v) human development. The supporting strategies, on the other hand, comprise of: (i) ensuring participation, social inclusion, and empowerment; (ii) promoting good governance; (iii) ensuring efficient delivery of public services; (iv) caring for environment and tackling climate change; and (v) enhancing productivity and efficiency through science and technology. The NSAPR II which has been revised in the light of the government's development vision and the Election Manifesto also emphasizes the aspect of policy continuity. In this respect, due considerations have been given to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the SAARC Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the need for sustained efforts towards achieving these goals. The revised NSAPR II has been prepared after extensive consultations with the members of `Independent PRS and MDGs Monitoring Committee', Ministries/Divisions and Sector Divisions of the Planning Commission, academia, researchers, NGOs, civil societies and other relevant stakeholders. Draft NSAPR II was placed in the Cabinet on 9 Sept 2009. It was also placed in the National Parliament on 15 Sept 2009 for comments and discussion by the people's representatives. This is the first time in Bangladesh that a national document of this kind has been placed before the Parliament. I am most grateful to the Hon'ble Planning Minister and the Economic Affairs Adviser to the Hon'ble Prime Minister for their valuable guidance in revising the NSAPR II and encouragement to complete the document in line with government's development philosophy. I am also very much grateful to the Hon'ble Finance Minister for his valuable suggestions. My heartfelt gratitude goes to the members of `Independent Committee for Monitoring and Evaluation of PRS and Attainment of MDGs' for their effective guidance and suggestions. I extend my tributes to the concerned members of the Parliament for their discussion and suggestions on revised NSAPR II. I also appreciate the thoughtful comments provided by the development partners in Bangladesh. Finally, I express my deep gratitude to the BIDS for their active support in finalizing the revised NSAPR II. Thanks are also due to my colleagues in the Division who worked hard to make the document available in time. I owe to all of them. December, 2009 Professor Dr. Shamsul Alam Member General Economics Division (GED) Planning Commission Contents Page Contents i Tables iii Figure iii Boxes iii Abbreviations iv Executive Summary xiii Chapter 1: The Development Vision and Poverty Reduction Framework 1 1.1 The Development Vision 1 1.2 Attainment of MDGs 2 1.3 Poverty Reduction Strategy Framework 3 1.4 Key Issues in Generating Pro-Poor Growth 4 1.5 Implementation Challenges 7 1.6 Participatory Formulation Process 7 Chapter 2: Poverty Situation and the Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework 9 2.1 Achievements in Poverty Reduction 9 2.2 Trends in Income Inequality 9 2.3 Women's Poverty 9 2.4 Regional Differences in Poverty 10 2.5 Extreme and Chronic Poverty 11 2.6 Poverty Scenario Beyond 2005 11 2.7 Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework 12 2.7.1 Growth and Investment 14 2.7.2 Fiscal Policy 14 2.7.3 Monetary Policy 15 2.7.4 External Sector 15 Chapter 3: Roadmap for Pro-Poor Economic Growth: Strategic Blocks 17 3.1 Strategic Block I: Macroeconomic Environment for Pro-Poor Economic Growth 17 3.1.1 Recent Macroeconomic Performance 17 3.1.2 Current Macroeconomic Challenges 17 3.1.3 Key Thrusts for Macroeconomic Policy 18 3.2 Strategic Block II: Critical Areas for Pro-Poor Economic Growth 20 3.2.1 Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development 20 3.2.2 Promoting Decent Employment 21 3.2.3 Improving the Environment for Private Sector Development (PSD) 25 3.2.4 Agriculture 29 3.2.5 Water Resources Development and Management 33 3.2.6 Land Use Policy and Management 34 3.2.7 Urban Development 37 3.3 Strategic Block III: Essential Infrastructure for Pro-Poor Economic Growth 38 3.3.1 Power and Energy 38 3.3.2 Transport 42 3.3.3 Post and Telecommunication 44 3.3.4 Housing 45 3.4 Strategic Block IV: Social Protection for the Vulnerable 45 3.4.1 Social Safety Net Programmes 46 3.4.2 Food Security 46 3.4.3 Disaster Management 47 3.4.4 Microcredit 48 3.4.5 Rural Non-Farm Activities 49 i 3.5 Strategic Block V: Human Resources Development 50 3.5.1 Improving Knowledge Base: Education, Training and Research 50 3.5.2 Improving Health, Nutrition and Population Planning: Taking a Holistic Approach 54 Chapter 4: Roadmap for Accelerated Poverty Reduction: Supporting Strategies 61 4. 1 Strategy I: Ensuring Participation, Social Inclusion and Empowerment 61 4.1.1 Women's Advancement and Rights 61 4.1.2 Children's Advancement and Rights 65 4.1.3 Indigenous Communities 68 4.1.4 Persons with Disabilities 69 4.1.5 Disadvantaged and Extreme Poor Groups 70 4.2 Strategy II: Promoting Good Governance 71 4.2.1 Making Parliamentary Process Effective 72 4.2.2 Strengthening Local Government 72 4.2.3 Reforming and Strengthening Public Services 73 4.2.4 Reforming Legal and Judicial System 74 4.2.5 Promoting E-governance 75 4.2.6 Combating Corruption 75 4.2.7 Ensuring Human Rights 76 4.2.8 Accessing Information 76 4.2.9 Improving Project Implementation Capacity 76 4.2.10 Improving Sectoral Governance 76 4.3 Strategy III: Ensuring Efficient Delivery of Public Services 77 4.3.1 Priorities in Urban/Rural Service Delivery 78 4.3.2 Safety, Security and Protection of Life, Liberty and Wealth 78 4.3.3 Safe Water and Sanitation 79 4.3.4 Power and Energy 80 4.3.5 Transportation 80 4.3.6 ICT, Post and Telecommunication 81 4.3.7 Development of Tourism 81 4.4 Strategy IV: Caring for Environment and Tackling Climate Change 82 4.4.1 Recent Progress 83 4.4.2 Current Challenges to Environment 83 4.4.3 Types of Pollution-Institutional Arrangements 84 4.4.4 Tackling Climate Change for Poverty Reduction 90 4.4.5 Forestry 92 4.5 Strategy V: Enhancing Productivity and Efficiency through Science and 93 Technology 4.5.1 Vision and Strategic Goals 93 4.5.2 Assessment of Recent Progress 94 4.5.3 Current Challenges 94 4.5.4 Future Policies and Strategies 94 Chapter 5: Indicative Costs of Achieving Goals and Targets 97 5.1 Methodology for Calculating Resource Needs for revised NSAPR-II 97 5.2 Estimated Resource Gap 99 Chapter 6: Strengthening Implementation, and Monitoring and Evaluation 101 6.1 Implementation Arrangements 101 6.2 Monitoring and Evaluation 102 6.2.1 Evolution of Monitoring and Evaluation 103 6.2.2 Monitoring and Evaluation of NSAPR-II (revised) 103 6.2.3 Data Generation for M & E 104 6.2.4 Institutional Strategy of M & E System 105 6.2.5 M & E Indicators 106 6.2.6 Capacity Building for M & E 106 ii Annexes Table of Policy Matrices 107 Annex 1: Policy Matrices 108 Annex 2: Social Safety Net Budget FY 2008 - 09 229 Annex 3: Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators 237 Annex 4: Thematic Committees and their Composition 264 Annex 5: Summary Proceedings of NSAPR II Consultation Meetings 268 Tables Page 2.1 Head Count Ratio of Poverty, 1991/92 to 2005 9 2.2 Income Distribution, 2000 and 2005 10 2.3 Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework 13 3.1 Employment Projections for the 2008-09 to 2010-11 Period 22 3.2 Performance of Health, Nutrition and Population Sector 54 4.1 Women's Risks and Vulnerabilities 63 4.2 Targets and Achievements of NSAPR Policy Agenda 82 4.3 Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) in Bangladesh 84 5.1 Indicative Cost of Achieving revised NSAPR II Goals and Targets 99 5.2 Estimate of Domestic Resource Gap for NSAPR II (revised) Implementation 100 6.1 Institutional Process of revised NSAPR II Monitoring and Evaluation 105 Figure Page 1.1 Poverty Reduction Strategy Framework 4 6.1 Monitoring and Evaluation System of NSAPR II 104 Boxes Page 1.1 Macroeconomic Targets based on Vision 2021 2 3.1 Power Sector Vision and Policy Statement 39 iii Abbreviations ACC Anti- Corruption Commission ADB Asian Development Bank ADP Annual Development Programme ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AMC Alternative Medical Care ANC Ante-Natal Care AQMP Air Quality Monitoring Project ARI Acute Respiratory Infection ARISE Appropriate Resources for Improving Street Children Improvement Project ASA Association for Social Advancement BADC Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation BAEC Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission BANBEIS Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics BANSDOC Bangladesh National Scientific & Technical Documentation Centre BAPEX Bangladesh Petrolem Exploration and Production Company Limited BARC Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council BARD Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development BARI Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute BAU Bangladesh Agricultural University BB Bangladesh Bank BBS Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics BCAS Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies BCC Behaviour Change Communication BSCIC Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation BCSIR Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research BDHS Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey BERC Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission BFTI Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute BGMEA Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association BIDS Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies BIFT Bangladesh Institute of Fashion and Technology BIM Bangladesh Institute of Management BIMAN Biman Bangladesh Airlines BIMSTEC Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BINP Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Programme BITAC Bangladesh Industrial and Technical Assistance Centre BIWTA Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority BIWTC Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation BKB Bangladesh Krishi Bank BMA Bangladesh Medical Association BMD Bangladesh Metrological Department BMDC Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council BMET Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training BNC Bangladesh Nursing Council BNS Bangladesh Naval Ship BOI Board of Investment BOT Build, Operate & Transfer iv BPC Bangladesh Pharmacy Council BPC Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation BPDB Bangladesh Power Development Board BPI Bangladesh Parjatan Institute BPO Bangladesh Post Office BR Bangladesh Railway BRAC Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee BRDB Bangladesh Rural Development Board BRRI International Rice Research Institute BRTC Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation BSCIC Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation BSTI Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute BTRC Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission BTTB Bangladesh Telephone and Telegraph Board BUET Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology BWDB Bangladesh Water Development Board CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CBN Cost of Basic Needs CBO Community Based Organization CBR Community Based Rehabilitation CC Community Clinic CCCI Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries CCD Convention to Combat Desertification CCDB Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh CDs Communicable Diseases CDD Control of Diarrhoeal Disease CDMP Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme CDSP Char Development and Settlement Project CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women CEGIS Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services CEmOC Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrical Care CETP Common Effluent Treatment Plant CFL Compact Fluorescent Lamp CGAP Consultative Group to Assist the Poor CHT Chittagong Hill Tracts CICS Computerized Inventory Control System CIPRAD Centre for Indigenous Peoples Research and Development CL Child Labour CMCA Case Management and Court Administration CMSD Central Medical Store Depots CNC Community Nutrition Centre CNG Compressed Natural Gas CNP Community Nutrition Programme CPA Chittagong Port Authority CPD Centre for Policy Dialogue CPP Cyclone Preparedness Programme CPR Contraceptive Prevalence Rate CPRs Common Property Resources v CRA Community Risk Assessment CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child CSBA Community Skilled Birth Attendants CSDDWS Committee for Speedy Dissemination of Disaster Related Warning Signal CSE Chittagong Security Exchange CSO Community Support Organisation CSR Corporate Social Responsibility CTMS Computerized Terminal Management CZPDC Central Zone Power Distribution Company DAE Department of Agricultural Extension DAM Department of Agricultural Marketing DCCI Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries DDA Department of Drug Administration DDC Development Design Consultants DEA Decentralised Action Research DESA Dhaka Electric Supply Authority DESCO Dhaka Electric Supply Company DFP Department of Films and Publications/Directorate of Family Planning DGFP Directorate General of Family Planning DGHS Directorate General of Health Services DHS Demographic and Health Survey DIFE Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments DLS Department of Livestock Services DM Disaster Management DMB Disaster Management Bureau DMFAS Debt Management Financial Analysis System DMIC Disaster Management Information Centre DMTATF Disaster Management Training and Public Awareness Building Task Force DOE Directorate of Environment DOF Department of Fisheries DOTS Directly Observed Treatment Short course DPDT Department of Patent, Design and Trademark DPHE Department of Public Health Engineering DPP Development Project Proforma DRR Disaster Risk Reduction DSL Digital Subscriber Line DTW Deep Tube Well DYD Department of Youth Development ECA Ecologically Critical Area ECC Environmental Clearance Certificate ECDP Early Childhood Development Programme ECNWRC Executive Committee of the National Water Resources Council E-governance Electronic governance EGWS Electricity, Gas and Water Sector EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan EMTAP Economic Management of Technical Assistance Project EmOC Emergency Obstetrical Care vi EPB Export Promotion Bureau EPZ Export Processing Zone ERD Economic Relations Division ESD Essential Service Delivery ETP Effluent Treatment Plant EU European Union EPI Expanded Programme on Immunization FCD Flood Control and Drainage FD Finance Division FDI Foreign Direct Investment FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency FFW Food For Works FIAC Farmer's Information and Advisory Centre FIQC Fish Quality Control FMD Foot-and-Mouth Disease FP Family Planning GCM Growth Centre Market GDP Gross Domestic Product GED General Economics Division GHG Green House Gas GIS Geographic Information Systems GM Genetically Modified GMP Growth Monitoring and Promotion GMOs Genetically Modified Organisms GNP Gross National Product GOB Government of Bangladesh GPWM Guideline for Participatory Water Management GR Gratuitous Relief GW Ground Water H&FWC Health and Family Welfare Centre HIES Household Income and Expenditure Survey HIV Human Immune Virus HNPSP Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Programme HQ Headquarter HRD Human Resources Development HSC Higher Secondary Certificate HYV High Yielding Variety IAEA International Atomic Energy Authority ICD Inland Container Depot. ICT Information and Communication Technology ICT Inland Container Terminal ICTPs International Conventions, Treaties and Protocols ICZM Integrated Coastal Zone Management IDCOL Infrastructure Development Company Limited. IEM Information, Education and Monitoring IFC International Finance Corporation. IGAs Income Generating Activities ILO International Labour Organization vii IMCI Integrated Management of Child Illness IMDMCC Inter Ministerial Disaster Management Co-ordination Committee IMED Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division IMR Infant Mortality Rate IMTP Integrated Multi-Modal Transport Plan IOC International Oil Companies IPEC International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour IPHN Institute of Public Health Nutrition IPM Integrated Pest Management IPR Intellectual Property Rights IRIs Industrial Relations Institutes IT Information Technology IWM Institute of Water Modelling IWT Inland Water Transport. JCS Joint Coopeartion Strategy JPUF Jatiya Pratibandhi Unnayan Foundation KGF Krishi Gabeshana Foundation km Kilo meter KWh Kilowatt hours LAN Local Area Network LDC Least Developed Countries LFPR Labour Force Participation Rate LG Local Government LGD Local Government Division LGED Local Government Engineering Department LMIS Logistics Management Information System LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas LGIs Local Government Institutions MDGs Millennium Development Goals M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs MFA Multi-Fibre Arrangements MFI Micro Finance Institution MIDAS Micro Industries Development Assistance Society MIS Management Information System MLE Ministry of Labour and Employment MMR Maternal Mortality rate MNCs Multinational Corporations MoA Ministry of Agriculture MoCAT Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism MoC Ministry of Communication MoC Ministry of Commerce. MoCHTA Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs MoE Ministry of Establishment MoE Ministry of Education MoEWOE Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment MoEF Ministry of Environment and Forest MoPEMR Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources viii MoF Ministry of Finance MoFDM Ministry of Food and Disaster Management MoFL Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock MoHA Ministry of Home Affairs MoHFW Ministry of Health and Family Welfare MoIn Ministry of Industries MoI Ministry of Infromation MoTJ Ministry of Textiles and Jute MoL Ministry of Land MoLE Ministry of Labour & Employment MoLGRD&C Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives MoLJ&PA Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliament Affairs MoP Ministry of Planning MoPME Ministry of Primary and Mass Education MoRA Ministry of Religious Affairs MoP&T Ministry of Post and Telecommunication MoS Ministry of Shipping MoSICT Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology MoSW Ministry of Social Welfare MoU Memorandum of Understanding MoWCA Ministry of Women & Children Affairs MoWR Ministry of Water Resources MPA Mongla Port Authority MP Member of Parliament MSME Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise MT Metric Ton MTBF Medium Term Budgetary Framework MTMF Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework MV Motor Vessel MW Mega Watt NAP National Action Plan NAPA National Adaptation Programme of Action NARS National Agricultural Research System NBR National Board of Revenue NBSAP National Bio-diversity Strategy and Action Plan NCBs Nationalized Commercial Banks NCDs Non-Communicable Diseases NCSDT National Council for Skill Development and Training NCT Newmooring Container Terminal NCTB National Curriculum & Textbook Board NCWD National Council for Women's Development NDMC National Disaster Management Council NDP National Drug Policy NEMAP National Environment Management Action Plan NEMEW National Electro-Medical Equipment Workshop NEP National Emergency Policy NER National Enrollment Rate NFE Non Formal Education ix NGO Non-Government Organization NGOAB Non Governmental Organization Affairs Bureau NGOCC Non Governmental Organization Coordination Committee NHRC National Human Rights Commission NIB National Institute of Biotechnology NMC National Monitoring Centre NNP National Nutrition Programme NPA National Plan of Action NPFP National Poverty Focal Point NPL Non Performing loan NPWA National Policy for Women's Advancement NRDC National Rural Development Council NSAPR National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction NSC National Steering Committee NWMP National Water Management Plan NWP National Water Policy NWR National Water Resources O&M Operation and Maintenance OMS Open Market Sales OSH Occupational Safety and Health PAs Protected Areas PBS Palli Bidhyut Samity PCB Printed Circuit-Board PCJSS Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti PCU Project Coordination Unit PDB Power Development Board PDBF Palli Daridra Bimochon Foundation PFA Platform for Action PFIs Partner Finance Institutions PGD Post Graduate Degree PHC Primary Health Care PKSF Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation PLAGE Policy Leadership and Advocacy for Gender Equality PLC Public Limited Company PLMC Procurement and Logistics Management Cell PNC Post-Natal Care PM Prime Minister PPP Public Private Partnership PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal PRS Poverty Reduction Strategy PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper PSC Public Service Commission: PSC Production Sharing Contract PSD Private Sector Development PSI Pre-Shipment Inspection PSTN Public Service Telephone Network PV Photovoltaic R&D Research and Development x RCC Reinforced Cement Concrete REB Rural Electrification Board REOPA Rural Employment Opportunity for Protection of Public Property RHD Roads And Highways Department RMC Rural Mother Centre RMG Readymade Garments RNFA Rural Non-Farm Activities RNFE Rural Non-Farm Enterprises RNFS Rural Non-farm Sector RO-RO Roll On Roll Off RRAP Risk Reduction Action Planning RRC Regulatory Reforms Commission RRI River Research Institute SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAFTA South Asia Free Trade Agreement SBA School Based Assessment SBA Skilled Birth Attendants SCITI Small and Cottage Industries Training Institute SDGs SAARC Development Goals SDNBD Sustainable Development Networking Programme SEC Security Exchange Commission SEDF Small Enterprise Development Facility SEF Small Enterprise Fund SEID Socio Economic Infrastructure Division SEZ Special Economic Zone SHED Society for Environment and Human Development SHS Solar Home System SIA Social Impact Assessment SICT Support to ICT Task Force SIDR Name of the disastrous cyclone (Bangladesh, 2007) SME Small and Medium Enterprises SMEF Small and Medium Enterprises Fund SMESDP Small and Medium Enterprises Support and Development Programme SMEWP Small Enterprise Web Portal SMF State Medical faculty SMTQ Standard, Metrology, Test and Quality SOD Standing Orders on Disaster SOEs State-Owned Enterprises SOP Standing Operating Procedure SPM Suspended Particulate Matters SPS Samitac... and Phyto S SPM Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary SSC Secondary School Certificate SSEP Smiling Sun Franchise Program SSNP Social Safety Net Programme STD Sexually Transmitted Disease SZPDC South Zone Power Distribution Company Limited TB Tuberculosis xi TEU Twenty Equivalent Unit TFP Total Factor Productivity. TNA Training Needs Assessment TOE Table of Equipments TPC Tripartite Productivity Committee TPP Technical Project Proforma/Proposal. TR Test Relief TRM Tidal River Management TSCs Technical Schools and Colleges TTCs Technical Training Centres TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training UFC Unaccounted for Gas UGC University Grants Commission UHC Upazila Health Complex UHFWC Union Health and Facmily Welfare Centre UN United Nations UNCAC United Nations Convention Against Corruption UNDP United Nations Development Programme UPHCP Urban Primary Health Care Project VAT Value Added Tax VAW Violence against Women VGD Vulnerable Group Development VGF Vulnerable Group Feeding WARPO Water Resources Planning Organization WASA Water Supply and Sewerage Authority WEDP Women Entrepreneurs Development Programme WEEH Women's Empowerment through Employment and Health WEF Women Entrepreneurs Forum WFCL Worst Form of Child Labour WFP World Food Programme WHO World Health Organization WID Women in Development WMF Water Management Federation WMG Water Management Group WMIP Water Management Improvement Project WMO Water Management Organization WSIS World Summit on the Information Society WTO World Trade Organization WWF Workers Welfare Fund WZPDC West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited xii NSAPR II (Revised) Executive Summary 1. The Development Vision The present government has placed elimination of poverty and inequity at the forefront of its development strategy. The development vision of the current government as reflected in its Election Manifesto necessitated a revision of the second NSAPR (FY2009-FY11) prepared by the immediate past interim government. An unelected government, its task was to hold election and hand over power to a democratic government; it lacked the public mandate to commit to any long term policy. In accordance with the Election Manifesto, the thrust has now shifted to putting Bangladesh into a trajectory of high performing growth, stabilizing commodity prices, minimizing income and human poverty, securing health and education for all, enhancing creativity and human capacity, establishing social justice, reducing social disparity, achieving capacity to tackle the adverse effects of climate change, and firmly rooting democracy in the political arena. It is stipulated that developments in information and communication technology will take the country to new heights of excellence, giving a new identity branded as Digital Bangladesh. These wide ranging social, economic, political and technological changes constitute the Charter of Change as enunciated in the Election Manifesto. The government has also adopted a long term vision for the development of the country which will be reflected in the long term Perspective Plan (2010-2021), under preparation by the government. For realizing the Vision, the government would start the implementation of the Sixth Five Year Plan (FY:2011-2015) from July 2010. The present NSAPR II (revised) shall remain in force until FY11 and its performance will be reviewed each year in normal course. Eventually, the time frame for MTBF (medium term budget framework) shall be extended from three to five years, which shall facilitate continuation of spill over projects or programmes as well as inclusion of new ones. In the light of the long term vision, the government has identified five priority areas for medium term action: (i) maintenance of macroeconomic stability and control over commodity price hike in the face of the present global economic crisis; (ii) effective action against corruption; (iii) sufficiency in power and energy; (iv) elimination of poverty and inequality; and (v) establishment of good governance. 1.1 Progress in Attaining MDGs Bangladesh has made significant progress towards attaining the MDGs by 2015. Bangladesh has successfully achieved gender parity in primary and secondary education. The country is on track to achieve the targets of halving the proportion of people living below the poverty line and suffering from hunger, net enrolment ratio in primary education, and reduction of child mortality. There are some lagging areas like primary school completion rate, adult literacy rate, access to safe drinking water by the rural people, and maternal mortality ratio which indicate the need for sustained government efforts and generous donor support. 1.2 Poverty Reduction Strategy Framework The poverty reduction strategy framework of NSAPR II (revised) consists of five strategic blocks and five supporting strategies. The strategic blocks are: (i) macroeconomic environment for pro-poor growth; (ii) critical areas for pro-poor growth; (iii) essential infrastructure for pro-poor growth; (iv) social protection for the vulnerable; and (v) human xiii NSAPR II (Revised) development. The supporting strategies comprise: (i) ensuring participation, social inclusion, and empowerment; (ii) promoting good governance; (iii) ensuring efficient delivery of public services; (iv) caring for environment and tackling climate change; and (v) enhancing productivity and efficiency through science and technology. The critical concern of the strategy is to achieve higher growth as well as equity and poverty reduction simultaneously. In this context, the focus is on agriculture and rural life, expansion of social safety nets for the ultra poor and targeted approach towards employment generation. 1.3 Key Issues for Pro-Poor Growth The strategy will be sustained by defining appropriate roles of the public and private sectors and encouraging public private partnerships (PPP); focusing on the key sources of growth and providing fiscal stimulus to counter the effects of global recession; ensuring regional balance in development; promoting decentralized growth with broad public participation, growth of rural towns and semi-urban areas outside the municipal areas and growth of the meso-economy; reducing population growth and reaping the benefit of demographic dividend; focusing on women's advancement and rights; strengthening safety nets programmes; and ensuring environmental protection and protection from the adverse effects of global warming and climate change. 2. Progress in Poverty Reduction The incidence of poverty has been declining in Bangladesh. The national head count index of poverty measured by the upper poverty line declined from 56.6 percent in 1991-92 to 40.0 percent in 2005. During the period, urban poverty reduced at a faster rate than rural poverty. At the same time, all indicators of human poverty like life expectancy at birth, infant mortality rate, population having access to drinking water, and adult literacy rate have shown improvements. However, the absolute values of many of the indicators are still high. Household income for all groups has improved, though the distribution has become more unequal. 2.1 Vulnerability of Women There are some special aspects to women's poverty. The total number of poor women is higher than that of poor men. Various micro studies indicate that the `hardcore' poor are largely women. The proportion of ultra poor (intake of 1,600 k.cal/person/day) and extreme poor (intake of 1,805 k.cal/person/day) is higher for female-headed households than male-headed ones. The special features of women's poverty require a gender perspective in the pro-poor growth strategy. 2.2 Persistence of Regional Variation Sharp regional contrasts exist in the incidence of poverty. In 2005, the poverty headcount ranged from a low of 32 percent in Dhaka and 34 percent in Chittagong and Sylhet divisions to over 50 percent in Barisal and Rajshahi divisions. Poverty measured by the lower poverty line gives a similar picture. Special policy measures are needed to accelerate poverty reduction in the regions lagging behind. 2.3 Extreme and Chronic Poverty The latest BBS data show that 19.5 percent of the country's population suffers from extreme poverty. People living in remote and vulnerable areas like river banks and char areas, remote hilly areas, and certain groups of indigenous and disadvantaged people are the usual victims of extreme poverty. About 25-30 million people live in chronic poverty. xiv NSAPR II (Revised) Investment in infrastructure, creation of employment opportunities in the lean period, and increased coverage of social safety net programmes will improve their poverty situation. 2.4 Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework The medium term macroeconomic framework takes into account the adverse impact of the global economic slowdown and reflects the election pledges of the government to tackle the impact of global recession, maintain macroeconomic stability, and steer the economy to recovery and move to higher growth. The projections reflect a cautiously optimistic scenario that is consistent with recent trends and takes into account the commitment of the government to reduce poverty and inequity. Annual GDP growth is projected to be 6.0 percent in FY10, 6.7 percent in FY11, and 7.2 percent in FY12. These growth targets are consistent with the Election Manifesto, which sets GDP growth at 8.0 percent by 2013 and 10.0 percent by the year 2017. Inflation rate is projected to decline during the revised NSAPR II period, investment/GDP is projected to improve in FY11 after sluggish growth in FY10, revenue/GDP and government expenditure/GDP are projected to improve in FY10 and FY11. However, the budget deficit will also increase in next two years. In the external sector, both import and export growth would be higher in FY10 and FY11. 3. Roadmap for Pro-Poor Growth: Strategic Blocks 3.1 Macroeconomic Environment for Pro-poor Economic Growth The macroeconomy faces several risks and challenges in the coming two years- reversing the slide in the growth rate, increasing the investment/GDP ratio, sustaining the momentum in revenue growth, improving export performance, sustaining remittance growth, providing productive employment to the growing labour force, and ensuring food security. The government has taken steps to balance its policies to meet short term exigencies and long term development needs. A fiscal stimulus package was undertaken in April 2009 to support agriculture, export and power sector and provide enhanced social security. The FY10 budget has adopted special measures and support package for minimizing the adverse impact of the global economic slowdown. The Bangladesh Bank has advised the commercial banks to reduce their lending rate to 13 percent to support agriculture, large and medium enterprises, housing and trade finance. The government will continue to provide such support to mitigate the impact of recession in the short term. 3.2 Key Thrusts of Macroeconomic Policy: Higher economic growth will require (i) increased accumulation of capital facilitated by reductions in the cost of borrowing and improvement in total factor productivity; (ii) promoting growth of sectors(broadly defined) like agriculture, industry and services focusing on the more pro-poor segments of the sectors; and (iii) improved business and investment climate. The fiscal policy will focus on macroeconomic stability and pro-poor economic growth while safeguarding the economy from international shocks like the current global melt down, ensuring food security, and encouraging social inclusion. This will be achieved through raising revenue, reordering public expenditure to more productive and social sectors, and improving efficiency of expenditure. Financial sector will be reformed to make financial intermediation in the development process more efficient. The Bangladesh Bank will continue to pursue such monetary policy that would reduce inflation and promote higher growth through maintaining an adequate flow of credit to productive activities and providing refinance support for income and employment generating priority sectors including agriculture and SMEs. The efforts will also xv NSAPR II (Revised) aim at keeping bank's lending rate as well as interest rate spread lower, and maintaining a stable and competitive real exchange rate avoiding undesirable fluctuations. The external sector policy will be geared to sustain export growth, enhance remittance flows, and ensure increasing flow of imports required to attain the targeted growth rate of the economy and meet consumer demand. 3.3 Critical Areas for Pro-Poor Growth Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development: The SMEs will play a pivotal role in achieving the national goal of accelerated pro-poor growth. The government will, through its policy support to the SMEs, play the role of a facilitator to provide them a level playing field. The policies and strategies for promoting SMEs growth and competitiveness will be formulated to address the multiple constraints and challenges facing SMEs based on a comprehensive and inclusive credit policy, human resources development focusing on fostering the entrepreneurial spirit, technology and product quality and standards, subcontracting, production networking, access to markets, gender sensitivity, regional spread, and policy coordination and cooperation. Promoting Decent Employment: The government will undertake job creation programmes for those who are by-passed by the normal growth process. The government will introduce a programme entitled Employment Generation for the Hard Core Poor in FY10 which is estimated to create 4.9 million man-months of employment. The government is also planning to widen the existing SSN programmes. Employment will be created also through public works programmes, micro-credit and employment-based social safety nets. A comprehensive employment guideline will be formulated with the following core components: (i) creating employment opportunities in rural economy, (ii) creating employment opportunities for wage labour in industries, (iii) providing credit and training for self-employment, (iv) promoting subcontracting arrangements between large and SMEs, and (v) providing special training arrangements for facilitating export of labour. The labour policy will be reviewed with a view to re-defining minimum wage, removal of discrepancy between male and female wages for same work and productivity, and better protection of the rights of workers and trade unions. Environment for Private Sector Development: The government has introduced a broad range of policy and institutional changes having positive impact on private sector development. Enhanced efforts will be made to support the private sector-led development during the revised NSAPR II through maintaining macroeconomic stability to provide a conducive environment for private investment, removing infrastructural constraints, creating a deeper and more efficient financial sector, developing best practices for microfinance, developing the capital market, addressing skills shortages in the labour market, promoting regulatory transparency, improving access to land for private enterprises, promoting development of economic zones, technology development, women entrepreneurship development, promoting corporate social responsibility, promoting public- private dialogue, and competition. Agriculture: The challenges of improved performance in the agricultural sector will be addressed through a set of policies and strategies in the NSAPR II (revised) period. In the crop sub-sector, the strategies will focus on productivity gains, diversification to high value crops, market based input distribution along with effective monitoring, biotechnology research and development, technology generation and dissemination, strengthening of NARS institutes, demand-driven agricultural extension, revamping the agricultural marketing system, agro-processing activities, creating employment opportunities especially for women, increasing cropping intensity through diversification to high value crops, creating enabling agri-business development services and market opportunities both for xvi NSAPR II (Revised) domestic and international markets, promoting small and medium enterprises, export promotion and development of AEZ-based technology, climate change adaptive technology, extension of irrigation, flood protection and drainage coverage, and agricultural subsidy. The overall strategy of fisheries sub-sector development envisages intensification of aquaculture by species and ecosystems, addition of export-oriented species, ensuring biodiversity and preserving natural breeding grounds, product diversification, value addition, development of appropriate marketing infrastructure strengthening the capacity of the Department of Fisheries (DoF), promoting cooperation among the key actors such as NGOs, private sector entrepreneurs and community based fishing groups and enhancing productivity of all khas ponds and water bodies. Livestock: In the livestock subsector strategies will focus on dairy development and meat production, poultry development, veterinary services and animal health, feeds and animal management, breed development, hides and skins, marketing of livestock products, demand-led extension services and assured marketing facilities for poultry and milk products, international trade management, access to credit and insurance and institutional development for research and extension, for livestock and poultry development in the country. The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) will play a supportive role for private sector development in the subsector. Forestry: In the forestry subsector strategies will focus on development and management of protected areas (PAs), eco-parks, botanical gardens and safari parks under a reformed legal framework, ensuring both in-situ and ex-situ conservation in the country, co-management in five out of 19 PAs, wildlife protection, sustainable management of enhancing access of the poor to public commons , conducting National forest assessment and periodic forest inventory, and building forest resources through afforestation. Rural Development: The National Rural Development Council (NRDC), headed by the Prime Minister, will be formed to provide guidelines for implementing the rural development policy. A national steering committee will be formed to assist the NRDC and follow up policy implementations. Steps are underway to set up the Policy and Strategy Formulation Unit (PSFU) to implement the National Rural Development Policy 2001 for which a project has been undertaken for the period 2009-2013. Water Resources Development and Management: The strategies of water resources development and management will be grouped under six major heads: (i) dredging the main rivers and their development for the multipurpose use of water resources, management for navigation, erosion control, and development of hydropower; (ii) flood protection and storm-water drainage measures will be undertaken with the rehabilitation and maintenance of existing FCD and FCDI systems in a participatory manner and protection of rural and urban areas from floods; (iii) disaster management programmes will include provisions of cyclone protection, early warning and forecasting systems with adequate lead time, flood proofing shelters, control of riverbank erosion, drought management and rationalization of groundwater resources and climate change adaptation; (iv) adequate provisions will be made for water management for agriculture through public sector irrigation development and flood management and drainage; (v) protection of the natural environment and aquatic resources will be ensured with water pollution monitoring and control, water management for fisheries and ecologically sensitive areas and raising awareness of all stakeholders to support environmental measures; and (vi) development of institutions in the water sector will be ensured. xvii NSAPR II (Revised) Land Use Policy and Management: Land use policy will ensure optimal use of land resources and delivery of land related services to the people through modernized and efficient land administration. The strategies are: (a) computerisation of the land records and land management system, (b) allotment of agricultural Khas land to landless and asset less people to improve their living conditions, (c) ensuring planned use of land through enforcement of the provisions of the existing laws and promulgation of new laws, ( d) ensuring proper management of jalmahal, balumahal and other mahals for poverty reduction, (e) protection and conservation of wet lands, hilly areas, tea gardens, and rubber gardens, and (f) taking measures to help accretion of coastal land. Urban Development: Urbanization has incidental growth promotion and poverty reduction potential but puts heavy pressure on the development of utilities to meet demand for a rapidly growing urban population. The urbanization policy would encompass spatial, economic, social, cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of urban life directed towards achieving an urban society free from hunger and poverty with ample access to education, health, shelter, and basic services and a secure and liveable environment at home and workplace. It will be a society sensitive to women, children and the aged. 3.4 Essential Infrastructure for Pro-Poor Growth Power and Energy: The supply of quality and reliable power at affordable prices to the people will be ensured through system expansion with a prudent least cost plan, efficiency improvement through institutional and structural reform and establishment of commercial arrangements among the sector entities. Balanced development of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity will be ensured. Electricity generation will focus on completion of under construction plants, installation of new plants, utilization of full capacity of existing plants through rehabilitation, scheduled maintenance and overhauling, and human resource development., review of Captive Power Policy to remove all barriers. The vision of the power sector is to provide access to affordable and reliable electricity to all citizens of Bangladesh by 2021. The supply of quality and reliable power at an affordable price will be ensured through system expansion with a prudent least cost plan, efficiency improvement through institutional and structural reform and establishment of commercial arrangement among the sector entities. Electricity generation will be raised to 7,000 MW by 2013, 8,000 MW by 2015 and 20,000 MW by 2021. The existing National Energy Policy (NEP) is being updated to provide guidelines for achieving energy security for the country. An action plan will be worked out to improve the operational and financial performance of Petrobangla and its subsidiaries. The policy for public-private partnership for operating companies of Petrobangla will be formulated so that both domestic and foreign entrepreneurs may participate. The major strategies to meet the demand for petroleum products will include increasing the LPG bottling capacity and increasing the refining capacity, expansion of the storage capacity of petroleum products, improvement of the distribution system by putting a second oil installation, and enhancement of the capability to handle large vessels to reduce losses in import operations. For renewable energy, the main goal is to develop, disseminate, promote and extend the renewable energy technology to the rural people to meet their energy needs for lighting and cooking purposes by using sustainable and inexhaustible environment friendly renewable xviii NSAPR II (Revised) energy sources. The National Coal Policy is being formulated for development of coal to meet the growing energy demand. Transport: The goal of road transport is to achieve a well-maintained, cost effective and safe road network connecting all parts of the country and to establish cross-border links. The development of road sector emphasizes: (i) capacity expansion through construction of tunnel, (ii) four laning of existing important highways. (iii) Construction of major bridges, (iv) development of road corridor and border roads to facilitate sub-regional trade, and (v) regional balance in road development. The development of rural road communication will emphasize linking growth centres, union parishad headquarters, upazilla parishad headquarters, social service institutions like schools, and hospitals with the national road network. The planned construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge will be completed by 2013. Steps have been taken to implement the construction of Padma Bridge project at Mawa and the construction of Karnaphuli Hanging Bridge project on a priority basis. Feasibility studies for construction of the four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong Expressway are underway. The main goal of Bangladesh Railway is to sustain its growth momentum to contribute to the development efforts of the country through providing wider connectivity and mass transportation facilities at a comparatively cheap price. A Master Plan for the development of BR is under preparation by the Planning Commission to overcome the problems and expand and modernize the railway. The measures include double tracking the Dhaka- Chittagong corridor, establishing rail link with neighbouring countries under the Asian Rail and Highways Scheme, undertaking a three-year maintenance rolling plan, and rehabilitation of railway. Feasibility studies will be undertaken to construct underground rail, circular rail, circular and elevated rail in Dhaka. In order to modernise railways, a reform project called Bangladesh Railway Sector Improvement is being implemented. The main goal of water transport is to ensure the smooth and safe navigation of cargo and passenger vessels. In order to overcome the current and emerging problems programmes will be undertaken for dredging all major river routes and the construction of inland river container terminals. Besides, the IWTA will make provision for providing facilities at different landing ports, landing facilities in the coastal area, and pontoons at wayside landings. The main goal related to ports is to enhance efficiency and productivity against pre-set indicators through improving the quality of services and facilities to the port users and stakeholders at competitive prices. Mongla and Chittagong sea ports will be developed and will be opened to all regional users. Post and Telecommunication: In order to realize the vision of building Digital Bangladesh the main thrust will be to extend ICT facilities to those who are living in rural areas. The strategies for the development of BPO will focus on the introduction of an ICT- based postal network to keep it connected with customers, bringing qualitative changes in postal services, establishing e-centers in the post offices, continuous improvement of products, work process reengineering, creating a business development cell and providing quality services to the people. Housing: The priorities of housing development are: (i) create an enabling environment for adequate and affordable housing for different income groups, especially low-income and extreme poor and vulnerable groups; (ii) provide housing for rural and urban homeless, landless and vulnerable groups; (iii) ensure maximum utilization of land in rural areas through developing "growth centre" centric housing in every union and Upazilla and xix NSAPR II (Revised) housing with modern amenities in urban areas; and (iv) facilitate private sector house building and house building by NGOs and CBOs. The government's goal is to provide housing for all by 2015. 3.5 Social Protection for the Vulnerable In achieving faster poverty reduction, attention will be given to activities that are targeted to benefit the extreme poor, women in poverty, landless poor and other vulnerable groups. To protect the poor from falling into deeper poverty, priority will be given to at least five areas. These are: social safety net programmes; food security; disaster management; micro-credit and rural non-farm activities. Social Safety Net Programmes: A strong and expanded social safety net programme (SSNP) is the main emphases of Vision 2021, which will protect the poor from all sorts of social, economic and natural shocks. The major goals of SSNPs are: (i) safety net interventions will achieve the protection of all types of poor people and the prevention of chronic poverty as well as transient poverty. It will target the extreme poor first; (ii) the government will encourage NGOs, CBOs and the private sector to augment their role and contributions to expand the social safety net; and (iii) attempts will be made to increase coverage through increased budgetary allocation each year. Food Security: Food security encompasses three broad aspects, namely, availability, access and utilization. Food security and nutrition will (i) ensure adequate and stable supply of safe and nutritious food; (ii) enhance the purchasing power of the people for increased access to food; and (iii) ensure adequate nutrition for all, especially women, children and persons with disabilities. Disaster Management: The goal for disaster management (DM) is prevention and protection of lives and properties from any kind of hazards with priority given to disaster risk management along with mitigation. DM will include (i) improving the cyclone signal system to make it clear to common people and improving flood forecasting to be able to make forecasts 6-7 days ahead instead of 3-4 days as currently made; (ii) strengthening coordination among the government agencies, NGOs and civil society institutions and coordination and management at grassroots level; (iii) developing insurance system to cover disaster-related losses of property; (iv) avoiding overlap in relief distribution and rehabilitation initiatives, (v) providing adequate health facilities for the disaster victims, quick transportation of the affected people and instant treatment of the injured people, and (vi) improving capacity for adequate and quick response to emerging and potential disaster like sea-level rise, bird flu, etc. Microcredit: Microcredit programme will seek to increase the coverage to a larger number of deserving households; introduce a uniform approach of operation both by NGOs and the public sector; and introduce a regulatory framework for streamlining the activities of the microcredit programme in the country. A national microcredit policy will be framed to provide guidelines about the operation of microcredit. It is also necessary to rationalize interest rates. Necessary mechanism will be devised to ensure that microcredit reaches the ultra poor and the hard to reach areas especially those located in regions with higher incidence of poverty. Local governments will be involved in microcredit delivery. It will rationalize interest, reducing the wide variations and the exorbitant rates. Rural Non-Farm Activities: Rural non-farm activities have the potential of becoming leading areas of growth in the rural economy. The strategies will focus on two broad areas: (i) improving the rural investment climate; and (ii) supporting institutional framework. xx NSAPR II (Revised) 3.6 Human Resources Development Knowledge Base: Education, Training and Research: The country's education system comprising primary, secondary, tertiary, and non-formal education will be developed to build a knowledge-based society. Utmost priority will be given to quality of education to increase the employability. Attention will be given to increase people's access to information, research capacity and awareness among people, particularly at the grassroots level. The commitment of the government is to achieve 100 percent literacy by 2014. Health, Nutrition and Population Planning: Taking a Holistic Approach: Health, nutrition and population (HNP) are intimately related and complementary to other sectors of the economy. The government is committed to ensure quality health, nutrition and family welfare services, which are affordable, attainable and acceptable to its citizens. The government focuses on increasing health status, reducing health inequalities, expanding access to social safety network and encouraging affordable service delivery systems for everybody. For the poor and vulnerable, existing facilities will be further expanded and consolidated to ensure access of the poor to public health care services as well as establish ownership through community participation. The health policy will be reevaluated and adjusted according to the goals set by the government. The current commitment of spending at least 60 per cent of the total budgetary allocation of the HNP sector at upazila level and below will continue to be pursued to improve the quality of PHC and make it accessible and acceptable to the people, especially the poor and vulnerable. Functioning of the Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs), Union Health & Family Welfare Centers (UHFWCs) and the Community Clinics (CCs) will be strengthened and further consolidated through providing adequate manpower, drugs and other medical aids. The Community Clinics will provide PHC services, maternal and child care, family planning services, nutrition and venereal disease related services to the rural people. The government is committed to reactivate 10,723 community clinics (CCs) which were established during 1996-2001. The MOHFW will run at least 8,000 CCs under government management. The government is committed to providing universal access to pure drinking water by 2011 and sanitation by 2013. 4. Roadmap for Accelerated Poverty Reduction: Supporting Strategies 4.1 Participation, Social Inclusion, and Empowerment The vision for women's advancement and rights is to create a society where men and women will have equal opportunities and will enjoy all fundamental rights on an equal basis. To achieve this vision, the aim is to ensure women's advancement and rights in the activities of all sectors of the economy. Women Development Policy formulated by the present government in 1997 will be revived to ensure women's empowerment and equality in rights and opportunities. Differential treatment of children, the extreme poor, persons with disabilities and indigenous people is all pervasive and will be addressed in an effective manner for poverty reduction and development to benefit all. Proper attention is given in the NSAPR II (revised) to the hopes and aspirations of these groups of people. 4.2 Good Governance Improving governance and reducing corruption are crucial to helping poor people escape poverty and achieving the MDGs. The promotion of good governance will focus on the following issues: (i) making parliamentary process effective; (ii) reforming and strengthening the public service system; (iii) reforming the legal and judicial system to ensure judicial help for the poor and women; (iv) changing roles of law enforcing agencies; (v) strengthening of xxi NSAPR II (Revised) local government; (vi) promoting e-governance; (vii) combating corruption; (viii) ensuring human rights; (ix) accessing information; (x) improving project implementation capacity; and (xi) improving sectoral governance. Devolving governance to root level, the upazila parishads would be gradually strengthened assigning more functions and responsibilities as they are able to act independently. The zila parishad system would be reviewed within 3-4 years to ensure a reformed and functional structure. 4.3 Efficient Delivery of Public Services The main goal of public services delivery is to ensure adequate, effective and low-cost services relating to safety, security, and protection of life, liberty and wealth, safe water and sanitation for all, power and energy, transportation, solid waste management, and ICT, post and telecommunication to the people. Efforts will be made to develop public-private partnership and government-NGO cooperation to improve efficiency in the management of delivery in some essential utility services, where such modalities are feasible and bring additional value or enhances efficiency. 4.4 Caring for Environment and Tackling Climate Change The environmental challenges in the forms of water and air pollution, land degradation, extreme degradation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, unsustainable agricultural practices and unplanned urban growth will be met by undertaking measures in the areas of policies, planning, regulations and capacity building. Appropriate measures will be taken to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change. Climate adaptation will be strengthened by undertaking sectoral, multi-sectoral and cross-sectoral measures. 4.5 Enhancing Productivity and Efficiency through Science and Technology The major goal of the science and technology policy is to make Bangladesh a knowledge- based society, which accelerates growth and reduce poverty. The quality of life of people of the disadvantaged strata will be improved through enhancing quality of education and health care by innovative application of ICT, enhancing productivity in agriculture through the application of biotechnology and inspiring the creation of jobs through technological growth induced by a more reliable availability of power through the promotion and application of atomic energy. Development of modern biotechnology will be promoted on the areas of bio-fuel, biomedical and agricultural research. 4.6 Official Development Assistance (ODA) The Government recognizes that effective and efficient utilization of Official Development Assistance (ODA) is critical to the achievement of development goals. Accordingly, Bangladesh is fully committed to implementation of the Paris Declaration (PD) on Aid Effectiveness of 2005 and the Accra Agenda for Action (AAA) of 2008. Consequent upon PD, Bangladesh prepared a Harmonization Action Plan (HAP) and currently, in collaboration with the development partners, has been working on a Joint Cooperation Strategy (JCS). The leadership role of the Government is increasingly gaining strength in utilization of development assistance. 5. Indicative Costs of NSAPR II In estimating the resource requirement for implementing revised NSAPR II, the cost of completing all the activities to achieve the desired goals and targets in each thematic area has been taken into consideration. The estimated cost of achieving the strategic goals and targets set out in revised NSAPR II is Tk. 2,814.81 billion. Non-discretionary expenditure comprising interest payment obligations (both domestic and foreign interest payments) of the public sector and national defence expenditure needs amounted to Tk. 642.59 billion at xxii NSAPR II (Revised) FY08 prices. The total public expenditure in the NSAPR II (revised) period thus comes to Tk. 3,457.40 billion. The total domestic resource that can be mobilized is in the amount of Tk. 2,582.56 billion at FY08 prices. The estimated total resources gap is Tk. 874.84 billion or USD 12.50 billion which has to be mobilized from external sources. 6. Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation The implementation arrangements and monitoring and evaluation mechanism of NSAPR II (revised) have been clearly articulated. The major responsibility for the implementation of the strategy lies with the concerned ministries and their agencies comprising different thematic groups as well as other ministries and agencies responsible for the implementation of the crosscutting issues. Other actors that will play an active role in the implementation include the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs), NGOs, and regulatory commissions. The development partners will play a supportive role in the implementation of the NSAPR II (revised). There would be regular dialogues with development partners based on mutually agreed JCS paper with clear aid effectiveness outcomes in support of a prioritised and operational national poverty strategy. A list of indicators has been developed for monitoring. For carrying out M&E effectively, capacity building of concerned institutions will be undertaken. xxiii NSAPR II (Revised) NSAPR II (Revised) Text Quote "...implementation responsibility of NSAPR II (revised) lies with the concerned lead ministries and their agencies as well as other associate ministries and their agencies. Ministries/Divisions who will be responsible for preparing their respective detailed prioritized action plans/road maps based on NSAPR II (revised) policy agenda for the implementation of the strategies to achieve sectoral and crosscutting targets for the FY 2009-11 period." Page: 101 NSAPR II (Revised) NSAPR II (Revised) Chapter 1 The Development Vision and Poverty Reduction Framework 1.1 The Development Vision The present government has placed poverty reduction at the forefront of its development strategy. Elimination of poverty and inequity is central to the development vision laid out in the Election Manifesto of the government. The Manifesto has set specific poverty reduction targets to be attained during the current tenure of the government and identified faster agricultural growth, broad based rural development, targeted employment generation, and strengthening of social safety nets as some of the major strategies for attaining poverty reduction objectives. A Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) titled "Unlocking the Potential: National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction (NSAPR I)" was prepared in 2005. The NSAPR I was put into implementation during FY2005-FY07 and subsequently it was extended up to June 2008. The second NSAPR (FY2009-FY11) was prepared by the immediate past caretaker government. Because of the unelected and interim nature of the caretaker government, the NSAPR II document prepared by it could not adequately reflect the genuine wishes of the people. The current elected government has carried out a comprehensive evaluation of the NSAPR II document in accordance with its commitments in the Election Manifesto. While retaining policy continuity, the document has been recast in the light of the government's development vision and the Election Manifesto. In line with the aspirations of the people, the thrust has now shifted to making Bangladesh a happy and prosperous nation supported by mutually reinforcing development in social, economic and political front. In accordance with the Election Manifesto, this will entail putting Bangladesh into a trajectory of high performing growth, stabilizing commodity prices, minimizing income and human poverty, securing health and education for all, enhancing creativity and building capacity, establishing social justice, reducing social disparity, achieving capacity to tackle the adverse effects of climate change, and firmly rooting participatory democracy in the political arena. A critical element in bringing about the envisaged social and economic development will be the adoption of advanced and innovative technology. It is stipulated that developments in information and communication technology will take the country to new heights of excellence, giving a new identity branded as Digital Bangladesh. The government's commitment to bringing about the above mentioned developments in social, economic, political and technology fields constitute the Charter of Change as enunciated in the Election Manifesto. The NSAPR II (revised) prepared in the light of the government's development vision and the Election Manifesto also emphasizes the aspect of policy continuity. In this respect, due considerations have been paid to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the SAARC Development Goals (SDGs) and the need for sustained efforts towards achieving these goals. The government has also adopted a long term vision for the development of the country. For the purpose, the long term Perspective Plan (2010-2021), under preparation by the government, would provide goals for the future and chart out the course of action to 1 NSAPR II (Revised) achieve these goals by 2021, which will coincide with the Golden Jubilee of Independence of Bangladesh. For realizing the Vision, the government would start the implementation of the Sixth Five Year Plan (2010-2015) from July 2010. The plan document will project goals and targets and explore alternative strategies for reaching these goals and targets. This medium-term plan will contribute to the process of implementing the Perspective Plan and provide an indicative forecast for the nation reflecting the government's development philosophy. The present NPAPR II shall remain in force until FY11 and its performance will be reviewed each year in normal course. Eventually, the three year medium term budget framework (MTBF) followed by the line ministries in developing their annual budgets will be converted into a five year MTBF. In the light of the long term vision, the government has identified five priority areas for medium term action: (i) maintenance of macroeconomic stability and control over commodity price hike in the face of the present global economic crisis; (ii) effective action against corruption; (iii) power and energy; (iv) elimination of poverty and inequality; and (v) establishment of good governance. In the pursuit of achieving the Vision, some important targets have been set for the macro- economy (Box 1). The NSAPR II incorporates these and other priority areas necessary for achieving the poverty reduction and other social goals. The NSAPR II also integrates the responses to the risks to the economy arising out of the current global economic recession. Box 1.1: Macroeconomic Targets based on Vision 2021 - Secure and sustain an annual level of GDP growth of 8 percent by 2013 and raise it to 10 percent from 2017; - Bring down the percentage of disadvantaged people living below the poverty line to 15 percent by 2021; - Ensure a minimum of 2,122 k. cal/person/day of food to all poor people and standard nutritional food to at least 85 percent of the population by 2021; - Ensure 100 percent net enrolment at primary level by 2010, provide free tuition up to the degree level by 2013, attain full literacy by 2014, and ensure that Bangladesh is known as a country of educated people with skills in information technology; - Achieve self sufficiency in food by 2012; - Ensure living accommodation for the entire population by 2015, supply of pure drinking water for the entire population by 2011, and bring each house under hygienic sanitation by 2013; - Eliminate all kinds of contagious diseases and increase life expectancy of citizens to 70 years by 2021; - Reduce maternal mortality to 1.5 percent, raise the use of birth control methods to 80 percent, and bring down infant mortality to 15 per thousand live births by 2021; - Change the sectoral composition of output with the shares of agriculture, industry, and services standing at 15 percent, 40 percent, and 45 percent respectively in 2021; - Reduce underemployment rate to 15 percent along with changing employment shares of agriculture, industry, and services to 30 percent, 25 percent, and 45 percent respectively in 2021; - Generate 7,000 megawatt of electricity by 2013, raise it to 8,000 megawatt in 2015, and make provision to the expected demand for power of 20,000 megawatt in 2021. 1.2 Attainment of MDGs Bangladesh has made significant progress towards attaining the MDGs by 2015. In case of majority of the indicators, Bangladesh is on track with prospect for earlier attainment of targets for some indicators. Bangladesh has successfully achieved gender parity in 2 NSAPR II (Revised) primary and secondary education. The country is on track to achieve the targets of halving the proportion of people living below the poverty line and suffering from hunger, net enrolment ratio in primary education, and reduction of child mortality. However, several lagging areas are there like primary school completion rate, adult literacy rate, access to safe drinking water by the rural people, and maternal mortality ratio. Similarly, participation of women in wage employment, access to tenurial security and essential drugs is still low. Access to Personal Computers (PCs) and Internet services has also been quite limited. Bangladesh thus needs to put sustained efforts to attain the MDGs by 2015. There is also the critical need for complementary external resources for financing the progress towards these goals. Historically, the gap between commitment of financial support by development partners for meeting MDGs and the actual availability of such resources has been quite glaring. 1.3 Poverty Reduction Strategy Framework The poverty reduction strategy framework of NSAPR II is based on the reality of multidimensionality of poverty and takes into account the dynamics of the socio-economic factors that reinforce and perpetuate poverty in the country. The strategy framework consists of five strategic blocks and five supporting strategies (Figure 1.1). The strategic blocks are: (i) macroeconomic environment for pro-poor growth; (ii) critical areas for pro- poor growth; (iii) essential infrastructure for pro-poor growth; (iv) social protection for the vulnerable; and (v) human development. The supporting strategies, on the other hand, comprise of: (i) ensuring participation, social inclusion, and empowerment; (ii) promoting good governance; (iii) ensuring efficient delivery of public services; (iv) caring for environment and tackling climate change; and (v) enhancing productivity and efficiency through science and technology. For poverty reduction, it would be critical to address all these areas in order to derive mutually supportive interactions. The critical concern of the strategy is to achieve higher growth and make the growth pro- poor such that the poorer sections get a proportionately greater share of the benefits of growth helping them move out of poverty. The reduction of inequality in income and opportunities is required for making growth more pro-poor apart from its value in creating a more egalitarian and stable society. In line with the pro-poor growth strategy of the present government, the NSAPR II addresses the issues of poverty reduction and equity simultaneously. In this context, major elements include: (i) bringing vibrancy in agriculture and rural life; (ii) expanding the social safety nets for the ultra poor; and (iii) targeted approach towards employment generation. 3 NSAPR II (Revised) Figure 1.1: Poverty Reduction Strategy Framework Poverty reduction Key issues in building strategies Vision for poverty reduction strategy Block I: Block II: Block III: Block IV: Block V: Macroeconomic Critical Essential Social Human Five environment areas for infrastructure protection develop- strategic for pro-poor pro-poor for pro-poor for the ment blocks growth growth growth vulnerable Monitoring and evaluation of 1. Ensuring participation, social inclusion and empowerment NSAPR II implementation 2. Promoting good governance Five supporting 3. Ensuring efficient service delivery strategies 4. Caring for environment and tackling climate change 5. Enhancing productivity and efficiency through science and technology Inclusive participation through consultations at national and regional levels 1.4 Key Issues in Generating Pro-Poor Growth In the poverty reduction strategy, the role of the public sector in generating growth is important for several reasons. First, public investment in infrastructure like transport and communication, power and energy, ports, and human capital would be critical to enhance the efficiency of private investment. Second, the government needs to support the private sector through facilitating development-friendly institutions­ property rights, rule of law, market-oriented incentives, sustainable public finances, sound monetary and trade policy, strong and efficient financial sector and good governance. Finally, public investment will determine the structure of growth by allocating resources to the social sectors like education, health, and rural infrastructure. The role of the public and the private sector would assume renewed importance through the explicit adoption of public private partnership (PPP) by the present government. Sources of Growth Since the 1990s, the growth of total factor productivity (TFP) has been low, growing at only 1.2 percent. For enhancing the growth of the economy during NSAPR II, the focus therefore would be on increasing TFP growth and the essential elements of this approach would be (i) pursuit of supportive macroeconomic policy, (ii) removal of infrastructural bottlenecks including electricity, gas, telecommunication, transport and port services, (iii) enhancing the supply of effective labour through investment in health, nutrition and education of all people especially people living in poverty, women, indigenous people, and persons with disabilities, (iv) generation, adaptation and diffusion of technology, through emphasis on R&D and inflow of FDI, (v) minimizing the negative productivity shocks of 4 NSAPR II (Revised) natural disaster through better management of such disaster, enhancement of the poor's capacity to cope with the disaster and supporting the efforts of the entrepreneurs to overcome damages to production, plants and machinery, (vi) improving the quality of governance, (vii) lowering regulatory and administrative burden on business, (vii) promoting openness to trade and devising appropriate fiscal stimulus and policy responses to international shocks like global recession; (viii) improving the quality of financial sector intermediation, (ix) improving the performance of the tax system, and (x) bringing about institutional reforms to make them more market oriented and growth friendly. Ensuring Regional Balance The sharp regional difference in the incidence of poverty between the eastern and western regions of the country will be addressed through introducing regional dimension in allocation and utilization of resources. Special attention will be given to bring dynamism in the economy of the western region through provision of infrastructural facilities, credit and fiscal incentives, encouraging locational dispersion of industries and creating regional growth centres, providing training and upgrading skills, promoting rural non-farm activities and increasing the coverage of social safety nets. Decentralizing Growth Decentralized growth with participation in the most inclusive manner will have greater impact on poverty reduction. Rural towns or semi-urban areas growing outside the municipal areas have shown dynamism of non-farm activities. Growth of rural towns will be promoted through improved provision of public utilities, better connectivity, planned development of towns and land use planning. The meso-economy, consisting of formal and informal activities in service, trade, construction and small industries provides scope for decentralized employment generation. These activities are often characterized by low asset base and limited scale and informal nature of operation. Hence, traditional policy interventions having a sectoral focus do not always serve well the growth requirements of these activities. The meso-economy will be supported through appropriate credit facilities, skills training and technology upgradation to enable this vibrant component of the economy to integrate with the growing formal sector and contribute towards decentralized growth. Gaining from Demographic Dividend Bangladesh's population is likely to increase to 233 million in 2051 from the current estimate of 144.2 million in 2009. In this context, population planning will take a number of initiatives to reduce the growth rate such as (i) creating awareness about the population problem and enlisting public support for population planning and development; (ii) implementing family planning and reproductive health programmes more efficiently; and (iii) strengthening inter-ministerial coordination. The demographic transition that the country has undergone resulting in a higher proportion of young and working age population and a lower dependency ratio would create virtuous cycles of growth. Macroeconomic and sectoral policies will be geared towards providing productive employment to the growing labour force to reap the demographic dividend. 5 NSAPR II (Revised) Focusing Women's Advancement and Rights Women in Bangladesh have made important gains along with changes in social attitudes towards women's economic participation. Further progress in women development will be achieved by including women's advancement and rights issues in all mainstream activities. Although women and men share many of the burdens of poverty, women frequently experience poverty differently, have different poverty reduction priorities, and are affected differently by development interventions. The NSAPR II will address the gender dimensions of poverty and implement gender responsive interventions to enhance the likelihood of success of poverty reduction efforts. Strengthening Safety Nets Programmes An effective, extensive, and development oriented social protection and safety nets programme will form an integral part of the poverty reduction strategy. The existing programmes will be consolidated and strengthened in terms of targeting and coverage. Social safety nets will be extended for the ultra poor. Social safety nets will also be extended for the urban poor who are often not reached by existing measures. Some previous programmes such as one house one farm, rural housing, ideal village, and returning home will be revived, and the coverage of old age allowance and destitute women allowance programmes will be substantially increased. Moreover, the Strengthening Financial Sector An efficient financial sector plays a crucial role in accelerating economic growth process. Therefore, reform initiatives implemented in the financial sector so far would be carried forward during NSAPR­II period to propel Bangladesh's economy on a higher trajectory. The government will carry out financial sector reforms to catalyse economic growth and will step up public expenditure to make a significant breakthrough in poverty eradication program. The supervisory capacity of the Bangladesh Bank to oversee the commercial banks' activities will be further strengthen, and the NCB's privatization process will be expedited. Prudent credit policy will followed to avoid concentration of wealth to few group/companies. A cap on the credit limit of up to 35 percent of any bank's paid up capital has been imposed. The overall activities of the Bangladesh Bank and the NCBs will be fully automated. Meanwhile power of the Boards of Directors of SCBs has been enhanced. A 5- year business strategic plan has been prepared and expected to be put in to operation with the NSAPR II period. This will infuse dynamism in banking operation. The Bangladesh Shilpa Bank and Bangladesh Shilpa Rin Shangtha will be merged to create a wholly-owned public limited company to strengthen the operational efficiency of a unified investment bank. The Government has recapitalized Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB), Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) and Karmashanghstan Bank in order to expand agricultural loans program as well as micro-credit. The Money Laundering Prevention Act 2009 has been enacted in order to effectively prevent money laundering activities. Through this Act, the banks, financial institutions, moneychangers and insurance companies have been brought under accountability regime of Bangladesh Bank. 6 NSAPR II (Revised) Sovereign credit rating plays a supporting role in mobilizing capital from international capital market at a reduced cost and at favorable terms. Bangladesh Bank has taken steps to execute an agreement with two international rating agencies. This may expedite foreign investment and open up alternative ways of mobilizing capital. Ensuring Environmental Protection Operationally, poverty-environment linkages are evident at two levels - one is conservation of nature and natural resources for sustainable livelihood and the other is controlling/combating pollution for the maintenance of biodiversity and protection of human health. An integrated policy and plan will be formulated under the strategy to ensure environmental protection and protection from the adverse effects of global warming and climate change. Effective regional and international cooperation will be sought to ensure environmental protection and to cope with the effects of climate change. 1.5 Implementation Challenges Ensuring efficient implementation of the NSAPR II is the key challenge. All ministries would be urged to undertake activities and actions to achieve the strategic objectives that are spelled out in the document, especially in the policy matrix. Accordingly, the line ministries and agencies will formulate and implement their activities and actions through allocations under the annual budgets. In order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditure and ensure that the goals set out in NSAPR II are attained, the government has been implementing a move away from the traditional incremental budgeting towards a medium term budget framework (MTBF) process. The MTBF is intended to support the implementation of NSAPR II through ensuring that (i) the government's fiscal management contributes to macroeconomic stability and supports an enabling environment for economic growth and poverty reduction; and (ii) adequate public resources are allocated through a more strategic and policy-led budget planning process directed towards priority programmes identified in the strategy and in supporting complementary sector level strategies. Successful implementation of NSAPR II and achievements of the goals require a well- designed monitoring and evaluation process in place both at macro and micro levels. Monitoring the implementation progress will consist of continuous assessment of the flow of inputs/expenditure for the fulfilment of specific objectives and appropriate utilization of the inputs. This will be accompanied by periodic assessment of actual progress in various input, output, and outcome indicators at the macro, sectoral, programme and project levels. For the purpose, effective measures will be undertaken to create capacity of concerned Ministries / Agencies to generate data and information relevant to monitoring. This would require capacity building of the concerned Ministries and implementing Agencies in implementation monitoring and evalution. 1.6 Participatory Formulation Process The General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission is the National Poverty Focal Point (NPFP) for coordination of activities leading to the preparation of NSAPR II. The National Steering Committee identified 18 thematic areas of the economy which would contribute to accelerated poverty reduction in the next three years. Accordingly, 18 thematic groups comprising the lead ministry and associate ministries/ 7 NSAPR II (Revised) divisions/agencies were formed to prepare thematic reports which formed the basis of NSAPR II (Annex 1). The GED undertook a process of intensive consultation with the stakeholders in the formulation of NSAPR II. National level consultation was held in Dhaka on draft thematic reports and a second consultation was held at Barisal with participation of academics, researchers, NGOs, CBOs, the media and government officials. The thematic reports were finalised reflecting the findings and recommendations of both consultations. Several consultations were held on draft NSAPR II. First, a two-day national level consultation was held in Dhaka with NGOs, CBOs, representatives of CCIs, academics, researchers and thematic groups. A second consultation was held in Dhaka with the development partners. Two regional consultations were held ­ one at Rajshahi and the other at Rangamati, with participation of NGOs, CBOs, representatives of local government, representatives of chambers of commerce and industry, the media and government officials. In addition, useful written comments were provided by NGOs, development partners and various ministries. The draft NSAPR II was finalised giving due consideration to the comments received at different consultation meetings. A summary of the recommendations made in different consultation meetings is presented in Annex 2. To ensure ownership of the poverty reduction strategy, the NSAPR II document has been prepared incorporating the aspirations of the people as reflected in the Election Manifesto of the government. The subsequent consultation process carried out with stakeholders and the Honourable Members of the Parliament has contributed towards further strengthening the ownership of the strategy document. 8 NSAPR II (Revised) Chapter 2 Poverty Situation and the Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework 2.1 Achievements in Poverty Reduction The incidence of poverty has been declining in Bangladesh (Table 2.1). The national head count index of poverty measured by the upper poverty line declined from 56.6 percent in 1991-92 to 40.0 percent in 2005. 1 During the period, urban poverty reduced at a faster rate than rural poverty. On the other hand, headcount index measured by the lower poverty line declined from 41.0 percent in 1991-92 to 25.1 percent in 2005. The trend has been similar in both rural and urban areas. At the same time, all indicators of human poverty like life expectancy at birth, infant mortality rate, population having access to drinking water, and adult literacy rate have shown improvements over time. However, the absolute values of many of these indicators are still unacceptable and the challenge is to improve the situation rapidly. Table 2.1: Head Count Ratio of Poverty, 1991-92 to 2005 (Percent) Upper poverty line Lower poverty line 1991-92 2005 1991-92 2005 National 56.6 40.0 41.0 25.1 Rural 58.7 43.8 43.7 28.6 Urban 42.7 28.4 23.6 14.6 Source: BBS, Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2005. 2.2 Trends in Income Inequality Despite rises in household income, income distribution has become more unequal over time (Table 2.2). The bottom 5 percent of the population received 0.77 percent of the total income in 2005, down from 0.93 percent in 2000. The bottom 40 percent of the population which coincides with the share of the poor in total population received only 14.4 percent of the total income in 2005. On the other hand, the top 5 percent received nearly 27 percent of the total income in 2005. 2.3 Women's Poverty One aspect of women's poverty is that the total number of poor women is higher than that of poor men. Various micro studies indicate that the `hard-core' poor are largely women. The number of ultra poor (measured by food intake of 1,600 k.cal/person/day) and extreme poor (food intake of 1,805 k.cal/person/day) is higher in female headed households than in male headed households. The HIES 2005 shows that about 29.6 percent of divorced/widowed women live below the lower poverty line against the national average of 25.1 percent. 1 The head count index gives the number of people living below the poverty line as a ratio of the total number of population. The upper poverty line is taken as the cost of a representative bundle of food that provides 2,122 kcal/person/day plus the cost of a minimum bundle of non-food items. In the case of lower poverty line, the allowance for non-food items is lower than in the case of upper poverty line. 9 NSAPR II (Revised) Customary biases and intra-household inequalities lead to lower consumption by and fewer benefits for women and girls among low-income households. Intra-household inequalities exacerbate the vulnerability of women and girls. Skewed sex ratio showing a higher male population relative to female population (105 males for 100 females in 2008) suggests the presence of discrimination against women in health, nutrition and other aspects of well being originating within the households. Table 2.2: Income Distribution, 2000 and 2005 (Percentage of total household income) 2005 2000 Income accruing to Total Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Bottom 5 percent 0.77 0.88 0.67 0.93 1.07 0.79 Bottom 10 percent 2.00 2.25 1.80 2.41 2.80 2.02 Next 40 percent 18.32 20.02 17.16 19.65 22.35 17.19 Middle 40 percent 42.03 43.82 39.97 39.93 42.03 39.48 Top 10 percent 37.64 33.92 41.08 38.01 32.81 41.32 Top 5 percent 26.93 23.03 30.37 28.34 23.52 31.32 Gini coefficient (income) 0.467 0.428 0.497 0.451 0.393 0.497 Source: BBS, Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2005. Women's social subordination makes them more vulnerable to poverty. Women have few rights and choices in taking personal decisions regarding education, marriage, child bearing, family expenditure pattern, and participation in labour market and income generating activities. Discrimination against women at the social level is reflected in their movement limited within the homestead, lack of mobility in the public space, early marriage (average age at marriage for women is 20.2 years while that for men is 27.6 years) and the practice of dowry. Women have weak protection socially and legally in the event of break-up of marriages. They fall easily in the trap of trafficking. 2.4 Regional Differences in Poverty Regional differences in the incidence of poverty need in-depth analysis so that the problem can be addressed adequately. The reasons for lower incidence of poverty in the country's eastern region compared with the western region are important to consider in designing appropriate strategies to overcome the problem. Regional poverty differences in the country persists due to many factors including location of the capital city and the major port, concentration of administrative powers, availability of power and gas, and easier access of people living in this part of the country to these cities. The impact of rapid growth of these cities is also spreading to the nearby rural areas. People in the country's western region have limited access to the growth poles because of lesser connectivity. Faster poverty reduction in the western region needs greater investments in infrastructure, especially roads and bridges. The construction of the Padma bridge taken up by the present government would increase connectivity between the two regions and will help increase returns to household activities in the lagging regions. This needs to be supported by building better access to the Mongla port, and expansion of power and energy networks. The policy thrust also requires more investments in human capital and improvements in employment opportunities in the region. In addition, investment in infrastructure and services in urban areas in the western region will help improve diversified household activities and increase their returns. 10 NSAPR II (Revised) 2.5 Extreme and Chronic Poverty The Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2005 data show that about 27.0 million people, constituting 19.5 percent of the total population, live in extreme poverty in Bangladesh, while 31 percent of the rural population suffer from chronic poverty. 2 Adverse changes in household structure (e.g. increase in the dependency ratio among the poor relative to the non-poor households), pursuit of traditional agriculture as a means of livelihood due to inability to adopt improved practices, decline in availability of natural and common property resources, limited access to financial and human resources, and incidence of multiple shocks including natural and health shocks, and similar other factors are responsible for the non-poor to slip into poverty and the poor into extreme and chronic poverty. Women of these households are also more vulnerable to violence. Helping these households to deal with such shocks more effectively through social protection schemes, better governance, and changing attitudes (e.g. health behaviour and dowry) could keep many households out of chronic poverty. Further, maternal nutritional status is a strong predictor of child nutritional status (and thus development of child's mental faculties and productivity). Women's health and well-being are therefore important factors for breaking the transmission of poverty over generations. It is important to ensure the access of the extreme poor and the chronic poor households to education, health care, credit, and other support services and remove market barriers to help them move out of poverty. The persistence of extreme poverty in some specific geographic locations has been a stark reality in Bangladesh. People living in remote char areas with few assets and limited employment opportunities especially during the lean seasons become the usual victims of persistent poverty. Besides, people living in remote areas of the hill tracts region and indigenous people are also victims of extreme poverty. Investments in infrastructure, creation of employment opportunities during the lean periods, and increased coverage of social safety nets programmes (SSNPs) will improve the poverty situation of these disadvantaged groups. 2.6 Poverty Scenario Beyond 2005 Since the household income and expenditure surveys--the only source of poverty data in the country--are conducted at intervals, official statistics on poverty are not available beyond 2005. Based on past economic growth and associated trends in poverty, some poverty estimates for recent years can be derived. Two scenarios have been drawn: one based on high poverty elasticity; and the other using low poverty elasticity of growth. 3 Using the 2 Extreme poverty is taken as a situation where people persist in deep poverty that is at the bottom of the poverty ladder. On the other hand, chronic poverty is defined as a situation in which people live in poverty for a prolonged period of time, often spanning generations. These people have low consumption, and suffer from hunger and under-nutrition, lack of access to basic health services, illiteracy, and other deprivations. 3 One estimate is based on recent trends while the other uses a somewhat longer trend. The growth elasticity of poverty is estimated at 0.45 during 2000-2005 while the value is 0.38 for 1992-2005. The first value implies that if the economy grows by 1 percent then the head count ratio would decline by 0.45 percent. A similar interpretation holds for the second value. Given the growth of the economy between 2005 and 2009, the head count ratio declines by 8.9 percentage points if elasticity value of 0.45 is used while the decline is by 7.5 percentage points for assuming a growth elasticity of poverty of 0.38. 11 NSAPR II (Revised) above methodology, the head count ratio in 2009 is estimated to have declined by 8.9 percentage points if the high value of poverty elasticity of growth is used while the decline is by 7.5 percentage points in the case of low poverty elasticity of growth. Thus, the headcount ratio of poverty could vary between 31.1 percent and 32.5 percent in 2009. The gain in poverty reduction during the period may, however, have eroded to some extent because of the sharp increase in the prices of rice and other essential commodities especially during the early months of 2008. Given the relatively high weight of food in the consumption basket (nearly 61 percent in rural areas and 45 percent in urban areas), high food prices during 2008 may have made the poor poorer and pushed some above the poverty line into poverty. Although the impact of the present global economic crisis in Bangladesh is relatively low, the growth of the real economy has been adversely affected including exports. The sensitivity has been heightened by the export led growth strategy that Bangladesh follows thereby affecting export related production and investment as well as softening of domestic demand. The GDP growth rate has fallen in 2009 leading to increased fiscal stress, unemployment, poverty, and deprivations especially for the vulnerable groups. 2.7 Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework The global economy experienced robust growth of 4.2 per cent during 2002-07 against an average growth of 3.0 percent during the 1990s. In 2007, the growth rate reached a peak of 5.2 percent. This higher growth of the world economy also helped Bangladesh to improve its growth performance during the period. However, the debacle of the sub-prime mortgage market in the United States (US) triggered a downturn in the US economy in 2008 which quickly engulfed the world economy leading to a deep global recession. The global economy, which grew by 3.1 percent in 2008, is projected to shrink by 1.4 percent in 2009, before the growth rate modestly rises to 2.5 percent in 2010. Despite the effects of global economic slowdown and adverse impacts of two consecutive floods and cyclone Sidr that hit Bangladesh in FY08, the economy remained mostly stable and growth in FY2009 is estimated at 5.9 percent showing high resilience of the economy. Nevertheless, the aftermath of the deepened global economic crisis and the apprehension that the crisis might linger for a while pose great challenge for the Bangladesh economy at least until FY 2010. The medium term macroeconomic framework (MTMF) for NSAPR II has been drawn against this backdrop (Table 2.3). The framework reflects the election pledges of the government to tackle the impact of global recession, maintain macroeconomic stability, and steer the economy through to recovery and a trajectory of higher growth. The projections reflect a cautiously optimistic scenario that is consistent with recent trends and takes into account the commitment of the government to reduce poverty and inequality. Policies will be geared to preserve the desired macroeconomic environment which will be evaluated in terms of pre-specified indicators. 12 NSAPR II (Revised) Table 2.3: Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework Provisional/ Indicator Actual Actual Actual Revised Projection Projection 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Nominal GDP (billion Taka) 4724.8 5458.2 6149.4 6910.9 7802.9 8834.4 Nominal Growth (%) 13.7 15.5 12.7 12.4 12.9 13.2 Real Growth (%) 6.4 6.2 5.9 6.0 6.7 7.2 Deflator (% change) 6.8 8.8 6.4 6.0 5.8 5.6 Inflation (%) 7.2 9.9 6.7 6.5 6.1 6.0 Investment & Saving (% of GDP) Gross Investment 24.5 24.2 24.2 24.6 26.1 27.4 Private 19.0 19.3 19.5 19.4 20.7 21.7 Public 5.4 5.0 4.6 5.2 5.4 5.6 Gross Domestic Savings 20.4 20.3 20.0 20.5 20.9 21.3 Gross National Savings 28.7 30.2 32.4 32.8 33.5 34.0 Aggrr. Budgetary Position (% of GDP) Total Revenue 10.2 10.8 10.4 11.4 11.9 12.2 NBR Tax 7.7 8.4 8.2 8.8 9.3 9.6 Non-NBR Tax 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Non-Tax Revenue 2.2 2.0 1.8 2.2 2.2 2.2 Total Expenditure 13.4 15.9 13.8 16.5 16.9 17.0 Revenue Expenditure 9.4 12.6 12.1 12.0 11.9 11.7 Annual Development Expenditure 4.0 3.3 3.2 4.5 5.0 5.3 Overall Balance -3.2 -5.1 -3.4 -5.1 -5.0 -4.8 Primary Balance -1.2 -2.6 -1.0 -2.6 -2.7 -2.5 Financing 3.2 5.1 3.4 5.1 5.0 4.8 Net Foreign Financing 1.0 1.6 0.6 2.4 2.3 2.2 Gross Borrowing 1.6 1.9 1.2 2.1 2.1 2.1 Grants 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.9 0.9 0.9 Amortization 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.8 Domestic Financing 2.1 3.5 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.6 Banking System 1.2 3.0 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1 Non Bank 0.9 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 Money and Credit (% change) Net Domestic Assets 12.6 18.1 17.8 13.9 14.8 15.5 Domestic Credit 14.3 21.8 15.8 17.5 18.0 18.3 Credit to Private Sector/1 15.0 24.9 14.6 15.0 16.5 17.8 Broad Money (M2) 17.1 17.6 19.2 15.5 15.8 16.0 Balance of Payments (% of Change) Export 15.8 17.4 10.1 13.0 14.5 16.0 Import 16.6 25.6 4.2 13.5 16.0 17.5 Remittance 24.5 32.4 22.4 16.0 16.5 16.5 Current Account Balance (% of GDP) 1.4 0.9 2.8 2.3 1.6 1.1 Debt (% of GDP) Outstanding Total Debt 49.6 46.8 45.1 48.3 46.9 45.3 Domestic Debt 19.3 20.0 20.6 23.6 23.6 23.4 External Debt 30.3 26.8 24.4 24.7 23.3 21.9 Interest Payment 2.0 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.3 2.3 Source: Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Bank, and Planning Commission. 13 NSAPR II (Revised) 2.7.1 Growth and Investment Annual GDP growth is projected to be 6.0 percent in FY2010 before it rises to 6.7 percent in FY2011. These growth targets are consistent with the Election Manifesto of the government, which sets GDP growth of 8 percent to be achieved by FY2013 and 10 percent by FY2017. The achievement of projected growth will be facilitated by several strategic thrusts to be adopted by the government. The main strategy will be to keep domestic demand buoyant along with exports and facilitate adequate investment so that the required supply response could be forthcoming to meet rising demands. Emphasis will be laid on agriculture and rural development, power and energy, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), human resource development, and social safety nets. The thrust will be on creating employment opportunities, expanding public expenditure, and increasing investment. The depressed investment rate, which resulted mainly from the impact of global recession, is expected to reverse in FY11. Investment is estimated to account for 24.2 percent of GDP in FY2009 and projected to be 24.6 percent in FY2010 and 26.1 percent in FY2011. To take the economy to a higher trajectory of growth as envisaged by the government, qualitative changes in the investment strategy will be introduced. As a vehicle to attaining the projected growth, investment in infrastructure development, especially power and energy, ports, communication, and education and health will be given priority. For mobilizing the required investments, complementary use of public and private capital with provision for public private partnership (PPP) in infrastructure, health and education and other sectors will be given emphasis. The government has allocated Tk. 2.5 billion in the FY10 budget to accelerate the process of investment through PPP. The allocation will be used for setting up an Infrastructure Investment Fund from which the government will provide equity or loan to private investors to ensure government's participation. In addition, different financial incentives will be extended from the Fund to encourage investments. The aim is to set up an institution for preparation and implementation of the PPP budget through innovative ways, independent operation, and accountability of planning and budget process of the private sector. This will also provide incentives to PPP initiatives in different sectors and expedite project approval process. 2.7.2 Fiscal Policy During the NSAPR II period, the fiscal policy would focus on maintaining macroeconomic stability and promoting pro-poor growth while safeguarding the economy from international shocks like the current global meltdown, ensuring food security, and encouraging social inclusion. The government aims to achieve this through raising revenue, reordering public expenditure to more productive and social sectors, and improving efficiency of public expenditure. The revenue/GDP ratio is projected to grow from 10.4 percent in FY2009 to 11.4 percent in FY2010 and 11.9 percent in FY2011 and would rise at higher rates afterwards. Improvements in revenue collection will be achieved through expanding the tax base; curbing tax evasion; checking leakage in the tax collection system; enhancing transparency, accountability and efficiency in the revenue administration and tax collection system; simplifying tax rules to create a tax friendly environment and providing more client oriented services; reducing discretionary power in tax laws; and undertaking reforms and capacity building of revenue administration. The achievement of the government's long term commitment to reduce the incidence of poverty to 15 percent in FY21 requires a fast track poverty reduction strategy which in its turn requires continued increase in government expenditure. Total expenditure/GDP ratio is estimated to be 13.8 percent of GDP in FY2009. This will rise to 16.5 percent in FY2010 and 19.9 percent in FY2011 and would be higher thereafter. The size of ADP as share of GDP will rise from the estimated level of 3.2 percent in FY2009 to 4.5 percent in FY2010 14 NSAPR II (Revised) and 5.0 percent in FY2011. The rising trend in public expenditure will be in accordance with the need to implement fiscal support measures to meet the adverse impact of the global economic crisis and the government's emphasis on agriculture, support to sectors affected by world recession, infrastructure especially power and energy, regional parity, and social safety net programmes. Emphasis will be put on mobilizing grants and concessional foreign development assistance in support of public investment in social and infrastructural sectors and for programmes designed to counter the negative fallout of the global meltdown. For improving ADP implementation, planning and budgeting have largely been decentralized under MTBF system. To ensure satisfactory working of the system, priority will be given to strengthening the budget and planning wings in the ministries along with more effective supervision and monitoring. Measures will be taken for more effective and efficient use of available budgetary resources. Overall budget deficit is estimated to stand at 3.4 percent of GDP in FY2009 of which 2.8 percent will be financed from domestic sources and the rest from external sources. In FY2010, budget deficit is estimated at 5.1 percent of GDP of which 2.3 percent will be financed from external sources and 2.7 percent from domestic sources. In FY 2011, budget deficit is projected to be slightly lower at 5.0 percent. 2.7.3 Monetary Policy Bangladesh Bank will continue to pursue a monetary policy that would contain inflation at low levels and promote higher growth through adequate flow of credit from the banks to productive activities and refinance support to income and employment generating priority sectors including agriculture and SMEs, keeping lending rate and interest rate spread low, and maintaining a competitive real exchange rate. The growth of broad money is projected to decline in the NSAPR II period in support of the inflation objective. Similarly, growth of domestic credit is projected to decline. However, growth of credit to the private sector is expected to rise to facilitate private sector growth. The recent downward trend in inflation is likely to continue during the NSAPR II period. Annual inflation is estimated at 6.4 percent in FY2009 which will come down to 6.0 percent in FY2010 and 5.8 percent in FY2011. 2.7.4 External Sector The external sector has started to show some impact of the global recession. Exports of raw jute, jute products, frozen food, leather goods, and pharmaceuticals have registered negative growth during the FY09 and the growth of RMG exports has decelerated. Export growth is estimated at 10.1 percent in FY2009. Export growth is likely to be 13.0 percent in FY2010 before it picks up to 14.5 percent in FY2011. The government has constituted a Task Force involving all concerned agencies to monitor developments in the global economy and make necessary policy recommendations. The government has also declared a stimulus package including additional export subsidies to the worst hit sectors, lowering interest rate on import credit for raw materials and capital machinery, and enhancing borrowing facilities from the Export Development Fund. The growth of imports has declined sharply in FY09 because of lower food imports and fall in prices of petroleum and other commodities. Import growth is projected to increase in the remaining years of NSAPR II to support growth through higher imports of industrial raw materials, capital machinery, and intermediate goods. Remittance growth is estimated at 22.4 percent in FY2009 and projected to decline to 16.0 percent in FY2010 due to economic decline in labour importing countries and rise again to 16.5 percent in FY2011. The comfortable remittance inflow will help to keep the real effective exchange rate stable and thereby maintain Bangladesh's export competitiveness. 15 NSAPR II (Revised) The above macroeconomic outcomes will depend significantly on the speed of global recovery from the current economic slowdown. If the recovery falters and the recession prolongs, it may become difficult to sustain the export growth and remittance inflow may also weaken. Assuming the current positive pace of global recovery will continue the economy will start moving to higher growth reaching 6.7 percent in FY11 as projected in the MTMF. 16 NSAPR II (Revised) Chapter 3 Roadmap for Pro-Poor Economic Growth: Strategic Blocks Five strategic blocks provide the key components of the present strategy for accelerated poverty reduction: Strategic Block I: Macroeconomic environment for pro-poor economic growth Strategic Block II: Critical areas for pro-poor economic growth Strategic Block III Essential infrastructure for pro-poor economic growth Strategic Block IV: Social protection for the vulnerable Strategic Block V: Human resources development 3.1 Strategic Block I: Macroeconomic Environment for Pro-Poor Economic Growth The government is committed to maintaining stable macroeconomic environment. Macroeconomic stability will be maintained through managing the fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies, providing effective safeguards against adverse external or domestic shocks and creating an enabling environment for pro-poor private sector-led economic growth. 3.1.1 Recent Macroeconomic Performance In the recent past, Bangladesh has maintained an average annual growth rate of around 6 percent. There has been a continuous robust growth of both exports and imports. These developments coupled with phenomenal growth in remittances resulted in a positive current account balance and comfortable foreign exchange reserves. The inflation rate has been moderate though it increased by more than 1 percentage point during the period FY04-FY07. The inflation rate peaked to 9.9 percent in FY08 fuelled mainly by domestic and international supply shocks causing the prices of food grains, fuel, fertilizer, and other essential commodities to soar. The macroeconomic situation changed for the better in FY09. The inflation rate declined sharply with enhanced domestic production of food grains which has been facilitated by concerted government efforts at raising agricultural output. These developments in the domestic economy were complemented by improved international supply situation of food and other essential goods as well as declining commodity prices. The deepening world recession exerted negative effect on growth rate through contraction of export demand for some goods. Although the external sector has maintained robust growth but it is lower than the previous year. The performance of export of individual products has varied and export growth is mainly propelled by garments. The flow of remittance has remained buoyant though the outflow of migrant workers has declined and there is return flow of workers who have lost jobs in the foreign market. In view of the changed developments, the government has already undertaken fiscal measures to mitigate any negative influence. The government has constituted a Task Force involving all concerned agencies as well as civil society representatives to monitor the development in the global economy and would continue to adopt measures to overcome the impact of recession on growth, employment and poverty. 3.1.2 Current Macroeconomic Challenges The macroeconomy faces several risks and challenges in the coming two years. The major challenge is to reverse the slide in the growth rate. This will require the economy to increase the investment/GDP ratio which stagnated at around 24.4 percent over the last five years. 17 NSAPR II (Revised) The ratio needs to increase to nearly 30 percent over the next few years in order to meet economic growth and other targets. Sustaining the momentum in revenue growth will be a challenging task in macroeconomic management. Export performance in the future faces uncertainties arising from prolonged recession in the global economy which has already affected the export of frozen fish, leather and jute. Similarly, the risk of declining remittance growth due to recession in developed countries looms on the macroeconomy. Providing productive employment to the growing labour force, especially the poor, will remain a major challenge. Finally, falling prices has provided relief to the consumers, particularly to the low income and the poor. However, the sharp fall in rice price may exert a dampening effect on farmers' incentives to produce with negative effect on poverty reduction. The government has taken steps to balance its policies to meet short term exigencies and long term development needs. A fiscal stimulus package was undertaken in April 2009 to support agriculture, export and power sectors and provide enhanced social security. The FY10 budget has adopted special measures and support package for minimizing the adverse impact of the global economic slowdown. The Bangladesh Bank has instructed the commercial banks to reduce their lending rate to 13 percent to support agriculture, large and medium enterprises, housing and trade finance. Export subsidy for three worst affected sectors has been increased by 2.5 percent. The government has also introduced austerity measures in other areas of public expenditure to free up resources for creation of jobs, increase in aggregate demand, and implementation of social safety nets and poverty reduction programmes. The government will continue to provide such support to mitigate the impact of recession in the short term. 3.1.3 Key Thrusts for Macroeconomic Policy Growth Policy For achieving higher economic growth, emphasis will be put on several areas: (i) increased accumulation of capital facilitated by reductions in the cost of borrowing and improvement in total factor productivity; (ii) promoting growth of sectors like agriculture, industry and services focusing on the more pro-poor segments of the sectors; and (iii) improved business and investment climate. Other aspects of the growth policy will include channelling an increasing share of government expenditure to social and infrastructural sectors and directly poverty reducing programmes/projects and fostering growth through complementary use of public and private capital with provision for public private partnership (PPP) in infrastructure, health and education. Successful application of PPP will open up new avenues for increased flow of investment from both local and foreign investors. To gain the confidence of private investors regarding the government's commitment in the PPP initiative, an allocation of Tk. 2.5 billion has been made in FY10 budget for loan and equity, PPP viability gap funding as subsidy, and PPP technical assistance. The government is taking steps to set up an institution for preparation and implementation of PPP budget which will ensure innovative ways, independent operation, and accountability of planning and the budget process. Attempts will be made to attract higher volume of FDI by addressing its bottlenecks related to policy discontinuity, bureaucratic red-tape, corruption, underdeveloped infrastructure, poor port management, and deficiencies of the legal system. The Government will establish special economic zones in different parts of the country. Further, efforts will be made to project Bangladesh as a viable, profitable and secure investment destination and come up with well-advertised business support services aimed at reducing the cost of doing business. Fiscal Policy The fiscal policy will focus on maintaining macroeconomic stability and promoting pro- poor economic growth while safeguarding the economy from international shocks like the 18 NSAPR II (Revised) current global melt down, ensuring food security, and encouraging social inclusion. This will be achieved through raising revenue, reordering public expenditure to more productive and social sectors, and improving efficiency of expenditure. Improvements in revenue collection will be achieved through expanding the tax base, curbing tax evasion, checking leakage in the tax collection system, and ensuring more transparency, accountability and efficiency in the revenue administration and tax collection system. The tax base will be broadened by collecting VAT from items to which law applies as well as bringing new persons/businesses under tax net. For financing the budget deficit, the government intends to keep domestic borrowing restrained within acceptable levels to avoid crowding out effect and probable inflationary pressure. In this context, the government puts emphasis on global development partnership that has been made an integral part of MDGs under the UN framework under which the government expects to receive more untied and concessional aid especially to support social and infrastructural sectors. The government, jointly with the development partners, is developing a Joint Cooperation Strategy (JCS) in the interest of enhancing aid effectiveness following the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action (AAA). The JCS will focus on, among other things, alignment of aid with national priorities, systems and procedures, increasing accountability, eliminating duplication of efforts and rationalizing donor activities, reforming and simplifying donor policies and procedures, and better monitoring of utilization of development aid. Monetary Policy The Bangladesh Bank will continue to pursue such monetary policy as would reduce inflation and promote higher growth through maintaining an adequate flow of credit from the banks to productive activities and providing refinance support for income and employment generating priority sectors including agriculture and SMEs. The efforts will also aim at keeping lending rate low, containing spread, and maintaining a competitive real exchange rate avoiding undesirable fluctuations. Trade Related Policies The external sector policy will be geared to sustain export growth, enhance remittance flows, and ensure increasing flow of imports required to attain the targeted growth rate of the economy and meet consumer demand. The government's efforts will focus on reduction of the trade transaction cost and delivery time through effective trade facilitation measures, one-stop export facilities including the issue of export registration certificates at EPB, graduation to higher valued products, increased quality of the products, and initiatives for recognition from international accreditation bodies to increase exports. Focus will also be given on problems related to lack of production and trade policy to satisfy high quality and standard requirements in the developed countries, narrow supply base and its poor response to changing international demand, lack of investment funds, weak physical infrastructure including lack of connectivity with neighbouring countries, high port and transport costs, low technological and R&D level to address the problems of international competitiveness, and low entrepreneurship and management skills. The government will continue to enhance its capacity to address the demand side issues. The pertinent issues include increased preferential market access, complex rules of origin and restrictive trade policies and non-tariff barriers, social movements inappropriate to the context which impede export, discriminatory market access granted to competitors e.g. under AGOA, and lack of adequate market information. The government will take further steps to reduce the anti-export bias through rationalization of tariffs and removal of non- tariff barriers to trade. Efforts will be made to avoid negative effective protection to 19 NSAPR II (Revised) industries and to provide a stable duty structure. The various incentive schemes for export promotion will be examined to make them more effective, results focused and transparent. The flow of remittances will be enhanced by addressing issues relating to migration of workers and the flow of remittances through the formal channel. The government plans to start the Prabashi Kalyan Bank (Expatriate Welfare Bank) as a public sector bank with provisions to provide loans to labour migrants. Additional banks will also be allowed to float by the non-resident Bangladeshis. The inflow of remittance through formal channels will be encouraged by improving access to Bangladeshi banks and exchange houses in selected areas in the Middle East and new migrant destinations like Greece, Italy, Republic of Korea, and Spain, creating a legal framework that is conducive to using formal channels, increasing access to banks and post offices in remote areas with concentration of remittance receiving households, and imparting knowledge of remittance process and investment opportunities to migrant workers. Bangladesh is a member of the WTO and a number of regional trading arrangements like SAFTA and BIMSTEC. Under the regional trading arrangements, Bangladesh will continue to seek duty free access for its exports to other developing country markets. Trading arrangements involve a shift from existing to changed pattern of trade, production, investment and employment leading to gains and losses for a particular country. Bangladesh can enhance its gains and minimize its losses if it negotiates skilfully. The need for an improved capacity for negotiation has been considered a critical aspect of trade agreements. Under the regional trading arrangements, Bangladesh will continue to seek duty free access for its exports to other developing country markets. Bangladesh will negotiate, along with other LDCs, with EU for relaxing the rules of origin and take measures to fulfil the sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) provisions in developed country markets especially in EU. Along with seeking assistance for building infrastructure for export development, Bangladesh will seek liberalization of movement of natural persons under mode 4 under services trade liberalization. 3.2 Strategic Block II: Critical Areas for Pro-Poor Economic Growth 3.2.1 Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development The SME sector will play a pivotal role in achieving the national goals of accelerated pro- poor growth, sustained poverty alleviation and faster rate of economic and social progress. The SMEs account for over 99 percent of private sector industrial establishments providing job opportunities to around 70 to 80 percent of the non-agricultural labour force. The SME share in manufacturing value added varies from 28 to 30 percent. Their contribution to national exports is also significant. The greater proportion of the SMEs (58 percent of establishments and 55 percent of jobs created by them in 2006) is in rural locations which offer better prospects for industrial dispersal. However, their location in certain administrative divisions/districts reflects regional concentration. There has been increased women's involvement in SMEs, especially home-based micro enterprises engaged in the production of clothing and textiles (boutiques and handicrafts, weaving and spinning) livestock and dairy, and retail sales. Relatively small enterprises owned by women entrepreneurs are mostly of the sole proprietorship type which needs low investments. Constraints and Challenges to SME Growth: The SME sector continues to suffer from lack of access to finance, infrastructural bottlenecks (especially unreliable power), low levels of technological competence, difficult market access and regulatory barriers. Other important challenges include sharp market competition both in existing and new markets. Sophisticated consumer preferences and market standards and various non-price factors such as quality, health and safety and ecological compatibility of products and processes which determine competitive advantage also pose significant challenges. In the changed 20 NSAPR II (Revised) market perspectives, introduction of new products and processes, more innovative design, shorter product cycles and smaller output batches, greater mass customization, and more just-in-time delivery etc. have become the critical determinants of survival and growth of the SMEs Policies and Strategies for Future Development of SMEs: The government's policy support to SMEs is to play the role of the facilitator to remove operational bottlenecks, neutralize market failures and provide necessary promotional support. A comprehensive and inclusive credit policy will be formulated emphasizing increase in the flow of formal credit into the sector focusing on micro enterprises and women entrepreneurs through introduction of new and innovative credit schemes and financial instruments. In this context, collateral requirements for SME loans will be scaled down and a switch from immovable assets to movable assets for collaterals needs will be introduced. Bangladesh Bank will refinance credit facilities for SMEs. For enhancing entrepreneurial skills, suitable courses on entrepreneurial skill development can be introduced at school and college levels. Strengthening of partnership between private entrepreneurs and R&D institutions, universities, and other stakeholders will be fostered by the government to facilitate supply of quality products through progressive assimilation of new and more sophisticated technologies. Inter-firm linkages and networking through subcontracting would be encouraged to enhance external competitiveness. In order to get integrated with the global and regional economies (ASEAN and SAARC in particular) through the international value chains of productions, special efforts would be taken. The development of horizontal production networking among firms of identical size would be another new initiative to achieve efficiency in mass production irrespective of the size of units. The SMEF web portal would be made cost-effective and user-friendly to SME entrepreneurs. The SMEs would be encouraged to make the most use of the ICT and e- commerce facilities and services in production, marketing and networking. Measures to enhance international competitiveness of the agro-based food products would include making the producers aware of the international food safety standards, strengthening of the BSTI product certification system and establishment of one national Referral Centre for Certification and a Food Agro-Processing Park containing quality and standards certification facilities. Further, provision of incentives in both cash and kind (i.e. air cargo facilities, refrigerators and vans etc. for food products preservation and transportation) would be considered to facilitate entry into export market. The SME policies and strategies would be made sensitive to needs of woman entrepreneurs in SMEs. The WEF in the SMEF would be used as a channel to safeguard women's interests as equal partners in business development activities. Special incentives e.g. enterprises of weavers, blacksmiths and clay potters and silk, Jamdani and Benarasi villages would be considered for SMEs in economically depressed regions. Effective coordination at the national level will be fostered through dialogue among relevant stakeholders while formulating SME policies and implementation strategies. 3.2.2 Promoting Decent Employment The labour market in Bangladesh is characterized by (i) high rate of labour force growth, (ii) low rate of unemployment but high under-employment rate, (iii) predominance of employment in agriculture followed by the services sector, (iv) smaller share of female employment, and (v) low wage rates. The number of people out of work in Bangladesh climbed to 2.1 million in 2005-06 from 1.7 million in 1999-2000, with an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent. The unemployment rate provides a partial picture of the labour market performance because unemployment rate does not take into account labour who are 21 NSAPR II (Revised) underemployed e.g. who work less than 35 hours a week. There are large variations in unemployment rate by region, age, sex, and education levels. The share of the informal sector (including agriculture) in total employment increased from 75.3 percent in 1999-2000 to 78.5 percent in 2005-06. The enhanced employment share reflects in part the fact that the informal sector is a refuge sector for those who fail to get absorbed in formal employment. The participation in the labour force even below the age of 15 years is quite high and this needs to be taken into account in promoting decent employment in the country. Labour Force Projections: With the current labour force growth rate of 3.3 percent annually, the labour force is estimated to grow to 56.4 million in 2009-10, and 58.3 million in 2010-11, resulting in an incremental labour force of 5.4 million during 2009-11. Similarly, if the prevailing employment growth trend continues, total employment will increase to 53.97 million in 2009-10, and 55.75 million in 2010-11, with an incremental employment of 5.27 million during the same period (Table 3.1). It means that given the existing trends of labour force and employment growth, 7.32 million additional jobs (including a backlog of 1.88 million unemployed) will have to be created during 2009-11 requiring an employment growth rate of 4.7 percent. Besides, if the existing trend of underemployment continues, underemployed persons will amount to 26.58 million during 2009-11. To create productive employment for at least 75 percent of these underemployed people (19.94 million), 27.26 million additional productive employment will have to be created during 2009-11. Table 3.1: Employment Projections for the 2008-09 to 2010-11 Period Sector GDP GDP Y ii E (billion Tk) (billion Tk) (billion Tk) (000) 2008-09 2010-11 Agriculture 652.13 746.60 94.47 23.40 2,210.55 Mining & quarrying 39.79 45.73 59.40 1.60 9.50 Manufacturing 581.32 665.54 84.23 8.27 696.57 Electricity, gas & water 57.02 65.44 8.42 1.68 14.14 Construction 318.71 364.75 46.04 3.93 180.94 Trade, hotel & restaurant 490.46 561.44 70.97 11.38 807.65 Transport, storage & communication 340.30 389.66 49.36 10.68 527.19 Finance & business services and real 296.76 339.84 43.08 4.80 206.77 estate Health, education, public admin. & 250.00 286.30 36.29 5.33 193.44 defence Community & personal services 221.06 253.20 32.15 13.20 424.35 All sectors 3,247.55 3,718.49 470.94 ... 5,271.10 Notes: (i) All values in 1995-96 million Taka; employment in thousands of workers; and incremental labour intensity in workers per million Taka; (ii) The following method is used for projecting increases in sectoral employment: Ei=(i)(i)Yi, where, Ei is the incremental employment in the i-th sector, i is the elasticity of employment in the i-th sector, i is the average labour intensity (employment per unit of value added) in the i-th sector and Yi is the change in value added in sector i over the period of projection. The projected increase in employment will account for 96.9 percent of increase in the labour force, making a not-so-significant dent into the existing unemployment and underemployment in the economy. This indicates the challenge of employment generation is to absorb the labour force. Several approaches can be adopted to ease the unemployment problem: (i) introducing policies for making growth more employment-friendly; 22 NSAPR II (Revised) (ii) undertaking special schemes for job creation (especially through micro-credit), (iii) employment-based safety nets through public works programmes; and (iv) increasing overseas migration of workers. Job Creation Programmes: The government undertakes job creation programmes for those who are by-passed by the normal growth process. Existing labour market policies and programmes underline the importance of a rights-based approach to employment and of guaranteeing employment promotion especially through micro-credit and employment- based social safety nets through public works programmes. The government has different programmes for creating employment for the larger labour force as estimated above. The coverage, funding and effectiveness of the existing employment generation programmes appear to be limited. The existing programmes cannot guarantee jobs and income security to the poor. The government introduced the 100 days Employment Generation Programme in FY08 for the rural people. In view of the implementation experience, a changed programme entitled Employment Generation for the Hard Core Poor will be introduced in FY10 which will create 56 lakh man-months of employment. Skill Development Programmes: Skill training is provided by various levels and types of institutions offering a variety of courses under Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labour and Employment. At the highest level, the engineering and technology universities offer undergraduate and graduate programmes and some specialized institutes offer undergraduate programmes like glass and ceramics, textile, leather and graphic arts. At the next lower level, skill training is being imparted through public sector polytechnic institutes and private sector polytechnics. Similarly, there are agricultural training institutes in both the public sector and the private sector. Under the Ministry of Education, public sector technical schools and colleges (TSCs) offer courses to meet the requirements of the National Skill Standard Grade III (semi-skilled level), Grade II (skilled level) and Grade I (professional or highly skilled level). Besides, there are textile institutes, specialised textile vocational centres, technical training centres, and nurses training institutes. A number of private textile institutes are in place, but very few of the RMG workers are trained there. Vocational training facilities for women have been expanded and diversified over the years. Part-time, short-term and ad hoc courses are also organised by these institutes to meet the needs of local industries. Some courses are also organised for the housewives and others in trades like the repair of common domestic appliances, hair and skin care, dressmaking etc. Technical Training Centres (TTCs) under BMET offer regular 2-year vocational training courses and 6-month special courses whose demand is increasing. Besides, TTCs offer many other special short-term skill upgrading courses at the request of the employers. The Department of Youth Development (DYD) has imparted skill development training to youths in different trades. The government will expand and diversify training facilities, especially for women and upgrade and reorient the quality and content of vocational training in general to cater to the emerging needs of the economy. TSCs that can train the school dropouts can be expanded from current 64 upazillas to other upazillas. Vocational training schools at upazila level will be established with some courses of six months' duration. To the extent that a sizeable proportion of employment would have to be self-employment in small units in various sectors, the training system would include entrepreneurship, management and marketing skills. Steps towards this end may include revision of courses, introduction of new courses like computer hardware, medical electronics, consumer 23 NSAPR II (Revised) electronics and industrial electronics, revising space norms for workshops and activating the NCSDT. Foreign Employment: Annual flow of migrant workers has increased from 6,087 in 1976 to 1,407,705 in 2008 with an annual rate of growth of 18.5 percent. The sustained growth of migrant workers has been marked by few dips caused by external demand contraction. The current world recession has posed challenges for migrant workers which may persist in the future. According to MoEWOE, the long-term strategies for expanding overseas employment include: (i) entering new markets for overseas employment, (ii) expanding representation in existing overseas labour markets, (iii) improving skill training for exporting skilled workers, (iv) undertaking special initiative for exporting workers from Monga and other ecologically vulnerable areas, (v) managing welfare programmes for migrant workers, (vi) controlling the recruiting agencies and bringing transparency in the migration process, (vii) increasing the inflow of remittances and ensuring their proper use, (viii) undertaking a special initiative for exporting women workers, and (ix) increasing the skill and role of Bangladesh missions abroad in exporting workers. A substantial number of the expatriate wage earners are victims of unscrupulous manpower agents who extract substantial sums of money from job seekers for arranging employment abroad. In this context, innovative schemes for funding the prospective job seekers abroad are needed. The government is improving regulation of the recruitment process. More importantly, the government will set up Prabashi Kalyan Bank (Expatriate Welfare Bank) which will lend money to those who go abroad, which they will repay from their wages. The Bank will be owned by the expatriate workers. Some banks/financial institutions have initiated an expatriate lending project whereby the bank will advance money to the prospective job seekers who will repay the loan from their remittances. Similarly, PKSF has introduced a programme for migrant workers targeting people from monga areas. A Skill Development Fund will be created for retention and expansion of foreign labour market. The government has taken a number of measures for the welfare of remittance earning workers. The Wage Earners' Welfare Fund is being used for several important activities like repatriation of mortal remains of workers from host countries, burials, and financial assistance to the sick and distressed and to heirs of the deceased who are not getting any compensation from the employer. To recognize the contributions of middle and lower- middle class expatriates-wage-earners, a new policy for giving the remitters special citizens' privileges has been formulated in 2008. The Expatriates Welfare Desk has been set up in districts with concentration of migrant workers. Ministry of Labour plans to set up technical training facilities in each upazila. Awareness creation programmes have been strengthened among potential workers willing to have overseas employment. Employment Guidelines: A comprehensive employment guideline will be formulated with the following core components: (i) creating employment opportunities in rural economy, (ii) creating employment opportunities for wage labour in industries, (iii) providing credit and training for self-employment, (iv) promoting subcontracting arrangements between big and small and medium scale industries, and (v) providing special training arrangements for facilitating export of labour. Mainstreaming Employment into Development Policies: Employment generation needs to be taken into account while formulating both macroeconomic and sectoral policies and programmes. Employment considerations can be factored into the works of different ministries through (i) sector-based analytical work for employment generation, (ii) selectively moving ahead with operational details, and (iii) building the analytical capacity of the MoLE, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Agriculture and all other ministries for addressing issues on employment generation. Private sector employment will be promoted with supportive policies and programmes. 24 NSAPR II (Revised) Sector Level Policies for Higher Employment, Productivity, and Real Wages: Agriculture is still the main employer in the economy. Accordingly, greater emphasis is needed on rural development, with a view to expanding market access, employment and productivity. Most of Bangladesh's poor and underemployed live in the rural areas or work in urban informal sectors. The formidable challenge facing the government is to increase opportunities for these people to engage in productive employment and enable them to earn a decent wage. At the same time, employment in the formal sector must expand in manufacturing activities. To make this happen, issues relating to easy entry and expansion of private firms in the formal sector, providing financial and fiscal incentives, increasing productivity through activating the National Productivity Organization (NPO) and the Tripartite Productivity Committee (TPC) will be addressed. The government will continue to pursue the creation of a conducive environment for enterprise development in both the rural and the urban areas through simplification of the process of registration of small businesses, enhanced access to micro finance, expanding social security systems, access to information on markets and new technology, and regulatory reforms. The major features of rural employment are high levels of underemployment, low productivity, and low wages. The rural employment policy will focus on investment and access to capital to increase productivity and earnings, reduction of the vulnerability of agricultural labourers, fostering access to markets and business development services for rural enterprises, creating institutions of the rural poor to ensure decent working conditions. Labour Market Policies: The labour policy will be reviewed with a view to re-defining minimum wage based on current subsistence income, removal of discrepancy between male and female wages for same work and productivity, removal of child labour, and better protection of the rights of workers and trade unions. Policies Relating to Labour Welfare: The programmes for labour welfare will lay emphasis on the promotion of harmonious industrial relations, social protection, improvement of occupational safety and health (OSH), elimination of child labour with emphasis on elimination of worst form of child labour (WFCL), enforcement of labour laws especially those relating to unorganised labour and women and child labour, and promotion of the welfare of migrant workers and returned migrant workers. Rationing system has been introduced for labourers including garment workers, ultra poor and rural landless farm labourers. 3.2.3 Improving the Environment for Private Sector Development (PSD) Deregulation and liberalization of the economy have opened up significant opportunities for the private sector. A vibrant private sector is visible in manufacturing, especially export- oriented textiles and ready made garments, frozen fish and shrimp, leather, tea, plastic products, toy making, furniture, light engineering, agro-based products and more recently in pharmaceuticals, consumer durables, telecommunication, ICT, banking and insurance, ship building, transportation, tourism, and electricity. Notwithstanding the continued efforts of the government to facilitate private sector development, some critical problems still persist. Infrastructure constraint in the form of shortage of electricity, inefficient port, lack of proper repair and maintenance of roads due to inadequate O & M allocation especially the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, underutilized railway system due to poor management and lack of investment, inadequate air cargo services, and a lack of high-speed Internet access is having a unfavourable impact on productivity and investment in the private sector. Other problems affecting private sector growth include shortage of skilled labour, high interest rates and high service charges in the financial sector; shallow equity market, governance issues involving corruption, 25 NSAPR II (Revised) dysfunctional bureaucracy and procedural complexity, lack of, or delay in, contract enforcement and dispute resolution, inadequate bankruptcy laws, legal impediments to corporate operations, complex procedure for determining ownership or registration of land transfer; and regulatory barriers. Policies and Strategies for Private Sector Development Systematic Dialogue between Public and Private Sectors: The Board of Investment (BOI) was set up as a high profile private sector friendly institution and to ensure effective public private dialogue. Since BOI could not serve its purpose adequately, the government established the Better Business Forum (BBF) for systematic, results-oriented dialogue between the public and private sectors. The consultation process, however, needed back up services of Regulatory Reform Commission (RRC) and a number of subcommittees co- chaired by the representatives of the private sector and government counterparts. The present government gives high priority to the consultation process but it does not look favourably to the multiplicity of subcommittees. The government believes that special problems should be handled by subject specific task forces. In order to handle the impact of global recession, it promptly set up a Task Force which is active now. The government has taken stock of BBF recommendations and plans to use BBF as the mother platform for the consultation process. The government is considering restructuring and streamlining of the multiplicity of subordinate bodies. It is also considering establishing focal points for private investment in related public agencies through which regulatory reforms, streamlining of procedures, transparency of operations, and speedy provision of services can be ensured. The ultimate objective is reducing the cost of doing business and securing investment in the fastest possible time. Open and free consultation between the government on the one hand and stakeholders in any operation, related business associations, civil society, and public interest interlopers on the other is essential to resolve issues and expedite solutions. The expected impacts are measurable improvements in the business environment, higher levels of foreign and local investment activity leading to improvement in peoples' lives. In practical terms, these goals will be achieved through the establishment of government and private sector secretariats, as well as through thematic task forces. The task forces would prioritize the issues, perform necessary background research and analysis, and bring forward the issues with concrete recommendations for actions. Continuing Sound Macro-economic Management: The government will continue to maintain macroeconomic stability in the face of domestic and external shocks. Fiscal stimulus package, appropriate monetary and credit policy and effective Social Safety Net Programmes (SSNPs) have been undertaken to overcome the impact of global recession. Overcoming Infrastructure Constraints: Traffic congestion in Dhaka has reached nightmarish proportions. It is also becoming problematic in Chittagong. The main factor is the lack of public transport services. In Dhaka, transport planning needs high priority along with special attention to driving regulations. A combination of elevated expressway, underground railway, over-bridges, ring road, and circular railway needs to be planned for metropolitan Dhaka in the near future. This can be a project under PPP. The specific measures to be undertaken for infrastructure development are to (a) ensure reliable supply of electricity, (b) adopt appropriate policy and project implementation in infrastructure, (c) construction of Padma and Karnaphuli bridge/tunnel, Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane express way, expansion and modernization of railway, (d) construction of deep sea ports and modernization of Chittagong and Mongla ports, (e) restructuring of Bangladesh Biman and construction of modern international airport : Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib International Airport at Trishal, Mymensingh and expansion of Cox's Bazar Airport, 26 NSAPR II (Revised) (f) reform in the telecommunications sector to extend services to villages. (f) modernize the railway transport system for industrial transportation through integrating it with other surface modes, and (g) expedite reform of the parastatal bodies of the infrastructure sector. Efforts will also be taken to improve traffic management in Dhaka city and construction of elevated expressway and tube-trains (underground metro) in the city. To promote the private sector, the government had earlier prepared Bangladesh Private Sector Infrastructure Guidelines that spelt out necessary steps for private sector investment in infrastructure facilities in the economy. Presently BOI is looking after private sector investment but it is not functioning well. The government has introduced a PPP budget this year and is considering revamping the entire institutional arrangement for private investment. The interrelationships between BOI, a newly established PPP Cell, and a system of approval of private investments in public goods and services are presently being defined. Private investment with public support is not only being considered for infrastructure facilities such as power plants and energy resource development enterprises, wireless or other telecommunication projects, roads, expressways, railways, tunnels, or ports but also for programmes and projects in education, health, and social welfare. Recognizing the limited availability of public resources, the government is keen on generating private investment for public goods and services. The PPP budget process and processing of PPP programmes and activation of the BOI are likely to be put in place by September 2009. Creating a More Efficient Financial Sector: The banks have reset their interest rates to maintain credit growth as the economy faces the impact of global recession. Further, interest rate spread has declined and various charges for banking services have also been reduced. The Bangladesh Bank will continue to undertake measures to ensure availability of bank credit to the private sector at reasonable interest rate along with prudent regulation and sound management. Developing Capital Market: The government policies will focus on: (i) restoring investor confidence through greater transparency and accountability in the working of the Stock Exchanges and other supportive measures, (ii) more efficient operations of the Central Depository System, (iii) enhancing capacity and power of the SEC to monitor and enforce compliance of the rules, (iv) undertaking measures to enhance the supply of good shares in the market, (v) encouraging MNCs to be listed in Bangladesh, (vi) setting up Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market to train investors and intermediary agencies, and (vii) examining the possibilities of state owned good companies to go public share. Other measures will include encouraging institutional buyers to buy more shares from the market, introduction of derivative market, encouraging foreign investors to buy shares, proper and quick action against companies not complying with the rules and regulations of SEC. Regulatory Transparency and Streamlining: The BOI in an effort to streamline sanctions, expedite processing of investment proposals, and reduce cost of business has been planning one stop service station for a while. The effort has not been very successful yet. The government set up BBF and various subcommittees under it virtually for the same purpose. In addition, it set up a Regulatory Reforms Commission (RRC) for simplification of procedures and ensuring transparency of operations in the public sector. The reform programme will focus on (i) streamlining and simplification of business regulations; (ii) establishment of effective screening mechanisms for new regulations; (iii) development of comprehensive e-registry of business related laws, regulations and rules in Bangladesh; and (iv) strengthening and development of institutional capacities to implement and sustain pro- competitive and investor friendly regulatory reform in Bangladesh. While the objectives are laudable, there are questions relating to the manner in which they can be best achieved. The issues are under review of the government within the overall context of promotion of investment and its institutional apparatus for the purpose. 27 NSAPR II (Revised) Improving Access to Land for Private Enterprises: The paucity of land and the worsening land/man ratio makes it imperative that utmost economy be practised for industrial (and other non-agricultural) use of land. This calls for a greater emphasis on better land use planning and improvements in the land administration system in order to facilitate efficient land markets and development of a modern economic zones regime. Special Economic Zones: The export processing zones (EPZs) as well as industrial estates have contributed a great deal to industrialization in Bangladesh. However, looking at the future it seems obvious that in a globalized world of free trade and uniform industrial incentives which is virtually knocking at the door, some different strategies are called for developing relatively backward economies like Bangladesh and more so for its backward areas. We are looking at experiences of other countries and notably China in developing special economic zones (SEZs) covering not simply enclaves of limited areas but really wider areas of upazilas. These areas will be selected based on prescribed criteria and would cover both developed and backward regions and arrangements will be made by harnessing the elements of strengths as well as mitigating the weaknesses of the selected areas to make them attractive to development enterprises. No further EPZs or industrial estates will be developed but the existing and the planned or committed ones will continue to operate under the existing laws and rules up to 2013. The new SEZs will be established by developing infrastructure facilities there so that energy and power sources, transport and communication links, travel and banking facilities, and trained manpower supply can be easily found. The development of an area will take advantage of the comparative advantage of the location. If it is an area where large scale industries can be developed so will it be. If, on the other hand, it is good for agriculture, farming will be its main activity. If it is endowed for service industry, then that is the sector that will take hold there. If the area is good for some cottage industry such as quilt making, the efforts will be organize the activities in such a way that the area and its artisan can respond to large global demand. The government will not acquire land to develop any particular estate or farm but would assist intending parties to get land for its business and other facilities to set up their individual enterprises. The investors will be ensured of a stable system of tax laws and fiscal measures for a well defined time horizon. Development of Technology: Policies will focus on (i) monitoring technological developments in the world, acquire the best practice technologies and adapt them to local needs, (ii) resolving technological difficulties faced by local enterprises through appropriate research and process development, (iii) supporting main public institutions in Bangladesh dealing with technology-related matters such as BCSIR, BAEC, BITAC, and public universities including engineering and agriculture, (iv) private organizations for innovative research, and (v) digital Bangladesh as major initiative for modernization and upgrading/catching up of technology. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Strategies to be followed for promotion of CSR, among others, are (i) creating a common platform for understanding and practicing CSR in Bangladesh, (ii) strengthening the CSR dimension for economic empowerment of the poor, (iii) engaging the socially responsible private investors in development initiatives, (iv) dialogue and cooperation with multilateral organizations and NGOs working with codes of conduct and ethical issues related to business activities, (v) continue to develop sustainable partnerships with value driven private sector organizations under their CSR schemes to organize pilot projects addressing development issues, and (vi) favourable tax treatment of CSR expenditure. 28 NSAPR II (Revised) Ensuring Competition: The government has decided to break cartels (business syndicates) which are responsible for hoarding and abnormal profit. Market developments will be closely monitored and barriers to competition will be removed. Promotion of competition will benefit the consumers. 3.2.4 Agriculture The vision of this sector is to enhance growth through development and dissemination of sustainable technologies which are ecologically adaptable, economically profitable, and capable of generating productive employment, diversification of both crop and non-crop, development of agri-business services, and human resource development and ensure "food for all" by taking all possible measures and to make Bangladesh self-sufficient in food by 2013. In this context, some of the important challenges are: (i) maximise production in the face of decreasing farm size, degradation of soil quality, loss of agricultural land and limited water resources; (ii) harness productivity gains by making a breakthrough in yield technology, (iii) efficiently use water in rice production and shift to water efficient food crops; (iv) creating a level playing field to compete with others and reap the benefits of a globalized world; (v) strike a balance between ensuring adequate incentives for the numerous small producers (rice, poultry, dairy, fish, nursery etc.) on the one hand, and keeping food prices low for the poor consumers on the other; (vi) ensure intra-household food entitlement between men and women (especially lactating women) and between adults and children; (vii) ensure increased production of fish, milk, meat and eggs for a balanced diet for the growing population; (viii) cope with climate change, maintain ecological balance and conserve biodiversity; (ix) to provide greater support to domestic agricultural research; and (x) address increasing volatility in international food market. Future Agricultural Policies and Strategies Crop Production Increasing yield: To increase yield, more investment will be made for the development of crop varieties, quality seed, soil health, pest management, and agronomic practices, development of local service providers (LSP), strengthening of the value chain, market development, improving agricultural research and mechanization, improving capacity of scientists and extension workers, and flood control, irrigation and water management. Broad-based support to agriculture: The government will ensure access to reliable, affordable, adequate and timely supply of major inputs like fertilizers, fuel and irrigation through appropriate support measures especially subsidies and effective distribution system. Any distortion in market for fertilizers and pesticides with regard to dealership, quota and restricted movement of fertilizers will be addressed to ensure timely availability at fair prices. Other broad-based support includes access to quality seeds (HYV, hybrid), output price support, credit for small farmers and sharecroppers, promoting commercial agriculture and genetic engineering, subsidizing the installation and maintenance of electricity connections to irrigation pumps, maintenance of rural roads enabling storage, processing and marketing of perishable high-value farm products in the private sector, and enhanced extension, and agricultural education with particular focus on quality improvement in all production environments. Public-private partnership will be encouraged in providing broad-based support to agriculture. The approach includes the promotion of private service providers, public-private coordination in research and development, seed production, and business development. For quality control and reliable supply of seeds, the existing regulatory framework needs improvement through better coordination among different agencies 29 NSAPR II (Revised) concerned. The amount of agricultural loan will be increased and the loan giving procedure simplified. Loan will be made available for the sharecroppers. Diversification of high value crops: Emphasis will be given on increasing production of non-rice cereal crops, especially maize and oilseeds, and also of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental and medicinal plants. Infrastructure and marketing supports will be provided to develop integrated supply chains including processing, storage and transportation at the local and national levels. Several issues such as product standardisation, food safety, sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures will be taken up. Various methods like relay cropping, mixed cropping, and zero tillage will be considered in different agro- ecological zones. Agricultural research and technology generation: Agricultural research will remain largely in the public domain, but efforts will be made to develop programmes involving NGOs and the private sector. The capacity of the ten NARS institutions will be further strengthened through supporting quality research including biotechnology research, human resource development, strengthened MIS/ICT facilities, prioritizing farmers' demand-led research and adequate incentive structures for the scientists. Increased attention will be given to R&D in the non-crop sector including livestock, poultry, fisheries and forestry. The National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB) will conduct research on crop varieties to serve farmers located in deeply flooded areas, char land, flash flood-prone areas, coastal tidal surge and salinity prone areas, and hilly areas. Technology dissemination: There will be emphasis on participatory extension services involving wider rural communities i.e. farmers, landless households, different occupation groups and women. These will be implemented as per Plan of Action with necessary amendments and clarifications in response to changing demands of commercialization. Emphasis will be given on partnership of DAE, DLS, DoF and BRDB cooperatives with the private sector and NGOs, which have evolved many successful approaches to disseminating promising technologies. Under NATP, FIAC (Farmers' Information and Advisory Centre) will play an important role at union level. Revamping agricultural marketing system: The ongoing programme will continue to develop marketplaces and market outlets. Credit facilities will be provided to private initiatives for small and medium-scale agri-businesses in processing and packaging. Formation of farmers' groups will be encouraged to ensure their direct participation in the marketing of agricultural produce. Fair price for agricultural crops and products will be ensured. Incentives will be provided for development of rural warehousing. The Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) will be strengthened to enable it to take modern marketing services for crops and high value agro-products and provide advice and information on prices, processing, handling, and storage and transportation services. DAM will promote an innovative marketing system such as contract growing integrated with a supply chain of high value agro-products. Emphasis will be given to improving marketing environment for agri-inputs and products as well as increasing storage and warehouse facilities. A price Commission will be established for forecasting prices of essential commodities, analysing changes in demand and supply, cost of production of agricultural products, analysing export-import trends and international prices of essential commodities. This Commission will help formulate and up-date regional production planning based on price trends. Agro-processing activities: Agri-business and agro-processing will be given top priority as a thrust sector to promote value addition to crops, livestock, fish and horticultural products. The government will provide support to the agro-entrepreneurs through infrastructure development, and fiscal benefits including export incentives and tax concessions. The private sector will also get support for technical training, technology development, and 30 NSAPR II (Revised) improvement of standards of hygiene, handling and packaging of processed products. Food safety would be improved as a means of strengthening export outlet of agricultural products. Agro-economic zones will be established with appropriate support services, quality control laboratories and by developing communication and transportation facilities. Climate change adaptive technology: Some efforts have been made to cope with climate change through development of salinity resistance, drought resistance, short duration, cold tolerant rice varieties. In future, more emphasis will be given to develop technologies which are environment friendly in coping with climatic change. The brick burning system will be modernized by 2011 for no smoke condition kiln; solar technology will be encouraged for household power supply; and rain water harvesting will be encouraged to develop in all public and private buildings/establishments. Irrigation and flood protection: Deregulation and market liberalization have encouraged private sector participation in minor irrigation. The suggested interventions include facilitating tube well and surface water irrigation, and revival of rivers through dredging and the Ganges Barrage. Channels will be identified for drainage and also for water retention to be used during the dry season. Capital dredging will be conducted for maintaining navigability and maintaining water flows. Navigability and drainage will be tied up and water bodies will be established in townships and rural areas for surface water supply in dry seasons. The government has already adopted the National Water Policy (1999) for efficient management of water resources in the country. The government plans to increase irrigation coverage from 14.30 lakh hectares in 2007-08 to 14.80 lakh hectares in 2010-11 for additional food grain production. Flood protection and drainage has been planned to cover an area of 46.21 lakh hectares by 2010-11. Fisheries The overall strategy of fisheries sub-sector development envisages intensification of aquaculture by species and ecosystems, addition of export-oriented species, ensuring biodiversity and preserving natural breeding grounds, product diversification, value addition, and development of appropriate marketing infrastructure. For increasing fish production, emphasis will be given on (i) making people more conscious about conservation for augmenting natural fish stock and protecting fish habitats through publicizing Fish Conservation Act and new fisheries policies; (ii) protecting breeding and nursery grounds of major fishes through establishment of sanctuary and re-excavation of canals, beels and baors under different programmes; (iii) encouraging alternate income generating activities for fishermen; (iv) protecting beels and haors from the use of pesticides in contagious lands through more coordinated efforts with relevant ministries/agencies; (v) encouraging rice- cum-fish culture and aquaculture and intensifying poly culture; (vi) emphasizing management of aquaculture in floodplains involving local community; (vii) ensuring disease control and quality control of fry and fingerlings; and (viii) prioritizing research and development to meet new changes in the sector. The capacity of the Department of Fisheries (DoF) will be strengthened so that it can support inland aquaculture. Cooperation among the key actors such as NGOs, private sector entrepreneurs and community based fishing groups shall be promoted. Necessary steps will be undertaken for increasing productivity of all khas ponds and water bodies used for fish culture. Livestock The National Livestock Policy identifies ten critical policy areas: dairy development and meat production, poultry development, veterinary services and animal health, feeds and animal management, breed development, hides and skins, marketing of livestock products, international trade management, access to credit and insurance and institutional development for research and extension, for livestock and poultry development in the country. 31 NSAPR II (Revised) The strategy is to harness the full potentials of the sub-sector through creating an enabling environment, opening up opportunities, and reducing risk and vulnerability. The private sector will remain the main actor, while the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) will play a supportive role. Capacity of DLS will be enhanced in terms of skill development through training and personnel. Increased provision of trained manpower will be linked to the expanded nationwide outfit of DLS. Necessary steps will be undertaken to increase the production of milk, meat, eggs, and chicken to meet growing domestic demand. Husbandry of poultry and dairy: The private sector operated poultry and dairy farming are generally capital intensive, knowledge-based and risky, and therefore need technological, financial and marketing support. Some private sector entrepreneurs have ventured into the contract growing of poultry and milk products, supporting small farms with improved poultry and dairy breeds, quality input supplies, demand-led extension services and assured marketing facilities for poultry and milk products. Cattle development for meat production is also important. Strategies will also focus on cost-effective quality feed supply, human resource development to ensure exclusive monitoring and supervision and continuous technical support at village level, women's employment in livestock, mitigation of disease incidence, export of livestock products and bio-security against highly pathogenic diseases such as Avian Influenza and FMD. Forestry The development and management of protected areas (PAs), eco-parks, botanical gardens and safari parks will be brought under a legal framework by amending existing wildlife laws. Necessary measures will be undertaken to ensure both in-situ and ex-situ conservation in the country. Policy intervention is already in place to adopt co-management in five out of 19 PAs in Bangladesh. More areas of natural forest and PAs will be brought under co- management. Due to limited scope for conserving the habitat for mega wildlife and the comparatively small areas left as shelter for small cats and other herbivores total wildlife protection is under threat. Therefore, wildlife protection would be a priority concern for conservation. Public commons: Public commons including natural resources such as land, wetlands, forests, grasslands, grazing land, reed land, khas land, peat land, rivers, estuaries and the open seas may be one of the most important safety nets available to the poor particularly in the rural areas, provided these are managed in a sustainable manner. In order to increase access to natural resources for the rural poor, participatory social forestry for degraded and encroached forestland and co-management for PAs have been introduced by the Forest Department. It will continue to allow better access of the poor to the public commons. National forest assessment: National forest assessment and periodic forest inventory will be conducted using MIS and GIS to generate quality and reliable data for future planning and better management. Technical support for developing GIS and training of remote sensing specialists in the Forest Department will be considered in future interventions. Afforestation: Building forest resources through afforestation will be emphasised. Efforts will be made to establish climate change resilient afforestation in the denuded hill forests and coastal land by accretion. Rural Development Both the government and the NGOs are implementing various programmes for rural development covering microcredit, social security, development of rural infrastructure, women's empowerment, education, health, family welfare, nutrition, and environmental conservation. The National Rural Development Policy 2001 provides a comprehensive 32 NSAPR II (Revised) framework for sustained improvements in rural life and accelerating the pace of rural poverty reduction. The government will constitute the National Rural Development Council (NRDC), headed by the Prime Minister, to provide guidelines for implementing the rural development policy. Also a national steering committee will be formed to assist the NRDC and follow up policy implementations. Steps are underway to set up the Policy and Strategy Formulation Unit (PSFU) to implement the National Rural Development Policy 2001 for which a project has been undertaken covering 2009-2013. 3.2.5 Water Resources Development and Management The vision for the water resources sector as indicated in the National Water Policy (1999) is to ensure continued progress towards achieving the national goals of development and MDGs through development of water resources, optimizing its various uses, managing resources for sustainable development including securing the lives and properties of people from water related disasters. The challenge for the water sector is to discourage the use of groundwater and to increase surface water use until a threshold of groundwater storage is achieved for all hydrological regions. However, upstream abstraction or diversion of water from common rivers by India is apprehended to cast adverse impact on the flow of surface water in Bangladesh. The job of managing water resources is problematic because of controversy over allocation rights and the difficulty of enforcing rules and regulations on conservation arising mainly from its public good nature. A balanced set of policies and institutional reforms are required that will harness market forces while at the same time strengthen the capacity of the government to carry out its essential roles. It is imperative for Bangladesh that it relies on the alternative system of administered control that allocates water resources and charges according to set social, environmental, and economic criteria. Water resource development during the lean season has been geared toward the expansion of irrigation to promote food- grain production. It gives rise to conflicts in the presence of its increasing competing uses due to population growth, urbanization, and industrialization. The government needs to shift the focus from water resource development to water resources management. The combination of high rainfall during the monsoon and full-flowing rivers from our neighbouring country result in extensive inundation of floodplains (about 20-30 percent of the country). The flooding occurs over 6 million hectares to depths ranging from 30 cm to 2m. This situation creates both opportunities for highly productive farming and fishing systems and risks from deep flooding, riverbank erosion and drainage problems creating greater sufferings for poor households. Bangladesh desperately needs measures against these disasters in terms of developing resilience and adaptation. Lack of adequate and regular allocation of funds has been a perennial problem in BWDB's conducting of annual O&M activities. Failure to recover part of the capital and O&M cost accentuated the problem. Needs, priorities and implementability have to be judged for estimating O&M needs for projects with long-term benefits of water sector projects. Similarly, adequate environmental considerations in project preparation have been a consistent problem in water sector projects. The government's capacity to assess the environmental impact of water sector projects will be enhanced as part of the overall strategy to respond to climate change including setting up of a central climate change unit and/or climate change cells in important ministries. The NWMP has divided the country into eight regions for which principal water-related issues have been identified. These issues constitute problems under short, medium and long term regarding hydrological resources as per natural endowments in respective regions. Distribution of poverty by hydrological 33 NSAPR II (Revised) region could display a striking feature that needs attention. Water projects need to take account of the poverty situation to prioritize projects in locations where poverty can be reduced most. Strategies and Institutional Development The strategies of water resources development and management are to (i) develop the main rivers of Bangladesh for the multipurpose use of water resources, managed for navigation and erosion control and developing hydropower; (ii) undertake flood protection and storm water drainage measures with the rehabilitation and maintenance of existing FCD and FCD/I systems in a participatory manner; (iii) include provisions of cyclone protection, an early warning and forecasting system, flood shelters, control of riverbank erosion, drought management and rationalization of groundwater in disaster management programmes; (iv) make adequate provision for water management for agriculture through public sector irrigation development, flood management and drainage; (v) ensure protection of the natural environment and aquatic resources with monitoring and controlling water pollution, water management for fisheries and ecologically sensitive areas, (vi) undertake dredging of rivers for flood control, navigation, drainage and irrigation, (vii) take initiatives to implement the Ganges barrage project to expand irrigation facilities, prevent salinity, and to solve the problem of scarcity of sweet water in the Sundarban region, (viii) seek regional and international cooperation for development of water resources, and (ix) raise awareness among all stakeholders about scarcity of water and the economic use of the resource. Considering the economic importance of the river systems, the government has decided to implement river channel stabilization through capital dredging in the major rivers of the country. The BWDB is working on formulating a comprehensive plan for capital dredging, primarily covering 13 rivers with a cumulative length of 1,392 km. The pilot dredging of a reach of Jamuna River from upstream of Sirajganj Hard Point to downstream of Dhaleswari off take covering a length of about 20 km would be started soon and, in the light of the experience of this pilot capital dredging, a nationwide capital dredging programme would be finalized. Institutional Development: The highest body for the formulation of national water policy is the National Water Resources Council. The government has set-up WARPO as a secretariat of the Executive Committee of the National Water Resources Council (ECNWRC). WARPO is responsible for three main assignments: prepare and update the National Water Management Plan, update and maintain a National Water Resource database and act as a clearing house for all water sector projects undertaken by any agency. The ECNWRC needs to be effective and regular monitoring of the three activities has to be ensured. The Joint Rivers Commission has to continue its efforts to effectively establish the country's water shares and negotiate accordingly. Specialized Institutions such as RRI, CEGIS and IWM and other relevant research institutions need to pursue professional and technological breakthroughs in view of the challenges in the water sector in future. The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) have continued to carry out major responsibilities of conducting activities concerning investment and operation & maintenance (O&M). 3.2.6 Land Use Policy and Management The main goal of land use policy and management is to ensure best possible use of land resources and delivery of land related services to the people through modernized and efficient land administration for sustainable development with accelerated poverty reduction. 34 NSAPR II (Revised) Because of diversion of agricultural land to multiple uses and river erosion the per capita availability of land is declining and the loss of agricultural land is going on at the rate of about 1 percent per year. The poor have very little access to government land like char land, khas land, water bodies etc. There are land laws and policies to allot such land to the poor and the landless, but the interest of the poor is rarely preserved. The vested interest groups in both rural and urban areas are in de facto and de jure possession with the help of money and muscle. The adivashi (the indigenous people) of the CHT and other areas are losing their common property rights in land. In the cities, the slum dwellers pay high rent for staying in the slums and they remain under threat of eviction. Land is being degraded by soil salinity, soil contamination, deforestation, water pollution, falling water table and drainage congestion. Financial constraints, lack of awareness, reluctance to obey rules and enforce laws, piece-meal efforts to deal with these issues, implementation of contradictory and ineffective policies are the main reasons for such degradation. The government will address the problems, including higher allocation consistent with public expenditure programme and improving quality/efficiency of expenditure by government departments. Government agencies responsible for preventing land degradation do not get enough funds to tackle these problems. The Ministry of Land formulated a National Land Use Policy in 2001 to prevent land degradation and to ensure its best utilization for all purposes. The policy also highlights the need, and the importance of carrying out National Land Zoning for integrated planning and management of the country's land resources. However, the institutional structure for implementation is lacking. Illegal encroachment on rivers, canals and water bodies for housing, industries etc. is common in both rural and urban areas. This leads to obstruction of the flow of water, reduction in flood plain areas and increased flooding. The imperative for raising food production is so urgent that agricultural expansion often neglects the consequential loss of wetland water bodies and biodiversity. The Ministry of Land is implementing a programme under which at least 20 landless families are being given khas land in each upazila. A total of 6,397 landless families in 436 upazilas have been given nearly 2,185 acres of khas land till July 2009. In addition, 71,032 landless families have been rehabilitated through providing khas land including houses under Ideal Village I and II projects. Similar rehabilitation programme has been targeted for 10,650 landless households under Climate Victims Rehabilitation Project within January 2009 to June 2012. In addition, rehabilitation of 9,500 households is in progress under Char Development and Settlement-3 Project. Strategies to Overcome Land Related Policy and Management Problems The lack of coordination between different departments responsible for preparation and maintenance of Record of Rights (ROR) often leads to confusion, conflicts and many instances of litigation causing suffering of the people especially the small and marginal farmers. The Ministry of Land has already undertaken projects to conduct digital surveys and introduce e-governance. Land records will be computerized/digitized and land mutation will be made automatic. Necessary measures would be initiated to ensure sound coordination of the activities undertaken by department of registration, A.C. Land and DLRS. Through appropriate delineation of supervisory responsibility of settlement activities, better coordination of the two offices in dealing with the preparation and maintenance of land records at the upazila level will be achieved. The Directorate of Registration will be directed to remove inconsistency in land records management and also for immediate updating of land titles. 35 NSAPR II (Revised) A database including all land resources, land zoning information and other resources in selected areas such as Char land and other ecologically endangered areas will be developed. The Ministry of Land is implementing a coastal land zoning project to ensure proper use of land and mitigate land degradation. There will be provision for a participatory and joint monitoring system with government employees and the local people for overseeing the activities of land classification, and land record modernization for effective land management. The participation of the poor in the whole process, from formulation to implementation of laws and policies will be instituted. The land in CHT is administrated under the relevant Acts, Rules and Regulations of the Manual of 1900. The customary common property rights of the ethnic people are to be protected. Laws and policies would be framed for the proper management of the land in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The provisions of Rangamati/Khagrachhori/Bandarban Hill District Local Government Council Act 1989 have been amended according to the CHT Peace Accord. Laws and policies will also be introduced to avoid environmental degradation such as stopping hill-cutting, tree-felling while using available land for development of resources such as tea and rubber plantation. The modification and simplification of all land-related laws are expected to remove many of the land related disputes. A special committee will be set up to come up with recommendations in this regard. Land Use Management: Planned use of land according to Land Zoning Maps prepared on the basis of present and potential land uses will be ensured through enforcement of the provisions of relevant laws. The provisions of the Town Improvement Act of 1953 will also be more strictly enforced. The government will take up project for development of rural townships where specific areas are to be earmarked for housing, marketplaces, industries and infrastructure. Land acquisition act and policy would be rationalized. Unused acquired land or acquired land not used for the declared purposes would be resumed by the Deputy Commissioner. Unused land of Bangladesh Railway may be given to Roads and Highways and Local Government Engineering Department for construction of roads if needed. In case of big public sector projects like the Padma Bridge (for which the government has already approved the resettlement plan) affected persons would be motivated to make their resettlement voluntary. They would be compensated for their land at the price suggested in the National Involuntary Resettlement Policy. While building rural roads, highways, bridges and culverts, the government departments do not keep enough space for the natural flow of water. In the big cities, the land grabbers are filling up the water bodies, thus creating drainage problems. Provisions are to be made for free flow of water. The natural flow of rivers and canals is to be restored by removing the land grabbers. The water bodies and the flood plain areas in Dhaka and other big cities would be freed from illegal occupants. The rivers, canals, haors, etc. would be leased out to poor and genuine fishermen. This will be ensured with the involvement of the MOFL, DOF and major stakeholders including NGOs. The Jalmahal Management Policy 2009 has already been finalized and gazetted in June 2009. Similarly, Balumahals and other Sairat Mahals would be managed in a way which will benefit the poor. Inspections of industries would be conducted more frequently to strictly enforce the construction of ETPs and their due continuous operation. The relevant provisions of EBSATA would be strictly enforced to stop degradation of crop land by neighbouring industries. Projects would be taken to develop perennially inundated areas like Bhabadaha. The conflict between the growers of shrimp and crops would be resolved by involving the 36 NSAPR II (Revised) Union Parishads, DOE, DOF, DAE and stakeholders' representative organizations including local NGOs. The Ministry of Land would continue with its programme of housing for the urban poor. Khas land in urban areas (i.e. non-agricultural) would be utilized for housing the slum dwellers. Non-agricultural khas land would be provided to the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management and Ministry of Social Welfare for constructing (i) houses for women, marginalized people and endangered communities, and (ii) vagrant homes and night shelters in the cities for the uprooted population. 3.2.7 Urban Development Bangladesh is experiencing rapid urbanization. In 2007, the estimated total population was 142.6 million of which 25.0 percent (35.7 million) was urban. Urbanization is characterized by over centralization in few cities like Dhaka and Chittagong resulting in overcrowding and a severe lack of basic facilities in almost all spheres of life. The major challenges of urbanization in Bangladesh are: (i) unplanned and unguided urbanization with mounting problems; (ii) absence of strong planning outfit centrally and in urban centres; (iii) lack of advance planning for utility services, shelter and infrastructure; (iv) absence of an integrated approach to urbanization embracing cluster development of adjacent towns or provision for satellite towns; (v) lack of comprehensive urbanization comprising all civic amenities like parks, lakes, and other recreation facilities; (vi) absence of a regulatory framework for utilization of urban public land and waterways to prevent their misuse; (vii) inadequate environmental concern for protection of urban waterways, disposal of solid wastes and industrial sludge; (viii) lack of concern for urban poor and slum dwellers; and (ix) absence of statistical database for urban planning. The high population density calls for a spatial pattern of urbanization composed of urban and peri urban areas. Planned urbanization will ensure growth and equity taking into consideration a futuristic scenario. The specific goals are to: (i) promote urban development for balanced growth across the country; ii) finalization of national urban development policy and (iii) promote sustainable urbanization for poverty reduction and development. Strategies The following strategies will be followed for urban development: (i) planning, guiding and promoting urban development with adequate services for all; (ii) creating strong planning outfit in relevant ministries and all city corporations; (iii) making advance planning for utility services, shelter and infrastructure in all urban centres; (iv) planning road infrastructure development and public transportation for a number of cities and towns in a cluster; (v) adopting an integrated approach to urbanization embracing cluster development of adjacent towns or provision for satellite towns; (vi) developing comprehensive urbanization comprising all civic amenities like parks, lakes and other recreation facilities; (vii) developing policy framework and creating a regulatory framework for utilization of urban public land and rivers for building parks, lakes and civic amenities; (viii) improving urban environment by protecting urban rivers, regulating disposal of solid wastes and industrial sludge; (ix) creating an enabling environment including social protection systems and safety nets for urban poor and slum dwellers by building appropriate institutions like cooperatives, micro credit organizations, easy access to credit, improved health facilities, etc; (x) building regulatory authority for citizens' protection against exploitation by home developers and other private utility providers; (xi) creating strong mechanism for coordination of infrastructure development and provision of utilities in all urban centres; (xii) creating a framework for operation of private sector, NGOs, CBOs, PVOs etc. for building infrastructure, recreation facilities and utility services for urban inhabitants; (xiii) building institutions in collaboration with the BBS for creating statistical database for urban planning; 37 NSAPR II (Revised) and (xiv) build democratic institutions for effective urban governance with the participation of the civil society, NGOs, and CBOs. In developing the growth centres, areas will be earmarked for community housing including social forestry. 3.3 Strategic Block III: Essential Infrastructure for Pro-Poor Economic Growth Infrastructure development contributes to growth in general and pro-poor growth in particular. Infrastructure includes electricity, gas, renewable energy, roads, railway, inland waterways, sea ports, land ports, airports, and post and telecommunication links. 3.3.1 Power and Energy The government will adopt a comprehensive long term policy on electricity and energy to develop the power and energy sector, and promote energy efficiency and conservation. Sustainable energy will be promoted as a strategic priority for poverty reduction. Power The vision of the power sector is to provide access to affordable and reliable electricity to all citizens of Bangladesh by 2021. The supply of quality and reliable power at an affordable price will be ensured through system expansion with a prudent least cost plan, efficiency improvement through institutional and structural reform and establishment of commercial arrangement among the sector entities. Electricity generation will be raised to 7,000 MW by 2013, 8,000 MW by 2015 and 20,000 MW by 2021. As power projects are highly capital intensive, developing adequate generation, transmission and distribution facilities to provide reliable and quality power supply to the population poses a formidable challenge for the government. Absence of clear organizational goals, adequate financial and commercial autonomy and lack of adequate incentives resulted in inefficiency in the utility management. High maintenance cost and overhauling time for the existing power plants in the public sector is a serious concern. Limited autonomy and financial power to the concerned authority, long approval procedures, and bureaucratic interference cause delay in the maintenance of power plants. In the distribution system, poor quality of power supply causes serious problem to the customers due to a low voltage profile and presence of harmonics as the system is overloaded, inadequate network capacity, lack of reactive power compensation, poor maintenance and absence of proper response from the operators. Policies and Strategies: In order to meet the projected demand for electricity, necessary investments will be made in a timely manner. This will require careful planning and timely resource mobilization involving both public and private sectors. Balanced development of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity will be ensured. The entities shall enjoy operational autonomy along with responsibility for eliminating loss, wastage and theft, and for efficiency in operation. The possibility of trading power within the region will be explored, and the potential of coal will be fully utilized. Electricity generation will focus on completion of under construction plants, installation of new plants, utilization of full capacity of existing plants through rehabilitation, scheduled maintenance and overhauling, and human resource development., review of Captive Power Policy to remove all barriers. Transmission infrastructure will be expanded by PGCB in conformity with the generation expansion. The government will adopt a three year crash programme for quick implementation of ongoing and under consideration power generation stations, ordering 500/1500 MW rental power plant on urgent basis, and initiatives for construction 800 MW Peaking Power Plant, IPP of 1250 MW on gas and duel fuel and 2000-2600 MW imported coal based power stations. A schedule for repair, maintenance and overhauling or salvaging of old power stations will be made to increase and stabilize power 38 NSAPR II (Revised) production. gas turbine projects on urgent basis, and reactivation of initiatives for construction of 10, 20 and 30 megawatt power stations. A schedule for repair, maintenance and overhauling or salvaging of old power stations will be made to increase and stabilise power production. The performance of distribution utilities will be improved through reduction of system loss from current 18.5 percent to 14 percent in 2014, arrear reduction, ensuring reliability of electricity supplies, ensuring affordable price, use of pre-paid metering system, and bill payment system through mobile phone operators. For demand side management, the government has already adopted daylight saving time (effective from 19 June, 2009) and in addition will focus on adjusting shopping hours, holiday staggering for industries and creating awareness of CFL bulbs. There is significant difference between per unit generation cost (BPDB's own generation cost and purchase cost of power from IPPs and bulk supply cost). The BPDB's bulk supply tariff for urban utilities and rich PBSs is Taka 0.30 less per unit than its supply cost. For poor PBSs, this difference is as high as Taka 0.64 per unit. As a result, BPDB is incurring a loss of more than Tk. 1,000 crore annually. This indicates the need for rationalization of tariff for the sustainability of the sector. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is responsible for regulation of the sector. The government issues policy directives on matters concerning the electricity sector including measures necessary for its overall planning and coordination. The process of unbundling and corporatization of sector entities is on-going. Box 3.1: Power Sector Vision and Policy Statement ˇ Bring the entire country under electrification by year 2020 ˇ Make the power sector financially viable with ability to facilitate growth ˇ Increase the sectors' efficiency ˇ Make the sector commercially oriented ˇ Improve the quality and reliability of electricity supply ˇ Use available domestic natural gas for power generation and also explore other alternatives like LNG for the same. ˇ Increase private sector participation ˇ Ensure reasonable and affordable price for electricity by pursuing least cost options and explore options for power trading ˇ Promote competition among various entities ˇ Promote regional and sub-regional cooperation Rural Electricity Supply: The overall goal of REB programme is improvement of socio- economic conditions of the rural people by providing reliable and affordable electricity. The rural electricity network is the fastest growing and most efficiently operated entity within the Bangladesh electricity industry. But it is experiencing serious operational problems due to power shortage and loss of revenue due to non-availability of power and an increase in system losses due to customer backlash from frequent and prolonged load shedding. The REB is facing financial problems in its expansion programme. The REB strategies for future development are: (a) augment power generation, (b) upgrade and rehabilitate old system for capacity building and reliable supply, (c) implement division- wise programmes and Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Electrification Project to ensure regional balance, (d) disseminate renewable energy technologies (solar, wind, small hydro, bio-mass etc.), (e) ensure additional assistance for expansion of network, (f) hand over BPDB rural 39 NSAPR II (Revised) distribution systems to REB, (g) reduce system loss, (h) enhance performance, (i) rationalize tariffs and (j) replace incandescent lamp by compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). Nuclear Power: In view of the need for diversifying energy sources for long-run energy security, a nuclear power plant will be installed at Rooppur as soon as possible, with generation capacity between 700 MW and 1,000 MW. In this respect, a MOU has been recently signed between Russia and Bangladesh. Energy The main goals of the non-renewable energy sector are: (a) assessment of non-renewable indigenous energy sources; (b) exploration and development of new oil/gas and coal fields; (c) appraisal and conversion of probable and possible reserve to proven reserve; (d) development of the fields considering their capacity and market demand; (e) strengthening institutional capacity of Petrobangla and its companies to make them more effective and financially viable; and (f) installation of adequate transmission and distribution network to cater to customers' need. The major challenges of the natural gas sector are to: (a) minimise gas demand and supply gap; (b) improve reliable estimation of gas reserves through extended exploration and development programmes; (c) optimize production from the existing gas fields; (d) conserve and make efficient use of gas; (e) make Petrobangla and its companies operationally and financially sound; and (f) reduce disparity of supply of gas to different areas of the country. Serious considerations are being given for using coal along with gas for power generation. The government will set up coal-fired power plant using environment-friendly technology for extraction of coal. The major challenges are to: (a) explore and develop new coal fields and (b) conserve and make efficient use of coal. Policies and Strategies: The existing National Energy Policy (NEP) is being updated to provide guidelines for achieving energy security for the country. An action plan will be worked out to improve the operational and financial performance of Petrobangla umbrella. The Gas Act will be enacted providing action-plans for proper accountability targeting to reduce un-accounted for Gas (UFG) and outstanding gas bill. Strengthening the Hydrocarbon Unit has already been undertaken to provide adequate and appropriate staff and expertise to assist in policy formulation. The policy for public-private partnership for operating companies of Petrobangla will be formulated so that both domestic and foreign entrepreneurs may participate. Gas marketing companies are going to introduce meters for domestic gas supply and will take measures for zonal isolation. Procurement and supply of domestic meters will also be opened to the private sector. To save trees and the environment, use of LPGs in rural households will also be encouraged for which provision of subsidy for buying of cylinder may be encouraged while the price of gas will be paid by the user. Efforts to convert possible and probable reserve into proven reserve will involve IOCs especially in offshore exploration, supporting BAPEX with funds to strengthen its exploration and seismic survey activities and engage drilling crew through outsourcing, and exploration activities in both onshore and offshore under PSC. The National Coal Policy is being formulated for concomitant development of coal to meet the growing energy demand. Special initiatives will be taken to ensure economic use of coal available so far and also to develop coal based power plants. Priorities will be given to the exploration and exploitation of new coal fields. Research and development has been strengthened to ensure economically viable extraction of coal at deeper layers. The BPI as the Energy Research Institute will ensure continuous training and skill development of professionals working in the oil, gas and mineral sector. The capability of 40 NSAPR II (Revised) the existing training institute of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has been strengthened to provide training to the downstream segments of oil refining and marketing. With a view to meeting the demand of petroleum products, the specific strategies/policies to be pursued are: (a) expansion of the storage capacity of petroleum products, (b) improvement of the distribution system by putting in place a second oil installation, (c) enhancement of capability of handling large vessels to reduce losses in import operations, (d) increase of the LPG bottling capacity, and (e) increase of the refining capacity from the existing 1,400,000 MT to about 4,500,000 MT. In view of the mismatch between supply and demand, leading to acute scarcity of gas not only to power plants, but also to other customers, thereby constraining future economic growth, EMRD has decided to explore alternative sources of gas supply. In that context Government has decided (a) to establish a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal to import initially about 500mmcfd, (b) also to explore the possibility of reviving the inter-regional gas pipeline. Renewable Energy Renewable energy complements other forms of energy. The popular or relatively widely used sources include hydro power, biogas and solar photovoltaic. Other potential energy sources include wind energy, bio-diesel from jatropha plantations, gasohol from molasses, wave and tide power and geothermal power. However, the most promising source may be nuclear energy. All possible efforts would be made to tap renewable clean energies. The main goal of the renewable energy sector is to develop, disseminate, promote and extend the renewable energy technology to the rural people to meet their energy needs for lighting and cooking purposes by using sustainable inexhaustible environment friendly renewable energy sources. The specific goals of the sector are to: (a) increase access to electricity among the people living in off-grid, isolated and inaccessible remote areas of Bangladesh by solar home systems (SHSs), (b) supply clean bio-gas to meet the energy needs for cooking purpose in rural areas by constructing bio-gas plants, (c) improve the standard of living and increase income by introducing solar power and bio-gas in rural areas, (d) use slurry of the bio-gas plant as bio-fertilizer to minimize use of chemical fertilizer and boost agricultural products as well as increase fish production, (e) explore the potential of other forms of renewable energy, such as wind energy, micro hydro, tidal energy, bio-mass and bio-diesel to meet the power and energy demand of the rural people and (f) explore the potential of municipal wastes to generate electricity as well as for safe disposal of the wastes. The major challenges of the renewable energy sector are: (a) absence of a government institutional set-up to co-ordinate the renewable energy activities under government and NGOs, (b) absence of proper management in the government agencies to deal with the renewable energy projects/programmes, (c) financial and economic constraints to promote the renewable energy (RE) programmes, (d) lack of proper technical knowledge of the employees dealing with the RE programme, and (e) social barrier and information gap in promoting the RE programmes. Policies and Strategies: The government agencies involved in RE programmes will provide institutional support including procurement of equipment and training to the employees participating in the RE programmes. The Renewable Energy Policy will be finalized by the government. All duties and taxes would be reconsidered for imported solar panels to encourage NGOs in their renewable energy programmes. The government will consider giving grants to NGOs for enhancing their programmes, particularly solar power and bio-gas plant programmes. The Bangladesh Bank will refinance loans provided by commercial banks to solar energy and biogas. 41 NSAPR II (Revised) 3.3.2 Transport Road Transport The goal of road transport is to achieve a well-maintained, cost effective and safe road network connecting all parts of the country and facilitating links with neighbouring countries. The development of road and road transport faces a number of challenges: (i) road construction requires a raised earth embankment because of low-lying topography and construction of bridges and culverts at frequent intervals because of rivers and canals; (ii) torrential rains during the monsoon period wash away road surfaces, particularly the shoulders and earth embankments of the road network; (iii) road network is still broken at many places by a number of river gaps requiring ferry services for the movement of vehicular traffic; (iv) a large segment of the road network has narrow pavement width, lower axle-load design, detour alignment, horizontal curvature and unstable shoulders requiring correction and improvement; (v) the presence of mixed traffic on the road network creates a problem for economic and efficient operation of mechanised vehicles and is to a large extent responsible for traffic accidents on roads. This particular aspect needs special attention while planning and designing the construction of a road; (vi) the principal inadequacies in the system of building a suitable road network in Bangladesh relate largely to the poor quality of available construction materials and poor construction practices. Policies and Strategies: The development of road sector emphasizes: (i) capacity expansion through construction of tunnel, (ii) four laning of existing important highways. (iii) construction of big bridges, (iv) development of road corridor and border roads to facilitate regional trade, and (v) regional balance in road development. An Integrated Multi-Modal Transport Plan (IMTP) is being formulated emphasising the maintenance of existing assets and infrastructure and encouraging more investment in rail and inland water transport. Once finalised and implemented, this will help sustain an integrated communication network in the country. A legal and financial framework will be created to encourage private investment in road sector development. Asian Highway Routes will be completed according to international standards. The resourceful coastal areas will be brought under the road network system. Regional balance will be established in the road sector development programme. Construction of missing links particularly on the national and regional highway network will be expedited. The planned construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge will be completed by 2013. Steps have been taken to implement the construction of Padma Bridge project at Mawa and the construction of Karnaphuli Hanging Bridge project on a priority basis. Feasibility studies for construction of the four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong Expressway are underway. The government has approved a Strategic Transport Plan (STP) for Dhaka. A feasibility study project for the construction of an elevated expressway, a tunnel between Tejgaon and the airport and a tunnel under river Karnaphuli is under consideration. Steps are being taken to construct the Dhaka eastern bypass. It is felt that the feasibility studies of the two will be taken up in an integrated manner, and that these should be built up in PPP modality. Rural Road Connectivity The main goal of LGED is development of road communication to link growth centres, union parishad headquarters, upazilla parishad headquarters, social service institutions like schools, and hospitals with the national road network. The problems in the development of roads by the LGED are: (a) lack of availability of land, (b) local conflict in prioritizing roads for development, (c) shortage of skilled manpower at union level, (d) inadequate flow of funds, (e) overloaded trucks causing early damage to the pavement, (f) number of gaps in 42 NSAPR II (Revised) road network increasing road development costs, (g) non-availability of good quality construction materials, and (h) frequent inundation by annual floods. The strategies and policies for the development of the road system of LGED include finalization and adoption of a Road Master Plan, adoption of a maintenance plan and according higher priority to maintenance over new construction, exploring technological options to construct quality roads with available construction materials, introduction of measures to stop overloading, adoption of procedures to maximize generation of employment for the poor, ensuring quality of construction, more involvement of local government institutions (LGIs) and ensuring utilisation and maintenance of constructed facilities. Railway Transport The main goal of the Bangladesh Railway is to provide wider connectivity throughout the country including the capital city and mass transportation facilities at a comparatively cheap price. The current problems of the Bangladesh Railway (BR) include lack of capacity building, lack of proper servicing facilities and delay in finalization of tenders. The current performance of BR is unsatisfactory owing to a number of reasons: lack of upward adjustment of passengers and freight fares since 1992 against about 400 percent increase in fuel and operation costs, lack of investment to re-orient the railway network towards the capital city, shorten the distance between Chittagong port and other cities and connect Mongla port or other areas where rail network does not exist, lack of matching expansion of the rail network in the face of increase in the competitive road network and lack of an adequate maintenance budget leading to deteriorating rail tracks & other infrastructures resulting in poor performance of BR. A Master Plan for the development of BR is under preparation by the Planning Commission to overcome the problems and expand and modernize the railway. The measures include double tracking the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor, establishing rail link with neighbouring countries under the Asian Rail and Highways Scheme, undertaking a three-year maintenance rolling plan, and rehabilitation of railway. Feasibility studies will be undertaken to construct underground rail, circular rail, circular and elevated rail in Dhaka. In order to modernise railways, a reform project called Bangladesh Railway Sector Improvement is being implemented. Water Transport The main goal of BIWTA is to ensure smooth, fast and safe navigation for the movement of cargo and passenger vessels at low cost. The improvement of inland waterways will reduce time and transport cost (Tk. 1.50 per ton km against Tk. 2.70 for road and Tk. 1.70 for rail) which will help expand trade and commerce and related activities with favourable impacts on the overall economy. It will particularly benefit the people in the coastal areas where no alternative mode of transport is available. . Due to reduction in stream flows and cross-boundary flows, siltation of rivers, and reduction of tidal volume, the navigability of inland waterways has been gradually deteriorating. As a result, the length of navigable inland waterways has declined in recent years, hindering the smooth plying of IWT vessels and creating obstructions to the drainage of flood water. The other problem is the lack of integration with other modes of transport. In order to overcome current and emerging problems prevailing in inland water transport, an IWT sector strategy will develop an integrated plan for dredging for phased 43 NSAPR II (Revised) implementation. A comprehensive but affordable programme for dredging of the major rivers is needed to maintain their navigability round the year. IWT infrastructure will be constructed to handle the growing volume of traffic. The construction of an inland river container terminal at Pangaon on the river Buriganga near Dhaka, which will reduce the congestion of container traffic of maritime ports, is underway. The feasibility of constructing more river-based container terminals needs to be studied. Besides, the IWTA has to make provision for providing port facilities at different landing ports, landing facilities at coastal areas, and pontoons at way-side landings and introducing circular waterways in and around Dhaka city Sea Ports: For Chittagong port, the main strategy to overcome the problems is to increase port capacity and port efficiency through construction of a container terminal at the New Mooring area, construction of back-up facilities, implementation of the Chittagong Port Trade Facilitation Project, capital dredging of Karnaphuli river, construction of container terminals and implementation of the Port Efficiency Improvement Plan. Plans for setting up a deep seaport at Sonadia are well in progress. The Mongla port has enough potential to turn it into a fully utilized port but still lags behind due to infrastructural constraints of transportation by road and inadequate railway links with its hinterland, lack of silos and absence of oil bunkering facilities. Moreover, the decline of the jute industries of the south-western region of the country has caused a significant decline in the export of jute and jute-goods through this port. The main development goals of Mongla port are optimum utilization of existing infrastructure facilities, overcoming the bottlenecks of port operation, provision of quality and efficient services to the port users and the business community and developing the necessary back-up facilities. With a view to modernising the Mongla port, a plan has been taken up to construct a multi-purpose jetty with sophisticated facilities. The government plans to develop Mongla as a sea port for regional use. Land Ports: The Government of Bangladesh formed the Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA) under Act 10 of 2001 and gave the responsibility for 13 land ports to the Authority. Later, the government decided to hand over the 12 land ports (except the Benapole Land Port) to private entrepreneurs to carry out the day to day operations of the ports under the Private Sector Investment Guidelines. Air Transport: The physical work to upgrade Osmani International Airport for the operation of wide bodied aircraft has been completed. The physical work of extension, modernization and construction of passenger terminal buildings at Osmani International Airport is in progress. Besides, a plan has been taken up for upgradation of Zia International Airport. Bangladesh Biman will be restructured to enable it to operate on commercial and profitable basis. Aviation services in the private sector will be encouraged. 3.3.3 Post and Telecommunication In order to realize the vision of building Digital Bangladesh, ICT facilities need to be extended to rural areas where the majority of people live. To this end, internet connectivity and opportunities for the best use of information and communication technology would have to be ensured. Over the years, the government implemented a number of projects to install digital exchanges, introduce pre-paid service, distribute one million T&T mobile telephones, install digital telephone lines, and establish an international telecommunication system through submarine cables. Providing telecommunication services and developing 44 NSAPR II (Revised) telecom and internet infrastructure will be the prime objectives of all the service providers in this sector. More emphasis will be given on ICT development. The strategies for the development of BPO will focus on the introduction of an ICT-based postal network to keep it connected with customers, bringing qualitative changes in postal services, establishing e-centers in the post offices, continuous improvement of products, work process reengineering, creating a business development cell and providing quality services to the people. 3.3.4 Housing "Housing for all by 2015" has been incorporated in Vision 2021 for developing housing and shelter in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. The other goals of housing development are: (i) create an enabling environment for adequate and affordable housing for different income groups, especially low-income and extreme poor and vulnerable groups; (ii) provide housing for rural and urban homeless, landless and vulnerable groups; (iii) ensure maximum utilization of land in rural areas through developing "growth centre" centric housing in every union and upazila and housing with modern amenities in urban areas; and (iv) facilitate private sector house building, and house building by NGOs and CBOs as supplementary to private developers for certain category of housing development. In housing construction, use of aggregates will be promoted instead of bricks. Assuming that the population will grow to about 25 crore in 2025, a system will have to be established whereby housing for 25 lakh families is made available annually. Further, the quality of housing and affordability and accessibility will have to be considered since data reveal that only one-third of dwellings are built of concrete and semi-concrete material. The main problem lies in land prices, which has become prohibitive in both rural and urban areas, especially for housing. Thus there arises a need to resort to strategies like `compact townships' for the rural areas. Policies and Strategies: The major policies and strategies are: (i) prepare a comprehensive data base that relates to an updated list of authentic landless, marginal, ethnic, vulnerable, disaster prone, food insecure communities, especially distressed women with children, and (ii) adopt a land management policy, in conjunction with the data base and existing Land Use Policy for delineating the land that could be allocated for housing, particularly for the poor. The Land Acquisition Act will be modified and rationalized to formulate a rational strategy under the auspices of the land acquisition policy. This policy will attempt to make available a minimum quantity of relatively less fertile and unusable land if non-agricultural khas land is not available. In the urban sphere, the provisions of the Town Improvement Act of 1953 and the Land Zoning Laws will be enforced while in the rural areas, necessary acts will be enforced. The emerging concerns to prioritize are housing and infrastructure standards, housing finance, drainage, maintenance of conservancy services and alleviation of substandard urban living bereft of green belts and water bodies. The government will also integrate planning of linked activities; strengthen institutions concerned with urban management and development through local resource mobilization, delegation of authority and community involvement. 3.4 Strategic Block IV: Social Protection for the Vulnerable Social security, empowerment, and employment generation are indispensable elements of poverty reduction programmes. Strong and expanded social safety nets will protect the poor from different social, economic, and natural shocks and poverty will certainly reduce through social empowerment. In achieving faster poverty reduction, attention needs to be given to activities that are directly targeted to benefit the extreme poor and disable, women in poverty, landless poor and other vulnerable groups like urban poor. To protect the poor 45 NSAPR II (Revised) from falling into deeper poverty, attention has to be given to at least five areas. These are: social safety net programmes; food security; disaster management; micro-credit and rural non-farm activities. 3.4.1 Social Safety Net Programmes A strong and expanded social safety net programme (SSNP) is the main emphases of Vision 2021, which will protect the poor from all sorts of social, economic and natural shocks. The social safety net may be defined operationally to include all kinds of cash and kind transfers to the poor, all welfare activities, unemployment benefits for retrenched workers, subsidized health care, shelters for the homeless, and pension benefits, which prevent individuals from falling into poverty. The major goals of SSNPs are: (i) safety net interventions will achieve the protection of all types of poor people and the prevention of chronic poverty as well as transient poverty. It will target the extreme poor first; (ii) the government will encourage NGOs, CBOs and the private sector to augment their role and contributions to expand the social safety net; and (iii) attempts will be made to increase coverage through increased budgetary allocation each year. All the programmes undertaken under the social safety net at present will continue. The old age allowances, allowance for insolvent persons with disabilities, stipend programme for students with disabilities, allowance for widows and distressed women, maternity allowance for poor mothers, and small ethnic groups would be expanded. The present government gives more emphasis on SSNPs as a means to reduce poverty. Social safety nets will be extended for the ultra poor and the number of recipients of old age allowances and destitute women allowance would, at least, be doubled. Besides, other programmes such as one house one farm, rural housing, ideal village and returning homes will be taken up. 3.4.2 Food Security Food security is a core issue in the struggle against poverty. Food security encompasses three broad aspects, namely, availability, access and utilization. The government has formulated several national policies highlighting various aspects of food security. The National Food and Nutrition Policy and the National Plan of Action for Nutrition are more comprehensive and these have served as starting points for the implementation of the policies. These policies focus on objectives such as: (i) ensure adequate and stable supply of safe and nutritious food; (ii) enhance the purchasing power of the people for increased access to food; and (iii) ensure adequate nutrition for all, especially women, children and persons with disabilities. Despite significant progress in domestic food grains production, Bangladesh is still facing food insecurity. Nearly 40 percent of the population lacks the resources to acquire enough food. The government operates a number of programmes to ensure food security in the country. These include: (i) open market sales (OMS); (ii) FFW programme; (iii) VGD programme; (iv) VGF programme; (v) test relief (TR); (vi) gratuitous relief (GR); (vii) food aid to CHT area people; (viii) food subsidy; and (ix) employment in char areas. Main problems of access to food relate to lack of purchasing power among poor people, which has seasonality and spatial dimension. Considerable intra-household disparity and discrimination persist in food consumption. Further, Increasing food availability and household access to food alone will not be adequate to satisfactorily address the malnutrition problem. Nutritional issues will need to be addressed more directly and comprehensively. Comprehensive programmes involving nutrition education, food fortification, improvement in water quality and public health will be undertaken. Further, awareness of nutrition will be created through mass communication. The government is 46 NSAPR II (Revised) committed to ensure quality and safe food to the people. To this end, in addition to enacting laws, the government has taken initiatives to strengthen the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI). To ensure food security for the nation and particularly for the extreme poor, the government will (i) maintain an optimum level of food stock; (ii) ensure access to food at an affordable price for the hardcore poor, the disadvantaged groups and persons with disabilities; (iii) operate special food programme in the poverty/disaster prone areas; (iv) increase awareness about safe and nutritious food through the mass media and school education; (v) ensure food security by strengthening the public procurement system; (vi) distribute food under VGD cards area-wise in proportion to the population living below poverty line; (vii) ensure adequate coverage under VGD; (viii) strengthen OMS for increasing access to food for the urban poor; (ix) encourage domestic cereal production; (x) encourage building of cold storage plants, giving guidance to banks for assessing the scope of financing these; (xi) encourage supply of nutritious food including pulses and oil seeds through high quality seeds, technology and credit support to the farmers; (xii) encourage cooperative agricultural marketing to maintain stable prices of food; (xiii) introduce crop insurance; (xiv) increase storage capacity for food grains; (xv) provide incentives for construction of rural warehousing; and (xvi) improve food management and monitoring in the domestic and world markets to avert future crises. 3.4.3 Disaster Management In November 2007, a devastating cyclone `Sidr' hit the coastal belts of Bangladesh which was followed by another cyclone `Aila' in May 2009. Although the cyclones devastated large areas, the death toll was relatively low (3,406 in 2007 and 190 in 2009) because of the improved early warning system and its ability to mobilize organizational and community actions in a timely manner and relief and early recovery systems. The goal for disaster management (DM) is prevention and protection of lives and properties from any kind of hazards with priority given to disaster risk management along with mitigation. The government emphasises disaster risk management in a cost effective manner. The draft Disaster Management Act has identified a group of broad-based strategies, which focus on management of risk and consequences, community involvement in protecting lives and properties with greater involvement of local government bodies and emphasis on non-structural mitigation. The government has taken a number of steps for building up institutional capacity from national to union levels for effective and systematic disaster management. DM will include (i) improving the cyclone signal system to make it clear to common people and improving flood forecasting to be able to make forecasts 6-7 days ahead instead of 3-4 days as currently made; (ii) strengthening coordination among the government agencies, NGOs and civil society institutions and coordination and management at grassroots level; (iii) creation of a disaster relief fund to support victims of natural disasters; (iv) developing insurance system to cover disaster-related losses of property; (v) avoiding overlap in relief distribution and rehabilitation initiatives, (vi) providing adequate health facilities for the disaster victims, quick transportation of the affected people and instant treatment of the injured people, and (vii) improving capacity for adequate and quick response to emerging and potential disaster like sea-level rise, bird flu, etc. The strategies for DM will focus on: (i) collective action of public sector, NGOs and community organisations to reduce the risk of disasters in the country, (ii) increase the mitigation capacity of the community and NGOs, (iii) promoting optimum coordination and best utilization of resources along with ensuring community participation so that they 47 NSAPR II (Revised) are aware of what they can do for protecting their lives and property, and (iv) undertaking measures for dealing with disasters such as Tsunami and earthquake. The DM needs to be continuously upgraded and strengthened. Various actions to be taken in this area are: (i) mainstreaming disaster management into national policies, planning, and institutional development; (ii) increasing community involvement in disaster management; (iii) ensuring protection of women, children, the aged, and people with disabilities giving due attention to their special needs; (iv) creating a coping capacity at global, regional, national, local, community, household and individual levels; (v) continuing risk assessment to address the new risks arising from the changing national, regional and global situations; (vi) strengthening attention to environmental management, land-use and urban planning, protection of critical facilities, application of science and technology, and partnership and networking in disaster risk reduction and mitigation; (vii) increasing capacity of disaster forecasting by introducing community radio throughout the coastal belt and adjoining districts; (viii) undertaking construction of multipurpose shelters in the cyclone prone coastal areas and flood prone areas; (ix) undertaking structural interventions such as construction of embankment, regulator, and flood control mechanism; (x) implementing a coastal disaster management policy; (xi) ensuring quick transportation of the victims from the affected areas; and (xii) introduction of property insurance to cover disaster- related damages. 3.4.4 Microcredit Microcredit has helped address poverty by providing loan in small amounts without collateral and has helped in particular women who are the target borrowers of micro lending. Over the years, various challenges with regard to microcredit have emerged. These are: (i) prevalence of high interest rates which are being reduced, but further reduction of interest rate is necessary; (ii) vicious cycle of microcredit - the poor are borrowing from one microcredit organization to repay another; (iii) microcredit programmes have not been very successful in including the hardcore poor; (iv) rate of graduation to above the poverty line among the microcredit borrowers is low, indicating persistent dependency on microcredit; (v) most of the microcredit recipients being women, bear the burden of repayment; (vi) microcredit organizations compete with each other and often put pressure on the potential clients to borrow; (vii) profitability of micro enterprises is small and often is not sustainable on a long-term basis because of enterprise decapitalization, saturation of markets for products that are traditionally produced by microcredit borrowers, weak coordination among NGOs and MFIs and a weak financial system. Efforts will be made to upscale the technology base in utilizing micro credits and bring transparency in interest rate fixation and in offering micro credits. Currently the emphasis is to increase the coverage of the programme to a larger number of deserving households; introduce a uniform approach of operation both by NGOs and the public sector; and introduce a regulatory framework for streamlining the activities of the microcredit programme in the country. The government would channel more resources for microcredit operations, increase effectiveness of microcredit for poverty alleviation, avoid overlapping and reduce seasonal vulnerability through microcredit. Local governments will be involved in microcredit delivery. A Microfinance Regulatory Authority (MRA) has been established to provide appropriate regulatory framework. A national microcredit policy will be framed to provide guidelines about the operation of microcredit. It is also necessary to rationalize interest rates. Necessary mechanism will be devised to ensure that microcredit reaches the ultra poor and the hard to reach areas especially those located in regions with higher incidence of poverty. 48 NSAPR II (Revised) Up-scaling Microcredit Up-scaling microcredit is a natural consequence of microcredit programme as the progressive microcredit recipients demonstrate their entrepreneurial ability to handle larger size loans requiring expansion, deepening and diversification of loan products. Some of the microcredit organizations, notably some partner organizations with support of PKSF have increased their loan ceilings to Tk. 300,000 for microenterprise programme and to Tk. 30,000 for all other programmes. The microenterprise loan not only helps reduce poverty of the borrowing household but also creates employment opportunity for other poor people. It is expected that as more and more borrowers graduate out of the regular microcredit programme the demand for larger size loans will increase. 3.4.5 Rural Non-Farm Activities The vision for rural non-farm activities (RNFA) is to foster such activities as an important and effective poverty reduction activity for women in particular. Therefore it is important to identify activities for RNFA and the roles of both public and private sectors and to encourage entrepreneurs to promote RNFA. The following problems/challenges have been identified for RNFA: (i) since RNFA includes a diverse group of activities, it is difficult to define it as a sector and hence it lacks any baseline assessment; (ii) activities in RNFA are often financed by microcredit, which can only support very small-sized activities. There is a limitation in accessing finances for larger sized activities; (iii) people engaged in RNFA activities, particularly women, lack capacity and skill for producing quality products; have inadequate access to information in determining what to produce and often they lack skills in marketing their products; (iv) as institutional financing is mainly urban biased, problems arise since the NGOs are not very effective in providing business advice because they themselves are not well-equipped to provide such support; (v) management capacity of small enterprises operating in RNFA is rather poor; and (vi) RNFA suffers from inadequate infrastructural facilities particularly energy and communication; Future strategies will focus on two broad areas: (i) improving the rural investment climate; and (ii) supporting institutional framework. Measures for improving investment climate will include ensuring more energy supply in the rural areas with emphasis on bio-fuel and solar energy use; emphasis on routine maintenance of the existing roads, development of waterways and railway communication; up-scaling and technology upgradation of small enterprises focusing on product development and quality improvement; provision of training for workers based on market demand and also for entrepreneurs in improved business method; promoting linkage with agriculture and greater value addition of farm products through a boost in agro-processing, arranging local-level fairs on routine basis to promote RNF products, skill development training and internship facilities, in-country and international tours through public-private financial participation. In order to mainstream RNF issues in rural development, an institutional set-up will be formed with different stakeholders, including local government institutions, private entrepreneurs in RNF and providers of financing and other support services. These stakeholders shall identify the strategic policy and investment priorities. The government will consider instituting a monitoring unit to monitor implementation of the initiative and the results. The RNFAs are undertaken mainly within the informal sector and it is desirable to keep them informal under the present settings. However, creation of an enabling environment for them and provision of some support services would make this sector more vibrant and will contribute substantially to poverty reduction. Some interventions that would be considered 49 NSAPR II (Revised) are: improving marketing capacity by providing sales centres in the GCM and other peri- urban markets where the government can provide supports and entrepreneurs can undertake a buy-back system; training and awareness building about hygienic agro- processing and food processing activities; strengthening SME Foundation to allow it to serve more effectively, providing women with basic skills about business management and steps linking them to markets, setting up of more vocational institutes in the rural and peri- urban areas, allocating more funds under microcredit and microfinance, improving the management of this sector through organising training, orientation, and workshops, disseminating market information and providing institutional and logistic support to entrepreneurs, taking initiatives by the government to create ICT villages in rural areas and taking initiatives by government and NGOs to bring diversification in products and upgrading product designs. 3.5 Strategic Block V: Human Resources Development 3.5.1 Improving Knowledge Base: Education, Training and Research Education Education is one of the key elements for building the knowledge base of the people. It is expected that the country's education system comprising primary, secondary, tertiary, and non-formal education will establish a truly empowered knowledge-based society to meet the challenges of the 21st century. There is general agreement that the number of institutions and enrolments have grown at all levels, but the quality of education has deteriorated, especially in institutions where the children of the poor family go. The declining quality of education reduces the employability of the learners creating a disincentive for the poor people to send their children to school. The commitment of the government is to achieve 100 percent literacy by 2014. Early childhood and pre-school education: The government recognizes the value of and demand for pre-schools and has been encouraging NGOs and communities to set up pre- schools within the premises of or near public primary schools. Children from poor families, especially the first generation learners, can benefit greatly from ECDP programmes. A large number of government and non-government agencies are running pre-primary schools. While government funding may not be available for large-scale provision of ECD services, government support can take the form of facilitation and encouragement of donor assistance. All pre-schools may be registered with the government. Primary education: The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh directs the State "to adopt effective measures for establishing universal system of education and extending free and compulsory education to all children and removing illiteracy." Accordingly, the government has taken multi-faceted actions in accelerating the pace of providing primary and mass education. The compulsory primary education programme now covers the whole country. The government has undertaken primary education development programmes to improve the quality of education through the introduction of primary school quality level standards, increased access, participation and completion of the primary education cycle and adoption of a child-centred approach in the classroom. One of the important election pledges of the government is to enrol all children of 6-10 years age by 2011. The School Survey Report 2007 shows a net enrolment rate (NER) of 91.1 percent. Under the Primary Education Stipend Project (Phase II), 40 percent (4.8 million) students have been covered under stipend facilities and the need is to extend its coverage to increase the enrolment rate. A project is targeted to the children who are outside the formal stream with provisions for education allowances. The government started a school feeding programme under which a child is provided with 75 grams of fortified biscuits in eight poverty-stricken upazilas of 50 NSAPR II (Revised) three selected districts. Other government measures include completion of first round of the national assessment programme, providing supplementary reading materials and teaching- learning materials, imparting training to the teachers and the members of SMCs and PTAs, and introduction of terminal examination at grade five. Future actions will focus on: (i) ensuring one primary school for every 1,500 population, (ii) developing and funding programmes to extend the coverage, in cooperation with NGOs, (iii) reorienting madrasha education to develop productive students for the real world of skills and knowledge, (iv) applying quality standards like physical facilities, learning aids, formation of the managing committee, student-teacher ratio, and involvement of the community in all primary institutions, (v) reviewing the teaching-learning model so that the foundation of literacy and numeracy skills and basic knowledge can be built at the primary level, (vi) continuing English language teaching from class one, (vii)ensuring a higher salary scale for teachers, and (viii) effective implementation of primary education development programme, and (ix) Capacity development of institutions like the National Curriculum and Textbook Board to ensure quality improvement in primary education. Secondary Education: Secondary education (grade VI to XII) is provided through collaboration between the government and non-government providers within a regulatory framework. Poverty is a deterrent to secondary school access because, in addition to the tuition fees, there are high additional costs for transportation, uniforms, books and materials and private tutoring. Retention of the students in secondary education is one of the major challenges. A positive development has been the closing of the gender gap in secondary school enrolment with 52.3 percent share of girl students. Stipends and exemption of tuition fees for girls in rural areas have made a difference. The quality of secondary education remains a major challenge. The curriculum does not relate to prospects of employment, entrepreneurship and practical skills. Examinations mostly test ability to recall information and do not test the ability to reason, or apply, analyse and synthesise information. Expansion in enrolment has not been matched by increase in physical capacity and human resources. Students both per class and per teacher are around 60. Almost half of the teachers do not have any professional training. Academic supervision of secondary schools is weak and almost non-functional. Future actions will include: (i) making secondary education up to class X into one unified stream within five years with adequate focus on communication skills, science and mathematics for all students; (ii) undertaking a sub-sector development programme for the under-served groups; (iii) building more government schools in the capital, construction of government secondary schools at every upazilla headquarter and developing and expanding government secondary schools at every district headquarter in phases; (iv) ensuring that NCTB is restricted to only curriculum development and has permanent professional staff; (v) ensuring common minimum standards of inputs and performance in all types of schools; (vi) ensuring that the student-teacher ratio does not exceed 50, competent teachers are appointed, schools have libraries, laboratories, toilets, drinking water and other facilities, all teachers have periodic in-service professional upgrading; (vii) restricting/eliminating private tutoring by teachers and at the same time enhancing their salaries; (viii) making public examinations and internal assessment mutually complementary and more oriented towards the diagnosis of weaknesses of individual learners, institutions and the system for taking remedial measures rather than branding a large number of students as failures;(ix) providing stipend for both girls and boys from poor families; (x) increasing the stipend rate for both poor boys and girls; (xi) taking particular care of disadvantaged students; (xii) expand coverage of schools teaching ICT course in the secondary and higher secondary level, and (xiii) putting emphasis on science education. 51 NSAPR II (Revised) The Government will take the initiative for assistance to secondary schools for introducing computer courses; introduction of computer training and internet facilities for rural secondary and higher secondary institutions; development of SSC (ICT) and HSC (ICT) curriculum in schools and colleges; introduction of Olympiads for primary, secondary and university levels in science and ICT; establishment of six IT training institutions, one in each divisional headquarters; and training of the teachers of schools and colleges in using computers and ICT. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): The technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes offer courses of one to four years duration after the junior secondary level (class VIII). Vocational training institutes, polytechnics, commercial institutes, technical training centres and specialised institutes offer such courses. Stated government policies and goals are to increase the proportion of participants in TVET to 20 percent of the students enrolled in the secondary stage by 2020 from the present proportion of around 3 percent. The objectives of TVET are to expand it for the poor, particularly for adolescents, young adults, adults, males and females and make provision for TVET after class VI, VII and equivalent grades. The expansion will be achieved through introducing double shifts in the technical institutions and a special stipend programme for women's education in science and TVET, establishing more polytechnic institutions at divisional headquarters for girls, assessing the market demand for jobs, and providing skill training to the underprivileged and ultra poor for getting jobs and getting self-employment. The equity effect of this expansion depends on the proportion of the clientele of the programmes from disadvantaged and poor sections of the population; how effective the programmes are in marketable skills, and whether there is an expansion in employment opportunities. Emphasis will be given on high quality technical education for industrial growth. It is essential that TVET courses are flexible in terms of duration, time-table and curriculum and should be flexible in terms of age structure and academic qualification of the students. TVET institutions should develop cooperation with micro-credit providers to support self- employment of trainees. Particular attention should be given to introducing computer (software and hardware) and ICT related courses. Standard computer training courses at the divisional headquarters have been introduced, and learning packages for students of different levels have been developed. It is important to give emphasis on medical technical training. Tertiary Education: The main issues regarding access to tertiary education are two-fold: (a) equity of access to universities and prestigious institutions leading to potentially high private return from higher education, and (b) the balance of enrolment in different fields. Gender disparity in higher education persists, despite progress at the primary and the secondary levels. In tertiary education, increase of enrolment of male and female students in professional degree education must be improved in accordance with the domestic needs and also according to the needs of the countries importing human resources. This sub-sector needs to achieve better balance in enrolment among humanities, applied and pure sciences, technology and commerce. In terms of performance, it is imperative to improve the examination performance of the general undergraduate and graduate students. Internal efficiency of public sector higher education must be improved and the knowledge generation role of the universities must be strengthened. Actions to be taken for tertiary education are: (i) revise the Private University Act 1992 and establish an Accreditation Council to improve and maintain the quality of education; (ii) install effective governing boards in government and non-government colleges in accordance with the rules of the National University; (iii) institute a permanent pay 52 NSAPR II (Revised) commission and a separate service commission for teachers; (iv) appoint sufficient numbers of teachers for all subjects to maintain a reasonable teacher-student ratio; (v) assess physical facilities and human resources of colleges and apply its rules before authorizing opening of honours and masters courses in colleges; (vi) increase the effectiveness of National University in supervising the network of degree colleges, enforcing accreditation standards, assisting colleges to improve quality of education, and maintaining the integrity of public examinations through decentralizing its functions by establishing National University at division levels; (vii) consider regional disparity in establishing new universities and provide adequate resources to ensure quality higher education and research; (viii) introduce new practice of assessment where teachers and students will evaluate each other; (ix) arrange professional upgradation and pedagogic training programmes; (x) create job placement centres on every campus; (xi) ensure access to computer facilities with internet connections, library etc for the teachers and the students; (xii) remove terrorism and session backlogs from educational institutions; (xii) expand the scope of science education and research; (xiii) introduce free education up to bachelors level; (xiv) pay higher salary to teachers; and (xv) institute a permanent pay commission and a separate commission for teachers in due course in future. Adequate resource for assuring quality is a central concern in the future development of higher education. The expansion of capacity will be contingent upon availability of required resources for ensuring acceptable quality, rather than more of the same "low cost low outcome" provisions. Public-private collaboration, cost-sharing and cost recovery will be considered as strategies for dealing with resource constraints, enhancing resources for quality improvement, and contributing to equality of opportunity in the education system and the higher education sub-system. Non-formal Education (NFE): The Bureau of Non Formal Education (BNFE) under MoPME is responsible for non-formal education programmes which are implemented through NGOs. The basic goal of adult literacy programme is to provide them with literacy, life skills, and income generating skills which will help reduce rural poverty and empower the rural poor. It is necessary that an initiative be launched, involving the stakeholders in NFE, to develop a vision and policy framework. The aim of NFE will be to build a nationwide network of community-based, community- managed and multi-purpose non-formal and adult learning centres, to meet the diverse learning demands. The role of NFE in offering a "second chance" primary education for adolescents who missed or dropped out from primary class and establishing link of the second chance programmes with skill development and formal education will be emphasized. Parental continuing education opportunities will be developed and made accessible through the network of community learning centres. It will be necessary to target marginal sections of the population to address their specific needs. Education and training need to be linked with credit and business advice. Continuing Training: Skills and the knowledge base of people that are created through formal education can be maintained, reinforced, upgraded and strengthened through continuous training. In the already existing educational institutes, evening and night courses would be introduced for need-based skill retraining programmes. The duration of these courses can vary to meet the varied situations and needs of the clients. Building Research Capacity: Research creates new knowledge and information, discovers hidden or forgotten knowledge, creates scope for better understanding of various issues, and helps in dispelling myths and prejudices. Supporting research activities, particularly of action and applied types, which will help the poor, women and disadvantaged groups would be encouraged. At the higher education institutes, the teachers will be encouraged to undertake research on subjects that will lead to better understanding of issues at national 53 NSAPR II (Revised) and local levels and provide solutions to problems. Involvement of large NGOs in financing such research activities will be encouraged. The government will constitute a knowledge council with adequate support. 3.5.2 Improving Health, Nutrition and Population Planning: Taking a Holistic Approach Health, nutrition and population (HNP) are intimately related and complementary to other sectors of the economy. Improvements in health and nutrition would translate into higher incomes, higher economic growth and decline in poverty. Moreover, increase or decrease of population size and change in the age composition has direct bearing on socio-economic development. It is noteworthy that Bangladesh has made significant progress in the health outcomes and some of the major gains have been achieved through low-cost solutions. Infant and child mortality rates have been markedly reduced (Table 3.2). Life expectancy has risen steadily. Reversing past trends, women now live longer than men. The total fertility rate has been more than halved. Maternal mortality and under-nutrition rates, though still high, are registering decline. The development of countrywide network of healthcare infrastructure in public sector is remarkable. Table 3.2: Performance of Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Indicators 1992-1995 1995-1999 1999-2003 2003-2006 Neonatal mortality rate/ 1000 LB 48 42 41 37 Infant mortality rate / 1000 LB 82 66 65 52 Under-5 mortality rate/1000 LB 116 94 88 65 Children's vaccination (%) 54 60 73 82 ANC by trained provider (%) 28 33 48 52 Delivery by trained person (%) 9 12 13 18 Children short for age (%) ... ... 43 43 Children underweight for height ... ... 17 13 (%) Children underweight for age (%) ... ... 48 41 Total fertility rate (TFR) 3.3 3.3 3.0 2.7 Source: MoHFW, Successive BDHSs The HNP activities, however, face several challenges: ˇ There are major differences in health conditions and health care consumption between different groups. Improvements in some areas are relatively more difficult to sustain while there are indications of stagnation in others. ˇ Though maternal mortality is declining, it is still one of the highest in the world. So also the neonatal mortality. Bangladesh's current challenge is to improve effective service delivery, health sector governance (especially in primary and maternal health services), and increase the number of trained birth attendants. ˇ Further sharp reduction in fertility rate might demand new ways of interventions for which concerted inter and multi-sectoral efforts would be required. ˇ The challenge of reducing child mortality is to address the district and regional variations. Though diarrhoea has been managed quite successfully, still it is a great killer. ˇ Threats of HIV/AIDS, particularly from injectable drug users, pockets of malaria, kal-azar and filaria and multi-drug resistant TB are also emerging as challenges. 54 NSAPR II (Revised) ˇ Emerging and changing pattern of threats include arsenic related diseases, avian flu, childhood disabilities, mental health problems, road-railway-river accidents and violence (particularly against women). ˇ The challenge of reducing malnutrition essentially that of women needs coordinated multi-sectoral interventions on sustained basis. ˇ Meeting the health needs of the fast growing urban poor including the slum dwellers will continue to pose major challenge. ˇ Demographic and life-style changes give rise to emerging health threats: more youths, more females, more ageing population, and rise of non-communicable diseases. The inevitable effect of climate change over health poses additional challenges. ˇ With increasing dominance of technologies in health care, the requirement of human resources in health in appropriate number and skill-mix will continue to remain another challenge. ˇ The development of appropriate strategies to handle the large number of informal semi or un-qualified health care providers (village doctors, drug sellers, kobiraj, totka, herbalist, faith healers, untrained traditional birth attendants etc.) catering to the needs of majority of the population particularly of poor and women poses some challenge. ˇ Centralized management system of the government health services and prevalent practices at the facility levels result in absenteeism of service providers. These are emerging as major obstacles to effective and efficient utilization of the countrywide health care infrastructure network. The goal is sustainable improvement in health, nutrition and family welfare status of the people, particularly of the poor and vulnerable groups, including women, children and elderly with ultimate aim of their economic and social emancipation and physical and mental well being. The government is committed to ensure quality health, nutrition and family welfare services, which are affordable, attainable and acceptable to its citizens. The government focuses on increasing health status, reducing health inequalities, expanding access to social safety network and encouraging affordable service delivery systems for everybody. For the poor and vulnerable, existing facilities will be further expanded and consolidated not only to ensure access of the poor to public health care services but also to raise their voices and establish ownership through community participation. In this context the health policy will be reevaluated and adjusted according to the demands of the time. Child Health: Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) will be further strengthened and special activities will be undertaken for maintenance of zero polio status, measles catch- up and neonatal tetanus campaigns, introduction of hepatitis B vaccine throughout the country, strengthened disease surveillance, etc. The control of acute respiratory infection and diarrhoeal diseases and school health programmes will be further strengthened. The integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) programme will be further expanded. The new initiatives in child health area include (i) introduction of hepatitis B vaccine throughout the country; and (ii) expansion of community and facility based IMCI. Maternal and Reproductive Health: The life-cycle approach will be undertaken to address the need of women for general and reproductive health and to ensure reproductive health in phases. The vast network of state facilities will be further strengthened for appropriate women, adolescents and reproductive health. The on-going national nutrition 55 NSAPR II (Revised) programme will continue to cater to the need of adolescents as its special target groups. Comprehensive emergency obstetrical care (EmOC) facilities will be expanded by establishing such facilities in more upazila health complexes. More community skilled birth attendants (SBA) will be trained. The demand of ante-natal care (ANC), institutional delivery or delivery by trained personnel, post-natal care (PNC) will be created through strengthened health promotion involving community and different stakeholders. Ongoing demand side financing through providing maternity health vouchers will be expanded based on lessons learnt. Control of Communicable Diseases: The existing programmes will be further expanded and strengthened to intensify prevention and control of communicable diseases (CDs), such as, acute respiratory tract infection, diarrhoea, dengue, etc. Special measures will be initiated for combating tuberculosis, leprosy, malaria, filariasis and kal-azar, which are concentrated in specific pockets of the country. Control of Non-communicable Diseases: The government will, in partnership with local government administration and private sector create greater awareness of, and provide services for the control of unhealthy diet and lifestyle related major NCDs like - cardio- vascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, mental illness, etc. It will also take steps to combat common NCDs, such as, hypertension, asthma, blindness, etc., which particularly afflict the poor. Existing preventive and curative measures with respect to all NCDs will further be expanded and strengthened to increase access of all to health care services. Nutrition: The National Nutrition Programme (NNP) will be expanded to all upazillas in phases. The ongoing micro-nutrient programmes will be continuously reviewed for their refinement and expansion with particular emphasis on access of poor and vulnerable women and children. Nutrition activities will be reinforced by forging links with other activities in the health sector like community-centred immunization, community-based integrated management of childhood illness and hospital services for referral of severely malnourished. The multi-sectoral links of the MOHFW's nutrition initiatives with programmes by other ministries for food fortification, income and food security would be further strengthened. The value of women status in reducing malnutrition and dissemination of knowledge about nutrition amongst the citizens will be promoted. Monitoring and surveillance systems will be strengthened to improve nutrition of the poorer and vulnerable sections of the society. Nutrition of children and mother's welfare will be ensured. The target is to ensure the minimum daily intake of 2,122 k cal of food for all by the year 2021. Food Quality: The problem of major health hazards stems from unsafe drinking water and consuming unhygienic and low quality food. Definitive food standards would be established to serve as benchmark for evaluating and maintaining standards. Initiatives will be undertaken for reviewing all existing food safety laws and upgrading laboratories with clear assignment of responsibilities for different entities within public and private sectors. The government will examine the need for an authority for food (independently or integrate with existing drug administration) to take necessary follow-up action with the aim of removing threat to health of the citizens from substandard and/or adulterated food. By removing food deficit, nutrition needs of 85 percent of the population will be ensured by the year 2012. Population Planning: Recognizing the significance of the population problem, the government will bring appropriate changes in the population policy to reflect recent realities and ensure effective delivery of population control and reproductive health services. The community clinics will be reopened to address the challenges in the population sector. Target-oriented population planning programmes will be strengthened to achieve the goals. All issues related to population control and family planning (FP) will be guided by the national population policy which will be updated. Contraceptives along with FP services will 56 NSAPR II (Revised) continue to be made widely available and further expanded to the poor and the marginalized population in both rural and urban areas and different regions and to meet the un-met need. Efforts are underway to popularize the slogan of having one child per couple. The existing FP programme will be expanded and strengthened involving both men and women, and will be popularized through an intensive motivational campaign under the Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) programme. Clinical, long acting and permanent methods will be emphasized wherever possible in order to increase contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) and ensure further decline in total fertility rate (TFR). Health Education and Promotion: A major strategy to ensure better health would be to promote public health through health education within MOHFW and channels outside it. The existing institutions of MOHFW will be strengthened for providing effective health messages. Coalition will be built with mass media for providing health education to the population on a continuing basis regarding methods of preventing communicable and non- communicable diseases, caring practices for children, adolescents and the old aged, and creating awareness on nutrition and proper sanitation. Steps will also be taken to reach basic health and reproductive health information through school curricula and utilize NGOs and different religious centers to influence health behaviour of the people. Control of Emerging Threats: Existing counselling and treatment services for mental health, drug abuse, avian flu, STD and HIV/AIDS, arsenic diseases, injuries, trauma sufferers, women and child victims of violence, road-railway-river accidents, etc., would be improved and introduced where not available. Attention will also be paid to provide health services for other emerging and changing patterns of threats such as, childhood disabilities and geriatric care. Ongoing emergency preparedness and response programme will be further strengthened to manage the disasters like flood, cyclone, tornado, Sidr etc. By 2021, minimum daily intake of 2,122 k cal of food, elimination of contagious diseases, and primary health care and sanitation for all will be ensured. Average longevity will be raised to 70 years, and efforts will be made for reducing child and maternal mortality. Urban Health Services: The existing practice of providing urban primary health care (UPHC) services through contracted NGOs for the city corporations and selected municipalities under the LG Division will continue to be pursued. In addition, MOHFW will continue to provide Primary Health Care (PHC) services in urban areas not covered by the UPHC project. The establishment of an `Urban Health Unit' in each Division would be considered. Similarly, it will also continue to provide secondary and tertiary level health care in urban areas and try to improve both coverage and quality in response to demand. A priority objective for improving urban health services will be to facilitate access and effective use of available essential services packages (ESP) delivery by urban poor and slum dwellers. The LG Division will also be strengthened for urban disease surveillance and monitoring including management information system (MIS), capacity development and quality assurance. Moreover, MOHFW will strengthen its policy directive and stewardship roles in providing effective urban health care services. Primary Health Care: The current commitment of spending at least 60 per cent of the total budgetary allocation of the HNP sector at upazila level and below will continue to be pursued to improve the quality of PHC and make it accessible and acceptable to the people, especially the poor and vulnerable. The provision of ESP delivery will be strengthened and popularized. Functioning of the Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs), Union Health & Family Welfare Centers (UHFWCs) and the Community Clinics (CCs) will be strengthened and further consolidated through providing adequate manpower, drugs and other medical aids. The Community Clinics will provide PHC services, maternal and child care, family planning services, nutrition and venereal disease related services to the rural people. There 57 NSAPR II (Revised) will be involvement of local government bodies and NGOs for greater participation of the community with a view to ensuring community driven PHC services. Secondary and Tertiary Health Care: The services offered by secondary and tertiary hospitals will, depending on bed capacity, be standardized along with human resource needs and table of equipments (TOE) linked to the services. Appropriate manpower development and management structure will be developed for the existing hospitals. New branches of sub-specialization will be created in all medical college hospitals, so that patients do not need to rush to the capital city. Hospital autonomy will be introduced initially for the tertiary level specialized hospitals and gradually extended to medical college and district hospitals. Management Committees at hospitals will be strengthened for better monitoring and monitoring and vigilance team for hospitals will be further strengthened and its jurisdiction will be expanded. Government will establish new specialized hospitals under its private public partnership initiative. Death audit will be introduced for establishing accountability and quality of care. Alternate Medical Care: Homeopathy, ayurvedic and unani are included in alternate medical care (AMC). Necessary actions will be taken for improvement of the standard of alternate medicine, increase the demand for quality care and thereby reduce unsound practices. Capacity building of the AMC providers and proper monitoring and evaluation of the AMC provided will be undertaken. Affordable Health Care Services: Existing system of affordable health care services will be further expanded and consolidated ensuring proper safety net for the poor. Facilities providing health care outside the public sector (but receiving government fund) will ensure that at least 30 per cent of their all types of services are kept for free treatment for those who cannot pay. Necessary fund will be mobilized through user fees, government allotment, social organizations, private contributions, corporate social responsibility, community financing schemes, and social insurance. Fees for providing medical advice or diagnostic service will be reviewed and regulated as necessary. The government will also encourage establishment of network of evenly spread specialist and super-specialist services through private investment for patients who can pay. Community Clinics: The government is committed to reactivate 10,723 community clinics (CCs) which were established during 1996-2001. The MOHFW will run at least 8,000 CCs under government management. The government plans to establish 18,000 CCs in phases to deliver maternal and child health care including family planning services and limited curative care. Surveillance of Diseases: The existing disease surveillance system will be reviewed for its updating to incorporate NCDs along with CDs and keeping in view the international health regulation system. Disease information monitoring and management system will be strengthened not only to issue public alert and increase availability of adequate information concerning the incidence and prevalence of diseases at regional and national levels, but also to establish a network with the global disease information system. Maps of all major diseases, on the basis of their incidence and prevalence, will be constructed for each district. Health Governance: Good governance in the health sector will be strengthened through skilled staff deployment, preventing malpractices, and creating a more customer friendly health service delivery system in the public facilities in partnership with all stakeholders. The stewardship capacity of public sector will be improved for monitoring quality of care and safety of patients in both public and private sectors. New initiatives in health governance include: ˇ Consolidation of public-private partnership in management of health services; 58 NSAPR II (Revised) ˇ Citizens charter for health service delivery; ˇ Better regulation of the non-public health care providers; ˇ Better monitoring in medical colleges and specialized hospitals for ensuring management efficiency and establishing increased attention to patients; ˇ Decentralization of health administration; and ˇ Formulation of national health policy. Sector Reforms: The ongoing health sector reforms will be carried out under the HNPSP. The on-going reform measures would be closely monitored and reviewed for their successful implementation. Efforts will be taken to re-establish functioning of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC). Laws relating to the regulatory bodies will be reviewed and strengthened. Both administrative and financial authority, as far as possible, will be decentralized with a view to increasing accountability and establishing quality health care services at all levels. A system of collection, retention and utilization of user fees and local resources at all public health facilities (ensuring adequate safety net for the poor) will be established for which a set of guidelines will be developed. Gender Equality in Health: Efforts will focus on (i) ensuring rights of women for a better physical and mental health at all stages of their life cycle, (ii) strengthening PHC for women with emphasis on reducing maternal and infant mortality, (iii) strengthening reproductive rights and reproductive health of women at all stages of population planning and implementation, (iv) preventing women from HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) through awareness raising, and (v) creating women-friendly facilities at all pubic health complexes. Stewardship Role of the Public Sector: The government has been emphasizing wider involvement of the private sector including non-state institutions for enhancing effective health service delivery. To this end, the stewardship role of the MOHFW will be strengthened. The following are some of the important areas where effective regulatory mechanism of the government will be established. I. MOHFW will gradually assume strategic stewardship and governance roles for policy management in the following and related areas. ˇ Setting up a coordinating system for synergistic, effective and efficient contribution from state and non-state including private sector and health related NGOs for extending and improving health services. ˇ Necessary steps will be taken for formulation, implementation, review and periodic updating of comprehensive health and population strategies. II. MOHFW will strengthen its regulatory and supervisory roles. ˇ Regulatory bodies such as BMDC, State Medical Faculty (SMF), Bangladesh Nursing Council (BNC), and Bangladesh Pharmacy Council (BPC) will be made more effective and functional through revising their mandate, structure and capacity building for enforcement of standards. ˇ The existing structure and capacity of DGHS, Directorate of Family Planning (DFP) and Department of Drug Administration (DDA) will be reviewed and strengthened for increasing supervisory performance. ˇ Professional medical ethics and code of conduct will be established among the service providers through enforcement of regulatory framework in consultation with the professional associations. 59 NSAPR II (Revised) ˇ The need for separate regulatory body for effective service delivery system for both the public and private sectors will be reviewed. III. Public sector will increasingly focus on ensuring proper safety net for the poor, vulnerable and marginalized. ˇ Existing health delivery system in both public and private sectors will be further expanded and strengthened, ensuring proper safety net for the poor, vulnerable and marginalized. ˇ Alternative health delivery systems will be explored leading to an eventually self managed system with community participation in managing the facilities on pilot basis and then scaled-up, based on lessons learnt. IV. Proper information generation, collection and effective management feeding into policy formulation and planning. ˇ Develop comprehensive plan including performance indicators for monitoring and evaluation of health interventions with sound demographic and socio-economic data including those on burden of disease, inequality and gender disparity. ˇ Formulation of an improved planning and budget through pilot introduction of local level planning. Human Resources for Health: The comprehensive long-term HR strategy under preparation by MOHFW would address the issues of shortages, maldistribution of personnel, skill-mix imbalance, negative work environment and weak knowledge base. MOHFW would also address some medium term actions like recruitment and training of nurses and medical technicians. Drug Issues: All drug related issues will be guided by the actions incorporated into the National Drug Policy (NDP) which will be updated with the objective of ensuring easy access to essential drugs at fair prices, promoting competition among the local pharmaceutical industries and supporting and strengthening the existing regulatory measures to ensure quality drugs. Moreover, increased attention will be given to `rational use of drugs' by educating both prescribers and +users. For all these to be materialized, the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) will be strengthened, expanded and modernized. Updating list of essential drugs will be completed. Water and Sanitation: Access to safe and adequate water and hygienic sanitation with its proper use is fundamental for health. The government is committed to providing universal access to pure drinking water by 2011 and sanitation by 2013. Access of water would be ensured in urban areas particularly to slums and water scarce areas like arsenic affected areas, saline areas, char-haor-coastal belt, CHT, and barind tract areas. Emphasis would be provided for stopping open defecation along with installation of sanitary toilets at home and all public places. Proper management of waste water and solid waste would be given priority attention. Telemedicine and E-Health: The government will make health services especially specialist services accessible to all people irrespective of their geographical location at low cost through provision of telemedicine and e-health services related to consultation and lab- services. E-health will also confer other benefits in the health sector. To achieve this goal, wireless internet connections will be provided to 800 points in the government health sector and mobile phones will be provided to upazilla health projects. 60 NSAPR II (Revised) Chapter 4 Roadmap for Accelerated Poverty Reduction: Supporting Strategies The supporting strategies are needed for accelerating economic growth and ensuring its long-term sustainability and inclusiveness. These strategies are mostly crosscutting in nature. Five supporting strategies would be adopted to complement the strategic blocks: Strategy I: Ensuring Participation, Social Inclusion and Empowerment Strategy II: Promoting Good Governance Strategy III: Ensuring Efficient Delivery of Utility Services Strategy VI: Caring for Environment and Tackling Climate Change Strategy V: Enhancing Productivity and Efficiency through Science and Technology 4. 1 Strategy I: Ensuring Participation, Social Inclusion and Empowerment The development framework of NSAPR II is centred on people which comprises of heterogeneous groups having different realities, obstacles, and opportunities. As such, the poverty reduction strategies need to take such differences into consideration. According to Article 27 of the Constitution, all citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law. Article 28 states that the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or region. With respect to women, Article 28 states that `women shall have equal rights with men in all spheres of state and public life nothing shall prevent the State from making special provision in favour of women or for the advancement of any backward section of the population'. 4.1.1 Women's Advancement and Rights Women frequently experience poverty differently, have different poverty reduction priorities and are affected differently by development interventions. In addressing gender based discrimination, NSAPR II follows a two-pronged approach. Firstly, gender is integrated into all thematic policy matrices covering sectoral interventions. Secondly, there is a specific matrix dealing with gender equality commitments entitled `Women's Advancement and Rights'. Vision and Goals The vision for women's advancement and rights is to create a society where men and women will have equal opportunities and will enjoy all fundamental rights on an equal basis. To achieve this vision, the mission is to ensure women's advancement and rights in activities of all sectors of the economy. The Bangladesh Government adopted the `National Policy for Women's Advancement' (NPWA) 2008 that aims at eliminating all forms of discrimination against women by empowering them to become equal partners of development. The overall development goal for women's empowerment covers: (i) promoting and protecting women's rights; (ii) eradicating the persistent burden of poverty on women; (iii) eliminating discrimination against women; (iv) enhancing women's participation in mainstream economic activities; (v) creating opportunities for education and marketable skills training to enable them to participate and be competitive in all economic activities; (vi) incorporating women's needs and concerns in all sectoral plans and programmes; (vii) promoting an enabling environment at the work-place: setting up day care centres for the children of working mothers, career women hostels, safe accommodation for working women; (viii) providing safe custody for women and children victims of trafficking and desertion, and creating an enabling 61 NSAPR II (Revised) environment for their integration in the mainstream of society; (ix) ensuring women's empowerment in the field of politics and decision making; (x) taking action to acknowledge women's contribution in social and economic spheres; (xi) ensuring women's social security against all vulnerability and risks in the state, society and family; (xii) eliminating all forms of violation and exploitation against women; (xiii) developing women's capacity through health and nutrition care; (xiv) facilitating women's participation in all national and international bodies; (xv) strengthening the existing institutional capacity for coordination and monitoring of women's advancement; (xvi) taking action through advocacy and campaigns to depict positive images of women; (xvii) taking special measures for skills development of women workers engaged in the export-oriented sectors; (xviii) incorporating gender equality concerns in all trade-related negotiations and activities; and (xix) ensuring gender sensitive growth with regional balance; and (xx) protecting women from the adverse effects of environmental degradation and climate change. Current Challenges Bangladesh has made measurable progress in women's advancement and rights in a number of areas including education, participation in labour force, health and nutrition, and participation in public services. In the area of women's advancement and rights, the government has made strong commitments and undertaken various initiatives to reduce the gap between men and women. However, on the path towards achieving the desired goals of gender equality and gender mainstreaming, some challenges remain. Female Faces of Poverty: The female-headed households usually earn less income since poor women have low earning capacity and their wages are lower than male wages. Women are more susceptible to becoming poor when they lose the male earning member of the family because of abandonment, divorce, or death. Women's Participation in Mainstream Economic Activities: Women's economic participation is low but increasing. However, there is still a large difference between female and male participation. Labour force participation rate of males is 86.8 percent against 29.2 percent for females. Violence against Women (VAW) and Exploitation: Violence against women is pervasive. Physical and sexual assaults, including acid throwing, are common. In addition, trafficking is also reported. Poverty, dowry, early marriage, superstition, social attitude etc. are the major causes of violence against women. Early Marriage: The negative consequences of early marriage are multiple, including loss of education, employment opportunities, decision-making power, and leading to early childbirth. The rates of maternal and infant mortality are high among adolescent mothers. Gender Dimension of Vulnerabilities and Risks: As gender discrimination in a long social process, women face constraints that result in vulnerability and risks in all spheres and stages of women's lives (Table 4.1). Coping Mechanism for Disaster and Climate Change: With higher incidence of droughts, floods, cyclones and other natural calamities due to looming threat of climate change, women are affected differently than men indicating the need to introduce gender sensitivity in coping mechanisms and strategies. 62 NSAPR II (Revised) Table 4.1: Women's Risks and Vulnerabilities Life cycle Associated risks and vulnerabilities stage Children Girl children face specific hazard of not attending school owing to income-earning or under 12 domestic responsibilities Indivisibility of work, which is done as part of normal household or agricultural responsibilities. Double burden of education and work (or care-giving in family) and therefore increased vulnerabilities of low productivity and fewer opportunities Adolescents Girl children are particularly vulnerable to withdrawal from school Double burden of education and work Entry into high-risk employment categories, hazardous industries, prostitution Adults Lack of access to financial institutions and asset building opportunities Unmarried Restricted access to the labour market owing to societal norms Societal/family pressure for getting married Marriage Bearing the cost of dowry Tortured by in-laws and husband Parenthood Bearing cost of childbearing and rearing and career Loss of employment or job insecurity owing to pregnancy, child and elderly care Social expenses of marriage, rituals Divorce Stigmatisation Double burden of family and income generation Widowhood Loss of assets to late husband's family claims Sexual harassment by in-laws, family members and others Old people Lack of income source and people who can look after them No shelter, become a burden to the family Abandoned by family members Budget, Programme and Project Formulation: Currently 16 ministries spending 60 percent of the total national budget are under the medium term budgetary framework (MTBF) which requires them to answer questions on how their spending would affect women and poverty in the budget call circular (BC1) of the Ministry of Finance. Thus the capacity strengthening issues of engendering programmes and project formulation and answering BC1 have now come to the forefront. Sex Disaggregated Data: Strengthening the capacity of the national statistical system and the ministries in generating and reporting data, especially sex disaggregated data, in understandable forms remains a challenge for which concerted actions would be needed. There will be dialogues among stakeholders for identifying when and what types of sex disaggregated data should be collected by the statistical system. Governance: The main problem with gender governance is the implementation of the existing laws, rules and regulations and stated policies. In addition, reforms of some laws, rules and regulations, policies and the institutional mechanism are needed to make governance gender sensitive. Strategic Objectives In order to overcome the challenges, eleven strategic objectives would be adopted: (i) putting a policy and legal framework in place to facilitate achieving equal rights for women, (ii) ensuring women's full participation in mainstream economic activities, (iii) ensuring social protection for women against vulnerability and risk, (iv) enhancing women's political empowerment and participation in decision making, (v) eliminating all forms of violence and exploitation against women, (vi) strengthening institutions for ensuring gender mainstreaming, (vii) capacity building in making available sex disaggregated data, 63 NSAPR II (Revised) (viii) integrating gender concern in all national policies/programmes/projects, (ix) building women's capacity through health and nutrition services, (x) building women's capacity through education and knowledge dissemination, and (xi) ensuring women's participation in international forums. Policy and Legal Framework: Taking the constitution as the basis, the government's commitment to various international forums (CEDAW, Beijing Platform for Action etc.) would be taken into consideration in addressing women's advancement and rights issues Productive Employment: To create more jobs, action would be taken to improve women's employment opportunities and wages outside the household and also ensure equal pay for equal work. An enabling environment would be created in the workplace by establishing day care centres. Provision would be made for life and disability insurance for workers, especially women workers. Steps would be taken to ensure secure jobs and decent working conditions for women in the formal and informal sectors. Enabling Environment: Measures would be taken to develop advocacy for treating girl child and boy child equally and promote equal sharing of household and productive work. Necessary legal and administrative measures would be taken for ensuring a safe workplace, transportation facilities, and infrastructure like separate toilets, lunch rooms and lunchtime. Social Protection: The existing programmes for social protection for disadvantaged women would be continued. Gender sensitive measures would be taken to protect women from economic vulnerability and risk due to natural disasters. The effect of the emerging problems of climate change on women would be assessed for designing coping strategies and mitigation measures. Banks and micro-credit providers would be encouraged to extend small and micro-credit to the poor and the vulnerable. Political Empowerment and Participation: In this context, the main targets are to ensure participation of women in the National Parliament and the local political institutions, influence political decisions in favour of women, ensure direct election in the reserve seats in the National Parliament and ensure women's representation in the local bodies with authority and responsibility. Initiatives would be taken to make women politically more conscious, encourage women to participate in politics and to build leadership among women at all levels. Violence Against Women: The major targets for elimination of VAW are to ensure reporting of all VAW incidence, reduce reported VAW at least by half, consolidate the "One-Stop Crisis Centre" in medical college hospitals at divisional levels to provide medical treatment, legal and psycho-social counselling to women and children victims of violence, and providing shelter facilities and making efforts for their reintegration and rehabilitation in society. The police, the administration and the judiciary will be sensitized to apply CEDAW with provisions in cases of VAW and women's rights. Gender Mainstreaming: Laws, rules and regulations, institutional mechanisms, policies, projects and programmes which are not gender sensitive would be reformed. The intuitional mechanism for coordination and monitoring of gender equality issues would be strengthened. Institutional Strengthening: The National Council for Women's Development (NCWD) would oversee women's advancement-related activities in NSAPR II through providing guidance and policy support. The Women's Development Implementation and Evaluation Committee, MoWCA, will regularly review, evaluate and co-ordinate women's development activities and assist NCWD by reporting on progress of implementation. The WID Focal 64 NSAPR II (Revised) Point Mechanism would be strengthened to play an effective role in leading the coordination and monitoring the implementation of women's advancement and rights in policies, projects and programmes. Integration of Women's Advancement and Rights: For integration, capacity building of relevant government officials on gender responsive budgeting and planning will be undertaken. The poverty and gender impact assessment criteria and yardsticks will be adopted in line with NSAPR II policy agenda. In order to improve women's general health, the planned targets are to: improve women's life expectancy from 66 in 2006 to 70 years by 2011, reduce women's morbidity rate by 27 percent by 2011, reduce women's mortality rate from 5.2 per thousand in 2006 to 4.5 per thousand in 2011, and reduce maternal mortality ratio from 3.37 per thousand live births in 2006 to 2.4 per thousand live births in 2011. In the education sector, the targets are to have all girls complete a full course of primary schooling, and achieve gender balance in higher secondary and tertiary education. Steps will be taken to introduce special stipend programmes for women's education at the higher secondary and university levels in science and technical and vocational education. Measures would be taken for ensuring participation of women producers, women trade unions and women entrepreneurs in trade negotiations and in various committees of the Ministry of Commerce, ensuring coherence between the dominant international economic agenda and the international legal obligations, making arrangements for market access to goods where women are `behind the label', planning for market access to women in the secret services under Mode 4, encouraging FDI in women labour intensive industries, and ensuring women's voice in international forums. Special programme for ethnic women including poor, destitute and elderly will be undertaken to address their needs. In order to increase productivity and diversification of activities, the ethnic women's capacity would be enhanced through health, education and services. The media will be sensitized to promote positive images of women. In order to make the media more gender friendly, effort will be taken to establish increased linkages between women's groups and the broadcasting agencies. Disability and Gender Issues: The issues of disability will be addressed in NSAPR II not only as humanitarian but also as a development issue. Measures will be taken for ensuring proper housing and accessibility to all physical facilities for them. In order to provide special support for women with severe disabilities, shelter homes will be built. Women with disabilities will be given preference under the safety net measures. 4.1.2 Children's Advancement and Rights Bangladesh has made significant progress in the area of child rights' promotion, survival, and development. Nevertheless, the general situation of the children in Bangladesh needs to improve further since the survival and development of many Bangladeshi children is still threatened by malnutrition, disease, poverty, illiteracy, abuse, exploitation, and natural disaster. 65 NSAPR II (Revised) The Vision The vision regarding children's advancement and rights is to create `a world fit for children'. The goals to be achieved are: (i) ensuring children's rights and advancement through the implementation of government policies and legislations; (ii) providing health services the children need; (iii) ensuring access to food and nutrition they need; (iv) providing access to girls to education, training and development opportunities; (v) ensuring access to urban poor children to early childhood development, education, sports and cultural activities providing knowledge and life skill; (vi) protecting children from all forms of abuse, exploitation and violence; (vii) providing access to children particularly in urban and remote settings to clean water and sanitation, and a healthy environment; (viii) ensuring participation of children in defining their needs, developing programmes, implementing interventions, and evaluating their success; (ix) ensuring support of duty bearer, parents and other care givers on whom children have to depend; and (x) ensuring widespread public support for survival and development of children. Proposed Actions Intervention and actions for achieving the strategic objectives are indicated below: Child Health and Nutrition: The programme areas include eradication of polio, elimination of measles and neonatal tetanus, improvement of nutrition and strengthening the school health programme. The actions will include maximizing the efficiency and cost- effectiveness of health expenditure and improving governance. The specific activities will include sensitizing primary and secondary students about critical child health and reproductive health issues, healthy practices and worm infestation, and supplying iron and folic acid tablets for schoolgirls. Activities will be undertaken to develop an adolescent health strategy including counselling, building awareness for adolescents on hygienic practices, nutrition, puberty, RTI/STD and HIV/AIDS. Food and Nutrition: To control vitamin A deficiency and contain the prevalence of night blindness, vitamin A supplements will be distributed to children with vitamin A deficiency, measles, persistent diarrhoea or severe malnutrition and to postpartum women within 6 weeks of delivery. Ongoing efforts to control iodine deficiency disorders through universal salt iodization will continue. To address the causes of anaemia, strategies will be used to control anaemia, including iron-foliate supplementation, anathematic treatment, fortification, and BCC to increase the consumption of iron-rich foods and promoters of iron absorption. A strategy will be developed to address the health care needs of children with physical and mental disabilities. Child Education: The intervention for early childhood development will include an awareness raising programme for parents to make them aware of early childhood development's benefits, promote community-based childcare centres for clusters of families where literate mothers are trained to become caregivers and design facilities for early learners. Efforts will be made to increase enrolment rate and decrease dropout rate, train primary teachers, increase the attendance rate, increase contact hours, and maintain gender parity in access and achievement. Non-formal education (NFE) will be provided to diverse types of children deprived of education, like un-enrolled or drop-out children and hard to reach children to enhance their employability and productivity through skill training. Effectiveness of primary schools will be ensured by increasing community involvement; creation of a child-friendly teaching/learning environment; promoting access, competence, relevance, efficiency and equity in education and also by developing a strong life skills 66 NSAPR II (Revised) component including mental, cultural and physical development. Quality of primary education will be achieved by improving the quality of learning materials and instructions, strengthening capacity of teachers; developing infrastructure facilities and including sports and cultural activities in the curriculum. Opportunities for vocational training will be created in secondary schools for improving their income-generating capacity. The curricula of Madrasha education will be reviewed to improve quality of learning and increase market relevance of Madrasha education. Access to Water and Sanitation: The specific objectives are to: mitigate arsenic problem in drinking water by providing alternative systems, increase rural and urban slum access to sanitary latrines, expand water and sanitation services to cover currently underserved pourashava areas, provide improved water supply to underserved, un-served and difficult to reach areas by 2011. The primary schools will be ensured access to sanitation and safe drinking water. Environmental hazards for children (sound, air, water pollution, etc) would be reduced and standards for sound, air and water pollution would be implemented. Child Empowerment: Children would be empowered to have a voice in the socio- economic decision-making process in the family, society and national levels. In this respect, it would be necessary to create a national platform for allowing children to express opinions on their needs and expectations and means of addressing them. Child Protection: All children, particularly those who are vulnerable, would be ensured right to protection from abuse, exploitation and violence. The policies of existing NPA would be used against sexual abuse and exploitation of children and trafficking. Laws affecting children will be harmonized and enforced. Awareness amongst law enforcing officials and judicial officers and the development of a diversion scheme involving the courts, social workers and probation officers as an alternative to custodial sentences will be undertaken. The Municipal Corporations and Pourashavas will be mobilized to register all births. Awareness raising programmes through union parishad members, and leaders of social opinion including Imams will be conducted to eliminate the practice of early marriage. A widespread social awareness campaign and community mobilization on protection issues will be undertaken to foster positive attitudes towards children, particularly girls, and bolster the positive attitude of parents and decision-makers on the need to protect children regardless of the socio-economic environment. Effective measures will be taken to reduce child labour, and eliminate worst forms of child labour with a particular focus on child domestic workers, migrants, refugees and other vulnerable groups. In this context, a policy for children in the formal sector focusing on those caught up in the worst forms of child labour will be formulated. Street children will be assisted in accessing their rights and protecting them from all forms of abuse and exploitation. Working children such as waste collectors, leather workers, brick breakers, auto-workshop workers and tempo helpers will have access to learning opportunities in formal and non-formal facilities. To recover and remove children from abusive and exploitative circumstances, the interventions will include developing community support for these children; providing livelihood alternatives, basic services and adoption, and implementing policies and legislation necessary for the prevention of abuse, discrimination, exploitation and violence. 67 NSAPR II (Revised) Steps will be taken to increase efficiency to combat sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking of children through enhanced coordination and cooperation. Management and Coordination: The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs will conduct public advocacy and coordinate interventions for children's well-being and rights. An inter-ministerial coordination committee consisting of government ministries with children's portfolios and organizations representing children's mandate will be chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and will coordinate the implementation of CRC, CEDAW, and the World Fit for Children Plan of Action. 4.1.3 Indigenous Communities Bangladesh has around forty-five different small ethnic communities i.e. indigenous communities-- and 2 million indigenous people. Some of the `hardcore poor' of Bangladesh are found among the indigenous communities. The Vision For the indigenous people, the vision is to ensure their social, political and economic rights; ensure security and fundamental human rights; and preserve their social and cultural identity. They will be ensured access to education, health care, food and nutrition, employment and protection of rights to land and other resources. The crucial provisions of the CHT accord of 1997 have mostly been implemented. A separate Ministry of CHT Affairs has been created, a Land Commission Act passed by the Parliament, withdrawal of army camps has been started and the Land Commission constituted to resolve land disputes in the three hill districts. The District and Sessions Courts have started functioning in the three districts of CHT. The government programmes have also incorporated the needs and concerns of the indigenous people. The unimplemented provisions of the peace accord would be considered for implementation by the government. The Land Commission will be reconstituted and land survey carried out. Areas of Future Action The challenges with respect to addressing social and economic conditions of indigenous communities cover: (i) living in remote areas and far away from each other making it difficult to reach, mobilize and organize them, (ii) partial operationalization of the `Land Disputes Resolution Commission' to prevent land grabbing and displacement of indigenous people, (iii) lack of specific objectives concerning needs and concerns of indigenous people in mainstream policies of respective ministries/divisions, (iv) absence of an alphabet and dearth of students hindering development of curriculum in indigenous languages at schools, (v) low food production resulting in food insecurity, (vi) inadequate institutional mechanism to establish linkage and coordination with NGOs and the private sector to address issues related to indigenous people in a comprehensive manner, (vii) lack of comprehensive understanding of the problems of the indigenous communities, and (viii) absence of detailed information on indigenous population with ethnic disaggregation. Major areas of interventions would include: UN Declaration: The government would consider implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 and ratify the ILO Convention 1969. Rights on Land: An appropriate land policy will be formulated which can deal with land disputes involving indigenous peoples. A secure land tenure system will be introduced in 68 NSAPR II (Revised) CHT. Representatives of the indigenous people will be included in undertaking development projects in areas inhabited by indigenous communities. Empowering Indigenous Community: The government will ensure participation of local governments in the management of natural resources and will recognize the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples. The government will ensure community involvement in the adoption of technologies without competing with their traditional food production system. Human Development Programmes: Existing human development programmes will address the special needs of indigenous people. Monitoring and supervision will be strengthened so that education, health and maternal child health services, and nutrition and housing facilities reach the indigenous people. Language and Children's Access to Education: A national language policy will be formulated to safeguard the languages of indigenous peoples. An action plan on mainstreaming the education of indigenous children will be implemented. Electrification and Telecommunication: The national power grid and distribution system for electricity supply in different upazilas of hill districts will be expanded. The government will consider the feasibility of raising electricity generation capacity of the Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Station and setting up a grid substation in the hill districts to meet the demand for electricity Safety Nets and Food Assistance Programmes: Assistance will be provided in hill districts to strengthen their capacities and increase employment opportunities to cope with any sudden decrease of their income due to damage to Jhum crops caused by floods and droughts. Rural Development and Non-farm Economic Activities: In the hill districts, income generating activities through small and cottage industries, trading, and poultry and livestock rearing will be expanded. The income of poor people will be enhanced through social forestry in hilly areas and cultivation of fruits and medicinal plants. Measures will be taken to support EPB's `one district one product' initiative under which `Textiles for Rangamati', `Pineapples for Khagrachari' and `Rubber for Bandarban' have been finalized. Expansion of Micro Credit: Micro credit activities for the poor people will be expanded and vocational training will be provided to the poor. The development of rural roads, hats, and bazars for marketing of agricultural products will continue. Action will be taken to eliminate barriers so that agriculture and local products have easy access to national and international markets. Development of Tourism: Private investment will be encouraged to develop sustainable tourist facilities in Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachari. 4.1.4 Persons with Disabilities The government envisions promoting and protecting rights of persons with disabilities and facilitate their full participation and inclusion in mainstream social, political and cultural lives. They will be enabled to lead productive and meaningful lives through access to education, health care, food and nutrition, employment and protection, and security in society. 69 NSAPR II (Revised) The government is strongly committed to the advancement and rights of persons with disabilities by virtue of the Constitution which enshrines equal rights and status for every citizen and by signing the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Beijing Proclamation on the Full Participation and Equality with Disability in Asia and the Pacific Region. A National Disability Action Plan has been formulated involving all related ministries. The Ministry of Social Welfare has taken up programmes for enabling and integrating persons with disabilities with mainstream of society through various programmes including stipend programmes for students, subsistence allowance, skill training, and interest free micro credit. In addition to its own initiatives, the government provides funds to NGOs to provide education facilities to persons with mental disability. Despite some progress, access to special education, training and rehabilitation, equal opportunities, creation of employment and income generating opportunities, social security, accessibility to physical facilities, fixation of quota, and prevention of disabilities are not yet fully ensured since different ministries are not legally responsible for addressing disability issues in their action plans. Proper supervision and monitoring of NGO activities is essential. Proposed Actions Along with expansion of integrated education programme for visually impaired children, existing institutions for hearing impaired and mentally retarded children will be expanded. New institutions will be established to provide access to more children with disabilities at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. A collaborative effort among the government, NGOs and the private sector will be encouraged to expedite the expansion of the existing institutions, establish new institutions, undertake teachers' training and action researches on disability. Action will be taken in the health sector to (i) strengthen early detection of symptoms of disability and provide primary medical rehabilitation; (ii) undertake a nutrition programme for pregnant women; (iii) appoint trainee doctors, nurses and other caregivers to deal with disability issues; and (iv) introduce support services of assistive devices and equipment at the health centres. Measures will be taken so that persons with disabilities can have access to all physical facilities and information and communication. Inclusion of persons with disabilities in various national and community level decision making processes that affect their lives would be ensured. Services like early detection and timely medical intervention, fitment of artificial aids and appliances, educational services in special and integrated schools, vocational rehabilitation and micro credit will be provided to persons with disabilities through community based rehabilitation (CBR) programme in the rural areas. The Bangladesh Disability Welfare Act would be amended to clarify definitions of disability and make it consistent with standards set out internationally on disability rights. The National Coordination Committee for persons with disabilities would be strengthened to monitor and coordinate activities of different ministries/divisions. 4.1.5 Disadvantaged and Extreme Poor Groups There are some disadvantaged and stigmatized groups (such as dhopa, muchi, napit, and other traditional low caste people) who are subject to social injustice and are marginalized, and have little opportunities for overcoming their harsh realities. The vision for these disadvantaged and extreme poor groups is to include them into the mainstream of society by ensuring their participation in socioeconomic activities and to promote and protect their 70 NSAPR II (Revised) human rights, reduce their persistent poverty, and ensure education and skill training for income generating activities. Several actions are already in progress for the development of the disadvantaged groups. Among the coastal fishing communities various activities such as savings/credit schemes, promotion of alternative income generating schemes for men and women, improving access to social services and building their capacity to face and survive natural disasters have been introduced. Development activities for the sweeper community have been undertaken by NGOs. The owners of tea gardens have entered into agreement with the trade union of tea garden workers to enhance their wages and provide subsidized food. Similarly, communities like kaibarta/namasudra, jalo (fishermen), dhopas, napits and other groups face decaying occupations. The Ministry of Social Welfare has implemented capacity and livelihood development programme for socially disadvantaged women with a view to creating employment/self-employment of sex-workers and their children in selected cities Proposed Actions Coordination and Monitoring: The cooperation and involvement of local bodies i.e. Upazila and Union Parishads and NGOs will help to locate/ identify the disadvantaged people to enable them to participate in development activities. Government functionaries at upazila, district, divisional/national level will coordinate their activities. Housing Facilities: The Ministry of Land would give priority to allotting khas land to people of the disadvantaged communities for settlement under the Asrayan project. For the tea garden workers, planters/owners would be encouraged to earmark land within the estates so that they can build their own dwellings. 4.2 Strategy II: Promoting Good Governance Unless governance improves, poor people will continue to suffer from inadequate security, poor public services and lack of economic opportunities. A range of factors, including transparency, accountability, responsiveness, efficiency, organizational performance and technical capacity, have impact on good governance. Improving governance and reducing corruption are crucial to helping poor people escape poverty and achieving the MDGs. The Vision The vision is to ensure an effective parliamentary process, sound law and order, pro-people public services, improved legal and judicial system, strengthened local governance, and a corruption-free society with social justice. A number of important steps have taken place in recent years to enhance transparency and accountability in all financial transactions. The government is trying to ensure transparency in the service delivery system of the state institutions. A number of crosscutting initiatives have also been taken: (i) Streamlining and simplifying institutions (establishments, conventions and rules), eliminate administrative barriers, deregulate bureaucratic procedures, develop one-stop services, modernize administration through administrative and regulatory reform; (ii) Providing support for legal drafting and advocacy for judicial sector reforms, improvement in court administration, investigation and prosecution, judicial ethics and legal clinics for victims of corruption; 71 NSAPR II (Revised) (iii) Increasing transparency and accountability in the budget and procurement processes, government auditing and customs and tax administration, e.g. Public Finance Reform initiatives are on board; (iv) Improving the quality and predictability of public service delivery, expand citizens' participation in local government, promote open hearings, restructure permit and licensing procedures and ensure that local government is responsive to citizens' needs; (v) Working with the business community to implement codes of conduct and undertake deregulation and legal/procedural reforms; (vi) Reducing corruption in health, education, environment and energy sectors; (vii) Building coalition with the media and civil society and the private sector to strengthen their role as watchdog and also undertake public awareness campaigns and advocacy programmes; (viii) Prevention of money laundering, action against international corruption, promoting anti-corruption legislation, and enhancing accounting and auditing standards for ensuring private sector accountability through signing the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC); (ix) Introducing the `Citizen Charter' by the ministries and agencies to ensure that their services reach the people; (x) Opening BG Press website for uploading gazettes and laws for public use; (xi) Amending the rules of business of the Secretariat to encourage the use of IT in administration through e-governance; (xii) National ID card has been introduced as one of the basic identity for different public service delivery; and (xiii) Birth registration has been initiated through municipalities, pourashava and union council. The promotion of good governance requires attention to different issues connected to each other. The issues cover: (i) making parliamentary process effective; (ii) reforming and strengthening the public service system; (iii) reforming the legal and judicial system to ensure judicial help for the poor and women; (iv) changing roles of law enforcing agencies; (v) strengthening of local government; (vi) promoting e-governance; (vii) combating corruption; (viii) ensuring human rights; (ix) accessing information; (x) improving project implementation capacity; and (xi) improving sectoral governance. 4.2.1 Making Parliamentary Process Effective The Parliament plays a key role in promoting accountability and good governance. The Parliament would hold the government accountable through legislative debates, articulating citizens' feedback and strengthening democratic institutions including the media. The ninth Parliament has already brought several changes in rules and procedures in order to make the Parliament more effective. The representation of opposition bench members in Standing Committees has been raised along with chairmanship in several important committees. The Parliamentary Committees has been formed in the first session of the Parliament with some chairs given to the opposition. However, continued absence of the opposition on the issue of having more seats in the front row and failure to ratify the party charter within six months weaken the democratic and parliamentary systems. The law has now been amended extending the time for ratification to one year. 4.2.2 Strengthening Local Government Local governance initiatives currently underway in the country hold much promise for developing effective systems of public participation as well as accountability that will ensure that government servants are responsible to elected officials, and elected officials are in turn 72 NSAPR II (Revised) responsible to their constituency. The government is taking steps to strengthen local government so that it can respond to the needs of the people and bring services to the doorsteps of the people. Strengthening of local government and decentralisation of power imply delegating powers of the central government with the aim to address major issues like poverty reduction, good governance, infrastructure development and disaster management. Efficient and dedicated local government bodies can deliver services and generate social and economic awareness to achieve the national goals. In this respect, the following actions are contemplated: (i) Capacity building of the local government bodies and providing adequate fiscal authority and incentives for mobilization of resources at the local level; (ii) introducing a clear mandate of authority and responsibility including job description of women members of the local government institutions; (iii) sensitizing the members of the local government institutes about poverty, gender balance and citizens' rights issues through leadership training; (iv) introducing a system of reward and recognition for the members of the local government institutions for undertaking commendable work; (v) creating a culture of developing partnership with local-level NGOs/CBOs and ensuring their accountability to the local people; (vi) ensuring uniform application of rules and procedures; (vii) gradually introducing ICT and e-governance at the local government level; (viii) allowing flexibility and operational independence to local governments to suit the local needs; (ix) ensuring full access to information on service delivery to the users; (x) introducing a system of monitoring the performance of local government bodies and subject them to performance and financial auditing; (xi) providing technical and consultancy support by nation building departments; and (xii) introducing local-level planning and budgeting and ensuring budget implementation. The upazila parishads would be gradually strengthened assigning more functions and responsibilities as they are able to act independently. The zila parishad system would be reviewed within 3-4 years to ensure a reformed and functional structure. 4.2.3 Reforming and Strengthening Public Services In the case of public services, the goal is to raise the quality of public services delivered to citizens and enhance the capacity to carry out core government functions, which are essential for sustaining rapid development. The civil service must be able to attract high calibre entrants with high standard of integrity. The public service reform will be a defining priority, as governance cannot improve without a high-performing civil service. Several areas of intervention have been identified to bring efficiency, transparency and accountability in public service management: (i) Improving the recruitment procedure. (ii) Undertaking human resource development through training at the entry level and continuous on-the-job training and postings to ensure a match between competence and job requirements and improve public service delivery. (iii) Defining civil service code of conduct to address issues of corruption and harassment. (iv) Developing institutional mechanisms to eliminate, or at least reduce to the minimum, patronage, political pressure and nepotism. 73 NSAPR II (Revised) (v) Bringing procedural change so that civil servants would work with clear terms of reference, job description, delegated authority, simplified procedures and a clear line of accountability. Proper audit and public reporting on the public service will be undertaken which could make accountability of public servants effective. (vi) Creating a healthy and enabling work environment taking into consideration increases in pay-scale, relating them to skill and responsibilities; streamlining non-financial benefits, introducing performance-based promotion, and punishment. (vii) Strengthening and reforming the role of the Public Service Commission (PSC), which is vital for promoting excellence in public administration and governance. The quota system will be reviewed. (viii) Strengthening parliamentary and public oversight needs, with public dissemination of audit findings and scrutiny by a Parliamentary Audit Committee. 4.2.4 Reforming Legal and Judicial System The judicial system needs strengthening particularly with respect to the poor, women and other vulnerable groups. In the civil justice system, the case management processes have been excruciatingly slow, costly and time consuming, which restricts access to justice for the poor and the disadvantaged groups of society. The government has implemented the Legal and Judicial Capacity Building Project to improve the quality and pace of the civil justice delivery system; reduce backlog; make the system more accessible to the users, particularly to the disadvantaged, women and children; and institutionalize the resolution of disputes out of court. Other key reform programmes include the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism, legal aid services and training programmes for the judges and court support staff. There has also been an attempt to bring the legal community including the judges and the people of the legal profession under the canopy of the National Legal Aid Organization having the responsibility of offering pro- poor services to the impoverished and the vulnerable people. The judiciary has been separated from the executive with effect from 1 November 2007. All courts have been placed under the Supreme Court. The government has started construction of courts for the judicial magistrates. While most judicial functions and executive functions are clearly demarcated, there is a grey area of functions which requires legal training. Suggested reforms for improving the judicial system are: (i) Appointing a court Ombudsman, according to Article 77 of the Constitution. (ii) Introducing a recruitment and selection system that ensures that competent judges are chosen in a transparent, independent, fair and inclusive manner. The Judicial Service Commission and its Secretariat will be equipped to monitor the performance of all judges and undertake evaluation on the basis of objective criteria. (iii) Improving the work environment in the courts with proper office equipment and required support staff. (iv) Establishing a separate pay commission to formulate a separate salary structure for officials of judicial services reflecting the nature of their job and consistent with public sector compensation policy. (v) Introducing a system where judges have to reveal assets and properties belonging to them and their family members at the time of entry, during the tenure intermittently and after leaving the office. It is also important that such disclosures of assets are 74 NSAPR II (Revised) verified and monitored on a regular basis by some independent and authorized functionary and made available for public knowledge. (vi) Streamlining administrative procedure of the court so that they are easily understood, and arbitrary decision making by court staff is minimised. (vii) Introducing a computerized court case recording and tracking system and make the information accessible to people through the website. (viii) The NGOs will work to facilitate access to the judicial system by the poor, women and vulnerable people and in building awareness among them. (ix) Alternative dispute settlement mechanisms will be strengthened by regulating them by formal and traditional laws. Formal alternative dispute resolution mechanisms could be attached to courts or to government agencies, such as land and labour boards. 4.2.5 Promoting E-governance Despite some successes during the last few years in the ICT sector, the adoption of ICT in all sectors has so far been minimal. Recently, a national broadband policy has been framed, bandwidth price has been reduced and arrangements for an alternative fibre optic connection between Dhaka and Cox's Bazaar have been made. Efforts are on to have a second submarine cable. The second submarine cable will act as an additional physical backup for its connectivity with the information superhighway. These will create an opportunity to extensively use e-governance. For the purpose, consideration would be given to several actions: (i) undertake a strategy to get information online; (ii) publicise policy issues online; (iii) create a user-friendly portal for allowing interactive transacts services; (iv) regularly update web pages for incorporating most recent information; (iv) compose a legal framework for e-governance requiring public notice and comment in legislative and regulatory processes; (v) set up office to monitor e-governance implementation in the government and update the e-governance policy; (vi) gradually introduce e-governance in local government bodies; and (vii) establish a nationwide third generation wireless broadband network to ensure high-speed down link packet access (HSDPA). 4.2.6 Combating Corruption The government has heightened its focus on anti-corruption considering the beneficial impact of a corruption free administration on poverty reduction, development, and equity. In the short run, the government is focusing on enforcement and sanctions against corruption to directly address the culture of impunity and to build public trust in the ability of government institutions in reducing corruption. In the medium-term, the aim is to strengthen the core institutions of governance, including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). At the same time, the government will initiate a sustained campaign to create public awareness and education in preventive measures, creating the right conditions for the public sector to enhance public service delivery. Eventually the policy will be managing development in a qualitatively better way and make governance compliant with the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which has been ratified by the government. The government will carry out activities to enhance monitoring mechanisms to prevent wrongdoings and actively follow up to sanction the same. Anti-corruption institutions will be empowered with more investigative powers to detect and act on corrupt practices within the system as a whole. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been made operational, independent and effective. The ACC will develop a strategic plan through a consultation process on how to address the challenges of combating corruption in the short, medium and long terms while restructuring rule of law and the constitutional obligations. 75 NSAPR II (Revised) The government will put in place some key reforms, such as introducing legislation and practices that will enhance the transparency of fiscal operations of the government. The Right to Information Act gives the citizens the right to obtain information from the government 4.2.7 Ensuring Human Rights There are many laws and regulations, which specifically prohibit discrimination in any form. But due to lack of enforcement and oversight, the weaker sections of the society bear the brunt of the injustice. The state and its institutions are the guarantors of human rights for citizens and non-citizens. The role of the state remains central, both in undertaking reforms and ensuring compliance with protective legislation. Rights can be best protected through adequate legislation, independent judiciary, enactment and enforcement of individual safeguards and remedies, and the establishment of democratic institutions. The government has approved the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2007 and set up the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). 4.2.8 Accessing Information Access to information creates opportunities that generate resources and making information available to the poor people and people in remote areas is essential for poverty reduction. The NGOs and CBOs can play an important role in providing information on health, family planning, violence against women, child abuse, civic rights and responsibilities, various legal issues, market information, environment and other critical areas to the poor and women. Electronic media can deliver information in an effective manner. The government will consider employing a TV channel to disseminate information in an effective manner to a wide range of people on various issues which are particularly relevant to the poor and women. In this respect, ICT will serve as a powerful tool to give equal access to information to the poorest of the poor and women and thereby help to create sustainable human development. The Right to Information Act 2009 has been passed and the Information Commission has been established. The government will take measures to adequately equip the mass media and provide training facilities to disseminate information at the grass roots level. 4.2.9 Improving Project Implementation Capacity The government will take necessary steps to improve the capacity of project implementation. Following actions are being considered: (i) improving project quality; (ii) shifting from the existing project approach to a programme approach linked with national and/or sectoral development policies and strategies; (iii) delegating needed authority to project directors for accelerating ADP implementation; (iv) simplifying and further streamlining the procedure of aid disbursement; (v) timely procurement of goods and services; (vi) strengthening the capacity of the officials from ministry/division on procurement and implementation of projects; and (vii) introducing a management information system (MIS) for monitoring the implementation status every three months so that authorities can hold implementing agencies accountable. 4.2.10 Improving Sectoral Governance At the sectoral level, poor governance is typically manifested in different forms of corruption. The design of sectoral level anti-corruption strategies would consider where risks are highest along the goods and service flow and how they might be minimized. The 76 NSAPR II (Revised) nature, degree, causes and implications of misgovernance and corruption for people would be analysed within each sector's perspective as these will vary across sectors. 4.3 Strategy III: Ensuring Efficient Delivery of Public Services Bangladesh still needs to go a long way in delivering utilities to people and in meeting their demand efficiently, especially in terms of safe water supply and sanitation, effective mass transportation system, reasonable energy supply and widely diffused telecom facilities for the people. Poor infrastructural facilities are causing market rigidities, increasing cost, affecting labour mobility and hurting the poor most. The government has initiated reforms in key areas like transport, energy and telecommunications, paving the way for private sector operations to make the delivery system more effective and efficient. In transport, the government has endorsed the National Land Transport Policy, Integrated Multimodal Transport Policy and National Shipping Policy. It has liberalized the domestic civil aviation market to allow private competition. In telecommunications, improved sector outcomes resulted from important initiatives by the BTRC and other sectoral reforms. Strengthening the planning outfits of the Local Government Division and city corporations is needed to move ahead with reform initiatives for creating urban facilities to cater to the needs of a rapidly growing urban population. Some key principles would be followed to ensure the welfare of the service recipients such as (i) quality or standard of the services must be maintained; (ii) delivery of services have to be designed to reduce inequality; and (iii) the private sector would be encouraged to increase their involvement in service delivery, which will help to create a fiscal space by relieving pressure on the government budget and subsequent redirecting of government resources to social spending. Scope of Public-Private Partnership: The government has put emphasis on public- private partnership (PPP) to ensure expeditious development of infrastructure and utility services by attracting local and foreign investment and improving the expertise and technology. Through a well-laid out policy mechanism, private initiative would be encouraged to promote quality service delivery in the area of essential economic infrastructure. The government is keen to encourage private investments in energy and power, roads, waterways, railways, ports, water and sanitation, telecommunications/ICT, housing and tourism. The government will consider expanding the scope of PPP further in different areas, such as the private sector can work closely with state enterprises to improve the management of government assets such as idle land and other assets of railway stations, bus terminals and postal centres close to market places. The expansion of provisions of PPP in augmenting services of essential economic infrastructure will enhance the quality of services to the people and relieve some of the strain on the government budget. Bangladesh has demonstrated significant success in augmenting private investment and fostering public-private partnership to render efficient delivery of utility services. The private sector has its presence in road and waterways to cater to the need of transportation of passengers and cargo. Power generation and petroleum exploration have been opened to private operation since the 1990s. Almost one-third of power generation comes from the IPPs. The PSC companies together supply one-third of gas to the national gas grid. The energy sector will be further liberalized for improving its service delivery to consumers. In the telecommunications sector, 12 PSTN and six mobile phone companies were given licenses for extending telephone connections. Private operators are encouraged to extend 77 NSAPR II (Revised) fibre optic lines across the country for the development of speedy internet facilities nationwide on BOO-BOT basis. The VOIP licensing is also under process for development of cheap internet telephony across the country. Certain functions of rail transportation are already privatized. Closed branch lines will be offered to the private sector for resumption of services in those sections. The government is considering allowing profit-operations of providers of water and sanitation services in pourashavas and urban slums. Government-NGO Cooperation: The government-NGO cooperation is fruitful in areas where expectation of profit is not high to attract profit-making private operators. More importantly, government-NGO cooperation can improve efficiency in the management of service delivery of some essential utilities. The NGOs are involved in the delivery of several basic services such as education, health, water supply and sanitation. These experiences in the social sectors can be utilized to forge wider cooperation in other areas, such as providing water in pourashavas and slums, cleaning and waste disposal in cities, rural energy supply programmes, creation of service facilities in the urban cities, development of recreational facilities around urban river banks, and building shelter houses for the poor. The NGO-PVO cooperation has been made successful in activities like cleaning city roads and disposal of waste under the Clean Dhaka initiative. Some NGOs are processing city wastes for making composts for farming. Several government organizations (REB, BPDB, LGED and IDCOL) and NGOs (Grameen Shakti) have been engaged in popularizing and prorating renewable energy projects/programmes in the rural areas. Cities and pourashavas can undertake joint venture with NGOs for development of urban service facilities like sanitary toilets, auditoriums and libraries. River banks adjacent to cities and towns could be leased out through open solicitation to NGOs and private operators for plantation and development of park and recreational facilities. 4.3.1 Priorities in Urban/Rural Service Delivery In spite of improvement in utility services delivered by public and private sectors and NGOs, significant social inequality still exists which cuts across all key social targets. The rich-poor divide is striking, but more worrying is the gap between the poorest and the rest of society in terms of receiving utility services. This is more pronounced in discrepancy between utility services in rural and urban areas. This obviously calls for greater priority to development of utility services in rural areas through effective policy intervention, regulation and direction. With a view to reducing inequalities of access and opportunity, a balanced development strategy would be undertaken to improve utility services in rural and urban areas. The urban localities have some advantages because of their high population density which help reduce cost. But most of the people live in rural areas where the provision of utility services is inadequate and costly. 4.3.2 Safety, Security and Protection of Life, Liberty and Wealth The main goal of providing services for the safety, security and protection of life, liberty and wealth is to create a safe habitable human environment ensuring peace and security for all. There remains widespread concern about law and order, access to justice and public safety at different levels of society. The Police Reform Programme (PRP) aims at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Bangladesh Police by supporting key areas such as (a) access to justice including crime prevention, (b) investigation, police operation and prosecution, (c) human resource management and training, (d) strategic capacity and oversight, and (e) communication and action against trafficking of human beings. 78 NSAPR II (Revised) The Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate is the major first responder in disasters like fire hazards, road accidents, shipwreck, drowning, collapsed structure, landslide etc. In order to increase fire safety, rescue and ambulance facilities across the country, fire stations will be set up in all pourasavas, upazilas and important industrial and commercial centres. Efforts will be made to raise a strong volunteer cadre comprising of local civil societies, NGOs, students, and educational institutions to supplement government initiatives. 4.3.3 Safe Water and Sanitation The government intends to achieve the targets of safe water by 2011 and sanitation for all by 2010. Currently 97 percent of the population have access to pathogen free water. But arsenic contamination presents a new challenge which has reduced safe water availability to 80 percent in urban and 70 percent in rural areas. On the other hand, sanitation coverage is 84-97 percent in urban areas and 86 percent in rural areas. Rural Water Supply: It is estimated that the total number of different types of tube wells in the country is about 7.0 million. The government and private initiatives account for most tube wells (some 96 percent) and NGOs played a supplementary role (4 percent). However, leaving out the arsenic contaminated and other non-functional ones, the number of usable tube wells is 5.7 million. There has not been much progress in mitigating the arsenic problem. Some hydro-geological factors (e.g. arsenic, salinity and low groundwater levels), and deep-rooted poverty prevent market forces from reaching all users. Preventative measures like water safety plans are needed in both rural and urban areas to deliver good quality water. Programmes will undertaken to encourage rain water harvest and identify low lying areas for making water reservoirs which can be used during the dry season. Rural Sanitation: The government initiated a national sanitation campaign together with DPHE, LGED, local governments, the government's administrative units in upazilas and districts and the NGOs. Since the initiation of the coordinated community-led total sanitation (CLTS) approach in 2003, rural sanitation coverage has increased to nearly 86 percent (as of June 2007). If the current progress is maintained, the country is likely to reach its desired sanitation coverage to all by 2010. Urban Water Supply: The present urban water supply coverage is about 71 percent of which the coverage by piped water supply is 39 percent and the remaining 32 percent is by hand pump tube wells. The National Water Management Plan estimates that in the next 30 years the urban population will outnumber the rural population. The future urban water supply has to rely on the piped system as the presently used hand pump tube wells are suspected to be contaminated from leaching from pit latrines and septic tanks. Moreover they will no longer be appropriate for the densely populated areas. Urban Sanitation: Conventional sewerage systems are absent in all urban areas except Dhaka city. Only 20 percent of the population of Dhaka city is served by a highly expensive sewerage network, the rest use septic tanks, pit latrines, unhygienic latrines or none at all. The sanitary conditions of urban slum dwellers are deplorable having no other option than drains, open fields, roadsides or riverbanks. Providing the urban households with sanitation by the conventional sewerage system is very expensive as compared with other off-site sanitation options such as modified sewerage and settled sewerage, which are particularly suitable for small to medium size townships. The option would be to go for multiple technologies adapted to local conditions and affordability. 79 NSAPR II (Revised) Solid Waste Management: At present daily waste generation in Dhaka city amounts to around 3,200MT/day which is expected to rise to 4,624MT/day by 2015. The present solid waste collection rate is 44 percent. For addressing the water, sanitation and waste management issues, the government's strategies and actions would focus on: (a) multi-agency involvement, (b) comprehensive monitoring and quality control of water sources throughout the country, (c) development of new water sources including use of surface water, (d) GO-NGO partnership particularly for waste disposal and water for slum dwellers, (e) development and replication of hygienic waste disposal, (f) promoting waste composting including where possible by NGOs/PVOs, and (h) protecting rivers. 4.3.4 Power and Energy The main goal is to ensure adequate and reliable power and energy supply at an affordable cost for development and livelihood. Despite its importance, only 43 percent of the population has access to electricity in the country, the coverage in the rural areas is much below the national average. Gas is the prime supplier of energy but its availability in the western zone is limited. Most importantly, the country is facing serious supply constraints in providing gas to power plants, fertilizer and other industries. The priority in energy and power would be given to (a) augmenting electricity generation, (b) providing un-interrupted power, (c) improving coverage, (d) addressing urban concerns, (e) ensuring power for agriculture, (f) improving customer service, and (f) augmenting the gas supply. Policies and Strategies: A number of policies and strategies would be taken up to improve energy and power supply and ensure their service quality. The strategies for developing services in the fields of power and energy are (a) implement the ongoing three-year road map with a time-bound action plan to achieve electricity for all by 2020, (b) develop and improve the transmission and distribution network, (c) enforce a well-designed load management plan to maximize customer satisfaction by the optimal use of the existing supply, (d) consider developing service standards for power and gas and introducing service contract, (e) efficient usages of gas both in power generation and other uses including gas based industries, machine, tools and appliances, (f) consider introducing cooperative management of power supply in slums, (g) introduce a functional one-stop service in power and gas utilities, (h) expand the gas network to the western, north-western and south western zones, (i) develop renewable energy for un-served and remote areas through partnership with NGOs and PVOs, (j) improve billing and collection and minimise systems loss; (k) popularize and expand CNG use by promoting establishment of CNG pumps on highways adjacent to district towns depending on the gas grid, (l) promote R & D in power and gas by strengthening the power cell, the hydro-carbon unit and the Bangladesh Petroleum Institute, and (m) make the Energy Regulatory Commission fully functional. 4.3.5 Transportation The main goal of providing public support in the transport sector is to ensure a cost effective, affordable and efficient transportation system for all. Bangladesh has witnessed rapid expansion in the transport network resulting in rapid growth of transportation services. The commendable achievement in building an extensive rural network of roads had a significant impact on ensuring affordable transport services in the rural sector and improving the living conditions of the rural poor. However, problems arising out of congestion, inefficient management practices, cumbersome procedures, and labour union 80 NSAPR II (Revised) pressure need to be addressed to realize the full benefit of the road network and develop many of the vital utilities in the transport sector. The benefits of recent initiatives in the privatization of certain services and streamlining of procedures shall be evaluated with a view to considering their extension. Policies and Strategies: The government would follow strategies and policies to promote an efficient, adequate, effective and reliable transportation system to facilitate movement of passengers and goods through all modes of transport without neglecting any to promote others. Free and fair competition would be ensured among competing modes for their healthy development. The role of the government will be to promote, regulate and provide facilities, particularly to those areas where the required services are not forthcoming. Strategies for the improvement of service delivery in the transport sector include (a) develop a comprehensive master plan for the transportation of passengers and goods by different modes of transports; (b) develop an efficient road network connecting major cities with secondary towns by the upgrade of roads; (c) develop viable public transportation in districts and cities connecting surrounding growth centres; (d) expand and intensify railway operations connecting ports and towns; (e) develop railway time-tables taking into account public requirement; (f) develop and maintain roads, railways and waterways on a routine basis; (g) promote commercialization of all public transportation; (h) build and strengthen public-private partnership in rail transportation; (i) expand affordable air links with other towns; (j) take regulatory and monitoring measures to reduce road accidents; (k) make roads, railways and water transportation accessible and safe for women and persons with disabilities. 4.3.6 ICT, Post and Telecommunication The main goal of the sector is to improve access to ICT, telecom and postal services. Bangladesh has a tele-density of nearly 32 percent. Till July 2008, there were about 1.3 million telephone connections and 44.8 million mobile phones under 12 PSTN and 6 mobile phone operators in the country. Fixed internet connectivity started in 1996 but its growth suffered because of high cost. With subsequent reduction of costs, the use of internet services grew faster. There are 72 ISPs and internet connections rose to around 450 thousand users by 2007 from a mere 1,000 in 2000. With the operation of BTRC and the liberalization of the sector, tele-density including mobile telephones has risen. Recent VOIP licensing will have further impetus for augmenting services in the sector. The postal department would be reorganized and reoriented to support the rural economy and act as a centre of information in rural Bangladesh to benefit farmers and small vendors. 4.3.7 Development of Tourism The main goal of the tourism sector is to develop tourism for providing accessible, comfortable and safe tourism services to people, both local and foreign. A well-conceived strategy for the development of tourism includes an integrated approach for the creation and development of tourist sites, a tourist attraction-centred infrastructure (transportation and accommodation) and a robust promotional campaign. Specific strategies are (i) upgrading the tourism policy, (ii) preparing a tourism master plan to identify focused areas, (iii) creating tourism facilities at important natural and historical sites including hill tracts districts, (iv) promoting private sector involvement in tourism in a coordinated way, (v) designing an incentive mechanism to promote and direct investment into desired tourism areas, especially those in the western region of the country, (vi) developing low-cost, affordable tourism in collaboration with local and foreign airlines, and (vii) developing a regulatory framework to protect tourist interests and to provide an enabling environment for the tourism industry. 81 NSAPR II (Revised) 4.4 Strategy IV: Caring for Environment and Tackling Climate Change The challenges to attaining environmental sustainability are in the forms of water and air pollution, land degradation, extreme degradation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, unsustainable agricultural practices and unplanned urban growth. There is the further challenge of overcoming weak environmental governance. Climate change has compounded problems of environmental degradation and has led to serious deterioration of ecosystems, adding yet another dimension to poverty. In this area, the vision is to achieve poverty-free environmental sustainability in Bangladesh, that is, to meet the needs of current and future generations by ensuring environmental friendly development to enable common peoples' access to public lands and resources and tackling pollution of various kinds that harms mainly the poor, particularly poor women and children. The government has adopted the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2009 which is built on six pillars: (i) food security, social protection and health; (ii) comprehensive disaster management; (iii) infrastructure to ensure that existing assets are well maintained and fit-for-purpose and that urgently needed infrastructure is put in place to deal with likely impacts of climate change; (iv) research and knowledge management; (v) mitigation and low carbon development; and (vi) capacity building and institutional strengthening. The Climate Change Action Plan comprises immediate, short, medium, and long term programmes with priority given to the needs of the poor and vulnerable, including women and children, in all activities implemented under the Action Plan. Table 4.2: Targets and Achievements of NSAPR Policy Agenda Strategic Goal Target Achievement Conservation of Community empowerment through Formation of ECA Coordination bio-diversity of the formation of groups, capacity building, Committees through Ministerial country trainings, and, inter alia, creation of Gazette notification alternative income generation activities Management plan developed for to reduce pressure on biodiversity biodiversity resource management resources. and ensured access right of the poor to the CPRs. Control of air Reduce air pollution impacted burden Achievement made in 2003 after the pollution in major of human diseases. withdrawal of two-stroke baby taxi. metropolitan cities Daily air pollution level to be informed A data bank of air pollution has been and rural settings to the public. created. Increase access of CPRs are to be managed and Process has been initiated. the poor to CPRs. conserved. Improve solid waste Manage the medical and hazardous Process initiated. management system waste. Manage solid wastes properly. Involvement of NGOs and private sectors in SWM. Impose effective regulatory measures. Regulatory measures are in place (reduce, reuse and recovery). Control of Bring all the amber-b and red Initiative has been taken. industrial pollution categories industries under ECA 1997 rules Move tanneries and other polluting Process going on. industries to environmental management sites immediately. Strengthen regulatory measures. Process has been initiated. 82 NSAPR II (Revised) 4.4.1 Recent Progress Major achievements in the area of environment are summarized in Table 4.2. The following initiatives have either been implemented or are being implemented: (i) National Environmental Management Action Plan (NEMAP): The National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP), developed in 1996, has prioritized 57 actions on the environmental front and the government is in the process of creating a second-order priority list for immediate implementation. (ii) Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP): The Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP) consisted of 26 projects (components) executed by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and was implemented by 22 government/ non-government agencies. The 26 components fell into five categories: (a) policy and institutions; (b) participatory eco-system management; (c) community-based environmental sanitation; (d) advocacy and awareness; and (e) training and education. The SEMP was successful in mainstreaming environmental issues in the national policy discourse, and ensuring grassroots participation in policy making. (iii) Bangladesh National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA): The NAPA intends to identify the urgent and immediate needs of the country to adapt to present threats from climate change. Addressing these needs would expand the current coping range and enhance resilience in a way that would promote the capacity to adapt to current climate variability and extremes, and consequently to future climate change as well. (iv) Bangladesh National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) for Global Environmental Management: The overall goal of NCSA is to provide Bangladesh with the opportunity to identify priority capacity needs in order to effectively address crosscutting global environmental issues and the development of the corresponding strategy and action plan for capacity building in the environmental sector in the context of the three Conventions relevant for NCSA: the Convention on Biological Diversity; the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change and United Nations Conventions for Combating Desertification. 4.4.2 Current Challenges to Environment With expanding population, the demand for food would increase while food production will be adversely affected by natural calamities. The linkage between poverty and conservation of natural resources is a mutually reinforcing process. For the purpose, it is important to address issues related to several interlinking factors, such as common property rights; crop, fisheries, forestry, and livestock sustainability; conservation of protected and ecologically critical areas (Table 4.3); ecosystem and biodiversity loss; land degradation and river erosion; coastal zone management; drought and floods; and ground water depletion. There are also issues like illegal and unauthorized hill cutting in greater Chittagong, especially in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari. 83 NSAPR II (Revised) Table 4.3: Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) in Bangladesh Ecologically Critical Areas Districts Total area in hectares The Sundarbans Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira 10 km area surrounded the Sundarbans reserved forest Cox's Bazar (Teknaf, Sea beach) Cox's Bazar 10,465 St. Martin Island Cox's Bazar 590 Sonadia Island Cox's Bazar 4,916 Hakaluki Haor Maulavi Bazar 18,383 Tanguar Haor Sunamganj 9,727 Marjat Baor Jhinaidah 200 Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake Dhaka Gulshan-Baridhara Lake area River ECAs (Buriganga, Turag, Dhaka, Narayangonj and The rivers and the foreshore Balu and Sitalakhya) Gazipur areas of the rivers Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Sitalakhya 4.4.3 Types of Pollution-Institutional Arrangements Pollution has a strong negative impact on health, is a major cause of erosion of human productivity and even death, particularly among the poor and marginalized communities. Bangladesh faces environmental pollution such as water, air, soil, and noise, along with the contamination of food. Air pollution: In dealing with air pollution, the strategy is to address both outdoor and indoor sources of pollution. The air pollution level has reduced especially in the cities because of the introduction of lead-free gasoline in Bangladesh. However, in recent times the emission of lead has increased due to suspended particulate matters (SPM) due to rise in vehicular traffic and increase in population density in the cities. The most vulnerable groups subjected to air pollution are the children and women of urban and rural areas, especially from indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution is mainly caused by cooking fuels. Brickfields and recently developed shallow engine-based vehicles are important sources of air pollution in the rural areas. Water pollution: Water pollution can be in terms of surface water and groundwater pollution. Flowing water is mainly polluted because of the disposal of untreated wastes into the river system from industries and also from cities, whereas the non-flowing water pollution is caused by excessive use of pesticides and soil erosion. The ship building industry contributes significantly to marine oil pollution, though in a few areas of concentration of the industry. The other sources of oil pollution are the ships and mechanized boats all over the country. Noise pollution: The noise pollution level in the major urban centres exceeds the legal and safe standards. This is mainly an urban phenomenon caused by vehicular congestion and affects the poor who work outdoors. Another aspect of noise pollution is occupational exposure to industrial noise, which affects poor workers. Soil pollution: Polluted soil builds up persistent toxic compounds, chemicals, salts, radioactive materials, or disease-causing agents in soils that have adverse effects on plant growth and animal health. Use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides in agriculture and industrial effluents from tannery, textile, fertilizer, sugar, paper and pulp and other relevant industries are causing the problem. Also litter/leachate from solid wastes/landfill and salinity intrusion in coastal belts are the causes of soil pollution. 84 NSAPR II (Revised) Radioactive pollution: Industrial wastes, both solid and liquid, having radioactive elements and other toxic materials are dumped into the water bodies in and around the big cities. The radiation from medical X-rays, colour TV, luminous dials of clocks and watches, X-ray fluoroscopes also contribute to the risks Solid Waste/Sludge Management: There is a lack of sufficient sanitary landfills for the disposal of all solid waste and the waste products from energy and bio-fertilizer plants. The disposal of hazardous and medical wastes in urban areas is a major cause of concern for urban life, particularly for the poor who are engaged in scavenging activities. Urbanization: Unplanned high-rise buildings, inadequate drainage and sewage infrastructure, growth of slums, poor transport network, improperly planned land development, lack of urban land use control and unplanned industrial activities in residential areas, construction of roads without appropriate environmental mitigation measures and poor solid-waste management are the main factors responsible for unsustainable urban growth. Contamination Contamination causes both degradation of environment-based resources and adds to pollution. Some of the contamination issues are: Sustainable Waste Management: Waste management is a major problem because these wastes are dumped in open sites. From the solid waste `leachate' is produced and mixes with surface and ground water and poses a threat to the environment. In waste management, there are various stakeholders who are involved in waste-to-resource recovery systems without any health safety. In addition, hospital/medical waste is a serious threat to public health. Bio-safety and Quarantine Management: Bangladesh has adopted bio-safety protocol to maintain the environmentally friendly genetically modified organisms (GMOs)/living modified organisms (LMOs) and safe application of modern biotechnology in medicine, agriculture, fisheries and livestock. Exotic Aquatic Organisms: There are at least 32 fish species that have been introduced in the country. The impact of alien species on indigenous species has not been studied. Among the exotics, tilapia of two species, Oreochromis mosambicus and niloticus introduced in the 1950s and 1960s have caused concerns because these species have invaded all available habitats. Exotic Plants and Trees: Many tree and plant species have invaded Bangladesh, and some are a threat to native varieties. Eupatorium odoratum (Ayapan) and Mikania cordata (Assam lata) are two invaders that overtop the canopy of shrubs and young tree saplings. Croton bonplandianum (Bon khira) and Lantana camara (Nak phul) grow along the edges of forest and wastelands and invade local vegetation. Vector Epidemic: Various flue viruses have attacked Bangladesh over centuries. The recent attack of bird flu is not new but of a different dimension. There is a strong possibility of the virus mutating so that it can be transferred from bird to human and then human to human. Environmental Governance: Bangladesh is committed to the cause of global environmental sustainability and has signed and ratified various international conventions, treaties and protocols (ICTPs). Such ICTPs include: United Nations Framework 85 NSAPR II (Revised) Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Cartagena Protocol on Bio Safety, Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Basel Convention on the Control of Trans Boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, Stockholm Convention on POPs, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD). The Rules have been updated and, accordingly, responsibilities assigned to appropriate agencies and departments. The policies, plans, acts and rules supporting environmental activities are: The Environment Policy 1992 and Implementation Programme; The National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP) 1995; The Environment Conservation Act 1995 and its subsequent amendments; The Environment Conservation Rules 1997 and its subsequent amendments; The Environment Court Act 2000 and its subsequent amendments; Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP); Bangladesh National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA); Bangladesh National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) for Global Environmental Management. Institutional Arrangements: The MOEF is the focal point for several environment-related ICTPs. As the technical arm of the ministry on environment-related affairs, the Department of Environment (DOE) has been taking necessary steps toward ensuring compliance to these ICTPs. Some of the important tools used for environmental protection with emphasis on poverty reduction are the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)/Environmental Management Plan (EMP)/ Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) to be applied to all policies, programmes and projects. The government's capacity for assessing professional impact and enforcement needs augmentation. Policies and Strategies The policies and strategies to be adopted cover four broad headings: (i) Policy: Integrate principles of sustainable development in national and sectoral plans, policies and programmes and the regulatory framework. ˇ Ensure sustainable livelihood of the poor, especially women and disadvantaged groups. Develop the regulatory frameworks that recognize the user rights of people on CPRs. ˇ Establish user rights through licensing/leasing/participatory systems to CPRs in NRM of water bodies and forests. ˇ Finalize the Wetlands Policy, upgrade Forestry Sector Master Plan and Bangladesh Wild Life Amendment Act 1974 with provision for access of the local poor and women. ˇ Undertake new projects and programmes to preserve rights of the poor and women on CPRs ˇ Organize meetings with relevant ministries to resolve conflicts among those involved in shrimp, salt, paddy production, afforestation etc. in the coastal districts. ˇ Develop demonstration projects for sustainable resources management. Integration of environmental issues into policies and plans ˇ Continue dialogue among and between the sectoral ministries/agencies on integration of environmental issues. ˇ Arrange coordination meetings among and between the sectoral ministries/agencies/ departments/organizations. ˇ Undertake local, regional and national training workshops. 86 NSAPR II (Revised) ˇ Establish a policy support unit within MoEF. Improve living environment in the slums ˇ Set up a strategy for a participatory slum improvement centre in all municipality and urban areas. ˇ Extend the solid waste collection service, water points and sanitary latrines in slums. ˇ Continue the awareness programmes in slum areas for water supply and sanitation facilities. ˇ Recover the slum areas that are illegal encroachment on wetlands, riverbank/river, canals, etc by land-grabber/encroacher and establish the natural flow of water/drainage system. (ii) Planning: Ensure good governance in environment and natural resources management. ˇ Improve technical and managerial compliance by improving professional competence. ˇ Develop a well-defined organogram. ˇ Develop accountability and transparency in all sectoral issues. ˇ Develop a participatory and co-management approach in all CPRs. ˇ Develop networking with different stakeholders. Strengthen the process of environmental analysis such as EIA in project design and implementation. ˇ Recruit professional staff in DoE. ˇ Continue awareness programmes among scientific, technical and managerial personnel ˇ Expand the DoE activities focusing on environmentally hazardous areas. ˇ Develop a website for environmental clearance certificate (ECC) and EMP procedures. ˇ Establish public consultation process in all EIA, EMP, ETP and other relevant activities. Sustainable land management ˇ Continue the community-based earth excavation work under the food-for-work programme for more integration of poor people. ˇ Increase the extension activities to produce improved seeds of local plant species. ˇ Establish monitoring and evaluation systems with the help of concerned authorities. (iii) Regulations: Enforcement and regulation of pollution, contamination and invasion of harmful organisms. Control of industrial pollution ˇ Continue to enforce all environmental policies, rules and regulations with the polluting industries. ˇ Introduce mandatory environment friendly solid and other waste management systems. ˇ Develop sector specific EIA guidelines. ˇ Amend Environment Conservation Rules 1997 providing for public participation in EIA wherever possible and necessary. ˇ Enforce Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in all private sector-run industrial parks. ˇ Develop the Environmental Management Programme in consultation with relevant environmental management experts (EMP and ETP experts). 87 NSAPR II (Revised) ˇ Set up a strong networking system among all relevant industries to establish a database. Control of air pollution in major metropolitan cities and rural settings ˇ Implement the procedures of Air Quality Standard (AQS) in the vehicles of urban centres and all polluting industries. ˇ Ensure the mandatory use of four-stroke engines in all cities of the country. ˇ Arrange campaigns for owners, drivers of vehicles and managers of polluting industries for utilizing clean energy. ˇ Establish vehicle inspection and maintenance programmes in all metropolitan cities. ˇ Identify industries including brick kilns which are responsible for air pollution and set a permissible limit for polluted air emissions. ˇ Continue tree plantation and development of green belt around industries. ˇ Develop an appropriate dust control system in each major city. ˇ Ensure adequate CNG stations to rise to 70 percent of total vehicular fuel stations, as well as conversion facilities consistent with availability of gas. ˇ Establish refinery stations for lead and sulphur free vehicular fuel oil. ˇ Establish the compulsory annual tests of vehicle emission levels. ˇ Set up pollution emission tax. ˇ Introduce energy efficient cooking stoves in rural areas. Control of radioactive pollution ˇ Develop and implement a search committee for the assessment of existing radioactive pollution. Develop a monitoring and evaluation system in the major metropolitan cities. ˇ Develop guidelines of the training programmes for the safe use of radioactive matters at least once a year in major metropolitan cities. Control of noise pollution ˇ Complete all procedures to implement the Noise Level Standard (NLS) in metropolitan cities, vehicles and industries. ˇ Continue awareness and motivational activities through campaign and training programmes for maintaining the NLS for vehicles and industries. ˇ Ban the use of hydraulic horns in all types of vehicles and apply full restrictions on the use of horns in some selected areas like those around academic and religious institutions and completely ban the use of horns in residential areas. ˇ Develop a nationalized noise inventory and database along with a strong networking system. ˇ Consider fiscal measures to discourage use of machines that pose health risk. Improvement of solid waste management system ˇ Develop and implement awareness and motivational programmes in each urban and semi-urban area for efficient and effective solid waste collection, resource recovery and recycling along with safe disposal of solid waste through CBO-based participatory co- management system approach. ˇ Develop pilot project for integrated waste-to-energy, biogas and bio-fertilizer production system in major metropolitan cities. ˇ Develop regulations and guidelines for segregation at source and safe disposal of hazardous wastes. ˇ Develop the public-private partnership for environmentally friendly SWM system in all metropolitan cities. 88 NSAPR II (Revised) ˇ Complete the formulation of SWM master plan for all metropolitan and urban cities. ˇ Introduce a framework for building up capacity for handling trans boundary hazardous waste management under the Basel Convention. ˇ Develop a national database of SWM system along with a strong networking set-up among all relevant organizations with coordination of relevant information. Control of water pollution and contamination ˇ Reduce the use of chemical fertilizer and pesticide along with the phase-out of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). ˇ Introduce less water polluting substances and improvement technologies in industrial processes. ˇ Establish monitoring and evaluation activities by concerned authorities and organizations to reduce effluent discharges (e.g. discharges from mechanized vessels) and strict implementation of ECA 1997 along with other regulations in all water pollution and land degradation activities. ˇ Promote the use of organic compost. ˇ Set up polluter-to-pay approach to reclaim, clean up and rehabilitate the damaged ecosystem. ˇ Enforce the mandatory installation of effluent treatment plants for industries. Control of river erosion and hill cutting ˇ Continue the community-based earth excavation work under the food-for-work programme for more integration of poor people in river-bed excavation programmes. ˇ Establish monitoring and evaluation systems with the help of concerned authorities. (iv) Capacity Building: Enhance environmental education, awareness and motivational programmes Enhance education and awareness activities for sustainable development ˇ Complete process for all regulatory procedures for enhancing professionalism in environmental management including new recruitment. ˇ Arrange environmental management training, seminar and symposium in districts. ˇ Advertise the environmental awareness and motivational activities through roadside posters and electronic and print media. ˇ Develop a national network of environmental management curriculum, modules and books. Improve research and development activities ˇ Develop collaborative research programmes involving academic and research organizations and MoEF. ˇ Publish and distribute the research-based periodicals and journals on a regular basis. ˇ Organize training on research methodology on innovative poverty reduction tools on SWM and air quality development. 4.4.4 Tackling Climate Change for Poverty Reduction 89 NSAPR II (Revised) Climate change and its variability have already impacted on the life and livelihoods of the people in the coastal areas and in the arid and semi-arid region of Bangladesh. Climate change will exacerbate many of the current problems and natural hazards the country faces. It is expected to result in increasingly frequent and severe tropical cyclones; heavier and more erratic rainfall resulting in higher river flows, river bank erosion, and increased sedimentation; rising sea level leading to submergence of low lying coastal areas and saline water intrusion up coastal rivers and into ground water aquifers; and other problems. Climate Change Impact on Bangladesh The coastline of Bangladesh is about 710 km long and the coastal zone covers about 23 percent of the country and is home to 30 million people. Such a low-lying country with a funnel-shaped coast exposing the land to cyclones, storm surges, seasonal flooding and drought, salinity intrusion, widespread poverty, a large population base and poor governance have made Bangladesh most vulnerable to climate change. The anticipated climate change impact in Bangladesh will be manifested in two ways in contrasting regions, such as, (i) in the Southern part towards the sea there will be drainage congestion due to higher water and river-bed levels, salinization of the soil and water resources due to lower river flows, sea-level rise and more intense disasters including cyclones and storm surges with higher risks because of the higher water level; and (ii) the other part of the country in the North-Western region will be subject to scarcity of water leading to drought condition and aridity with less rainfall and higher temperature. Bangladesh has adopted the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) 2009 which will be the basis to combat climate change impacts. The Climate Change Action Plan is built on six pillars: (i) food security, social protection and health; (ii) comprehensive disaster management; (iii) infrastructure; (iv) research and knowledge management; (v) migration and low carbon development; and (vi) capacity building and institutional strengthening. The BCCAP 2009 is based on the four building blocks of the Bali Action Plan--adaptation to climate change, mitigation, technology transfer, and adequate and timely flow of funds for investment within an inviolate framework of food, energy, water, livelihoods and health security. The strategy is to integrate climate change constraints and opportunities into the overall plan and programmes involving all sectors and processes for economic and social development. Climate Change Trust Fund Over the last three decades, the Government has invested over $ 10 billion to make the country more climate resilient and less vulnerable to natural disaster. Presently the Government of Bangladesh has established a National Climate Change Fund of 700 crore Taka with its own revenue. The principle of the operation of the fund shall be based to finance activities under the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2009. Adapting to Climate Change to Reduce Poverty Agro-ecological zones have been delineated for select agro-climatic appropriate crops and soil conservation has been promoted for the enhancement of agricultural productivity. A GIS based national data bank has been created to assist in planning appropriate cropping patterns. Moreover, programmes of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) on risk reduction in drought prone areas have commenced implementation, the National Watershed Development under the MACH programme and the Flood Action Plan has commenced, the gazetting of the forest Conservation Act, Wild Life Act, Protected Areas and other policies which lead to forest and biodiversity conservation and reduction of 90 NSAPR II (Revised) forest fragmentation have been implemented. Bangladesh has extensive experience in involving local communities in forest protection and regeneration as well as the creation of long-term interests in maintaining forestry resources through, for example, a Social Forestry Programme that promotes a unique benefit-sharing arrangement. Finally, the Coastal Islands (char) Development and Settlement Programme (CDSP) is under implementation. Strengthening Climate Adaptation Sectoral Measures relate to specific adaptation options existing for each of the sectors that could be affected by climate change. ˇ Mainstreaming adaptation to climate change into policies and programmes in different sectors (focusing on disaster management, water, agriculture, health and industry). ˇ Enhancing resilience of urban infrastructure and industries to impacts of climate change. ˇ Development of eco-specific adaptive knowledge (including indigenous knowledge) on adaptation to climate variability to enhance adaptive capacity for future climate change. ˇ Promoting adaptation to coastal crop agriculture to combat increased salinity. ˇ Adaptation to agriculture systems in areas prone to enhanced flash flooding in the North-Eastern and Central regions. ˇ Adaptation to fisheries in areas prone to enhanced flooding in the North-Eastern and Central regions through adaptive and diversified fish culture practices. ˇ Promoting adaptation to coastal fisheries through the culture of salt tolerant fish especially in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Multi-sectoral Measures relate in particular to the management of natural resources that span several sectors: ˇ Reduction of climate change hazards through coastal afforestation with community participation. ˇ Providing drinking water to coastal communities to combat enhanced salinity due to sea- level rise. ˇ Capacity building for integrating climate change in planning, designing of infrastructure, conflict management and land-water zoning for water management institutions. ˇ Construction of flood shelter, and information and assistance centres to cope with enhanced recurrent floods in major floodplains. Coastal zone management is also considered as the appropriate framework to consider technical adaptation measures like dike building, beach nourishment, etc. The ecosystem approach to adaptation to climate change is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promote their conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. Cross-sectoral Measures apply to different sectors, such as: ˇ Education and training: introduction of climate change issues at different levels of the educational system is an ongoing process that will ensure a continuity of the process, the development of research activities, and greater awareness of the citizens. Training will address different stakeholders involved in the management of resources sensitive to climate change (soils, water, etc.) who will need to understand the nature of climate change as well as potential adaptation options. ˇ Public awareness campaigns: Raising awareness and information dissemination in order to have the stakeholders involved and concerned. These campaigns would also give the 91 NSAPR II (Revised) opportunity to understand what the perception and views of the public on climate change and adaptation are. Finally, user's networks would be established to ensure the follow-up and exchange of experiences between different stakeholders. ˇ Insurance development: An insurance system for coastal flooding and other natural disasters consequent on climate change would contribute to the involvement of the private sector in adaptation strategies. ˇ Changes in institutional, administrative and organizational arrangements would be necessary to enhance the effectiveness of political decisions. This would be preceded by an examination of the existing bodies in charge of climate change issues: national climate change committees, their degree of representativeness and their power and functions. Links between these committees and those, for example, in charge of sustainable development would be considered; and better coordination/integration of the different sectoral departments would be encouraged. ˇ Strengthening the legal system: Since many environmental problems are partly due to non-enforcement of existing laws, the legal system would be strengthened. ˇ Strengthening fiscal measures: The introduction of public policies to encourage and support adaptation of individuals and the private sector, particularly through the establishment of fiscal incentives or subsidies, would be used as an option. ˇ Risk/disaster management measures include the development of early warning systems, in particular for extreme events like cyclones, and for climate variability like droughts and floods. Emergency plans, extreme events relief and recovery measures also belong to this type of measures. The success of these measures depends upon good communication systems and a certain level of trust from users. ˇ Science, research and development (R&D) and technological innovations are particularly needed for climate change processes in general, for economic valuation of adaptation options, for technological adaptation options (development of drought or salt-resistant crop varieties), or for investigations of new sources of groundwater resources and better resource management. ˇ Monitoring, observation and communication systems would be strengthened, created or improved, not only for climate-related parameters but also for other indicators of climate change and impacts. This monitoring would allow policymakers to adjust the adaptation strategy based on confirmed changes in the climate. 4.4.5 Forestry Bangladesh is a densely populated country having 14.757 million hectares of land where forest area is 2.52 million hectares representing 17% surface area of the country. The forest is an integral part of our environment that maintains the ecological balance by controlling soil erosion, water and air quality. It also contributes to our national economy by providing timber, fuel wood, food like honey, wax, medicine, fodder, industrial raw materials etc. Poverty reduction through social forestry is now a success story within forestry sector of Bangladesh. About 0.335 million rural poor are now engaged as participants of the social forestry programme.This sector is contributing 4% of the nations's GDP. Under the social forestry programme about Tk. 1206.05 million so far distributed among 81402 participants as part of their benefit share. This programme is marked as a milestone in the national economy for poverty reduction in Bangladesh. 92 NSAPR II (Revised) 4. 5 Strategy V: Enhancing Productivity and Efficiency through Science and Technology Bangladesh with insignificant natural resources, small land area, and large population, cannot accelerate its growth rate unless the benefits of technology in every conceivable area are harvested and productivity and efficiency are increased by using technology. 4.5.1 Vision and Strategic Goals Bangladesh will be made a poverty-free prosperous digital country through the application of science and technology. The quality of life of the disadvantaged people will be improved through enhancing the quality of education and health care by the innovative application of ICT, enhancing productivity in the agricultural sector through the application of biotechnology and inspiring the creation of jobs through technological growth supported by more reliable availability of power through promotion and application of atomic energy. To achieve the vision of a poverty-free prosperous Bangladesh, several strategic goals will be achieved: a. Make quality education accessible to disadvantaged sections of the population by innovative application of ICT; b. Create a stimulating environment for educational excellence by introducing Olympiads at all levels of education; c. Use advanced data mining techniques to extract useful information from past public examinations and use this feedback to improve upon educational policies and create a healthy environment of competition conducive to achieving excellence; d. Create opportunities in disadvantaged areas of the country for acquiring technical skill; e. Create scope of employment through making ICT literacy available particularly to young men and women of disadvantaged areas; f. Enhance quality of healthcare of the rural poor through the development of computer- based medical consultation systems; g. Introduce and strengthen biotechnological research for increasing crop and drug production; h. Increase electricity generation substantially by use of nuclear energy and inspire industrial growth; i. Inspire increased transparency, reduced scope for corruption, more efficient governance and save illiterate and disadvantaged sections of the population from harassment by the application of e-governance; j. Establish a centre of excellence in science and technological research that will formulate solutions to our technological problems and reduce dependence on foreign experts; k. Improve tele-density to bring a greater proportion of the population into the streams of ICT activities; l. Introduce community e-centres and other e-facilities; m. Start vigorous research on devising structures that will be least affected by Sidr-like cyclones and tidal waves; n. Reformulate import and export policies that encourage technological development in the country and generate jobs; o. Keeping poverty reduction as the goal, reformulate science and technology policy in the light of recent developments in ICT and bio-technology; and p. Establish Bangladesh as a BPO outsourcing destination. 93 NSAPR II (Revised) 4.5.2 Assessment of Recent Progress Several policies and actions have been taken to adapt science and technology for sustainable development: a. National Policy on Science and Technology (S&T) has been formulated. b. National Policy on ICT has been adopted. c. National Task Force on ICT has been formed. d. Coordinating Committee for the implementation of World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action has been formed. e. Copyright Act has been amended. f. Several measures, like exemption of VAT and taxes on ICT related equipment, tax holidays, creation of equity funds, ICT incubator centre, opening of shared office in the Silicon Valley, have been taken to inspire growth of the sector. g. E-governance strategy is being formulated. h. Measures have been taken to establish a High-Tech Park. i. Actions have been taken to connect Bangladesh with the Information Superhighway through submarine fibre-optic cable. j. ICT Business Promotion Council has been established to oversee the development of IT industries in Bangladesh. k. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has been opened up to the private sector. 4.5.3 Current Challenges Inadequate Educational Facilities: Bangladesh is yet to develop an education system that inspires creativity among young people. Lack of quality teachers and laboratory facilities hampers science education especially in rural schools. High rate of illiteracy is a major constraint on use of the education system to develop computer skills. Shortage of Manpower: There exists acute shortage of skilled manpower required to propel the country through harvesting the benefits of science and technology. Insufficient ICT Infrastructure: Communication infrastructure in the country is poor especially in the rural areas. Lack of Job Opportunities: There do not exist enough job opportunities in science and technical areas. Unless considerable number of industrial enterprises are established, education in science and technology will not appear lucrative to the population. Inadequate Research Initiatives/Financial Support in Science: The expenditure on R&D in Bangladesh does not constitute more than 0.3 percent of its GNP. The National Science and Technology Policy recommends that special efforts be given to ensure 1 percent of GNP for R&D activities. Bangladesh is yet to build an institution for ICT education and research. 4.5.4 Future Policies and Strategies In order to overcome the challenges, some immediate steps would be taken to build a strong base for education, health and technology including ICT and biotechnology. Sufficient trained manpower has also to be produced to maintain the scientific infrastructure and use it effectively so that people from all sectors can benefit from the application of science and 94 NSAPR II (Revised) technology. Scientists with proven track record and visionary approaches would be put at the helm to run science and technology institutes. Strengthening Education through ICT: As the establishment of an adequate number of schools staffed with qualified teachers will take time, ICT would be used to provide quality education especially in the rural areas. The introduction of computer aided learning packages would not only reduce the gap between demand and supply of teachers but also allow rural young people acquire scientific knowledge and technical skill more efficiently, and contribute to nation building. Computer Rooms in Educational Institution: The BCC has taken up plans to provide computers and establish ICT training centres especially in schools/colleges in remote areas. The process will continue especially in terms of establishing computer laboratories in educational institutes. Computer Assisted Health Care System: An effective health care system especially for the rural poor needs to be ICT driven. The development of a computerized medical expert system would be complemented and strengthened with internet connectivity. Expanding Internet Facilities: For effective application of ICT technologies, availability of internet connectivity to disadvantaged areas with higher incidence of poverty would be given priority especially for effective e-learning, e-health and e-governance. Biotechnology for National Development In order to give impetus to the development of modern biology and biotechnology, setting up of a separate Biotechnology Cell under the Ministry of Science, Communication and Information Technology would be considered. When established, this Cell will be responsible for up-scaling proven technologies and demonstrating the same at the field level. It will be instrumental in technology transfer to industries and maintaining close interactions. Bioinformatics is an emerging and enabling technology for several fields of biomedical and agricultural research. The scientists of Bangladesh will be able to significantly contribute to the progress of this field since the capital investment needed for bioinformatics research is much smaller than for experimental biological sciences. The newly established National Institute of Biotechnology needs visionary leadership to play its due role. The cutting edge technologies such as bioinformatics, proteomics, computational chemistry and synthetic chemistry (for design and synthesis of new drugs) would be given priority. Efforts will be given to create crops of high yield and capable of withstanding drought, salinity and floods. Promoting Science Education: To meet the demand for quality human resources, measures would be taken to popularize science and technical education by introducing stimulating events like science clubs, and creating science and technology based jobs and introducing science competitions. Promoting SME and Indigenous Technology: The SMEs would be expanded through adopting appropriate technologies and encouraging productive indigenous technologies. Material research, testing and quality control for SME products will be institutionalized along with creating opportunities for experienced workers, formalizing their knowledge and enabling them to produce products of international standards. Technology Transfer Centres 95 NSAPR II (Revised) for SMEs and SME incubation centres would be introduced. The SME sector will also be enriched with ICT technologies to improve their quality and productivity. Introducing Olympiads: Olympiads would be initiated throughout the country to challenge the merit and creativity of our students at all levels. The Bangladesh Computer Council may be given the responsibility of administering Olympiads for different classes and subjects, in particular science subjects, in close coordination with the Ministry of Education. Technology for Community Housing in Coastal Areas: The development of appropriate technologies for community housing in coastal areas is a priority under which structures would be constructed that could be used for community purposes, like schooling in normal times and shelter homes at times of tornadoes or upsurge of sea water. Effectiveness of ICT Usage: In order to harness the power of ICT and generate awareness among all concerned persons, a massive campaign in clearly comprehensible term would be undertaken in collaboration with the print and electronic media, both locally and nationally, in order to build momentum and support for telecommunication initiatives especially in rural areas and develop awareness and engagement of all stakeholders. 96 NSAPR II (Revised) Chapter 5 Indicative Costs of Achieving Goals and Targets The revised NSAPR II (FY2009 ­ FY2011) provides the medium term operational strategy to achieve the goal of accelerated poverty reduction and the MDGs. It is also the stepping stone towards achieving the vision, as articulated by the government, of turning Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021 characterized by drastically reduced poverty, high rate of growth, and fulfilment of basic needs by every citizen. The goals and targets in the thematic policy matrices are set out in a way that is consistent with the priorities adopted by the government in respective thematic areas. The prioritization reflects the collective efforts of the policy makers, thematic committees, and consultation with stakeholders including officials of various ministries and agencies. The costing of goals and targets covers all thematic areas. The adjustment of NSAPR II, prepared during the caretaker government, to reflect the vision and commitments of the newly elected government necessitates new assessment of resources required to achieve the revised set of goals and targets. The development vision and commitment of the present government lay heavy emphasis on certain sectors and identifies specific strategies and policies to achieve the goals and targets within stipulated time. The estimated costs of the additional activities to be undertaken to achieve these goals and targets have been determined following the adopted methodology used in preparing NSAPR II earlier. Accordingly, the estimated total resource requirement includes the original estimated resource requirement plus the estimated additional resource requirement arising from the commitment of the present government. 5.1 Methodology for Calculating Resource Needs for revised NSAPR-II In estimating the resource requirement for implementing revised NSAPR II, the cost of completing all the activities to achieve the desired goals and targets in each thematic area was taken into consideration. These costs are indicative and were identified in consultation with relevant stakeholders in the ministries and agencies. Due to the crosscutting nature of some thematic areas, there are some overlaps of goals and activities. For example, ICT is a stand alone issue in itself but at the same time various sectors or activities such as education, health, and governance also include ICT components. Thus the cost of enhancing efficiency through ICT does not give the full picture of the resource need in the ICT thematic area. Similarly, water resource management is addressed as a separate sector and is also included under "environment". However, efforts have been made to avoid these overlaps and double/multiple counting as far as possible. Efforts have also been made not to overestimate the implementation needs. The estimated costs basically represent four components: (i) costs of activities of ongoing projects and programmes that have spilled over from NSAPR I (FY2005-FY08); (ii) costs of activities that have to be undertaken during the period of implementation of NSAPR II to achieve the goals and targets of thematic areas; (iii) additional recurring costs over and above the normal increase of existing items that have to be incurred for running the activities to achieve the goals and targets of revised NSAPR II; and 97 NSAPR II (Revised) (iv) maintenance costs necessary for newly completed projects and programmes during the period of NSAPR II. It is important to recognize that the cost estimates of activities and strategies of NSAPR II are incremental costs of projects and programmes over and above the existing budget allocations of the government, i.e. allocation to existing projects and programmes in the ADP and Revenue Budget. The activities to be undertaken to achieve the goals and targets of NSAPR II through ongoing and new projects and programmes are in the process of identification. The unit costs of these activities are already available with the concerned ministries and agencies. It may be mentioned that cost estimates of activities to be implemented through new projects and programmes are based on average unit costs of similar activities available in the ministries and agencies. All activities covered by themes and strategic goals have been brought under the umbrella of costing. By and large, the costs represent estimates of total input costs required for completing the activities within the strategic goals of a theme. Revision of Cost Estimates The additional costs of implementing the commitment of the present government have been determined at three stages: First, the commitment of the government which is target and outcome specific in terms of medium term and long term scenario has been identified. Second, the ministries and concerned agencies were requested to provide information on activities, projects and programmes needed to achieve the goals and targets during the NSAPR II period along with their estimated costs. Third, the concerned thematic committees arrived at the final estimates of costs for three years. The estimated costs of activities have been deflated to arrive at costs at base year prices of FY2008 and have been aggregated. The estimated cost of achieving the strategic goals and targets set out in NSAPR II is Tk. 2814.81 billion (Table 5.1). The resource requirement reflects the government's commitment to the people in addressing the priority issues to overcome the problems that the country faces including the present crisis of the global economy. The resource needs are quite large in certain areas such as education including ICT, infrastructure including energy and power, agriculture, governance including action against corruption, health, and social protection. 98 NSAPR II (Revised) Table 5.1: Indicative Cost of Achieving revised NSAPR II Goals and Targets Sl. Thematic areas (strategic blocks and supporting Cost (billion Percent of No strategies) Taka at FY08 total . prices ) 1 Macroeconomic management for pro-poor 31.43 1.12 economic growth 2 Resource mobilization 29.75 1.06 3 Agricultural growth towards poverty reduction 180.00 6.39 4 Water resources development and management 42.49 1.51 5 Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) 14.04 0.50 development 6 Employment generation and labour welfare 38.10 1.35 7 Private sector development (PSD) 54.76 1.95 8 Land use policy and management 3.78 0.13 9 Housing development 80.81 2.87 10 Infrastructure development including Power, 536.66 19.07 Energy and Communication 11 Social protection Safety nets for poverty reduction 140.00 4.97 Food security 110.00 3.91 Disaster management 9.19 0.33 Scaling up Micro-Credit for poverty reduction 50.00 1.78 Rural non-farm activities 10.20 0.36 12 Education, training and research 582.30 20.69 13 Health nutrition and population planning 207.94 7.39 14 Social inclusion and empowerment Women's advancement and rights 35.55 1.26 Children's advancement and rights 0.46 0.02 Indigenous people, people with disability, and 12.65 0.45 other disadvantaged and extreme poor groups 15 Promoting good governance and public services 300.95 10.69 16 Utility services delivery including water, 168.00 5.97 sanitation and urban services 17 Caring for environment and tackling climate 125.03 4.44 change 18 Technology policy including ICT and 50.72 1.80 biotechnology Total 2814.81 100.00 5.2 Estimated Resource Gap The estimated total domestic resources gap is Tk. 874.84 billion or US $ 12.5 billion (Table 5.2). The gap has been calculated using the following approach: First, resource requirements for achieving different thematic goals through providing inputs and outputs and undertaking reforms envisaged in all thematic areas have been estimated. This amount comes out to be Tk. 2814.81 billion at FY08 prices. 99 NSAPR II (Revised) Secondly, non-discretionary expenditure is calculated by adding interest payment obligations (both domestic and foreign interest payments) of the public sector and national defence expenditure needs which amounted to Tk. 642.59 billion at FY08 prices. The total public expenditure in the NSAPR II period thus comes to Tk. 3457.40 billion. Thirdly, the maximum amount of domestic resources that can be mobilised during the NSAPR II implementation period was identified. The total domestic resource comes both from revenue collection and domestic borrowing possibilities as indicated in the Medium- Term Macroeconomic Framework (MTMF). For FY09, FY10 and FY11 projected revenue and domestic borrowing were deflated to measure them in terms of FY08 prices. The total domestic resource that can be mobilised is in the amount of Tk. 2,582.56 billion at FY08 prices. Table 5.2: Estimate of Domestic Resource Gap for NSAPR II (revised) Implementation (Billion Taka at FY08 constant prices) High Case Base Case A. Resource needs for NSAPR II 2814.81 2814.81 implementation B. Non-discretionary expenditure 642.59 642.59 Interest payment 425.59 425.59 Defence expenditure 217.00 217.00 C. Total expenditure (A+B) 3457.40 3457.40 D. Total domestic resources 2582.56 2567.52 Total revenue 2077.94 2045.84 Domestic borrowing 504.62 521.68 E. Domestic resource gap (C-D) 874.84 889.88 F. Domestic Resource gap (billion US$) 12.50 12.71 Finally, the resource gap is identified as a difference between domestic resources available and the total expenditure during the period. This amount has to be mobilized from external sources. In recent years Bangladesh could mobilize nearly US $ 2.0 billion per year as ODA from the development partners. Therefore, of the total domestic resources gap of US $ 12.5 billion nearly half would be mobilised from external sources as ODA and another half would be mobilised through innovative measures like Public­Private Partnership (PPP) and FDI (Foreign Direct Investment). 100 NSAPR II (Revised) Chapter 6 Strengthening Implementation, and Monitoring and Evaluation Implementation arrangements of NSAPR II (revised) and its monitoring and evaluation system need to be clearly articulated to ensure effective implementation. This chapter provides an outline of the implementation arrangements, and the roles and responsibilities of different actors. It also provides an outline of the monitoring and evaluation mechanism and the roles and responsibilities of different agencies. 6.1 Implementation Arrangements The major implementation responsibility of NSAPR II (revised) lies with the concerned lead ministries and their agencies as well as other associate ministries and their agencies. Ministries/Divisions who will be responsible for preparing their respective detailed prioritized action plans/road maps based on NSAPR II (revised) policy agenda for the implementation of the strategies to achieve sectoral and crosscutting targets for the FY 2009-11 period. The lead ministries will be responsible for supervision, coordination, implementation and monitoring activities envisaged in NSAPR II (revised) in their sectors and crosscutting issues. Other actors that will play an active role in the implementation include the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs), NGOs, and different regulatory commissions. The development partners will play a supportive role in the implementation of NSAPR II (revised). The National Steering Committee will provide general guidance and coordinate the implementation of NSAPR II (revised). The Programming Committee of the Planning Commission with recommendation of the concerned sector divisions of the Planning Commission will ensure selection of programmes/projects by the ministries, which are consistent with NSAPR II (revised). The GED/NPFP will check the consistency of the programmes/projects with NSAPR II (revised) in terms of criteria developed by GED/NPFP in consultation with concerned sector division of the Planning Commission and ministries. The Ministry of Finance will ensure that MTBF reflects the priorities in NSAPR II (revised) and the overall expenditure framework contributes to the achievement of the goals of NSAPR II (revised). The private sector has an important role in achieving the poverty reduction outcomes by virtue of its central role as an engine of growth in the economy. While the private sector will be driven by its own compulsions, it will create employment opportunities and an avenue for using the savings of the people. The government will undertake measures to remove the factors hindering active private sector participation in the economy and facilitate socially responsible behaviour by the private sector. The CSOs and NGOs will continue to play an important role independently as well as in partnership with the government in the implementation of NSAPR II (revised) through various programmes related to areas like micro-credit, literacy, health and sanitation, and empowerment. The development partners will use the agreed national systems and processes to provide adequate funding and other support in the implementation of NSAPR II (revised). They will also facilitate capacity building initiatives within the framework of NSAPR II (revised). In view of the slow progress in the implementation of the ADP in recent years, an important area will be capacity building in different phases of the project cycle. 101 NSAPR II (Revised) For successful implementation of NSAPR II (revised) the government will take the following measures: (i) awareness building and PRS orientation for the members of the Parliament, government officials of the line ministries/divisions, and departments/ directorates; (ii) communication between the National Poverty Focal Point and all line ministries/divisions emphasising that activities undertaken by the ministries/divisions have to be consistent with NSAPR II (revised); (iii) wide dissemination of the NSAPR II (revised) document to the officials of all ministries/divisions, and departments/directorates. The awareness building and skill acquisition will be provided through appropriate mechanisms like workshops and training programmes. Joint Cooperation Strategy for Aid Effectiveness: The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and fifteen donors signed a Statement of Intent to Develop a Joint Cooperation Strategy (JCS) in support of the national poverty strategy (Revised NSAPR II) in August 2008. The overall goal of a JCS is to make aid in Bangladesh more effective by creating common platforms for national and sector dialogues and a national owned change process for improving delivery of aid. Specifically it aims at: ˇ Reducing aid fragmentation and high transaction costs for all partners due to weak lead and coordination, including streamlining project approval processes; ˇ Improving national capacity for ownership of cooperation activities through improved human resource management; ˇ Strengthening donor alignment to national systems, which are felt by many partners to be lacking the necessary solidity to move towards more aid-effective modalities, such as budget support ˇ Improving accountability for development results and enhancing predictability of aid flows ˇ Agreeing on a common framework for expected development outcomes at national and sector levels for the coming years. In order to make aided projects/programme effectively implemented, Bangladesh would take the lead to make real structural and behavioural changes on aid policies and implementation. The GoB led JCS Working Group has started various JCS related consultations and recently drafted a JCS outline and a detailed JCS Action Plan. There would be regular dialogues with development partners based on mutually agreed JCS with clear aid effectiveness outcomes in support of a prioritised and operational national poverty strategy. 6.2 Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring and evaluation is an important component of NSAPR II (revised) because it helps the government to measure the quantity, quality and targeting of the outputs (goods and services) that it aims to provide and to measure the outcomes and impacts resulting from these outputs. The mechanism allows the government to measure its performance and understand the causes of good or poor performance. Performance will be measured through a set of monitoring and evaluation indicators such as inputs, outputs, outcomes and impact indicators. Performance indicators serve multiple purposes: ˇ They are used for informed decision making, for re-setting priorities and revision of the targets, if necessary. ˇ Public knowledge of performance indicators helps improve transparency and accountability of the government. ˇ They provide a better understanding of the linkages between the processes of implementation of NSAPR II (revised) and the outcomes in terms of achievements of the poverty reduction target. 102 NSAPR II (Revised) ˇ They facilitate checking the consistency of programme/project choices with NSAPR II (revised). ˇ Choice of a set of M & E indicators for poverty reduction leads to conceptual clarity and puts in place a data generation system which can help other related research and policy adoption. ˇ They provide a vehicle for monitoring the performance of the government by other stakeholders including the civil society who can put pressure to improve performance. 6.2.1 Evolution of Monitoring and Evaluation The National Poverty Focal Point (NPFP) of GED took initiatives to monitor the first NSAPR implementation at two levels. First, the National Steering Committee constituted the Independent Monitoring Committee comprising civil society representatives to provide a balanced and impartial assessment of the progress towards targets and causes of lack of progress with appropriate guidance for performance improvement. Secondly, GED/NPFP initiated the institutionalization of the government monitoring system focusing on the formation of working groups at the ministry/division level for all the thematic areas and their common terms of reference. The Independent Monitoring Committee interacted with GED/NPFP whenever it was felt necessary. The ministries/divisions formed working groups and initiated the monitoring process but the work did not proceed very far. Two obvious reasons for such an outcome have been identified: (i) lack of persuasion for information on the performance indicators by GED/NPFP, the working groups did not feel the urge to pursue the monitoring task. Lack of interest of the working groups in carrying out the task is derived to some extent from the lack of capacity of the planning wing/units in the thematic ministries in the form of lack of adequate institutional strength and skilled manpower. (ii) up-to-date data, which is at the heart of monitoring, was not available. The NSAPR contained a host of indicators with the expectation that the demand for data would lead to an appropriate response from the BBS in generating outcome and impact indicators. It was also expected that the research organisations including the private research bodies and NGOs would seize this opportunity of data generation with support from the donors. Institutional weakness and lack of funding inhibited the demand led process. Future attempts at monitoring will have to address these issues. During the preparation of NSAPR II, the GED/NPFP collected information on the indicators from different ministries and the BBS to evaluate the progress of first NSAPR. Data gaps in terms of lack of data and up-to-date data were identified, which constrained thorough assessment of the implementation progress. 6.2.2 Monitoring and Evaluation of NSAPR-II (revised) The process of monitoring and evaluation of NSAPR II (revised) will be a continuous one, involving a number of overlapping sets of activities. As mentioned in Section 6.1, working groups at the ministry/division level will be activated/formed shortly and they will prepare their action plans/road maps to implement the policy matrix relevant to them. Side by side with the action plan for implementation, they will also formulate an action plan for monitoring and evaluation based on the terms of reference provided by the GED/NPFP. Major steps of the monitoring and evaluation process will include the following: ˇ Development of conceptually sound and empirically feasible performance indicators; 103 NSAPR II (Revised) ˇ Establishing benchmarks on indicators to facilitate evaluation of progress toward target achievement; ˇ Institutionalizing a flexible and effective monitoring strategy based on clarity of the monitoring tasks; ˇ Progress monitoring on the action agenda spelled out in the policy matrices; ˇ Data generation for target achievements: census, surveys, qualitative studies and participatory poverty assessments. BBS, relevant agencies, academic and research institutions will have the responsibility and opportunity to generate relevant data; ˇ Evaluation of the achievement of targets of poverty reduction and MDGs; and ˇ Dissemination of results and interaction with the civil society, business community, media and other groups. The M & E system for NSAPR II (revised) is shown in Figure 6.1. 6.2.3 Data Generation for M & E Data on M&E indicators of revised NSAPR II (Annex-3) and attainment of MDGs will come from both government and non-government sources. Data on inputs and outputs will come primarily from concerned ministries/divisions. While some data on outcome/impact indicators may come from different ministries/divisions, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) will be mainly responsible for generating data on these indicators. The BBS is the major source of national sample surveys; it conducts HES/HIES, which is the major source of poverty statistics. There are also some MDG-related surveys, namely, DHS, VRS, and CLS. Data quality and the details of the definitions and methodology used in the major surveys conducted by the BBS should receive appropriate attention. There is a need for a review of all data sources that can be used for monitoring NSAPR II (revised) and MDGs. Need for special surveys and studies will have to be identified by the GED/NPFP, and BBS will need to align its data generation schedules with the requirements of GED/NPFP. Figure 6.1: Monitoring and Evaluation System of NSAPR II (revised) Setting targets of Choice of M & E Data generation: poverty reduction indicators quantitative & Poverty reduction qualitative strategies in NSAPR II M & E system development Data analysis, M & E results Suggestions for revision of priorities, and supplementary Interaction with programmes, collective stakeholders, actions areas for activists and civil Dissemination strengthening society groups implementation 104 NSAPR II (Revised) New rounds of surveys cannot be conducted simultaneously with HIES, because it will overburden BBS with consequent decline of quality. However, separate modules for NSAPR II (revised) and MDGs may be included in future HIES. In addition to the usual surveys, an effective monitoring system will require data from other appropriately designed special surveys. Some new surveys and specially designed evaluation studies may be conducted by research organizations like BIDS and other public and private research organizations. Clear identification of indicators followed by streamlining of the mechanisms for generating reliable data is necessary, but not sufficient for poverty assessment and the monitoring of NSAPR II (revised) programme implementation. Proper utilization of such data and analysis of the linkages between policies, programmes and resulting outcome and impact are essential for understanding the poverty reduction process. To achieve this, capacity building within the appropriate government institutions is an urgent need. 6.2.4 Institutional Strategy of M & E System Monitoring implementation of NSAPR II (revised) and evaluation of actual poverty reduction will require a well-designed institutional mechanism. Such a mechanism has been outlined in Table 6.1. This includes, on the one hand, the primary role of the government, with the GED/NPFP having a central role, and, on the other hand, an independent and supplementary role for academic/research organizations and civil society groups. The GED/NPFP will have the primary responsibility for developing the detailed strategies for NSAPR II (revised) monitoring. Responsibilities will include: a) collating official data on PRS monitoring, b) coordinating monitoring efforts within and outside the government, c) facilitating effective resolution of debates on indicators and methodologies and developing new indicators where necessary, d) undertaking relevant research and studies in collaboration with independent academic/research institutions and civil society groups, and e) facilitating feed back of outcome monitoring into policy making. Working groups at the ministry/division level will undertake measures for generating performance indicators relevant to the group. Progress towards attainment of targets will be assessed and the report will be sent to the GED/NPFP for coordination at the national level. Table 6.1: Institutional Process of revised NSAPR II Monitoring and Evaluation Task/Function Responsible entity 1. Review of progress of NSAPR II The National Steering Committee (NSC) on Poverty (revised) implementation and Reduction Strategy (PRS) attainment of MDGs. 2. Preparation of document on The National Poverty Focal Point (NPFP), General NSAPR II (revised) implementation Economics Division (GED), Planning Commission and attainment of MDGs. 3. Monitoring consistency of A Technical Committee headed by the Member, programmes and projects with Programming Division, Planning Commission and NSAPR II (revised). comprising all other members of the Planning Commission, secretaries of Finance Division, ERD, Planning Division, IMED and technical experts selected by the government 4. Annual evaluation of poverty GED/NPFP, independent academic/research reduction and causal factors, special institutions/ civil society/private sector organizations. studies on poverty and MDGs and public dialogue 105 NSAPR II (Revised) 6.2.5 M & E Indicators A list of indicators for M&E of revised NSAPR II and attainment of MDGs has been appended at Annex 3. The list is suggestive and will be refined by the working groups in consultation with NPFP/GED in the actual process of monitoring. Information on all indicators may not be available at the desired level of disaggregation. On certain dimensions of poverty reduction policies, indicators may be drawn from a number of sources. Therefore, some degree of overlap in the characteristics of indicators may be inevitable. This is especially true for `pro-poor growth' strategies, `women's advancement and rights' and `children's advancement and rights'. 6.2.6 Capacity Building for M & E Capacity building is necessary at all levels and in all institutions involved in the monitoring and evaluation task. The highlights of capacity building are: ˇ Capacity of BBS will be strengthened to enable it to conduct surveys, census and special surveys to produce quality data. The timing of these activities will match that of monitoring and evaluation of NSAPR II (revised) as well as preparation of future NSAPR; ˇ Suitable capacity-building of GED/NPFP will be achieved to enable it to guide the working groups and coordinate their activities and carry out the analytical work; ˇ The planning wings/units in the ministries/divisions will be strengthened with adequate manpower having appropriate skills; and ˇ A general awareness of preparation and monitoring and evaluation of NSAPR II (revised) will be created among the public officials through workshops and training programmes. 106 NSAPR II (Revised) Annex 1 Policy Matrices Sl. No. Page Policy Matrix 1 Macroeconomic Environment for Pro-poor Growth 108 Policy Matrix 2 Resource Mobilisation 115 Policy Matrix 3 Agricultural Growth for Poverty Reduction 116 Policy Matrix 4 Water Resources Development and Management 124 Policy Matrix 5 Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development 128 Policy Matrix 6 Promoting Decent Employment 133 Policy Matrix 7 Private Sector Development (PSD) 143 Policy Matrix 8 Land Use Policy and Management 151 Policy Matrix 9 Housing Development 153 Policy Matrix 10 Infrastructure Development including Power, Energy and Communications 155 Policy Matrix 11 Social Safety Net, Food Security, Disaster Management, Micro-credit and Rural Non- 166 farm Activities Policy Matrix 12 Improving Knowledge Base: Education, Training, and Research 173 Policy Matrix 13 Health, Nutrition, Population, and Food Safety 183 Social Inclusion and Empowerment- Women's Advancement and Rights 187 Social Inclusion and Empowerment- Children's Advancement and Rights 193 Policy Matrix 14 Social Inclusion and Empowerment- Indigenous People, People with Disability, and 202 Disadvantaged and Extreme Poor Groups Policy Matrix 15 Promoting Good Governance 206 Policy Matrix 16 Utility Services Development including Water, Sanitation and Urban Services 211 Policy Matrix 17 Caring for Environment and Tackling Climate Change 218 Policy Matrix 18 Technology Policy including ICT and Biotechnology 224 107 Policy Matrix 1: Macroeconomic Environment for Pro-poor Growth Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway NSAPR II Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 I. Enhance growth, particularly pro-poor growth Lead Responsibility: MoP and MoF Associate Responsibility: All other line ministries 1. Maintaining stable growth ˇ Maintain GDP growth rate of 5.9% in FY09, ˇ Increased flow of concessionary and quality funds ˇ Increase investment in both private and public sectors 5.5% in FY10 and 6.0% in FY11 ˇ Measures/actions to improve governance ˇ Increase productivity through use of appropriate technology ˇ Maintain the quality of the domestic sectors ˇ Fiscal stimulus to counter effects of global recession ˇ Human resources development ˇ Performance of the tax system improved ˇ Improve quality of public sector investment ˇ Continue fiscal stimulus to counter effects of global recession ˇ Promote fiscal discipline by DMFAS system Lead Responsibility: MoP, MoF Associate Responsibility: MoA, MoFL, MoI, MoLE 2. Ensuring pro-poor growth ˇ Increase agriculture growth rate to 4% ˇ Providing subsidy to agriculture (Diesel, fertilizer, seeds ˇ Increase poverty reducing expenditure to 8.5% of GDP. ˇ Ensure rural non-farm sector to expand by and power) ˇ Enhance subsidy to agriculture 10% ˇ Extended agricultural credit ˇ Ensure SME to grow by 15% ˇ Introduced expenditure tracking for pro-poor and gender sensitive budgeting ˇ Prepared guidelines for pro-poor and gender responsive budget 3. Ensuring pro-women growth ˇ Ensure women's employment to grow by 7% ˇ Give incentives to private sector to employ more women per annum ˇ Ensure women's quota in public sector jobs Lead Responsibility: MoF, BB Associate Responsibility: MoC 4. Reducing inflation ˇ Reduce inflation rate gradually to 6% by ˇ Market monitoring ˇ Central Bank to maintain cautious monetary policy FY11 ˇ Dialogues with business community ˇ Ensure supply of essential commodities and smooth functioning of ˇ Open market sale of essential goods for poor people market ˇ Encourage agricultural production through timely ˇ Undertake regular market monitoring and action against various availability of inputs at subsidised prices cartels and hoarding practices Lead Responsibility: MoF, BB Associate Responsibility: All Ministries 5. Maintaining fiscal discipline ˇ Keep budget deficit within 5% of GDP. ˇ Budget deficit kept within a reasonable level. ˇ Implement Public Resources and Budget Management Ordinance, 2008 ˇ Include quasi-fiscal expenditure in calculating budget deficit ˇ Undertake austerity measures to reduce waste in public expenditure ˇ Expand the use of DMFAS to all related agencies and data network to ensure data concurrence and accuracy ˇ Prepared Internal Control Manual (ICM) to ensure greater ˇ Strengthening of Internal Control Mechanism of the line ministries financial discipline in all line Ministries/ Divisions. Lead Responsibility: FD, PC Associate Responsibility: All Ministries 6. Enhancing efficient use of ˇ Ensure 90% implementation of ADP ˇ Increased number of MTBF ministries from 14 in FY 08 to ˇ Strengthen and deepen MTBF process to bring qualitative changes resources ˇ Bring 75% of the ministries/divisions under 16 in FY09 in public financial management and link public resources with MTBF ˇ Constituted Budget Management Committees (BMCs) for government policies, strategies and priorities giving attention to ˇ Ensure that for all activities of the efficient budget preparation, implementation and poverty reduction government at least 50% of the beneficiaries monitoring in MTBF ministries ˇ Ensure public allocation gives priority to poverty reduction and are poor and 33% of the beneficiaries are ˇ Public Expenditure Management Manual Published women and child advancement 108 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway NSAPR II Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 women ˇ Promulgated regulation for audit survey ˇ Take into account the recommendations of the Public Expenditure ˇ Promote regional balance in resource ˇ Following guidance of the PAC to enhance effectiveness of Review Commission in preparing budget. allocation foreign aid utilization ˇ Roll out budgeting system linking to policy to all Ministries and ˇ Harmonizing development partners' policies and Divisions procedures ˇ Put in place systems for effective follow-up of audit ˇ Arranged bi-partite and tripartite meetings to settle audit recommendations observations ˇ Maintain regional and gender equity in budgetary resource allocation ˇ Show revenue and capital expenditure separately in the budget Lead Responsibility: FD, all ministries 7. Promoting transparency in ˇ Established Performance Audit Directorate in 2007 and ˇ Prepare performance audit strategy resource use audit activities have been undertaken following INTOSAI ˇ Establish a framework for fiscal management reporting and control Guidelines. through operationalisation of the ICM in all ministries ˇ Implemented separation of accounts from audit ˇ Develop a standard consultation mechanism to get feedback for ˇ Introduced Public Financial Management Strategy (PFMS) quality and transparency in decision making for resource use ˇ Developed improved and transparent budget presentation Lead Responsibility: FD, C&AG 8. Improving accountability in ˇ Adopted Entity Wide Audit Strategy and Entity Wide ˇ Strengthen Entity wide Audit resource use activities are going on in four MTBF Ministries. ˇ Provide adequate support to the Public Accounts Committee ˇ Arranged exchange of views meetings for the MPs ˇ Report NSAPR implementation to Parliament and media annually ˇ Undertook PAC strengthening project. Manual preparation in a transparent manner for strengthening PAC is going on Lead Responsibility: PC, all ministries 9. Strengthening ˇ Ensure that all projects and programmes ˇ Simplified project preparation formats ˇ Take necessary steps to improve programme/project formulation programme/project formulation specify how poor and women are going to and approval procedure and approval procedure benefit and rank them accordingly ˇ Integrate poverty reduction and women and child advancement issues in the project preparation stage ˇ Ensure that every project/programme is designed to directly benefit poor Lead Responsibility: IMED, all ministries 10. Strengthening public ˇ Formulated and put in place public procurement regulation ˇ Identify and rectify weaknesses in PPR procurement procedure ˇ Continue training to the officials on PPR Lead Responsibility: FD, GED, IMED, Line Ministries 11. Strengthening overall and ˇ GoB is committed to design, initiate and implement ˇ Formulate mechanism to provide regular feedback to poverty sector level monitoring and appropriate steps to achieve the MDGs by 2015, and to reduction projects/programmes formulation evaluation strengthen its monitoring through MDG Progress Report ˇ Conduct PRS monitoring and evaluation in a systematic manner ˇ MDG Progress Report was released in 2005 and 2007 ˇ Strengthen capacity of ministries and divisions to monitor and evaluate progress of development projects Lead Responsibility: GED, FD Associate Responsibility: BBS 12. Enhancing analytical ˇ Disaggregated data on recurrent, capital, gender and ˇ Strengthen information system, analytical ability and modelling capability in formulating national poverty (RCGP) expenditure model developed capability of the Finance Division and GED, Planning Commission policies ˇ Developed format to get more gender disaggregated data ˇ Provide professional training to top officials engaged in fiscal on public expenditure management 109 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway NSAPR II Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Installation of Transaction Accounting System in accounts ˇ Establish a Macro Fiscal Unit in the Finance Division offices and Wide Area Network in District Accounts ˇ Impart training to the staff of Finance Division and GED, Planning Offices, ministries/divisions and FD Commission ˇ FD officers are being trained for improving the modelling ˇ Strengthen technical capacity and inter-ministerial linkages of the capability NPFP/GED ˇ A web based integrated Budget and Accounting System being introduced 13. Improving macroeconomic ˇ Undertake a smaller scale poverty survey ˇ Strengthen the capacity of BBS and establish it as an autonomous and sectoral data between two HIES organization with sufficient human and financial resources ˇ Undertake labour force survey every three years II. Make Monetary Policy Effective Lead Responsibility: BB, NSD 14. Improving monetary ˇ Reduce inflation ˇ Recently revised the statutory liquidity ratio for scheduled ˇ Develop alternative savings instruments for the poor (Coupon bond management ˇ Support higher growth banks from 16% to 18% and cash reserve requirement of lower denomination, long term bond of small amount) ˇ Maintain competitive real exchange rates from 4.5% to 5% ˇ Ensure easier access of poor and women to bank ˇ Reduced interest rate on National Savings Certificates and ˇ Develop/deepen Inter-bank money market the rate structure gradually linked to Treasury Bill rates ˇ Modernize all aspects of BB's operations ˇ Liberalised Treasury Bill rates and introduced Repo and ˇ Strengthen BB's capability for effective supervision Reverse Repo facilities ˇ Increase quality of CAMEL rating ˇ Introduced Auctions of 5-year and 10-year term ˇ Strengthen autonomy of Bangladesh Bank Government Treasury Bonds bearing half-yearly interest coupons ˇ Introduced long-term treasury bonds (2, 3 and 5 years) ˇ Promoted secondary market for government bonds ˇ Developed savings instruments for fixed income earners ˇ Undertook programmes to strengthen capacity of BB III. Make Capital Market Active Lead Responsibility: MoF, SEC, BB 15. Developing domestic bond ˇ Promoted issuance of corporate bonds and securitization ˇ Develop domestic bond market by encouraging securitization, and market by addressing regulatory and tax issues corporate bond issuance through further legal/regulatory changes ˇ Achieved significant cost reduction in respect of issuance of securities that includes all forms of debentures/bonds ˇ Reduced withholding tax on interest income of Government Bond to 10% ˇ Popularized government and corporate bonds through investor education programme and interaction with stakeholders 16. Developing stock market ˇ Increase capitalization/GDP rate to 25 ˇ Formulated different rules and regulations and developed ˇ Strengthen the surveillance system of SEC to protect the interest of percent warning system to control irregularities of companies the investors in share market ˇ Undertook measures to increase transparency of ˇ Extend share market and brokerage facilities in important cities and companies by enforcing requirements of publishing towns 110 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway NSAPR II Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 financial statements in every six months ˇ Strengthen capability of SEC in controlling and developing capital ˇ Increase of facilities for investors in storing their share market scripts under a depository account and monitoring the ˇ Provide facilities for investors for online transaction and balance in BO Account verification of the balance of their personal accounts ˇ Provide regular training and create awareness to increase knowledge ˇ New merchant banks registered of the investors ˇ Bring foreign companies into the purview of stock market by providing incentives and changing laws ˇ Establish Capital Market Institute to undertake research and training IV. Reform Financial Sector Lead Responsibility: BB,MOF 17. Restructuring NCBs ˇ Three NCBs (Sonali, Janata and Agrani) converted into ˇ Sell Rupali Bank/convert it into a public limited company public limited companies ˇ Operate state owned banks under 5-year business plan ˇ MoU signed with NCBs to restrict new lending, minimize operating expenses, reduce non-performing loan (NPL), and rationalize branch network ˇ Established Artha Rin Adalat to facilitate collection of overdue loans ˇ Undertook special audits of four NCBs ˇ Appointed financial Adviser to Rupali Bank and published international tender for its sale ˇ Appointed a management team for NCBs to improve efficiency 18. Improving bank regulation/ ˇ Strengthened prudential regulations and banking ˇ Continue enhance skills of supervisors of BB l supervision regulations ˇ Build professional leadership in Bangladesh Bank ˇ Setting up of effective internal control ˇ Strengthen Bangladesh Bank with less government intervention ˇ Increased capital adequacy requirements from 8% to 9% ˇ Continue placement of right people in right job on risk-weighted basis ˇ Increased minimum capital requirement for banks from Tk. 200 million to Tk.1,000 million ˇ Dividend declaration by bank in excess of 20 percent is allowed only if equivalent amount is set aside for reserve ˇ Reduced single borrower limit by half ˇ Bangladesh Bank issued regulations to control loan default ˇ Approval of amendments to enhance autonomy and regulatory power of BB ˇ Introduced new risk analysis, lending policies, loan follow- up and loan recovery process 19. Improving corporate ˇ Reconstituted Boards of NCBs and SDBs with inclusion of ˇ Enhance and pursue more demanding accounting and disclosure governance of Banks women requirements for banks and NBFIs ˇ Delegated some powers of the FD to the NCB Boards, and decentralization has been implemented amongst different 111 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway NSAPR II Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 layers of management ˇ New incentive scheme has been introduced for improving performance, including collection of NPLs ˇ Loan recovery department has been strengthened ˇ Powers and responsibilities of banks and management have been made transparent ˇ Introduced appropriate qualifications for chief executives of PCBs ˇ Implemented most of the recommendations made by the Committee on Default Loans ˇ Qualifications of bank directors have been determined and their number has been reduced V. Promote Exports Lead Responsibility: MoC, FD, BB 20. Increasing exports ˇ Increase export growth rate from 12.0 % in ˇ Formulated a three-year Export Policy (2009-2012) to ˇ Undertake further measures to reduce trade transaction costs FY09 to 16.5% in FY11 make the export sector more competitive ˇ Effective implementation of Export policy 2009-12 ˇ Registrar of Joint Stock Companies has been ˇ Undertake actions on the basis of research and consultation with reorganised and automation is being introduced. the stakeholders for enhancing external competitiveness ˇ Reorganisation of EPB, Bangladesh Tariff ˇ Strengthen one-stop-service for exports at EPB Commission, CCI&E is in process ˇ Improve productivity in export sector ˇ Skill-based training for entrepreneurship development is ˇ Fiscal stimulus package to counter effects of global recession to being imparted to promote small and medium enterprises continue ˇ An action plan has been adopted to remove anti-export bias ˇ Fiscal stimulus package to counter effects of global recession ˇ Bank lending rate brought down to 12 to 13 percent ˇ Export development fund enhanced by 50 percent ˇ Ensure that all enterprises adhere to ˇ Compliance Measures in respect of social and ˇ Increase awareness of managerial people and entrepreneurs on 21. Strengthening Compliance in compliance standards environmental standards are under implementation social and environmental compliance. exports ˇ Implementation of labour law Lead Responsibility: MoTJ, MoC, BTMA, Business Chambers, BGMEA Associate Responsibility: FD, MoLE, MoWCA, MoSW, EPB, NBR, BB, Tariff Commission ˇ Measures have been taken to encourage expansion of PTS ˇ Provide facilities to backward linking sectors ˇ Measures have been taken for improvement of ports and ˇ Take steps for port development and simplification and reduction customs procedures of customs clearance and regulatory procedures ˇ Shipping Ministry has undertaken a project on improving ˇ Develop branding for Bangladesh Garments the port's efficiency ˇ Analyse and address export barriers issues and coordinate efforts 22. Promoting backward linkage in export activities ˇ Actions initiated to provide support to strengthen the with other LDCs capability of Institute of Fashion and Technology (BIFT) ˇ Undertake initiatives for duty free and quota free access for RMG to US market ˇ Undertake efforts for diversification of RMG exports ˇ Ensure preferential treatment in different country markets including CIS, China and India 112 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway NSAPR II Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Provide budgetary support for Skill Development Training of workers, people at managerial level and entrepreneurs ˇ Provide support to strengthen the capability of BGMEA Institute of Fashion and Technology (BIFT) ˇ Provide support in the context of withdrawal of safeguards from China in EU and USA Lead Responsibility: MoC, EPB Associate Responsibility: MoI, Missions Abroad, BGMEA, BSTI 23. Diversifying export ˇ Increase export share to non-US and non- ˇ Measures have been taken to explore markets in the East- ˇ Continue initiatives for diversification of exports including destination Euro market to 35.0 percent from current European countries diversification of garments and textiles 28.5 percent ˇ Support to market exploring activities is being undertaken ˇ Increase participation in international fairs and exhibitions in a ˇ Quota/duty free access has been obtained to EU, Canada, professional way Australia, Norway, and New Zealand ˇ Stregenthen Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) for ˇ Joined three regional free trade blocks- SAFTA, BIMSTEC organizing international trade fairs in a more professional way and TPS-OIC ˇ Strengthen Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) and ˇ Sending missions to Africa, South and South-East Asia Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) to control quality for ˇ BGMEA has employed lobbyist for obtaining duty free exports and for certification and accreditation access to USA for textile and RMG 24. Diversifying export items ˇ Increase non-garment export share to 35% ˇ More products like handicrafts, agro-processing, vegetables ˇ Enhance fiscal, monetary and other incentives to continue to and vegetable-processing, pharmaceutical and light broaden the export base engineering products are under scrutiny for cash incentives ˇ Undertake market studies in several buyers' countries to identify the ˇ To promote export of SMEs products and non-traditional demand and the problems of existing products in marketing items, the Government is providing incentives including ˇ Establish Small Special Economic Zones in different parts of the credit and cash incentives country for cluster development of products and facilities VI. Liberalize Imports Lead Responsibility: MoC, Tariff Commission Associate Responsibility: MoI, FD, NBR, Business Chambers 25. Providing freer trade ˇ Reduce effective import protection further by ˇ An Import Policy Order (2006-09) has been formulated to ˇ Reduce the average protective tariff to 15 percent environment 25% ensure greater degree of transparency and continuity ˇ Continue to rationalize quantitative restrictions ˇ Tariffs on intermediate inputs have been reduced ˇ Apply prudently duty escalation and rationalization ˇ There has been significant rationalization in the tariff- ˇ Enhance revenue mobilization efforts to reduce the dependence on structure with the number of tariff slabs reduced to 4 import taxes ˇ The number of banned and restricted items has been ˇ Further rationalise supplementary duties brought down to 24 from 122 ˇ Effectively implement Import Policy 2006-2009 ˇ Rationalized supplementary duties from 31 to 5 ˇ Import license fee on all imports has been withdrawn VII. Promote Remittances Lead Responsibility: MoEWOE Associate Responsibility: FD, NBR, BB 26. Augmenting ˇ Increase remittance inflow by 25.0 % annually ˇ Processing of remittances through official channels has ˇ Continue follow up measures to encourage flow of remittances inflow of remittances been streamlined by establishing banks/exchange houses in through the legal channel different countries and setting remittance cells in all NCBs ˇ Take further actions to increase remittances through official ˇ Task forces have been formed at national and regional channel levels to monitor the implementation of the Money ˇ Continue to strengthen anti-money laundering surveillance Laundering Prevention Act 2002 ˇ Support Postal Department in transferring remittance in rural areas ˇ A Monitoring Cell has been opened at FD to redress the 113 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway NSAPR II Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 grievances of remitters ˇ Actions have been taken for identification, intensification and diversification of external labour market ˇ Diplomatic initiatives adopted to prevent retrenchment of labour and explore new labour markets abroad VIII. Build Capacity for Trade Development Lead Responsibility: MoC, EPB Associate Responsibility: MoFA, NBR, BB, Tariff Commission, BSTI, FBCCI, CPD, BFTI 27. Improving trade negotiation ˇ Actions initiated to enhance trade negotiation capability by ˇ Strengthen WTO Cell and Bangladesh Tariff Commission capability strengthening WTO Cell in Ministry of Commerce and ˇ Undertake measures to build capacity regarding trade negotiations Bangladesh Tariff Commission. and WTO rules and regulations ˇ Actions initiated to strengthen Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) Lead Responsibility: EPB, MoS, MoCAT, MoEWOE Associate Responsibility: All service oriented ministries 28. Building capacity in trade ˇ Trade Facilitation Project is in operation ˇ Modernise Chittagong and Mongla ports facilitation ˇ Automation introduced in Chittagong customs house ˇ Simplify trade related formalities ˇ Automation introduced in Dhaka customs house ˇ Ensure effective monitoring of the performance of Trade Facilitation project in different departments and ministries ˇ Strengthen the trade related information system ˇ Undertake needs assessment on trade facilitation for identifying key measures and sequencing 29. Building capacity for services ˇ Increase growth of exports of services by 13.0 ˇ Invest for assessment of training needs for export of services exports percent annually ˇ Invest on training for development of tourism ˇ A Trade Information Centre has been established at EPB ˇ Develop human skill on Trade Information 30. Developing trade data base ˇ Develop trade related website Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 31.43 114 Policy Matrix 2: Resource Mobilisation Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: NBR, MoF Associate Responsibility: FD, MoE, and MoLJPA 1. Enhancing tax effort ˇ Increase total revenue to 11.5 % of ˇ Measures have been taken to implement the suggestions of the ˇ Continue reforms and revenue enhancing measures GDP Commission on Reforming the Public Revenue System ˇ Shorten VAT exemption list on production and imports ˇ Increase the share of direct tax and ˇ Based on the recommendations of the Commission, measures have ˇ Expand VAT net VAT been taken to further modernise and rationalise the taxation system ˇ Expand Income tax net ˇ Increase more transparency and anti- ˇ Revision of the related laws of Customs, VAT & Income Tax are ˇ Introduce unified TIN for Income Tax and VAT corruption drive at all administrative under process ˇ Further modernise and rationalise the taxation system levels ˇ Introduce automated system of tax collection ˇ Undertake zero tolerance policy for the tax evaders ˇ Withdraw irrational tax exemptions Tax ombudsman appointed ˇ Necessary legal measures will be brought to make the NBR an ˇ 2. Improve tax administration autonomous tax authority in line with other countries Lead Responsibility: NBR, MoF Associate Responsibility:: FD, MoE, and MoLJPA 3. Improving tax administration to ˇ Steps are under way to bring all wholesale and retail trade, ˇ Reorganize VAT field administration on a functional basis make the tax system more efficient especially in urban areas, under VAT as well as to collect Income away from present territorial basis Tax from them ˇ Complete necessary changes in VAT laws and procedures ˇ Automation of Accounts of those establishments are under way to and re-deploy officials ensure correct record of transaction and therefore VAT & Income ˇ Similar actions will be taken with respect to Customs, Tax Income tax and other taxes ˇ Administration re-organisation has started with a view to reaching ˇ Re-organise NBR on a functional basis down to smallest all taxable units and individuals in the country units at field level ˇ A survey has been undertaken to ascertain the areas/individuals left ˇ Strengthen tax collection departments by making out of the tax-net territorial and functional re-adjustments to ensure effective presence of tax collection departments Lead Responsibility: NBR, MoF Associate Responsibility: FD, MoE, and MoLJPA 4. Generating more revenue from ˇ Ensure non-tax revenue's share in total ˇ Non-tax revenue rates on various items have substantially been ˇ Undertake further measures to enhance non-tax revenue non-tax sources revenue to be 18 % enhanced to augment revenue mobilization Lead Responsibility: ERD, MoF Associate Responsibility: PC, FD, IMED 5. Ensuring increased donor fund ˇ Make financing gap to be met ˇ Efforts are being made to mobilise more official development ˇ Establish harmonisation, alignment and result-framework inflow assistance between the GoB and the DPs ˇ Bangladesh Aid Harmonisation Action Plan has been prepared ˇ Formulate Joint Cooperation Strategies (JCS) with DPs Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 29.75 115 Policy Matrix 3: Agricultural Growth for Poverty Reduction Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Sub-Sector: Crops Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: DAE, NARS, BADC, DAM, BMDA, BCIC, FD and MoFDM 1. Increasing productivity and ˇ Reduce yield gaps between on-farm and research ˇ Formulated National Agriculture Policy and Plan of ˇ Increase budget allocation for agriculture sector profitability in crop sub-sector station Action ˇ Increase subsidy for agricultural inputs ˇ Increase production of cereal crops from 30.5 ˇ 47 HYVs and 1 hybrid rice variety developed and ˇ Strengthen agricultural marketing services million tons to 37.6 million tons by 2011 adopted ˇ Undertake appropriate skill development programme for ˇ Increase production of other field crops ˇ Innovative and profitable technologies of fruits, scientists and extension workers including horticulture and plantation crops by vegetables, oilseeds, pulses, spices etc are being used ˇ Reform input (fertilizer, seed) supply policy 10% ˇ Sixty eight HYVs & 70 integrated crop management ˇ Undertake Agricultural Sector Review ˇ Increase production of major crops technologies adopted by farmers ˇ Undertake action plan to increase production of major crops ˇ Diversify crop production ˇ Strengthened research-extension-farmers-private ˇ Enhance human resource development in agriculture sector sector linkages ˇ Strengthen biotechnology research and development ˇ Ensured phytosanitary and quarantine measures ˇ Reduce residual effect of pesticides ˇ Implemented integrated agricultural development ˇ Strengthen agricultural mechanization programme ˇ Accelerate development of improved technologies ˇ Recommended soil test based fertilizer application ˇ Provide agricultural credit and simplify lending procedure ˇ Recommended use of LCC, USG and drum seeders ˇ Provide loan to sharecroppers ˇ Programme undertaken for reducing yield gaps ˇ Reduce post-harvest loss ˇ ADP allocation for agriculture sector has been raised ˇ Disseminate technology for rural women ˇ Agricultural marketing services is strengthened by implementing projects ˇ Target extension services (training, information and demonstration) to women for promoting organic fertilizer, ˇ Expanded agriculture information network up to food processing etc. on a commercial basis Upazila ˇ Ensure fair price for all crops and agricultural products ˇ Strengthened production and distribution of all classes of seeds, seedlings and saplings ˇ Formulation of regional production plans based on past price trends ˇ Training on reduction of yield gap imparted to extension personnel Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: DAE, NARS, BADC, DAM, BMDA, BCIC, FD and MoFDM 2. Ensuring food security ˇ Increase production of rice, wheat, maize, ˇ `National Food Policy 2006' and the National Food ˇ Reformulate Policy for Safety Net Programmes for poor potatoes, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, Policy Plan of action 2008-2015' formulated extreme poor and urban poor sugarcane, tuber crops and spices ˇ 600 demonstrations of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, ˇ Implement `National Food Policy Plan of Action' ˇ Improve nutrition intake of poor through vegetables, tuber crops and fruits and on-farm trials at ˇ Formulate organic food production policy promotion of crop diversification 21 technology villages completed ˇ Strengthen research on salinity, sub-mergence and drought ˇ Produce nutritious and safe food ˇ Action Plan for increasing yield of 7 crops undertaken tolerant variety development ˇ Prepared crop suitability maps (rice, wheat, potatoes, ˇ Ensure intra-household food security focusing on women pulse) at 40 Upazila level through targeted food and nutrition programmes ˇ Undertake awareness campaign on nutritional intake Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: DAE, NARS, BADC and BSFIC 3. Encouraging production of cash ˇ Increase production of jute, cotton and ˇ 20 new varieties of sugarcane are developed and ˇ Continue research and extension development of cash crops crops sugarcane by 8.5 percent, 2.6 percent and 16 adopted based on market demand percent respectively by 2011 ˇ One HYV of jute is developed and adopted ˇ Recast policy for encouraging cultivation of cash and ˇ Increase production of plantation crops (tea, ˇ Varietal development programme of high value crops plantation crops 116 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 rubber) undertaken ˇ Provide support to women to undertake production of cash ˇ Two jute mutants developed crops ˇ Two advanced mutants of tomato developed ˇ BSFIC is providing credit to the sugarcane producers ˇ Varietal development programme of jute, summer and winter tomato taken up Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: DAE, BARI, BADC, Hortex Foundation, NGOs, Universities, Private Sectors and MoCAT 4. Accelerating production of high ˇ Increase production of high value crops ˇ Cash incentives for export of vegetables and fruits ˇ Strengthen Hortex Foundation and DAM value crops for domestic and export (vegetables, fruits, flowers) by 20% per annum given ˇ Strengthen coordination of research organizations, extension, market ˇIncrease production of medicinal, ornamental and ˇ Contract growing of high value crops (vegetables, private and NGO participation aromatic plants fruits, flowers etc) encouraged ˇ Enhanced Public-Private partnership ˇ More than 20 HYVs of high value crops already in the ˇ Develop market facilities focusing on poor farmers production system ˇ Strengthen research and development activities of BARI ˇ IPM technologies for high value crops adopted by relating to high value crops farmers ˇ Strengthen Horticulture and ASC's programme of BADC, ˇ Group marketing of high value crop fostered DAE and other relevant organizations ˇ Quality-production- village of fruits and vegetables developed ˇ Explore export markets for high value crops for pre- and post harvest quality assurance ˇ Encourage and provide support to women to undertake ˇ Prepared maps and reports delineating potential areas production of high value crops for high value crops at Upazila level and Mouza level ˇ A proposal for strengthening DAM submitted Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: SRDI, DAE, BARI, BARC and MoL 5. Improving land resource base ˇ Prevent crop land from non-agricultural uses ˇ Use of balanced fertilizers and bio-fertilizers ˇ Undertake further efforts to improve soil quality and land ˇ Improve/sustain soil fertility through increasing encouraged administration organic contents ˇ Introduced soil health card on pilot basis ˇ Encourage use of balanced fertilizers based on soil test ˇ Encourage AEZ based cropping patterns ˇ Soil test based fertilizer recommendation through soil ˇ Encourage balanced use of inorganic and organic fertilizers mini lab at Upazila and union level continued ˇ Special programme for compost and green manure production and use continued ˇ Soil survey completed in 60 Upazila ˇ Established 11 laboratories and modernized 5 existing laboratories and 2 MSTL Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: BARC, NARS, KGF, Universities, Associated Research Institutes and Private Sectors 6. Strengthening agricultural ˇ Develop improved crop technologies for quick ˇ Allocation of research funds gradually increased ˇ Improve scientists' quality and incentive structure research dissemination ˇ Alternative sources of research funds on competitive ˇ Allocate adequate funds for R&D ˇ Promote biotechnology research for crops basis explored ˇ Adopt biotechnology policy for implementation ˇ National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB) established ˇ Undertake socio-economic research and programme ˇ 47 HYVs of rice and 370 HYVs of other crops ˇ Strengthen soil management with emphasis on soil degradation developed and disseminated related research ˇ Three jute varieties developed ˇ Strengthen human resource development and laboratory ˇ Developed and disseminated 6 farm machinery facilities for transgenic research (Reaper, HS rotary tiller, thresher, upland weeder, ˇ Conduct socio-economic research for problem identification, power winnower and BARI plough) technology generation and dissemination to women in 117 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Soil management including soil degradation related participating income generating activities research initiated ˇ Ensure that research benefits poor and expands opportunities ˇ Research on biotechnology continued for them ˇ Biotechnology laboratory development undertaken Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: DAE, BADC, DAM, BMDA, FD and MoFDM 7. Strengthening agriculture ˇ Ensure pro-poor and pro-women focus on ˇ New Agricultural Extension Policy, Plan of Action for ˇ Continue the existing extension approaches extension service extension services NAP and the strategic plan implemented ˇ Undertake door step extension service to support women's ˇ Develop Local Service Providers from the poor ˇ Strengthened modern cultivation practices through participation in agricultural activities resource farmers different extension approaches ˇ Update policies and action plans with changing conditions ˇ Develop agri-business services ˇ Farmers' Observation Trials (FOTs) /Block ˇ Strengthen capacity building of researchers, extension workers ˇ Execute new extension policy Demonstrations have been conducted and farmers ˇ Different extension programmes for technology ˇ Ensure revitalization of coordinated platforms (UECC, transfer developed by research institutes DECC, RECC, NECC) for technology transfer ˇ Developed market chain through group based farming ˇ Continue planning through bottom-up approach with the ˇ Developed market infrastructure participation of farmers, especially poor ˇ Research-extension linkage through annual review ˇ Implement demand driven decentralized extension approach programme implemented ˇ Disseminate new technology through mass media ˇ Latest technology on pulses, oilseeds and spices ˇ Develop technologies to help women undertake more income disseminated through BARC coordinated action plan generation activities in agriculture ˇ Three year action plan for increasing rice production ˇ Strengthen extension-research-farmers linkage undertaken Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: BADC, BMDA, DAE, BWDB, LGED, MoWR and Private Sectors 8. Expanding irrigation with ˇ Increase irrigation coverage, especially to less ˇ Policies towards deregulation and market liberalization ˇ Continue pro-market policies for irrigation development emphasis on efficient use of water developed areas already encouraged private sector to participate in ˇ Improve efficiency of water use and on-farm water resources ˇ Improve on-farm water management/water minor irrigation management productivity ˇ Public sector irrigation systems are being rationalized ˇ Emphasise private sector minor irrigation system ˇ Emphasize conjunctive use of surface and for improvement of performance and cost recovery. ˇ Develop irrigation infrastructure through government ground water for irrigation ˇ Expansion of irrigation facilities to 5.35 million intervention ˇ Re-excavate derelict canals, ponds for rain water hectares of land by operating different irrigation ˇ Encourage efficient water management for more coverage harvest modes and equipments ˇ Facilities for conjunctive use of ground and surface water for irrigation developed Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: BADC, DAE, BARI, BJRI, BRRI, BINA, Universities, SCA, NGOs, BARC and Private Sectors 9. Promoting quality seed ˇ Increase availability of quality seeds for cereals ˇ Existing seed policy and seed rules updated ˇ Implement fully existing seed policy and seed rules development and other crops ˇ BARI, BSRI and BJRI undertaken steps for providing ˇ strengthen use of bio-technologies in seed development ˇ Expedite private sector participation in seed breeder seeds for multiplying into foundation seeds ˇ Enhance involvement of private sector in seed production and production and business development ˇ Private sector supported for seed development and business ˇ Promote increased use of bio-technologies in seed business ˇ Strengthen capacity building for seed technology research and variety development and planting material ˇ Farmers' level quality seed production and storage breeder/foundation, certified seed and TLS production propagation programme undertaken ˇ Strengthen programme for restoration of and patenting local ˇ Quality seeds of cereals (66971 mt) produced and variety seeds distributed ˇ Provide support to women to undertake seed production and 118 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ 1060 kg jute breeder seeds supplied to BADC by BJRI conservation activities on a commercial basis for producing certified and foundation seeds Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: DAM, Hortex Foundation, BADC, DAE, NGOs, BARC and Private Sectors 10. Improving agricultural marketing ˇ Reduce producer-consumer price spread ˇ Location-specific information about crop prices ˇ Further strengthen capacity of DAM services ˇ Reduce marketing costs of crops provided by DAM ˇ Establishment of Agricultural Price Commission ˇ Develop marketing facilities ˇ Local market system strengthened ˇ Develop further the existing markets and establish new market ˇ Improve value chain of specific product ˇ BMDA constructed 120 km rural road and 65 places ˇ Ensure business development services (BDS) bridge/culverts ˇ Strengthen price analysis, forecasting, market research and ˇ Strengthening forecasting system of prices of ˇ Construction of 45 markets completed development agricultural inputs, products, supply and demand ˇ About 100 Farmers Marketing Group (FMG) being ˇ Improve transport facilities formed in Rajshahi Division ˇ Strengthen Agri-Business Development Services through ˇ A interactive website launched by DAM linking 42 developing Local Service Providers (LSP) districts for disseminating different market ˇ Strengthen agricultural marketing extensions services information ˇ Ensure women farmer's access to farmers market ˇ One cool chamber in Narshingdi and two processing centres at Savar and in Comilla under construction Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: DAM, Hortex Foundation, DAE, BADC, NGOs, BARC and Private Sectors 11. Promoting agro-processing and ˇ Increase opportunities for value addition to crops ˇ Increased budget allocation and incentive package ˇ Continue supports to agro-entrepreneurs agri-business development ˇ Strengthen linkages among farmers, traders, declared for agro-entrepreneurs ˇ Strengthen government-NGO-Private sector collaboration processors and business service providers ˇ Agri-business development project undertaken ˇ Provide Agri-credit at preferential rates to small and women ˇ Introduce agri-insurance policy ˇ Established cool chambers and processing centres entrepreneurs ˇ Farmers training and trainers training undertaken ˇ Encourage agro-entrepreneurs for agro-processing and agri- ˇ Provided working capital through credit provision business development involving poor and women ˇ Agri-business development project implemented Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: DAM, Hortex Foundation, DAE, BADC, NGOs, BARC and Private Sectors 12. Promoting investment in ˇ Make provision for appropriate financial support ˇ Support provided to distribution of agricultural ˇ Rationalise level of subsidy for increasing efficiency and agriculture to research, extension and farmers to ensure level inputs competitiveness playing field for them ˇ Investment in agricultural research increased ˇ Develop savings policy for the rural poor particularly for poor ˇ Encourage farmers for developing saving habits ˇ Limited subsidy provided women ˇ Credit facilities provided for small scale investment in ˇ Provide agricultural credit at lower interest rate particularly to agriculture through DAE marginal and women farmers ˇ Women trained on post-harvest handling and processing technologies by DAE Lead Responsibility: MoA Associate Responsibility: DAE, DAM, Hortex Foundation, BADC, BARC, BINA, BRRI, Universities, Other Research Institutes, NGOs, and Private Sectors 13. Mainstreaming women in ˇ Enhance women's participation in crop ˇ National Agriculture Policy emphasized participation ˇ Create further enabling environment for women in agriculture agriculture sector agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry of women in agriculture ˇ Encourage and provide assistance to women to undertake ˇ Women targeted in extension and training farming activities on a commercial basis programme ˇ Encourage women as extension workers ˇ Nearly 6000 women trained in income generating ˇ Providing agricultural credit to women farmers activities 119 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Sub-Sector: Fisheries Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: DoF, BFRI, BFDC, Fish Farmers, Fish Traders, MiL, MoWR, NGOs and Private Sectors 14. Increasing productivity in inland ˇ Increase aquaculture production up to 13.7 lakh ˇ Formulated fisheries sub-sector road map ˇ Undertake development programme in accordance with inland aquaculture MT by 2011 ˇ Formulated inland aquaculture sub-strategy aquaculture sub-strategy and fisheries sector road map ˇ Strengthen human resources development for ˇ Imparted training on different aquaculture techniques ˇ Expand fisheries extension service up to union level and aquaculture to fish farmers, hatchery, nursery operators and fishers ensure quality fish seed for the farmers ˇ Disburse micro credit for fish farmers and ˇ Enhanced supply of quality brood and fish seed ˇ Strengthen institutional capacity of DoF disseminate improved aquaculture technologies ˇ Developed water bodies through different projects ˇ Update fisheries policy and strategies ˇ Maximize pond aquaculture coverage and ˇ Micro credit distributed to poor and marginal farmers ˇ Strengthen intra and inter sector linkages including encourage private sector ˇ Training and credit programme under Youth government-NGO partnership Department ˇ Strengthen research-extension-farmers linkage ˇ Undertake massive programme for releasing fish fries in open waters Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: DoF, BFRI, BFDC, Fish Farmers, MiL, MoWR, MoYS, MoLJPA, CBOs, NGOs, Fisheries Households and Private Sectors 15. Increasing productivity in inland ˇ Increase fish production from semi closed and ˇ Formulated inland capture fisheries (ICF) sub-strategy ˇ Undertake development programme in accordance with inland capture fisheries closed inland water bodies ˇ Popularized Community Based Fisheries Management capture fisheries sub-strategy and fisheries sector road map ˇ Reclaim and improve fish habitats and sanctuaries ˇ LEAF (Local Extension Agent for Fisheries) ˇ Ensure that Jalmahals are handed over to DoF as per ˇ Restore and conserve indigenous and endangered promoted requirement fish species ˇ Restored fish habitat ˇ Consolidate regulatory framework ˇ Established 377 fish sanctuaries ˇ Update Jalmahal management policy and ensure greater ˇ Declared 4 protected areas for Jatka-Hilsa involvement of poor and women ˇ Hilsa action plan implemented ˇ Promote and expand CBMF activities ˇ Jatka protection programme executed. ˇ Develop public-private partnership approach Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: DoF, BFRI, Fish Farmers, Fish Traders, CBOs, NGOs and Private Sectors 16. Raising income of poor fishers ˇ Increase income from fish catch and improved ˇ Enhanced fish catch from open waters ˇ Ensure poor fishermen's ownership of Khas Jalmahals fish marketing ˇ Micro credit provided for AIGAs ˇ Encourage women to participate in fishery production ˇ Increase income from Alternate Income ˇ VGD/VGF programme for Jatka fishers introduced activities Generating Activities (AIGAs) during the lean as a support for alternate livelihood ˇ Undertake activities for generation of fishermen's own capital season ˇ Increased Hilsa catch ˇ Develop low cost and improved fish processing, packaging ˇ Strengthen value chain in fish/fish bi-product ˇ Imparted training to poor fishers on different trades and transportation systems marketing ˇ Strengthen fish marketing policy Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: DoF, DAE, BRRI, CBOs, NGOs and Private Sectors 17. Promoting rice cum fish culture ˇ Introduce fish production in rice field ˇ Imparted training on rice cum fish/shrimp culture ˇ Popularize rice cum fish/shrimp culture concurrently and alternately ˇ Provided micro credit for rice cum fish/shrimp ˇ Emphasise rice cum fish culture in fishery curricula and culture mainstream training programme ˇ Rice cum fish culture strategy is emphasized in ˇ Develop and disseminate technology for profitable rice cum existing fishery research and extension policy fish culture ˇ Demonstrations on rice-fish culture undertaken ˇ Encourage NGO and private sector collaboration in rice cum ˇ Farmers' training, farmers' rally and motivational tour fish/shrimp culture for promoting rice fish culture conducted 120 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: BFRI, DoF, MoI, MoHFW, MoL, MoWCA, MoF, MoEMR, Fish Farmers, and Private Sectors 18. Strengthening fisheries research ˇ Accelerate fisheries research for higher ˇ Fisheries research arranged in BFRI, BAU and other ˇ Strengthen fisheries research in collaboration with the and extension productivity universities Universities and private sector ˇ Strengthen extension of new technologies ˇ DoF provides fisheries extension services ˇ Expand fisheries extension services up to Union level Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: DoF, BFRI, BFDC, CBOs, Fishers, Exporters, Bangladesh Navy, Coast Guard, Commercial Fishing Vessel etc. 19. Increasing productivity of ˇ Increase sustainable marine and brackish water ˇ Formulated marine fisheries sub-strategy ˇ Strengthen capacity of DoF marine wing marine and brackish water fisheries production ˇ Marine fishing regulations reviewed and amended ˇ Establish fishing right for artisanal fishers ˇ Undertook initiatives for development of artisanal ˇ Mitigate conflict between artisanal and commercial fishing fisheries ˇ Establish monitoring and controlling of marine fisheries Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: DoF, BFRI, BFFEA, BSFF, MoC, Fish/Shrimp Farmers, Processing Industries 20. Assuring quality fish and fishery ˇ Increase export of quality fish and fishery ˇ Formulated quality control sub-strategy ˇ Ensure quality and health hazard free fish and fishery products products for domestic and products ˇ Introduced HACCP and traceability in fish product ˇ Emphasise traceability and HACCP regarding export and international markets ˇ Comply buyers demand for quality fish and handling from production to consumption stages domestic markets fishery products ˇ Imparted training on HACCP and traceability ˇ Review and strengthen export market policy ˇ Established PCR lab and microbial/chemical lab ˇ Strengthened capacity of DoF quality control unit ˇ Undertaken campaign and enforcement of law to ensure formalin free fish and fish products Sub-Sector: livestock Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: DLS, BLRI, MoC, BAU, Veterinary University and Colleges, Private Sector, NGOs 21. Increasing productivity in ˇ Increase livestock production ˇ Livestock policy approved ˇ Implement livestock policy related action plan livestock sector ˇ Increase income of livestock and poultry farmers ˇ Critical areas identified for livestock development ˇ Encourage community-based livestock service ˇ Develop business services and market growth ˇ Tax and duty concessions allowed ˇ Encourage women's participation in market based livestock ˇ Graduates from universities and colleges trained activities ˇ Women and Youth employment training in livestock ˇ Increase budgetary allocation for livestock sector ˇ Continue strengthening capacity of DLS ˇ Develop livestock market development services Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: DLS, BLRI, BAU, MoC, MoYS, NGOs, Veterinary University and Colleges, Private Sector 22. Promoting poultry sector ˇ Raise poultry production ˇ Poultry sector entrepreneurs encouraged through ˇ Continue fiscal and technical support to private sector and development ˇ Raise income of poor and women poultry farmers favourable fiscal measures NGOs ˇ Provide support to continue poultry hatching egg export ˇ Strengthen capacities of disease investigation network of DLS ˇ Strengthen bio-security measures to protect poultry industry from infectious diseases ˇ Provide support to women to undertake poultry production on a commercial basis Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: DLS, BLRI, BAU, MoC, Veterinary University and Colleges, Private Sector, NGOs 23. Promoting milk and meat ˇ Increase milk, meat and egg production ˇ Breeds of dairy cows improved by breed up gradation ˇ Encourage private sector and NGOs participation in dairy production ˇ Develop milk and meat processing facilities programme and AI extension activities development through AI, embryo transfer and breed up ˇ Training and extension services for goat and sheep gradation programme rearing strengthened ˇ Encourage women to undertake livestock raising activities on a commercial basis 121 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Continue Buffalo, goat and sheep development activities ˇ Strengthen support to small scale dairy and poultry farmers ˇ Provide support for greater involvement of women in livestock and poultry activities ˇ Strengthen market channels keeping focus on poor women involved in this activities Lead Responsibility: MoFL Associate Responsibility: DLS, BLRI, BAU, MoC, Veterinary University and Colleges, Private Sector, NGOs 24. Strengthening livestock research ˇ Increase production of livestock products ˇ Livestock Research arranged in BLRI and BAU ˇ Strengthen support to livestock research and extension and extension ˇ Develop new breeds of livestock ˇ Private sector, NGOs and CBOs being encouraged to ˇ Strengthen DLS to extend livestock services up to Union level provide livestock extension services ˇ Emphasise research on emerging diseases of livestock ˇ Develop improved animal husbandry practices and veterinary services and disseminate them to poor and women Sub-Sector: Forestry Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoF, MoE, MoL, MoWR, MoLJPA, MoCHTA, FD, LGD, NGO, REB, LGED, CBOs, DoE, FEJB, 25. Ensuring ˇ Improve access of the poor to natural resources ˇ Forestry Sector Master Plan is under revision ˇ Introduce regulatory framework recognizing the rights of local sustainable livelihood of poor and for production, nutrition and health ˇ Draft document prepared for Wildlife (Preservation) people including women on common property women ˇ Increase access of the poor to Common Property Act, 1974 ˇ Establish and protect property rights Resources (CPR) through policy and project ˇ Social Forestry Rules 2004 approved ˇ Undertake projects/programme on CPR interventions ˇ Forestry Sector Development Projects including ˇ Continue and strengthen national tree fair programme ˇ Ensure access of the poor in NRM especially in Coastal Char Land Afforestation Project successfully ˇ Ensure public access to information on CPR forestry implemented ˇ Increase non-consumptive benefit of forest ˇ Raise awareness of the role of environment in ˇ Increase scope for research and education sustainable livelihood ˇ Implement CBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC ˇ Strengthen capacity of MoEF and DF Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoF, BARI, FD, DOE, DAE, BMDA, NGOs 26. Increasing forest resources and ˇ Bring 20 percent of land under forest by 2015 The following projects being implemented: ˇ Plant more indigenous species of trees improving land quality ˇ Implement National Forest Policy ˇ Reed Land Integrated Social Forest Project ˇ Increase participation of people in social forestry ˇ Improve organic contents and nutrients in soils of ˇ Social Forestry for Development and Management of ˇ Increase production of bamboo, cane, mutha and agar affected areas Forest Resources, Coastal Char Land Afforestation ˇ Encourage balanced use of fertilizers ˇ Increase tree cover in the denuded lands Project ˇ Extend and continue IPM/ICM ˇ Conserve and preserve soil ˇ Agar Plantation ˇ Increase funds for saline and drought tolerant crop varieties ˇ Projects on bamboo, cane and mutha plantation ˇ Promote Integrated Plant Nutrient System (IPNS) and ˇ Poverty alleviation through participatory forestry adjustment of cropping patterns ˇ Programme for use of organic manures through ˇ Increase tree-cover on denuded forest land with suitable native farmer field schools (FFS) popularized species ˇ IPM/ICM programme promoted ˇ Measure and stop illegal tree felling and encroachment ˇ Research on saline and drought tolerant varieties ˇ Ensure massive plantation in fallow land and marginal land undertaken ˇ Develop market based incentive mechanism to prevent illegal ˇ Land quality through biogas technology enriched tree-felling ˇ Ratification of Stockholm Convention undertaken ˇ Develop mechanism to involve local communities for ˇ National Implementation Plan (NIP) on Persistent afforestaion activities Organic Pollutants (POPs) formulated ˇ Ensure women's greater involvement in afforestation activities 122 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Sustainable Land Management Project formulated for income generation ˇ People started to receive benefits from participatory forestry ˇ Coastal afforestation and homestead forestry replication Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoF, MoSICT, MoA, FD, DoE, BFRI, NGOs, National Herbarium 27. Conserving bio-diversity ˇ Document and improve state of floral and faunal ˇ 19 protected areas (PAs) established covering 0.245 ˇ Bring more PAs under co-management and include poor and biodiversity million ha of land women in co-management ˇ Implement biodiversity policies ˇ Madhupur National Park developed ˇ Strengthen and expand eco-parks and eco-tourism ˇ Involve people in co-management of PAs ˇ Eco-park at Kuakata of Kalapara Uapazila established ˇ Formulate and implement biodiversity policy keeping the ˇ Botanical Garden and Eco-park in Chittagong interest of poor and women established ˇ Conduct regular survey of flora and fauna ˇ Madhutila Eco-park established ˇ Safari Park in Cox's Bazar developed further ˇ Biodiversity of 2 Wildlife Sanctuary of Chittagong developed ˇ 2 Eco-park in Greater Sylhet District established ˇ Dhanshiri Eco-park established and Ramsagar National Park developed ˇ Nishorgo Support Project is being implemented to establish co-management in 5 PAs ˇ Imposed moratorium on logging in natural forest up to 2010 Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoF, ERD, MoP, FD, DoF 28. Adapting climate change and ˇ Plan for climate change adaptation ˇ "Climate Change Resilient Afforestation in ˇ Undertake studies on climate change impacts on livelihoods of mitigation ˇ Introduce CDM activities/ Carbon trading Bangladesh' project proposed the poor ˇ Undertake action plan to minimise hazardous impact of climate change on lives and properties Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 180.00 123 Policy Matrix 4: Water Resources Development and Management Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoWR, BWDB, WARPO, BHWDB, LGED, BADC, BMDA, CEGIS Associate Responsibility: MoEF 1. Expanding utilization of surface water, ˇ Extend surface water Irrigation ˇ Studies undertaken to determine utilization of the ˇ Develop supplementary irrigation in coastal areas including coastal polders and arsenic prone area by 66,000 ha. flow of the main rivers ˇ Extend Mahamaya Chhara Irrigation Project under Mirsarai upazila in areas ˇ Increase supply of safe water for ˇ Suitable locations identified for dual purpose Chittagong district domestic use pump houses (to be used both for irrigation and ˇ Undertake Kurigram Irrigation Project (North and South Unit) ˇ Reduce ground water use by flood reduction) ˇ Undertake Mathamuhuri Irrigation Project Phase-II optimizing surface water use ˇ Irrigation components included in large flood ˇ Undertake Muhuri- Kahua FCDI Project (conjunctive use) control projects ˇ Undertake North Rajshahi Irrigation Project ˇ BADC continued minor irrigation programmes as ˇ Protect Chandpur Irrigation Project (CIP) area from erosion of the usual Meghna River (Phase I) ˇ LGED continued SSWRDSP-II for extending ˇ Undertake South Comilla-North Noakhali Comprehensive FCDI Project small scale irrigation ˇ Undertake Teesta Barrage Project Phase II (Unit I) ˇ 3rd Small Scale Water Resources Development ˇ Urgently rehabilitate G-K Pumping plants for acceleration of rural Sector Project of LGED underway economic development ˇ 2nd Small Scale Water Resources Sector Development Sector Project of LGED is underway Lead Responsibility: MoWR, BWDB, WARPO, JRC, RRI, BHWDB, LGED, BADC, BMDA, CEGIS, IWM Associate Responsibility: MoEF 2. Augmenting utilization of surface water for ˇ Encourage rainwater ˇ Undertaken d-siltation and re-excavation of ˇ Extend Mahamaya Chhara Irrigation in Mirsarai upazila efficient water management to ensure water harvesting small rivers and canals using human labour ˇ Undertake Kurigram Irrigation Project (North and South Unit) quality ˇ Excavate derelict ponds ˇ Trans boundary water resources augmentation ˇ Undertake Mathamuhuri Irrigation Project Phase-II ˇ Excavate irrigation canal through stronger regional cooperation ˇ Undertake Teesta Barrage Project Phase II (Unit I) Undertake ˇ Re-excavate irrigation canal ˇ Initiate study of Ganges Barrage, augmentation Rehabilitation of G-K Pumping plants Kumar River Re-excavation (1220 km) of flow in the Gorai River. Replicate Tidal River Project ˇ Excavate/Re-excavate Management (TRM) ˇ Construct Rubber Dam over Mahananda river in Chapainawabgonj Drainage Canal (1460 km) ˇ Diverted surface water through small barrage district ˇ Dredge 53 km. of rivers and large Water Control Structures (WCS) ˇ Undertake Guptakhali Water Reservoir Irrigation Project ˇ Construct 12 rubber dam ˇ Rubber dam projects under the SSWRDSP-II, ˇ Augment Burigonga flow by restoring links with the Jamuna river ˇ Ensure conjunctive use of LGED in underway ˇ Undertake feasibility study and design of Ganges barrage water ˇ Extend Chaddamadar Beel Embankment and Canal Excavation Project ˇ Undertake performance evaluation of rubber dam projects Lead Responsibility: MoWR, BWDB, WARPO, JRC, RRI, BHWDB, LGED, BADC, BMDA, CEGIS, IWM Associate Responsibility: MoEF 3. Rationalizing utilization of groundwater ˇ Groundwater management and ˇ National Water Policy for conjunctive use ˇ Undertake Barind rain water conservation and irrigation project data collection, analysis and surface and ground water where available & ˇ Undertake Barind DTW installation project distribution to concerned applicable ˇ Undertake Barind command area development and training project agencies ˇ Monitoring groundwater quality ˇ Restrict GW abstraction by establishing threshold levels by GW ˇ Maximum sustainable extraction (MSE) is Circles of BWDB underway ˇ BADC continues minor irrigation programmes ˇ Ground Water data being collected 124 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoWR, BWDB, WARPO, JRC, RRI, BHWDB, LGED, BADC, BMDA, CEGIS, IWM Associate Responsibility: MoEF 4. Protecting from flood, improving drainage ˇ Protect lives and properties ˇ Increased allocation of O&M resources ˇ Undertake Bemorta Project under Sadar & Kachua upazila and reducing vulnerability to water related from flood hazards ˇ Handing over management of the existing ˇ Undertake Chandpur Comilla Integrated FCDI Project disasters including sea erosion and cyclonic ˇ Rehabilitate polders for projects to the beneficiaries started ˇ Construct embankment and other ancillary works in Tannery surges protection of land from tidal ˇ Replicate mechanism developed under Industrial area in Savar upazila flood Command Area Development (CAD) Projects ˇ Ensure efficient O&M of completed projects ˇ Replicate mechanism ˇ Institute appropriate environmental cell in agencies dealing with water developed under CAD projects development and management ˇ Rehabilitate and maintain existing FCD/FCDI 5. Protect wetland/Haor/Baor, Sunderban, ˇ Income generation for the ˇ Community participation in multi-purpose use ˇ Hail Haor Rehabilitation saline water intrusion and promote accretion poor from water resources of water and other facilities like irrigation canal, ˇ Char Kukri Mukri FCD salinity control of land from the sea. fish-pass, regulators, irrigation inlets, cross dams, ˇ Char development and settlement embankment slops etc. ˇ Afforstation programme for ecological balance ˇ Aquatic /wetland biodiversity preservation.ˇ Barind environmental balance through afforestation. Lead Responsibility: MoWR, BWDB, WARPO, JRC, RRI, BHWDB, LGED, BADC, BMDA, CEGIS, IWM Associate Responsibility: MoEF 6. Managing erosion of major rivers and ˇ Protect habitation of poor ˇ Coordinated efforts to make the accreted land ˇ Undertake river bank protective works along the left bank of protect large and small towns. people on raised platforms in habitable and suitable for crop production in Karnafuli River at Charandeep and Kadurkhil char areas ongoing ˇ Undertake Bhola District Town Protection Project Phase II ˇ Make accreted land habitable ˇ Implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone ˇ Undertake Border River Protection and Development Project, Phase and suitable for crop Management Plan (ICZM) is ongoing II production ˇ Protection of vulnerable areas from erosion, ˇ Undertake Charfesson & Monpura Town Protection Project ˇ Implement Integrated Coastal especially saving places of economic importance ˇ Undertake Emergency Protection of Charlangta of Charelahi union in Zone Management Plan and densely populated areas is ongoing Companigonj upazila in Polder-59/3C ˇ Protect socio-economic ˇ Activities to protect wet lands are being ˇ Undertake Jamuna Padma Left Bank Project infrastructure at local level undertaken ˇ Undertake Jamuna-Meghna River Erosion Mitigation Project against erosion ˇ Undertake Monno River Bank Protection and Rehabilitation Project ˇ Undertake Narasingdi Town Protection Project ˇ Undertake Patuakhali Town Protection Embankment Project ˇ Protect Meghai Bazar, Suvgacha & Simla area, Baguria of Gaibandah Sadar upazila and Sayedpur, Kanchipara and Balashighat of Fulchari upazila, Bandarbari and adjacent area and Handloom enriched Betil & Enyetpur Bazar area from the Jamuna erosion ˇ Protect Bangladesh Navy's BNS Titumir Naval Station area from erosion of Bhairab River ˇ Protect Brahmaputra River Right Bank at Bairagirhat and Chilmari under Kurigram district -Phase I ˇ Protect Chapainawabgonj Sadar and Sibgonj upazila, Hasail- Panchgaon-Garurgaon Bazar area under Tongibari upazila, Faridpur Town and adjacent area, Charbhadrasion upazila, Lalpur upazila, Chandpur town, Lauhojong upazila complex from erosion of the Padma River ˇ Protect Goali Chhara, Kazirbazar chhara, Jangalia-Jugirgaon & Mahtabpur in Sylhet Sadar upazila 125 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Protection of Kadupur-Basantapur, Manik-kona, Velkona-Moinpur area under Golapgonj and Fenchugonj upazila in Sylhet District from erosion of the Kushiyara River ˇ Protect Raipur Coast Guard at Anowara upazila in Chittagong district ˇ Protect Soilbari and adjacent area of Sirajgonj Town from erosion of the Jamuna River in Sirajgonj district ˇ Protect Teesta River Left Bank from Teesta Barrage to Chandimari and upstream of Teesta River including Shoals Removal from the Teesta River Bed near Teesta Barrage. ˇ Protect Jamuna river left bank from Horindhara to Hargila under Islampur upazila in Jamalpur district ˇ Undertake Secondary Town Integrated Flood Protection Project Phase II ˇ Undertake a study on Detailed Coastal Land Zoning with two Pilot District Plain Lands (WARPO) ˇ Repair embankments on both banks of Gumti river ˇ Construct cross dam for land reclamation Lead Responsibility: MoWR, BWDB, WARPO, JRC, RRI, BHWDB, LGED, BADC, BMDA, CEGIS, IWM 7. Supporting revival, extension and ˇ Re-excavate rivers, canals and ˇ Continuous survey of potential navigation routes ˇ Undertake dredging of rivers maintenance of safe navigation routes Khals ˇ BIWTA prioritizes excavation ˇ Undertake Khal Re-excavation project ˇ Undertake Gorai River Restoration Project ˇ Undertake Kumar River Re-excavation Project ˇ Extend Chaddamadar Beel Embankment and Canal Excavation Project Lead Responsibility: MoWR, BWDB, WARPO, JRC, RRI, BHWDB, LGED, BADC, BMDA, CEGIS, IWM 8. Enhance access of the poor to water and ˇ BWDB's management to be ˇ BWDB Act to authorize it for WMO ˇ Undertake Integrated Planning for Sustainable Water Management common water resources pro-IWRM in designing future registration Project (IPSWAM) plans ˇ Need-based research for poverty reduction ˇ Undertake Water Management Improvement Project (WMIP) ˇ Bring women in mainstream through specialized institutions of GOB, ˇ Undertake Char Development and Settlement Project (CDSP) Phase water management activities Universities III ˇ Provide support to common ˇ People's participation at all stages of project ˇ Undertake community based resource management project, LGED water resources for sustaining cycle livelihood of poor and women Lead Responsibility: MoWR 9. Developing human resource for BWDB, ˇ Better Disaster Management ˇ Trainings at home and abroad to update skill of ˇ Remove Drainage congestion in Bhabadaha area WMOs and specialized Trusts through advanced technology personnel engaged in water development and ˇ Undertake Karotoya River Environmental Development Project & people's participation management ˇ Establish Environmental Cell in each agency dealing with water ˇ Community response to new technology development and management Lead Responsibility: MoWR, BWDB, WARPO, JRC, RRI, BHWDB, LGED, BADC, BMDA, CEGIS, IWM 10. Monitoring of hydrological (surface and ˇ Collect data from river ˇ Data collection ˇ Undertake Emergency Disaster Damage Rehabilitation (Sector) ground), climate and maritime data and stations: ˇ Discussion for maritime data exchange Project ensuring environmental management ˇ 2008-09 - 225 nos ˇ Climate Change Cell to monitor and guide ˇ Undertake emergency rehabilitation works damaged by Cyclone sidr ˇ 2009-10 ­ 250 nos adaptation measures ˇ Undertake Climate/Flood Forecast Application for Water related 126 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ 2010-11 ­ 300 nos. Disaster Mitigation in Bangladesh ˇ Undertake Climate/Flood Forecast Application for Water related Disaster Mitigation ˇ Monitor and forecast water quality index Lead Responsibility: MoWR, BWDB, WARPO, JRC, RRI, BHWDB, LGED, BADC, BMDA, CEGIS, IWM 11. Reviewing existing policy and legislation ˇ Strengthen WARPO ˇ Review of policy and laws ˇ Update national water management Plan and create provision for and finalization of National Water Act ˇ Engage experts on policy and ˇ Progress monitoring women in policy and legislation of water development and legislation ˇ Water Act management ˇ Ensure adequate resources for ˇ Conduct Study on Surface water development for alternative source of studies drinking water supply in Arsenic affected areas ˇ Institutionalise and operationalise coastal zone management ˇ Devise strategies for reducing vulnerabilities of floods ˇ Undertake flood zoning and risk mapping for floods ˇ Develop and updated digital elevation model for Bangladesh ˇ Establish haor/wetland database Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 42.49 127 Policy Matrix 5: Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: PC, MoF, BB, MoI, MoC, NBR, BOI, BSCIC, SMEF, Privatization Commission 1. Creating an enabling ˇ Neutral macro policies including monetary, ˇ Government introduced a market oriented 'SME Policy Strategies ' in ˇ Formulate a set of Macro Policies so that SMEs can develop environment to ensure fiscal, trade and industrial policies 2005 for fostering SME growth with its own potentials ensuring greater participation of poor level playing field for ˇ Create a more comprehensive and ˇ Ministry of Industries formed an Advisory Panel including private and women SME development coordinated, harmonized policy sector representation ˇ Mainstreaming SME development as a crucial sector in intervention for SME development ˇ Created a national council for industrial development chaired by head National Development Plans of the country to review the progress of implementation of the policy ˇ Inclusion of Cottage industries in the SMEs as Micro ˇ An SME foundation has been created for advocating SME promotion Enterprise. Cottage industries (with workers from 1-9) may be and development, introducing one-stop-service for providing treated as Micro industries administrative facilities, financial resources, capacity-building in ˇ Provide tax incentives to SME sector appropriate industry associations ˇ Prepare Import Policy supportive to SME development ˇ BSCIC prepared VISION 2025 for Development of Small, Medium ˇ Prepare Export Policies focused on SMEs and Cottage Industries (SMCIs) with an objective to transform SMMIs ˇ Develop a separate credit policy for SMEs into an economic power house ˇ Develop an institutional arrangement among key Government ˇ Government has taken the initiatives to update Industrial Policy 2005 agencies for coordinated policy formulation and implementation to support of poverty reduction through employment generation ˇ Formulate an Inter Ministerial Committee for harmonizing SME policies ˇ Create incubators for women in SME Lead Responsibility: MoF, MoI, MoEF, NBR, MoC, Trade bodies, BSTI, SMEF, BOI, Boiler office, DPDT, BSCIC, Fire Service Department, Regulatory Reform Commission 2. Easing regulatory ˇ Simplified and transparent SME regulatory ˇ Ministry of Industries has undertaken an initiative to review all existing ˇ Ensure simpler and quicker issuance of trade license and easier barriers to SME and support service system laws, rules and regulations of its different corporations and procedure for new factory establishment development departments. ˇ Ensure simpler and quicker issuance of BSCIC registration, ˇ A component has been incorporated in the SMESDP project to product certification, environment clearance, location clearance conduct studies for improvement of legal and regulatory system for and fire clearance certificates SMEs development. ˇ Rationalize tax and VAT structure for SMEs ˇ An Assessment of Regulatory Impact on SMEs is now underway by the ˇ Advocate and enhance awareness on Patent, Trademarks and SME Foundation. Design services by the DPDT ˇ SMEF has been conducting a series of Consultations with Trade ˇ Enhance awareness of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) issues Bodies and Government Bodies involved with SME registration. for SMEs to the entrepreneurs ˇ SME Foundation preparing a preliminary assessment report on Regulatory Reform. Lead Responsibility: MoI, BBS, BB, SMEF, BSCIC 3. Creating a database ˇ Create SME data base ˇ Government has started to develop 'an integrated SME database' ˇ Harmonize different SME and conduct a National Sample on SME sector ˇ Update SME web portal ˇ A business registry has already been developed that will be used to Survey extend business support services by the SMESDP project ˇ Build SME data base with gender segregated data and ensure ˇ SME Foundation is conducting an SME booster sector study. availability of data to the SMEs ˇ Establish Help Line in 64 BSCIC industrial centres with accessibility of the poor and women Lead Responsibility: MoI, MoWCA, SMEF, Government institutions, Trade bodies and Associations 4. Enhancing access to ˇ The government has developed a web portal to ensure access to ˇ Make the SME Web Portal and Helpline Centres connected and Information on Small information required for improvement of SME business under the make them more informative and Medium SMESDP project. (www.smef.org.bd) ˇ Make BOI's One Stop Service active and effective Entrepreneurs 128 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ SME foundation updates and maintain the Web portal ˇ Expand Advisory Services by Industrial Estates Service Centres (ISCs) of BSCIC with focus on women ˇ Expand Advisory Services by the SMEF particularly to women Lead Responsibility: BB, Commercial Banks, Leasing companies, SMEF, MoI, MoF, Other private sector banks 5. Increasing access to ˇ 35% increase in flow of credit to SMEs ˇ Refinancing scheme, Equity and Entrepreneurship Fund (EEF), and ˇ Formulate a separate credit policy for SMEs finance for Small and Equity Development Fund (EDF) etc. are introduced for developing ˇ Advocate for reducing amount of collateral Medium Entrepreneurs SMEs. ˇ Introduce Venture Capital Financing for SMEs ˇ Tk. 850 million fund for refinancing SME loan is developed ˇ Enhance financing through Leasing companies ˇ Many private banks have opened SME window for SME financing ˇ Introduce Credit Guarantee Scheme ˇ The government is encouraging banks and non-bank financial ˇ Arrange Supplementation of credit flow to meet demand-supply institutions to disburse more credit by rationalising interest rates gap financing of SMEs ˇ Bangladesh Bank has created Small Enterprise Fund (SEF) for ˇ Ensure medium and long term financing credits to SMEs by wholesaling credits to commercial banks private banks ˇ BSCIC is providing collateral free loan to the underprivileged women ˇ Diversify Financial Products by formal banking sector and unemployed youth to create self-employment ˇ Enhance refinancing scheme supported by Bangladesh Bank ˇ MoI is conducting regular meeting with all Financial Institutions (PFIs) to ensure credit to the SME at a discount rate Lead Responsibility: NBR, MoF, MoC, SMEF, EPB 6. Providing different ˇ Government has already provided export subsidy facilities to the ˇ Provide fiscal incentives (for example VAT exemption, reducing types of incentives vegetables, agro-processing and agro-based products providers VAT rate etc.) (financial and fiscal) for ˇ Cash-incentives are being provided to 14 exportable items at different ˇ Reduce the Import Duties of necessary Raw Materials for SMEs SMEs focusing on poor rates including vegetables. More products are under scrutiny for cash ˇ Set-up Industrial Parks for leading SMEs (Plastics, Electronics, and women incentives. Electrical, Leather, Light Engineering) entrepreneurs ˇ Set-up permanent physical facilities for SME trade fairs ˇ Ensure lower interest rates for poor women and disadvantaged groups' entrepreneurs ˇ Introduce easier credit system for poor women Lead Responsibility: BCSIR, BITAC, Technical Institutes, Universities, Research Institutes, SMEF 7. Building new ˇ Preserve indigenous technology ˇ SME Foundation has started stocktaking of the existing technologies ˇ Enhance R&D for SMEs and increase funds to the research technological capacity ˇ Upgrade technology used in SMEs institutes for innovation of new products and ensuring ˇ Adapt new technology ˇ 100 indigenous technologies have been compiled and have been ˇ Strengthen interaction between BCSIR and SMEF for technology up uploaded in the SME Web Portal in Bangla technology dissemination ˇ Diffuse new technology gradation, adaptation ˇ National Institute of Bio-Technology has been set up ˇ Encourage cooperation and partnership between the and diffusion universities, business and R&D institutes ˇ Officials of BITAC are receiving overseas training regularly to improve their technological knowledge. ˇ A series of consultation meeting will be arranged by the SMEF ˇ Experts from developed countries are regularly providing training to with the sector experts for 6 SME booster sectors the BITAC officials for development of technology ˇ Encourage invest on research and development for new product ˇ BCSIR has set-up about 22,000 bio-gas plants in the country innovation, product diversification and technology transfer ˇ Six enterprises are producing Spirulina and two are exporting ˇ Encourage joint venture/agreement/partnership on these areas Lead Responsibility: MoI Associate Responsibility: BOI, BSCIC, SMEF, Trade Bodies, Associations, WASA, PDB, TNT 8. Ensuring ˇ Set-up SME Industrial Parks with all utility ˇ BSCIC has 67 industrial estates to provide infrastructural facilities for ˇ Ensure adequate utility services (Electricity, water, gas etc.) Infrastructural facilities connections establishment of industries throughout the country services for SMEs 129 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 including basic utility ˇ Strengthen telecommunication and ICT facilities especially for services for the SMEs small entrepreneurs ˇ Develop industrial parks for plastics, light engineering, electronics and electrical products ˇ Build a Common Facility Centre including High End Mold Making Factory and Design Centre Lead Responsibility: MoC, MoI Associate Responsibility: MoTJ, EPB, SMEF, BSTI, DPDT, NGOs, Chambers, Trade Bodies, SMED 9. Enhancing access to ˇ Arrange 10 SME product fairs every year ˇ Started the process to establish International Standard Display Centre ˇ Take further initiative to diversify products for SMEs market for SMEs (both at national and international level) ˇ The Export Policy (2003-06) has identified 5 products as sectors with ˇ Make EPB's `One District One Product' programme effective particularly for women ˇ Arrange Product Fair for women the highest priority ˇ Identify new products for SMEs SME entrepreneurs entrepreneurs ˇ An Advisory Service Centre has been established by the SMEF to ˇ Improve quality of SME products ˇ Establish Display Centre for women SME provide information on the existing facilities by SEF of Bangladesh ˇ Build display centres for SME products products Bank, training given by BSCIC Design centre, SCITI, BIM and BITAC ˇ Arrange fair for SME product at national and international and Engineers Institution levels ˇ Business promotion councils on ICT, light engineering, herbal and ˇ Enhance easy access to information on facilities given by the medicinal plant, leather sectors have been formed and councils on EPB and other institutions pharmaceutical products, agro-processing products, poultry are in the ˇ Arrange more Product Fairs both in National and International formation stage Level ˇ Hortex Foundation has been established for diversification into High ˇ Improve women entrepreneurs' capacity in proper pricing and Value Crops marketing skill of products ˇ EPB's `One District One Product' scheme has already identified 16 ˇ Give priority to women entrepreneurs in allocating credit products from 44 districts for government approval ˇ EPB provides 50% concession for women entrepreneurs for participating in the Trade Fair. ˇ SMEF organized 2 Women SME Product Fair in 2007 and 2008 Lead Responsibility: MoP, MoF Associate Responsibility: MoA, MoFL, MoI, MoL&E MoI, MoEF, Ministry of Information, SMEF, DOE, NGOs, Media, Insurance Companies 10. Ensuring ˇ Make SMEs environmentally compliant ˇ Restricted the new industry at approval stage which is harmful for ˇ Ensure installation of environment management system environment friendly environment and introduced pollution control mechanism in the ˇ Build awareness in waste management system, regulatory SME development existing industries. reforms on environment issues for small entrepreneurs ˇ Industries, which are responsible for air pollution, are selected and air ˇ Enhance supervision and monitoring by the BOILER office pollutant emission permissible limit are established. ˇ Ensure provision of CETP in the Savar Tannery Industrial Park ˇ Pilot schemes under Development of Reed based Textile Wastewater ˇ Introduce SME insurance package to mitigate risks Treatment are being carried out ˇ Create a Disaster Management Fund for rehabilitating calamity- ˇ BSCIC has taken initiatives to relocate tanneries, garments and stricken SMEs with especial emphasis on SMEs owned by pharmaceuticals industries to reduce pollution in Dhaka city women ˇ Reduction of chemical fertilizer and pesticide use is encouraged, and Persistent Organic Pollutants is phased out Lead Responsibility: MoP, MoF Associate Responsibility: MoA, MoFL, MoI, MoLE, SMEF, EPB, MoI, MoC 11. Assessing SME ˇ Complete 11 Booster Sector Studies ˇ SME Foundation is conducting an SME booster sector study (6 ˇ Review the existing 11 booster sectors booster Sectors' ˇ Successful completion of `ONE DISTRICT sectors). The studies will recommend policy strategies for 6 booster ˇ Develop comparative advantage-based, area-specific SMEs in performance and ONE PRODUCT' project sectors identified in the SME Policy Strategies 2005. selected areas expanding the list 130 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoI, BSTI, Trade bodies, Chambers, SMEF 12. Improving quality ˇ Ensure and increase quality certification to ˇ Consumer Rights Protection Law has been approved in principle ˇ Popularize product certification system by BSTI and make it and standards of SME SMEs ˇ BSTI implemented a project called "Market Access and Trade easier for small entrepreneurs products ˇ Ensure and increase product Facilitation Support for South Asia through strengthening institutional ˇ Enhance awareness in the field of product labelling services by standardization certificates to SMEs and national capacity related to Standard, Metrology Testing and BSTI Quality". ˇ Strengthen product quality monitoring as per BSTI certification ˇ BSTI is implementing project aiming to improve the quality management system to be accepted at international level. ˇ BSTI branch offices in Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna are already established and establishment of offices in Sylhet and Barisal are underway Lead Responsibility: MoE Associate Responsibility: BMET, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, VTI, MoLE,, BIM, MoEWOE, MoTJ 13. Enhancing human ˇ Conduct more entrepreneurship ˇ MoLE is providing technical training on different trades and creating ˇ Create a skilled labour force for SME development resource development development and workers' skill skilled human resources ˇ Strengthen job oriented and need based vocational training with for SMEs improvement training ˇ A project is being undertaken by BITAC to train poor women focus on women ˇ Increase training on designing especially in technical and vocational training ˇ Ensure minimum wage rates for SME workers and make it ˇ 8,320 women will trained in 6 trades each ˇ A TTC of Ministry of Labour and Employment has been established in more rational year Dhaka for women only ˇ Evaluate and follow up training provided by the TTCs ˇ EDP training to 1.58 lakh person per year. ˇ Undertaken a project for establishment of 5 TTC for women in 5 ˇ Ensure and enhance market oriented and demand based training ˇ Enhance Managerial Capabilities for SME divisional head quarters ˇ Consult with stakeholders for TTCs and MOLE trainings sectors ˇ Completed project on reproductive health and right, gender issues and ˇ Increase training on different trades, basic technology, and work prevention of HIV/AIDS for tea plantation and garment workers by safety issues the Ministry of Labour and Manpower ˇ Impart EDP training through SCITI, design centre, District ˇ SCITI of BSCIC is imparting training on entrepreneurship Based Industrial Service Centre etc. particularly to women development ˇ Arrange for management development of private sector ˇ BSCIC imparted HRD training related to SMEs entrepreneurs ˇ Prepare training needs assessments ˇ Organize training course on management development to public and private sector stakeholders involved in providing business services to SMEs Lead Responsibility: SMEF, MoWCA, MoI, Chambers, Associations, Trade bodies, Commercial banks, Training Institutes 14. Undertake policy ˇ Collect data on number of women ˇ Industrial policy of 2005 emphasized women's participation in the ˇ Mainstream gender issues in the Industrial Policy advocacy for women entrepreneur and monitor their growth country's industrialization process ˇ Implement Gender Action Plan by SMEF and WEEF SME entrepreneurs ˇ 10% growth in the number of women ˇ Ensure mainstreaming women's advancement in all National entrepreneur every year. Policies ˇ Continue National SME women entrepreneurs conference Lead Responsibility: SMEF, SCITI, BSCIC, Trade Bodies, Chambers 15. Executing capacity ˇ Training at least 30% of women ˇ Ministry of Industries provided training on 'Business management' and ˇ Enhance training on Management, Accounting and ICT building and skill entrepreneurs `Entrepreneurship Development' to the rural potential women ˇ Arrange entrepreneurship development training throughout the training for SME entrepreneurs in all divisions and selected districts. country women entrepreneurs ˇ Introduce training on accounting, office management, computer, spoken English etc. 131 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: BB, Commercial Banks, MoF 16. Strengthening access ˇ Successful implementation of SEF fund ˇ Bangladesh Bank created a fund called Small Enterprise Fund (SEF) for ˇ Ensure implementation and monitoring of BB directives about to finance for SME ˇ Expand credit to women entrepreneurs by providing credits. 10% of SEF fund has been allocated for the women giving credit to women in SMEs women entrepreneurs commercial banks entrepreneurs. ˇ Ensure more credit to women entrepreneurs ˇ 30% Women entrepreneurs have received credit facilities ˇ Eliminate family conditions to ensure credit facilities ˇ Finance Division's `RAKUB Small Enterprise Credit Programme' ˇ Make credit available at reduced interest rate Lead Responsibility: BSCIC, SMEF, MoWCA, MoTJ 17. Providing ˇ Ensure Plots in the Industrial Parks among ˇ Women entrepreneurs has received 20% industrial plots in the ˇ Allocate industrial plots to all potential women entrepreneurs on Infrastructural and the real/potential women entrepreneurs industrial estates a preferential basis Institutional facilities ˇ Motivate women of all districts to start business for women in SMEs Lead Responsibility: EPB, SMEF, NASCIB, Trade Bodies, Chambers 18. Supporting SME ˇ Introduce specialized women SME product ˇ A total number of 500 women entrepreneurs of either rigid has been ˇ Arrange specialized product/trade fairs of women from women entrepreneurs promotion created indigenous groups from indigenous groups ˇ Arrange a special window in the national display centre for the indigenous groups Lead Responsibility: BITAC, BSTI, SCITI, SMEF, NASCIB, MoTJ 19. Ensuring technology ˇ Increase Training on designing ˇ A total number of 100 indigenous technologies have been complied ˇ Enhance access to technology in 11 SME booster sectors for SME women ˇ Introduce Training on packaging under the SMESDP projects and been uploaded in the SME Web ˇ Enhance training on Light Engineering and Electronics entrepreneurs ˇ Introduce Training on non traditional items Portal in Bangla Manufacturing for women Organize demand driven training programmes Lead Responsibility: MoI, MoF, MoP, BSCIC, BSTI, BB, SMEF 20. Enhancing ˇ Restructure BSCIC ˇ A project "Garments Shilpa Park" has been taken by MOI to relocate ˇ Initiate diagnostic studies for recommendation and suggestions institutional capacity ˇ Evaluate projects implemented by BSCIC 1200 garments industries to Gojaria Upazila. for restructuring BSCIC and efficiency of SME ˇ Capacity building of BSCIC ˇ A project named Women Entrepreneurship Development of BSCIC is ˇ Monitor performance of 64 BSCIC Industrial estate related institutions assisting women in 50 upazilas for self-employment ˇ Modernise BSCIC design centres ˇ Expand BSTI regional offices ˇ Strengthen SMEF ˇ Established district based 24 industrial estates ˇ Make the help line centres established in the BSCIC estates ˇ BSTI plays vital role in maintaining SMEs products' standard and more user friendly quality ˇ Undertake cottage and rural industries project in CHTs ˇ BSTI is currently implementing two projects to upgrade the technical ˇ Undertake skill development project through Skill Development infrastructure for standards development and harmonization, metrology Centre and testing laboratories for labelling and accreditation and enhance ˇ Install Garments Shilpa Park national capacities for setting up of ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 schemes ˇ Establish new regional BSTI offices and recruit qualified staff in ˇ Established SME Foundation (SMEF) following the recommendations the regional offices of the National Task Force ˇ Increase partnership building with private sector stakeholders Lead Responsibility: MoI, SMEF, Inter Ministerial Committee Associate Responsibility: Chambers, Associations, Trade Bodies, Research Institutes, Universities/technical institutes, NGOs, CBOs 21. Strengthening ˇ Enhance and harmonize activities by both ˇ `Garments Shilpa Park' project is under implementation with public ­ ˇ Develop a consultation process with business associations and public-private public and private sectors private partnership other stakeholders partnership ˇ `API Shilpa Park' project is under implementation with public ­ private ˇ Assist SMEs to improve their competitiveness and access to partnership local and global markets ˇ Enhance partnership between NGOs and SMEs Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 14.04 132 Policy Matrix 6: Promoting Decent Employment Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoLE, MoEWOE Associate Responsibility: MoE, MoI, MoWCA, MoSW, BMET, BIMT, DoL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, MF, TTCs, TSCs, DTE, BTEB 1.Enhancing Human Resource ˇ Increase training on skill development by 10 ˇ TTCs, TSCs and polytechnic institutes are providing technical training on ˇ Strengthen job oriented and need based Development (HRD) percent every year different trades vocational training ˇ BITAC is providing training to women especially on technical and ˇ Advocate for a pollution free and healthy vocational skills. working environment in small enterprises ˇ One TTC in Dhaka and 5 TTCs in 5 divisional headquarters for women ˇ Assess the usefulness of training provided were established by BMET. About 8,320 women will receive training by TTCs , TSCs and polytechnic institutes each year ˇ Provide special training to tea plantation ˇ Curricula of some specific courses of TTCs and BIMT have been workers and workers involved in non- updated. traditional utility services ˇ Training and employment programme in collaboration with BGMEA ˇ Impart EDP training to 0.16 million organized for down-trodden people from Monga Area by BMET in people with at least 33% women Bogra and Lalmanirhat TTCs. ˇ Organise entrepreneurship and skill ˇ Modernization of TSCs/TTCs/BIMT/Polytechnic Institutes are development training especially designed underway for women. ˇ 26 additional TTCs constructed ˇ New courses will be introduced in BMET ˇ Train people in different vocational trades in 64 TSCs ˇ Motivate the trained persons (NSSG-I, II & III) for self-employment by providing bank loan ˇ Make all new TTCs operational ˇ Create training opportunities for school dropouts and unemployed youths ˇ Course curricula of all emerging new trades are updated. ˇ Training Programme for poor people of Monga area continued ˇ Establish 30 TTCs at zilla level ˇ Establish 5 Marine Training Institutes Lead Responsibility: MoEWOE, MoL, MoFA Associate Responsibility: MoLE, MoE, MoI, MoWCA, MoHFW, MoSW, BMET, DoL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, TTCs, DTE, BTEB, MoYS 2. Providing training to the workforce ˇ Create skilled technicians and workers ˇ Training on new courses in employable trades have started ˇ Expand training programme in including women for overseas employment among (a) people from Monga areas, and (b) ˇ Introduced a course in housekeeping housekeeping female population ˇ Training of 22,000 persons in 2007 as against 16000 in 2006 was given ˇ Provide one-stop service for ˇ Promote overseas employment especially ˇ Overseas Employment Act, 2008 has been formulated international migration safe migration for poor and women ˇ Introduction of short courses in trades with potential demand ˇ Provide skill training as per demands of ˇ Arrangement of public-private partnership for training global market and the labour deficient ˇ Continuation of training programme in housekeeping. countries ˇ Identification of potential new areas of training for overseas employment, ˇ Take diplomatic drive for preventing and institutional set-up retrenchment and identifying new markets ˇ Credit to finance migration of workers introduced by PKSF and some for workers banks ˇ Simplify procedures to avail overseas 133 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 employment ˇ Provide credit facilities for helping the poor to bear the cost of overseas employment ˇ Give orientation training to the job seekers and finders on jobs and on countries ˇ Provide training on the immigration laws and labour laws of the employing countries ˇ Strengthen the monitoring of recruiting agents ˇ Create language training opportunities ˇ Continue the existing demandable training programme ˇ Enhance the training capacities in existing TTCs ˇ Expand training programme in housekeeping ˇ Establish Catering Training Institute in Sylhet Technical Training Centre. 3. Expanding potential sectors for overseas ˇ Increase export of nurses, carpenters, ˇ Some schedule banks and financial institutions have initiated an ˇ Expand and diversify of existing job employment plumbers, auto-mechanics, air-conditioning expatriate lending project whereby the bank will advance money to the markets and explore new avenues for technicians, IT engineers, and computer prospective job seekers who will repay the loan from their remittances overseas markets experts by 15% ˇ Demand in overseas employment has been explored through ˇ Examine and replicate overseas job loan Bangladesh missions abroad schemes of Financial Institutions (e.g. ˇ Bangladesh Bank is implementing a project to streamline and expedite Pubali Bank) remittance transfer ˇ Implement the 9-point strategies prepared ˇ PKSF financing cost of migrant workers of Moraga areas by the MEWOE ˇ Strengthen activities of the Bangladesh Mission abroad regarding overseas labour welfare and labour disputes ˇ Take adequate measures to ensure the rights and interests of the work force abroad ˇ Address particular concerns of women workers in overseas employment ˇ Innovate schemes for prospective job seekers abroad Lead Responsibility: MoLE Associate Responsibility: MoE, MoI, MoWCA, MoSW, MoEWOE, BMET, DoL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 4. Introducing training, support system, ˇ 100% retrenched workers ˇ Skill retraining was organised ˇ Introduce skill development training for and counselling for retrenched workers ˇ Counselling for guidance was provided self-employment and micro-entrepreneur ˇ Loan through banks were distributed development ˇ Introduce skill training for jobs in alternative sectors 134 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Introduce SSN programme for retrenched workers and their family members Lead Responsibility: MoLE and MoEWOE Associate Responsibility: MoE, MoI, MoWCA, MoSW, BMET, DL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 5. Enhancing awareness and advocacy on ˇ Enforce labour laws ˇ Workshops, seminars & symposiums were and are being arranged ˇ Re-evaluate and correct National Labour labour welfare issues including labour laws ˇ Increase familiarity with BLA-2006 & ˇ Leaflets and booklets were and are being prepared & distributed Policy other labour laws ˇ Enhance Industrial sector-wise labour welfare trainings ˇ Ensure industrial compliance, minimum wage payment, payment in time, minimize labour disputes ˇ Increase labour welfare activities ˇ Arrange workshops, seminars and symposiums ˇ Widen publicity on labour welfare through mass media ˇ Ensure availability of labour related publications to the workers' organization, trade unions and workers 6. Ensuring transparency and monitoring in ˇ Strong monitoring mechanism in overseas ˇ Monitoring mechanisms have been developed both in MoEWOE and ˇ Implement the developed-monitoring- overseas job-related migration process job related migration BMET mechanisms both in Ministry and BMET ˇ Bilateral and Multilateral agreement among ˇ Existing rules and regulations are being reviewed. ˇ Review findings of Existing rules and the labour sending and receiving countries. ˇ MOU has been signed with labour receiving countries to ensure workers' regulations rights and welfare ˇ Continue signing MOUs with the labour receiving countries to ensure workers' rights and welfare Lead Responsibility: MoLE and MoEWOE Associate Responsibility: MoE, MoI, MoWCA, MoSW, BMET, DoL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, MF, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 7. Ensuring workers welfare ˇ Ensure treatment & medication at work ˇ Training on OSH are being provided ˇ Create workers welfare facilities in the place in the formal sector ˇ Distribution of family planning materials is on going Labour Welfare Centres (30) ˇ Provide health, hygiene, safety & OSH ˇ Time Bound Programme for elimination of WFCL is being ˇ Build alliances and partnerships with local training to all workers implemented govt. institutions, NGOs and international organizations ˇ Establish workers welfare centres in new industrial areas ˇ Increase recreational facilities and health and family planning services 8. Welfare for the migrant workers and ˇ Ensure Welfare for the Overseas workers ˇ Monitoring Mechanism through and within Labour wings has been ˇ Recruit more Welfare Officers in other their families and their families enhanced. labour wings in accordance with need. ˇ Welfare Officer has been recruited in Malaysia ˇ Strengthen welfare activities for overseas ˇ Welfare fund is used for the several important activities like repatriation workers of mortal remains of workers from host countries, burials, and financial ˇ Establish `Welfare Desks' at the remaining assistance to the sick and distressed and to heirs of the deceased who are Deputy Commissioners' Offices. not getting any compensation from the employer. ˇ Implement the provision of special ˇ Provision has been made to provide middle and lower-middle class benefit for middle and lower-middle class 135 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 remitters with special benefits. remitters ˇ "Expatriates Welfare Desk" has been set up in 29 Deputy ˇ Strengthen awareness creation Commissioners' Offices ˇ Involve Civil Societies and NGOs in ˇ Provision of special benefit for middle and lower-middle class remitters awareness raising programme. has been made. ˇ Make Pre-departure briefing mandatory ˇ Awareness creation among potential workers willing to have overseas job for all migrant workers ˇ Expatriate welfare desk established at airports ˇ Continue providing grants to expatriate ˇ Grants provided to injured workers and for burial of expatriate workers workers 9. Developing healthy industrial relations ˇ Build decent work facilities ˇ Massive training on industrial relations are being rolled out ˇ Mitigate crisis in RMG sector ˇ Improve labour management relations ˇ Renovation and modernization of existing factories are on going ˇ Execute industrial relations and workers ˇ Increase management capacity ˇ Providing medical & recreational equipments in LWCs education courses in IRIs and LWCs ˇ Eliminate gender based discrimination in ˇ Provide training to the workers & mid- ˇ Setting up of Crisis Management Unit in RMG belt with one JDL, 10 workplace ADL & LWC offices is taking place level management on labour law, industrial ˇ Provide medical care to workers & their relations, OSH, skill development family members ˇ Recognize and ensure workers ˇ Create recreational facilities for workers participation and ensure women leaders participation ˇ Upgrade the Tongi Industrial Relations Institute into "National Institute of Labour Administration and Training" ˇ Ensure decent workplace incorporating particular needs of women workers Lead Responsibility: MoLE Associate Responsibility: MoE, MoI, MoWCA, MoSW, MoEWOE, BMET, DoL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, MF, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 10. Creating housing facilities for working ˇ Safe accommodation for women workers ˇ Undertaken construction of 10-storied buildings for creating ˇ Ensure secured accommodation, medical women ˇ Physical and social security for women a. Accommodation facilities and recreational facilities for workers b. Treatment and recreational facilities female workers ˇ Construct Multi-storied Female Worker's Hostel & Welfare centre at the present LWC of Chasara, Tejgaon and Tongi Lead Responsibility: MoLE Associate Responsibility: MoE, MoI, MoWCA, MoSW, MoEWOE, BMET, DoL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, MF, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 11. Reconstructing Dhaka divisional labour ˇ Create congenial and healthy working ˇ Construction of a multi-storied building (20-storied) on going ˇ Provide better facilities for services by DL office for multipurpose usages environment for DL, DIFE & Labour & DIEF & Labour Courts Courts ˇ Ensure better facilities for providing services to the factory owners and workers Lead Responsibility: MoLE, Associate Responsibility: MoHFW, ME, MoI, MoWCA, MoSW, MoEWOE, BMET, DoL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, MF, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 12. Promoting awareness of reproductive ˇ Increase knowledge, behaviour change & ˇ Providing training to trade union leaders on these issues ˇ Create gender-friendly environment & health, rights, gender equality & prevention awareness of STD, HIV/AIDS prevention ˇ Orientation on(i) Gender/Reproductive Right (ii) Reproductive ensure change of mindset of the workers of HIV/AIDS in tea garden & RMG etc. among the tea garden communities & health/STD/HIV/AIDS are being provided to various stakeholders & management workers, and potential overseas migrant RMG workers, and potential overseas ˇ Workshop for garden managers & RMG mid-level management ˇ Create awareness of gender equity, workers. migrant workers. organised reproductive health & rights among the management 136 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Training for Service Providers organised ˇ Undertake programmes to build awareness of HIV/AIDS Lead Responsibility: MoLE Associate Responsibility: MoHFW, BEF/Private Sector, NGOs, MoYS, MoSW, MoWCA, DWA 13. Ensuring and enhancing occupational ˇ Improve multi-disciplinary services towards ˇ Construction of Welfare Complex is underway ˇ Build safety providing capacity of the safety and health ship-breaking workers ˇ Training programmes are underway ship-breaking sector ˇ Ensure OSH and eliminate CL in ˇ A Social Compliance Forum (SCF) was constituted on 11 June 2005 by ˇ Ensure OSH and elimination of child bidi/tobacco industries, printing press and the Government to ensure workers' welfare and security labour book binding ˇ In order to meet various requirements on Social Compliance in the ˇ Establish Task Forces on Labour Welfare ˇ Task Force on Labour Welfare for RMG RMG industry the government has constituted a Task Force on Labour and Occupational Safety & Compliance ˇ Task Force on Occupational Safety in RMG Welfare in RMG, and Compliance Monitoring Cell Monitoring Cells for other industries ˇ Formulate occupational safety and health ˇ BGMEA has started crash programme on fire safety. The BGMEA ˇ Ensure application of OSH within the policy surveillance teams inspected 682 Garments Factories in Dhaka and 587 ambit of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 Garments Factories in Chittagong to monitor safety measures ˇ Engage inspectors in order to ensure complete health and safety inspection in a factory ˇ Ensure safe building code for all industrial buildings ˇ Introduce a system of sector-wise inspection ˇ Establish an internal monitoring body responsible for monitoring activities of inspectors ˇ Augment technology capabilities to deal with humidity, mine fires, ground control, stability of illumination Lead Responsibility: MoWCA Associate Responsibility: MoLE, MoE MoI, MoSW, MoEWOE, BMET, DL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, MF, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 14. Quickening elimination of child labour ˇ Reduce number of child workers ˇ MoLE through its partnership with ILO/IPEC and other agencies are ˇ Strengthen advocacy for eliminating child and Worst Form of Child Labour (WFCL) ˇ Develop socio-economic indicators of engaged in projects and programmes intended to prevent and eliminate labourers child workers the WFCL in the country ˇ Expand poverty reduction programmes ˇ BBS planned to conduct an Integrated Baseline Survey for determining for the families of child labourers Hazardous Child Labour ˇ Introduce education programmes for working children ˇ Improve capacity to monitor and implement programmes for child labour ˇ Adopt the national child labour policy Lead Responsibility: MoLE Associate Responsibility: MoE, MoI, MoWCA, MoSW, MoEWOE, BMET, DL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, MF, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 15. Ensuring a better working environment ˇ Raise awareness regarding the provisions of ˇ Short-term training courses in different sectors are conducted throughout ˇ Organize 60 courses in a year for 3 years labour laws among workers the country regarding labour welfare and employment provisions as ˇ Ensure 50 participants (workers) in a ˇ Improve professional skills among the guaranteed in the BLA-2006. course totalling 9000 participants in 3 years management and concerned government ˇ Workshops on OSH, labour welfare and employment conditions are held ˇ Organise one-day course with 4 sessions officers regarding BLA-2006 throughout the country ˇ Organise 5-days long 24 courses in a year (6 courses quarterly) totalling 72 courses in 3 years 137 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Ensure 30 participants (officers) in each course totalling 2160 participants in 3 years Lead Responsibility: MoWCA Associate Responsibility: MoLE, MoE MoI, MoSW, MoEWOE, BMET, DL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, MF, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 16. Ensuring women's participation in ˇ Raise voices on women issues and ˇ Negotiating market access under Mode-4 ˇ Encourage participation of women's international forums concerns in international forums ˇ Discussions on market access for trade in services under Mode-4 groups in WTO negotiations and in various ˇ Increase participation of women continue. committees of the Ministry of Commerce representatives in international trade forums ˇ Ensure incorporation of women workers' ˇ Increase in women's access to international concerns in the Trade Policy Review market Mechanisms ˇ Adopt international labour migration as a strategy of employment for retrenched female workers ˇ Ensure coherence between the dominant international economic agenda and the international legal obligations Lead Responsibility: MoWCA Associate Responsibility: MoLE, MoE MoI, MoSW, MoEWOE, BMET, DL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, MF, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 17. Advancing women workers' rights ˇ Implement ILO labour standards in both ˇ Women-friendly strategies and policies are being adopted and ˇ Enforce existing labour laws to support public and private sectors implemented women ˇ Make grassroots level institutions more ˇ Ensuring women in ICT facilities and skill-oriented training ˇ Provide ID cards to all RMG workers women-friendly particularly in assembling and repairing cell phone, and software ˇ Diversify training for nurses, RMG ˇ Ensure women workers rights and dignity development are underway workers, factory workers, cleaners and ˇ Promote equal pay in private sector to ˇ Social protection of woman with disability and socially housemaids address the gender gap in wages for men disadvantaged women workers are being provided ˇ Provide collateral-free loan and support and women ˇ Introducing women-friendly policies and strategies in public & for exploration of opportunities in the private sectors domestic and foreign markets ˇ Implementing ILO labour standards in all areas of public and ˇ Ensure economic growth, poverty private sectors reduction and empowerment through ˇ Making institutions at the grassroots level more women-friendly international trade ˇ Build linkages between public and private sectors and NGO/CSOs for mitigating risk and vulnerability of women workers abroad ˇ Revise ICT Policy to incorporate women's concerns ˇ Develop training programme on ICT particularly in assembling and repairing cell phone, and software development insuring women's participation ˇ Ensure transparency & accountability in public and private sectors in all women issues ˇ Make institutions more gender-friendly ˇ Increase health coverage and provide insurance for reducing risks faced by 138 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 women workers during pregnancy, childbirth and old age ˇ Introduce social security legislation for women with disability and implement it through community approaches ˇ Design contributory provident fund and insurance coverage for RMG workers Lead Responsibility: MoLE Associate Responsibility: PC, MoEWOE, MoA, MoI, MoE, MoYS, MoWCA, SMEF, MoHFW, BOI 18. Mainstreaming employment into all ˇ Sector level policies (especially the case for ˇ Actions undertaken ˇ Undertake ex-ante and ex-post policies support to specific sectors and SME (i) Ex ante as well as ex post employment impact assessment of various employment impact assessment of policies development): policies and programmes; and programmes of all ministries (i) Agriculture policy (ii) Programmes for SME development, and ˇ Undertake programmes for SME (ii) Industrial policy (iii) Policies aimed at selected employment-intensive sectors. development and policies for selected (iii) Labour policy/law ˇ Labour Law 2006 passed employment-intensive sectors (iv) SME policy a) Labour Welfare Foundation 2006 approved ˇ Ensure that labour policy and law (v) Gender specific employment policy b) Private Road Transport Labour Welfare Fund Law-2005 approved combine flexibility in the labour market (vi) Education policy c) `Overseas Employment Policy 2006' in 2007 approved and security for workers (vii) Investment policy d) Employment generation is treated as one of the important areas of ˇ Develop appropriate policy to prevent a ˇ Develop a coordinated and harmonized strategic policy intervention for poverty alleviation further fall in labour intensity in various policy for employment and labour welfare activities ˇ Ensure technological upgrade, adaptation and dissemination that are suitable for local environment ˇ Develop and implement employment policy in order to bring about gender parity in employment ˇ Reformulate development strategies focusing on the fact that service sector is overtaking agriculture as the largest provider of employment ˇ Adopt policies to facilitate development of SMEs ˇ Adopt policies towards diversifying manufacturing sectors ˇ Formulate agriculture and rural development policies to reduce vulnerability of agricultural labourers ˇ Develop an institutional arrangement among key government agencies for labour policy formulation and implementation Lead Responsibility: MoLE and MoEWOE Associate Responsibility: MoE, MoI, MoWCA, MoSW, BMET, DL, DIFE, BITAC, SCITI, BSCIC, SMEF, TSCs, MF, TTCs, DTE, BTEB 19. Creating jobs for men and women ˇ Emergency Fund for employment ˇ Karmasangsthan (Employment) Bank ˇ Emergency Social Fund for income generation ˇ PKSF generating employment 139 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ SMEF ˇ Emergency employment programmes to absorbs short-run shocks ˇ Employment 20. Creating jobs in poverty-prone Areas ˇ All areas that are vulnerable to natural ˇ PKSF ˇ Undertake job creation programmes in calamities ˇ SMEF the poverty-prone areas, especially the ˇ Overseas Employment-opportunity for people of Monga-prone areas. Monga-prone districts ˇ Undertake special job creation measures for women in poverty prone areas Lead Responsibility: MoLE and MoEWOE Associate Responsibility: MoF, Minimum Wages Board (MWB), Trade Bodies/Associations, BEF, NGOs, Trade Unions 21. Ensuring increase in real wages ˇ Increase real wage in agriculture, industrial ˇ Government approved new wages scale in 2006 (National Wages and ˇ Permanent Wage Board is to be formed and service sectors Productivity Commission, 2005) ˇ Increase real wages with linkage to labour productivity ˇ Improve labour skills by providing demand driven training ˇ Improve labour productivity by adopting appropriate technology ˇ Ensure that minimum wages is fixed at realistic level ˇ Develop monitoring system for minimum wage implementation Lead Responsibility: Ministry of Law Associate Responsibility: , MoLE, MoEWOE, DL, DIFE, Regulatory Reforms Commission, SMEF, Recruiting Agencies, NGOs, MWB, Police Department 22. Reforming regulatory framework to ˇ Introduce minimum wage ˇ Regulatory Reforms Commission is functioning ˇ Strengthen supervisions by the GoB of promote decent employment ˇ Regulate the overseas recruiting agencies the recruitment agencies for avoiding ˇ Modernize labour legislation harassment and fraudulence activities ˇ Modernize factory inspection ˇ Modernise labour legislation in accordance with fundamental principles and rights at work and other relevant ILO standards ˇ Promote social dialogue among governments, employers organization and trade unions ˇ Introduce sector wise factory inspection Lead Responsibility: MoEWOE and MoLE Associate Responsibility: BMET, SMEF, Local Governments, Workers' Associations, NGOs, BEF 23. Developing employment support ˇ Establish twenty one (21) District ˇ There is a network of 21 District Employment and Manpower ˇ Create access to markets and business service Employment and Manpower Offices Offices in the country to provide news to job-seekers. development services for rural enterprises (DEMOs) ˇ Enhance monitoring the activities of DEMOs by the MoLE ˇ Reform DEMOs and prepare list of job seekers and job openings regularly on wage and self- employment ˇ Introduce Self-Employment schemes for the registered unemployed job seekers to provide credit 140 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Collect and disseminate information on employment in the organized sector on a regular basis Lead Responsibility: MoF Associate Responsibility: MoWCA, MoSW, MoYS, MoLE, SMEF, BEF, Insurance Companies 24. Ensuring rights-based approach in the ˇ Introduce insurance for workers ˇ Five types of benefits are in practice in the public sector. These are: ˇ Introduce social protection for informal labour market programmes and social ˇ Introduce social security for the worker (i)compensation pension; (ii)invalidity pension; (iii)superannuation workers protection ˇ Strengthen SSN for the workers pension; (iv)retiring pension and (v)optional pension ˇ Strengthening social security in the formal ˇ Introduce rights-based employment ˇ Government employees are socially protected also by Benevolent Fund private sector programmes Scheme and Group Insurance Scheme ˇ Undertake initiatives for providing ˇ Existing labour market policies and programmes underline the insurance to workers in unorganized importance of a right based approach to employment especially through sector by forming workers' cooperatives micro credit and employment based safety nets through public works ˇ Introduce SSN Programmes for socially programmes disadvantaged workers (cobblers, barbers, sweepers, and others) ˇ Ensure greater job security, better working conditions and bargaining position for the rural workers ˇ Introduce employment based safety nets programmes through public works programmes Lead Responsibility: MoLE and MoEWOE Associate Responsibility: MoLJPA, BMET, BIMT, DoL, DIFE, Regulatory Reforms Commission, SMEF, Recruiting Agencies, NGOs, MWB, Police Department 25. Reforming/ ˇ Strengthen coordination and effectiveness ˇ BMET offers training on as many as 29 areas including different trades of ˇ Strengthen BMET's activities on human Restructuring/ of training system industrial technology resource export Strengthening Institutions involved in ˇ TTCs offer regular 2-year long vocational training course and 6 months ˇ Introduce four new trades viz. computer employment generation, skill development special course. Course contents of the TTCs & TSCs meet the hardware, medical electronics, consumer and labour welfare requirements of National Skill Standard Grade-III, Grade­II & Grade­I electronics and industrial electronics ˇ Make DIFE more efficient, accountable and specialized ˇ Strengthen monitoring of the performance of the existing 60 polytechnic institutes ˇ Ensure quality trainers & teachers in polytechnic institutes ˇ Setup an expert group to look into the issues relating to the vocational training programmes ˇ Introduce variety of vocational courses of different duration ˇ Establish new institutes for training the teachers ˇ Improve the quality of trainers including vocational teachers by providing both overseas and domestic training ˇ Widen the coverage of training courses 141 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 offered by TTCs ˇ Introduce training and advance courses on glass and ceramics, plastic, light engineering and electronics Lead Responsibility: MoLE and MoEWOE Associate Responsibility: MoLJPA, MoF, PC, SMEF, DoL, DIFE 26. Ensuring public-private partnership ˇ Enhance and harmonize service delivery ˇ Public-private partnership is introduced in several areas for example ˇ Develop a consultation process to foster activities by both public and private sectors Training and employment programme in collaboration with BGMEA, public-private partnership in employment BKMEA etc. generation and labour welfare ˇ Strengthen linkages between the technical training institutes and research institutes ˇ Enhance partnership with NGOs working in labour welfare ˇ Expand and diversify vocational training facilities, upgrade training, curricula equipment and other infrastructure ˇ Involve TTCs and BMET for Public Private Partnership with relevant employers (BGMEA, BKMEA, Western Marine Ltd and other potential Private Organisations. 27. Integrating cleaner technology with ˇ Promoting cleaner technologies in work ˇ Green technologies such as organic tea, municipal solid waste recycling, ˇ Strengthen advocacy for cleaner employment places bio-gas, bio-mass are being promoted technology ˇ Create incentive for cleaner technology Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 38.10 142 Policy Matrix 7: Private Sector Development Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: PM's Office, MoI, MoC, BOI , Privatization Commission 1.Creating enabling ˇ Prepare strategic vision for ˇ A Strategic vision for Private Sector Development is completed and formulation of Private ˇ Experiences of Malaysia and Singapore would be policy environment private sector development Sector Development strategy is underway examined for adapting appropriate strategies for for PSD (PSD) ˇ BBBF has been formed and RRC has been set up PSD ˇ Review experience of other ˇ A national council for industrial development has been constituted ˇ Undertaking investment climate assessments and countries to formulate PSD ˇ Industrial policy of 2005 to encourage private sector participation undertaken other firm-level surveys to provide analytical basis strategy ˇ Revised Privatization Policy 2007 is in place for ongoing business environment reform ˇ Set up national commission ˇ Export Policy 2006-09 and Import Policy 2006-have been declared ˇ Policy, strategies and programmes would be consisting of policy makers and formulated, implemented and monitored private sector experts ˇ Incorporate feedback from private sector in formulation of policies on various private sector development issues ˇ BBBF to continue Lead Responsibility: MoLJPA, MoL, Chambers, BOI, MoLE, MoC, BEPZA,BSCIC, RRC ˇ Improve/streamline legal and ˇ BOI in support with SEDF­IFC conducted Administrative Barrier Review and identified ˇ Undertake measures to clear backlog of cases regulatory framework bottlenecks with suggestions ˇ Reform the labour laws to prevent politicization ˇ MoI has undertaken an initiative to review all existing laws, rules and regulations of its different ˇ Simplify land titling and transfer procedure corporations and departments ˇ Establish a policy analysis unit in each PSD ˇ The Privatization Regulations 2007 have been promulgated to identify bottlenecks and ensure organization transparency ˇ Streamline procedures, improve efficiency of ˇ The private sector investment guideline 2004 has been prepared and approved bonded warehouses, duty drawback system and IT ˇ The Securities and Exchange Commission Rules has been adapted capacities ˇ Make the approval processes in BOI, BEPZA and Registrar of JSCs transparent ˇ Streamline business regulations and enact an appropriate competition law ˇ Improve enforcement of contracts and property rights and streamline commercial justice system Lead Responsibility: Privatization Commission, PM Office, MoI, BBF, ˇ Expedite the process of ˇ Total 34 SOEs were transferred /sold to private sector during the last PRSP period. This ˇ Encourage private sector investment including FDI privatization process is being continued in privatization programme ˇ Programme for another 26 SOEs has been developed ˇ Introduce transparency in selecting SOEs, financing ˇ Revised privatization policy has been published & valuing of assets & liabilities and bidding for ˇ Privatization Regulation 2007 is promulgated privatization ˇ Minimize delays incurred in hand over of enterprises ˇ Make privatization process less complicated ˇ Provide counselling service to potential investors ˇ Build capacity of Privatization Commission to ensure proper monitoring of post transfer support ˇ Train and rehabilitate retrenched workers 143 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoF, BOI, NBR, RRC, BBF. ˇ Provide adequate and equitable ˇ BOI in each year in interacting with the investors place recommendations to GOB for adequate ˇ Replace tax holiday by discounted tax rate fiscal incentives and equitable fiscal incentives to investors ˇ Bring company tax in line with other regional ˇ BSCIC of MOI is providing collateral free loan to the under privileged women and unemployed countries youth. ˇ Implementing PERC's relevant recommendations ˇ Making PFI effective ˇ Undertake further reforms in tax administration, company tax, PFI and PSI effectiveness Lead Responsibility: MoF, MoC, Tariff Commission, Trade bodies, Chambers, EPB, CPA, MPA,LPA, DOF, BSTI, TB, RRC, BBF, ˇ Trade policy reforms at right ˇ SAFTA is being implemented from 1 July 2006. SAFTA has opened negotiations in service ˇ Follow up bilateral and regional FTA pace and sequence. sector ˇ Reduce cost of doing business and provide a level ˇ A number of rounds of trade negotiation have taken placed under APTA playing field to domestic producers ˇ Trade negotiation under BIMSTEC is underway ˇ Frame a strategy to get benefit from global service ˇ Bangladesh signed agreement on TPS-OIC in November, 2006 trade ˇ Bangladesh signed the Preferential Trade Agreement among D-eight countries in the sixth ˇ Reduce lead time in export by developing port, meeting of OIC held in May, 2006 transport system, infrastructure and simplifying ˇ Tariff Commission has already conducted studies on the issue of removal of anti export bias goods unloading accompanied by resolution of supply-side bottlenecks ˇ Lobby in the USA for duty-free entry of RMG exports ˇ Diversify export items and markets ˇ Undertake quality improvement and cost reduction measures to increase competitiveness of the exports ˇ Establish product wise design centres ˇ Increase skills and capacity of EPB, custom authorities, sea and land port authorities, BSTI, Tea Board, different trade bodies ˇ Promote modern technology for promotion and expansion of exports Lead Responsibility: MOI, MOC, MOL&E, NBR, MOF, BSCIC, DCC ˇ Readymade Garments (RMG) ˇ An initiative has been taken by the MOI through BSCIC to reallocate all garment industries ˇ Conduct study on the possible impact of EU Rules promotion by addressing the from Dhaka City to Munshigonj district. The name of the project is "Garment Shilpa Park". of Origin (RoO) on Bangladesh challenges in the post MFA era ˇ Expand IT services to BMET's district level officers ˇ Diversify trainings for all including nurses, garment workers, factory workers, cleaners, housemaid, etc. ˇ Give thrust on export of high quality garments Lead Responsibility: MoHPW, BOI, MoL, MoF.,BEPZA & BSCIC 2. Easing supply ˇ Provide freehold land ˇ BOI recommends to Land administration for arranging freehold land for investors and is taking ˇ Make unused public lands available to private constraints an inventory of freehold lands investors ˇ SEZ policy is being formulated to facilitate land for private investors ˇ Provide fiscal incentives to private industrial estates ˇ BSCIC is providing infrastructure facilities including land to the entrepreneurs in 72 districts ˇ Acquire land and hand them over to potential ˇ Studies on industrial Estates are underway investors for setting up of new industries, SEZ, Shilpa Park, etc. ˇ Modernise land registration processes 144 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Increase transparency in location & environmental clearance certifications Lead Responsibility: PM Office., BEPZA, BSCIC ,MoI, MoL,BOI, MoC ˇ Improve Regulatory Framework ˇ Institute new policy and regulatory frameworks to and Institutional Setup for enable private investment in economic zones Development of Economic ˇ Improve land zoning for industrial purpose, land Zones titling process and land registration ˇ Piloting master land zoning and infrastructure plans for selected large scale zone developments ˇ Finalize licensing for proposed and future private export processing zones ˇ Facilitate public-private partnerships for provision of utilities to economic zone and industrial estates ˇ Assist BEPZA and BSCIC to undertake regulatory role ˇ Support building of privately financed common effluent treatment plants in economic zone and industrial estates ˇ Adapt a comprehensive economic zone strategy ˇ Strengthen environmental compliance standards to meet the standards of foreign buyers and investors ˇ Change BEPZA rules to accommodate importers so that a manufacturer of local consumers goods gets facilities of tax-free import of raw materials and intermediate goods ˇ Implement "One Industry one Village" theme for developing economically backward areas Lead Responsibility: BB, MOF ˇ Deepen and make more efficient ˇ NCBs have been made into limited companies ˇ New agency for loan recovery will be established financial market ˇ Supervision of banking sector has been strengthened ˇ Scale-up ultra-poor finance through PKSF and ˇ Enforcement of bankruptcy and default legislation made stricter donor programmes (CFPR, etc.) ˇ Regulation of improved governance of MFIs enacted. ˇ Provide license to start banking on the basis of ˇ Financial intermediation made more effective, low cost and deeper, with special emphasis on clearly defined objectives and criteria reaching SMEs and rural areas ˇ Establish Financial Reporting Council ˇ Functioning of capital and insurance markets and contractual savings, respective regulators ˇ Adopt corporate governance for MFIs improved ˇ Increase market placement of securitized issues, promote corporate bond markets for government securities and establish reliable yield benchmarks ˇ Complete ongoing restructuring of NCBs ˇ Remove legal impediments for SEC to carry out its oversight role 145 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: BB, Chambers, SEC, MoF ˇ Strengthen capital market ˇ Opening of Beneficiary Owner's (BO) Account and Central Depository Systems (CDS) is ˇ Take measures to increase supply of good shares introduced ˇ Strengthen regulatory & supervisory frameworks for ˇ Initial Public offering (IPO) floatation cost is reduced capital & insurance markets ˇ `N'category is introduced and mutual fund is approved ˇ Strengthen the SEC with adequate and appropriate ˇ Investor's Education Programme has been conducted professional human resources ˇ Government owned shares are being off-loaded ˇ Establish efficient bond to encompass resourceful ˇ Monetary requirements have been introduced to raise capital by limited companies primary and secondary markets, lucid rules and ˇ Direct listing regulation of Dhaka/Chittagong Stock Exchange is approved regulations, well functioning settlement and custody systems, reliable ratings and bench mark yield curve ˇ Security Training Institute is established ˇ Deepen the scale and scope of the market, ˇ The project-"Improvement of Capital Market Governance" is under implementation particularly by introducing new concepts and ˇ Securities and Exchange Commission (Public Rules), 2006 instruments such as risk-hedging and commodity ˇ SEC issued `Corporate Governance Guidelines' on `comply or explain' basis to elevate trading etc. corporate governance Lead Responsibility: MoSICT, BOI, Chambers, Privatization Commission. BEPZA ˇ Attract higher level of FDI ˇ Bangladesh Better Business Forum has been formed ˇ Business support services to be improved for ˇ Regulatory Reform Commission has been formed reducing cost of doing business and attracting FDI ˇ A large number of regulatory, legal and policy reforms have been made to create better business ˇ Privatization Commission continues to attract FDI environment and better investment climate through SOE privatization programme ˇ Maintaining political stability ˇ Introduction of Equity Protection Law ˇ Easy the procedure for opening up branch or liaison offices by the foreign investors/companies in Bangladesh. ˇ Implement laws for establishing EPZ/SEZ/Industrial Parks in private sector ˇ Encourage private investment in infrastructure building ˇ Improve the negotiation skill and capacity of Government Lead Responsibility: MOCM, MoS, MOPT BR, RHW, MoLJPA, ERC, CPA, MOEP, PMOffice. ˇ Improve infrastructural facilities ˇ Construction of Dhaka Metro in private sector on BOT basis has been approved by the Cabinet ˇ Modernise management and operations of ports Committee ˇ Improve railway container and cargo handling ˇ Jamuna Bridge Railway Link Construction Project (second revised) is being implemented since ˇ Implement necessary policy and institutional reforms July 1997 at Chittagong port ˇ Two foreign companies have expressed their interest on the construction of the expressway ˇ Increase generation and distribution of electricity from Dhaka to Chittagong. PQ will be awarded soon and gas ˇ A MOU is awaiting agreement signature between the GOB and a Chinese Company (CMEG) ˇ Address critical issue of pricing of power and gas for the construction of the Dhaka ­ Laksham Cord line. DPP is being prepared. ˇ Take policies/strategies to facilitate ship building in ˇ Three large IPPs each of having 150 MW capacity are under process of implementation private sector ˇ Develop coal mines activities ˇ Develop SEZ/industrial parks with public-private 146 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 partnership ˇ Energy conservation and efficiency programmes ˇ Renewable energy development ˇ BRTC will be strengthened for effective regulation and facilitating telecommunication services Lead Responsibility: MoPME, MoE, MoLE, MoT&J, MoSICT. ˇ Address Skills ˇ A new labour law 2006 has been formulated and approved by the government ˇ Consolidate gains in primary and secondary Constraints ˇ MoLE is providing technical trainings on different trades and creating skilled manpower education with emphasis on improving the overall through technical training centres. quality ˇ A total no. of 26 technical centres is being established through implementation of 4 different ˇ Improve the quality and market relevance of the projects. Out of these 6 TTCs are being established solely for women vocational education and training (VET) system ˇ A data base has been developed by BMET of Mo Expatriate Welfare and Overseas ˇ Develop a policy framework, in coordination with Employment the private sector, clarifying roles & responsibilities of various VET agencies ˇ Make available information on training programme and facilitate regularly and independent impact evaluations on training programme ˇ Allow greater autonomy for VET institutions and Set-up an autonomous Board of VET Lead Responsibility: MoE, MoPME, MoLE, MoI, BSCIC, MOEE, ˇ Develop Human resources ˇ BITAC provides regular training on welding, machinery shopping, foundry, electrical and ˇ Develop curriculum of education and training electronics, plastic technology, heat treatment at a very low cost programmes to reflect need of private sector ˇ A special Institution named SCITI of BSCIC is imparting regular training on entrepreneurship ˇ Introduce internships and on the job training development facilities ˇ Design centres of BSCIC are giving training on different trades for development of human ˇ Improve entrepreneurial, managerial and labour resources skills ˇ BSCIC imparted HRD training related to SMEs ˇ Strengthen technical and vocational teachers training ˇ Reform the legal base of universities for assessment of performance and re-establishing accountability ˇ Separate integrated programme to be undertaken for women entrepreneurship development ˇ Ensure quality higher education to meet the market needs ˇ Undertake initiative for collaboration of all research organizations and technical and higher educational institutions with the service users Lead Responsibility: MoI, MoE, MoSICT, BOI, BEPZA, BITAC, BUET, Chambers/Trade Bodies. ˇ Facilitate technology ˇ National Science and Technology Policy, 1986 is under review for updating ˇ Prepare a technology development strategy development ˇ ICT Act was enacted in October 2006 and preparation of Rules related to e-commerce is ˇ Carry out, on a continuous basis, strategic reviews of underway higher education and TEVT system to make it more ˇ National Institute of Bio-Technology has been set up adaptable to employer and entrepreneurs needs ˇ Bio-Technology Laboratory and Research has been initiated ˇ Trade bodies will seek trade specific technology ˇ BOI approved TT agreements by local and foreign investors development in collaboration with relevant public 147 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ A new policy in TT is completed and initiative has been taken for collaboration between public and private institutions supported by appropriate and private sector in setting up of a centre for transfer and diffusion of technologies. matching grant facility ˇ Officials of BITAC are receiving trainings to improve their technological knowledge for ˇ Provide policy support for technology transfer by developing new technology foreign investors ˇ Experts from developed countries are regularly coming to provide training to the officials of ˇ Carry out strategic reviews of the incentive regimes BITAC for public and private absorption of technology with ˇ Developed an action plan on technology for selected SMEs a focus on commercialization of pro-poor innovations ˇ Identify gender gaps and concerns in policy documents and strategy papers on technology Lead Responsibility: BBS,BOI,EPB, Chambers, MoSICT, BEPZA, BBF, RRC 3.Improving Business ˇ Create information and data base ˇ The government developed a web portal to ensure access of information related for ˇ Strengthen industrial statistics wing of BBS Support Services for providing market information improvement of the business. ˇ Make registration of private investment mandatory ˇ BOI has completed a web based MIS for keeping investment related data. and improve coordination amongst pertinent ˇ A business registry has already been developed that will extend business support services. agencies ˇ Possibility of bringing BOI and BEPZA under one umbrella is under examination. ˇ Establish modern laboratories for controlling quality ˇ Efforts to separate the regulatory and service functions of EPB will be made of export products ˇ Ensure regular supply of updated information on market and technology to producers ˇ Establish backward and forward industries ˇ Establish effluent treatment plants in industrial zones ˇ Ensure easy access to raw materials for export products ˇ Institute regulatory impact assessment mechanisms and processes within Government ˇ Establish ongoing processes for reduction of regulatory burden within Government ˇ Establish PSD inter ­Agency Network ˇ Support development of GoB's capacity to monitor the Bangladesh Investment Climate ˇ Implement e-Government framework, platform and LAN (software only) and implement e-Government pilots ˇ Conduct business process surveys of municipal authorities' service functions Lead Responsibility: MoI, BSTI, MoLE, MoC, MoSICT ˇ Improve standard and quality ˇ BSTI plays vital role in maintaining country's standard and quality control issue of different ˇ Strengthen BSTI to meet the international standards control products ˇ The trade bodies to initiate setting up of trade ˇ BSTI is implementing two projects to (a) upgrade the required technical infrastructure for specific standards as per international requirements. standards development and harmonization, metrology and testing laboratories required by the ˇ Make arrangement for quality development of selected sectors, and Standards for labelling and accreditation and/or certification of Chambers and Business Associations. laboratories and quality system and (b) develop national capacities for setting up Hazardous ˇ There should be more cooperation between public Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 schemes at enterprise level 148 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 as well as the capacity of national certification bodies to assess such systems and private sector on standard and environmental ˇ A consumer rights protection law has been approved on principle issues ˇ Actions are underway to reorganize and strengthening EPB, Bangladesh Tariff Commission and CCI&E Lead Responsibility: MoI, DPDT, MoC, EPB, BOI, BEPZA, Cambers ˇ Improve Intellectual Property ˇ Department of Patent, Design and Trademarks (DPDT) is implementing a project to ˇ Strengthen Department of Patent, Design and Rights environment strengthen national capacity to develop & modernize the intellectual property (IP) system Trademarks (DPDT) with appropriate human resources ˇ Strengthen national capacity to develop & modernize the intellectual property (IP) system ˇ Strengthen Copyright Office with appropriate technical and professional manpower Lead Responsibility: MoI, BSCIC, Cambers, MoWCA, WEAB, EPB, BOI, MoLE, MoYS, WEDP 4. Women ˇ Develop Women ˇ BSCIC provides training on 'Business Management' and Entrepreneurship Development to ˇ Provide tariff incentives to import of inputs in case entrepreneurship entrepreneurship the rural potential women entrepreneurs in all divisions and selected districts. of cottage and handicraft activities Development ˇ Ensure 20% increase of women ˇ BSCIC's project viz. `women entrepreneurship development' for self-employment of potential ˇ Encourage women entrepreneurs in small & entrepreneurs women since 1984 and so far imparted EDP training for 93,621 potential woman medium-scale production and business activities entrepreneurs ˇ Give preferential treatment to women entrepreneurs ˇ Recent policy of Government allows women entrepreneurs to receive 10% of credit facilities to in trade fairs at home and abroad improve their business ˇ Develop linkages between women's associations and ˇ 5 percent industrial plots are being reserved for women entrepreneurs in various industrial parks credit institutions to ensure more participation ˇ Undertake initiative for the development of women's ˇ Representatives of women entrepreneurs association are sent abroad for training, seminars and entrepreneurship in an integrated way workshops ˇ Involve business association and chambers of ˇ Women associations named `Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh' Women commerce & Industries in women's entrepreneur's Chamber and Commerce Industries are the regular members of all activities of the MOI. development ˇ EPB plans to create a trade portal that will help women entrepreneurs to participate in ˇ Encourage the Chambers to provide women economic activities. entrepreneurs with bankable project and ˇ 10% of Small Enterprise Fund (SEF) created by the BB has been allocated for the women technology entrepreneurs. ˇ Ensure woman's association to work with apex chamber and associations for promotion of women entrepreneurs ˇ Implement gender Action Plan by the SMEF and WEEF ˇ Established a design institutes for SMEs ˇ Provide special support (information, credit, extension services, technology etc.) for women entrepreneurs ˇ Ensure special allocation for women entrepreneurs ˇ Make the procedure of starting business easy for women 149 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoF, BB, MoA, MoFL, MOLG&C, MoL, BSCIC, BARD, PM Office, NGO Bureau, MoT&J, 5. Developing Rural ˇ Develop RNFS ˇ Public and private sectors are providing training to develop human resources involved in the ˇ Ensure physical infrastructure and rural Non-Farm Sector ˇ Make RNFS mainstream non-farm sector electrification (RNFS) ˇ Make market function better ˇ Credit facilities are given for product promotion and business expansion to RNFS ˇ Rationalize tax & tariff structure to facilitate RNFS ˇ Taxes and other financial and policy assistance are provided to RNFS ˇ Create extensive data base on RNFE sector ˇ Supports are being given to rural entrepreneurs to facilitate smooth business ˇ Reform NCBs for enhancing rural banks to support RNFS ˇ Prepare and adopt a national RNFS development policy ˇ Enforce transparent and consistent "rules of the game" for agro enterprise development ˇ Improve marketing infrastructure to promote rural non-farm and non-crop agriculture activities ˇ Address issues relating to quality and productivity of outputs in RNFS ˇ Encourage private entrepreneurs to enter into buy- back arrangement with RNFS Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 54.76 150 Policy Matrix 8: Land Use Policy and Management Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoL 1. Modernizing land records preparation and land ˇ Modernize land records of one city and 60 ˇ The pilot project taken up for computerization of land ˇ Prepare and preserve land records using management system Upazila records of Demra circle was completed successfully in ICT 2005/2006 ˇ Establish a database to preserve and ˇ Programme of computerization of land records is going on in manage all records electronically at all another four circles in Dhaka city tiers of land administration ˇ Preserve hard copies of all records for checking authenticity ˇ Use satellite imageries for preparation of land records ˇ Reorganize the offices of registration of land transfer deed ˇ Integrate land survey, land records and land management and digitise the whole land administration 2. Rehabilitating asset less and homeless people in ˇ Provide 58000 asset less and homeless families ˇ 25385 asset less and poor families have been provided with ˇ Identify land filling of suitable Khas land rural areas, poor female headed households, slum with houses houses, training and micro-credit for their rehabilitation ˇ Select beneficiary families dwellers and low income families in Dhaka and other ˇ Provide 114 twin houses to homeless families ˇ Construction of 12600 flats is going on in Dhaka city. These ˇ Construct houses and transfer deed to big cities and climate victims and land to 3000 other families are being constructed on govt. land on public/private the beneficiaries ˇ Provide flats to 7560 slum dwellers ownership basis. These will be allotted to slum dwellers and ˇ Engage in I.G.As through training and ˇ Provide flats to 5040 low-income families low income families at a reduced price credit ˇ Rehabilitation of climate victims through Guchcha Gram ˇ Construct flats by private investors to be started given to poor ˇ Start the process for selection of beneficiaries, allotting of flats, sale and transfer of flats and conduct deed of transfer ˇ Rehabilitation of climate victims through Guchcha Gram to continue 3. Providing agricultural Khas land ˇ Settle 33000 acres of Khas land in favour of ˇ Settlement of around 15000 acres, 19000 acres and 15000 ˇ Identify more Khas land suitable for 33000 families. acres of agricultural Khas land has been completed in FY05, settlement FY06 and FY07. ˇ Select beneficiary on the basis of transparent criteria ˇ Provide Khas land on the basis of existing policy 4. Ensuring proper and planned use of land ˇ Complete land zoning in 19 Coastal districts ˇ Preparation of a database based on land resources and of ˇ Prepare upazila land use plan ˇ Complete land zoning in 2 other districts Maps based on land zoning information is going on ˇ Prepare database based on land ˇ Land zoning maps based on land use in 19 coastal districts resources and of land zoning and 2 other districts will be prepared information system ˇ Enact land zoning law and village improvement Act ˇ Prepare a report on Char and ecologically Critical Areas 151 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 5. Managing Jajmahal, Balumahal and Sairat mahals ˇ Modify and update relevant policies ˇ Jalmahal management policy modified and updated ˇ Modify /Update Jalmahal management for poverty reduction ˇ Land use policy made effective policy ˇ Land Reforms Board rules introduced ˇ Modify /Update Balumahal management ˇ Formulation of Balumahal policy is going on policy ˇ Modify /Update other Sairat mahal management policy ˇ Develop data management system for public water bodies 6. Ensuring ownership/title through land survey ˇ Print and publish 1000000 Khatians ˇ 1065631 Khatians of 2248 Mouzas and 655202 maps of 1949 ˇ Selection of area for survey ˇ Print and publish 300000 Maps Mouzas was printed and published ˇ Employment of manpower for surveying ˇ Printing and publication of 3000000 Khatians of 5400 ˇ Informing land owners through wide Mouzas and 1344000 maps of 5600 Mouzas are under way publicity ˇ Preparation and supply of Khatians and Maps ˇ Develop digital data base of land survey 7. Ensuring maximum and efficient land related ˇ Prepare recommendation for modification, ˇ A workshop was held in March 2006 to prepare ˇ Constitute a committee of specialist service to people updating and simplification of land related acts, recommendations including lawyers ordinances, rules, regulations and policies ˇ RRC has been working on this issue ˇ Install close circuit camera in the land ministry and attached departments Lead Responsibility: MoL, MoF, MoEF, MoWR, DoE, DoF, BWD 8. Protecting and Conserving wetland, hilly areas, tea ˇ Promulgate new laws/policies. ˇ Department of fisheries, local govt. institutions closely ˇ Lease out rivers, canals, hoars etc. to and rubber gardens ˇ Modification/updating of existing laws/policies involved in the management of Jalmahals poor and fishing community ˇ Introduce special laws/policies for protecting hilly areas, tea gardens, rubber gardens 9. Taking measures for accretion of coastal land ˇ Accrete land in Chittagong, Feni, Lakshmipur ˇ Settlement of coastal land is underway ˇ Take measure to consolidate accretion of and Noakhali areas land in coastal areas and make it suitable for afforestation, habitation and crop production Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 3.78 152 Policy Matrix 9: Housing Development Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoHPW, city corporations, municipalities 1. Ensuring adequate and affordable ˇ Provide housing for families with ˇ Rehabilitation scheme undertaken for 60000 ˇ Preparing Policy Guidelines for creating conducive environment for private housing for different income groups, low-income in rural and urban areas, evicted slum dwellers investment in housing especially low income and extreme landless and homeless families ˇ Chittagong, Kushtia, Natore, Cox's Bazar, ˇ Target the extremely impoverished in rural and urban areas for assisted poor and vulnerable groups ˇ Discourage encroachment on public Noakhali, Sylhet, Maulavi Bazar, Comilla, house building, community housing, mess etc. land and formation of new slums and Narsinghdi, Barisal Housing Estates initiated and ˇ Establish housing, preferably multi-unit ­high- rise, for the extreme poor unauthorized constructions completed with essential facilities ˇ Subsidize raising of plinth level and ˇ RAJUK's `Purbachal' (26917 plots), `Jhilmil' (1775), ˇ Speed up previous projects facing stagnation and complete on-going construction of houses within the `Uttara Residential Model Town' (6640) development work Bheri-Bandh area in disaster prone implemented and is in the third phase ˇ Expansion of planned residential areas in Dhaka, Chittagong and other regions of Bangladesh ˇ Annual REHAB housing Fair for members, clients, divisional headquarters and in all the district towns for different income ˇ Coordinate the National Housing financial institutions and providers of building groups Policy with other development material takes place ˇ In Dhaka, further development of Uttara-Gulshan-Banani and Baridhara policies ˇ Adarsha Gram I benefited 45,647 families and ˇ Provide loans to low-income people to own houses on hire-purchase basis Adarsha Gram II benefited 25,385 families ˇ Build GO-NGO partnership and encourage the private sector to provide ˇ Programme for the vagrant and elderly women are housing for families with low-income in rural and urban areas, landless and being administered by MoSW homeless ˇ Appropriate Resources for Improving Street ˇ Develop mechanism for mobilization of resources and new financing Children's' Environment (ARISE) mechanism ˇ Providing shelter with health services, education ˇ Encourage research and development for new modes of housing technology and jobs for 8,000 vulnerable children using indigenous materials ˇ For low-income GoB officials, 5000 flats in Mirpur ˇ Strengthen House and Building Research Institute (HBRI) for low cost and 1000 flats in Mohammadpur were built and housing research construction of 420 flats in Motijhil is underway Lead Responsibility: MoHPW, city corporations, municipalities, NGOs, private sector 2. Providing housing for rural and ˇ Provide housing for all functionally ˇ Establish Adarsha Grams, Abashan, Asrayan, ˇ Identify financing institutions, agencies, NGOs and other organizations for urban homeless, landless and landless people by 2025 Ghare Phera on Govt. khas lands assisting house building vulnerable groups and poor female ˇ Ensure shelter for people who qualify ˇ Fund for housing for the distressed (grihayan ˇ Set up slum improvement cell in every municipality headed households for safety net programmes tahabil) established ˇ Extend solid waste collection service, efficient conservancy services ˇ Provide housing for Female HH ˇ Under Abashan project a total of 32,663 houses proportionate to population within communities and provide water points where women are widowed, deserted were built for 163,315 beneficiaries up to 2005 and sanitary latrines or destitute ˇ Build more hostels, vagrant homes and also replicate projects like Asrayan, Abashan, targeting single women, FHH, disaster affected families, vulnerable groups, street children ˇ Ensure M&O of new and rehabilitated structures ˇ Rural housing, ideal village and returning homes projects to continue Lead Responsibility: MoHPW, MoL, FD, PC, city corporations, municipalities, NGOs, private sector 3. Maximising utilization of land in ˇ Reallocate the extreme poor living in ˇ Provide housing including safe drinking water, ˇ Introduce land zoning, enforce rules for sites and services, formulate policy urban and rural areas depressed areas sanitation and electricity for inclusion of hard-core poor and women in income generating activities ˇ Target people with threatened ˇ MoSW's Abashon project in 180 upazilas is related to construction materials, formulate new structure of duty (stamp livelihoods, hard-core poor people, underway. duty) and registration fees on the basis of economic categories unemployed people in remote areas, ˇ 6 Sharkari Ashroy Kendra (Vagrant home) is ˇ Provide fiscal and other financial and competitive incentives to GO-NGO 153 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 monga areas, hoar and char areas underway partnerships that encourage rehabilitation and reallocation schemes ˇ Rehabilitate Disaster calamity victimsˇ Training and Rehabilitation Centre for ˇ Develop Regional Plan for 3 Hill districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari and ˇ Mitigate housing problems of disadvantaged girls, 6 Safe Home for the women Bandarban homeless poor and adolescent girls are operating ˇ Develop land use clusters in rural areas (vertical expansion within specified ˇ Rehabilitate scattered slum dwellers ˇ Formulated the National Plan for Disaster zones) and detailed area plans through land acquisition and zoning and pavement dwellers Management 2007-2015 particularly addresses ˇ Create processes for land use planning and regulation specific housing needs of women and ˇ Ensure M&O of new and rehabilitated structures disadvantaged vulnerable groups included within ˇ Institutionalize capacity development of local authority CRA and RRAP ˇ Prepare urban and rural Housing Policy for maximising land utilization of ˇ Rehabilitated slum and lower income group in land Dhaka city in 47.90 acres of land by constructing 15,024 flats in 438 multi-storied buildings ˇ Preparation of Master Plan/Land use plans for 12 newly declared Paurashava underway ˇ Prepared layout plans of plots of land development projects of National Housing Authority ˇ Bangladesh Country Urban Indicators Study Projects for 14 cities undertaken ˇ Technical Assistance for Strengthening Capability of the Urban Development Directorate for updating upazila and District Town Master Plan ˇ Establishment of Building Technology Dissemination, Testing and Trainings Centres at Rajshai, Sylhet and Dhaka is underway ˇ Preparation of structure, Master and Area Plan for Sylhet and Barisal and Cox's Bazar towns is underway Lead Responsibility: MoHPW, MoL, MoEF, MoWR, PC, city corporations, municipalities 4. Facilitating/ promoting private ˇ Create processes for private sector ˇ Community Risk Assessment (CRA) Guideline and ˇ Improving/expanding basic amenities in urban slums sector, NGOs and CBOs in house assisted building norms and system Risk Reduction Action Planning Process (RRAP) ˇ Strengthen the Environment Cell to monitor conditions of urban slums and building for monitoring a GoB formulated are under implementation through sub-contracting related aspects regulatory framework arrangements with NGOs ˇ Promote basic urban norms, neighbourhood and community feeling ˇ Formulate GoB body to evaluate ˇ Provide housing and rooming houses for poor female working women, institutional capacity of local single mothers and vulnerable authority ˇ Construct new houses, street lights, roads and sidewalks Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 80.81 154 Policy Matrix 10: Infrastructure Development including Power, Energy and Communications Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) Lead Responsibility: Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) 1. Increasing efficiency accountability and ˇ Complete unbundling of distribution sub-sector ˇ North-West Zone Power Distribution Company (NWZPDC) ˇ Continue unbundling and transparency ˇ Create BPDB Holding Company has started functioning. corporatisation ˇ Corporatise BPDB's remaining power plants ˇ South Zone Power Distribution Company (SZPDC) ˇ Establish commercial arrangement ˇ Restore the sector financial viability and credit incorporated under Single Buyer power market worthiness ˇ Unbundling of distribution to be complete with corporatisation ˇ Rationalize tariff according to Power ˇ Ensure good governance in the corporatised entities of Central Zone of BPDB Pricing Framework and introduce life ˇ Study completed for corporatisation of Central Zone line tariff for ultra-poor ˇ Study for the creation of BPDB Holding Company is ongoing ˇ Strengthening sector regulation under BERC ˇ Establish a power trading subsidiary for bulk power management 2. Ensuring least cost generation and ˇ Expand installed capacity to 7000 MW ˇ 1000 MW capacity of power plants are under construction ˇ Develop a least cost generation expansion expansion ˇ Increase per capita generation from 170 kWh to 200 ˇ 1700 MW capacity of power project is under procurement Plan kWh process ˇ Expand coal based power plants and power generation by using safe and nuclear power technology 3. Expanding distribution and area ˇ Increase coverage to realize GoB's vision to provide ˇ Ensure expansion of distribution line coverage electricity to all b 2020 ˇ Ensure access to electricity from 45% to 60% from conventional and renewable sources ˇ Increase number of consumers by 2.7 million ˇ Increase no. of village electrification by 6,000 ˇ Expand distribution line (33 kV and below) from 275,000 km to 325,000 km 4. Expanding distribution by BPDB ˇ 6000 km distribution line (33 kV and below) ˇ Ensure balance development in transmission expansion and distribution sub-sector ˇ New consumer connection: 400,000 ˇ Install telemeter for large customer's and expand pre-paid metering system 5. Improve operational Performance ˇ Reduce BPDB's distribution loss to 12.5 percent ˇ Continue efficiency improvement ˇ Reduce retail customers accounts receivables to 2.0 equivalent months ˇ Improve CI ratio more than 87 % Lead Responsibility: Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) 6. Improving overall performance ˇ NLDC project is in progress ˇ Enhanced technical coordination of power ˇ Implement National Load Dispatch Centre ˇ 450 MV AR Capacitor Bank are being installed; installation of system operation ˇ Improve relay co-ordination and protection system a 600 MVAR and a 100 MVAR Capacitor Banks are under ˇ Improve Voltage profile by installing consideration 1150MVAR capacitor bank at 132 of 33 kv ˇ Reduce transmission loss below 3% level ˇ Targeted reduction of transmission loss could be achieved in ˇ Reduce interruption on National Grid below 30 the coming fiscal year per year and interruption time below 30 hours 155 Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) 7. Expanding Grid network capacity ˇ Consultant has been engaged and bidding documents are ˇ Ensure balance development in the ˇ Complete 100 ckt km 400 kV transmission line under preparation for 400 kV line project transmission and distribution sub-sector ˇ Increase 230 kV transmission line by 936 ckt km ˇ 230 kV transmission line projects are under construction ˇ Increase 132 kV transmission line by 457 ckt km ˇ Bidding for construction of 132 kV transmission line project ˇ Increase sub-station capacity by 4587 MVA has been completed Lead Responsibility: Ashugonj Power Station Company Ltd. (APSCL) 8. Improve corporate governance and ˇ Improve corporate culture ˇ Modernization & Rehabilitation of Unit-3,4 & 5 of Ashuganj ˇ Improve plant efficiency by maintenance operating efficiency ˇ Reduce outages time Power Station is in progress and rehabilitation work ˇ Increase plant availability to 80 % ˇ Reduce auxiliary consumption and station use Lead Responsibility: Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) 9. Increasing generation of additional ˇ Ensure plant availability more than 85% ˇ Construction of 2 x 120 MW Peaking Power Generation ˇ Complete 2 x 150 MW peaking plant at electricity ˇ Ensure energy conservation from the very Plant at Siddhirganj is in progress Siddhirganj beginning of plant design ˇ Owner's Engineer engaged and bid document is under review ˇ Complete 360 MW CC power plant at for 2X 150 MW peaking power project Haripur ˇ Order 100 and 150 megawatt gas turbine projects on an urgent basis ˇ Encourage construction of 10, 20 and 30 megawatt power stations in private sector ˇ Establish Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Lead Responsibility: Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA)/ Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) 10. Improving operational performance ˇ Reduce transmission loss to 3.5% ˇ Continue efficiency improvement ˇ Reduce distribution loss to 11.5% ˇ Reduce retail customer accounts receivable to 2.5 equivalent months ˇ Improve CI ratio more than 87 % 11. Expanding facility ˇ 52 km 132 kV transmission line and cable expansion ˇ Balance development in transmission and ˇ Expand pre-paid metering system distribution ˇ Expand 1000 km distribution line (33 kV & less) ˇ Connect 100,000 new consumer Lead Responsibility: Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO), West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd. (WZPDC) 12. Improving corporate governance ˇ Improve corporate culture ˇ Introduce pre paid meter 13. Improving operational performance ˇ Reduce distribution loss to 12.5% ˇ Continue efficiency improvement ˇ Reduce retail customer accounts receivable to 2.5 equivalent months ˇ Improve CI ratio more than 87% Lead Responsibility: Rural Electrification Board (REB) 14. Improving overall governance ˇ Improve management efficiency and innovative ˇ Study programme for management improvement and corporate arrangements for renewable energy expansion governance improvement has been taken by Power Cell 156 Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) 15. Improving operational performance ˇ Reduce distribution loss to 11.5% ˇ Continued efficiency improvement ˇ Reduce retail customer's accounts receivable to 2.0 equivalent months 16. Expanding distribution network ˇ Expand 40,000 km distribution line (33 kV & less) ˇ Balanced development in the transmission ˇ Ensure 2,000,000 new consumer connection and distribution ˇ Provide electricity to 6,000 new village ˇ Install 20,000 new SHS Lead Responsibility: Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (BOGMC) 17. Assessing non-renewable indigenous ˇ Increase oil and gas reserves through extended ˇ Offshore PSC Bidding 2008 initiated to entertain private sector ˇ Commercialize gas sector resources and undertaking measures for exploration in both land and sea investment widely ˇ Attract private sector investment economic and efficient use of energy ˇ Increase coal extraction to substitute increasing gas ˇ In view of strengthening BAPEX, funds have been allocated for ˇ Increase CNG usage as environment friendly demand. extensive exploration works clean fuel ˇ Expand national grid to cover western, north- ˇ Coal Policy is under formulation ˇ Gas exploration both onshore and offshore western and south-western zones. ˇ Companies under Petrobangla are enjoying autonomy to be enhanced ˇ Offloading of shares of the companies has been initiated ˇ Expansion of gas network to the western and south-western zone is ongoing ˇ Rajshahi city is being brought under gas network ˇ Private entrepreneurs are being encouraged to install CNG filling stations Lead Responsibility: Roads and Highways Department (RHD) 18. Developing roads infrastructure ˇ Construct new road : 3160 km ˇ 3786 km of new road is constructed ˇ Increase maintenance expenditures ˇ Rehabilitate road: 2090 km ˇ 2406 km of road improved and rehabilitated ˇ Construct coastal highway link ˇ Construct/recon bridge: 21100 meter ˇ 13476 meter of bridge is constructed and reconstructed ˇ Develop border roads ˇ Construct major bridges on national highways ˇ Construct toll roads/ bridges ˇ Dhaka-Chittagong Second National Highway to be constructed by private sector ˇ Establish road connection with neighbouring countries under Asian Highways Scheme ˇ Construct Karnaphuli Extra Dose PC Garder Bridge 19. Improving institutional and policy ˇ National Land Transport Policy is in place ˇ Integrate road master plan with RHD, formulation capabilities of RHD ˇ Creation of an independent road fund is in final stage DTCB and LGED ˇ Road sector manual under Project Appraisal Framework is ˇ Increase return-on- asset introduced ˇ Establish a National Highway Authority ˇ Improved institutional capabilities for planning policy and ˇ Establish a Road Fund Authority reform are in place ˇ Road safety division is functioning ˇ RHD Management plan and manuals prepared ˇ A private sector investment policy for involving the private 157 Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) sector in the road sub-sector has been prepared ˇ Revised contracting procedures introduced ˇ E-governance, networking and database like Management Information System, Geographical Information System , Personnel Information Management System and Central Management System, Road Asset Management System, Bridge Maintenance & Management System are in place ˇ Manual of Environment Impact Assessment of RHD Projects is being prepared ˇ Integrated Multi-Modal Transport Policy (IMTP) has been prepared 20. Developing corridor based roads ˇ Construct Dhaka-Southeast, Dhaka-Northeast, ˇ Implementation work is in progress ˇ Upgrade Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Khulna, Dhaka-Southwest, Dhaka-Northwest, Khulna- ˇ Creation of legal and financial environment through adoption of Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Tangail roads into 4 Northwest corridor an integrated multi modal transport policy awaiting approval lanes ˇ Construct Padma Bridge ˇ Construct 2nd Meghna and 2nd Meghna- Gumti Bridges ˇ Construct Karnaphuli Extra Dose PC Garder Bridge ˇ Construct Bekutia Bridge 21. Ensuring rural-urban linkages ˇ Construct road 1100 km and improve 3000 km ˇ Being implemented under 8 numbers of feeder/ zila/ public ˇ Implement several feeder/zila/ public ˇ Construct bridge 8000 meter priority road projects priority road projects 22. Attaching higher priority on road ˇ Periodic maintenance of 4500 km road ˇ Routine maintenance and shoulder repair is carried out for ˇ Upkeep of whole RHD network through maintenance RHD road network and periodic maintenance is done regular routine maintenance ˇ National highway network is being reconstructed, rehabilitated ˇ Enhance management budget and improved ˇ Enhance budget for natural disaster ˇ Regional highway is overlaid and resealed ˇ The draft bill for the creation of Road Maintenance Fund is being approved and brought under legislation 23. Construct bypass road and flyovers ˇ Construct bypass road ˇ Bypasses have been constructed in major cities ˇ Construct Satkhira, Faridpur, Mymensingh ˇ Construct flyovers ˇ Construction of Kaliakoir, Khulna, 2nd Bagura Town, town bypass roads Ambarkhana, Akhaura City, Osmani Airport, Jenaidah BISIC ˇ Construct flyovers at 10 railway crossing Shilpa Nagar bypass roads are underway points on important national highways ˇ Flyover at Tongi rail crossing is in progress 24. Building the missing links on the ˇ Construction of Hatikamrul-Bonpara road is completed ˇ Complete construction of Barisal-Bhola- national and regional highway network ˇ Construction of Bhanga-Bhatiapara-Narail road is completed Laxmipur road ˇ Construction of Barisal-Bhola-Laxmipur road is in progress 25. Construction, Operation and ˇ Preparation of Detailed Design for Padma ˇ 1521 m long Mukterpur (6th Bangladesh-China Friendship) ˇ Growth of SMEs, new business, agricultural maintenance of long bridges (1500 m or Bridge. bridge has been opened for traffic on 18 February, 2008. and industrial production, employment and above), toll roads, flyovers, causeways, ring ˇ Land acquisition and appointment of Contractors ˇ Land acquisition and appointment of Consultant for Detailed income, and thereby poverty reduction in the roads etc. for Padma Bridge. Design of Padma Bridge are under way. south-eastern parts of the country ˇ To start the construction work of Padma Bridge. ˇ Construction of Bekutia Bridge on Perojpur- 158 Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) Jhalakati road over the river Kocha under Jhalakati District. Lead Responsibility: Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) 26. Developing public transport system ˇ Mass transport system serving Dhaka, ˇ Construction of Dhaka City bypass road is completed ˇ Construct elevated expressway in Dhaka city for Dhaka city by integrating different Narayangonj, saver, Dhamrai, Gazipur and Kaliganj ˇ Construction of flyover at Mohakhali is completed ˇ Construct ring road on the outskirts of modes of transport ˇ Development of bus rapid transit ˇ Construction of Moghbazar flyover Dhaka city ˇ Development of arterial roads and footpaths ˇ Construction of bypass roads- Panthapath ­ Rampura, Malibagh ˇ Construct flyover at Pragati Sarani ˇ Development of circular railway ­ Janapath, Zia colony - Mirpur ˇ Solve the traffic congestion in Dhaka city ˇ Improvement of traffic management ˇ Provide better traffic management Lead Responsibility: Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) 27. Developing rural road communication ˇ Construct: Upazila Road: 36166 km ˇ 21803 km ˇ Ensure transportation of agricultural ˇ Construct: Union Road: 44418 km ˇ 13571 km products ˇ Construct: Village Road: 171335 km ˇ 11980 km ˇ Ensure participation and involvement of community, local government institutions, NGOs and beneficiary groups ˇ Construct: Bridge/Culvert on Upazila Road: 382293 ˇ 355374 m ˇ Ensure community input in planning and m ˇ 228329 m design ˇ Construct: Bridge/Culvert on Union Road: 330409 ˇ 334580 m ˇ Ensure quality control of construction and m ˇ 29342 km maintenance ˇ Construct Bridge/Culvert on Village Road: 695688 ˇ Strengthen sustainable operation and m maintenance system ˇ Construct tree plantation: 80584 km 28. Prioritising pro-growth infrastructure ˇ Growth centres: 2100 ˇ 920 growth centres are under construction ˇ Ensure participation of community, local (submersible road, ghats, growth centres, ˇ Other Important rural markets: 6900 ˇ 214 rural markets are under construction government institutions, NGOs, beneficiary hats, women's market section and union ˇ Women's market sections: 2300 ˇ 700 women's market sections are under construction and user communities parishad complex, cyclone shelters) ˇ Ensure community input in planning and ˇ Union parishad complex: 4489 ˇ 1494 Union parishad complex are under construction ˇ Cyclone shelter: 500 ˇ 380 Cyclone shelter are under construction designing ˇ Ghats: 300 ˇ 135 Ghats are under construction ˇ Ensure quality control of construction and maintenance ˇ Strengthen sustainable operation and maintenance system 29. Ensuring women's participation and ˇ Ensure women's increased participation in road construction, ˇ Incorporate women's participation & needs emphasising their needs maintenance and building embankments in building of infrastructure facilities and project selection ˇ Encourage female participation in labour/landless contracting societies grass root committees Lead Responsibility: Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) 30. Making BRTC a viable institution and ˇ Increase number of vehicles and new depots/units ˇ 200 Single Decker and Double Decker buses repaired. ˇ Procure 595 Double Decker buses ensuring affordable services to all in different districts ˇ New 194 Diesel operated and 30 CNG operated Single Decker ˇ Procure 100 CNG Single Decker buses. 159 Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) including the poor and women ˇ Keep up the standard of services buses and 10 Diesel Trucks have been procured ˇ Procure 500 Trucks ˇ Minimize loss of property and lives because of ˇ Procurement of 100 CNG Single Decker buses and 300 CNG ˇ Modernise road transport service network to accidents Single Decker buses are under process render satisfactory transport service ˇ Provide training for safe & improved driving, ˇ Already set up 6 driving Training Institutes and setting up of 6 ˇ Help reduction of poverty, unemployment, maintenance, repair, and operation driving training Institutes are underway pollution, accident, and economic maladies ˇ Introduce CNG services and bus services with Euro ˇ Establishment of 10 new CNG fuelling station cum petrol of people standard engines pumps on going ˇ Ensure women development and good governance. 31. Ensuring private sector participation ˇ Introduce avenues for public private partnership ˇ Public private partnership is to be ensured. Lead Responsibility: Bangladesh Railway (BR) 32. Extending & improving railway ˇ Construct 77.19 Km new track. ˇ Construction of 35.19 Km new track is on-going. ˇ Prepare Railway Master Plan for next 20 network ˇ Procure/Replace 21 Locomotives ˇ Procurement of 10 Locomotives is under process years ˇ Procure 50 Passenger Coaches ˇ Procurement of 50 passenger coaches is under process ˇ Extend railway network ˇ Procure 160 Wagons & brake vans ˇ Procurement of 55 wagons & brake vans has been taken and ˇ Increase line capacity by track doubling in ˇ Construction of new ICD procurement of 105 is under process Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet ˇ Construction of new ICD at Dhirasram is ongoing corridor ˇ Feasibility Studies for Padma bridge rail link, underground rail ˇ Improve the specification of rolling stocks link, 2nd Jamuna Rail Bridge, Dhaka-Laksam Chord line are ˇ Construct new ICD at Dhirasam under preparation ˇ Preparatory works for introducing advanced ˇ Twenty years Railway Master Plan preparation is in final stage & improved technology such as Underground rail, Surface & Elevated rail, circular rail etc. ˇ Construct underground rail in Dhaka city 33. Prioritising pro-poor growth ˇ Rehabilitate 375 Km. railway track along with other ˇ Rehabilitation of 345 km railway track along with other ˇ Rehabilitate & improve all Detroit railway infrastructures & signalling system infrastructure & signalling system is ongoing tracks, bridge, stations, yards, & other ˇ Remodel 8 Stations. ˇ Remodelling of 8 stations has been taken in hand. infrastructures ˇ Modernize 12 station's signalling systems ˇ Financing for modernization of 14 station's signalling systems in ˇ Modernize signalling systems in the section ˇ Rehabilitate 22 locomotives. under process to ensure safe & speedy running of trains ˇ Rehabilitate 260 Passenger Coaches ˇ Rehabilitation of locomotives is going on ˇ Increase passenger amenities and ensure safe, ˇ Rehabilitate 277 wagons & brake vans ˇ DPP for rehabilitation of 260 Passenger Coaches has been speedy & comfortable train journey submitted ˇ Adopt Public Service Obligation (PSO) ˇ Rehabilitation of 277 Wagons & brake vans has taken place involving all branch lines to serve the poor people in remote areas ˇ Provide transport facilities to large numbers of poor passengers and for movement of commodities 34. Emphasising routine & periodic ˇ Provide routine & periodic maintenance ˇ Routine & periodic has been enhanced and BR's maintenance ˇ Provide adequate funds for maintenance maintenance ˇ Introduce mechanical track maintenance system in budget has been increased. ˇ Adopt modern track maintenance method BR. ˇ Emphasis has been given to introduce mechanical track ˇ Ensure routine & periodic maintenance of all ˇ Improve Pahartali & Saidpur Work shop. maintenance system in BR infrastructures as per their standard ˇ Improvement of Pahartali workshop has started and DPP for specification Saidpur Workshop improvement has been submitted ˇ Rehabilitate & replace plants and machineries 160 Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) to enhance the maintenance works 35. Opening avenues for private sector ˇ Improve operational efficiency through more ˇ Provision for private sector participation is in place for ˇ Association of private sector and outsourcing participation participation of private sector. infrastructure building and maintenance works to be continued and new component would ˇ Make the railway more responsive to market needs ˇ Introduced computerized seat reservation and ticketing system be identified and sound business practices. ˇ Introduced on board services in 16 intercity trains, extra ˇ Explore possibilities of commercial use of ˇ Explore commercially possibilities of surplus land capacity BR's Fibre optic Telecom System, commercial activities surplus land and other capacities of Railway and other capacities of Railway. of Mail/Express/Local train ˇ Repairing passenger coaches, cleaning locomotives and converting non-AC coaches into AC on BOT basis are ongoing 36. Strengthening organization of BR ˇ Take various Organizational Strengthening ˇ Organizational reform of Bangladesh railway has been taken in ˇ Implementation of organizational programmes hand strengthening programmes to improve performance of BR Lead Responsibility: Mongla Port Authority (MPA) 37. Improving navigability in the Pussur ˇ Dredge 32.00 lakh cum. silt to facilitate movement ˇ DPP of the project "Dredging at the Outer Bar in the Pussur ˇ Implement the project "Dredging at the Channel of 9m draft ship in the Pussur channel Channel" has been approved Outer Bar in the Pussur Channel" 38. Ensuring efficient service to shore ˇ Procure 2 Straddle Carrier-40 ton capacity, 4 Low ˇ The project has been approved and the project is at the ˇ Procure these equipments under the project based cargo and container handling of the mast forklift truck auto transmission-3 ton capacity, implementation stage. "Procurement of cargo handling equipment port 2 Fork lift truck-5 ton, 1 Fork lift truck -9 ton, 2 for Mongla Port". Terminal Tractor-50 ton, 2 20'-0", 8 40'-0" trailer 39. Ensuring safe 24 hours ship movement ˇ Procure & install 62 channel marking and lighted ˇ A DPP of the project is being finalised by the Ministry of ˇ Implement project "Navigational Aids to in the Pussur channel buoys and other accessories Shipping Mongla Port" ˇ Remove 15 of sunken wrecks of ships ˇ Maintain the Pussur Channel for easy movement of ships ˇ Procure A Cutter Suction Dredger for Mongla Port 40. Maintaining adequate depth in the ˇ Carry out 1.328 million cum dredging ˇ The DPP of the project "Dredging in the Mooring areas of ˇ Improvement of navigability in the channel mooring area of the Pussur Channel Mongla Port" is under preparation will help to increase incoming ships in the port Lead Responsibility: Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) 41. Increase port capacity/efficiency ˇ Construct a Container Terminal at New Mooring ˇ Construction of 5 berths including 180,000 sq.m. back up area ˇ Enhance capacity & service level of the port area with 1000m berth completed and operating ˇ Appoint Terminal Operator for New Mooring ˇ MTCC is constituted to determine technical & commercial ˇ Promote Port Privatization Policy Container Terminal parameters for Management & Operation by private operator ˇ Ensure optimum utilization of facilities ˇ PQ document prepared created under NCT project ˇ Construct back up facilities behind NCT berths No. ˇ DPP for construction of back up facilities behind berth No. 4 & ˇ Construct back up facilities and ensure 4 & 5. 5 is prepared and is in the process of approval optimum utilization of NCT ˇ Chittagong Port Trade Facilitation Project by ˇ Tenders invited for Computerization of Container Terminal ˇ Introduce CTMS, MIS, Environmental introducing CTMS/MIS, Environmental Management System Management system, modernise cargo Management ˇ Completed Oil Waste Reception and Oil-spill Protection clearance procedure, ˇ Modernize cargo clearance procedure ˇ Civil works for Environmental Management is in progress; ˇ Introduce anti-corruption policy, enhance ˇ Construct internal roads/ bridges Prepared VCA and Anti-corruption policy degree of transparency/security ˇ Construction of internal roads/ bridges and Port Service road and bridge over Moheskhal is in progress 161 Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) ˇ Carry out Capital Dredging in Karnaphuli river and ˇ The Consultant has been requested for submission of revised ˇ Ensure safe navigational channel in view of Channel cost estimates to prepare fresh DPP. the impact of construction of the 3rd Karnaphuli bridge ˇ Undertake a feasibility study for construction of a ˇ Feasibility Study completed and the Final Report has been ˇ Increased capacity for movement of new ICD near Dhirasrami railway station accepted by the competent authority container through rail in Dhaka-Chittagong Economic corridor ˇ Construct Inland Container Depot in Gazipur ˇ TPP is prepared by Bangladesh Railway for Designing, ˇ Handle increased number of containers and Tendering and Supervision services. provide adequate inter modal facilities ˇ Improve port efficiency ˇ Consultant submitted draft Strategy Plan for CPA. ˇ Formulation of Port Efficiency Improvement Plan ˇ Improve transportation system of containers ˇ TEC's recommendation for package-3 and package-4 have ˇ Construct Inland Container Terminal at through Inland Waterways for Chittagong Port been approved Pangoan ˇ Construct Karnaphuli container Terminal ˇ DPP prepared & sent for approval. ˇ Facilitate handling of 4 lakh TEUs of containers per year ˇ Construct Patenga Container Terminal ˇ At conceptual stage ˇ Construct Patenga Container Terminal ˇ Prepare a Comprehensive Master Plan for ˇ Assess requirement of further creation, development of Chittagong Port expansion and modernization of port facilities Lead Responsibility: Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) 42. Expanding the existing Airports ˇ Up-grade Osmani Airport for operation of wide ˇ 100.00 % Physical work has been completed by December 2008 body aircraft ˇ Extend and modernize passenger Terminal building ˇ Physical work is in progress ˇ Complete the rest by December 2008 at Osmani Airport ˇ Up-grade Zia International Airport ˇ DPP of the project is under process for approval in the ˇ Re-construct the taxi-way Planning Commission. ˇ Replace primary radar and secondary radar ˇ Obtain communication, navigation and E/M equipments Lead Responsibility: Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited 43. Increasing scale of operation to serve ˇ Increase capacity through lease of aircraft ˇ Addition of aircraft on wet and dry lease is under process and ˇ Complete steps for acquisition of aircraft more passengers ˇ Modernize Biman's fleet by acquiring new process is underway to modernize Biman fleet ˇ Improve passenger services continuously generation aircraft ˇ More frequencies to Gulf and Middle East being operated ˇ Increase frequencies to profitable ethnic ˇ Concentrate operation in the Gulf and Middle-East markets region 44. Improve financial performance ˇ Reduce operation cost in different areas ˇ Cost cutting measures have been implemented and still being ˇ Government to provide equity for ˇ Enter into high-yield markets pursued acquisition of new aircraft for Biman ˇ Commercialize the organization ˇ Biman has been converted into a Public Limited Company ˇ Protect Biman's traffic and handling rights as ˇ Appoint operator under management contract (PLC) to run on commercial basis a national carrier ˇ Off-loading of Biman's 49 percent share ˇ Off-loading Biman's share is under consideration 45. Enhancing air cargo capacity ˇ Establish joint freighter services with foreign airlines ˇ Formulate policy to carry perishable export ˇ Procure freighter aircraft cargo 162 Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) Lead Responsibility: Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) 46. Enhance quality of Water Transport ˇ Construct/Acquire 2 Container Vessels ˇ The project is under approval stage ˇ Ensure efficient ferry services in Aricha and ˇ Rehabilitate 2 Coastal Passenger Vessels ˇ Rehabilitation work is being carried out Mawa ˇ Rehabilitate 6 Ro-Ro Ferry, 2 K-type Ferry and 6 ˇ One project is under implementation ˇ Add Water Taxi for operation in the circular Pontoons ˇ DPP of a project is at the approval stage. water route in Dhaka city ˇ Construct 4 Sea-Trucks for carrying passengers in ˇ Work is going on in Khulna Shipyard Ltd. and is expected to be ˇ Add container vessel for water born cargo coastal belt and risky routes completed by June, 2008. transportation ˇ Modify Passenger Steamer M.V. Sonargaon ˇ The project is under approval stage. ˇ Promote water transportation in the inland ˇ Construct/Procure 2 Ro-Ro ferry and 2 Ro-Ro ˇ DPP is under preparation. and coastal water ways Pontoon for Mawa ferry ˇ Is being processed for foreign financing ˇ Provide better communication facilities ˇ Construct/Acquire of 1 passenger vessel of capacity through waterways ˇ Is being processed for foreign financing 500 for Kumira-Guptachara route ˇ Provide cheaper transportation for people ˇ Tender Notice has been published ˇ Construct/Acquire of 4 self -propelled cellular ˇ Provide safe and easy transportation for ˇ DPP is under preparation container vessels of 100 TEU's woman ˇ DPP is under preparation ˇ Construct/Acquire 2 Coastal Ferries and 2 Pontoons ˇ Ensure efficient service in Dhaka-Khulna ˇ DPP is under preparation inland water route with Stable Ramp ˇ DPP is under preparation ˇ Introduce Ro-Ro ferry services in Mawa ˇ Construct/Procure 2 Nos. K-type ferries for ensuring quick and efficient ferry services provided ˇ DPP is under preparation sector by BIWTC in Mawa ferry sector ˇ Provide uninterrupted ferry services during ˇ Procure and Install Hi-Tech Navigation System at foggy period Paturia and Mawa Ferry and 4 Ferry ˇ Procure/Construct Nos. Shallow Draft Oil Tankers for BIWTC ˇ Procure/install modern equipments for increasing efficiency of BIWTC's dockyards ˇ Rehabilitate 4 Nos. medium type ferries of BIWTC ˇ Construct/Procure a Salvage tug of capacity 2000 H.P. 47. Expanding services ˇ Open new ferry services at Laxmipur-Bhola and ˇ Laxmipur-Bhola and Bhola-Barisal ferry services are in ˇ Establish Bhola-Barisal and Laxmipur-Bhola Bhola-Barisal ferry route operation ferry services ˇ Open Chittagong-Cox's Bazar tourist services ˇ Promote water transportation in inland & ˇ Open Dhaka-Bhola passenger services coastal routes ˇ Open Sea-truck services where necessary ˇ Promote transportation for poor people living in the backward areas and movement of commodities 48. Opening avenues for private sector ˇ Organize reforms and sound business practice ˇ Will be done continuously ˇ Provide better and efficient services to the participation ˇ Meet up the market need people at a competitive price ˇ Make the organization more responsive ˇ Provide efficient customer facilities ˇ Charter cargo fleet and coastal passenger routes ˇ Contribute to the national economy by providing efficient services 49. Ensuring maintenance of BIWTC's ˇ Identify the vessel on priority basis ˇ Will be done continuously ˇ Provide efficient and time bound services. fleet ˇ Prepare necessary schedule up to 2008 ˇ Adequate modern technology for periodic ˇ Introduce modern technology/machineries in maintenance 163 Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) existing dockyards ˇ Provide modern facilities to the people on board. 50. Formulating pragmatic water transport ˇ Prepare IWT Master Plan ˇ TSC wing of Planning Commission is working on IWT Master ˇ Implement Integrated Transport System policies Plan. ˇ Conduct Baseline survey ˇ Increase fund for IWT sector ˇ Provide better information and quicker services 51. Ensuring disaster risk reduction ˇ Reconstruct Infrastructures and other facilities ˇ DPP of the project is at the approval stage ˇ Take preventive measure for future disaster damaged by cyclone `sidr' risk reduction ˇ Conversion of main engines of some major ferries of ˇ Project is included in the Medium Term Budget Framework ˇ Reduce fuel consumption and fuel costs BIWTC into CNG driven engines ˇ Keeping more polluted free water ways Lead Responsibility: Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) 52. Ensuring smooth and safe navigation ˇ Keep the inland waterways navigable for smooth ˇ Master Plan for inland Water Transport system is under ˇ Dredge 42.00 lakh m3 and 20.00 lakh m3 of all vessels movement of all vessels preparation under 4 development projects ˇ Several projects have already been undertaken ˇ Build circular waterways ˇ Build Inland Container River Terminal, Pangaon ˇ Dredge 50.00 lakh m3 in various routes and digging ˇ Action is underway ˇ Develop infrastructure facilities for IWT of 35.00 lakh m3 in different rivers sector to provide cheapest transport cost for carrying goods and services ˇ Procure 3 (three) dredgers ˇ Action is underway ˇ Contribution to the Poverty Reduction by providing cheapest transportation to the rural people 53. Providing port facilities ˇ Action is being undertaken following the approval of the ˇ Construct port facilities in Buriganga river project ˇ Modernize Dhaka River Port ˇ Approval process of the project is underway ˇ Construct inland container river terminal ˇ Establish river ports at Nowapara, Bhairab- Ashuganj and Borguna ˇ Develop and modernize Barisal River Port Lead Responsibility: Bangladesh Telephone and Telegraph Board (BTTB) 54. Expanding Internet Information ˇ Increase rural density mandatory for ˇ DPP approved for INFO-BAHAN Project ˇ Extend ICT facility to empowering rural Network ISP/Mobile/PSTN operators ˇ Consultant selection process in going-on people ˇ Fix and support targets of growth for internet ˇ Procure necessary hardware and software penetration for the ISP in rural areas ˇ Develop ICT supportive infrastructure ˇ Serve the needs of Voice Video and Data Communication ˇ Effective broadband policy and deployment of a nationwide broadband network (Wired and wireless) 55. Installing digital telephone exchanges ˇ PP (1st revision) approved ˇ Extend digital telephone at Upazila & growth at Upazila ˇ Approval of RDPP and underway centre level ˇ Install RSU and MSU in 178 upazillas & 42 164 Strategic Goals Key Targets Action Taken/underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-11) (1) (2) (3) (4) growth centres ˇ Install185 radio links and 51 towers ˇ Bring all Upazilas under internet connection within next five years Lead Responsibility: Bangladesh Post Office (BPO) 56. Automating the Postal Service ˇ Procure necessary hardware, software and ˇ A project on this has been prepared ˇ Counter automation connectivity for 83 offices ˇ Automation of Postal Accounting ˇ Train the staffs for necessary operation Information System ˇ Automate the services delivery process ˇ Automation of Management Information System ˇ Automation of service delivery system 57. Providing training to BPO staff ˇ Impart training on state of the art technologies ˇ A project has already been prepared ˇ Provide training to the officers and staffs of BPO 58. Building infrastructure of BPO ˇ Facilitate ICT based service ˇ Two projects on this have been prepared ˇ Develop Infrastructure development of BPO ˇ Ensure rural women's access to ICT facilities Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 536.66 165 Policy Matrix 11: Social Safety Net, Food Security, Disaster Management, Scaling up of Micro-credit and Rural Non-farm Activities Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 I. Social Safety Net Lead Responsibility: MoF, GED, MoSW, MoWCA, MoCHTA, MoLA, MoLE, 1. Forming and fostering an ˇ Prepare and adopt a coherent national ˇ Each and every SSNP has its own ˇ Formulate and adopt a coherent, cost effective and women sensitive national social enabling policy framework for social protection policy operational policy protection policy addressing intra-household food security with focus on women and social protection children ˇ Enact relevant laws and prepare relevant rules of business ˇ Review social protection policies of various countries and their financial implications and modes of financing Lead Responsibility: MoF, MoSW 2. Extending coverage of safety ˇ Cover 75% of ultra poor of which 2/3 ˇ Introduced an old age insurance to ˇ Extend coverage of and enhance old age allowance, allowances for destitute women, net programmes will be women with an emphasis on gradually cover all deserving persons insolvent freedom fighters, insolvent-disabled, and lactating mothers, injured freedom women with disability and indigenous ˇ Amount of assistance raised for many fighters, residents in government orphanage and other institution, pension for retired groups programmes government employees and their families, capitation grants for orphan students in non- ˇ Achieve 90% accuracy in targeting ˇ Allowance for lactating mother and government orphanages, general relief activities, non-Bengali rehabilitation, distressed ˇ Ensure targeting 100% of seasonal stipend for students with disability cultural personalities/activities, stipend for disabled students, grants for the schools for the unemployed in Monga, Char,Coastal have been introduced disabled, housing support & agricultural rehabilitation areas and CHT areas ˇ Additional 9 State Orphanage has ˇ Keep block allocation for disaster management ˇ For sustainable livelihood of poor been established ˇ Redesign programmes for disadvantaged groups such as persons with disability, mental beneficiaries under employment ˇ Micro credit programme has been patients, indigenous groups, and people in remote areas with special focus on women and support schemes, micro insurance introduced for persons with disability children facility will be built with SSNP such as ˇ Introduced employment generation ˇ Revive programmes such as returning home, one household, one farm programme VGD, VGF, FFW, CFW etc. for seasonally unemployed ˇ Introduce the programmes entitled Employment Generation for the Hard Core Poor and National Service for the unemployment youths ˇ Widen and deepen the existing SSNPs with maintaining gender balance and appropriate targeting ˇ Adopt new programmes to cover ultra poor, pavement dwellers, extreme urban poor, adolescent girls of poor families , and beggars ˇ Facilitate community based social safety net ˇ Extend coverage and enhance allocation for existing programmes for social empowerment as well as undertake new programmes like participatory rural development project and small farmer development foundation support project ˇ Assess the impacts of large safety net programmes ` ˇ Undertake employment generation for seasonally unemployed with a focus on women and equal wage Lead Responsibility: MoLE 3. Implementing labour laws ˇ Put regulatory framework in place ˇ Labour Law 2006 has been passed ˇ Amend and implement labour law and other laws as necessary by considering gender issues ˇ Amend laws as necessary ˇ Put regulatory framework in place ˇ Put fiscal mechanisms and operational procedures in place ˇ Form legal review bodies composed of government, civil society members, women groups, employers and employees Sub-Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 140.00 166 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 II. Food Security Lead Responsibility: MoI, BSTI, MoFDM 4. Creating an enabling framework ˇ Implement National Food Policy 2006 ˇ Quality control of food products by ˇ Strengthen BSTI's food quality control system for food security and the Plan of Action BSTI ˇ Strengthen the food control system specially conformity assessment infrastructure ˇ Frame policy to ensure entitlement of ˇ Mobile court for ensuring food quality ˇ Formulate and implement food safety policy all excluded groups by BSTI. ˇ Strengthen co- ordination, monitoring & evaluation while implementing the PoA ˇ Implementation of `National Food ˇ Implement National Food Policy Plan of Action 2007-2015 Policy Plan of Action 2007-2015' ˇ Enact consumer protection act ˇ Gender and disadvantaged included in ˇ Prepare beneficiary list of various programme using data base of national ID card food policy ˇ Implement National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme Lead Responsibility: MoFDM 5. Assuring low cost food supply ˇ Yearly distribution of 1.5 million tons ˇ Food distribution undertaken by ˇ Purchases food from domestic and international markets of food grain at reduced price Ministry of Food and Disaster ˇ Ensure enough food-stock for stabilizing the market ˇ Secure access to food management (MFDM) during ˇ Expand food safety net ˇ Generate employment emergency ˇ Enhance storage capacity for food grains 6. Ensuring food security of the ˇ Maintain adequate food stock ˇ Food security programmes ˇ Enhance allocation for subsidy for open market Sales, VGD, VGF, TR, GR, FFW and food poor and the vulnerable ˇ Smoothen distribution of food assistance in CTG-Hill Tracts. Lead Responsibility: MoFDM 7. Smoothening fluctuations in ˇ Ministry of Food and Disaster ˇ Modernization of food management to continue food consumption Management is trying to maintain ˇ Stabilize market price by improving market supply food security by maintaining 1.0 ˇ Modernization of food stock management for speedy distribution/release in times of need million MT of food stock at the ˇ Ensure national and local level stocks of critical food items at public and private levels beginning of the FY ˇ Undertake targeted food operations, price stabilization, price support, open market sales and ˇ Private import of food grain has been selected rationing liberalized to improve the private stock for market supply ˇ Food grain has been allocated for targeted programmes ˇ Market price of food grain rationalized 8. Increasing ˇ Increase real wage ˇ Pro-poor growth firmly on the agenda ˇ Encourage investment in labour- intensive sectors purchasing power of poor and ˇ Ensure targeted distribution with ˇ Various food based infrastructure ˇ Ensure easy access to credit entitlement of disadvantaged emphasis on women headed poor development programmes underway ˇ Pursue canal maintenance programme women and men households ˇ Employment generation programme ˇ Review impact of various macro-economic policies on the poor for policy adjustments ˇ Maintain low inflation rate worth Tk. 11.56 billion starts from FY ˇ Target sector specific (garment, shrimp, tea plantation etc.) women workers for subsidized 2009-10 food 9. Ensuring better food utilization ˇ Increase awareness of nutrition, food ˇ School feeding programme on a ˇ Evaluate the existing programmes and options for new programmes and more nutritious food to all safety and food hygiene relatively small scale ˇ Ensure an effective capacity for long term planning of balanced food in building a healthy particularly poor children and ˇ Include food safety, nutrition and ˇ Providing technical input for food nation 167 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 women hygiene issues in school curricula safety activities/ programmes. ˇ Monitor nutritional status of pregnant and lactating mother (expansion of NNP) in ˇ Increase nutrition for pre-school ˇ A study on "Determination of food disadvantaged position children availability and consumption patterns ˇ Improve nutrition for pregnant and and setting up of nutritional standards lactating women in Bangladesh" is underway Sub-Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 110.00 III. Disaster Management Lead Responsibility: MoFDM 10. Mainstreaming disaster ˇ Introduce disaster management and ˇ Disaster Management Plan finalized ˇ Develop tools to facilitate implementation of the ECNEC decisions of 2007 management and risk reduction risk reduction in all development ˇ SAARC Regional framework for ˇ Include disaster risk reduction including climate change impacts in all the sectoral policies, into national policies, institutions activities Disaster Management established and plans and projects and development process ˇ Include disaster risk management in modelled on Bangladesh disaster ˇ Implement the `National Plan for Disaster Management 2009-15' the development project validation Management framework ˇ Undertake strong advocacy to ensure implementation of local level risk reduction action plan process through Disaster Impact and ˇ Established Working Committee to ˇ Establish monitoring and evaluation framework Risk Assessment (DIRA) identify the sectoral intervention for ˇ Introduce property insurance mainstreaming risk reduction ˇ Project future activities and growth targets incorporating risk scenario ˇ Climate change research underway to ˇ Incorporate climate change into disaster management and risk reduction plans, policies, determine impacts programmes and projects ˇ Actions underway to mainstream ˇ Undertake advocacy to ensure implementation of local level risk reduction action plan disaster risk reduction issues in the focusing on women and children education curriculum Lead Responsibility: MoFDM, DoE 11. Strengthening disaster ˇ Build capacity of national institutions ˇ Disaster Management Plan prepared ˇ Finalize and obtain approval of all key policy documents management and risk reduction for disaster management and endorsed ˇ Strengthen the disaster management system including capacity building of disaster capacity ˇ Draft Disaster Management Act is management committees at all levels to enhance knowledge and understanding of policy prepared change impacts ˇ Draft National Policy on Disaster ˇ Provide adequate and regular budgetary support commensurate with assigned responsibility Management Act is prepared ˇ Revise plan of action for disaster management ˇ MoFDM Allocation of Business has ˇ Revise Allocation of Business in relation to MoFDM mandates been revised ˇ Prepare Plan of Action or Manual for disaster management for agriculture sector with a ˇ Standing orders on disaster focus on women management is being revised ˇ Increase capacity of disaster forecasting ˇ Strategy for MoFDM and DoE on ˇ Conduct earthquake and tsunami risk assessment for big cities and costal districts Climate Change drafted ˇ Strengthen search and rescue capabilities of first responding institutions ˇ Training needs assessment undertaken ˇ Establish a local level disaster management contributory fund with contribution from for disaster Management committees government, private sector and donors and programme implementers ˇ Implement disaster management related programmes. ˇ Procurement of equipment for search for and rescue of earthquake and other disaster victims are underway ˇ Flood monitoring and damage assessment using satellite data undertaken ˇ Constructed poverty parameter spatial 168 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 database in GIS ˇ Crop monitoring using satellite data received at the ground station of SPARRSO ˇ Installed satellite based cyclone monitoring system ˇ MoFDM undertaken 2005-2009 framework for action ˇ Developed strategic plan for DMB, DRR and DGoF ˇ Developing Annual plans of DMB, DRR and DGoF Lead Responsibility: MoFDM 12. Ensuring knowledge ˇ Identify and disseminate indigenous ˇ Disaster Management Information ˇ Establish standing operating procedure (SOP) of DMIC management (acquiring sharing knowledge and best practices Centre established and being ˇ Expand information networks and data bases on all hazards and applying) on disaster risk ˇ Build network among local, regional progressively strengthened through ˇ Establish network among local, regional and national stakeholders ensuring involvement of reduction and international stakeholders databases and other information women groups at all levels ˇ Strengthen Institute of Disaster Risk networks ˇ Establish a Disaster Management Cell and training provision Management & Research (IDRMR) ˇ Partnership being established with ˇ Establish an institute of disaster management research information providers ˇ Develop drought prediction model in agromet division in BMD ˇ Flood forecasting, warning and ˇ Build capacity of BMD in warning and forecasting system cyclone warning system is in place ˇ Make mandatory disaster management education in all public training programme ˇ Agro meteorological cell established ˇ Establish a national disaster management training policy and strategy framework ˇ NAPA for climate change adaptation is in process ˇ Expand the risk reduction and emergency management training programme to cover all the DMCs of the high and medium risk districts ˇ Development of drought prediction model initiated ˇ Initiated activities to establish the disaster management information centre ˇ Started poverty parameter spatial database in GIS Lead Responsibility: MoFDM 13.Enhancing community level ˇ Strengthen community based ˇ Developed community risk ˇ Create hazard awareness programmes to increase knowledge of risk and understanding of capacity for disaster risk reduction programmes for risk reduction assessment (CRA) guideline and risk actions to manage risk (preparedness, recovery and ˇ Reduce loss of lives of children, reduction action plan (RRAP) ˇ Expand the focus of risk reduction down to the household level through the development of rehabilitation) with a focus on women, elderly people and livestock ˇ CRA and RRAPs are under Household Action Plans women and damage to crops and household implementation by NGOs ˇ Identify most vulnerable groups/assets (children, women, elderly people, livestock, crops, savings in disasters ˇ Achieved high level of community household savings) and include them in risk reduction plan involvement in CRA and risk ˇ Establish the CRA guideline to prepare the risk reduction action plans for high and medium management risk upazila and districts ˇ Revised roles and responsibilities of disaster management committees and incorporated in new Standing Orders ˇ ICT training programme implemented 169 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 for all MoFDM staff ˇ LAN/ WAN network established within the MoFDM and with BMD ˇ Funds made available to document and disseminate indigenous best practice ˇ Disaster management in school curriculum is being revised ˇ Exploring and promoting different livelihood adaptation options ˇ Constructed 25 flood shelters ˇ Construction of 74 flood shelters are ongoing Lead Responsibility: MoSW , MoFDM, MoWCA 14. Ensuring protection of ˇ Ensure 20% housing facilities for ˇ The national plan for disaster ˇ Finalize and implement the gender mainstreaming policy and establish effective monitoring women, children, elderly, people female headed household in public management 2007-2015 approved mechanisms to ensure conformity with disability and other housing projects ˇ Gender mainstreaming policy for all ˇ Develop a national damage and loss estimation system that considers the specific needs of vulnerable groups ˇ Build working women's hostel in every disaster management and risk the vulnerable and women's groups district town reduction initiatives is being drafted ˇ Continue and strengthen the ongoing programmes ˇ Considerations for vulnerable groups like women and children are included within the CRA process ˇ Ensure shelters have necessary facilities for the person with disability and elderly 15. Strengthening governance in ˇ Implementation of comprehensive ˇ Establish the disaster management policy and regulatory framework the sector training programme ˇ Establish a Go-NGO coordination mechanism for timely and effective response ˇ Establishment of the policy, planning ˇ Strengthen monitoring and evaluation system focusing on women and children and regulatory framework underway ˇ Establishment of the SAARC framework for comprehensive disaster management ˇ Development of central relief management information system underway Sub-Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 9.19 IV. Micro-credit Lead Responsibility: MoF, MoSW , RD&C, Micro-credit programme implementing ministry/division/agencies 16. Reaching micro-credit to the ˇ Provide pre-credit maintenance and ˇ Implementation of extensive micro ˇ Formalize multi-purpose credit society with better functional policy with a focus on women ultra poor with a focus on women, training support credit programme of various public ˇ Extend GO-NGO collaboration women with disability and ˇ Streamline credit delivery and diversify organizations and NGOs ˇ Review delivery systems of major micro credit providers indigenous groups financial and non-financial services ˇ Efforts are being made for reaching ˇ Channel more resources for micro credit with a focus on women ˇ 30% ultra poor women and men are the ultra poor through GO-NGO reached through financial and HRD collaboration support ˇ MOI is providing micro credit to the 170 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ultra poor 17. Supporting mature clients, ˇ Provide larger amount micro credit in ˇ Government policy recommended for ˇ Continue up to 2011 entrepreneurs and tomorrow's place providing collateral free larger sized ˇ Extend larger sized credit to small entrepreneurs graduating from micro credit based poor loans to small entrepreneurs operations ˇ Several NGOs providing larger sized loans to entrepreneurs 18. Using credit as a development ˇ Provide non-financial services such as ˇ Micro-credit activities are being ˇ Reaching the needy men and women freedom fighters tool for the poor technology, marketing and risk undertaken by NGOs ˇ Make micro credit available to the employment seeker dependents of freedom fighters management ˇ Extensive micro-credit programmes in ˇ Collaborating with the GO & NGO service providers at the local level ˇ Establish a network of specialized place through BRDB and PDBF ˇ Develop innovative idea for covering the non-bankable poor service agencies (public bodies, NGOs ˇ Volume and ceiling of micro-credit ˇ Introduce special credit-programme for vulnerable women and private organizations) has been expanded ˇ BSCIC is implementing different micro-credit programmes ˇ Self-employment programmes for small and cottage industries are in place ˇ BSCIC is distributing micro-credit to the potential poor entrepreneurs 19. Making micro-credit ˇ Flexible rules for credit disbursements ˇ Some NGOs claim sustainability ˇ A nationwide micro credit policy must be framed with a focus and analysis of impacts on operationally more effective and repayment through dependence on own depositors' women ˇ Package offer of the agencies funds and low operational cost ˇ Regulatory framework for streamlining the activities of the micro credit programme ˇ 50% increase in the supply of funds ˇ Repayment rules made somewhat ˇ Avoid overlapping and reduce interest rates for expanding micro-credit more flexible than before ˇ Introduce uniform approach of operation both the NGOs and public sector ˇ Offered some package to the clients ˇ Regulate savings mobilization and utilization in a flexible manner 20. Using micro-credit for social ˇ Increase women self employment ˇ Micro credit programmes for social ˇ Enhance micro-credit for women self employment and increase fund for micro-credit empowerment and social ˇ Assist acid burn and disabled empowerment through PKSF protection ˇ Generate employment ˇ Establish social development foundation and NGO foundation ˇ Assist poor farmers and poultry farm ˇ Create new funds for social protection 21. Developing women's self help ˇ Increase the number of women's self- ˇ Micro credit operation ˇ Strengthen rural financing for non-farm activities by women groups help groups ˇ Weekly savings ˇ Women's entrepreneurship development ˇ Training and motivation ˇ Create increased access to markets for women ˇ Improve delivery of services 22. Transferring technology and ˇ Increase in production oriented ˇ Promotion of promising technologies ˇ Develop database on emerging sectors develop human resource with technology and their transfer for increasing production ˇ Establish institutional linkage for technological dissemination with a focus on women emphasis on women ˇ Increase capacity of different ˇ Human resource development ˇ Ensure sustainable rural technology transfer in favour of women institutions to develop human resource through training and service delivery 23. Developing human resources ˇ Identify CBOs having potential of ˇ Formation of CBOs/VBO ˇ Establish Linkage with govt. nation building departments and other local level organizations of CBOs human resources development ˇ Mobilization of capital through ˇ Development of CBO and local organizations cooperatives and groups ˇ Human resource development through training Sub-Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 50.00 171 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 V. Rural Non-farm Activities Lead Responsibility: BSCIC, LGED, BKB, BNFE, MRA, LGD 24. Targeting RNFE development ˇ Foster Rural Non Farm (RNF) Sector ˇ BSCIC is providing training to ˇ Strengthen rural communication for fostering RNFA with a focus on women ˇ Strengthen key drivers of RNFE develop human resource in the non- ˇ Give high priority to rural infrastructure and electrification with a focus on women growth farm sector entrepreneurs ˇ Make market function better ˇ Credit facilities are given by BSCIC ˇ Ensure capital formation through share and savings of the cooperatives ˇ Increase women participation by 15 % for product promotion and business ˇ Strengthen support to multi-purpose credit society such as MFI and improve rural financing expansion of RNF activities ˇ Form cooperative service delivery organizations at the village level including women ˇ BSCIC is supporting preparation of ˇ Develop local government institutions to support RNFA project proposal for entrepreneurs to ˇ Promote business development service and product diversification for RNF sector focusing facilitate smooth business. on women's needs ˇ Establishment of growth centres for ˇ Explore domestic and international market for RNF product improvement of rural trade with special focus on women. ˇ Pursue technology upgrade and strengthen vocational training with focus of women ˇ Provided training to 214,826 persons ˇ Encourage agro-processing and cottage industries by providing incentives particularly to and self employment to 168, 891 women persons through Community Based ˇ Provide business advisory services to RNFP Resource Management. ˇ Develop quality of products and marketing facilities ˇ Generated employment through rural ˇ Facilitate women's access to new equipments for and knowledge about handicraft production road construction and earth work ˇ Review periodically the lending policy of commercial banks and MFIs from a gender ˇ Work identified through PRA and perspective fund mobilized: 31819 person days. ˇ Create credit/special fund particularly for women in RNFA ˇ Need assessed and placed with BKB for non farm loans: Tk. 5 core ˇ Formation of village based organization ˇ Promotion of human resource development through training ˇ Increased participation of women in training on non-crop agriculture Sub-Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 10.20 Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 309.19 172 Policy Matrix 12: Improving Knowledge Base: Education, Training, and Research Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 I. Early childhood and pre-school education Lead Responsibility: MoPME, MoSW, MoWCA, MoLGRD&C; NGO Affairs Bureau, NGOs 1. Introducing and strengthening early ˇ Introduce ECDP for all rural poor children in regular and ˇ Early childhood development programme ˇ Develop a core curriculum for ECDP to be used in all childhood and pre-school education community schools for at least six months ˇ Study for developing ECDP curriculum ECDP centres (ECDP) ˇ Introduce ECDP for the children in remote areas ˇ A number of national and international NGOs ˇ Provide developmental care to children from birth ˇ Ensure participation of parents in ECDP have been working on community-based early and provide it free to all urban and rural children child care and development activities from poor families including indigenous groups ˇ NPA for children is under preparation (MWCA) ˇ Adopt a policy of encouraging preschools attached to aiming at children's right to growth and primary and community level schools to be operated development by the Government, NGOs and community ˇ NPA and EFA are awaiting GoB's approval organizations aiming to introduce and promote ECD ˇ Expand learning centres for children programmes ˇ Introduce certificate course for pre-school teachers ˇ 30,000 Imams have been working as teachers in ˇ Introduce mid-day meal programme in the ECDP pre primary education and the Holy Quran centres learning ˇ Continue 18,000 mosque-based, 2,687 temple-based ˇ Provide pre-school education among 9,000 Hill pre primary education centres and 12,000 the Holy Tracts children Quran learning centres ˇ Expand mosque-based pre-primary education by adding 24,000 centres by 2013 II. Primary and Madrasha education 2. Introducing a unified and common ˇ Introduce unified education for all ˇ Principle recognised and recommendations ˇ Continuation of ongoing programmes primary education opportunity for all made in NEC 2003 and other documents ˇ Revise primary education curriculum on a continuous children ˇ Revised curricula and learning materials focusing basis to make it unified and modernised on the foundation of functional literacy in Bangla, numeracy skills (learning skills) and basic life skills for all children 3. Increasing access to primary education ˇ Increase net primary school enrolment rate to 100 percent ˇ A project offering basic education to 350,000 ˇ Improve infrastructure and other facilities of the by 2011 urban working children is scheduled to be primary schools ˇ Increase school attendance and completion rate to 80 completed this year ˇ Make all classrooms inclusive for all children, i.e., percent ˇ A follow-up project has been undertaken girls, children from indigenous groups, children with ˇ Increase completion of 5 yr primary cycle from 68 to 80 ˇ A project to Reach Out of School Children disabilities percent (ROSC) to serve 500,000 children through ˇ Ensure necessary supports so that children with ˇ Introduce primary education for drop-out and left-out community-based centres, NGO collaboration, disabilities (about 10 percent of the primary school children and incentives for children to attend is planned goers) can be a part of mainstream education ˇ Implementation of Second Primary Education ˇ Introduce programmes for providing education to Development Programme (2003-2009) PEDP-II street and working children ˇ An NPA for EFA with targets and strategies to ˇ Increase the amount and coverage of stipend achieve internationally set goals for 2015 is programme for the students from poor families under preparation. ˇ Introduce 100 percent subvention to registered and 173 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ 71 schools run by the Shishu Kallayan Trust primary community school teachers in deserving cases (Child Welfare Trust) provide formal primary ˇ Expand school feeding programme to education and technical training to the under- Adibashi/remote area schools all over the country privileged working children ˇ Introduce teaching of mother tongues at the Pre-and ˇ School feeding programme under which a child primary level for indigenous children is provided with 75 grams of fortified biscuits in eight poverty-stricken upazilas of three selected districts to 0.525 million children. 4. Improving quality of education at ˇ Introduce competency test after completion of five years ˇ Implementation of PEDP II ˇ Strengthen training and retraining programme for the primary level of primary cycle and provide completion certificate. ˇ Quality of education for three quarters of primary teachers on a continuous basis to improve ˇ Reduce teacher student ratio to :35 primary school students being improved their pedagogical methods ˇ Improve competency so that more than 70 percent of ˇ Ensure one primary school for every 1500 persons or students who complete the 5-year cycle of primary in places where students do not have to travel more education can pass the minimum competency test that 2 kilometres ˇ Apply quality standards like learning aids, and involvement of the community in all primary institutions ˇ Increase recruitment of female qualified teachers and ensure safe housing facilities ˇ Ensure supply of teaching aid in the classroom for making learning attractive to the students ˇ Improve and ensure maximum teacher-student contact hours ˇ Introduce sports, cultural programmes, reading competition etc. as extra curricular activities ˇ Undertake measures to improve the capacity of DPE, BNFE, NAPE and NCTB ˇ Establish Primary Education Cadre 5. Ensuring equality and equity in education ˇ Ensure 100 percent enrolment of all children (boys and ˇ Cash for education is introduced for the children ˇ Undertake community based efforts to encourage at the primary level girls) of poor families families to send their children particularly girls to ˇ Sustain achieved gender equality ˇ GAD cell established at NCTB schools ˇ Ensure incentive system so that children from poor families do not dropout from primary education ˇ Make education life-oriented so that the guardians are motivated to send children to school ˇ Introduce an equity (gender, ethnicity, disability etc. aspects) and productivity oriented curriculum 6. Improving quality of madrasha ˇ Improve competency by 100 percent from current level ˇ Madrasha Teachers' training programmes are ˇ Provide training to 33 percent of the Madrasha education at the primary level being implemented teachers every year for 3 years ˇ Provide retaining on a continuous basis ˇ Harmonise curriculum of regular primary and madrasha education ˇ Support modernization and quality improvement of ibtidayee madrashas 174 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 7. Improving primary school inspection ˇ Every school should be subject to visit by inspection team ˇ Inspection team needs to meet with the teachers, 6 times a year students and guardians ˇ Inspection needs to be further strengthened involving representative of local government, member of SMCs and member of local level NGOs or CBOs III. Secondary Education: General and Madrasha Lead Responsibility: MoE, MoWCA 8. Increasing access to secondary education ˇ Increase gross enrolment rates by 50 percent for all levels ˇ SESIP (1999-2006) has been implemented ˇ Develop a sub-sector development programme for of secondary education. towards strengthening accountability in the under-served groups ˇ Gross enrolment for the junior secondary level should management, enhancing quality and improving ˇ Apply common minimum standards of inputs and increase from 60 percent to 90 percent; for the secondary equity of access performance in all types of schools level it should increase from 44 percent to 66 percent and ˇ Secondary Education Sector Development ˇ Increase resources linked to school performance, for the higher secondary level it should increase from 17 Project (SESDP) has started in 2007 to enhance student attendance; reduction of direct household percent to 25 percent quality by implementing the assessment and costs for the poor families ˇ Reduce dropouts by half for general and madrasha examination reforms and improving equity of ˇ Undertake quality improvement measures including education at all levels access increased teachers' remuneration and incentives based ˇ Provide secondary education through residential schools ˇ An English language teaching improvement on performance; improved training and supervision of to 6,600 Hill Tracts students project (2nd phase) has been completed, and the teachers third phase has started ˇ Introduce a common core curriculum for madrasha ˇ Teaching Quality Improvement in Secondary and general education Education Project(TQI-SEP), a new project, is ˇ Ensure sufficient and improved supply of teaching- under implementation learning materials ˇ A boost to female participation in secondary and ˇ Better assessment of student achievement higher secondary level has been given by various ˇ Greater authority and accountability at the stipend projects institutional level ˇ PROMOTE project has been completed with ˇ Introduce stipends for boy students from poor the aim at raising the ratio of female teachers in families to prevent dropouts secondary schools ˇ Identify ways to discourage the practice of private ˇ A Non-government Teachers' Registration and tutoring Certification Agency (NTRCA) has been ˇ Introduce technology such as computer, internet, TV, established and started its activities and radio to increase the reach of secondary education ˇ School-based assessment (SBA) and Schools' ˇ Bring new educational institutions under MPO system Performance Based Management System (SPBMS) have been introduced to improve ˇ Establish more secondary schools in capital city learning assessment ˇ Secondary Education Quality and Access Enhancement Project (SEQAEP) aims at providing stipend to both girls and boys of poor families is under implementation 9. Improving quality of education at ˇ Improve SSC pass rate from 60 percent to 75 percent and ˇ Government has taken the decision to change ˇ Provide effective teaching aid including access to secondary level the HSC pass rate from 64 percent to 80 percent both for SSC and HSC examination structure and will computer facilities to the teachers male and female students start piloting it in class VIII exam this year ˇ Improve benefit package for teachers in general with ˇ Change and modernize competency test examination special package for certain subjects (math, English, structure (SSC, HSC) and science subjects) and rural and remote areas 175 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Reduce teacher student ratio from 1:60 to 1:40 ˇ Improve learning environment by developing ˇ Ensure maximum teacher student contact hour per week infrastructure. ˇ Ensure quality production and timely supply of textbooks ˇ Introduce sports, cultural events, debate competitions, book reading competition etc. for the students ˇ Consider abolishing science, commerce and humanities streams and develop a common curriculum up to class X ˇ Establish separate service commission for teachers ˇ Establish model secondary schools at all upazillas ˇ Establish permanent pay commission for teachers 10. Revising curriculum on a regular basis ˇ Revise and modernize textbooks and curriculum every ˇ Some attention has been given to make ˇ Intensify work on gender stereotyping of social and three years curriculum and textbooks free of gender biases cultural roles 11. Ensuring a gender balance in the ˇ Revise and upgrade curriculum to remove negative images ˇ Environmental issues are included in secondary ˇ Continue curriculum, textbook and learning materials formulation of curriculum if any and ensure presence of positive images of women curriculum review and development and household activities in the curriculum 12. Ensuring gender parity in Secondary ˇ Male female student enrolment ratios become equal at all ˇ Recruitment criteria have been relaxed for ˇ Make classroom environment and schools facilities Education levels women girl friendly ˇ Ensure gender equality in enrolment and completion rates ˇ PROMOTE project encouraged women's ˇ Continue affirmative action to increase female ratio in ˇ Reduce dropout rate by 50 percent among girls at all recruitment in secondary school teaching (at teaching and management positions secondary levels least 30%) ˇ Introduce stipend programme for female secondary ˇ Nationwide female stipend programme for both students from poor urban families secondary and higher secondary levels has been ˇ Undertake a project to establish toilet and drinking introduced water facilities in all secondary schools ˇ A stipend programme is being processed to ˇ Introduce school transportation facilities/ allowance address poor male and female students in for girl students metropolitan areas ˇ Build hostel facilities for girl students ˇ Higher secondary level girls are being provided ˇ Reduce leakages in female secondary school stipends in all over the country scholarship 13. Improving enrolment, attendance and ˇ Identify drop-out rate among students from poor families ˇ Pro-poor targeting stipend projects addressing ˇ Introduce and expand pro-poor stipend programme completion rate of students of poor ˇ Ensure drop-out rate to decline by 50 percent for students both poor girls and boys are going to be for male and female secondary students from poor families from poor families undertaken families. 14. Ensuring 80% common curriculum of ˇ Revise and introduce new Madrasha curriculum within ˇ Establish commission for re-orientation of madrasha Madrasha and general education next two years education 15. Improving the quality of Madrasha ˇ Provide training to 33 percent of the Madrasha teachers ˇ Introduce accreditation system for the private schools education every year for 3 years and create a competitive environment that will lead to improved performance of the MPO schools 16. Making Madrasha education job market ˇ Introduce technical education in 10 percent schools on a ˇ Develop vocational education curriculum for oriented pilot basis. Madrasha education 176 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 IV. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Lead Responsibility: MoSW , MoE, MoLE, MoWCA, MoPME, MOYS, MoTJ 17. Introducing and expanding TVET for ˇ Increase enrolment by 50 percent ˇ Both men and women are receiving skill training ˇ Establish residential/non-residential TVET institutes adolescents, young adults and adult males ˇ Ensure three extensive monitoring and supervision of all from BITAC on 26 trades. About 10% in under served districts and areas and females and make provision for TVET institutions every year participants are women in all training courses ˇ Ensure sufficient equipments and facilities for all after class vi, vii and equivalent grades ˇ Build six nursing training institutes in six divisions ˇ BSCIC through Design Centres is offering students to have effective practical experiences regular skill training on different trades to ˇ Provide training of the teachers including foreign develop entrepreneurship and self-employment training to improve their quality ˇ Skill training is also being given at district level ˇ Introduce course for medical technicians by undertaking new projects by BITAC ˇ Design and introduce in collaboration with NGOs ˇ 2nd shift programme in the technical and and entrepreneurs, modular course in income vocational institute are running from academic generating and self-employment skills linked to local session 2004-2005 market prospects for underprivileged groups including girls and women ˇ Provide support to skill development in the informal sector ˇ Improve coordination and develop a common policy and regulatory framework among various public and private sector (including NGOs) providers of TVET ˇ Formalise informal sector by providing GOB support through technical, financial and infrastructure assistance ˇ Introduce and expand ICT Training including hardware and software development ˇ Formalise informal sector's training institutions by providing GOB support through technical, financial and infrastructure assistance ˇ Set up technical institutes in each upazila 18. Introducing vocational training for ˇ Ensure catching 50% of the primary graduates (boys and ˇ Undertake need assessment and mapping exercise for boys and girls after completion of primary girls) not going to secondary level. identifying areas where to establish vocational cycle institutes 19. Increasing female participation in ˇ Increase female enrolment by 60 percent ˇ Establishment of three new polytechnic ˇ Introduce female stipend programme for TVET vocational, and technical education institutes for women education for all students ˇ Establishment of six more Technical School & ˇ Introduce measures (tuition fee waiver, placemen College for girls is underway facilities etc.) to attract larger female entrance into ˇ Programme is being taken to set up more under-represented fields polytechnic institutes for women ˇ Introduce measures such as residential facilities to ˇ 30% seats are reserved for female participants in attract larger female entrance all training course ˇ Adopt measures and targets for teaching and management positions in vocational, technical, tertiary professional education. ˇ 177 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 20. Providing market-related effective ˇ Graduates find jobs within shortest possible time (6 ˇ Skill development project under the assistance ˇ Review TVET curriculum and course of all TVET education linked to the industrial sector months of graduation) of ADB already taken to make TVET more providers both in the domestic and international relevant and responsive to the job market ˇ Involve business communities in designing of course market ˇ EU and ILO expressed interest in making offerings and develop and revise curriculum and TVET more relevant course offerings based on market demand ˇ Introduce apprenticeship, job placement etc. in collaboration with the private sector ˇ Upgrade curriculum and equipments in the VT institutes 21. Raise the percentage of vocational and ˇ Ensure that 80 percent of the graduates gets jobs within ˇ Quality Manual has been developed to improve ˇ Develop job bank and placement service for graduates technical graduates obtaining employment six months of graduation academic and administrative activities of the of the technical and vocational graduates in the domestic and international markets TVET institutes ˇ Develop network with the trade bodies and human ˇ Monitoring activities of TVET has been resource export agencies increased ˇ Introduce training provider's agreements with ˇ Skill training of TVET teachers is continuing industries, companies and NGOs ˇ Develop competency based training and training standards ˇ Revitalise Technical Teachers Training College in Dhaka and Vocational Teachers Training Institute in Bogra ˇ Introduce short training course for teachers and technical staff in specific skill areas/industries ˇ Strengthen teachers' training for TVET V. Tertiary Education Lead Responsibility: MoE, UGC, NAEM, Public and Private Universities, MoTJ 22. Increase opportunities and facilities of ˇ Establish universities in Barisal, Rangamati and ˇ Universities in Jessore, Pabna and Rangpur are ˇ Build medical and engineering colleges / universities higher education Gopalganj operational in underserved areas ˇ Build nursing institutes in all divisions and old districts ˇ Revise and develop modern nursing training curriculum ˇ Enhance infrastructural facilities in established universities ˇ Provide free education up to degree level ˇ Enhance budgetary allocation to education sector. Current allocation (2.5% of GDP) must be raised to the developing country average level of 4.5% of GDP by 2011 23. Increasing enrolment of male and ˇ Increase enrolment of male and female students by 50 ˇ Programme planned for improvement of ˇ Give preferential consideration for admission of female students in professional degree percent in professional degree education infrastructure like teaching aid, research facilities female students education for different public universities ˇ Introduce 5 percent quota provision for female students 178 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 24. Ensuring gender equality in higher ˇ Ensure that 40 percent of university students are women ˇ Establishing an international university for ˇ Introduce higher number of merit scholarship for education women in Chittagong female students ˇ Build hostel facilities for female students ˇ Recruit more women faculties and ensure accommodation facilities for them particularly in universities out of metropolitan cities. ˇ Introduce stipend programme for 30 percent female students from poor families 25. Creating greater opportunities for the ˇ Ensure 30 percent of university students are from poor ˇ Introduce merit based scholarship for the students students from poor families families from poor families ˇ Introduce stipend programme for 100 percent students from poor families ˇ Make education free for students from poor families ˇ Introduce provision for education loans from public and private sources ˇ Introduce a rule for the private universities to provide free education to 10 percent of the students from poor families 26. Achieving better balance in enrolment ˇ 50 percent increase in enrolment of both boys and girls in ˇ Proposal has already been initiated to strengthen ˇ Build capacity in providing education in the area of among humanities, applied and pure non-humanities subjects and professional areas commerce and science departments applied and pure sciences and technology and sciences and technology and commerce commerce 27. Improving the examination ˇ Pass rates in degree and master's examinations need to ˇ Ensure teacher's presence in the campus by the performance of the general undergraduate improve by 50 percent management and graduate students ˇ Introduce and strengthen teachers training programme ˇ Make training compulsory and link it to career development 28. Strengthening the knowledge generation ˇ Link promotion and career development with research ˇ UGC appoints a small working group with ˇ Create research endowment fund in collaboration role of the universities and publications researchers from public and private universities with private sector, university alumni and to: development partners - Compile the list of publications of all ˇ Create a research fund for undertaking action research universities in the past ten years by faculties of Universities / colleges - Develop standards of publications ˇ Link promotion to research activities undertaken and - Recommend policy measures to ensure publication by the teachers at the tertiary level budgetary allocations to support research - Work out standard number of hours that university teachers ought to teach and to generate research publications 29. Introducing opportunities for ˇ 5 percent of total students in higher education are ˇ Introduce rules for entering or re-entering into higher continuing education at higher level returning or restarting students education for those who dropped out, took a break and want to continue ˇ Introduce provision of distance learning for continuing education. Use of ICT, TV and 179 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 community radio can be considered. 30. Increasing internal efficiency of public ˇ Achieve parity with regional standards in tertiary education ˇ Apply full quality-criteria to all tertiary ˇ UGC will take an initiative to identify effective sector higher education ˇ Make the National University effective educational institutions mechanism for monitoring of performance in higher education ˇ Introduce a system of review and revision of curriculum every four-five years consistent with regional standard 31.Increasing cost recovery in higher ˇ Increase university fees and accommodation cost every ˇ Undertake consultation with various stakeholders to education year keeping in view the rate of inflation in the country build consensus on this issue ˇ Mobilize funds in terms of donations from private sectors, alumni and foreign donations VI. Literacy and Non-formal Education Lead Responsibility: MoPME, MoWCA, MoLGRD&C, NGO Affairs Bureau, NGOs 32. Increasing effective literacy rate ˇ Increase literacy rate from about 53 percent to 100 percent ˇ A Non-formal Education Policy has been ˇ Build a nationwide network of community-based, by 2014. finalised community-managed and multi-purpose non-formal ˇ Bureau of Non-formal Education has been and adult learning centres established for management and governance of ˇ Develop parental continuing education opportunities the NFE sub-sector. and make it accessible through the network of ˇ Basic Education for Hard to Reach Urban community learning centres Working Children" is under implementation. ˇ Involve beneficiaries in planning and managing Post-literacy and Continuing Education I Project programmes has been completed. ˇ Improve women's participation by encouraging them, promoting representation of women in management and engendering the teaching content 33. Expanding the scope of non-formal ˇ Ensure non-formal education with life skill for fifty ˇ Education Project II is under implementation. ˇ Assess the size and locational concentration of education beyond the literacy movement on percent of the illiterate It will cover 1.6 million neo-literates in 29 illiterate population a pilot basis particularly targeted at the districts. Under the project, literacy and income- ˇ Ensure equivalency between formal and non-formal extreme poor and remote areas earning skills will be provided education ˇ Two post-literacy and continuing education ˇ Link of the second chance programmes with skill project targeting three million potential clients development and formal education are designed to combine training in literacy and ˇ Target marginal sections of the population to address income-earning skills their specific needs ˇ Undertake targeted social mobilization in NFE area to support participation of stakeholders VII. Education Governance Lead Responsibility: MoE, MoPME, MoWCA, NCTB, MoLE 34. Strengthening education governance ˇ Undertake monitoring and supervision of all educational ˇ Some monitoring and academic institution ˇ Strengthen monitoring mechanism and develop institutes by authority every 3 months on a regular basis inspection mechanism is in place whose criteria for monitoring performance of the ˇ All institutions at secondary, vocational and tertiary level effectiveness needs improvement institutions, management, teachers and students should be rated by private agencies ˇ Performance based incentive like sanction of ˇ Develop monitoring and supervision criteria for all ˇ Develop a longer term (2015) perspective for educational academic building, scientific equipment, levels of education development and reform that provide the context and teaching aid, library etc. have been initiated. ˇ Effective coordination in education sector for Human framework for short-term and medium-term actions Development 180 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Decentralize educational planning and management ˇ Greater decentralization of educational planning and management ˇ Increased, targeted and managed allocation of resources for access with equity and quality in education ˇ Rating agency needs to make this information available to the public ˇ Take an initiative to publish a book on rules and regulations applicable to MPO schools and also make this available on the website ˇ Provide management training at different levels of education ˇ Strengthen the SMCs by depoliticizing them. The members need to fulfil well defined criteria such as education, social involvement, standing in the community etc. ˇ Develop policy, delegate authority and accountability at district, upazila, local and institution levels ˇ Develop an action plan for implementing this policy ˇ Establish a permanent National Commission on Education for pre-tertiary education answerable to the Parliamentary standing Committee on Education and also to the parliament 35. Reducing education divides in terms of ˇ Reduce education divides in term of contents between ˇ Undertake a survey to identify the degree and extent content and standard between different general and madrasha, and between Bengali and English of educational divides between different streams streams medium schools ˇ Prepare an action plan to reduce education divides ˇ Reduce education divides in terms of standard between urban between different streams and rural school, and between public and private schools 36. Reducing disparity between over-served ˇ Complete building schools, colleges technical institutes ˇ School mapping is already done ˇ Build educational institutes for various levels and and underserved areas and between rural and universities in more than 50 % of the underserved ˇ Primary schools have their own guidelines kinds of education in the underserved areas and urban areas areas ˇ Build residential facilities for students, teachers and ˇ Complete building and repairing of all schools and staff for educational institutes in the remote areas colleges in the cyclone "Sidr" affected areas 37. Reducing corruption and system-loss in ˇ Reduce leakages in the school subvention and stipend ˇ Performance based subvention at the secondary ˇ Strengthen monitoring and inspection system for all education payments by 75 percent level has already been introduced levels and kinds of educational institutes ˇ Inspection must take place every two months for the ˇ Create monitoring and inspection provisions by secondary schools, three times for the degree college and creating a local level committee involving local twice a year for universities and professional institutes stakeholders ˇ Introduce monitoring and inspection by local level stakeholders ˇ Develop a code of conduct for the teachers and include that in their training programme ˇ Develop a guide about the rights and entitlements for the students and their families 181 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 38. Improving the quality of teachers ˇ All teachers will be trained and certified ˇ Teacher training is already in place ˇ Teacher training must be mandatory every two years and training capacity must be strengthened ˇ Link salary increase, and promotion of teachers to performance at all levels of education ˇ Performance evaluation criteria and system needs to be defined in a transparent manner and needs to include students evaluation of the teachers 39. Strengthening financial management of ˇ Every institution needs to produce an annual audit report ˇ Annual financial auditing needs to take place for all all educational institutions and submit to the management educational institutes by private auditors ˇ Every educational institute needs to develop an annual ˇ Make mandatory for all schools to have annual budget budget and be approved by relevant management and it approved by SMC authorities ˇ Revised and improved education package under PEDP II will be piloted in 2010 ˇ Provide reward for group performance 40. Enhancing resource mobilisation by all ˇ Public universities and higher level professional institutes ˇ Make it mandatory for the management to undertake educational institutes need to mobilize 20 percent of total funds from private initiatives for raising funds from non-government sector and donors sources VIII. Continuing Training Lead Responsibility: MoE, UGC, Public and Private Universities 41. Creating opportunities for continuing ˇ Introduce provision for knowledge and skills to be ˇ Some private universities introduced limited ˇ Introduce courses on need based skill retraining education and training updated provisions for continuing education in selected programmes in the already existing educational areas institutes in the evenings 42. Expanding language courses particularly ˇ Introduce provision for language courses to be updated ˇ Various embassies and private organizations ˇ Provide government financial support to the private English/Arabic etc. offer language courses language teaching institutions on the basis of their ˇ Foreign Language Laboratory has been set up in performance selected 11 colleges/centres. ˇ Improve the language programmes in the public ˇ English Language Teaching Improvement universities Project (ELTIP) is being implemented IX. Building Research Capacity Lead Responsibility: MoE, UGC, Public and Private Universities and Degree Colleges, Government and Private Think-Tanks 43. Creating of new knowledge and ˇ Strengthen writing of term-paper, thesis and information dissertation in the curriculum of tertiary education ˇ Create a national endowment of undertaking action- based and result-oriented research ˇ Encourage research among the teachers of tertiary education and link it to promotion ˇ Develop BIDS as the think tank of the government ˇ Encourage establishment of /formation of private sector think tank/research organizations ˇ Develop and strengthen BBS as an independent competent and functional organization Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 582.30 182 Policy Matrix 13: Health, Nutrition, Population, and Food Safety Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: DGHS and DGFP Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, MOLGRD&C, LGIs, UPHCP, SSFP, MOP&ME, M/O Education, MOSW, NGOs, CBOs, CSOs 1. Improve Child ˇ Reduce Infant Mortality Rate per 1000 Live Births from ˇ Essential Services Delivery ˇ Further strengthening of EPI Health 52 in 2007 to 37 in 2011 ˇ Expanded Programme on Immunization ˇ Full coverage of facility IMCI ˇ Reduce Under 5 Mortality Rate per 1000 Live Births ˇ Control of Acute Respiratory Tract Infection ˇ Further strengthening of control of ARI and DD from 65 in 2007 to 52 in 2011 ˇ Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases ˇ Strengthening ESD ˇ Integrated Management of Childhood Illness ˇ Continuation of HNPSP till 2011 ˇ School Health services ˇ National Health Policy will be re-evaluated and adjusted ˇ Limited curative care ˇ Updated National Health Policy ˇ National Nutrition Program Lead Responsibility: DGHS and DGFP Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, MOLGRD&C, MOLJ& PA, M/O Education, MOP&ME, MOWCA, MOF, MOLE, UPHCP, SSFP, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs. LGIs 2. Improve maternal ˇ Reduce MMR per 100,000 LB from 275 in 2005 to 240 ˇ Provision of ANC services for all pregnant women including TT ˇ Enforce legal age of marriage particularly for girls and reproductive health in 2011 ˇ Training of CSBAs ˇ Strictly enforce birth registration ˇ Increase proportion of births attended by skilled health ˇ Expansion of CEmOC in more upazila health complexes ˇ Girls' education personnel from 18% in 2007 to 43% in 2011 ˇ Piloting of demand-side financing through providing maternal ˇ Women employment ˇ Utilization of ANC and PNC for pregnant women vouchers ˇ Expansion of CSBA increased from 41 to 60% and from 18 to 30% ˇ Demand creation for utilization of ANC, PNC and institutional ˇ Women status in family and society respectively deliveries ˇ Ensure nutrition and mothers welfare ˇ Proportion of institutional deliveries increased from 9 to ˇ Ensure community participation in the management and 30% promotion of reproductive health ˇ Net need for obstetric complications increased from 35 to 50% Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, DGFP, MOLGRD&C, MOLJ& PA, MOHA, Prison directorate, M/O Education, MOWCA, UPHCP, SSFP, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs. LGIs, Media 3. Control of ˇ HIV prevalence continue to be <1% among high risks ˇ National AIDS/STD Programme ˇ Supportive laws and law-enforcing agencies for effective Communicable groups ˇ Targeted HIV/AIDS interventions with high risks groups like sex HIV/AIDS prevention programme Diseases ˇ Sustain TB case detection rate of 70% achieving workers, injectable drug users, migrant workers, transport ˇ Supportive prison authorities for effective TB programme geographical and socio-economic parity workers, HIV positive etc. and young people ˇ Supportive local government institutions (union councils, ˇ Sustain TB treatment success rate of 85% achieving ˇ National TB programme municipalities, city corporations) for environment cleaning geographical and socioeconomic parity ˇ DOTS programme in TB for controlling vectors ˇ Decrease of leprosy endemic districts (prevalence ˇ Leprosy elimination programme ˇ Prevention of parent to child transmission of HIV >1/10,000 population) from 8 to 0. ˇ Malaria control programme ˇ Couple counselling for HIV testing ˇ Reduce malaria specific mortality and morbidity 50% by ˇ Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of malaria ˇ National Tuberculosis control programme aims at halving 2011 ˇ Distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets in selected areas the prevalence and mortality of TB in line with MDGs ˇ Reduce kal-azar incidence as less than 1 per 10,000 ˇ Kal-azar elimination programme population at upazila level by 2011 ˇ Filariasis control programme ˇ Reduce case fatality rate of dengue below 1% by 2011 ˇ Dengue control programme ˇ Mass drug administration for filariasis elimination coverage 100% by 2011 Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, NBR, MoIn, M/O Education, MOP&ME, Media, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, M/O Commerce, BSTI 4. Control of Non- ˇ Reduction of prevalence of smoking in adults to 15% by ˇ Strategic plan for surveillance and prevention of non- ˇ High taxation on tobacco communicable diseases 2011 communicable diseases in Bangladesh ˇ Public information campaign 183 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Reduction of prevalence of smokeless tobacco use in ˇ Public information campaign for awareness creation adults to 15% by 2011 ˇ Increase screening for early detection of cancer (cervix, breast and oral) to 30% of the eligible women by 2011 ˇ Increase detection of hypertension with awareness raising to 20% by 2011 Lead Responsibility: NNP, IPHN Associate Responsibility: UPHCP, SSFP,MOHFW, MOWCA, MOIn, M/O Commerce, MOP&ME, M/O Education, Media, NGOs, CBOs, CSOs, 5. Nutrition ˇ Reduction of percent of underweight children age 6 to ˇ National Nutrition Programme ˇ Role of women's status in family and society for ensuring 59 months from 46.3% in 2007 to 36% in 2011 ˇ Control of Vitamin A deficiency disorders her own and child's nutrition ˇ Reduction of percent of severely underweight children ˇ Control of iron deficiency anaemia ˇ Adapt NNP on the basis of lessons learnt age 6 to 59 months from 10.9 % in 2007 to <2 % in ˇ Control of iodine deficiency disorders ˇ Urban nutrition 2011 ˇ Micronutrient fortification ˇ Promotion of breast feeding, supplementary feeding and ˇ Reduce the prevalence of low birth weight (<2500g) ˇ Behaviour change communication nutrition from 36% to 20% or less by 2011 ˇ Special nutrition needs for people and children living with ˇ Breast feeding promotion and protection for improved nutrition ˇ Maintain the prevalence of night blindness among practices AIDS children aged 12-59 months below 0.5% ˇ Address nutritional needs of people living with AIDS ˇ Growth monitoring and promotion ˇ Reduction of the night blindness among pregnant including men women to below 5% by 2011 ˇ Reduction of the prevalence of anaemia in <5 years children from 49 to 40%, adolescents from 30 to 20% and in pregnant women from 46 to 30% by 2011. ˇ Reduction of the prevalence of iodine deficiency from 43 to 23% of all school children by 2011 Lead Responsibility: MOHFW, MOLGRD&C, M/O Commerce Associate Responsibility: MOHA, MOA, MOF&DM, MOF&L, MOIn, LGIs, Media, NGOs, CBOs, CSOs 6. Food safety and ˇ Setting definite food standard ˇ Standardization of different food items including adoption of ˇ Coordination among the concerned ministries for quality ˇ Review and update of all existing food safety laws Codex standard of 29 food items enforcement of food safety ˇ Examine the need of setting authority to deal with food ˇ Consumers' protection act under finalization ˇ Examine the need of setting authority to deal with food safety and quality ˇ Awareness rising on food safety and quality safety and quality Lead Responsibility: DGFP Associate Responsibility: DGHS, MOHFW, PM's office, MOLGRD&C, UPHCP, SSFP, MOLJ&PA, LGIs, MOF, MOP, MOWCA, MOIn, MOP&ME, M/O Education, Media, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs 7. Population planning ˇ Reduction of total fertility rate from 2.7 in 2007 to 2.2 in ˇ FP programme constituting field workers at household level ˇ Update Population Policy and ensure birth control and 2011 backed by network of facilities at different levels reproductive health care ˇ Reduction of population growth rate from 1.40% to ˇ National population policy ˇ Effective FP programme in urban areas 1.20% in 2011 ˇ Emphasis on long acting and permanent methods ˇ Enforce legal age at marriage ˇ Increase CPR from 54% to 72% by 2011 ˇ Focused activities in low performing areas ˇ Women's employment ˇ Long acting and permanent methods constitute most in method mix Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, MOIn, MOP&ME, M/O Education, Media, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs 8. Health Education ˇ Improve health seeking behaviour of the community ˇ Programmes undertaken by Bureau of Health Education under ˇ Multi-sectoral collaboration for health promotion and promotion with the emphasis of health education for the vulnerable DGHS ˇ Inclusion in school curricula groups ˇ Programmes undertaken by IEM unit under DGFP ˇ Strengthen community participation in health promotion ˇ Outsourced promotion to non-state agencies activities and ensure optimum use of health services 184 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Improve social values that facilitate determinants of health and improve family health development Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, MOHA, MOF&L, MOLGRD&C, MOIn, Media, NGOs, CBOs, CSOs 9. Control of emerging ˇ Improved existing facilities and introduction of new ˇ Some facilities are in place and others are planned for combating ˇ Coordination with other ministries and stakeholders for threats facilities for counselling and treatment of emerging emerging threats combating threats like mental health, drug addiction, avian threats flue, arsenicosis, injuries, trauma, accidents etc. Lead Responsibility: UPHCP, SSFP, DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, MOLGRD&C, LGIs, NGOs 10. Urban ˇ Urban health strategy formulation ˇ UPHCP ˇ Urban health strategy health services ˇ Access and effective use of services by the urban poor ˇ SSFP ˇ Coordination with UPHC and SSFP to emphasis FP and ˇ Secondary and tertiary care by MOHFW nutrition Lead Responsibility: MOHFW Associate Responsibility: MOLGRD&C, MOS&ICT, M/O Environment, NGOs, Media 11. Climate change and ˇ Development of a national programme outline to ˇ Research, studies to understand possible effects of climate change ˇ Coordination among different ministries and stakeholders health protection combat climate change effect on health on health ˇ Global partnership Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, PM's office, NGOs, Media 12. Primary health care ˇ 60% of HNPSP budget spending at upazila and below ˇ Network of trained field workers and facilities at different levels ­ ˇ Engagement of non-state actors based on comparative ˇ Community driven PHC services CCs, H&FWCs, UHC advantage for making PHC accessible in hard-to-reach areas Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, MOF, CA/PM's office 13. Secondary and ˇ Standardization of services, human resources and ˇ Network of district, medical college and specialized hospitals ˇ Hospital autonomy tertiary health care equipment ˇ Hospital autonomy Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW 14. Alternate medical ˇ Improvement of the standard of the AMC ˇ AMC provided in public sector facilities ˇ Expansion of AMC care ˇ Facilitate improvement of quality of traditional medicine Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW 15. Strengthening ˇ Establishment of a network of well worked referral ˇ Limited efforts, not yet effectively ˇ Higher level facilities to only attend referred patients referral system system ˇ coordinated Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, MOF, MOSW, M/O Commerce, MOL and 16. Affordable health ˇ Non-public sector facilities receiving fund from the ˇ Network of public sector facilities ˇ Government to support establishment of evenly spread care services government to provide 30% of their services free to the ˇ Government funding non-public sector facilities specialist facilities by non-public sector poor Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, NBR, NGOAB, NGOs 17. Surveillance of ˇ Updating of existing system to include NCDs and ˇ Different communicable diseases surveillance systems ˇ Bringing non-public sector facilities and programmes diseases keeping in view the international health regulation within the surveillance system Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, LGIs, MOLGRD&C, M/O Environment, NGOs 18. Medical waste ˇ To cover all public and non-public sector facilities across ˇ Exists in some of the public and non public sector facilities ˇ Cooperation among the parties concerned management the country Lead Responsibility: DGHS Associate Responsibility: MOHFW 19. Supply management ˇ Effective and efficient procurement, supply and ˇ Weak and uncoordinated system allowing many equipments ˇ Decentralization of procurement utilization of supplied equipments unutilized ˇ Outsourcing for repair and maintenance ˇ 185 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MOHFW Associate Responsibility: PM's office 20. Health governance ˇ Practice of transparency and accountability in all acts at ˇ PPP ˇ Stewardship role of the public sector all levels ˇ Citizens charter ˇ Regulation of the non-public sector Lead Responsibility: MOHFW Associate Responsibility: MOF, MOP, PM's office 21. Sector reforms ˇ Continuation and further strengthening of on-going ˇ Decentralized planning and budgeting ˇ Single plan and budget in MOHFW reforms ˇ Diversification of service provisions ˇ Decentralized planning and budgeting Lead Responsibility: MOHFW Associate Responsibility: MOWCA, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs 22. Gender equality in ˇ Ensuring women's health rights throughout their life ˇ Women friendly facilities ˇ Women's status in family and society health cycle ˇ Network of facilities Lead Responsibility: MOHFW Associate Responsibility: MOLJ&PA, PM's office 23. Stewardship role of ˇ MOHFW gradually assume strategic stewardship and ˇ Updating of the national health policy ˇ Role of public sector in direct service delivery the public sector governance roles for policy management ˇ Revised BMDC ordinance ˇ MOHFW strengthens its regulatory and supervisory roles ˇ PPP ˇ Public sector to ensure proper safety net for the poor, vulnerable and marginalized ˇ MOHFW assumes responsibilities for proper information generation, collection and effective management feeding into policy formulation and planning Lead Responsibility: MOHFW Associate Responsibility: M/O Establishment, BMDC, Universities, BMA 24. Human resources ˇ Formulation of long-term comprehensive Human ˇ Private sector participation in medical education ˇ Career plan for health Resource strategy ˇ Uniform accreditation of all medical education by public and private sector ˇ Handling the large number of informal service providers Lead Responsibility: DDA Associate Responsibility: MOHFW, BMA 25. Drug issues ˇ Ensuring easy access to essential drugs at fair price ˇ National Drug Policy ˇ Rational use of drugs ˇ Promote drug export ˇ Attain self-sufficiency in production of medicine of ˇ Availability of antiretroviral drugs(ARVDs) international standard ˇ Revise the drugs pricing mechanism as stated in the National Drugs Policy 2005 ˇ Formulate National Pharmaceutical Policy Lead Responsibility: MOLGRD&C Associate Responsibility: WASAs, DPHE, LGIs, MOIn, Media, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs 26. Water and ˇ Universal access to pure drinking water by 2011 ˇ DPHE ˇ Sanitized railway and reverie transports sanitation ˇ Sanitation facilities in every household by 2013 ˇ WASAs ˇ LGIs ˇ National Sanitation Policy Lead Responsibility: MOHFW Associate Responsibility: MOF, MOP, CA/PM's office, M/O Commerce 27. Financing of HNP ˇ Share of HNP allocation to national budget be raise to ˇ Participation of non-public sectors ˇ Acquire, retain and use of resources by the health facilities sector 12% by 2011 ˇ Contribution from donors ˇ Health insurance ˇ Introduce incentive systems for HNP service providers working in rural, underserved and remote areas Total Indicative Cost Tk. 207.94 (in billion taka) 186 Policy Matrix 14: Social Inclusion and Empowerment- (a) Women's Advancement and Rights Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoWCA Associate Responsibility: PMO, MoLJPA 1. Putting policy and legal framework in ˇ Make constitution the basis for ensuring women's ˇ Ratified CEDAW with some reservation ˇ Withdraw reservation and ensure full ratification place toward achieving equal rights for rights and advancement of CEDAW women ˇ Introduce official circular to all ministries to ˇ Address explicitly women's advancement and identify ways to enhance women's advancement rights issues in all national and sectoral policies ˇ Revive Women Development Policy formulated in 1997 ˇ Implement CEDAW ˇ Amend Section 1(2) of the Family Courts Ordinance of 1985 to include the whole of Bangladesh ˇ Amend citizenship act to ensure equality between women and men citizens ˇ Adopt a uniform family code in order to protect the rights of all women I. Employment Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoLE, MoEWOE, MoYS Associate Responsibility: MoF, MoI, SCITI, BSCIC, BITAC, MoLJPA, MoA, NGOs , Private sector 2. Ensuring women's full participation ˇ Reduce poverty of 50 % of poor women ˇ MoWCA distributed widowed, deserted and destitute women ˇ Enforce equal pay for equal work and ensure in mainstream economic activities ˇ Increase number of women beneficiaries to credit allowance in the amount of Tk. 21780 Lakhs to 650,000 inflation adjusted wage facilities by 10 % annually beneficiaries during FY08 ˇ Ensure marketable skills development training 3. Eliminating all social discriminations ˇ Provide marketable technical and skills training to ˇ 95,400 rural women are getting training and micro-credit and for the retrenched garment workers against women in all economic activities 2.5 lakh women taka 29.35 Core is distributed to the beneficiaries ˇ Ensure safe & secure working environment for ˇ Issue Government order for the provision of 5 ˇ 5169 sewing machines were distributed among poor women women months' Maternity Leave with full pay for women ˇ VGD beneficiaries are getting taka 7.5 Lakhs in one cycle ˇ Ensure 5 months' Maternity Leave with full workers both at public and private level ˇ BSCIC is regularly giving entrepreneurship training to ensure pay for women worker in both public and ˇ Raise the number of day care centres to 42 from that more women participate in small and cottage industries and private sectors 32 and provide day care services to 3000 children micro enterprise ˇ Ensure women access and entry into foreign ˇ Provide training and credit facilities for retrenched ˇ BITAC is providing skills training for mainstreaming women employment women workers entrepreneurs ˇ Set up migrant resource centre paying attention ˇ Create opportunities for productive employment ˇ SMESDP has taken a project to develop facilities for increasing to women's needs of women women participation in the economic activities ˇ Encourage the private sector to recruit more ˇ A project "Social Protection for the Poor Female Workers of women and monitor employers' behaviour the Garments Sector" was undertaken to reduce employment towards female employee through developing a risks associated with the Multi Fibber Agreement code of conduct ˇ Provision for 5 months' Maternity Leave with full pay for ˇ Establish more childcare facilities for working women has been incorporated in the National Women mothers Development Policy 2008 ˇ Ensure credit facilities for retrenched workers ˇ The Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and provide alternative employment provided skill training to rural poor women in eight upazilas ˇ Develop a national system of Contributory ˇ A project "Community Based Training for Employment and Provident Funds and Pension Funds for working Income Generation for Rural Poor Women" was undertaken women (garments, other industries) ˇ Provide life and disability insurance for the protection of women workers and female headed 187 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 households ˇ Provide market-based and diversified skill- training to women ˇ Link credit with entrepreneurship development programme and provide need based training to women II. Technology Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoSICT Associate Responsibility: NGOs, Private sector 4. Ensuring women's access to ˇ Ensure participation of 50 percent of women in ˇ Ministry has keen interest in enlarging the programme in 30 ˇ Provide women training with on e-commerce, e- technology the key sectors in technology adoption for more districts for 24,000 women business, ICT and create job banks for women enhancing competitiveness ˇ Through the Computer Training Centres of DWA and JMS 4518 ˇ Encourage making and disseminating ˇ Ensure that those who receive training in e- women are getting ICT training every year inexpensive domestic appliances to reduce commerce, e-business, ICT and skill development women's household workload 50% are women ˇ Establish ICT centres for women in all districts ˇ Ensure that women benefit from new technology III. Social Protection Lead Responsibility: MoSW, MoLJPA, MoWCA, MoHA, Associate Responsibility: MoF, MoLE, MoHFW, MoCHTA and NGO/CSOs 5. Ensuring ˇ Expand social protection to cover all disadvantaged ˇ Social protection for disadvantaged and older women (VGF, ˇ Ensure access of women to government Legal social protection for women and children FSVGD, VGD-UP, Widow & Old age allowance, WTC, NNP) Aid Fund women against ˇ Increase health coverage and provide insurance for ˇ Social Protection Projects taking relevant initiatives ˇ Increase budgetary allocation for economic, vulnerability and risks reducing risks faced in pregnancy, childbirth, and external and health risk management for female old age for destitute women ˇ Introduce social security legislation for disabled women and implement through community approaches ˇ Undertake programmes for disadvantaged women including poor destitute and elderly ˇ Strengthen GO/NGO/CSOs coordination to provide basic information about the status of ethnic women and men ˇ Promote enforcement of National Woman Development policy 2008 IV. Finance and Banking Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoSW, BB Associate Responsibility: BOI, MoI, MoF, MoLGRDC, 6. Ensuring women's easy access to ˇ Provide 10 % of total bank credit to women, ˇ Ministry creates opportunities for ensuring social protection ˇ Introduce soft loan, collateral free loan, low finance and credit for full participation including indigenous women with disability against vulnerability through providing micro credit/ bank credit interest rate and longer repayment scheme from in mainstream economic activities ˇ Expand coverage of bank credit including micro- by utilizing government machineries and various bank and other financial sources credit for women in underdeveloped areas nongovernmental organizations covering a large number of poor ˇ Provide banking facilities to garment workers ˇ Enhance effectiveness of village based cooperatives women. near their workplace to address the economic vulnerability caused by ˇ Allocate budgetary funds for providing small- floods, droughts and cyclones scale loans to women ˇ Provide soft credit including rescheduling facilities ˇ Provide policy and financial supports for the and loan waiver/ exemption for victims of sustainability of women's involvement in conflicts entrepreneurship 188 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Expand micro-credit for women in small and marginal farm households ˇ Provide one-stop service with credit, market information, legal services, and technology for micro-credit borrowers and women entrepreneurs ˇ Develop savings incentives for working women ˇ Strengthen village based cooperatives to address the economic vulnerability caused by natural calamities V. Housing Facilities and Shelter Lead Responsibility: : MoHFW, MoL, MoEF, MoWR Associate Responsibility: PC, MoF city corporations, municipalities, City Development Authorities, NGOs, CBOs, private sector 7. Ensuring safe and affordable shelter ˇ Ensure 50 % housing facilities for female headed ˇ 7 hostels are in operation to provide safe housing for the ˇ Provide safe affordable housing facilities for and housing for women at risk and households in public housing projects working women single women and female headed households vulnerable women ˇ Build working women's hostels in every district ˇ Vagrants home and Abasan housing programme are in place ˇ Build homes for elderly women particularly poor town ˇ Construction of two hostels at Barisal and Sylhet is underway women ˇ Expansion of Housing Facility of Working Women of Jatioyo ˇ Give priority to lower level women government Mohila Sangstha is on going staff while allocating housing ˇ Ensure that buildings have necessary facilities for women with disability and elderly women ˇ Build hostels for working women especially garments workers near their workplace VI. Political empowerment & decision making Lead Responsibility: MoLJPA, MoWCA Associate Responsibility: PMO, MoLGRDC, MoE, MoPME, NGO/CSOs, EC, political parties, media 8. Enhancing women's ˇ Ensure 100 seats of the Parliament reserved for ˇ Women representation in local bodies ˇ Ensure 100 seats of the Parliament reserved for political empowerment women for direct election ˇ Government order issued for clarifying duties & responsibilities women for direct election ˇ Increase participation of women in the committees of local government representatives in the reserve seats ˇ Ensure full and effective participation of women of political parties by at least 1/3rd in national parliament and local government 9. Improving women's participation ˇ Enhance capacity of women members of the local institutions in decision making government institutions ˇ Include women MPs in all Standing Committees ˇ Encourage political parties to include women in 1/3rd of their committee membership ˇ Arrange gender sensitization for Parliamentarians ˇ Encourage women leaders to participate in the politics ˇ Take initiatives towards making women politically more conscientious ˇ Ensure political commitment of all political parties to address the issue of direct election of women in parliament with specific constituencies ˇ Integrate positive image of women leaders in the school curriculum from historical evidence ˇ Make the duties and responsibilities of elected 189 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 women local government representative in the reserve seats clear VII. Violence Against Women(VAW) Lead Responsibility: MoSW , MoWCA, MoLJPA, MoHA, MoHFW Associate Responsibility: MoI, NGO,CSOs, media 10. Eliminating all forms of violence ˇ Increase reporting of violence against women cases ˇ 6 One-Stop Crisis Centre (OCC)" have been established in ˇ Include domestic violence as a punishable crime against women ˇ Reduce incidence of VAW at least 50 percent Medical College Hospitals at divisional level in Women and Children Repression Prevention ˇ Increase support and rehabilitation measures for ˇ The MoWCA has a Central Cell to prevent violence against Act 2000 VAW victims women and children. The Cell works in close collaboration with ˇ Ensure protection of women in the custody of ˇ Increase allocation for the police service and other ministries and departments law enforcement agencies 11. Eliminating all forms of ˇ "Safe Home" for the victims has been established at Gazipur ˇ Provide VAW training to police and medical judiciary system aimed at counteracting VAW exploitation and legal and socio- personnel ˇ Continue support for training of police and law ˇ Ministry will undertake Multi Sectoral Programme on VAW (2nd cultural discriminations against women enforcement officers phase) and this project will strengthen the Central Cell for ˇ Raise awareness of services, resources with ˇ Increase support of legal aid and proper protection Violence against Women and Children of MoWCA Deputy Commissioner, Judges of the courts and for women victims of violence tribunals to get support for women and children victims of violence ˇ Sensitize judiciary to apply CEDAW provisions in cases affecting women's rights ˇ Implement laws in VAW and provide psycho- social supports and facilities for the victims ˇ Enhance congenial male attitude towards females ˇ Raise gender awareness among male officials of law enforcement agencies through providing trainings ˇ Ensure positive role of media in creation of gender sensitivity among people especially on VAW ˇ Develop integrated strategy for combating VAW and improve coordination between GO and NGOs ˇ Create mass awareness for combating VAW ˇ Allocate adequate funds for preventing VAW and supporting the victims ˇ Ensure strictest legal measures against oppression of women VIII. Gender Mainstreaming in policy, programmes and project Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoF, PC, PMO, Cabinet Division, Line Ministries 12. Strengthening institutions for ˇ Maintain regular liaison with Cabinet and PM ˇ All sectors implement the policies stated in the NAP & all ˇ Form a high level committee to evaluate the coordination and monitoring women's office regarding priority policy issues on women's project proposals address women's issues weakness in the existing women's institutional advancements and rights advancements and rights ˇ WID focal points are in ministries and departments setup in the government and to make ˇ Hold regular meetings of NCWD ˇ Ensure women issue as one of major activities of WID Focal recommendation for making it effective ˇ Hold regular meetings of WID FPs point. Sub/associate focal point will ensure if women ˇ Implement international agreements regarding ˇ Provide additional human resource to MoWCA to advancement activities are being implemented, women issues strengthen its role for coordination and monitoring ˇ Ensure regular meeting of NCWD and parliamentary committee of GE/GM commitments ˇ Strengthen linkages of MoWCA with all 190 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Ministries, CSOs, NGOs, gender PRSP group for monitoring of progress in the area of women's advancements and rights ˇ Include MoWCA in various committees of the Government ˇ Develop and strengthen WID FP as an effective mechanism ˇ Strengthen capacity of WID focal points/Associate WID focal points on monitoring implementation of GE/GM policies, strategies, programmes and projects Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoE, MoF, relevant Line Ministries 13. Strengthening capacity for Gender ˇ Develop/strengthen capacity of relevant ministries ˇ Strengthen Capacity of relevant Government officials including ˇ Build/strengthen capacity of relevant Responsive Planning and Gender for GRP, GRB and GE/GM policies MoF for gender responsive budgeting(GRB) Government officials for gender responsive Responsive Budgeting ˇ Institutionalize gender in the training curricula of ˇ Integration of gender training with regular curriculum of training planning (GRP) and gender-responsive 14. Institutionalizing Gender Training BPATC, Planning Academy, JATI, NILG, BIM, institutes budgeting (GRB) in the Training Institutions APD, BCSAA, SCITI, NIPORT, NAEM and ˇ Analyze training policy from gender perspective ˇ Provide more user-friendly support other training institutions ˇ Review and update existing course curriculum of the Training materials/tools on GRP/GRB and GE/GM ˇ Produce tools on GRP and GRB and develop Institutions to incorporate gender equality concerns policies for enhancing understanding and capacity to utilize them ˇ Adopt/customize GAD manual in the institution implementation of commitments ˇ Ensure gender parity in planning the social safety ˇ Enhance capacity of the Trainers to impart net initiatives gender training in the training institutions ˇ Effective integration of gender training with regular curriculum of training institutes Lead Responsibility: MOWCA, BBS and other relevant ministries 15. Developing capacity for the ˇ Introduce fundamentals of gender statistics and ˇ Materials on gender statistics made available ˇ Make available sex dis-aggregated data for production, dissemination and use of make them understood by key stakeholders ˇ Develop and adapt a general gender statistics guidebook policy planning and make assessment of sex-disaggregated statistics ˇ Develop standard list of sex- disaggregated ˇ Identify a set of indicators to be incorporated in the national progress of PRSP statistics and indicators statistics system from gender perspective, in relation to national ˇ Develop sex disaggregated data base and upload ˇ Establish, upload and maintain sex disaggregated commitment and policy data in MoWCA's website and ensure access data base in MoWCA's website and ensure access and updating the system ˇ Capacity building of ministries in generating and processing sex disaggregated data ˇ Develop list of sex disaggregated statistics and indicators ˇ Include in the census items/questions to capture sex disaggregated data for gender based analysis 16. Integrating gender concerns into all ˇ Integrate gender concerns into all National ˇ Institutionalize women's needs in training programmes of ˇ Develop guidelines for gender responsive National Policies/ Policies/ Programmes/Projects of government officials planning and review Programmes/Projects of all Ministries Ministries/Agencies ˇ Ensure gender responsiveness in ˇ Issue circular for integration of gender concerns in programme/project planning and reviewing 191 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 all programmes and projects through integrating guidelines into TPP/DPP ˇ Integrate gender equality issues into all policies process/mechanism and programmes as stated in NAP 17. Strengthening GRB mechanism in ˇ Include new ministries under MTBF ˇ Integration of Poverty and Gender impact assessment criteria ˇ Build capacity of relevant officials on poverty MTBF ˇ Allocation and expenditure of funds in favour of under section 3 of BC1 of MTBF and gender impact assessment criteria of BC1 benefiting women ˇ Integrate gender and poverty impact assessed in an effective manner ˇ Strengthen understanding of GRB among other stakeholders Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 35.55 192 Policy Matrix 14: Social Inclusion and Empowerment- (b) Children's Advancement and Rights Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 I. Children's Health Lead Responsibility: MoHFW, DGHS, DGFP, EPI Programme, NGOs 1. Reducing infectious diseases and ˇ Reduce Infant mortality rate to 37 per 1000 ˇ Essential Services Package-Expanded Programme on ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 improving immunization and vaccination LB Immunization (EPI) is operating ˇ Reduce under-five mortality rate to 52 per ˇ Initiatives are taken through the implementation of 'Early 1000 LB Learning Child Development Programme' and Sisimpur Project ˇ Reduce female U5MR to 97 per 1000 LB Lead Responsibility: MoHFW, DGHS's DDC Programme and NGOs MoHFW, DGHS's ARI Programme, NGOs MoWCA 2. Improving Acute Respiratory Infection ˇ Essential Services Package-Acute Respiratory Infection Control ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 management and ensuring prompt medical care 3. Reducing morbidity and mortality from ˇ Maintain immunization coverage at 90% ˇ Essential Services Package-Diarrhoeal Disease Control (DDC) ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 the diarrhoeal diseases ˇ Extend Oral Re-hydration Therapy (ORT) facilities at the union level 4. Improving access, quality and equity of ˇ Increase knowledge and skills of public IMCI ˇ Essential Services Package-Child Health Care ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 health services for children service providers to 50 percent ˇ Eliminate gender disparity in child mortality rate 5. Increasing use of Integrated ˇ Increase use of Integrated Management of ˇ Essential Services Package-Integrated Management of ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 Management of Childhood Illness Childhood Illness at the union level Childhood Illness Lead Responsibility: MoE, MoPME, MoI, MoHFW, IEM of DGF, HEP Programme of DGHS MoHFW, Health education Bureau MoWCA 6. Strengthening child health education ˇ Increase massive awareness of child health ˇ Essential Services Package-Health Education and Promotion (HEP) ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 and promotional activities education ˇ Formative research, monitoring and evaluation 7. Creating wide awareness of child health ˇ Initiatives are taken through the implementation of 'Early ˇ Increase awareness of child health education ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 education Learning Child Development Programme' ˇ Developed child health education curriculum Lead Responsibility: MoI, MoE, MoPME, MoHFW, DGHS's School Health Programme, MoWCA, DGHS, DGFP, LGD, MoYS 8. Improving school health services and ˇ Increase coverage of school health ˇ Essential Services Package-School Health Programme extended ˇ Increase coverage of school health Programme supplying iron and folic acid for girls programme during FY08-FY11 up to 2011 during FY 08-FY 11 ˇ Provide health training on various relevant adolescent issues 9. Ensuring access to reproductive health ˇ Ensure access to reproductive health care ˇ Essential Services Package-Reproductive Health Care ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 care services for adolescents services for all adolescents, ˇ Initiatives are taken through the implementation of "Empowerment and Protection of Children" project. 10 Reducing mortality of children in ˇ Increase coverage of urban health services by ˇ Essential Services Package-Urban Health services ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 urban areas 85 percent ˇ Train MO and municipal health staff II. Food and Nutrition Lead Responsibility: MoA, MoF MoWR, NGOs I1. Providing energy to children, ˇ Reduce prevalence of night blindness in ˇ A Project of BSCIC established 265 salt iodization plants under ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating children and postpartum women problem BITAC and BUET for mixing iodine with edible salt in different ˇ Use anthropometry to target households at risk of women (1% for children and 5% for women during areas malnutrition with social safety net programme 193 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 pregnancy) ˇ Regular motivation and orientation programme is undertaken such as VGD ˇ 90 % coverage of iodized salt for taking iodized salt ˇ Build awareness of the role of vegetables, fruits, ˇ Sustain elimination of iodine deficiency ˇ Increase and maintain cereal production aroids and pulses for improving malnutrition disorders ˇ Increase non-cereal production (Pulses, Oilseeds, Vegetables ˇ Diversify food habits by raising awareness at the ˇ Reduce iron deficiency/anaemia by 33% and Animal Food) family level particularly of women Lead Responsibility: MoA, MoF, MoWR, MoI, MoLGRDC, MoFL, MoWCA, CBO, NGOs 12. Obtaining plant and animal protein, ˇ Provide plant and animal proteins and ˇ Increase non-cereal production (Pulses, Oilseeds, Vegetables ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 vitamins, minerals and increasing oil mineral and Animal Food) consumption among children ˇ Increase consumption of oil among children ˇ To create awareness of nutritious food among poor women MoWCA is implementing a programme using local NGOs and each year 4050 women are getting nutrition training. 13. Reducing severe and moderate ˇ Improvement of nutritional status ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 malnutrition among children under 2 and pregnant and lactating women Lead Responsibility: MoHFW, MoWCA, MoI, NGOs 14. Ensuring nutrition in primary health ˇ Involve relevant sectors for nutrition and ˇ Community Nutrition Programme ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 care for all poor children primary health care ˇ Initiatives are taken through the implementation of 'Early Learning Child Development Programme and a Programme for pregnant and lactating mothers Lead Responsibility: MoHFW , MoI, MoWCA, NGOs MoWCA, BFF 15. Ensuring supply of iron tablets, oIncrease exclusive breastfeeding rate ˇ National Nutrition Programme ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 iodised salt and vitamin A among children ˇ Promotion and Support of Breast Feeding ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 1-5 years. Lead Responsibility: MoHFW, MoWCA, MoI, NGOs, BSCIC MoSW, MoA, MoF, MoWR, MoFL 16. Eliminating iodine deficiency ˇ A special project is being undertaken by MOI targeting to ˇ Awareness programme for taking iodised salt reduce nutritional gap by adding vitamin A in the flour and ongoing and continue up to 2011 edible oil Lead Responsibility: MoA, MoF, MoI, MoWR, MoFL, MoLGRDC, MoWCA 17. Creating nutritional awareness of ˇ Reduce prevalence of anaemia by 20 % in all ˇ Nutrition Education for School Children ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 children children and pregnant women 18. Distributing nutritionally balanced diet oPlan of Action for disaster management for ˇ MOWCA implementing a project to create nutrition awareness ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 for disaster victims especially for children agriculture sector to be formulated of mothers of children through local NGOs. About 4050 ˇ Increase purchasing power of women for changing women are getting nutrition awareness training each year. food habits ˇ Strengthened emergency food distribution during and after ˇ Increase non-cereal production (Pulses, Oilseeds, disaster Vegetables and Animal Food) ˇ Diversified food habits approach undertaken III. Children with disability Lead Responsibility: MoSW. MoHFW, MoPME, MoE, MoLE, MoWCA 19. Developing right based approach for ˇ Undergo blood testing of intending couple ˇ National Policy on disability is approved. ˇ Ensure access of children with disabilities to health, children with disability ˇ Increase nutritional service for pregnant ˇ National Action Plan on disability is approved education, social education, sanitation and safe water mothers ˇ Provide access to all kinds of facilities to children and person and appropriate training, employment and ˇ Increase sensitizations to the rights of with disability in health, education and other areas rehabilitation ˇ Conduct a survey on people with disability 194 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 persons with disability and reduce the stigma ˇ Improve health and education facilities for children with disability ˇ Develop awareness of decision makers to include children's disability issues in policies and programmes 20. Preventing accidents and injuries ˇ Increase awareness of accidents and injuries ˇ All policies relating to road, building and other physical facilities ˇ Ensure prevention of accidents and injuries caused caused to children ˇ Reduce injury related mortality and morbidity should take into consideration the needs and concern of child to children by taking into consideration the needs by 30 % with disability and concerns of children with disabilities IV. Education Lead Responsibility: MoPME, BBS, MoSW, NGOs, MoWCA, Mica 21. Developing and implementing early ˇ ECD for all children under 5 years ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 ˇ Ensure ECD to develop a positive influence on childhood development (ECD) policies ˇ Early Childhood Development Programme, Pre-School preparedness for school and later performances and and programmes achievement of children in school Programme, Day-Care Centre for Children 22. Reducing inequity and disparity in ˇ Early Childhood Development Programme has been taken for ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 ECD programme the period 2006/07-2010/11 Lead Responsibility: MoPME, MoWCA, IER-DU, MoLGRDC, NGOs MoWCA, MoPME 23. Increasing enrolment in primary ˇ Net enrolment at primary level to increase to ˇ Institutionalize community, parent and student consultation and ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 school and improving quality 90 % participation in the development and performance measure of 24. Improve access, retention and equity ˇ Primary school drop-out rate to decrease 20 local school at the primary level % ˇ Build more school/class with safe and play safe 25. Increase equity of outcome ˇ Children reaching grade 5 to increase to 75% ˇ Introduce core curricula to be delivered by all PE providers ˇ Train 100% teacher ˇ Develop improved learning materials for marginalized and ˇ Attendance increases by 20-25% people with disability and indigenous children ˇ Increase contact hours by 20%. ˇ .Maintain gender parity in access and achievement ˇ Make maximum class size of 46 students V. Excluded children Lead Responsibility: MoPME, MoWCA, MoSW, MoYS, MoLE, NGOs 26. Formulating programmes for street, ˇ Increase coverage of education for the ˇ Universal primary education Programme ˇ Strengthen Education Programme for street, indigenous, working children without excluded children to 75 percent ˇ Education for the Excluded Children indigenous, working and under-privileged children parental care and under-privileged ˇ National Policy for NFE ˇ Programme will be continued up to 2011 children ˇ Expand the opportunity for enrolment/retention, educational performances of excluded children ˇ Set up Child Development Centres to provide security and shelter to children Lead Responsibility: MoE, MoPME, MoWCA, MoCA, MoYS, MoSW, NCTB, PTIs, NGOs, 27. Equipping all children with basic ˇ 25 percent children gets education with life ˇ Education for the excluded children ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 education to develop life skills skills ˇ MoSW has taken education Programme for street and ˇ Process of promoting basic education Programme underprivileged children through its Programmes and projects for youth will be continued ˇ For all children "Formulation of Qualitative Basic Education Programme" a project for enhancing communicative English skill has been included in the ADP 2007-2008. 195 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoE, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary (DSHS), BANBEIS 28. Increasing enrolment in secondary ˇ Enrolment in secondary level to increase to ˇ Formulation of Qualitative Basic Education Programme ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 education and ensure good quality 85 %" ˇ This process will be continued. secondary education 29.Improving access, quality and equity of ˇ Improve access and equity for all students ˇ Improve the course curricula and learning needs of diversified ˇ Ensure equity and access to secondary education secondary education for hard-to-reach including hard to reach groups groups of students through creating opportunities for underserved areas groups ˇ Eliminate gender disparity in secondary ˇ Establish schools in unserved areas and groups particularly girl students education ˇ Building schools in un-served areas Lead Responsibility: MoE, MoI, MoLE, MoSW, DTE, DSHS, BITAC of MoI 30. Mainstream vocational education as a ˇ Increase access to vocational education ˇ Schools are being built on the basis of school map ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 component of secondary education Programme for special groups of children by ˇ Increase Vocational Education Programme 60 in percent 2011 ˇ Strengthen Quality of Secondary Education ˇ Reduce unemployment of graduates ˇ Enhance special teacher training for vocational ˇ Increase participation of female in vocational subjects institute Lead Responsibility: MoPME, MoE, MoSW, MoYS, NGOs 31. Ensuring qualitative non-formal ˇ Expand opportunities, increase enrolment, ˇ Vocational Education Programme ˇ Increase Non-formal Education Programme education for children and expand retention and improve non-formal ˇ BITAC is giving training to adolescent to develop their existing ˇ Programme ongoing continue up to 2011 opportunities for excluded children educational performance during FY08-FY11, skills on automobile, plastic and welding. ˇ Increase transfer of children from NFE ˇ A special initiative has been undertaken by BITAC to train the children of displaced workers of Adamji Jute Mill on different trades and other poor children who have no financial ability Lead Responsibility: MoPME, MoE, MoYS, MoSW 32. Improving quality of learning outcome ˇ Increase performance parity for Madrasha ˇ Running Non-formal Education Programme ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011, and increase market relevance of Madrasha graduates with students from elsewhere in the ˇ MoSW has incorporated non-formal education for children and ˇ Increase performance parity for Madrasha graduates education education system expand opportunities for excluded children to participate in with students from other streams ˇ Ensure acceptance of Madrasha graduates in non-formal education in its related Programme ˇ Promote adoption of primary and secondary core the job market curricula ˇ Facilitate movement of learners to and from Madrasha ˇ Improve quality of teaching and learning materials and make management of Madrasha education transparent VI. Water and Sanitation Lead Responsibility: LGD, DPHE, CBOs, NGOs at local level, local bodies of MoWCA 33. Identifying un-served, under-served, ˇ Increase access to pure drinking water to ˇ Screen tube wells for arsenic contamination and patient ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 hardship and CHT areas and ensure 100% by 2010 identification access to safe water ˇ Install alternative water supply system in affected areas, Lead Responsibility: DPHE, Private sector, Local Bodies, CBOs, NGOs, MoWCA 34. Increasing access to sanitary latrines in ˇ Increase coverage of access to sanitary ˇ Increase in sanitary latrine coverage in rural areas and urban ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 rural areas and urban slums latrines to 90 percent in rural areas and urban slums ˇ Construct sanitary latrine for children with disability, slums boys and girls 196 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoLGRDC, DPHE, MoE, MoPME, MoSW, NGOs, MoWCA 35. Inculcating habit of using sanitary ˇ Increase coverage of school sanitation ˇ Increased coverage of school sanitation Programme ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 latrines and personal hygiene practices Programme ˇ School sanitation Programme has been included in the PEDP, ˇ Separate toilet facilities for girls and boys in schools Lead Responsibility: LGD, DPHE, BUET, BAMWASP, BCSIR NIPSOM, ICDDRB, NGO, MoWCA 36. Developing alternatives to replace ˇ Increase access to safe drinking water in ˇ Installation of alternative water supply and sanitation systems for ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 arsenic contaminated tube-well arsenic affected areas to 100 percent un-served/under-served areas Lead Responsibility: Environmental and Occupational Health Cell of DGHS, MoLGRDC, NGOs, MoWCA, LGED 37. Increasing access to safe drinking ˇ Increase coverage of access to safe drinking ˇ Increased coverage of access to safe drinking water in rural areas ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 water in rural areas and urban slums water in rural areas and urban slums to 100 and urban slums percent ˇ Construction of Sanitary Latrines in Rural Areas and Urban Slums Lead Responsibility: MoEF, MoWCA, MoI, NGOs 38. Reduce environmental hazards for ˇ Implement standards for noise air and water ˇ Implement Environmental Hazard Management children pollution Programme VII. Protection for Children Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoLJPA, MoHA, MoLE, MoSW, MoI, MoYS, MoLGRDC, BBS, NGOs, children's organizations 39. Strengthen research and ˇ Analysis of trends of child abuse, exploitation ˇ Identification of Indicators of Abuse, Exploitation and Violence ˇ Identify the magnitude of violence, abuse and documentation on salient issues of child and violence against Children exploitation against children abuse, exploitation and violence ˇ Increase coverage of programme for ˇ Activities are undertaken to combat eve teasing ˇ Undertake media campaign on birth registration, vulnerable children violence against children and on child rights, ˇ Under-5 birth registration to increase to parenting and against corporeal punishment 100% ˇ Strengthen the capacity of the community to combat ˇ Ensure juvenile justice reforms violence against children ˇ Conduct in depth research on child abuse, exploitation, violence and discrimination ˇ Develop indicators and systematic and formal data collection system on child protection by age, sex, rural and urban Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoE, MoYS, MoLE, BRDB, NGOs, Children's Organizations 40. Increasing livelihood options for ˇ Appropriate curricula on technical education ˇ A project to provide technical education for these children is ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 children and developing life skills to meet to be developed being implemented current demands of the local job market Lead Responsibility: MoSW , MoWCA, MoE 41. Ensuring compulsory registration of ˇ Increase compulsory birth registration to 100 ˇ New law has been framed ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 children at birth percent by 2011 ˇ Mobilize City Corporation and Pourashava to register all birth including brothel areas Lead Responsibility: MoE, MoHA, MoLJPA, MoYS, Children's Organizations, NGOs 42. Eliminating the practice of early ˇ Reduce the percentage of early marriage by ˇ Awareness raising programme for union parishad members ˇ Programmes will be continued marriage 70 percent ˇ Awareness Programme in Imam training conducted Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoI, MoYS, Press Council, Journalists, NGOs 43. Encouraging responsible journalism ˇ Ensure responsible journalism and media ˇ Identification of Indicators of Abuse, Exploitation and Violence ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 197 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 and media reporting reporting to protect child rights against Children ˇ Conduct awareness raising programme in ˇ A project named 'Empowerment and Protection of Children' community school and work place on children with the assistance of UNICEF for the period 2006-2010 is rights and protection issues under process Lead Responsibility: MoHA, MoSW, MoYS ,MoHFW, MoWCA, MoLJPA, NGOs 44. Ensuring the best interests of children ˇ Raise awareness of law enforcing officials ˇ Strengthen Livelihood Options to Decrease Children's ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 who come into contact with the law and judicial officers Vulnerability ˇ Develop community mechanism to deal with under ˇ Develop scheme involving the courts social ˇ MoSW has taken steps to address the problem of children who age petty offenders workers and probation officers as an come in contact with law by improving the juvenile justice ˇ "Domestic Violence" must be clearly defined for alternative to custodial sentences system with the help of concerned ministries proper response ˇ Prevent arbitrary arrest and detention of children Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, PMO, MoYS, MoHA, MoLJPA MOI 45. Establishing mechanisms to prevent ˇ Improve monitoring mechanism of child ˇ Ministry of information working on awareness raising ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 and protect children from all forms of rights and child welfare ˇ Establish procedure and mechanism to monitor, abuse, exploitation and violence ˇ Review existing legislation with the aim of investigate complaints, and intervene where prohibiting all forms of punitive physical and necessary mental violence ˇ Develop a mechanism for monitoring the implementation of laws and regulation in relation to child rights ˇ Harmonize the national legislation according to CRC ˇ Provide working and street children with information on HIV/AIDS ˇ Prohibit use of children in political and other activities through coercion/enticement Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, PMO, MoSW, MoYS, MoHA 46. Building awareness of children about ˇ Increase awareness about safe migration, ˇ Reduce child sale for trafficking trafficking and abduction trafficking and abduction ˇ Develop and enforce strict employment and ˇ Eliminate sale and hiring of children for recruitment procedure begging purposes Lead Responsibility: MoI, MoSW, MoHFW, MoYS, MoWCA, MoLJPA, NGOs 47. Protecting children against torture and ˇ Reduce all forms of ill-treatment and violence ˇ Encouragement of Responsible Journalism and Media Reporting ˇ Amend laws to prohibit all forms of punitive other cruel, inhuman punishment. against children to Protect Child Rights physical and mental violence ˇ To serve the interest of children MoWCA is implementing a ˇ Develop a mechanism for monitoring television programme 'Sisimpur' implementation of laws and regulation relating to child rights ˇ Enact a separate juvenile justice system, and a children code of conduct ˇ Undertake measures to prevent and punish perpetrators ˇ Conduct nationwide awareness campaign about the negative consequences of ill treatment of children 198 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoE, MoI, MoYS MoSW, MoHA, Madrasha Education Boards, NGOs 48. Protecting children from corporal ˇ Increase awareness and protect children from ˇ Existing Juvenile Justice Reforms in its Treatment of Children ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 punishment in home, schools and other physical punishment ˇ MoSW has taken bold steps to address the problem of the ˇ Undertake campaign against all forms of corporal institutions ˇ Incorporate appropriate materials in teacher children who come in contact with law through improving the punishment at home and educational institutions training and enforce the issue juvenile justice administration system with the help of ˇ Enact law to have a separate juvenile justice system concerned ministries and development partners ˇ Enact consolidated children code ˇ Harmonize national legislation according to CRC Lead Responsibility: MoLE, MoWCA, MoYS, MoSW, BBS, NGOs 49. Taking measures to eliminate the ˇ Improve knowledge base about child labour ˇ Strengthening Monitoring of Child Rights and Child Welfare ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 worst forms of child labour as per and rights ˇ Strengthen knowledge base about the worst forms International Labour Organization ˇ Formulate child friendly code of conduct for of child labour Convention No. 182 employers ˇ Mobilize employer, police, parents and professionals to improve working conditions and reduce exploitation ˇ Introduce minimum wage policy for child labour ˇ Amend country's labour codes in line with CRC ˇ Make code mandatory for all employers of children Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoHA, MoSW, MoYS, MoLJPA, MoLE, MoI, MoLGRDC, NGOs 50. Protecting street children from all ˇ Protect street children from all forms abuse ˇ A project entitled "Prevention and Protection of Victims of ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 forms of abuse and exploitation & exploitation Human Trafficking in Bangladesh" is under way ˇ Ensure protection from. abuse and exploitation ˇ Increase number of drop in centres to ˇ Acquaint children and their families with safe migration ˇ Provide street children with vocational and provide facilities for street children ˇ Strengthen the Right of Children against ill treatment and livelihood training ˇ Develop a minimum standard for the violence ˇ Mobilise community for protection of street integration of children ˇ Prevention of all forms of illegal trafficking and abduction children from exploitation and rehabilitation with livelihood opportunity Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoHA, MoHFW, MoYS, MoSW, MoLJPA, NGOs 51.Improving the plight of children who ˇ Increase necessary support to children under ˇ Motivational work for protect children against torture and other ˇ Improve the plight of children who live under live under difficult situation difficult circumstances, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment through difficult circumstances ˇ Introduce regulation regarding minimum one foreign aided project and 130 training centres ongoing by ˇ Ensure the access of working children to learning wage and protective standard for health, DYD. opportunity such as formal and non formal facilities leisure and education for working children ˇ MoSW has been working to protect children against torture and ˇ Make guardians and employers aware of the need to ˇ Ensure child domestic workers to attend other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in give working children time off to attend school school up to grade V collaboration with other ministries and organizations ˇ Develop an effective mechanism for enforcing the law in favour of child domestic workers ˇ Ensure working children's rights to be protected from exploitation, cruel treatment, and right to education ˇ Establish Child Development Centre in big cities to provide security and shelter and learning opportunities Lead Responsibility: MoFDM, MoLGRDC, MoYS, MoHFW, NGOs 52. Protecting children affected by natural ˇ Increase coverage of Safety Nets Programme ˇ Certain innovative NGO intervention is ongoing ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 disasters for children displaced by natural disasters ˇ Identify children affected by disaster including persons with ˇ Develop a guideline for protection of mother and 199 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 disability and other less visible group children from the effects of natural disaster ˇ Allocate and distribute relief to children affected by disasters ˇ Ensure children from vulnerable and stigmatized group receive relief and support Lead Responsibility: MoSW , MoCHTA, MoWCA, MoEF, MoHFW, MoYS, NGOs 53. Safeguarding the interests of ˇ Ensure the basic needs of indigenous ˇ MoLE is processing a 'National Policy" on child labour and ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 indigenous children children indigenous children issue has been covered in the policy ˇ Develop a guideline to safeguard the needs and ˇ Promotion of development and confidence building in CHT interest of Adivasi/indigenous children ˇ Integrated community development project in CHT Lead Responsibility: MoSW, MoWCA, MoHA, MoYS, Children Organization, NGOs 54. Protect children who are orphan, ˇ Increase protection of children deprived of ˇ Protection of orphaned, abandoned and street children from ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 abandoned and are vulnerable to abuse, parental care abuse and exploitation ˇ Adopt a draft social policy for care and protection of exploitation and violence ˇ A new project in collaboration with UNICEF entitled children out of parental care "Protection of Children at Risk" is going to be undertaken Lead Responsibility: MoSW, MoWCA, MoHFW, MoLE, MoI, MoLJPA, NGOs 55. Ensuring child victims' speedy ˇ Increase 100% support services to child ˇ Necessary support services to child victims for recovery and ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 recovery and smooth social reintegration victims for recovery and social reintegration social reintegration ˇ Develop bilateral, regional and multilateral ˇ Create and strengthen community support services with agreement to prevent trafficking and ensure appropriate and quality family support services recovery and reintegration ˇ Take children's views into account for their reintegration ˇ Ensure psycho-social support, health services treatment short stay shelters, legal assistance etc to the victims Lead Responsibility: MoLJPA, MoHA, MoSW, MoWCA, MoI, Private Media, NGOs MoHA, Media, NGOs 56. Assisting the recovery and ˇ Increase assistance in the recovery and ˇ Safety Nets Programme for children displaced by natural ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 reintegration of children who were reintegration of children who come into disasters ˇ Juvenile justice system must be more clearly detained or imprisoned contact with the law ˇ Recovery and reintegration of children who come into contact separated from the rest of the justice system with the law ˇ MoSW has been working to assist in the recovery and reintegration of children (accused or victim) who are imprisoned and suffer from labelling effects 57. Prosecuting alleged perpetrators of ˇ Ensure strict enforcement of law ˇ Mobilize public support against the perpetrators ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 sexual abuse and trafficking of children Lead Responsibility: MoWCA, MoSW, LEBs, NGOs, MoHFW, MoHA, MoI, MoYS, MoSW, MoWCA, NCTF, NGOs, MoE, MoPME, NGOs 58. Improving local communities ˇ Increase awareness about incidents of abuse, ˇ Protection of children deprived of parental care ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 awareness of the incidents of abuse and exploitation and existing and potential ˇ MoSW is running 82 Sarkari Shishu Paribar and 6 Baby Homes ˇ Improve social awareness of the potential exploitation perpetrators for the orphans and abandoned children perpetrators for protecting children from all abuse and exploitation ˇ Ensure recreational and emotional services for the victims ˇ Train service providers on child protection and build capacity to provide victims with psycho social support ˇ Formulated Social Policy for care and protection of 200 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 children out of paternal care 59. Reducing health consequences of ˇ Reduce 100% negative health impacts of ˇ Strengthen information about sexuality, sexual hygiene ˇ Programme will be continued. sexual abuse and exploitation sexual abuse and exploitation through ˇ HIV/AIDS policy and strategy developed and approved ˇ Efforts will be continued .up to 2011 providing appropriate services ˇ Support services to child victims for recovery and reintegration ˇ Support sexually abused children for voluntary ˇ Ensure information about voluntary testing is in place testing and treatment of STDs, HIV, AIDS and treatment to 100 % children victims of ˇ In `One Stop Crisis Centre' girl victims' issues are addressed ˇ Ongoing and continue up to 2011 sexual abuse ˇ MoSW is working to increase the support services for the child victims in cooperation with other ministries Lead Responsibility: MoYS, MoHFW, NASP of DGHS, NGOs 60. Ensuring prevention of transmission ˇ Prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS ˇ The Department of Youth Development has been implementing ˇ Prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS through safe of STDs, HIV, AIDS in under18 age awareness programme for preventing the transmission of STD blood supply group including HIV/AIDS among children under 18 years of age ˇ Ensure social mobilization for prevention of ˇ Behaviour Change Communication Service for youth under 18 HIV/AIDS year age group to prevent HIV/AIDS ˇ Help child victims of exploitation and abuse ˇ Prevention of transmission of HIV/AIDS Lead Responsibility: MoYS, MoWCA, MoHA, MoSW, MoHFW, MoI, MoLJPA, MoFA, MoEWOE, NGOs 61. Reducing sexual abuse and trafficking ˇ Measures to combat sexual abuse, ˇ Organizing protest involving Community Groups against abuse ˇ Efforts will be continued up to 2011 of children exploitation and trafficking of children ˇ `Empowerment and Protection of Children' is on underway to ˇ Provide appropriate training to all law enforcing ˇ Increase coverage and impact of these efforts increase awareness of incidents of abuse and of existing and agencies to combat the sexual abuse, exploitation potential perpetrators and trafficking of children 62. Increasing efficiency, coverage and ˇ Better reporting for national, international ˇ MoWCA submitted CRC report ˇ Strengthen Coordination and Cooperation among welfare of children and UN agencies ˇ Preparing final evaluation report of WFCL in 2010 the ministries and NGOs working on children ˇ Strengthen inter-ministerial coordination ˇ Organize regular inter-ministerial meeting to review children development issues Lead Responsibility: MoYS, MoWCA, MoHFW, MoE, MoHA, MoLE, MoSW, MoLJPA, NCTF, NGOs, Bangladesh Shishu Academy 63. Developing indicators to monitor ˇ Ensure monitoring of indicators of ˇ Ministry of Women and Children Affairs already developed ˇ Establish an independent monitoring system and Implementation of NPA for children implementation of NPA 'National Plan of Action for children for 2005-2010 mechanism to assess the performances of the NPA ˇ Indicators for monitoring implementation of NPA developed ˇ Strengthen the coordination wing of the MoWCA ˇ Establish Directorate of Children under the MoWCA Lead Responsibility: MoYS, MoWCA, MoE, MoHA, MoHFW, MoSW, MoPME, NGOs 64. Developing database for children ˇ Develop mechanism to collect and store ˇ MoSW is providing information about STIs, HIV/AIDS ˇ Develop a Management Information System (MIS) development information ˇ MIS is underway under project Capacity Building for Monitoring ˇ Disseminate data among other stakeholder Child Rights Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 0.46 201 Policy Matrix 14: Social Inclusion and Empowerment­ (c) Indigenous People, People with Disability, and other Disadvantaged and Extreme Poor Groups Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 I. Indigenous people Lead Responsibility: MoCHTA. MoLJPA, MoL, MPO, Cabinet Division 1. Developing a national policy on ˇ Adopts National Indigenous People's Policy ˇ Form a committee with balanced representations from both indigenous people hilly areas and plain land indigenous groups to formulate a "National Indigenous People's Policy" ˇ Consider ratifying and implementing the ILO convention 169 and UN Declaration on Indigenous People's Rights 2007 ˇ Form a committee with representation from hilly areas and plain land indigenous people to disburse the fund allocated for the development of indigenous people 2. Ensuring full implementation of the ˇ Implement Peace Accord fully by 2009 ˇ Amended CHT regulation, 1900 and other ˇ Improve the socio-economic conditions of indigenous people Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord acts according to the CHT peace accord in CHT districts ˇ The Land Commission started functioning ˇ Hold election of the Hill District Council 3. Formulating land policy for indigenous ˇ Secure rights on land for indigenous people in hilly ˇ Undertaking land survey ˇ Introduce secure land tenure system for indigenous people people areas and plain land ˇ Reduce land degradation for sustainable development ˇ Reduce 80% land degradation by 2011 ˇ Form a Land Commission to settle land disputes of indigenous people in the plain land ˇ Address the land problems of plain land indigenous people ˇ Consider repealing Attia Forest (Protection) Ordinance 1982: Ordinance no. XXXIII of 1982 ˇ Take action to deal with cases filed by Forest Department against indigenous people Lead Responsibility: MoCHTA, MoFE, MoI, CHTB 4. Ensuring community involvement in ˇ 100% community involvement in conservation of ˇ Recognition of traditional knowledge of ˇ Improving functional, managerial and organizational conservation of technology technologies indigenous communities capabilities of indigenous communities ˇ Fostering local government in areas inhabited ˇ Identify indigenous technologies which can be preserved and by adopted for improving the lives of indigenous people indigenous people ˇ Promote awareness of rights and customary laws Lead Responsibility: MoCHTA Cabinet Division, Line Ministries 5. Mobilising other ministries to ensure ˇ Declare MoCHTA as lead ministry to coordinate ˇ Include need and concern of indigenous ˇ Amend the charter of duties of respective ministries indigenous community's access to basic all development activities of indigenous people people in the routine activities of officials of ˇ Incorporate indigenous including plain land indigenous services relevant ministries people's needs, interest, and priorities in policies of relevant ministries on human and other resources in an equitable manner. Lead Responsibility: MoCHTA, MoPME, MoE, MoCA 6. Preserving the identity of life and culture ˇ Take action to preserve the language by 2009 ˇ Increase number of scholarship/ stipend ˇ Formulate national language policy to safeguard the indigenous and the languages of indigenous communities ˇ Ensure 75% of indigenous student in HSC and from block allocation of PMO and CHTDC languages and culture higher education obtains stipend for certain period fund ˇ Form a committee with linguistic expert to safeguard the ˇ Provide learning materials free of cost to languages of indigenous communities indigenous students ˇ Increase number of stipends for male and female students of indigenous communities including the plain land communities 202 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoCHTA. MoF MoFDM 7. Ensure food assistance to cope with food ˇ Provide food assistance to the victims of damage ˇ Undertake awareness of mutual cooperation ˇ Ensure safety net and food security programme for CHTs, and insecurity of Jhum crops to fight against natural calamities plain land indigenous communities ˇ Increase food support during food deficit ˇ Arrange institutional credit at low rate of interest Lead Responsibility: MoCHTA, MoPEMR, MoLGRDC 8. Ensuring electricity supply and ˇ Cover 50% people in upazila in CHTD ˇ "Chittagong Hill Tracts Electrification ˇ Expand national power grid and distribution system in telecommunication network ˇ Cover all municipalities and upazila towns by Project"- Third Phase different upazilas telecommunication ˇ Chittagong Hill Tracts Electrification ˇ Expand solar electric supply 9. Ensuring sanitation and water supply ˇ Provide safe water to at least 70% people in Project"- Kaptai and Belaichari ˇ Establish mobile phone network in the municipal areas in hill different CHT districts and plain land indigenous tracts districts areas ˇ Set up digital telephone exchange at the upazila towns ˇ Provide safe water and hygienic sanitation facilities Lead Responsibility: MoCHTA MoFE, MoI, CHTB, MoLE 10. Ensuring indigenous people's economic ˇ Increase their participation in non-farm activities ˇ Create employment opportunities for hilly and plain land activities ˇ Develop small and cottage industries indigenous people ˇ Develop poultry and livestock rearing and small ˇ Expand micro­credit activities trade ˇ Expand appropriate technology for promotion of crop and ˇ Facilitate access of agriculture and other ethnic other agricultural produce products of indigenous people to national and ˇ Develop communication facilities international market ˇ Create favourable environment for private sector to invest in food/fruit processing industry ˇ Involve private sectors in tourism and other income generating activities ˇ Develop rural roads and hat-bazars in indigenous areas ˇ Consider quota system for hilly and plain land indigenous people for government jobs II. People with Disability Lead Responsibility: MoSW, MoPME, MoE, MOI 11. Ensuring access to normal education for ˇ Increase enrolment of mentally retarded children ˇ Develop right based approach for children ˇ Expand existing educational institutes for children with students with disability in school to 10% in primary level and 6% in with disability disability (both male and female) to increase coverage 12. Ensuring special education to hearing secondary level ˇ Conduct social mobilization about rights of ˇ Expand access of learners with disability to mainstream impaired and mentally retarded students ˇ Ensure 3% participation in HSC and university children with disability to have access to schools level education special education/ education, training, ˇ Expand NCSE for training teachers, social workers and health ˇ Provision for stipend at primary, secondary, workers higher secondary and university levels ˇ Increase number of stipends and hostel facilities for students with disability ( both male and female) in higher education 203 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoSW. MoHFW, MoL GRDC 13. Ensuring adequate medical services and ˇ Reduce prevention of disability ˇ Strengthen early detection of symptoms of ˇ Expand EPI programme and distribution of vitamin A capsule counselling for both boys and girls with ˇ Reduce morbidity among persons disability ˇ Strengthen essential service package disabilities ˇ Increase no of beds and equipment in hospitals ˇ Test blood of couple before marriage to ˇ Strengthen integrated management of childhood illness for persons with disability avoid the birth of children with disability ˇ Provide assistive devices and equipment at the health centre Lead Responsibility: MoSW, MoLE 14. Ensuring all vocational training institutes ˇ Involve persons with disability in income ˇ Providing safe & secure working environment ˇ Ensure proper housing and credit facilities of other ministries to admit male and female generating activities ˇ Provide more housing and childcare facilities ˇ Ensure marketable skill and implementation of quota for with disability ˇ Reduce poverty among persons with disability for working women with disability employment in public sector 15. Ensuring implementation of ˇ Provision for micro credit facility for acid ˇ Establish additional training centre at regional/district levels employment quota in public sector burnt and physically handicapped for skill training ˇ ERCPH in Tongi and RPH in Bagerhat for ˇ Provide modern and updated vocational training in ERCPH, employment and rehabilitation facilities RPH, and institutes of other ministries ˇ Introduce job quota for persons with disability in NGOs and private sector Lead Responsibility: MoSW, MoC, MoHPW 16. Ensuring persons with disabilities ˇ Access to at least 50% public and housing ˇ Develop the potentiality and capability of ˇ Ensure provision of building ramps in public buildings special accessibility to all physical facilities complex persons with disability through their ticket counters and seats and toilet facilities in buses, 17. Ensuring persons with disabilities ˇ 100% special ticket counter, seat toilet facilities in participation waterways, rail stations and cinema halls participation in sports and cultural activities water ways, bus stations and cinema hall ˇ Ensure appropriate facilities i.e. play ground, sports materials ˇ Ensure participation of 20% children with etc. for recreation disability in sports and cultural functions ˇ Make sign language mandatory for television programme ˇ Ensure access of persons with disability to information Lead Responsibility: MoSW, MoHFW, MoPME 18. Providing door step service to persons ˇ Provide disability related services to all people ˇ Ensure that rural areas alleviate the suffering ˇ Detection and timely medical intervention with disabilities according to their needs with disabilities in the community of rural people with disability through ˇ Fitment of artificial aids and appliances friendly environment in own community ˇ Educational services in integrated schools ˇ Provide vocational training and micro credit ˇ Create awareness in the community of peoples with disabilities especially women's survival, protection and rights Lead Responsibility: MoSW. MoL&JPA, Cabinet Division 19. Amending the disability Act in ˇ Ensure disability Act as a reflection of right based ˇ Prepare the draft Act by panel of experts- ˇ Clarify definitions of disability and specify the diverse needs accordance with the UN Convention approach jurist, educators, sociologists psychologists, and rights of people with disability ˇ Ensure the Act to incorporate accountability of psychiatrists, doctor and the like ˇ Amend allocation of business of different ministries government employees incorporating the disability issues to address the disability by them Lead Responsibility: MoSW, MoC, MoHFW 20. Strengthening coordination and ˇ Develop awareness of the responsibility of ˇ Ensure incorporation of needs and priorities ˇ Strengthen National Coordination Committee monitoring mechanism to review the integrating disability issues at all levels of persons with disability in the policy of the ˇ Provide proper logistics and manpower progress ˇ Ensure the effectiveness of focal point in different respective ministry ˇ Amend allocation of business of concerned ministries to ministries ˇ Commitment and direct involvement of include disability issues 204 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 different ministries ˇ Amend the charter of duties of department to address disability issues Lead Responsibility: MoSW, BBS 21. Developing a data base for persons with ˇ Undertake and complete survey by 2010 ˇ Prepare TPP for the survey ˇ Constitute a committee with professionals having expertise in disabilities socio­economic survey ˇ Undertake survey to have reliable data for planning III. Other Disadvantaged and Extreme Poor Group Lead Responsibility: MoSW. MoLGRDC, NGOs 22. Ensure access to basic services of the ˇ Provide 60% disadvantaged and extreme poor ˇ Rural social services are being provided ˇ Constitute coordination committees at the national and disadvantaged group group access to basic social services ˇ Rural development programmes grassroots levels to ensure that disadvantaged groups benefit ˇ Char development project and other national from development activities programmes ˇ Provide skill development training Lead Responsibility: MoSW, MoHFW, MoL 23. Ensuring housing especially for tea ˇ Provide Bede khas land ˇ Sweepers live in temporary shed ˇ Make extensive survey and make a need assessment of housing garden workers, sweepers, and homeless ˇ Provide land to sweeper and tea garden workers in ˇ Tea garden workers live nearby tea garden ˇ Ensure housing for all disadvantaged and extreme poor people due to river erosion their working place i.e. in municipality/ ˇ Some Bede live in their constructed houses including Bede, sweeper, teagarden worker 24. Ensuring proper rehabilitation of sex corporation and tea garden respectively, ˇ Empower and vocationally train sex-workers and their ˇ Department of social services is workers ˇ Rehabilitate and provide alternative job option to children implementing a project on sex-workers 25,000 sex-workers ˇ Socialize the children who came in contact with crime and facilitate them to reintegrate with family and society ˇ Allocate khas land to victims of river erosion Lead Responsibility: MoSW, MoF, MoLGRDC, NGOs 25. Provide occupational group with micro- ˇ Bring 80% disadvantaged and extreme poor ˇ Government and NGOs are implementing ˇ Facilitate occupational mobility credit and skill training group under the purview of micro credit and skill micro credit and skill training programmes ˇ Ensure improvement of their occupational situation with training programme modern equipment ˇ Provide credit at low rate of interest and skill training Lead Responsibility: MoSW, BBS 26. Undertaking a national survey on ˇ Complete a survey ˇ Prepare TPP for the survey for undertaking ˇ Constitute a committee with professionals having expertise in disadvantaged and extreme poor groups the survey socio ­economic survey ˇ Undertake survey to have reliable data for planning Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 12.65 205 Policy Matrix 15: Promoting Good Governance Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoLJPA, MoI, BTV, Radio 1. Making parliamentary ˇ Develop capacity for policy formulation ˇ "Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy" project ongoing ˇ Make all MPs aware of policies and their responsibilities with respect to process effective and improved legislation ˇ Bangladesh Institute of Parliamentary Studies established to their implementation improve the efficacy of Parliamentary business ˇ Make all MPs aware about the constitution of the country and ˇ Parliament Secretariat Act, 1994 passed government's commitment to uphold global development agendas ˇ Inter-ministerial committee is working on amendment of ˇ Sensitize the MPs about poverty reduction and women's advancement Rules of procedure issues ˇ Local area network (LAN) established ˇ Ensure freedom of conscience by making Rules of Procedures more effective ˇ Ensure elimination of culture of boycott, absenteeism and delayed attendance in sessions of the parliament ˇ Introduce code of conduct and code of ethics for MPs to ensure respect and tolerance among parliamentarians ˇ Establish a resource centre in the parliament with sufficient human resources so that MPs can obtain national and international information as per need ˇ Sensitize MPs in `Gender Budgeting' ˇ Improve oversight function ˇ Replacement of ministers as chairman from the Parliamentary ˇ Make parliamentary parties more active and effective in policy formulation Committees by the MPs ˇ Making parliamentary parties more active and effective in formulation of ˇ Permanent staffs recruited for the committees laws ˇ Popularise effective practicing of shadow government ˇ Ensure that some Standing Committees and Public Accounts Committees may be chaired by MPs from opposition ˇ Strengthen Parliamentary Standing Committees ˇ Implement the recommendations/decisions made by oversight committees ˇ Increasing access to media on standing committee reports/ activities ˇ Ensure that MPs don't get involved or intervene in the administration of their constituencies ˇ Ensure that standing Committees can enforce the decisions taken by them ˇ Ensure participation in Parliamentary Standing Committee ˇ Recruit 50% women in the parliamentary staff ˇ Discussion of Annual Audit Report of C&AG by the MPs and reporting on recovery ˇ Ensure right to information ˇ `Right to Information Act' is already in place. ˇ Establish legal framework of Right to Information ˇ Ensure dissemination of information on government's policies, rules and regulations, peoples rights and obligations to the grassroots level ˇ Make provision for "town-hall" kind of open forum meeting where public representative will face questions of the public ˇ Introduce the system of public hearing for undertaking major projects and programmes ˇ Develop a constituency-based interface between MPs and citizens in order to develop a mechanism for accountability and give women priority in this 206 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 body ˇ Make public media more independent and use it to make people aware of government's policy and activities ˇ More authority of BTV and Radio in broadcasting substantive information Lead Responsibility: MoE Associate Responsibility: Cabinet Division, PMO, Finance Division, PATC, APD and all other ministries controlling cadres 2. Improving public ˇ Enhance human resource development ˇ A new comprehensive career plan is under consideration ˇ Introduce merit based recruitment process service management ˇ Introduce quota for women, persons from lagging regions, indigenous people for next ten years ˇ Provide need based on-the-job training and scope for professional development ˇ Ensure development of ethical sense among the public officials ˇ Recruit top talents in the service and fast track them in the service ˇ Include gender dimension in job description ˇ Update and modernize personnel policies and management systems ˇ Ensure effective service delivery by public officials ˇ Strengthen training of the government officials to improve public service delivery to meet the demands of the citizens ˇ Institutional development ˇ Citizen's charter introduced ˇ Encourage proactive, responsive and trust worthy role of the officers ˇ New system of performance appraisal is under active ˇ Introduce safeguard against political influences on government officials consideration ˇ Undertake target oriented activities and performance based evaluation ˇ Ensure that women sensitive citizen's charters are introduced and effectively implemented ˇ Ensure women representation in high-level government decision making forum ˇ Revamp governance of Public Service Commission ˇ Incorporate ICT/ e-governance at all levels ˇ Procedural change ˇ Clustering of ministries and divisions is underway ˇ Conventional ministerial responsibility would be reformulated making politicians responsible for `policy' decisions and civil servants responsible for clearly defined `operational' ones ˇ Ensure timely and friendly service delivery in fair and transparent manner ˇ Monitor implementation of "Citizen's Charter" ˇ Ensure that time-bound decision making system is introduced and government procedures are streamlined and simplified ˇ Create healthy and enabling working ˇ Introduce attractive compensation package environment ˇ Introduce Performance award, Quality award, Innovation award, etc. ˇ Introduce code of conduct addressing harassments including sexual harassments and include them in service rules Lead Responsibility: MoLJPA Associate Responsibility: MoSICT, MoE, FD 3. Improving legal and ˇ Simplify, improve and modernize laws ˇ Lower criminal judiciary separated from the executive ˇ Ensure quick and low cost legal access to justice judicial system ˇ Establishment of National Human Rights ˇ New appointments of judicial officers is underway ˇ Incorporate the ICT in legal process and Case Management and Court Commission ˇ Training for the Judges is in progress Administration (CMCA) automation ˇ Legal Aid mechanism reviewed and enhanced to increase ˇ Appoint a court Ombudsman to ensure transparency and accountability in effectiveness the process of justice and reduction of time and cost in case disposal 207 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism is introduced ˇ Support Judicial Service Commission and its Secretariat by introducing a research cell for assessing performance, posting, promotion, and transfer of judges ˇ Ensure that all judges reveal their assets and the assets/properties of their family members periodically ˇ Ensure open law-making process including consultation with people ˇ Strengthen the law drafting capacity ˇ Include CSOs and women's groups in implementing open law- making process ˇ Give proper consideration to gender equality issues in law revision ˇ Reduce backlog of cases by 25 percent to ˇ Law revision is under process ˇ Simplify procedural laws ensure access to justice ˇ Establishment of booths for public information in the ˇ Encourage and strengthen alternate dispute resolution (ADR) Supreme Court premises is in progress ˇ Expand access to law through e-publication and real time updating of cases ˇ Improve the physical facilities of the court ˇ Develop website for public information and establish front/help desk to supply desired information to the clients ˇ Take measures in accessing legal aid fund by women and poor ˇ Provide training to judges on CEDAW and NWDP 2008 Lead Responsibility: MoHA Associate Responsibility: MoLJPA, MoWCA, NGOs and Civil Society Organisations 4. Changing role of law ˇ Impartial application of law ˇ New Police Act is underway ˇ Establish right to information enforcing agencies ˇ Citizen Charter (police) has been launched ˇ Establish mechanism for civil society scrutiny ˇ Establish an integrated and dedicated investigation cell under Attorney General ˇ Set up an Independent Police Complaints Authority with a published National Policy Plan ˇ Formulate and implement gender policy for the police ˇ Undertake rigorous human resource management and intensive training of the police force ˇ Ensure transparency in police investigation ˇ Amend old laws and introduce laws to address new situation ˇ Ensure that police are not used to serve partisan purpose ˇ Ensure post mortem report within 24 hours ˇ Introduce nationwide network of criminal case information ˇ Include gender training as part of police training and retraining ˇ Proper investigation procedure to be in ˇ Upgrade skills and knowledge of investigators place ˇ Ensure development of ethical values among the law enforcers ˇ Establish sophisticated laboratory for DNA test in greater districts HQs ˇ Introduce gender dimension in all police investigations ˇ Include women in the team of investigators and provide training to develop gender sensitivity Lead Responsibility: LGD, RDCD Associate Responsibility: Cabinet Division, FD, MoE, NGOs and Civil Society Organisations 5. Strengthening local ˇ Devolution of power and transfer of ˇ Fund transfer and budgeting process reformed ˇ Introduce clear mandate of job responsibility including job description of governments resources, capacity building for local ˇ Project planning and implementation in some Union the women members 208 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 government representatives Parishads under a Project ˇ Develop capacity and incentive for local resource mobilization ˇ 25% of Union Parishad complex built and another 30% ˇ Ensure recognition for commendable works at the local level under process ˇ Forge partnership with NGOs/CBOs ˇ Training for local government representative and staff on ˇ Provide poverty sensitization through leadership and gender training to the capacity development and resource mobilization is ongoing local government representatives under LGS Project ˇ Delegate more authority to the local government bodies to solve their own ˇ Training on leadership development and attitudinal change is problems in progress ˇ Provide more training to the local government bodies in terms of building ˇ Partnership building with NGOs and CBOs their capacity in formulating plans and budgeting ˇ Initiatives for providing training to elected upazila officials ˇ Finding avenues for enhancing cooperation and coordination between the and policy input for strengthening upazila parishad under UPZ and local MPs and also with union parishad , pourashava and zila upazila strengthening project have undertaken parishad ˇ Finding mechanism for ensuring people's participation in local development planning and monitoring ˇ Effective local government ˇ Establishment of Local Government Commission is ˇ Uniform application of rules and procedures underway ˇ Introduce gradually e-governance at local government level ˇ Revision and updating of the Laws and Acts are under ˇ Allow flexibility and operational independence to LGIs to address the local process needs ˇ Unified legislation for LGIs ˇ Promote local level needs assessments and initiatives ˇ Supply of the ICT material and training in progress ˇ Allow the local government bodies to directly deal with the national ˇ Encouraging local level need based training investors and donors ˇ Establish separate career development plans for the officials and employees directly employed by the local government ˇ Activate the standing committees and create scope for women members to take part in the decision making process of the local government institutions ˇ Promote local needs and initiatives considering women's advancement and rights perspective ˇ Introduce gender sensitive budgeting and planning at the local level ˇ Include women and different minority groups in developing LG's development programmes ˇ Transparency and oversight ˇ Citizens' charter introduced ˇ Ensure full access to service delivery information to the users ˇ Access to information enhanced ˇ Introduce performance/financial auditing for all LGIs ˇ Performance and financial auditing introduced ˇ Evaluate overall performance by Local Government Commission ˇ Website for Local Government Division established ˇ Provide technical and consultancy support by nation building departments ˇ Introduce local level planning and budgeting and ensure budget implementation ˇ Introduce a well-defined gender-sensitive code of conducts for the local government officials ˇ Introduce gender and social-audit for local government institutions Lead Responsibility: Cabinet Division Associate Responsibility: MoLJPA, MoSICT and PMO. 6. Promoting e- ˇ e- Access to all the services ˇ Provision for ICT materials for all local government ˇ Introduce a legal framework for e- Governance Governance in the ˇ System integration institutions ˇ Introduce and gradually promote e-governance in all walks of life 209 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 government ˇ ICT policy is in place ˇ Ensure public/private partnership and outsourcing ˇ Establish a nation-wide Third Generation wireless broad-band network to ensure a High-Speed Down Link Packet Access (HSDPA) ˇ Simplify policy issues and publicise online for consultations ˇ Initiate a strategy to get information online ˇ Involve women in ICT/e-governance Lead Responsibility: Anti Corruption Commission Associate Responsibility: MoHA and MoLJPA 7. Combating Corruption ˇ Establish a corruption free society ˇ Legal actions ongoing ˇ Identify and eliminate legal and procedural loopholes effectively ˇ Anti-corruption committee in all districts formed ˇ Suppress corruption through enforcement of the regulatory framework ˇ Awareness campaign ongoing ˇ Promote awareness building and undertake advocacy ˇ Introduce zero tolerance to corruption ˇ Form citizens groups and ensure women's participation in the anti- corruption committees at grassroots level ˇ Strengthening anti-corruption drive Lead Responsibility: MoLJPA Associate Responsibility: MoHA, MoWCA, NGOs and CSOs 8. Establishing Human ˇ Ensure protection of human rights ˇ Universal Declaration of Human Right ratified ˇ Ensure implementation of law against anti-trafficking of human rights ˇ Prevention of extra ­ judicial killings ˇ Government has promulgated `National Human Rights ˇ Establish Human Rights Commission Commission' ordinance ˇ Establish the office of Ombudsperson ˇ Establish child right commission ˇ Undertake public awareness campaign on women's legal rights ˇ Ensure access to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and/or legal aid for domestic violence cases and other forms of human rights violation ˇ Introduce zero tolerance to VAW and violation of human rights ˇ Recognize domestic violence as a punishable crime Access to information and awareness building at the grassroots level Lead Responsibility: Ministry of Information, other relevant ministries, NGOs, Media, Film Makers 9. Ensuring correct ˇ Disseminate information to people ˇ Provided funds to make good quality films ˇ Make documentary films on various social and development issues in information reaches people ˇ Dispel mis-information, prejudicial ˇ Community based radio broadcasting has been approved cooperation with stakeholders and view them in the villages, schools, believes particularly in the rural areas and colleges, clubs etc. among the poor ˇ Ensure that radio and televisions make awareness building programmes ˇ Building greater awareness among people which are innovative, creative, attractive, educational and also of physiological disorders entertainment oriented ˇ Introduce a new terrestrial information TV channel to improve peoples awareness of their rights and obligations 10. Empowering people by ˇ Increase awareness among people of ˇ Undertake nation wide road-shows, area-based information fair on various giving them information their rights, obligations and socially development issues and responsible behaviour ˇ Introduce citizens' charters in every government office encouraging socially ˇ Encourage NGOs to strengthen their roles in a cohesive manner in responsible behaviour disseminating information at the grassroots level Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 300.95 210 Policy Matrix 16: Utility Services Development including Water, Sanitation and Urban Services Strategic goal(s) Key targets Action taken/Underway PRSP policy agenda (FY09-FY11) 1 2 3 4 I. Water Supply and Sanitation Lead Responsibility: LGD, DoPE, city corporations and municipalities, WASAs Associate Responsibility: MoLGRDC, MoFDM, MoPME, MoEF, DPHE, LGIs, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, CAB 1. Ensuring safe water ˇ Ensure access to safe water for all ˇ Govt. declared to achieve water for all by 2011 ˇ Expand and improve safe water supply facilities in urban and rural areas facilities for all ˇ Reduce water borne morbidity & ˇ National Policy for Arsenic Mitigation formulated ˇ Establish laboratory network for water quality monitoring & surveillance mortality ˇ Plan for Arsenic Mitigation adopted programme ˇ Reduce proportion of population to ˇ Sector Development Framework for Water Supply and Sanitation ˇ Intensify awareness programme on hygiene practices at the grassroots level arsenic contamination (WSS) plan adopted ˇ Strengthen capacities of LGIs and other stakeholders in WSS sector ˇ Ensure safe water supply in 80% of ˇ Arsenic-testing kits introduced ˇ Develop alternative technological options to replace arsenic contaminated the slum areas ˇ Installation of safe water supply systems for un-served/ under- tube wells ˇ Identify un-/under-served and served areas started ˇ Continue ongoing activities hardship areas to ensure access to safe ˇ Developed partnership with NGOs, PVOs, CSOs etc. water ˇ Installation of Deep Tube Wells and Construction of water ˇ Provide arsenic free water supply in reservoirs for Rain Water Harvesting 10,000 villages ˇ Storage of water in reserved ponds ˇ Creating awareness of people on arsenic issues ˇ Water supply through pipelines is being provided 2. Providing hygienic ˇ Ensure access to sanitation for all ˇ Govt. declared to achieve sanitation facilities for all by 2010 ˇ Ongoing and Continue up to 2011 sanitation facilities ˇ Identify unserved/under-served and ˇ Construction of sanitary latrines in rural areas and urban slums ˇ Ensure women's hygienic sanitation facilities in public spaces hardship areas to ensure access to started ˇ Increase coverage of school sanitation programme hygienic sanitation ˇ Installation of sanitary latrines in 32,400 schools started ˇ Expand and improve sanitation facilities in urban and rural areas ˇ Ensure access to sanitary community ˇ Awareness building among the students on hygiene latrines in village ˇ Promoting habit of using sanitary latrines & personal hygiene ˇ Ensure sanitation facilities in 80% ˇ Installation of sanitary latrines in slum areas slum areas bazar, mosques and schools Lead Responsibility: MoLGRDC, MoFDM, MoPME, MoE, DPHE, LGED, WASAs, LGIs, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, CAB 3. Strengthening disaster ˇ Strengthen national disaster ˇ Disaster Management and mitigation system in place ˇ Ensure knowledge management on disaster risk reduction (acquiring , management and risk management ˇ Formed a Committee and redrafted the Allocation of Business in sharing and applying) reduction capacity relation to MoFDM Mandates ˇ Establish strong local, regional and national networks among stakeholders ˇ Formed a Committee for revising the Standing Orders on ˇ Establish a Disaster Management Cell Disaster Management ˇ Initiate activities to establish the Disaster Management Information ˇ Flood forecasting and warning and cyclone warning systems in Centre (DMIC) place ˇ Update disaster management booklet of DPHE ˇ Agro-meteorological cell established ˇ Adoption of NAPA for climate change is in process ˇ Development of drought prediction model initiated ˇ Launched the MoFDM Website II. Environmental improvement for Water & Sanitation Lead Responsibility: MoLGRDC, DPHE, City Corporations, LGED, WASAs, LGIs, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, CAB 4. Improving solid waste ˇ Introduce efficient collection and ˇ DCC has prepared a Master Plan for sustainable solid waste ˇ Develop framework and build capacity to handle trans-boundary management system transportation of municipal waste to management hazardous waste under Basel Convention the disposal site ˇ A modern land fill site developed & another is underway ˇ Continue with the initiatives and interventions taken during 2005-2007 211 Strategic goal(s) Key targets Action taken/Underway PRSP policy agenda (FY09-FY11) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Segregate at source and introduce safe ˇ Community based urban solid waste management by Waste ˇ Construct modern land fill sites as per requirement in all cities & towns disposal of hazardous waste Concern under SEMP is in progress ˇ Improve solid waste disposal method ˇ Promoting alternative environment friendly shopping bags in all towns ˇ Pilots are ongoing in secondary towns on solid waste management 5.Improving living ˇ Reduce drainage congestions in cities ˇ Secondary towns improvement project ongoing ˇ Continue with the initiatives and interventions taken during 2005-2007 environment in the slums ˇ Reduce pollution ˇ Other metropolitan city investments proposed and ongoing ˇ Ensure a regulatory framework for treating industrial pollution 6. Improving open water ˇ Reduce pollution load in water ˇ Installation of Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) in polluting ˇ Establish water quality monitoring & surveillance programme and establish quality ecosystem industry has been made mandatory and many enterprises have laboratory network ˇ Enact and enforce laws to control installed ETP ˇ Take appropriate measures for people-centred pollution-free rivers emissions of toxic matter into water through awareness raising and voluntary labour mobilization III. Road Transportation and Communication Lead Responsibility: MoC, BRTC 7. Improving quality of ˇ Activate DTCB for City transportation ˇ Manpower & organisational set up approved ˇ Develop DTCB as per approved set up city transportation improvement ˇ Improvement of traffic regulation being undertaken ˇ Undertake action programme as per STP ˇ Ensure improved road transportation ˇ Road sign and signal manual is introduced ˇ Further improve road & traffic regulation in the city to reduce travel time & road safety ˇ Road safety addressed in all projects ˇ Construct 18 overload control station ˇ Developed computerized accident database ˇ Provide input/support to National Road Safety Council IV. Bangladesh Railway (BR) Lead Responsibility: MoC, BR, MoC, PSOs 8. Developing railways as ˇ Improve customer service & ˇ Computerized seat reservation and ticketing system ˇ Continue and identify ways to increase association of private sector and mass transport operational efficiency ˇ Commercial activities of mail, express and local train have been outsourcing ˇ Make railway responsive to market privatized ˇ Continue with actions already taken needs and sound business practices ˇ On board services of 16 intercity trains privatized ˇ Extra capacity BR's fibre optic telecom system leased out ˇ Repairing and cleaning of locomotives and passenger carriages and conversion of non-AC into AC coaches on BOT basis are underway V. Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) Lead Responsibility: MoC, BRTC 9. Modernising road ˇ Improve passenger services ˇ Repaired & rehabilitated double and single Decker buses ˇ Procure 600 Double Decker buses transport service & ˇ Promote safe & improved driving, ˇ Procured new bus & truck fleet ˇ Procure 100 CNG Single Decker buses enhance services to maintenance, repair, operation and ˇ Procurement of single Decker and double Decker CNG buses is ˇ Procure 500 trucks people, especially the management of vehicles under process ˇ Open new bus depots/units in different districts poor and persons with ˇ 6 Driving Training Institutes setup and 6 more Driving Training ˇ Increase inspection and monitoring of activities at all levels disability Institutes are underway ˇ Ensure expansion of private sector participation VI. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Lead Responsibility: MoC, BRTA 10. Ensuring road safety ˇ Ensure discipline in road ˇ Road permits issued depending on road condition ˇ Set up weigh bridge in all important positions & better service in road transportation ˇ Fixing uniform rates for different types of transport ˇ Ensure that no transport ply with weight and speed beyond legal transportation ˇ Implementing speed and weight limits limit ˇ Ordinance & rules are under modification ˇ Fix distance at the time of issuing the route permit 212 Strategic goal(s) Key targets Action taken/Underway PRSP policy agenda (FY09-FY11) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Set up weighing machines at least in 7 important positions ˇ Ensure environment friendly transport ˇ 2- stroke three wheelers phased out from Dhaka metropolitan ˇ Ban 2-stroke three wheelers all over the country in Bangladesh area ˇ Ban buses older than 20 years and trucks older than 25 years in Dhaka ˇ Increasingly introducing CNG/Euro engine metropolitan area ˇ Bring discipline in issuing driving ˇ Laminated driving license & registration certificates are ˇ Introduce retro-reflective registration plate with hologram license and registration certificates introduced ˇ Embody security mark in the registration certificates ˇ Introduce automation and share ˇ A central server set up &WAN established partially in Dhaka ˇ Bring Zonal offices under WAN information with all concerned south and Dhaka north ˇ Extend network to related offices - police, banks/post offices etc. ˇ LAN has been completed at HQ ˇ Introduce auto-input output activities of all works in auto backup ˇ Preserve all information in computer ˇ Old data has already been taken into the database ˇ Complete auto back-up system of data in zonal and circle offices database ˇ Developing auto back-up system in circle & zonal offices ˇ Update entry of all data relating to activities of BRTA ˇ Introduce road safety education and ˇ Trained drivers and conductors of 4 old districts ˇ Cover all old districts within the period training ˇ Made short films for awareness building on road safety ˇ Continue with awareness building of children & pedestrians VII. Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited Lead Responsibility: MoCAT, Biman Bangladesh 11. Increasing scale of ˇ Modernize Biman's fleet ˇ Addition of aircraft on wet and dry lease is under process ˇ Increase capacity through leasing of aircraft operation ˇ Improve financial performance ˇ Cost cutting measures have been implemented ˇ Improve passenger services ˇ Enhance air cargo capacity for ˇ Biman converted into a Public Limited Company ˇ Provide equity for acquisition of new aircraft promoting export ˇ More frequent Gulf & Middle-East flights are being operated ˇ Protect Biman's traffic and handling rights as a national carrier ˇ Concentrate operation in the Gulf and Middle-East region ˇ Allow carrying perishable export cargo by foreign carriers VIII. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Lead Responsibility: MoS, BIWTC, Private sector MoS, BIWTC, PSOs 12. Enhancing quality of ˇ Promote water transportation in ˇ Rehabilitation of 2 Coastal Passenger Vessels for BIWTC is ˇ Procure Water Taxi for operation in the circular water route Water Transport the inland and coastal water ways being carried out ˇ Procure container vessel for cargo transportation ˇ Provide safe and cheaper ˇ Rehabilitation of 6 Ro-Ro Ferry, 2 K-type Ferry, 6 Pontoons and ˇ Introduce Ro-Ro ferry services in Mawa sector transportation for the mass people modification of Passenger Steamer M.V. Sonargaon are on going ˇ Construct 4 Sea-Trucks for carrying passengers in the coastal belt and in including woman ˇ Construction/Procurement of 2 K-type ferries for Mawa ferry the risky inland water routes ˇ Emphasize efficient passenger service ghat ˇ Construct/Procure 1 passenger vessel of capacity 500 suitable for in long distance inland water routes ˇ Construction/Procurement of 2 Ro-Ro ferries and 2 Ro-Ro operation in all seasons ˇ Provide uninterrupted ferry services Pontoon in Mawa ferry sector ˇ Construct/Procure 4 self propelled cellular container vessels of 100 TEU ˇ Construction of steel jetty at Sandwip is underway ˇ Construct/Procure 2 Coastal Ferries and 2 Pontoons with Stable Ramp ˇ Construction/Acquisition of 2 Container Vessels is under for operation in Bhola-Laxmipur Ferry route approval ˇ Install Hi-Tech Navigation System at Paturia and Mawa Ferry Route and 4 ˇ Ensuring efficient ferry services in Aricha and Mawa Ferry ships for uninterrupted operation ˇ Construct/Procure 2 Shallow Draft Oil Tankers ˇ Procure/install modern equipments/facilities for increasing the efficiency of Dockyards ˇ Rehabilitate 4 medium type ferries ˇ Construct/Procure a Salvage tug of capacity 2000 H.P. 13. Expanding Water ˇ Establish Bhola-Barisal and Laxmipur- ˇ Opening new ferry services at Laxmipur-Bhola and Bhola-Barisal ˇ Continue with the ongoing actions Transport services Bhola ferry services ferry route 213 Strategic goal(s) Key targets Action taken/Underway PRSP policy agenda (FY09-FY11) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Promote transportation facilities in the ˇ Opening Sea-truck services as and where necessary remote areas ˇ Open Chittagong-Cox's Bazar tourist services ˇ Open Dhaka-Bhola passenger services ˇ Open avenues for private sector ˇ Organizational reforms and sound business practice in effect ˇ Make the organization more responsive participation ˇ Charter out cargo fleet and coastal passenger routes ˇ Emphasize routine periodic ˇ Identify the vessel on priority basis & prepare necessary schedule ˇ Introduce modern technology and machineries in existing dockyards maintenance of BIWTC's fleet ˇ Ensure environment protection and ˇ Infrastructures damaged by `SIDR' are being rehabilitated. ˇ Continue with the actions disaster risk reduction ˇ Take preventive measures for future disaster risk reduction ˇ Ensure cost reduction ˇ Make CNG conversion of main engines of major ferries ˇ Implement a project to ensure cost reduction ˇ Introduce waterways in and around ˇ Construction of cargo and passenger facilities ˇ Undertake action following the approval of the project Dhaka city Lead Responsibility: Energy Division, Petroleum & Mineral Resources Division Associate Responsibility: DESA, DESCO, West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDC), REB 14. Ensuring reliable ˇ Define service standard ˇ Reduced interruption to 6 hrs/yr/consumer ˇ All distribution companies to work to achieve these targets power supply ˇ Improve financial performance ˇ Reduced frequency of interruption to 10 hrs/ yr/ feeder ˇ Improve load management to distribute peak demand on 24 hrs. ˇ Reduce power interruption ˇ Reduced each interruption to not more than 1 hr ˇ Monitor power distribution feeder wise ˇ Reduce System Loss to 11% ˇ Ensuring feeder wise functioning in all companies ˇ Establish feeders as strategic business units (cost centres) ˇ Maintain bill collection ratio at 98% ˇ Installing one stop service in all divisions ˇ Establish one stop service centres ˇ Improve C.I. ratio to 87% ˇ Operation & Maintenance of the feeder applying TQM ˇ Establish feeder wise maintenance and service centres ˇ Introducing E-governance and MIS in all companies ˇ Operationalise prepaid metering IX. Tourism Development Lead Responsibility: MoCAT Associate Responsibility: all relevant ministries 15. Expanding tourism ˇ Improve institutional arrangement for ˇ Beach Management Committees formed ˇ Institutionalize participation in Tourism Satellite Accounts of World for growth tourism ˇ Approved Destination Status from China obtained to facilitate Tourism Organization arrival of more Chinese tourists ˇ Establish a regulatory framework to protect tourists interests ˇ NTO being reformed ˇ Develop new tourism sites in ˇ Prepared Integrated Tourism Development Plan for inter ˇ Develop Kuakata Buddist Temple collaboration with other agencies/ ministerial Cooperation for Tourism Development such as ­ ˇ Establish Mirinja Tourism Centre private sector Environment, Forest, LGED, Roads & Highways, ˇ Establish Safari Park at Gazipur, Eco-park at Madhabkunda, Charkukri- Archaeological Department etc. Mukri with Department of Forest ˇ Develop more archaeological sites for cultural tourism ˇ Develop infrastructure for tourism ˇ Special Tourism Zone and Exclusive Tourism Zones taken up ˇ Develop special and exclusive tourist zones ˇ Establish meeting, conference and exposition facilities ˇ Procure transports and other crafts for reverie and beach tourism ˇ Promote private sector for Tourism ˇ Bank loan and micro-credit facilities extended ˇ Diversify tourism products in collaboration with private sector ˇ Land allotted at Cox's Bazar for hotel, motel ˇ Continue promotion of private sector through different incentives ˇ Develop human resources for tourism ˇ National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute is being upgraded ˇ Prepare annual work plan of NHTTI based on training needs services and training activities intensified ˇ Consider establishing training facilities in other areas ˇ Ensure safety in important tourist ˇ Established a special police unit in Cox's Bazar sea beach ˇ Evaluation of beach outposts completed & implementation undertaken by spots Police Reform Programme 214 Strategic goal(s) Key targets Action taken/Underway PRSP policy agenda (FY09-FY11) 1 2 3 4 X. Post, Telecom & ICT Lead Responsibility: MoPT&T, PT&T, BPO, PSOs 16. Improving access to ˇ Expand internet network ˇ Tender invited for installation of fibre optic line under BOO- ˇ Expand ICT facility ICT, Telecom & Postal ˇ Facilitate voice video data BOT ˇ Empower rural people through diffusion of ICT in rural areas services communications ˇ Continue with the action ˇ Minimize digital gap ˇ Develop ICT infrastructure under BOO-BOT ˇ Set up digital telephone exchanges in ˇ Approval of revised DPP is underway ˇ Continue expansion of digital telephone facilities in Upazilas & growth Upazilas & growth centres ˇ Extension of project up to 2007 is under consideration centres ˇ Installation of RSU & MSU in 178 Upazila & 42 growth centres is underway ˇ Installation of 37 towers is under process 17. Modernising postal ˇ Automate postal services ˇ Initiative is taken for automation of postal services ˇ Service counters and postal accounting to be automated services for better service ˇ Capacity building of BPOs through ˇ HRD initiative is in process ˇ Automatise service delivery to people HRD ˇ Create staff capacity for automation & improved service XI. Safety, Security and Protection of Life, Liberty and Wealth Lead Responsibility: MoHA, Bangladesh Police, Criminal Justice & Jail Associate Responsibility: Criminal Justice & Jail MoHA, BP, MoLJPA, DoFSCD, Ansar, BDR, NGOs, CSOs 18. Ensuring safety & ˇ Criminal Justice reform ˇ Speedy Trial Act, 2002 passed ˇ Complete meaningful separation of judiciary from executive security of life, liberty & ˇ 9 Speedy Trial Tribunals established ˇ Promote ADR utilizing community capacities including local governments wealth for all ˇ Acid Offences Act, 2002 enacted ˇ Implement independent public prosecution service ˇ Monitoring cell established in Home Ministry ˇ Strengthen safeguards in implementation of speedy solutions ˇ Rapid Action Battalion established in 2004 ˇ Standards setting in lower judiciary ˇ Independent public prosecution service proposed ˇ Promote legal literacy and strengthen legal assistance for poor ˇ Project to enhance criminal justice and access of the poor to justice undertaken ˇ Police reform ˇ Police Regulations of Bengal is being replaced by new act ˇ Revision of the Bengal Police Regulation will be completed ˇ Committee to update Jail Code established ˇ Gender Guide Lines will be introduced ˇ Developing national protocols for victim referrals ˇ New law to curb domestic violence is under process ˇ Drafting Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct for Police ˇ Make a new THB Act to tackle Trafficking of Human Beings ˇ Developed a new Crime Prevention and Community Safety ˇ Develop a programme for integrating the thana and the chowkidari system systems and promote community policing ˇ Develop and modernize police ˇ Construction of the 6 new model thanas are underway ˇ Establish an IT (Cyber) Crime Investigation Facility at CID HQ ˇ A Model Victim Support Centre is being established at the ˇ Establish beach outposts at Cox's Bazar Tejgaon Women Police station ˇ Establishment of a Crime Prevention Centre is underway ˇ ICT initiatives for capacity building of BP are under way ˇ Reform Jail ˇ 2 central jails and 34 district jails are under construction ˇ Provide vocational training for inmates, particularly female inmates ˇ Established 4 correctional and rehabilitation centres for children ˇ Ensure Safe Homes for women to ensure their safety and well-being and 1 under construction ˇ Established 1 safe-home for women inmates in each division ˇ Computerisation of prison administration is under process ˇ Promote ADR for rural population ˇ Pilot experiences are being accumulated ˇ Collate pilot experiences for wider replication 215 Strategic goal(s) Key targets Action taken/Underway PRSP policy agenda (FY09-FY11) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Strengthen shalish system retaining its informal character and ensuring women's participation XII. Directorate of Fire Service and Civil Defence Lead Responsibility: MoHA, DoFSCD, PSOs, NGOs, CSOs 19. Ensuring fire ˇ Establish fire prevention and safety ˇ 183 fire service stations are in operation in 6 divisions ˇ Complete six ongoing projects to set up 253 fire service stations prevention and fire safety facilities in all Pourasavas, Thanas and ˇ 71 fire stations have already been set-up ˇ Procure modern fire fighting and rescue equipment facilities all over the industrial/commercial centres ˇ Equipment and vehicles are being replaced ˇ Introduce modern ambulance service in all districts country ˇ Improve and expand emergency ˇ Equipments are being procured for emergency rescue and ˇ Continue wireless communication with all fire stations rescue facilities for natural calamities, manpower training ˇ Continue intensification of awareness campaign disasters, accidents, collapse structure, ˇ 43 district head quarters have been provided with 58 ambulances 20. Providing emergency ˇ Grow partnership with CSOs, youth groups and students shipwreck etc. rescue and ambulance ˇ Radio link expanded with stations through base stations and ˇ Implement Fire Prevention and Extinction Act 2003 ˇ Improve and expand emergency first repitors facilities for all aid and ambulance service ˇ Strengthen fire safety in industries, commercial centres and high rise ˇ Awareness of fire prevention and safety is being created buildings ˇ Increase awareness of fire prevention ˇ HRD for staff and volunteers continuing ˇ Continue activities on HRD and fire safety ˇ Establish fire prevention, safety and rescue in coal and rock mines ˇ Introduce accident prevention & mitigation in water transportation XIII. Urban Development Lead Responsibility: City Corporations, LGED, DPHE MoLGRDC, MoL, MoC, MoS, RHD, BR, BIWTC, BRTC, City Corps, Pourasavas, NGOs, CSOs, PVOs 21. Ensuring planned ˇ Establish strong decentralized local ˇ Create democratically elected local bodies ˇ Institutionalize public participation in municipal business through urbanization for providing self-governance ˇ Created legal framework for City Corporations & Pourasavas appropriate changes in legal framework better urban services ˇ Introduce regulatory framework to suit the present need ˇ Identify & develop areas for revenues ˇ Identify sources & uses of fund ˇ Ensure transparent budgeting & control ˇ Practice computerized billing and (tax, utility services) accounting- budgeting systems and modern management ˇ Improve planning capability of city ˇ Establish planning and budgeting unit in all city corporations and corporations improved administrative and management practices and procedures ˇ Impart training to municipal staff; change prevailing culture and perception ˇ Ensure urban rural linkage for ˇ Take stock of existing infrastructure of road, rail, waterways, ˇ Prepare master plan for each urban centre & pourasava balanced development markets surrounding urban centres ˇ Develop upazilla head quarters as industrial growth centres and planned township and union head quarters as planned village townships ˇ Ensure water & sanitation in urban ˇ Identify existing development & deficiencies of urban services ˇ Improve water & sanitation condition in urban areas and in pourasavas centres (water supply, sanitation, solid waste, drainage, etc) ˇ Protect urban rivers for safe water supply ˇ Introduce community based solid waste management and establish modern landfill sites for solid waste disposal ˇ Ensure women's hygienic sanitation facilities in public spaces ˇ Ensure 20 percent development of ˇ Assess housing & shelter requirement for different strata of ˇ Develop appropriate policy for housing and shelter housing & shelter people ˇ Build partnership and institutions for shelter and housing ˇ Establish financial institutions & micro-credit organisations for housing ˇ Ensure adequate road & other ˇ Identify existing development & deficiencies of urban ˇ Prepare strategy for cluster development comprising adjacent pourasavas infrastructure for urbanization infrastructures ˇ Develop partnership for building infrastructure under BOO-BOT 216 Strategic goal(s) Key targets Action taken/Underway PRSP policy agenda (FY09-FY11) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Establish mechanism for coordination involving all agencies, NGOs, CSOs, PVOs etc. ˇ Provide recreational facilities ˇ Identify existing & future recreational requirements like parks, ˇ Identify land for joint venture development of recreational facilities playground, auditoriums, libraries etc ˇ Utilize urban river banks for development of linear park & other recreational facilities under BOO-BOT basis Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 168.00 217 Policy Matrix 17: Caring for Environment and Tackling Climate Change Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoA, MoFL, MoHA, MoWR, MoLGRDC, MoLJ&PA, MoCHTA, MoE, MoI, MoSICT, MoLJ&PA, MoT&J, MoPEMR, DoE, DoF, DAE, LGED, DLS, CBOs, and NGOs 1. Ensuring sustainable ˇ Ensure access of 1 million poor people to ˇ Upgrade of Forestry Sector Master Plan is ˇ Develop the regulatory frameworks that recognize the user rights of people on livelihood of the poor, Common Property Resources (CPRs) under way CPRs especially for women and ˇ Create awareness among 50% of the coastal ˇ Presented the draft document of Bangladesh ˇ Establish user rights through licensing/participatory systems to CPRs in NRM of disadvantaged groups and Hill District's poor and women of Wildlife Amendment Act 1974 and its up grade water bodies and forests environmental management and livelihood ˇ Implementation of Social Forestry Rules 2004 ˇ Finalize the Wetlands Policy, upgrade Forestry Sector Master Plan and Bangladesh ˇ Introduce land zoning for paddy, shrimp, is going on Wild Life Amendment Act 1974 with provision to access of the local poor and salt, afforestation and other crops ˇ Participatory co-management is being women cultivation in the coastal districts introduced to allow increased access of the ˇ Undertake activities to preserve rights of the poor and women on CPRs ˇ Ensure that 50% of the participants in all poor to CPRs ˇ Organize meeting with relevant ministries to resolve conflicts among shrimp, salt, activities are women ˇ Training and public awareness programme paddy, afforestation etc. in the coastal districts ˇ Maintain sustainable management of forest under SEMP has been completed resources inclusive of local people including ˇ Completed the ICZM project women of the Hill Tracts regions ˇ Distribution of benefits to the participants of social forestry will continue Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: All relevant ministries, CBOs, NGOs, 2. Integrating environmental ˇ Incorporate environmental issues, mitigation ˇ Documentation centre established in the ˇ Harmonize environment policies and all other relevant sectors' policies issues into all policies, plans and adaptation measures in all sector Department of Environment ˇ Undertake dialogues with the sectoral ministries/ agencies to integrate and regulatory framework policies, plans and regulations ˇ Organized awareness raising workshops environmental issues ˇ Create a network among stakeholders on ˇ Integrated different environmental issues into ˇ Develop coordination meeting with the sectoral mitigation and/or adaptation of concerned Ministries/Agencies through ministries/agencies/department/organizations environmental issues meeting and seminars ˇ Undertake 30 local, 5 regional and 2 national training workshops ˇ Developed a data base network of different ˇ Establish policy support unit within MoEF stakeholders ˇ Ensure women focused review and follow-ups of NEMAP with reference to NWP ˇ Bangladesh National strategy for Agenda 21 2008 has been initiated through adoption of ˇ Promote engagement of local government in natural resource management and NEMAP conflict resolution Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: Relevant ministries, CBOs, NGOs, DFP, Media, all city and municipality corporations 3. Improving living ˇ Supply safe water and reduce drainage ˇ Initiative has been taken to improve the water ˇ Establish participatory slum improvement centre in all municipality and urban areas environment in the slums congestions in all urban slums supply and sanitation in many of the urban ˇ Extend solid wastes collection service, water points and sanitary latrines in slums ˇ Ensure common public hygienic toilets and slums ˇ Continue the awareness programmes in slum areas sanitation facilities in all urban slums ˇ A policy framework is under way to develop ˇ Recover slum areas that illegally encroached wetlands, riverbank / river, canals, etc ˇ Ensure solid waste collection and safe environmental friendly slum in major cities to ensure natural flow of water disposal in all urban slums ˇ Community based SW collection and its safe ˇ Create awareness about safe and hygienic disposal has been initiated water supply among slums dwellers ˇ Training and awareness programmes have been initiated by the CBOs, NGOs and government Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: All relevant ministries , CBOs, NGOs, DFP, all city and municipality corporations 4. Ensuring good governance ˇ Implement management plan of protected ˇ Initiated participatory and co-management in ˇ Develop technical and managerial competence of different stakeholders by using in managing environmental and ECA areas all sectors especially for the CPRs environmental governance tools issues and natural resources ˇ Access to information systems ˇ Develop technical and managerial compliance by recruiting relevant environmental 218 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Participatory and co-management of NRM management experts ˇ Equity and benefit sharing of natural ˇ Develop the organizational capacity for a well defined set up of organogram resources among population ˇ Develop environmental accountability in all sectors ˇ Develop mandatory participatory and co-management approach in all CPRs ˇ Include 50% women in all organization, agencies, sectors to ensure compliance and good governance ˇ Build capacity for international negotiations through training, database, analytical research, documentation and reporting ˇ Develop the alternative project option to phase-out the ODS Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: DoE, DoF, FD, PHED, LGED, DMB, CBOs, NGOs, DFP, municipalities and city corporations BCSIR, BAEC, BARI, national and international research organizations 5. Strengthening the process ˇ All environmental laws, regulations are ˇ Public participation in environment related ˇ Recruit professional staff in DoE of environmental analysis in applied project formulation and implementation is ˇ Continue awareness programmes among scientific, technical and managerial project design and ˇ DoE's activity at the district levels being practiced personnel implementation ˇ Public participation in all environment ˇ Internet service has been established in many ˇ Expand the DoE activities up to the district levels related decisions environmental organizations and is under way ˇ Develop a website for environmental clearance certificate (ECC) and EMP in rest of the organizations procedures ˇ An environmental analysis framework for ˇ Establish mandatory public consultation process in all EIA, EMP, ETP and other project design and implementation has been relevant activities developed ˇ Create awareness about the importance of EIA among women entrepreneurs ˇ State of Environment is publishing Reports on a regular basis Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: All relevant Ministries , CBOs, NGOs, DFP, media 6. Ensuring sustainable land ˇ Reduce the rate of shifting cultivation from ˇ Food for work based river excavation and ˇ Enforce land zoning and control measures management 51% to 30% development of embankment have been ˇ Restore khas land, polluted water bodies and ecosystem for common usages conducted ˇ Continue the community-based earth excavation work involving poor peoples ˇ Increase the extension activities to produce improved seeds of local plant species ˇ Establish monitoring and evaluation systems with the help of concerned authorities ˇ Conduct 64 workshops and training programmes for 200,000 peoples from different stakeholder groups in each district Lead Responsibility: MoEF and MoI Associate Responsibility: MoP, MoFL, MoHA, MoWR, MoLGRDC, LGD, MoLJPA, MoE, MoSICT, MoT&J, MoPEMR, DoE, DoF, DAE, LGED, DLS, CBOs, NGOs 7. Controlling Industrial ˇ 50% of all amber-b and red category ˇ Pilot schemes to carry out the improvement of ˇ Continue to enforce all environmental policies, rules and regulations to the pollution industries under Environmental clearance environmental management in textile sectors polluting industries systems and proper maintenance of EMP ˇ Developed a committee to recommend ˇ Introduce mandatory environmental friendly solid and other wastes management ˇ Environmental management plan (EMP), measures for highly polluted industries system effluent treatment plant (ETP) and health ˇ MoI is implementing BOILER ACT, ˇ Develop sector specific EIA guidelines management system in all polluting regulation and rules ˇ Amend Environment Conservation Rules, 1997 keeping provision of public industries ˇ BSCIC has taken an initiative to relocate participation in EIA approval. ˇ EMP in occupational health risk bearing tanneries, garments industries and ˇ Enforce to develop Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in all private sector industries pharmaceuticals industries that exist in the run industrial parks ˇ Initial environmental examination (IEE) and residential area and inside the main cities ˇ Develop the Environmental Management Programme environmental impact assessment (EIA) of ˇ For industrial waste water treatment, researches ˇ Set up a strong networking system among all relevant industries through 100% industries prior to their establishment are going on in some universities establishing a database with relevant information 219 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Polluter-to-pay applied to 100 percent ˇ Implementations of ECC, IEE, EIA, EMP and ˇ Create awareness of women and men labour force on health hazard from industrial industries ETP has been initiated pollution and take safeguard measures Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoI, MoP, MoL, MoFL, MoWR, LGD, MoLJPA, MoSICT, MoT&J, MoPEMR, DoE, DoF, FD, CBOs, NGOs, DFP, media, city and municipality corporations 8. Controlling air ˇ Reduce current ambient air quality of 138 ˇ Banned two-stroke three-wheeler in Dhaka city ˇ Implement the procedures of the State Air Quality Standard (AQS) in the vehicles pollution in major ľm3/year for PM 10 to 100 ľm3/year and since September, 2002 and switched to CNG of urban areas and all polluting industries metropolitan cities and rural 77 ľm3/year for PM 2.5 to 40 ľm3/year in ˇ Installed the Catalytic Converter and Diesel ˇ Ensure mandatory use of four-stroke engine in all cities settings major metropolitan cities including Dhaka Particulate Filter becomes mandatory ˇ Arrange campaign, workshop and training programmes among owners and drivers ˇ Reduce the emissions at the national ˇ Installed the Continuous Air Monitoring of vehicles and relevant managers of polluting industries for utilizing the clean and standard level of 4,000 motorized vehicles Station in Dhaka and other metropolitan cities renewable energies running outside Dhaka and 50% of total ˇ Invented fuel-efficient cooking stoves for the ˇ Establish vehicle inspection and maintenance programmes in all metropolitan cities vehicles inside Dhaka poor ˇ Identify industries including brick kiln which are responsible for air pollution and ˇ Control of GHG emission from 60% of ˇ Limited diffusion of efficient stoves set permissible limit for polluted air emissions automobiles and 20% of brick kiln sources ˇ Two-stroke engine vehicles replaced with four- ˇ Continue tree plantation and green belt in each industry. in all urban areas stroke, CNG run ones in Dhaka ˇ Develop an appropriate dust control system in each major city ˇ Motor Vehicle Ordinance and ˇ Vehicular Emission Standard and Ambient Air ˇ Ensure 70% CNG stations of total vehicular fuel stations along with its conversion Environmental Court 2000 in major Quality Standard updated under AQMP facilities metropolitan cities enforced Project ˇ Establish 5 refinery stations for lead and sulphur free vehicular fuel oil ˇ Establish CAMPS ˇ Initiated the improvement of brick kiln ˇ Introduce polluted emission tax ˇ Initiated the EMP in all polluting industries ˇ Introduce energy efficient cooking stoves in rural areas ˇ Developed monitoring and evaluation systems both inside and outside the stakeholders ˇ Implemented CASE project Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoI, MoP, MoFL, MoWR, MoLGRDC, LGD, MoLJPA, MoSICT, MoT&J, DoE, DoF, DAE, LGED, BWDB, DPH, BSTI, CBOs, NGOs, media 9. Controlling toxic chemical ˇ Database of existing radioactive pollution ˇ Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission has ˇ Develop a committee for the assessment of existing toxic chemical and radioactive and radioactive pollution with network system in place established a framework to determine the pollution ˇ Monitor radioactivity in metropolitan cities radioactivity of different materials ˇ Develop a monitoring and evaluation system in the major metropolitan cities in place ˇ Develop guideline on the training programmes for the safe use of toxic chemical and radioactive matters ˇ Undertake awareness programmes for safe use of toxic chemical and radioactive matters ˇ Take protective measures against the impact of toxic chemical and radioactive pollution on pregnant women and children Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoI, MoP, MoL, MoFL, MoHA, MoSICT, MoLJPA, MoT&J, MoPEMR, DoE, DoF, DMB, CBOs, NGOs, media, city and municipality corporations 10. Controlling noise ˇ Reduce the noise pollution level from 90- ˇ Initiated the banning of the hydraulic horns ˇ Ban the use of hydraulic horns and apply restrictions on the use of horns in areas pollution 110 decibel to 45-55 decibel in metropolitan from motor vehicles like academic and religious institutions and residential areas cities ˇ Developed the national noise level standards ˇ Complete procedures and implement the Noise Level Standard (NLS) in ˇ National noise level database by DoE metropolitan cities, vehicles and industries ˇ Noise pollution policy and regulatory ˇ Developed a noise inventory of Khulna district ˇ Undertake awareness and motivational activities \for maintaining a NLS for framework vehicles and industries ˇ Develop a national noise inventory, database and networking system ˇ Set up noise taxes and registration fees that have a potential health risk 220 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoI, MoP, MoL, MoFL, MoHA, MoLGRDC, MoLJPA, MoSICT, MoT&J, DoE, DoF, DAE, LGED, CBOs, NGOs, media, city and municipality corporations 11. Improving solid waste ˇ 3R (recycle, reuse and resource recovery) in ˇ Polythene Shopping Bags banned ˇ Develop and implement awareness and motivational programmes in all urban and management system all urban centres ˇ DCC has initiated a Master Plan to semi-urban areas for efficient collection, recovery, and safe disposal of solid waste ˇ Collection and transportation system of demonstrate the sustainable solid waste through CBOs participatory co-management approach solid waste to the designated disposal site in management, landfill leachate collection and ˇ Develop pilot projects of integrated waste-to-energy, biogas and bio-fertilizer all municipal city corporations treatment through a semi-engineered sanitary production in major cities ˇ Mandatory segregation at source and safe landfill ˇ Formulate the National Strategy for Waste Reduce, Reuse and Recycle disposal of hazardous wastes especially the ˇ Community based urban solid waste ˇ Develop laws and guidelines for mandatory segregation at source and safe disposal hazardous medical wastes management has been completed where lesson of hazardous wastes ˇ Improve solid waste disposal method in learnt is now being applied to other areas of ˇ Develop public-private partnership for environmental friendly SWM system in all major metropolitan cities the country metropolitan cities ˇ Database and good networking system for ˇ Formulation of draft waste management ˇ Complete the formulation of SWM master plan monitoring and evaluation of SWM in all guidelines ˇ Introduce a framework for building capacity of handling trans boundary hazardous urban and semi-urban areas ˇ Medical waste management has been initiated wastes management under Basel Convention ˇ Implement organic fertilizer production ˇ A Pilot project of Solid Waste Management in ˇ Develop10 project on waste-to-resource recovery system system in all over Bangladesh the Secondary Towns is on-going ˇ Develop a national database of SWM system and set up networking among all relevant organizations ˇ Develop house-to-house SW collection and safe disposal through participatory and co-management system by CBOs SWM at least one in urban and semi-urban areas ˇ Undertake household level sensitization programmes for segregation of different types of wastes and resource recovery Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoI, MoP, MoL, MoA, MoFL, MoHA, MoWR, MoLGRDC, LGD, MoLJPA, MoCHTA, MoE, MoSICT, MoT&J, MoPEMR, DoE, DoF, LGED, BWDB, DPH, DLS, CBOs, NGOs, DFP, media, city and municipality corporations 12. Controlling of water ˇ Reduce at least 20% pollution load in ˇ Installation of Effluent Treatment Plant in ˇ Reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides along with phase-out of pollution and contamination aquatic ecosystem polluting industry has been made mandatory in persistent organic pollutants (POPs). ˇ Regulatory measures to combat pollution the EGA 1995 ˇ Introduce less water polluting substances and improvement technologies in from non-point sources ˇ Many industries have already installed ETP industrial processes ˇ Enact and enforce laws to control wastes ˇ Environmental Pollution due to ship breaking ˇ Establish monitoring and evaluation activities by concerned authorities and and their effluents of all kinds into the rivers has been contained organizations to reduce effluent discharges (e.g. discharges from mechanized of Buriganga, Shitalakshma, Balu, Turag, ˇ Community-based cost effective water vessels) and strict implementation of ECA, 1997 along with other regulations in all Bramhaputra, Bhairab and Surma treatment plant using reed bed has been water pollution and land degradation activities. ˇ One surface water ponds in each upazila of constructed ˇ Promote use of organic compost coastal districts and preserve their quality ˇ BSTI is regularly monitoring and supervising ˇ Setup polluter-to-pay approach by concerned stakeholders for reclaim / clean up for safe drinking and other domestic the bottled mineral water for ensuring its and rehabilitation of the damaged ecosystem / natural environment. purposes quality ˇ Enforce the mandatory installation of effluent treatment plants for industries ˇ One rain water harvesting system for safe ˇ Arsenic removal filtration is being marketed ˇ Conduct one workshop in each district for 200,000 people from different drinking and other domestic purposes in ˇ Pond sand filter has been adapted in the stakeholder groups each upazila coastal districts as well as arsenic-prone ground ˇ Undertake awareness raising (specially among women and children) activity about water areas water pollution and its health hazard ˇ Undertake initiative to save the Buriganga from pollution Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoL, MoA, MoFL, MoWR, MoLGRDC, LGD, MoCHTA, MoSICT, MoPEMR, DoE, LGED, BWDB, DPH, DLS, DMB, CBOs, NGOs, DFP, media, local government bodies 13. Controlling river erosion ˇ Stop hill cutting ˇ Initiative has been taken for the development ˇ Continue community-based earth excavation work for river bed excavation 221 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 and hill cutting ˇ Develop 100 km erosion prove of regulatory framework against illegal hill ˇ Establish monitoring and evaluation systems with the help of concerned authorities embankment cutting ˇ Continue community-based earth excavation work under Food For Work Programme for more integration of poor people Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoP, FD, MoL, MoA, MoFL, MoHA, MoWR, MoLGRDC, LGD, MoCHTA, MoE, MoSICT, MoT&J, MoPEMR, DoE, DoF, DAE, LGED, BWDB, DPH, DLS, DMB, CBOs, NGOs, DFP 14. Mainstreaming the ˇ Develop a national guideline on Bali Action ˇ Inventory of GHG emission along with the ˇ Set up high level committee to coordinate and monitor national policies and actions climate change issues into Plan Country Programme has been initiated of climate adaptation/ mitigation and coordinate donor assistance national and sectoral ˇ Sector wise survey to identify sector-specific ˇ Developed a separate CC Cell in DoE from ˇ Continue dialogue among the ministries / agencies on integration of CC issues development plans and risks to climate change which different training and awareness ˇ Coordinate NAPA with all public, private and community level stakeholders policies ˇ A national data base of different CC issues, programme on CC and their possible ˇ Provide policy and institutional framework for integration of CC issues in all their status and possible mitigation and / or adaptation / mitigation measures are being relevant public and private investments adaptation measures undertaken ˇ Set up a network and develop a national database on CC issues 15. Addressing the climate ˇ Climate change training and education in ˇ Study entitled `Vulnerability and Adaptation to ˇ Develop community level CC mitigation strategy with involvement of local change adaptation and primary, secondary, tertiary levels Climate Change and Probable Mitigation government authority mitigation measures ˇ Awareness and motivational activities in the Measures' has been initiated ˇ Introduce CC issues and its possible mitigation and adaptation measures in the high risk areas ˇ National Adaptation Programme of Action curricula at all levels of education ˇ A national inventory of ozone depleting (NAPA) to climate change has been completed ˇ Develop and implement projects for CC adaptation and mitigation in coastal substances (ODS) and preparation of a ˇ CC issues incorporated in the Coastal Zone communities, socio-cultural, political norms and values national strategy Policy ˇ Develop and implement projects on technology development to support CC ˇ Reduce 30% of ODS by 2011 that exist in ˇ CC documentation centre has been established mitigation and adaptation with women perspective 2007 in the Department of Environment ˇ Organize training and awareness programmes on how the inhabitants of CC ˇ Integration of CC issues into concerned cross- affected areas can adapt and mitigate sectoral Ministries /Agencies is being ˇ Develop a CC research and information network continued ˇ Develop at least one permanent CC proved integrated sustainable infrastructure ˇ Initiated various CC adaptations and mitigation researches by DoE, DoF, concerned ˇ Develop a model on how the post CC situation can adapt a more sustainable departments/disciplines of the public infrastructure in the coastal districts universities and other research organizations ˇ Complete the National Bali Action Plan and commence its implementation ˇ CDMP is focusing on the CC issues in the ˇ Introduce insurance system for exposed households with local multi-donor trust concerned coastal and other disaster-prone funds areas ˇ Implement Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) ˇ A national steering and working committee has been formed to develop a National Bali Action Plan for Bangladesh ˇ Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) has been adopted Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoEF, MoI, MoP, MoL, MoA, MoFL, MoHA, MoWR, MoLGRDC, LGD, MoCHTA, MoE, MoSICT, MoLJPA, MoT&J, MoPEMR, REB, DoE, DoF, FD, DAE, LGED, BWDB, DPH, BSTI, DLS, DMB, CBOs, NGOs, media 16. Conserving bio-diversity ˇ 160 regenerate/propagate native endangered ˇ Biodiversity conservation through afforestation ˇ Develop and implement the guidelines on regeneration and conservation of of the country plant species along with gene-bank among has been initiated in the areas in coastal and hill endangered and rare species in ECAs and PAs ecologically critical areas (ECAs) districts ˇ Complete the survey on floral and faunal biodiversity in 20 floral and faunal ˇ 200 regenerate/propagate native endangered ˇ Established 16 Protected Areas (PAs) covering ecosystems animal species along with gene-bank from 0.244 million hectares throughout Bangladesh ˇ Develop protected areas and wild life management system 222 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 critical ecosystems and 8 Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) ˇ Develop appropriate social and agro forestry ˇ 10,000 acres of forest land to be recovered ˇ Development of co-management model on ˇ Initiate a national biodiversity data base ˇ 25% of the river embankment to be afforestation along with ox-bow lake and baor ˇ Develop and initiate the bio-safety regulatory regime recovered from illegal encroachment management process ˇ Develop a framework to mitigate the biodiversity loss ˇ Stop further destruction of habitat and ˇ Development of Wildlife Policy and Act are in ˇ Introduce and implement quarantine law in port areas overexploitation of flora and fauna from all the process ˇ Ban cultivation of exotic fish, flora and fauna that have adverse effects on the natural forest areas and water bodies ˇ Finalized the Bio-safety Protocol and environment ˇ Stop further encroachment of the natural Guidelines ˇ Stop unethical and immature inbreeding activities in fisheries and livestock sectors forests and inland waters ˇ Finalized the NBSAP ˇ Protected areas and wild life management to ˇ Formulation of National Biodiversity ˇ Initiate the reintroduction of 20 aquatic and 20 terrestrial extinct species from be established Framework for the development of the ECAs and PAs ˇ 30% expansion of social and agro forestry Sundarbans Biodiversity Conservation Act is in ˇ Introduce participatory-co-management with local communities including poor and process women of all natural forest and inland waters bodies ˇ Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management ˇ Initiate the national bio-safety protocol and National Bio-diversity Strategy Policy at Cox's Bazar and Hakaluki Haor Project is in and Action Plan (NBSAP) progress ˇ Ensure afforestation of 20 percent of land area by 2015 ˇ Preparation of Encyclopaedia on flora and fauna of Bangladesh Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoI, MoE, MoPEMR, DoE, DoF, Universities, CBOs, NGOs, Text Book Board, DFP, media, national & international research organizations 17. Enhancing education and ˇ Establish environmental education at ˇ Environmental education has been introduced ˇ Arrange at least 1 environmental management training, seminar and symposium in awareness activities for primary, secondary and tertiary levels into the syllabus at primary and secondary each district sustainable development ˇ Increase awareness and motivational levels ˇ Advertise environmental awareness and motivational activities in road side poster programmes at the community levels ˇ Academic programmes on Environmental and media through electronic and print media Science are offered by Public Universities and ˇ Develop a national network of environmental management curriculum, modules ˇ Offer special degree on climate change Government Polytechnic Institutes and books /disaster management issues ˇ Initiated environmental training programmes for the relevant Training Academy Lead Responsibility: MoEF Associate Responsibility: MoP, MoL, MoA, MoFL, MoWR, LGD, MoT&J, DoE, DoF, BWDB, DPH, BSTI, national and international research organizations 18. Improving research and ˇ Some demonstration projects are going on ˇ Develop collaborative research programme including academic, research development activities ˇ DoE has already been established its one organizations and MoEF central and several divisional environmental ˇ Publish and distribute research-based periodicals and journals on a regular basis analysis laboratories ˇ Develop research to innovate tools on SWM, air quality improvement, soil ˇ Developed air quality monitoring centres in reclamation and noise remediation Dhaka and other divisions under AQMP ˇ Develop a network of environmental organizations project ˇ Developed 3 trans boundary air quality monitoring stations Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 125.03 223 Policy Matrix 18: Technology Policy including ICT and Biotechnology Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Lead Responsibility: MoSICT 1. Developing ICT Policy and ˇ Update national Policy on ICT ˇ National Policy on Science and Technology ˇ Update regularly National Policy on ICT Infrastructure ˇ ICT Road Map/Policy Implementation Plan and (S&T) has been formulated ˇ Prepare ICT Road Map/Policy Implementation Plan through "Support for formulation of e-Government strategy ˇ National Policy on ICT has been formulated Development of Public Sector use of ICT under EMTAP Project" ˇ Rules and regulations related to the and National Task Force on ICT has been ˇ Formulate e-Government work plan to transform to e-governance by 2014 implementation of ICT Act 2006 formed ˇ Frame rules and regulations related to the implementation of ICT Act 2006 ˇ Connect the ministries/divisions, departments, ˇ ICT Act has been enacted ˇ Extended support for running ICT incubator districts and Upazilas to establish the public ˇ Formed a Committee for the implementation ˇ Establish new ICT incubator network of World Summit on Information Society ˇ Introduce national Infra­network project for the government ˇ Country web portal and delivery of public service (WSIS) Declaration of Principles and Plan of (BanglaGovNet) to connect the ministries, divisions, departments, districts through the web portal Action and upazilas ˇ Establish Office of the Controller of Electronic ˇ Copyright Act has been amended ˇ Develop country web portal and deliver public services through the web Signature Certifying Authority ˇ Exemption of VAT and taxes for ICT related portal gradually ˇ Establish Cyber Tribunal as per the ICT Act 2006 equipment, tax holidays, creation of equity ˇ Establish ICT Centres (Data Resource Centre) in all districts and limited ˇ Construct BCC Bhaban as proposed up to 15th funds were undertaken Upazilas floor for expansion of ICT activities ˇ ICT incubator centre has been established ˇ Establish Office of the Controller of Electronic Signature Certifying ˇ New technology and standard of Internet ˇ Opened a shared-office in the Silicon Valley Authority. Protocol version 6 (IPv6) (USA) ˇ Establish Cyber Tribunal as per the ICT Act 2006 ˇ Reorganize and strengthen MoSICT and BCC ˇ Taken measures to establish a High-Tech Park ˇ Construct BCC Bhaban as proposed ˇ Establish Bangladesh as a BPO/Call Centres ˇ Bangladesh is connected to the Information ˇ Gradually upgrade new technology and standard of Internet Protocol outsourcing destination Superhighway through submarine fibre-optic version 6 (IPv6) cable ˇ Reorganize and strengthen MoSICT and BCC ˇ ICT Business Promotion Council has been ˇ Initiate necessary policy provision for mass-scale public sector use established to expand the development of IT industries of Bangladesh in Global Market ˇ Take measures to establish Bangladesh as a BPO/Call Centres ˇ International Gateway (IGW) and Interconnection Exchange (ICX) is being established ˇ Decision taken to open up Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to the private sector ˇ Established training labs with internet connectivity in 128 Institutions in 64 Districts ˇ BTRC has already formulated guidelines for setting up of Call Centres and has invited application for license Lead Responsibility: MoSICT, MoE, PMO, PC 2. Promoting human resource ˇ Provide ICT training to 10% of Secondary & ˇ IT training institutions have been set up at ˇ Develop curriculum and provide training to Secondary & Higher Secondary development for ICT Higher Secondary teachers every year divisional headquarters to disseminate Level Teachers on ICT usage ˇ 50 percent of the government officials will be knowledge of ICT ˇ Introduce internship programme for ICT graduates trained ˇ ICT education has been introduced in schools ˇ Furnish 128 Computer Training Labs and train 768 teachers from schools ˇ 50 percent of the students in secondary education and colleges and colleges in ICT level will receive ICT training ˇ ICT training for teachers of Schools and ˇ Provide government officials with ICT training ˇ Study on the Job/International Market for Colleges has been introduced 224 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Bangladeshi ICT Professionals ˇ PGD courses on ICT have been introduced in ˇ Initiate ICT Professional Skill Assessment and Enhancement (IPSAEP) ˇ ICT Professional Skill Assessment and selected universities and at BCC programme Enhancement (IPSAEP) Programme in place ˇ National Science and Technology Fellowships ˇ Expand infrastructure facilities of the ICT sector and explore alternative are being given to students for carrying out submarine connectivity higher studies ˇ Bangladesh-Korea Institute of Information and Communication Technology has been set up to produce ICT professionals ˇ Study on the Job/International Market for Bangladeshi ICT Professionals is being introduced/explored ˇ Internship programme has been launched for ICT graduates Lead Responsibility: MoSICT 3. Promoting use of ICT ˇ Ensure e-Governance for delivery of public ˇ e-Governance cell has been established in the ˇ Promote e-Governance for delivery of ICT to ensure public services to services to the people Prime Minister's Office and e-Governance people ˇ Provide broadband internet connectivity to ICT initiatives have been taken ˇ Convert BCC website to a Web Portal incubator and to important ˇ Gradual introduction of ICT in all public ˇ Connect the Ministries, Divisions, Departments, Districts, Upazilas under a Ministries/Divisions/Departments agencies is being undertaken by the public network (BanglaGovNet) ˇ Promote and assist computerization in the Government ˇ Broadband internet connectivity will be provided to ICT incubator and to Government Ministries, Divisions, Departments ˇ BCC is providing broadband internet services all Ministries/Divisions/Departments etc. to ICT incubator and a number of Ministries ˇ Promote and assist computerization in the Government Ministries, ˇ Coordinate the public and private sectors to make and agencies Divisions and Departments easy access to information for the citizen ˇ Measures have been taken to make all ˇ Coordinate public and private sector activities to make easy access to ˇ Increase export of Software and ITES government forms available on the net information for the citizens ˇ ICT based services available to all citizens ˇ In some government departments online file ˇ Promote ICT industry to increase export of Software and ITES tracking system has been established ˇ Facilitate ICT industry and NGOs for delivery of ICT based services to the ˇ Dynamic and interactive websites have been citizen developed for government offices ˇ Create ICT awareness among all the citizens ˇ Some key ministries have been connected ˇ Promote good governance through ICT and undertake mass awareness with the Prime Minister's Office and Planning campaign involving telecommunication tools such as SMS and MMS Commission ˇ Ensure proper maintenance of ICT infrastructure for quality service ˇ Computerization of a few Government offices ˇ Promote telemedicine and e-health at upazilla level is in progress ˇ Ensure effective broadband policy and deployment of a nation-wide ˇ BCC is fully connected to the Local Area broadband network (wired and wireless) Network (LAN) and Internet Lead Responsibility: MoSICT, NGOs, district administrations 4. Increasing access to ICT ˇ Establish tele-centres throughout the country to ˇ E-Commerce initiatives have been taken ˇ Promote ICT industry and NGOs to establish tele-centres throughout the among disadvantaged groups deliver services in the rural areas including remote ˇ A Programme has been undertaken for country to deliver services to the rural and remote areas including women areas upgrading, modernizing and expanding ˇ Promote ICT to provide public services in the remote, e.g., e-Learning, e- ˇ Establish several e-Community Centres across the information services for promoting awareness Agriculture, e-Health etc. country of people ˇ Establish e-Community Centres with help for women users ˇ MoSICT has already taken up some ˇ Strengthen the capacity of BTRC development projects for opening e- ˇ Provide mobile in the hands of the poor and women and use it for 225 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 Community Centres providing information to them Lead Responsibility: MoSICT, MoE, MoF, Cabinet Division 5. Enhancing Research & ˇ Develop and disseminate Multimedia based ˇ Multimedia based courseware development ˇ Develop and disseminate multimedia based courseware for SSC level Development in ICT courseware for SSC level and dissemination is being undertaken by ˇ Develop local Content for easy access to information for the rural people Applications ˇ Ensure Local Content development for easy "Implementation of Computer Training ˇ Build capacity for quality education through creation of competitive access to information in the rural areas Programme in 128 Educational Institutions in environment using ICT ˇ Ensure quality education using ICT (Education 64 Districts" Project ˇ Establish Centre of Excellence for ICT Olympiad) ˇ Independent groups and private organizations ˇ Research and training centre will be established in the SASEC countries ˇ Establish centre of Excellence for ICT are working on Unicode compliant Bangla solutions using open source Lead Responsibility: MoSICT 6. Using Nuclear Technology for ˇ Complete Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant by 2010 ˇ A development project entitled ˇ Mobilize resources for establishing 600 MW Nuclear Power Plant Power Generation "Accomplishment of Essential Activities to Implement 600 MW(e) Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant'' is considered by the Government for the FY 2008 - 2010 Lead Responsibility: MoSICT 7. Developing nuclear service ˇ Provide services in industrial sectors ˇ Atomic Energy Commission has established ˇ Expand and modernise NMC's through procurement and installation of related infrastructure ˇ Screen Congenital Hypothyroidism in Newborn one Institute and fourteen Nuclear Medicine modern equipment Babies Centres (NMC) in different Medical College ˇ Establish PET CT facility in the country which will ensure early detection ˇ Develop Tissue Banking services Hospitals of cancer ˇ Ensure chemical analysis of products of ˇ Some of the radio-isotopes are already being ˇ Establish more Nuclear Medicine Centres under BAEC to meet the agriculture, industry, medicine etc. produced by the research reactor and a demand of radioisotopes for the increasing number of general patients project has been taken ˇ Design and develop special electronic instruments according to the needs ˇ A laboratory has been set up in INMU and of BAEC and also as of other organizations of the country. samples are being collected ˇ Tissue Banking and Biomaterial Research Unit has been established, services are being provided according to demands and training are being provided to develop skilled human resources ˇ A nuclear laboratory has already been set up and projects are proposed for more laboratories ˇ Temperature controller, Nuclear Pulse Generator, Radiation Survey Meters etc. have been developed Lead Responsibility: MoSICT, MoP&T 8. Improving technology for ˇ Install additional Submarine Cable for redundancy ˇ Major cities are already covered by telecom ˇ Install additional Submarine Cable for redundancy and capacity building Telecommunication and capacity building services and further work is continuing ˇ Expand Data Communication Networks ˇ Expand Data Communication Networks ˇ All access service networks are advised to ˇ Promote infrastructure sharing by the telecom operators ˇ Infrastructure sharing by the telecom operators share network with other service providers ˇ Promote latest Technology, Value Added Services Content generation and ˇ Install IP Telephony and Video Conferencing and BTRC is formulating a guideline in this promote/facilitate content service providers Services regard ˇ Facilitate IP Telephony and Video Conferencing Services 226 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 ˇ Establish a National Monitoring Centre (NMC) ˇ BTRC is finalizing a guideline on issuing ˇ Establish Telecom Network for National Monitoring System and National ˇ Construct a "Telecom Tower" as BTRC Head license for IP telephony Monitoring Centre (NMC) Quarter in Dhaka by 2010 ˇ NMC has been established, BTRC and NMC ˇ Construct a "Telecom Tower" building by 2010 as BTRC Head Quarter officials have been trained and monitoring building in Dhaka equipment are being imported ˇ Promote rural density mandatory for ISP/Mobile/PSTN operators ˇ Land has been allotted for BTRC and ˇ Fix and support target of growth for internet penetration for the ISP necessary preparation is being taken to especially in rural area. construct "Telecom Tower" Lead Responsibility: MoA, MoSICT, BARI, Agriculture University 9. Developing agriculture and ˇ Ensure High quality food ˇ Various R&D works are being carried out ˇ Expand R & D works to develop high protein content food, food items food technology ˇ Preservation of foodstuff and agriculture produces with extended shelf life, tissue culture techniques for improving ˇ Control and manage pesticide residues in plants economically important and endangered plants, to establish generic and crops transformation techniques for obtaining transgenic plants with improved and desired characteristics ˇ Develop nation-wide bio-fertilizer Lead Responsibility: MoSICT 10. Developing nuclear safety ˇ Ensure Nuclear Safety and Radiation control ˇ BAEC is issuing license to handle, use, ˇ Implement Nuclear Safety Act, 1993 administration ˇ Adequate Nuclear Regulatory Infrastructure for import, export, transport, store, and trade in ˇ Expand BAEC's regulatory activities to fulfil the requirements for safety the implementation of nuclear power programme radioactive materials and equipments and security of nuclear materials/sources as well as the regulatory ˇ BAEC is monitoring and providing training requirements for introduction and expansion of nuclear power programme and expert services to the clients ˇ All radiation sources/materials have been taken under regulatory control of BAEC ˇ Personnel dosimeters are being supplied to monitor radiation workers ˇ Radiation monitoring instruments are being standardized, and spent sources are being collected, stored and disposed Lead Responsibility: MoWR, MoSICT 11. Introducing new technology ˇ Identify proper geologic aquifer of clean and safe ˇ Samples are being collected from different ˇ Ensure sustainable development of groundwater resources for use in for water resources development drinking water sources places of the country and are being analyzed. domestic, agriculture and industrial purposes and management ˇ Identify efficient management of water resources technology Lead Responsibility: MoSICT, MoI, MoEF 12. Developing new sustainable ˇ Lease-out commercial processes to local ˇ Activities have been undertaken for ˇ Improve food safety, quality and food security status and appropriate technologies for entrepreneurs and industrialists processing and preserving of fruits, ˇ Create and promote cost-effective food processing technologies production and preservation of ˇ Provide full technical support for establishing vegetables, fish and meat products ˇ Undertake need based research and development for developing indigenous food cost-effect small and medium industries and ˇ Developing nutritious foods for technologies for various activities producing safe and quality food products undernourished children and women ˇ Provide technical support for establishing cost-effective small and medium ˇ Developing of solar drying technology for industries and producing safe and quality food products producing dehydrated food products ˇ Developing fermented food, sources and other value added products by utilizing local raw materials ˇ Utilizing food and agricultural wastes/by 227 Strategic Goals Key Targets Actions Taken/ Underway PRSP Policy Agenda (2009-2011) 1 2 3 4 products for production of feed and other value added products Lead Responsibility: MoWR, MoSICT 13. Introducing cost effective ˇ Increase use of CNG ˇ Developing dual/fuel (CNG/Diesel) kit to ˇ Develop dual fuel shallow water pump technology for irrigation use in irrigation system with shallow water pumps Lead Responsibility: MoSICT 14. Improving energy ˇ Reduce energy crisis of rural people ˇ Institute of Fuel Research and Development ˇ Set up Biogas plants throughout the country utilizing all sources of bio- technology ˇ Reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission. (IFRD) of BCSIR has already set up about degradable waste 21,858 biogas plants ˇ Develop demand based improved stoves and help people to set up ˇ Different models of fuel efficient mud stoves improved mud stoves instead of conventional stoves were developed and about 0.3 million were ˇ Disseminate different types of solar oven throughout the country disseminated ˇ Different models of Solar Oven have been developed and being further modified Lead Responsibility: MoHFW, MoSICT 15. Developing and promoting ˇ Reduce dependence on the allopathic system of ˇ Propagation and plantation of medicinal ˇ Develop alternative medicine particularly to address women's health needs alternative medical care (AMC) medicine plants, extraction and laboratory study are being undertaken ˇ Traditional drugs are also being studied in the laboratory Lead Responsibility: MoSICT, MoA, MoEF, Universities, Researchers 16. Developing biotechnology ˇ Apply biotechnology to improve agricultural ˇ Researches have been initiated on plant tissue ˇ Provide DNA finger printing services for investigation policy for socioeconomic crops, marine sciences and aquaculture, culture, rice bio fertilizer, DNA finger ˇ Develop biotechnology based legal framework for Intellectual Property development environment, pharmacy, forensics, and public printing, artificial breeding of indigenous Rights health fishes, industrial micro organisms, PPR virus ˇ Prepare work plan for the implementation of National Biotechnology of goat etc. Policy ˇ Bangladesh has adopted the National Policy ˇ Strengthen R&D on biotechnology to identify efficient, eco-friendly and Guidelines on Biotechnology to accelerate economically viable options multidimensional biotechnological research Lead Responsibility: MoSICT, MoA, MoEF 17. developing Eco-friendly ˇ Ensure wide use of tissue culture for regeneration ˇ Developed protocol technology for plant ˇ Develop biotechnology based small and medium industry appropriate biotechnology and rapid multiplication of nearly extinct plants, regeneration, multiplication and cultivation ˇ Generate income through economic and medicinal plant cultivation economically important and medicinal plants ˇ Number of processes on Spirulina have been ˇ Develop nursery for the rural people ˇ Develop and transfer technology to the grassroots leased out ˇ Develop genetically modified (GM) pest resistant varieties of fruits and level for income generation ˇ A new process has been developed for vegetables cultivation of Spirulina ˇ Conduct training programme for the production of Spirulina Total Indicative Cost (in billion taka) Tk. 50.72 Grand Total (in billion taka) Tk. 2814.81 228 Annex 2 Social Safety Net Budget FY 2008 - 09 (A.1) Cash Transfer (Allowances) Program Sl. Program Target Group Coverage Budget (Ministry/Division) (in Lac) (in Crore) 2007-08 2008-09 Increase Revised Proposed Increase (%) (%) (2007-08) (2008-09) 1 Old Age Allowance 17.00 20.00 17.65% 448.80 600.00 34% Rate has been (MOSW) increased from Tk.220 to Tk.250 per person per month 2 Allowances for the 8.25 9.00 9.09% 184.80 270.00 46% -Do- Widowed, Deserted and Destitute Women (MOWCA) 3 Allowances for the 2.00 2.00 0.00% 52.80 60.00 14% -Do- Financially Insolvent Disabled (MOWSW) 4 Maternity allowance 0.45 0.60 33.33% 17.00 21.60 27% program for the Poor Lactating Mothers (MOWCA) 5 Honorarium for 1.00 1.00 0.00% 72.00 108.00 50% Rate has been Insolvent Freedom raised from Fighters (MOFWA) Tk.600 to Tk.900 6 Honorarium for 0.08 0.08 0.00% 27.30 44.00 61% Different types Injured Freedom of allowances Fighters (MOFWA) may be increased by 50% 7 Grants for 0.16 0.16 0.00% 19.44 22.14 14% The rate has Residents in been raised Government from Tk.1200 Orphanages and to Tk.1500 other institutions (MOSW) 8 Capitation Grants 0.42 0.45 7.14% 30.24 37.80 25% Monthly rate for Orphan may be Students in non- increased from gov. orphanges Tk.600 to (MOSW) Tk.700 9 Gratuitous Relief 5.30 5.30 0.00% 26.53 10.00 Additional (Cash) (MOFDM) support will be provided from the block allocation for disaster management. 10 General Relief 5.00 5.00 0.00% 10.00 10.00 Clothes, Activities Blanket, Biscuit, (MOFDM) dry food and others in kinds. 11 Block Allocation for Disaster Management 10.00 100.00 229 12 Non-Bengali 1.10 1.10 0.00% 30.10 35.00 16% Expenses for Rehabilitation payment of (MOFDM) Water and Electricity bill for Bihari Camps. 13 Allowances for 0.01 0.01 0.00% 0.75 0.75 Distressed Cultural Personalities/ Activitists (MOCA) 14 Allowances for 0.54 0.54 0.00% 1.50 1.50 Non-tribal, beneficiaries in Ctg. Refugees from Hill Tract area. India and Jonosanghati Members. 15 Pension for Retired 3.12 3.25 4.17% 3381.00 3584.00 6% Government Employees or their families Total (A.1.i) = 44.43 48.49 9.09% 4312.26 4904.79 14% ii) Social Empowerment 1 Stipend for Disabled 0.12 0.12 0.00% 5.00 5.00 0% Rates for Students (MOSW) primary level Tk.300, Secondary level Tk.450, Higher Secondary Tk.600 & Higher studies Tk.1000 2 Grants for the 0.12 0.12 0.00% 1.80 1.80 0% Teachers' Schools for the benefit. Disabled (MOSW) Total (A.1.ii) = 0.24 0.24 0.00% 6.80 6.80 0% Total (A.1) = 44.67 48.73 4319.06 4911.59 14% (A.2) Cash Transfer (Special) Program (A.2.i) Social Protection Sl. Program Coverage (in Lac) Budget (in Crore) (Ministry/Division ) 2007-08 2008-09 Increas Revised Proposed Increase (%) e (%) (2007-08) (2008-09) 1 Cash For Work 67.00 0.00 100.00 0.00 New (MOFDM) Program, Only for FY 08 (Man- (Man-Month) Month) Total (A.2.i) = 67.00 0.00 100.00 0.00 (A.2.ii) Social Empowerment 1 Housing Support 63.00 10.00 63.00 10.00 Additional (MOFDM) requiremen t will be fulfilled from the block allocation 230 2 Agriculture 180.00 10.00 Rehabilitation (MOA) Total (A.2.ii) = 63.00 10.00 243.00 20.00 Total (A.2) = 130.00 10.00 343.00 20.00 (B) Food Security Programs: Social Protection 1 Subsidy for Open 76.00 94.44 19.53% 1849.00 2674.95 45% Per head 90 Market Sales (OMS) kg rice is (MOFDM) sold, considering daily 5 kg, 3 Days in a month for 6 months. (Man (Man Month) (6.84) (8.50) (24%) Month) 2 Vulnerable Group 7.50 7.50 0.00% 721.00 836.64 16% WFP Development assisted (VGD) (MOWCA) program. 30/person/ month. Beneficiarie s 7.5 Lacs. (Man- (Man-Month) (2.65) (2.65) Month) 3 Vulnerable Group 104.67 75.00 855.00 708.08 10 Feeding (VGF) kg/person/ (MOFDM) month. 3 months program (Man- (Man-Month) (3.14) (2.25) Month) 4 Test Relief (TR) 12.50 50.00 411.00 631.47 54% 3.5 kg/day. Food (MOFDM) 30 days 105 kg/person. (Man- (Man-Month) (1.50) (2.00) (33%) Month) 5 Gratuitous Relief 64.00 64.00 0.00% 174.00 201.41 16% 10 (GR)- Food kg/person (MOFDM) (Man in (Man in Lac) (0.64) (0.64) Lac) 6 Food Assistance in 75.00 75.00 0.00% 204.00 237.88 17% 3.5 kg/day. CTG-Hill tracts 30 days 105 Area kg/person. (Man- (Man-Month) (0.75) (0.75) Month) 7 Food For Work 17.62 47.62 63.00% 503.00 1577.63 214% (FFW) (Man- (Man-Month) (1.85) (5.00) (170%) Month) Total (B) = 357.29 413.56 15.75% 4717.00 6868.05 46% (C.1) Micro-Credit Programs: Social Empowerment 1 Fund through PKSF 2.00 2.00 0% 217.61 271.37 World Bank Supported. Tk. 382 231 crore has been allocation till FY08 2 Special fund for 0.50 1.00 100.00 130.00 0.00 Employment % Generation for Hard-core Poor in SIDR Area (PKSF) 3 Social Development 30.00 40.00 33% World Foundation Bank Supported. 200 projects are under implementa tion in FY 08. In FY 09 267 projects would be supported. 4 NGO Foundation 0.00 15.00 Accumulate d Capital Tk.127 Crore 5 Micro-credit for 0.68 0.70 2.94% 20.00 10.00 -50.0% The Women Self- Programme employment coverage is (MOWCA) in 333 Upazilas of 64 districts, Tk.42.75 has been disbursed till FY 2007-08 6 Fund for 1.00 0.00 0.00 Accumulate Development of d capital Fisheries and Tk.15 Livestock sector crore. (MOFL) 7 Freedom Fighters' 0.10 0.10 0.00% 0.00 10.00 Accumulate Self Employment d Capital Support (MOFWA) Tk.42.50 Crore. 8 Micro Credit for Self Employment of Youth (MOYS) 0.05 0.00 Accumulate d Capital Tk.164 Crore. 9 Micro-Credit in 4.30 4.50 0.00 0.00 Interest Social sector Service free loan. (RSS, RMC, UCD) Accumulated (MOSW) Capital Tk.265 crore 10 Micro-credit by Accumulate BRDB (RDCD) d Capital Tk.611.28 Crore 11 Infrastructure 115.00 140.00 WB Development supported Company 232 12 Infrastructure 1.83 0.00 WB Investment supported Facilitation Centre (IIFC) 13 Municipal 116.75 294.56 WB Development Fund supported Total (C.1) = 7.58 9.30 22.69% 631.19 780.93 23.72% (C.2) Miscellaneous Funds: Social Empowerment Sl. Program Coverage (in Lac) Budget (in Crore) (Ministry/Division ) 2007-08 2008-09 Increas Revised Proposed Increase (%) e (%) (2007-08) (2008-09) 1 Fund for the 0.70 0.75 7% 5.00 10.00 Accumulate Welfare of Acid d Capital Burnt and Disables Tk.60.50 (MOSW) Crore 2 Fund for Garment 0.50 1.00 100% 20.00 0.00 Tk.20 workers Training Crore has and support (MOC) been allocated in this fund in FY 2007- 08. 3 Fund for Assistance 1.00 1.00 0% 0.00 100.00 to the Small Farmer and Poultry Farms (FD) 4 Employment 1.00 1.00 0% 100.00 0.00 Generation for Hard-core Poor (PKSF) 5 Support to Small 1.00 2.00 100% 100.00 100.00 Accumulate Entrepreneurship d Capital (PKSF) Tk.275 Crore 6 Mitigation of Risk 20.00 0.00 Total of Natural Disaster disburseme (pre and post) nt 147 (MOFDM) Crore (40% Grant and 60% Loan) 7 Housing Loan for 1.75 0.00 10.00 Accumulate Homeless (BB) d Capital Tk.160 Crore. 8 Swanirvar Training 1.25 1.50 20% Program 9 Jatio Pratibandhi Unnayan Foundation (JPUF) Tk.25 (MOSW) Crore disbursed as seed money.WB assistance is in the pipeline 10 Shamaj Kallyan 0.14 0.14 8.00 8.00 Parishad 11 Renewable Fuel 1.00 20.00 50.00 150% Development Assistance 233 12 Assistance for Agro- 95.00 50.00 based Industries 13 Equity 100.00 100.00 0% Development Fund- Agriculture (BB) 14 Equity 100.00 100.00 0% Development Fund- IT (BB) 15 SME Foundation 0.50 1.00 100% 100.00 100.00 0% 16 Agriculture 350.00 0.00 Research Assistance 17 Special Fund for Training & re-employment for the retired or dismissed employees/ workers A fund of Tk.54 crore has been released in last 3 Years. Total (C.2) = 4.84 9.64 99.17% 1019.25 629.50 (C.3) New Fund: Social Protection 1 100 days 0.00 14.00 0.00 2000.00 This is an Employment employmen Scheme (MOFDM) t guarantee scheme would be developed as the largest SSNP. Beneficiarie s 20 lacs. Wage rate Tk.100/day . (Man- (Man Month) Month) 2 Fund for Climate Change 0.00 200.00 A new (MOEF) program to support the environme ntal risks. 3 Fund for Women labourer 0.00 25.00 Total (C.3) = 0.00 14.00 0.00 2225.00 Non-Development Total 11029.50 15435.07 (A1+A2+B+C1+C2+C3) = Total Non-Development Budget 63,585 72,735 = Percentage of Non-Development 17.35% 21.22% Budget = 234 (D) Development Sector Programs: Social Empowerment (D.1) Running Development Programs Sl. Program Coverage (in Lac) Budget (in Crore) (Ministry/Division ) 2007-08 2008-09 Increas Revised Proposed Increase (%) e (%) (2007-08) (2008-09) 1 Stipend for Primary 55.00 55.00 0.00% 468.00 468.00 The stipend Students is provided (MOPMED) to 58 lacs students. 2 School Feeding 6.00 6.00 0.00% 50.00 0.00 Each Program student is (MOPMED) provided 75 gram nutritant biscuits. 3 Stipend for Dropout 5.00 5.00 0.00% 151.54 151.54 Stipend is Students issued to (MOPMED) about 5 lacs schools 4 Stipend for 28.00 28.00 0.00% 340.00 340.00 Secondary and Higher Secondary/Female Student (MOE) 5 Stipend for Poor 0.00 1.39 150.00 Boys in secondary school 6 Maternal Health 1.00 1.00 0.00% 17.95 17.95 Implement Voucher Scheme ation under (MOHFP) HNPSP project. 7 Rural Employment 0.24 0.24 0.00 26.00 26.00 0% EC & Opportunities for UNDP Protection of Public supported Property (REOPA) (LGD) 8 Community 1.20 1.76 46.67% 115.00 200.00 74% Mixture of Nutrition Program rice, pulse, (MOHFA) Ghur, Soybean, nutrient packet and vitamin A Capsul. 9 Shouhardo Program 4.00 4.00 17.03 19.40 18 Districts. GoB Financed 10 Accommodation 0.40 91.39 110.49 Abashan (Poverty Alleviation Project. & Rehabilitation) Project (Prime Minister's Office) 11 School Children ... 84.30 96.86 Total (D.1) = 96.44 97.00 1142.49 1246.69 235 (D.2) New Programs 1 Rural Employment 0.00 50.00 0.00 190.00 It's a new and Rural Program Maintenance fully GoB Program (LGD) financed Tk 943 Crore has been allocated for 5 years period. 2 VGD-UP (8 District on Monga 0.40 19.20 A new Area) (MOWCA) project would be implemente d under EC assistance. Total (D.2) = 0.00 50.40 0.00 209.20 Development 96.44 147.40 52.84% 1168.49 1462.69 25.18 Total (D) = % Grand Total Safety net 640.82 652.63 12197.99 16,897.76 38.53 (A1+A2+B+C1+C2+C3 % +D1+D2) = Grand Total Budget = 86,085 97735 13.53 % Percentage of Total Budget = 14.17% 17.29% GDP = 535,415 611400 14.19% Percentage of GDP = 2.28% 2.76% 236 Annex 3 Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators M&E Indicators 1: Macroeconomic Environment for Pro-poor Growth Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators Macroeconomic Stability and Pro-poor Economic Growth 1. Maintaining stable ˇ maintain budget deficit at not more 5 % of GDP ˇ growth rate macroeconomic environment ˇ maintain growth of money supply to support higher growth and ˇ rate of inflation stable price level ˇ employment for men and women ˇ maintain sustainable current account deficit ˇ head count ratio 2. Increasing funding for pro-poor ˇ increase pro-poor public expenditure ˇ head-count ratio growth ˇ Gini-coefficient ˇ employment for men and women 3. Ensuring financial sector reform ˇ restructure NCBs ˇ interest rate ˇ improve bank regulation/supervision ˇ flow of credit to private sector ˇ improve corporate governance of banks and NBFIs ˇ proportion of NPLs ˇ ensure flow of credit to agriculture, SMEs, low cost housing & women entrepreneurs 4. Reforming SOEs to reduce ˇ budget allocation of SOEs as percentage of total budget ˇ profit of individual SOEs losses and improve their ˇ privatize more public enterprises ˇ number of employees in SOEs efficiency ˇ downsize BADC and BCIC Promoting Trade & Remittances 5. Promoting ready made garment ˇ implement recommendations of NCC on RMG ˇ share of RMG as % of total export exports ˇ examine the contentious issues like ROO ˇ employment in RMG sector ˇ improve ports and customs services further 6. Improving international ˇ implement export policy (2006-09) to promote competitiveness and ˇ total exports competitiveness of exports diversification of exports ˇ composition of exports ˇ provide cash incentives to SMEs ˇ exchange rate ˇ develop entrepreneurship training to promote SMEs 7. Providing freer trade ˇ reduce average protective tariff to 20 percent ˇ balance of payment environment ˇ rationalize number of QRs ˇ foreign exchange reserve 8. Enhancing inflows of ˇ strengthen anti money laundering surveillance ˇ remittance as % of foreign exchange remittances ˇ increase remittance flows through official channel earnings ˇ foreign exchange reserve 237 M&E Indicators 2: Resource Mobilisation (Domestic and Foreign) Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1. Enhancing tax effort ˇ further modernise and rationalise the taxation system ˇ total revenue as a percent of GDP ˇ establish separate tax policy unit ˇ share of direct tax in total revenue ˇ decentralise tax collection efforts 2. Improving tax administration ˇ pursue capacity building of revenue administration ˇ total revenue as percentage of GDP ˇ reduce discretionary power in tax laws and build trust in tax payers ˇ create tax friendly environment and provide more client oriented services ˇ establish networking of VAT and income tax offices with NBR ˇ reduce number of items under VAT exemption ˇ implement customs MIS ˇ link shipping agents, port authority & customs using ASYCUDA 3. Generating more revenue from ˇ rationalize non-tax revenue rate of fees and charges ˇ non-tax revenue/total revenue non-tax sources ˇ rationalize prices of gas, electricity, petroleum and fertilizers 4. Ensuring increased donor fund ˇ ensure better aid harmonisation ˇ inflow of foreign official resources as inflow a share of GDP 5. Strengthening aid management ˇ streamline field administration of implementation ˇ timely disbursement of resources and and implementation capacity ˇ strengthen implementation, monitoring and feedback into policy implementation of activities M&E Indicators 3: Agricultural Growth towards Poverty Reduction Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1. Increasing productivity and ˇ expenditure on agriculture by sub-sectors as percentage of total ˇ new varieties of seeds ˇ per capita consumption of food grains, profitability of agriculture ( crops public expenditure ˇ supply of inputs in the market vegetables, protein, milk and milk products and non-crops) ˇ expenditure on agricultural research and extension services ˇ pro-poor extension services focused ˇ agricultural wage rate by male/female ˇ expenditure on irrigation ˇ irrigation infrastructure ˇ agricultural growth rate ˇ expenditure on marketing services ˇ supply of quality seeds ˇ household food security ˇ expenditure on agro-processing and agro-business development ˇ employment by sub-sector and by male and ˇ expenditure for subsidies in agriculture female ˇ timely availability of agricultural inputs ˇ head-count ratio ˇ expenditure on production of quality seeds ˇ regional and temporal price variation ˇ disbursement of agricultural credit by sub-sectors and farm size ˇ agricultural output by sub-sectors ˇ protect crop lands from non-agricultural uses ˇ reduction of yield gap ˇ improve land resource base ˇ production of cash crops and high value crops ˇ output of agro-processing industries 238 M&E Indicators 4: Water Resources Development and Management Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1. Expanding utilization of surface ˇ increase expenditure on surface water as % of water resource ˇ use of surface water for agricultural ˇ cost of production water including coastal polders sector expenditure ˇ development of WMO ˇ impact on environment and arsenic prone areas ˇ handover of O&M of the existing projects to the beneficiaries ˇ handover of O&M to the WMO ˇ reduced O&M burden ˇ cost sharing/cost recovery from the beneficiaries ˇ cost recovery ˇ employment generation for men and women 2. Augmenting utilization of ˇ expenditure on surface water as % of expenditure on water ˇ no. of small/large water retention structures ˇ production of agricultural output surface water all over the resource sector ˇ diversion of surface water from main river ˇ habitat protection country for efficient water ˇ negotiations for augmenting trans-boundary water resources with ˇ rivers and rainwater harvest ˇ impact on environment management neighbouring countries ˇ barrages/rubber dams constructed ˇ employment generation ˇ trans-boundary water sources assured ˇ trans-boundary river flow during dry period 3. Rationalising utilization of ˇ monitor quality & quantity of groundwater regularly ˇ implementation of GW management plans ˇ use of ground water ground water ˇ execute Control Measures ˇ region-wise threshold established ˇ GW-use optimization 4. Ensuring maximum protection ˇ increase expenditure on flood protection, drainage system etc. ˇ FCD projects rehabilitated ˇ flood free area from flood and reducing ˇ % of functional/total no of FCD system ˇ river banks protected at critical sites ˇ coastal polders safe from sea-level vulnerability to water related ˇ drought management plans preparation ˇ benefited area enlarged due to forecasts rise disasters ˇ value of protected assets ˇ riverbank protection and town protection measures ˇ more cyclone shelters constructed ˇ construct more cyclone shelters ˇ climate change adaptation needs assessed ˇ lives saved from disaster ˇ plan adaptation needs for climate change ˇ no. of projects for drought mitigation ˇ safety of coastal population from ˇ expenditure on maintenance and upgrading of FFWC systems ˇ improvement of reliability of forecasts cyclone ˇ agricultural droughts mitigated 5. Protecting haors/baors/ ˇ make accreted land habitable and suitable for crop production ˇ % of protected wetland to total wet land ˇ crop area wetland/ sundarban, saline ˇ implement Integrated Costal Zone Management Plan area ˇ habitat improvement water intrusion and promote ˇ undertake haor/baor development plans ˇ proportion of area accreted ˇ employment generation for men and accretion of land ˇ salinity controlled women 6. Managing erosion of major ˇ expenditure on control erosion of major rivers and protection of ˇ towns protected ˇ property saved rivers and protect towns large and small towns as % of water resource sector expenditure ˇ river bank protected ˇ employment generation for men and women 7. Ensuring extension and ˇ expenditure on survival, extension and maintenance of safe ˇ length of navigational routes ˇ cost of water transportation maintenance of navigation navigation routes ˇ density of boat traffic ˇ time saved in commuting routes Non-structural Goals 8. Enhancing access of the poor ˇ undertake programmes to lease out water and common property ˇ area leased out for the poor community for ˇ employment generation for men and to water and common property resources settlement (Ha.) women resources ˇ engage the poor in maintenance of canal and embankment ˇ labour Contracting Societies ˇ no. projects leased ˇ no. of households settled 9. Strengthening human resources ˇ undertake projects with WMOs ˇ WMOs taking O&M responsibilities as per ˇ surface water use without cross- of BWDB ˇ register WMOs GPWM cutting conflicts of users ˇ provide training to WMOs personnel ˇ training events completed ˇ provide WMOs with source to earn revenue for their operational 239 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators cost 10. Conducting research and ˇ expenditure on research and development (% of ADP/year). ˇ research/study reports ˇ % of additional area free from development for improved ˇ contracts with specialized trusts/research institutions ˇ no. of EIA/SIA for all water sector projects drought regional water balance ˇ cost incurred for climate change adaptation measures ˇ ground water quality and status of regional ˇ no. of prioritized river training works thresholds 11. Ensuring monitoring of ˇ install required telemetry stations ˇ lead time of forecasting ˇ homestead saved from flood loss hydrological, climate and ˇ procure equipment and vehicles ˇ upgrading of FFWC system ˇ savings of agricultural damage maritime data ˇ ensure pro-poor system improvement ˇ reliability of forecasts ˇ savings of infrastructural damage ˇ undertake community training on these issues ˇ forecast coverage increased ˇ customized warning data and information 12. Reviewing the existing policy ˇ strengthen and update WARPO for discharging its clearing house ˇ WARPO updates NWRD database and ˇ sustainable, conflict-free and and finalising the National functions for all water related agencies undertakes macro and micro planning equitable water resources Water Act ˇ % of feasibility and project studies have development IWRM concepts adequately analyzed M&E Indicators 5: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development Strategic Goal Input Indicators Output Indicators Outcome /Impact indicators 1. Creating enabling environment to ensure level ˇ undertake pro-SME policies and provide ˇ flow of credit to SMEs by sector, gender and ˇ growth of SMEs playing field for enterprises of all sizes incentives to SME sector areas ˇ growth of exports ˇ undertake pro-SME import and export ˇ incentives to SMEs ˇ rate of employment creation for men and policies ˇ beneficiaries of export and import policies women ˇ undertake pro-SME credit policy for both ˇ rate of interest ˇ head count ratio urban and rural areas ˇ ensuring financing from alternative sources 2. Easing regulatory barriers for SME development ˇ introduce regulatory reforms in the favour ˇ no. of trade license issued to men and women ˇ growth of SMEs of SMEs entrepreneurs ˇ growth of women owned SMEs ˇ ensure support services to SMEs ˇ tax and VAT reduction ˇ Strengthening advocacy for SME ˇ no. of boiler certificate issued development ˇ no. of product certification issued ˇ no. of trademarks and fire license issued ˇ no. of BSCIC registration of SMEs ˇ no. of enterprise registration by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms ˇ no. of environment certificate issued 3. Creating a database for SMEs for investors and ˇ SME definition ˇ no. of visitors on SME WEB Portal ˇ availability of data and information to the service providers SMEs related stakeholders ˇ creation of SME database and SME Web ˇ no. of users of the help line centre facilities portal ˇ create Help Line Centre in 64 BSCIC industrial service centres 240 Strategic Goal Input Indicators Output Indicators Outcome /Impact indicators 4. Ensuring and enhancing technology up[grade, ˇ make funds available for R&D to the ˇ performance of SME related technical institutes ˇ no. of SMEs introducing new technology adaptation and diffusion research institutes in developing new technology and products ˇ encourage use of new technology for SMEs ˇ no. of new technology introduced ˇ export of SME products ˇ no. of technology patented & commercialized 5. Ensuring infrastructural facilities including basic ˇ establish industrial parks, EPZs, special ˇ no. of Industrial Parks, SME parks/estates ˇ decentralization of SMEs utility services for the SMEs economic zones ˇ quality of utilities in the parks/estates ˇ employment generation by men and ˇ ensure utility in the estates women ˇ ensure uninterrupted power supply to SMEs on a priority basis 6. Enhancing access of SMEs to market ˇ introduce new products ˇ SMEs share in total exports ˇ establish display centres for SMEs ˇ undertake SME product fairs at district level ˇ undertake fairs at national and international level 7. Ensuring sustainable enterprise development ˇ install environment safety devices ˇ safety devices installed in SMEs ˇ no. of SMEs with improved environment ˇ ensure appropriate waste management for ˇ waste management system improved SMEs 8. Improving the quality and standards of products ˇ increase of quality certification to SMEs ˇ no. of exportable SME items ˇ quality of SME products ˇ increase of product standardization ˇ quality of SME products ˇ exports of SME products certificates to SMEs 9. Ensuring human resource development and ˇ provide training on different trades ˇ no. of male and female entrepreneurs trained ˇ productivity of SMEs capacity building ˇ provide training on basic technology ˇ no. of male and female workers trained ˇ growth of SMEs ˇ provide training on work safety issues ˇ no. of trained male and female technicians ˇ provide training on designing ˇ supply of people with managerial skills ˇ provide training on basic accounting, office ˇ managerial capability of the SMEs and file management ˇ provide training on computer and spoken English 10. Supporting women entrepreneurship in SMEs ˇ ensure credit for women entrepreneurs ˇ number of trained women entrepreneurs ˇ women SMEs growth ˇ provide training to women entrepreneurs ˇ financing to women entrepreneurs ˇ employment generation for women ˇ arrange product fairs and other market facilities for women entrepreneurs 11. Restructuring and strengthening BSCIC ˇ change the composition of Board ˇ cost effectiveness of service delivered ˇ no. of new SMEs ˇ change the staffing pattern ˇ areas of new sectoral coverage ˇ no. of new products and design created ˇ change the service on station ˇ improved industrial estates management 241 Strategic Goal Input Indicators Output Indicators Outcome /Impact indicators 12. Strengthening BSTI ˇ increase the no. of regional BSTI offices ˇ decentralised and efficient services from BSTI ˇ quality and standard of SMEs ˇ increase testing facilities in BSTI ˇ increase the no. of qualified staffs in the regional offices 13. Supporting BCSIR ˇ increase flow of funds for R&D specially on ˇ no. of new processes and products developed ˇ product diversification SMEs ˇ technology diffusion and adoption ˇ technological advancement ˇ ensure marketing of new technologies, processes and products 14. Strengthening DPDT ˇ establish offices of IPRs ˇ awareness on IPR issues ˇ no. of patented products and IPRs ˇ undertake projects to strengthen DPDT ˇ coverage and outreach ˇ services from DPDT 15. Strengthening SMEF ˇ decentralise service delivery ˇ Expansion of coverage and outreach ˇ no. of SME client served ˇ increase partnership building with private ˇ Extent of networking sector 16. Coordinating policy formulation ˇ formulate National Coordination ˇ no. of coordination meetings held ˇ harmonized national development policies Committee ˇ no. of impact output indicators formulated ˇ develop indicators for measuring policy and programmes M &E Indicators 6: Employment Generation and Labour Welfare Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1. Generating productive ˇ improve training on existing trades, and introducing training on ˇ no. of trained male and female entrepreneurs ˇ availability and absorption of trained employment new trades in growing demand and graduates human resources ˇ train basic technology and improve technology ˇ no. of trained male and female workers ˇ number of child labour in hazardous ˇ improve working condition for higher productivity ˇ no. male and female technicians sectors ˇ translate higher productivity into higher wages/earnings ˇ policies & guidelines for TVET reform ˇ reform TVET System to make it more responsive to the needs of ˇ no. of quality trainers and graduates women and disadvantaged groups ˇ public-private sector partnerships ˇ draft Child Labour Policy to be finalised and adopted ˇ Child Labour Unit at MLE made operational 2. Undertaking special initiative for ˇ create and manage institutional, technical and financial ˇ National Steering Committee and ˇ overseas employment for Monga the export of workers from infrastructure for proper training and to meet initial expenses for Implementation Committees at the local level affected people Monga Area overseas employment formed to monitor training & loan programmes 3. Promoting overseas ˇ provide training to the workforce including women for overseas ˇ trained pool of male and female workforce ˇ no. of overseas employment employment employment identified for overseas market generated for men and women ˇ provide one-stop service for international women migration ˇ one-stop-service for women migrants ˇ flow of remittance ˇ take diplomatic drive for sending human resources abroad ˇ no. of labour export agreement signed by the ˇ no. of complaints against recruitment ˇ strengthen the monitoring of recruiting agents government agencies ˇ recruitment agents are well monitored 242 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 4. Promoting wage employment ˇ improve capacity in the TTCs, TSCs and other technical institutes ˇ no. of students receiving improved training ˇ wage employment and undertake modernization of training courses 5. Promoting self-employment ˇ provide bank loans to trained male and female entrepreneurs ˇ no. of self-employment created in a year ˇ unemployment rate ˇ share of self-employment in total employment 6. Mainstreaming employment ˇ develop sector level employment policies and mainstream ˇ sector level action plans for employment ˇ employment by sectors into policy making employment generation as a cross-cutting issue ˇ unemployment rate 7. Undertaking job creation ˇ increase resource allocation for public works programme ˇ employment in public work programmes in ˇ severity of seasonal unemployment programmes through public poor especially in Monga-prone areas reduced, especially in the Monga-prone works districts 8. Improving resilience to ˇ establish Coastal Development Authority (CDA) ˇ existing programmes are administered by the ˇ Mitigation of shocks due to natural livelihood shocks due to natural proposed CDA disasters in the coastal areas disasters in the coastal areas 9. Improving labour welfare ˇ establish Labour Welfare Foundation (LWF) ˇ Labour Welfare Centres established ˇ labour welfare in terms of health care, ˇ train OSH, reproductive rights, HIV/AIDS, STD and distributing ˇ partnerships with local govt. institutions, and recreation, family welfare family planning materials NGOs established ˇ labour productivity ˇ establish labour recreational facilities ˇ improved capacity to monitor and implement ˇ industrial relations ˇ undertake time bound programmes for elimination of WFCL programmes on child labour ˇ no. of disruptions in factories ˇ improve management and workers education courses in IRIs and ˇ adoption of the National Child Labour Policy LWCs ˇ BLA-2006 enforced M&E Indicators 7: Private Sector Development Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1. Creating an enabling policy ˇ streamline the legal and regulatory framework ˇ no. of backlog of cases relating to contract ˇ private investment growth environment ˇ clear the backlog of cases in the courts enforcement ˇ employment growth both for male ˇ simplify and make the land titling procedure corruption free ˇ easy compliance of regulatory requirements and female ˇ ensure compliance of labour laws with international standards ˇ land/asset transfer time and cost ˇ no. of new enterprises ˇ reduce time for issuing trade licenses & enterprise registrations ˇ corporate tax system rationalized ˇ no. of new women owned ˇ enact competition law and declare competition policy ˇ privatization & public enterprise reform enterprises ˇ strengthen One-Stop Service of the BOI ˇ time & costs for issuing a trade license and ˇ growth of industry ˇ formulate wage legislation responsive to productivity growth enterprise registration ˇ increase in FDI inflow ˇ replace tax holiday by a system of discount tax rate ˇ better business environment created ˇ no. of people receiving efficient ˇ increase tax exemption ceiling and lower VAT rates ˇ labour productivity improved service from BOI `one stop services' ˇ bring company tax in line with other countries in the region ˇ enhance privatization and public enterprise reform ˇ ensure effective implementation of PSI ˇ create an atmosphere to attract FDIs 2. Increasing and providing ˇ ensure public expenditure on research and support services ˇ credit availability to small/and women ˇ entrepreneurship growth including policy support for PSD ˇ stimulate private investment with guidance and counselling entrepreneurs become easy women entrepreneurs 243 ˇ stimulate sub-contracting activities ˇ sub-contracting facilities strengthened ˇ private investment growth ˇ create database for PSD ˇ information related to PSD is available ˇ employment growth for men and ˇ channel funds to the women and small entrepreneurs without ˇ public ­private partnership established. women collateral and keep interest rate low at maximum of 10% ˇ skill development facilities are available. ˇ form cluster village ˇ marketing facilities are created. ˇ establish training and design centres ˇ foreign loan registry time reduced ˇ streamline foreign loan registry system 3. Improving access to land for ˇ formulate an economic zones (EZ) policy and regulatory ˇ Special Economic Zones (SEZs) established ˇ output and export from SEZs private sector framework ˇ employment for men and women ˇ develop and use PPP models in economic zones ˇ restructure existing public sector industrial estates portfolio ˇ undertake rigorous economic analysis of new investments in EZs ˇ undertake institutional development and capacity building within government 4. Easing supply constraints ˇ create new agency for loan recovery ˇ new industrial estates set up ˇ level of private investment ˇ establish new leasing companies ˇ loan recovery rate improved ˇ reduce infrastructural constraints ˇ no. of firms benefiting from leasing companies 5. Undertake systematic dialogue ˇ strengthen government secretariat for BBBF ˇ no. of meetings of working groups ˇ domestic and foreign private between the public and private ˇ establish private sector secretariat for BBBF ˇ no. of plenary meetings investment sectors ˇ continue identifying issues faced by the private sector and find ˇ no. of recommendations made and ˇ employment for men and women solution through working groups implemented ˇ monitor implementation of solutions 6.Promoting women ˇ strengthen women entrepreneurships development of BSCIC ˇ quality of business support services ˇ growth of PSD entrepreneurship (WE) ˇ strengthen one stop services of BOI ˇ BSCIC's women entrepreneurships ˇ growth of women entrepreneurships development ˇ take steps to ensure higher growth of WE development programmes strengthened ˇ growth of women employment and ˇ build capacity of women garment workers for foreign job ˇ more credit and business services are income markets available for women entrepreneurs ˇ link women's associations and credit institutions ˇ women entrepreneur's forum strengthened ˇ ensure preferential access to support services for WE ˇ provide industrial plots to WE on a preferential basis M&E Indicators 8: Land Use Management including Land Reform Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1.Modernising land records and ˇ increase expenditure on procurement of materials ˇ no. of Upazilas with modernised and ˇ no. of land related disputes and cases land management system ˇ increase expenditure on employment and training of manpower. computerised land records system 2. Rehabilitating and improving ˇ increase expenditure on construction of houses ˇ no. of families provided with land & housing ˇ change of status of these people socioeconomic condition of ˇ increase expenditure on training ˇ no. of families provided with training ˇ employment generation asset less and homeless poor ˇ increase amount of micro credit ˇ no. of families provided with micro credit people 3. Distributing agricultural Khas ˇ take measure for identifying Khas land ˇ no. of families provided with agricultural ˇ crop production by concerned land to poor ˇ take measure for selection of beneficiaries Khas land families 4. Ensuring proper and planned ˇ increase expenditure on procurement of materials, employment ˇ no. of completed land zoning maps and ˇ optimum use of land use of land and training of human resources promulgation 244 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators ˇ take measures for enactment of laws ˇ take measures for preparation of reports, maps ˇ increase expenditure on awareness building of local people and LG bodies 5. Managing Jajmahal, Balumahal ˇ take measure for identification of genuine fishermen ˇ no. of fishermen/ fishermen societies ˇ socioeconomic conditions of and other Sairat mahals for ˇ taken measure for involving NGOs and the Union Parishad provided with Jalmahals fishermen poverty reduction ˇ growth of inland capture fishery 6. Ensuring ownership/title ˇ take measure for selection of area ˇ no. of Khatians and Mauza Maps printed ˇ reduction in the land related cases through land survey ˇ employ sufficient employees for survey and published ˇ increase expenditure on procurement of materials ˇ no. of Khatians and Mouza Maps supplied to the owners 7. Ensuring maximum land ˇ constitute committee of experts including lawyers ˇ no. of land related acts, ordinances, rules, ˇ no of people receiving delivery of related service to the people ˇ take measure for modification, updating and simplification of regulations and policies modified, updated, services land related acts, ordinances, rules, regulations and policies simplified or cancelled 8. Protecting and conserving wet ˇ take measure to protect wet land from land grabbers ˇ proportion of wet land area protected ˇ crop area land, hilly areas, tea gardens, ˇ take measure to make the accreted land suitable for afforestation, ˇ development of accreted land ˇ impact on environment rubber gardens habitation and crop production 9. Take measures to help ˇ identify potential areas for accretion process ˇ quantity of land accreted accretion of coastal land ˇ new habitat M&E Indicators 9: Housing Development Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1. Providing adequate and ˇ identify rent to income ratio ˇ systems of innovative housing finance, ˇ increase in % of new homes for all affordable housing for different ˇ identify per square feet cost of housing in different cities cognizant of middle and low-income especially hard-core poor income groups, especially low ˇ ensure access to credit/housing finance households ˇ new housing communities for hard- income and extreme poor and ˇ stamp duty and fees for registration of core poor and wage workers in ˇ reduce duty and fees for registration of homes/ apartments vulnerable group homes/apartments rented/leased buildings facilitated by ˇ encourage building of multi-unit houses ˇ housing for elderly, FHH, slum and poor GoB/Cooperative Housing Societies ˇ ensure decrease in the no. of squatters and slums people ˇ housing for elderly, FHH, slum ˇ provide tenurial rights ˇ facilitators who will empower local dwellers and poor people communities ˇ % of owned houses in urban areas ˇ eviction frequency 2. Provide housing for rural and ˇ build hostels and dormitories for working women in all district ˇ low-cost homes with efficient land utilization ˇ no. of people with housing in urban homeless, landless and towns ˇ housing for communities in distress disaster-prone, food insecure rural vulnerable groups ˇ include women especially in public housing projects ˇ select disaster-prone, food insecure rural areas ˇ reduce old slums and attrition rate of new slums areas for targeted home building assistance ˇ no. of poor and female headed ˇ undertake group-lending schemes ˇ develop systems of innovative housing household with housing ˇ recapture public land occupied by squatters finance ˇ no. of working women with housing ˇ recaptured public land occupied by squatters facility ˇ new housing policies based on equality and ˇ no. of high-rise buildings with capability criteria minimum 450 square feet flats 245 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 3. Ensuring maximum utilization ˇ increase in budgetary allocation for the housing sector ˇ increase access to inputs in rural areas ˇ micro-finance institutions for of land in urban and rural areas ˇ acquire land for reorganizing land use ˇ ensure quality testing for locally produced housing and providing finance ˇ increase in number of industries to produce construction building materials ˇ financing mechanisms materials ˇ housing fund management association ˇ national guidelines for effective ˇ support construction of social housing/mess etc. including BB, NGOs, local govt. and GoB utilization of land ˇ setup advisory services on housing ˇ loans for housing with community ˇ conditional cash transfer ˇ invest in local, regional and national level research organizations homesteads ˇ legal aid and counselling on home for housing standards ˇ numbers of permanent structures building ˇ introduce national guidelines for effective utilization of land ˇ no. of updated land use plans ˇ grievance and redressal mechanisms ˇ provide conditional loans to housing association for building ˇ no. of completed regional plans related to land and housing housing for poor and destitute women ˇ price of land and housing ˇ no. of people able to afford self ˇ identify households in rural and urban areas capable of paying 5 ˇ amount of urban land provided with services owned houses % interest rate on housing loans 4. Facilitating private sector ˇ provide loans for housing with community homesteads ˇ advisory services on housing information ˇ no. of people able to afford self (formal and informal) house ˇ coordinate between local govt. NGOs and CBOs for housing, ˇ improved funding opportunities at local level owned houses building, NGOs and CBOs transportation, employment, industry for house building and "Compact ˇ compact township ˇ support for less literate population, vulnerable, destitute, disaster townships" affected and women M&E Indicators 10: Infrastructural Development including Power, Energy and Communications Strategic Goals Input Indicators Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators Infrastructure Development including Power, Energy & Communications Power: ˇ increase expenditure on power sector ˇ power generation capability (MW) ˇ area coverage ˇ rationalize tariffs ˇ transmission line (km) ˇ no. of consumer by types 1. Developing capacity for power ˇ adopt transparent power-pricing framework ˇ distribution line (km) ˇ access of poor households generation, transmission and ˇ encourage private sector power generation ˇ manufacturing and crop outputs distribution ˇ employment generation ˇ head-count ratio Energy: ˇ increase expenditure on oil, gas and mineral exploration in land ˇ discovery of new fields and assessment of ˇ manufacturing sector growth 2. Assessing non-renewable and sea potential reserve ˇ stable power generation indigenous resources ˇ attract private sector investment in exploration ˇ no. of households using LPG ˇ output of gas based industries 3. Ensuring conservation ˇ strengthen the hydrocarbon unit (HCU) ˇ no. of CNG using motor vehicles ˇ thermal power generation measures for efficient use ˇ introduce meters for domestic gas supply ˇ coal exploration and extraction ˇ ensure marketing of LPG and CNG ˇ formulate coal policy Roads: ˇ increase expenditure on transport sector ˇ construction of roads by categories ˇ private investment ˇ prepare an integrated road sector Master Plan ˇ constructions of bridges/culverts/flyovers ˇ employment generation (by sector- 4. Developing roads ˇ update legislation mainly Highways Act 1925 ˇ access to areas by roads sub-sector, male-female, infrastructure rural/urban) ˇ adopt integrated multimodal transport policy ˇ no. of growth centres linked ˇ prepare and implement private sector investment policy in the ˇ no. of ferry ghats linked ˇ production and domestic trade 246 Strategic Goals Input Indicators Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators road sub-sector development ˇ women's market sections ˇ export 5. Developing road ˇ expenditure on link roads and pro-growth infrastructure ˇ construction of rural roads ˇ rate of growth of rural economy communication to link growth ˇ involve community, local government institutions (LGI), ˇ head count index in rural areas centres, union and upazila NGOs and beneficiary groups ˇ social indicators in rural areas headquarters and national roads ˇ provide community input in planning, design and implementation 6. Emphasising maintenance of ˇ earmark separate fund for road maintenance ˇ maintenance of roads/bridges/culverts ˇ rate of growth of rural economy roads and other physical ˇ enhance maintenance fund infrastructure ˇ involve local government & NGOs in operation & maintenance Railways: ˇ increase expenditure on railways ˇ no. of branch lines ˇ cost effective and efficient railway ˇ rehabilitate and reopen closed branch lines ˇ construction of double track lines system 7. Increasing access to the railway ˇ adopt public service obligation (PSO) involving all branch lines ˇ no. of passengers by classes service to serve the local poor in backward/remote areas ˇ railway freight by types of goods ˇ provide transport facilities to poor passengers Inland water transport: ˇ expenditure on inland water transport as % of transport sector ˇ no. of container vessels for waterborne ˇ travel/transport cost and time expenditure cargo transportation and water taxi ˇ system loss at various level 8. Enhancing quality of water ˇ formulate pragmatic water transport policies ˇ ro-ro ferries, 2 K-type ferries, landing ˇ employment generation by transport ˇ carry out base line survey covering all water transport areas stations and coastal passenger vessels male/female, rural/urban ˇ develop sustainable water transport system ˇ navigation services ˇ head-count ratio ˇ launch terminal/ghats facilities Airway: ˇ increase expenditure on airway ˇ no. of new destinations and frequency ˇ volume of export ˇ acquire aircrafts for long-haul and regional routes ˇ modern Biman's fleet ˇ employment generation 9. Increasing scale of operation to ˇ off-load Biman's share ˇ Modernise airport facilities ˇ profit of Biman serve more passengers and ˇ implement cost cutting measures enhance air cargo capacity ˇ facilitate private sector participation in aviation ˇ undertake policy for foreign carriers for perishable export cargo ˇ expand and modernise ZIA. M&E Indicators 11: Social Safety Net, Food Security, Disaster Management, Scaling up of Micro-credit and Rural Non-farm Activities Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators Social Safety Net 1. Extending coverage of social ˇ increase cash and kind transfers as % of GDP ˇ increase in income and consumption ˇ head count rate safety net ˇ increase SSN expenditure as % of total public expenditure ˇ increase in employment generation ˇ incidence of extreme poverty by socio-economic groups and region Food Security 2. Ensuring food entitlement ˇ keep food price within peoples' purchasing power ˇ increase food consumption ˇ no. of people enduring hunger ˇ increase total food distribution ˇ nutrition status of poor people Disaster Management 3. Improving risk reduction ˇ increase public expenditure on disaster management ˇ protection and rehabilitation of all groups ˇ loss of life and property capacity ˇ involve NGOs, LGIs in disaster management of people ˇ credit to poor and SMEs 247 Micro-credit 4. Reaching the ultra poor and ˇ ensure disbursement of micro-credit to ultra poor ˇ increased coverage of the ultra poor, under ˇ head count index under served areas ˇ expand disbursement to underserved areas served areas and capable entrepreneurs' ˇ graduation rate ˇ upscale micro-credit to served capable entrepreneurs 5. Scaling up micro-credit for ˇ reduce interest rate ˇ % of poor and ultra poor with access to ˇ head-count ratio poverty reduction ˇ ensure disbursement of collateral free larger micro credit micro credit ˇ employment generation by ˇ provide non-financial services on need basis ˇ coverage of non financial services male/female and rural /urban ˇ extend and deepen GO-NGO collaboration ˇ no. of borrowers and size of credit ˇ household income of micro credit ˇ make rules for credit disbursement and repayment more flexible ˇ lower interest rate and longer grace period recipients and the other poor ˇ ensure supply of loanable funds ˇ governance of micro-finance institutions ˇ graduation rate ˇ strengthen Micro-Finance Regulatory Authority Rural Non Farm Activities 6. Accelerating growth of Rural ˇ increase expenditure on RNF as % of total public expenditure ˇ kilometres of rural roads by quality category ˇ rural employment Non-Farm Enterprises (Runes) ˇ increase expenditure on rural electrification ˇ no. of entrepreneurs with access to ˇ rural non-farm wage rate sector ˇ improve delivery of utility services for RNF enterprises electricity in rural areas ˇ growth of income in rural non-farm ˇ provide credits, incentives and non financial supports for Runes ˇ increased growth of rural enterprises activities ˇ undertake measures to improve rural investment climate M&E Indicators 12: Improving Knowledge Base: Education, Training, Research, Access to Information and Building Awareness at the Grassroots Level Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1. Strengthening early childhood ˇ increase expenditure for ECD education ˇ coverage of pre-school programmes for ˇ % of households with access to development (ECD) ˇ undertake pre-school programmes for children from poor families children ECDP programmes ˇ establish day-care centres for children ˇ % of children getting day-care facilities ˇ `quality' of ECDP 2. Ensure all boys and girls ˇ increase expenditure on primary and secondary education ˇ no. of schools built/renovated ˇ enrolment rates for boys and girls complete a full course of primary ˇ establish/renovate school buildings and other infrastructure ˇ no. of texts books supplied ˇ dropout and repetition rates for boys schooling ˇ provide teaching materials, teacher's training ˇ no. of teachers trained and girls by age groups ˇ develop uniform curriculum ˇ pupil-teacher ratio ˇ no. of boys and girls reaching grade-5 3. Improving access and equity to ˇ equity, quality and access to primary and secondary education ˇ competency evaluation test ˇ passing rate of boys and girls at secondary education ˇ ensure selection of teachers on the basis of merit ˇ coverage of stipends for female students secondary level ˇ make learning enjoyable in the classroom ˇ `quality' of education 4. Strengthening education ˇ increase expenditure on education for the excluded children ˇ no. of schools built/renovated ˇ enrolment rate of excluded boy and programmes for excluded ˇ establish/renovate school buildings and other infrastructure ˇ no. of teachers trained girl children children ˇ provide necessary materials, teacher's training, stipends and ˇ no. of text books supplied ˇ dropout and repetition rates for boys incentives and girls by age groups ˇ proportion of excluded children who achieved education 5. Enhancing technical and ˇ establish/renovate school buildings and other infrastructure ˇ no. of schools built ˇ proportion of poor children access to vocational education for children ˇ provide necessary materials, teacher's training, stipends and ˇ no. of teachers trained TVET incentives ˇ development and use of uniform curriculum ˇ enrolment rate in TVET for men and ˇ develop uniform curriculum women ˇ ensure equity and quality of education ˇ dropout and repetition rates ˇ % of men and women students 248 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators completed TVET ˇ `quality' of education 6. Strengthening madrasa ˇ provide teaching materials and teacher's training ˇ no. of teachers trained ˇ enrolment rate in madrasah education education including core ˇ develop and improve core curriculum ˇ integrated curriculum for madrasha ˇ % of students accessing madrasah curriculum ˇ integrate madrasa into a unified primary & secondary education education system ˇ passing rate ˇ `quality' and market relevance of madrasah education ˇ performance parity for madrasah students with other educational system 7. Empowering children through ˇ expenditure on children empowerment as percentage of child ˇ % of children with participation and access to ˇ empowerment of children social integration and inclusion development expenditure relevant sectors and institutions ˇ increase access, equity and participation in relevant sectors ˇ enhance opportunity for and capacity of girl child 8. Creating opportunities for ˇ introduce courses on need based skill retraining programmes in ˇ no. of retraining and continuing education ˇ no. of men and women enrolled in continuing education and the existing educational institutes in the evenings programme introduced and completed continuing education training and training 9. Creating of new knowledge and ˇ create a national endowment to support undertaking action-based ˇ national endowment for research ˇ policy formulated on the basis of information and result-oriented research ˇ no. of action and result oriented research research findings ˇ encourage research among the teachers of tertiary education and ˇ recommendation identified for dealing with link it to promotion national and local level socio-economic and ˇ develop and strengthen BBS as an independent organization technology related problems 10. Empowering people by giving ˇ undertake nation wide road-shows, area-based information ˇ no. of road-shows, area-based information ˇ socially responsible behaviour among them information and fair on various development issues fairs men and women encouraging socially responsible ˇ introduce citizens' charters in every government office ˇ citizens' charters in every government office ˇ % of population viewing behaviour ˇ encourage NGOs to strengthen their roles in a cohesive manner ˇ availability of information at the grassroots documentary films in disseminating information at the grassroots level level ˇ change in attitude of people ˇ make documentary films on various social issues ˇ no. of documentary film produced 249 M&E Indicators 13: Health, Population, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation and Food Safety Sector Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators Strategic Goal 1. Improving child and mother ˇ increase expenditure on health as % of total govt expenditure ˇ coverage of EPI ˇ infant mortality rate of boys and girls health ˇ percentage of children covered by IMCI ˇ child (U-5) mortality rate of boys and ˇ increase expenditure on ESP as percentage of total health girls expenditure ˇ percentage of population covered by ESP 2. Improving reproductive health ˇ maternal mortality rate ˇ percentage of births attended by skilled ˇ increase expenditure on cash/voucher/health card system for personnel/TBA ˇ population growth rate 3. Improving adolescent health poor pregnant women ˇ coverage of EOC services ˇ no. of death caused by TB, Malaria ˇ increase expenditure on prevention of STD including HIV/AIDS ˇ contraceptive prevalence rate and other communicable diseases of 4. Ensuring health facilities for the elderly ˇ increase expenditure on control of communicable diseases ˇ coverage of preventive services against men and women ˇ distribute insecticide treated mosquito nets in malaria prone areas communicable diseases ˇ total fertility rate 5. improve access of poor to heath ˇ coverage of ANC and PNC ˇ quality' of health services ˇ strengthen and expand BCC services and quality of services ˇ number of qualified doctors per 1000 persons ˇ life expectancy of men and women ˇ design supervision and monitoring mechanism for the availability, ˇ number of hospital beds per 1000 persons ˇ proportion of poor patients quality and accessibility of health services ˇ number of trained nurses per 1000 persons ˇ introduce citizens charter in hospitals ˇ availability of doctors and nurses on duty ˇ undertake awareness campaign 6. Improving child and mother ˇ increase expenditure on child and mother nutrition ˇ coverage of vitamin A, iron tablets, iodized ˇ PEM nutrition ˇ strengthen ABCN in rural and urban areas salt/testing kits, de-worming and other micro ˇ height-for-age (stunting rate) of boys ˇ fortify common food with vitamin A, irons and iodine nutrient supplementation and girls ˇ strengthen nutrition education and school nutrition programmes ˇ coverage of home gardening ˇ weight-for-height (wasting rate) of ˇ implement national nutrition programmes ˇ coverage of national nutrition programmes boys and girls ˇ undertake awareness campaign for poor children ˇ weight-for-age (underweight BMI) of boys and girls 7. Ensuring food quality and ˇ increase number of food items standardized by BSTI ˇ number of PHLs at divisional and district ˇ life expectancy of men and women by access to safe food for all ˇ introduce Consumers' Protection Act headquarters expenditure group ˇ introduce policy for quality control of street vended food ˇ number of adulterated food items ˇ develop food borne diseases surveillance system ˇ incidence of food related diseases ˇ update Pure Food Act ˇ strengthen BSTI to expand market monitoring systems ˇ undertake awareness campaign 8. Ensuring safe water and ˇ increase expenditure on supply of safe water and sanitation ˇ % of population with access to safe water ˇ incidence of water borne morbidity sanitation facilities for all ˇ install alternative water supply and sanitation systems for un- ˇ % of population with access to sanitary and mortality served/under-served areas latrines ˇ life expectancy of men and women ˇ introduce water quality monitoring and surveillance programme 250 M&E Indicators 14: Social Inclusion and Empowerment- (a) Women's Advancement and Rights Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact Indicators 1. Ensuring women's full ˇ increase expenditure on women development as % of public ˇ % of women in farm & non-farm ˇ % of female-headed households below participation in mainstream expenditure agriculture, manufacturing, banking, the poverty line economic activities ˇ increase women's participation in farm & non-farm agricultural physical infrastructure and service sectors ˇ % of Women /man aged 15+ activities and provide `khas' land & agricultural credit ˇ % of poor women with access to employed as paid employees ˇ improve participation in manufacturing, banking, physical agricultural inputs and credit ˇ % of Women /man aged 15+ who are infrastructure and service sectors including government jobs ˇ % of women with access to training, self-employed or employers ˇ provide training, credit and fiscal incentives for small and credit and fiscal incentives for SMEs medium-scale enterprises ˇ day care facilities for working women ˇ ensure day care facilities for working women ˇ clean toilet facilities for women in public ˇ implement full quota for women spaces, offices, markets and factories ˇ make institutions women friendly 2. Improving women's efficiency ˇ increase expenditure on women to reduce time by providing ˇ proportion of households getting water, ˇ average no. of hours per week spent by (reducing time use) in water, gas, electricity facilities gas, electricity facilities women/men on unpaid housework performing their household and ˇ ensure social and maternal services ˇ proportion of women getting social and and care of family members reproductive roles and ˇ provide subsidy to poor households maternal services responsibilities ˇ raise awareness to improve men's contribution to household activities 3. Building women's capacity in ˇ provide necessary health, nutrition, educational services and ˇ no. of doctors per 1,000 persons ˇ maternal mortality ratio health and education to appropriate training ˇ proportion of women with access to ˇ ratio of girls to boys in primary, improve entrance into labour ˇ achieve and sustain gender balance in primary, secondary and EOC, ANC, PNC services secondary and tertiary education market and productivity tertiary education ˇ proportion of births attended by skilled ˇ malnutrition among girls and women ˇ improve quality, equity and access to health, nutrition, health personnel /TBA ˇ enrolment rates of girls at primary, educational services and training for women ˇ STD & AIDS/HIV prevalence among secondary and tertiary education women ˇ ratio of adult literate females to males ˇ contraceptive prevalence rate ˇ employment generation for women ˇ coverage of iodized salt, iron, folic acid ˇ share of women in wage employment tablets and nutritious food ˇ head-count ratio of female-headed supplementation households without remittance ˇ % of female students coverage by stipends 4. Ensuring social protection for ˇ strengthen social protection (e.g. VGF, FSVGD, RMP, WTC, ˇ no. marriage with dowry ˇ % of female/male headed households women against vulnerability and NNP, widow &old age allowance etc) for disadvantaged women ˇ retrenched female workers due to phase- under the poverty line risk ˇ ensure access of women victims to govt. legal aid fund out of MFA ˇ no. of violence recorded against ˇ provide VAW training, one-stop services, media coverage, ˇ no. of trafficking of women women rehabilitation programmes ˇ % of women getting protection against ˇ eliminate leakages of safety net programmes vulnerability and risk ˇ introduce reform (where necessary) and enforce existing ˇ % of women victims reintegrated in the women laws strictly to support women society ˇ % of poor women covered by safety net 5. Enhancing women's political ˇ strengthen political empowerment of women at national and local ˇ no. of women candidates at national and ˇ no. of women elected at national empowerment and participation level and ensure participation in decision-making process local level regular election and local level regular election in decision-making process ˇ include women members of parliament in all standing ˇ % of women's representation in ˇ % of women in decision-making 251 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact Indicators committees parliament, public, private and NGO in parliament and public sector ˇ make women politically and socially more conscientious services ˇ women empowerment index ˇ develop women empowerment index every three years ˇ women empowerment index made public 6. Ensuring women's ˇ provide diversified training, one-stop services etc. for ˇ no. of women's participation in the ˇ overseas employment generation participation in the international migration of women international forums ˇ remittances by women international forums ˇ increase women's access and participation at international level ˇ proportion of women proficient in ˇ head-count ratio of female-headed ˇ ensure safe and secured working environment for women at language households international level ˇ no. of women getting diversified training ˇ create opportunities for women's participation in overseas to compete at the international level employment 7. Strengthen institutions for ˇ implementation of women's NPA 2008 ˇ Coordination wing in MoWCA ˇ women empowerment coordination and monitoring of ˇ review the effectiveness of the current institutional setup to established ˇ new institutional setup to address gender equality issues address women advancement issues ˇ gender disaggregated statistics generated women advancement issues ˇ establish a coordination wing in MoWCA to act as secretariat of ˇ indicators for monitoring progress in ˇ incidence of violence against women NCWD and WDIEC implementation of (NPA) for women ˇ develop a database on reported cases of violence against women ˇ recommendation for reorganising ˇ introduce PBA system institutional setup to address women advancement issues M&E Indicators 14: Social Inclusion and Empowerment- (b) Children's Advancement and Rights Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact Indicators 1. Reduce infant and under-five ˇ increase expenditure for children on health ˇ no. of doctors per 1,000 children ˇ male/female infant mortality rate ( mortality rates ˇ maintain expanded programme on immunization (EPI) ˇ % of children covered by BCG, DPT, per 1000 live births ) ˇ ensure prompt care for diarrhoeal disease control (DDC) POLIO, MEASLES ˇ male/female under-five mortality ˇ improve acute respiratory infection (ARI) ˇ % of children covered by ARI rate ( per 1000 live births ) ˇ increase use of integrated management of childhood illness ˇ % of children covered by IMCI ˇ male/female child mortality rate( (IMCI) at union level ˇ coverage of school health programme for per 1000 live births ) 2. Improve health status of ˇ strengthen health education promotion (HEP) and school health poor children ˇ `quality' of health services for children programmes ˇ coverage of reproductive health care for children ˇ access to reproductive health services adolescent ˇ access to health services for disadvantaged children ˇ coverage of urban and rural primary health ˇ develop strategies for prevention of accidents and injuries services for poor children 3. Reduce malnutrition among ˇ increase expenditure for children on nutrition ˇ coverage of vitamin A, iodized salt, iron, ˇ malnutrition rate among children children ˇ fortify common food with vitamin A, irons and iodine folic acid tablets and nutritious food ˇ height-for-age (stunting rate) ˇ strengthen nutrition education and school nutrition supplements especially for girl children of ˇ weight-for-height (wasting rate) programmes poor families ˇ weight-for-age (underweight) ˇ implement national nutrition programmes ˇ coverage of nutrition programmes for poor children 4. Provide safe water, healthy ˇ increase expenditure for children on safe water and sanitation ˇ coverage of alternative water supply and ˇ proportion of children with sanitation and environment for ˇ install alternative water supply and sanitation systems for un- sanitation systems for un-served/under- access to safe water, healthy children served/under-served areas served areas sanitation and environment 252 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact Indicators 5. Strengthening early childhood ˇ increase expenditure on ECDP ˇ % of household with access to ECDP ˇ % of children from poor families in development (ECD) programmes pre-school programmes ˇ % of children from poor families getting day-care facilities 6. Ensuring all boys and girls ˇ establish/renovate school buildings and other infrastructure ˇ no. of schools built/renovated ˇ enrolment rates at primary & complete a full course of primary ˇ provide necessary materials, teacher's training, stipends etc ˇ no. of texts books supplied secondary level by boys and girls schooling ˇ develop uniform curriculum ˇ no. of teachers trained ˇ dropout and repetition rates at ˇ ensure equity, quality and access to primary and secondary ˇ pupil-teacher ratio primary and secondary level by boys 7. Improving access and equity to and girls and age group education ˇ competency evaluation test secondary education ˇ % of children reaching grade 5 ˇ coverage of stipends for female students ˇ passing rate at secondary level 8. Strengthening education ˇ establish/renovate school buildings and other infrastructure ˇ % of excluded children access to education ˇ enrolment rate of excluded children programmes for excluded ˇ provide necessary materials, teacher's training, stipends and ˇ no. of schools built/renovated ˇ dropout and repetition rates children incentives ˇ no. of teachers trained ˇ % of excluded children achieved ˇ no. of text books supplied education 9. Enhancing technical and ˇ establish/renovate school buildings and other infrastructure ˇ % of poor children with access to TVET ˇ enrolment rate in TVET vocational education for children ˇ provide necessary materials, teacher's training, stipends etc. ˇ no. of schools built ˇ dropout and repetition rates ˇ develop need-based curriculum ˇ no. of teachers trained ˇ % of student achieved TVET 10. Strengthening madrasah ˇ provide necessary materials, teacher's training, stipends and ˇ percentage of children with access to ˇ enrolment rate in madrasah education including core incentives madrasah education education curriculum ˇ develop and improve core curriculum ˇ no. of teachers trained ˇ passing rate ˇ integrate madrasah into a unified national primary and ˇ performance parity for madrasah students ˇ `quality' and market relevance of secondary education system with other educational system madrasah education 11. Empowering children through ˇ increase expenditure on children empowerment ˇ % of children with participation and access to ˇ empowerment of children social integration and inclusion ˇ increase access, equity and participation in relevant sectors relevant sectors and institutions and institutions ˇ % of children's representation in parliament, ˇ enhance opportunity and capacity for girl child public & private institutions and NGOs 12. Reducing social violence ˇ increase expenditure on violence against children ˇ proportion of early marriage ˇ socio-economic climate for children against children ˇ introduce reform (where necessary) and enforce existing child ˇ no. of trafficking of children 13. Ensuring child victims' access laws strictly to support children ˇ no. of violence recorded against children to all necessary support services ˇ proportion of children getting protection for speedy recovery and smooth against violence, vulnerability and risk social reintegration 14. Preventing transmission of ˇ % children victims reintegrated in the society STD including HIV/AIDS ˇ % of poor children covered under safety net within children ˇ prevalence of STD & AIDS/HIV among children 15. Strengthening institutional ˇ develop indicators for monitoring progress in implementation ˇ child statistics generated for monitoring and ˇ child empowerment and capacity for monitoring and of national plan of action (NPA) for children evaluation of children's development development evaluation of child's development ˇ develop a database on reported cases of violence against children ˇ enhance linkages, and cooperation between government and relevant child organizations and NGOs 253 M&E Indicators 14: Social Inclusion and Empowerment- (c) Indigenous people, Persons with Disability, and Other Disadvantaged and Extreme Poor Groups Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators Indigenous people 1. Establishing peace in hill ˇ increasing public expenditure for indigenous people ˇ better development atmosphere in hill ˇ living standard in the hill districts districts districts ˇ secure land tenure system for indigenous people 2. Involving community ˇ increase expenditure for community involvement ˇ no. of indigenous people participated ˇ empowerment of indigenous in adoption and conservation of ˇ preserve traditional knowledge of indigenous communities in conservation of technologies in managerial community technologies ˇ ensure participation of local government in indigenous and organizational affairs of indigenous community development communities ˇ build awareness of rights, legal affairs, customary laws of ˇ awareness of their right, legal affairs , indigenous community customary laws 3. Mobilising other Ministries ˇ ensure education for indigenous people ˇ % of indigenous people covered in ˇ education among indigenous people to ensure indigenous ˇ ensure health and reproductive health for indigenous community education ˇ mortality and morbidity among community's access to basic ˇ ensure sanitation and water supply for indigenous community ˇ % of indigenous people covered by health indigenous people services such as health, services ˇ literacy rate among indigenous ˇ ensure electricity supply for indigenous community education, sanitation, safe ˇ % of indigenous people covered by water people water, electricity etc. ˇ incorporate indigenous affairs in respective national policies and sanitation ˇ indigenous household access to ˇ no. of national policies incorporating needs electricity of indigenous community ˇ Indigenous language preserved 4. Ensuring safety net and food ˇ increase expenditure on safety net programme for indigenous ˇ no. of beneficiaries form safety net ˇ head count security in indigenous areas people ˇ effectiveness of safety net programme 5. Creating employment ˇ ensure indigenous people's participation in economic activities ˇ % of indigenous people in farm and non- ˇ employment generation for opportunity for indigenous ˇ support private sectors in developing rural roads and hat-bazars farm physical activities, tourism and indigenous people community and construction of physical facilities, tourism and food/fruit food/ fruit processing industry ˇ income of indigenous people processing industry ˇ indigenous people's access to micro­credit ˇ expand micro­credit suited to conditions of indigenous people for income generating activities and employment Persons with Disabilities 6. Providing access to normal ˇ increase expenditure for persons with disabilities ˇ % of students with disability covered in ˇ literacy rate among people with education to children with ˇ increase expenditure on education/special education of children education facilities disability physical disabilities and visually with disability ˇ % of visually impaired children covered in ˇ passing rate in national standard impaired and special education ˇ expand coverage of stipend for students with disability education facilities examinations to hearing impaired and ˇ % of hearing impaired children covered in ˇ make special learning materials for students with disability mentally retarded students education facilities ˇ % of mentally retarded children covered in education facilities 7. Ensuring adequate provision ˇ increase expenditures on education/special education of ˇ no. of persons with disabilities of different ˇ prevention of disability of medical/ health care services children with disability category received health/ medical services ˇ life expectancy of people with 254 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators and counselling etc ˇ make blood tests of couple compulsory disability ˇ increase no. of beds in hospital for people with disability ˇ morbidity of people with disability ˇ introduce integrated management of childhood illness 8. Ensuring implementation of ˇ ensure employment and rehabilitation of people with disability ˇ no. of persons with disabilities of different ˇ self-employment of people with quota for employment of ˇ increase expenditure on development activities undertaken for category employed and disability persons with disability in providing housing facilities ˇ no. of persons with disabilities rehabilitated ˇ wage employment of people with NGOs and public and private provide credit facilities for people with disability disability sector ˇ provide skill training in computer and soft ware development ˇ income of people with disability 9. Ensuring accessibility to all ˇ ensure accessibility to physical facilities of people with disability, ˇ ramps in public buildings, ticket counter, ˇ no. of persons with disabilities of physical facilities by building ramps in public buildings, ticket counter, seat and seat and toilet facilities in buses, waterways, different category availing their toilet facilities in buses, waterways, rail stations, cinema halls rail stations, cinema halls accessibility to all physical facilities 10. Ensuring participation in ˇ provide play ground, sports materials, incentives etc. for persons ˇ no. of person with disability of social functions, sports and with disabilities as percentage of total expenditure on their different category participated in cultural activities development activities. social, sport and cultural activities 11. Providing services to persons ˇ ensure service to persons with disabilities according to their ˇ no. of person with disability of different ˇ integration with mainstream society with disabilities according to needs at their door step category provided community based service their needs at the door step ˇ increase expenditure for artificial aids and appliances according to their needs at their door step ˇ provide micro credit for income generating activities 12. Amending the disability act ˇ undertake measures to amend the disability act ˇ disability is defined and diverse needs and ˇ rights of persons with disabilities according to standard set out by ˇ form a expert committee rights of person with disability are specified established the international organization ˇ hold series of meeting ˇ responsibility of government employee for disability issue is defined 13. Strengthening coordination ˇ ensure coordination and monitoring of progress of activities for ˇ formation of a National Coordination ˇ proper implementation and monitoring mechanism to people with disability Committee ˇ measures taken by different review the progress ˇ form a National Coordination Committee ˇ no. of coordination and monitoring meting ministries 14. Mobilising other ministries/ ˇ hold review meetings to coordinate activities of different held divisions to ensure access to ministries ˇ government circular with instruction for education of persons with every ministry to address disability issues ˇ mainstream disability issues in the activities of all ministries disability 15. Ensuring data base on ˇ undertake survey on people with disability ˇ reliable data on people with disability ˇ programme and planning for people persons with disability with disability Disadvantaged and Extreme poor group 16. Ensuring access of ˇ provide all basic services for other disadvantaged and extreme ˇ disadvantaged and extreme poor people ˇ life expectancy disadvantaged and extreme poor group covered by health services, ˇ morbidity poor group to health, sanitation ˇ ensure access to health and family welfare related services ˇ people covered by educational facilities ˇ literacy rate and safe water, education, and ˇ ensure access to education and technical training ˇ people covered by water and sanitation ˇ standard of life know-how that will make them ˇ ensure access to sanitation and water supply ˇ people provided with technical know-how able to change their situations 17. Ensuring housing facilities ˇ ensure housing and rehabilitation facilities for other ˇ % of sweeper, Bede and other ˇ head-count poverty reduction especially for tea garden disadvantaged and extreme poor group disadvantaged communities receiving workers, sweepers, and people ˇ develop housing for sweeper, Bede, home-less people housing facilities who are homeless due to river ˇ % of homeless people received housing erosion 255 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 18. Ensuring rehabilitation of sex ˇ rehabilitate sex-workers and their children ˇ % sex workers and children rehabilitated workers and children 19. Providing micro credit and ˇ provide micro-credit and skill training for development of other ˇ % of people receiving micro credit ˇ employment of men and women skill training to disadvantaged disadvantaged and extreme poor community ˇ % of people receiving skill training on ˇ income of men and women and extreme poor group ˇ ensure skill training on social forestry, poultry etc different trades ˇ provide facilities to develop cottage industry 20. Improving data base of ˇ undertake survey of various disadvantaged and extreme poor ˇ availability of data ˇ appropriate policy decision disadvantaged and extreme communities ˇ programme planning and poor communities ˇ use data and information for developing support facilities implementation M&E Indicators 15: Improvement of Governance including Civil Service Reforms, Judicial Reforms and Law and Order Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1. Ensuring effective ˇ ensure timely formation of standing committees ˇ no. of standing committee meetings held in a ˇ parliamentary process as per the parliamentary process ˇ ensure that MPs are present in all parliamentary sessions year recommendations of the standing ˇ ensure resources and information are available for MPs on ˇ reports of the standing committees made committees various development issues and Bangladesh's commitment in public ˇ legal environment international forum ˇ no. of legal business accomplished 2. Ensuring effective service ˇ introduce targeted, need based training and appraisal ˇ design of need based training module ˇ knowledge and skills of MPs delivery ˇ undertake objective performance based evaluation ˇ no. of officials imparted training. ˇ business process improvement ˇ customer focused procedural simplification ˇ "Performance" and "Value for Money" audit ˇ productivity indicators ˇ incorporate ICT for reducing personal interface and efficiency report and to overcome space and time factor ˇ citizen's satisfaction index 3. Improving Legal and Judicial ˇ undertake legal reforms ˇ no. of cases disposed of as % of total ˇ appeal preferred as % of total system ˇ reform judicial process number of contested cases contested cases ˇ develop alternate dispute resolution mechanism ˇ no. and type of allegation brought to court. ˇ average time/cost of justice ˇ civil-criminal case ratio ˇ no. of cases settled 4. Changing role of law enforcing ˇ reform various laws ˇ ratio of conviction/acquittal under different ˇ no. of cases against life and property, agencies ˇ reform and simplify procedure sections organized crime, drug etc. ˇ introduce independent prosecution/attorney service ˇ citizen's satisfaction index 5. Strengthening local ˇ ensure devolution of power to local government ˇ new laws, rules and regulation for local ˇ service delivery government ˇ provide sufficient resource for local government government ˇ employment, income, health and ˇ develop performance indicator ˇ devolution of budgeting process education ˇ Form a Local Government Commission ˇ no. of local initiatives on poverty reduction ˇ publication of performance report ˇ oversight of Local Government 6. Promoting e-Governance ˇ form a national policy and strategy with time bound action plan ˇ one-stop service centres for all trade services ˇ citizen's access to public information ˇ increase training on e-governance ˇ information service at every UP ˇ reduced physical office-client interface 7. Combating Corruption ˇ undertake sensitization/advocacy campaign against corruption ˇ reduction of corruption ˇ underground economy ˇ ensure legal change to discourage corruption ˇ public utility services ˇ Tax-GDP ratio ˇ introduce reward for good and innovative service ˇ cost of doing business ˇ quality of service delivery 256 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 8. Promoting Human rights ˇ make Human Rights Commission functional ˇ laws in line with the UDHR ˇ better human rights situation ˇ undertake extensive advocacy/media campaign ˇ violence against women M&E Indicators 16: Utility Services Development including Safe Water Supply/Urban Development Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators Water & Sanitation 1. Ensuring safe water supply and ˇ increase expenditure on supply of safe water and sanitation ˇ no. of water users per water point ˇ safe water coverage sanitation for all ˇ increase use of surface water exploring perennial surface water ˇ safe water coverage through pipelines ˇ population not having access to source ˇ use of ground & surface water sanitation ˇ implement water safety plan ˇ knowledge and capability for design of ˇ water borne morbidity & mortality ˇ increase water-testing capacity through networking up to district future water resources management plans ˇ population exposed to arsenic levels ˇ institutional development for WATSAN contamination. ˇ expand utilization of surface water sector agencies ˇ access to sanitary community latrines ˇ rationalise utilization of ground water including women in village, bazar, mosques, health clinics and schools Bangladesh Road Transport Authority 2. Ensuring better control in the ˇ increase expenditure on BRTA ˇ no. of route permits issued ˇ regulated bus and truck fares road transport sector in issuing ˇ modify BRTA rules and ordinance to cope with emerging ˇ no. of banned buses older than 20 years ˇ traffic management route permits and fixing situations and trucks older than 25 years from ˇ road accident rates/fares of buses and trucks ˇ fix uniform rates for different types of transport metropolitan area ˇ air pollution and environment friendly ˇ no. of major cities with phased out two- ˇ ensure plying of vehicles within specified speed and with transport stroke engines approved weight ˇ phase out all two-stroke engines from major cities ˇ introduce CNG and euro engine ˇ ensure auto back-up system of all data entry done in the circle and zonal offices 3. Introducing road safety ˇ educate drivers and conductors about road safety ˇ no. of drivers and conductors trained ˇ no. of road accident education & training and bring ˇ educate children and pedestrians on road safety ˇ no. of laminated driving licenses and ˇ no. of death and injury due to road discipline in issuing driving ˇ issue laminated licenses to drivers and registration certificates to registration certificates issued accident licenses and registration vehicle owners certificates Infrastructure Development including Power, Energy & Communications Power: ˇ build sub-stations and corresponding distribution lines ˇ no. of sub-stations and corresponding lines ˇ power interruption and load 4. Improving quality of service ˇ introduce and expand coverage of pre-paid metering system installed shedding ˇ unbundle the power sector operation ˇ one stop desk service counter ˇ revenues ˇ strengthen institutional capacities ˇ pre-paid metering system ˇ manufacturing & agriculture output ˇ execute reward and punishment system Energy: ˇ strengthen the hydrocarbon unit (HCU) of the energy and ˇ discovery of new gas fields ˇ potential reserve 5. Assessing non-renewable mineral resources division. ˇ potential reserve ˇ system loss indigenous resources ˇ introduce meters for domestic gas consumption ˇ no. of households using LPG ˇ Revenue earning 257 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 6. Ensuring conservation ˇ ensure marketing of LPG and CNG. ˇ no. of CNG using motor vehicles measures for economic and efficient use of energy Railways: ˇ increase expenditure on railway ˇ branch lines ˇ travel/transport cost and time 7. Increasing access of the railway ˇ rehabilitate and reopen closed branch lines ˇ train frequency ˇ production & employment service ˇ adopt public service obligation (PSO) in backward/remote generation areas ˇ no. of passenger by male/female ˇ provide transport facilities to poor passengers and ensure ˇ volume of cargo transportation movement of commodities Inland water transport: ˇ increase expenditure on inland water transport ˇ no. of container vessels for cargo ˇ travel/transport cost and time 8. Enhancing quality of water ˇ formulate pragmatic water transport policies transportation and water taxi ˇ system loss at various level transport ˇ carry out base line survey covering all water transport areas ˇ Ro-ro ferries, 2 K-type ferries, landing ˇ production & employment generation stations and coastal passenger vessels by sector/sub-sector, male/female, rehabilitated rural/urban ˇ navigation services ˇ no. of passenger by male/female ˇ launch terminal/ghats facilities ˇ volume of cargo transportation Airway: ˇ increase & modernize Biman's fleet ˇ no. of new destinations and frequency ˇ travel/transport cost and time 9. Increasing scale of operation to ˇ implement cost cutting measures ˇ policies in place for foreign carriers to carry ˇ volume of export by air serve more passengers and ˇ facilitate private sector participation in aviation perishable export cargo ˇ no. of passenger by male/female enhance air cargo capacity ˇ revenue earning ˇ employment generation by male /female Tourism for Poverty Reduction 10. Developing infrastructure for ˇ increase expenditure on tourism related infrastructure ˇ no. of Tourist Complexes Constructed ˇ no. of tourists disaggregated by tourism industry ˇ provide loans to private sector for investing in tourism industry ˇ MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference And country /period of time/gender ˇ include tourism sector under small credit scheme Exposition) Facilities ˇ employment generation by sector/sub- sector, male/female ˇ head-count ratio 11. Scaling-up marketing of ˇ increase fund for promotion of Tourism ˇ no. of tourist Information centres ˇ no. of foreign and national tourist tourism ˇ prepare Inventory Of Tourist Destinations/Attractions ˇ leaflets, posters and brochures distributed ˇ contribution to GDP ˇ upgrade Strategic Tourism Master Plan internationally ˇ contribution to foreign exchange ˇ participate in Tourism Satellite Account of World Tourism ˇ no. of tourist spots especially with earnings Organization archaeological and religious attractions ˇ provide training facilities on hotel management and tourism developed and conserved ˇ Improve Law and Order situation ˇ participation in International Tourist Fairs Post, Telecom & ICT 12. Improving access to ICT, ˇ expand internet network ˇ nationwide internet network including rural ˇ domestic and international trade Telecom & Postal services ˇ facilitate voice video data communications areas ˇ information dissemination time ˇ minimize digital gap ˇ digital telephone exchanges in Upazilas & ˇ market price differential of products at ˇ set up digital telephone exchanges in Upazilas & growth centres growth centres the production point and retail market 13. Modernising postal services ˇ automate postal services ˇ modern and efficient postal system with new ˇ improved postal service delivery for better service to people ˇ capacity building of BPOs through HRD functions 258 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators Safety, Security, Protection of Life, Liberty & Wealth 14. Ensuring safety & security of ˇ increase expenditure on Bangladesh police to modernize them ˇ institutions for improved policing created ˇ no. of crimes life & property ˇ police reforms are in place ˇ no. of model Thanas ˇ efficient & speedy criminal ˇ victim support centre with Crime investigation Investigation Facility ˇ safety of life & property ˇ beach outposts are functional ˇ police image ˇ citizens' charter in place & operational 15. Ensuring fire prevention and ˇ ensure fire prevention and fire safety service particularly in ˇ fire service stations in pourasavas and ˇ incidence of fire accidents fire safety facilities industrial areas upazilas ˇ loss of life and property due to fire, ˇ ensure emergency rescue and ambulance facilities all over the ˇ facilities for fire prevention, safety and disasters and accidents country rescue ˇ access of people to ambulance ˇ procure vehicles and equipment including rescue equipment ˇ fire prevention and safety for mines facilities ˇ ensure sufficient funds for operation and maintenance ˇ communication network between HQ and peripheries Urban Development 16. Establishing local self ˇ create legal framework for self governance & urban development ˇ democratic local bodies functioning with ˇ improved local urban governance governance regularity ˇ service delivery ˇ urban issues addressed on a sustainable basis 17. Building capacity for planning ˇ initiate actions for establishing planning unit in all city corporations ˇ plans prepared for all cities & municipalities ˇ urban facilities in city corporations & ministry ˇ strengthen LGD planning outfit on a continuous basis ˇ traffic congestion in the cities ˇ improve mass public communication system ˇ time/cost of public transportations 18. Establishing viable urban ˇ undertake studies & identify key focus areas in each centre ˇ budgeting & control mechanism in place ˇ viable urban centres centres ˇ generate revenue from designated sources ˇ transparent tax & revenue raising system ˇ urban facilities ˇ ensure performance based funds from the central government ˇ government grant support based on performance 19. Ensuring urban­rural linkage ˇ ensure linkage infrastructure ˇ urban-rural linkages ˇ mutually supporting cities & towns ˇ increase expenditure on urban-rural linkage as percentage of ˇ time/cost for commuting between various developed urban budget urban and rural areas 20. Ensuing water & sanitation in ˇ increase expenditure on WATSAN infrastructure as percentage ˇ people with access to water-sanitation ˇ water borne diseases urban areas of urban budget ˇ water-sanitation conditions in urban slums ˇ water and sanitation availability in ˇ create partnership-GO-NGO-Private sector for waste disposal ˇ modern land fill sites domestic and public space 21. Ensuring adequate urban ˇ ensure housing facilities for low income, poor and working women ˇ master plan for urban infrastructure ˇ urban infrastructure limitations infrastructure including housing ˇ ensure private-public cooperation in providing urban shelter with ˇ housing-shelter plan ˇ housing & shelter facilities in the & shelter special attention to working women's need ˇ institutions & partnership developed for urban areas ˇ ensure strategies for cluster development of adjacent pourasavas construction & finance ˇ implement BOO-BOT for developing urban housing 22. Ensuring recreational facilities ˇ introduce a legal framework authorising urban control on all ˇ urban river & common lands developed for ˇ city living conditions improved common land & water bodies common use ˇ affordable recreational activities ˇ develop a Master Plan for recreational needs like parks, ˇ cities & towns created with urban amenities playground, libraries, auditoriums, etc. ˇ create partnership for development on BOO-BOT 259 M&E Indicators 17: Environment and Tackling Climate Change for Sustainable Development Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1. Increasing access of the poor ˇ increase access of the poor to CPRs ˇ utilization of CPRs ˇ status of common property to common property resources ˇ establish property rights of ownership and use of water bodies, ˇ health of CPRs resources (CPRs) natural resources, wetlands, chars and harvesting forests ˇ participatory co-management of NRM ˇ head-count ratio ˇ prepare a new regulatory framework for environmental ˇ ecosystem health protection ˇ safe environment ˇ develop public-private and community-based participatory co- ˇ % of poor people with access to management for NRM CPRs 2. Conserving bio-diversity of the ˇ discourage monoculture and increase practices of multicultural ˇ destruction of habitat and overexploitation ˇ balance in biodiversity country approaches including crop rotation of flora and fauna ˇ participatory co-management in the ˇ increase diversified land-use patterns ˇ CPRs health area of CPRs ˇ implement policies, rules and regulations for biodiversity ˇ encroachment of the natural forests and ˇ biodiversity conservation and ˇ reduce destruction of habitat and overexploitation of flora and water bodies and its surroundings sanctuaries fauna ˇ invasion of exotic flora and fauna ˇ encroachment of the natural forests ˇ stop encroachment of natural forests and water bodies ˇ new biodiversity conservation areas and and water bodies and its ˇ stop invasion of exotic flora and fauna in the CPRs sanctuaries surroundings ˇ establish biodiversity conservation areas and sanctuaries ˇ invasion of exotic flora and fauna 3. Controlling air pollution in ˇ increase access of energy efficient cooking stoves in rural and ˇ % of rural household using fuel efficient ˇ status of health of people major metropolitan cities and urban areas cooking stoves ˇ emission efficiency in both indoor rural settings ˇ per capita carbon dioxide emissions and outdoor environment ˇ increase conversion of natural gas to compressed natural gas in motor vehicles ˇ vehicle inspection and maintenance ˇ respiratory patients in urban and ˇ increase use of sulpher and lead free fuel in motor vehicles programmes rural areas ˇ control indoor polluted air emission ˇ fuel quality with respect to lead and sulpher ˇ ambient air quality at the national ˇ implement policies, rules and regulations to reduce air pollution content standard level ˇ monitor and disseminate air quality information every day ˇ compulsory annual tests of vehicle emission ˇ air quality information ˇ promote more research and development to change building and ˇ emission related taxes construction standards ˇ clean technologies and renewable energies ˇ reduce polluted air emission from brick kiln and other sources for power generation ˇ increase access to clean and renewable energy ˇ clean air quality of our surroundings 4. Improving solid waste ˇ increase segregation at source and safe disposal of hazardous ˇ solid wastes collection with efficient ˇ sanitized status of waste management system wastes resource recovery, recycle, reuse and safe management ˇ increase public-private partnership for solid waste management disposal to the sanitary landfill ˇ hygienic situation of the surrounding ˇ strengthen the regulatory measures for solid waste management ˇ safe disposal/reuse of hazardous wastes environment ˇ introduce sanitary landfill in all urban cities ˇ skin diseased patients in urban and ˇ public-private partnership for rural areas ˇ introduce waste to resource recovery system environmentally friendly SWM system ˇ income generation activities of poor ˇ introduce landfill leachate collection and treatment system ˇ environmentally friendly SWM master plan people ˇ develop tools and techniques that could bring monetary value of ˇ environmentally friendly solid and other the solid waste to the market wastes management system in the industry ˇ network system among relevant organizations 260 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 5. Controlling industrial pollution ˇ develop a data base of all existing and up coming industry ˇ % of industries and other enterprises into ˇ environmentally friendly sustainable ˇ ensure environmental clearance certificate (ECC) of all industries ECC procedures industrial development ˇ ensure EMP, ETP and environmental health management system ˇ tanneries and other polluting industries in ˇ hygienic environment in and around to all polluting industries environmentally managed isolated areas the industry. ˇ ensure IEE/EIA of all industries prior to its establishment ˇ environmental rules and regulations ˇ safe occupational health in the ˇ use alternative technologies that use cleaner energy ˇ CETP in the industrial parks industry ˇ encourage water recycling ˇ EIA report available to public ˇ create a separate Environmental Cell for conducting EMP and ˇ mandatory environmentally friendly wastes developing ETP management in all industry ˇ establish polluter-to-pay approach to the industries those have ˇ environmentally friendly management already damaged ecosystem/environment systems ˇ relocate tanneries of Hazaribagh and other polluting industries to ˇ environmental management network among environmentally managed EPZ sites the industries with a database system ˇ strengthen regulatory measures against industrial emissions 6. Improving water supply and ˇ introduce hanging toilet in the wetlands areas and coastal districts ˇ sustainable access of improved water supply ˇ water-borne diseases sanitation status for healthy ˇ reduce effluent discharges from mechanized vessels and and sanitation facilities ˇ life expectancy environment industries into rivers and other inland waters ˇ conservancy laws and regulatory frameworks ˇ safe water supply and hygienic ˇ enforce laws and regulations to control hazardous/toxic wastes ˇ polluter-to-pay principles sanitation ˇ develop a network of monitoring and evaluation systems ˇ capacity for research and development in ˇ develop drainage congestions in all MCC and major cities collaboration with universities, research ˇ Ensure access to safe water supply both for drinking and other institutions and other relevant organizations domestic activities in urban slums and coastal districts ˇ network among all relevant organizations ˇ ensure hygienic public toilet and sanitation facilities in urban areas ˇ ETP for effluent treatment in the industries ˇ dredge and excavate the rivers, haors and baors 7. Improving hazardous waste ˇ increase expenditure on hazardous waste management ˇ efficient segregation and safe disposal of ˇ hazardous wastes pollution and management ˇ ensure efficient collection, treatment and safe disposal medical, hazardous wastes contamination ship breaking and chemical wastes ˇ entrance of trans boundary hazardous wastes ˇ infectious diseases ˇ ban trans boundary hazardous wastes dumping ˇ strengthen the regulatory measures against hazardous waste ˇ effective and efficient collection, treatment and safe disposal of medical, ship breaking management and chemical wastes ˇ networking system among relevant organizations 8. Introducing and enforcing ˇ increase expenditure on invasion management ˇ entrance of foreign matters or organisms in ˇ invasion risk Quarantine Law ˇ develop cells for monitoring of all sea, land and air ports to the country ˇ health of flora and fauna protect the entrance of foreign matters or organisms ˇ quarantine of all marine ships, land vehicles ˇ strengthen regulatory measures against entrance of any foreign and airplane matters or organisms ˇ native indigenous species for flora and fauna 9. Introducing environmental ˇ incorporate EE in the curricula at all education levels ˇ expertise of environmentally friendly ˇ knowledge of environmentally education at all levels ˇ develop environmentally friendly technical know-how among resource management friendly sustainable development populations ˇ environmentally friendly technical know- ˇ develop safe and hygienic habitation knowledge in all activities of how on the rights and responsibilities 261 Strategic Goal Input Indicators/Policy Change Output Indicators Outcome/Impact indicators daily life ˇ capacity of research in public universities, research institutions and other organizations 10. Introducing environmental ˇ incorporating environmental awareness and motivational ˇ expertise of resource management of ˇ knowledge of environmentally awareness and motivational knowledge up to the grass root levels of all stakeholders. environmentally friendly for sustainable friendly sustainable development programmes up to the grass ˇ developing environmentally friendly programmes and activities of development. root levels of all stakeholders technical know-how among different societies to make them well ˇ environmentally friendly technical know- informed choices and exercise on the rights and responsibilities. how on the rights and responsibilities. 11. Ensuring environmental ˇ ensuring technical and managerial competence, organizational ˇ technical and managerial competence, ˇ reliability, predictability, rule of law, issues in good governance capacity, reliability, predictability and the rule of law organizational capacity, reliability, accountability and transparency in ˇ ensuring accountability, transparency and open information predictability and the rule of law environmental friendly development systems ˇ open information systems ˇ ensuring participatory co-management ˇ participatory co-management approach M&E Indicators 18: Technology Policy including ICT and Bio-technology Strategic goal Input indicators Output indicators Outcome/Impact indicators 1. Developing power sector ˇ arrange adequate financing for construction and implementation ˇ contact signing with potential supplier for ˇ generation of electricity from nuclear through implementation of of Nuclear Power Project Nuclear Power Plant & Technology source Nuclear Power Project ˇ improve HRD ˇ construction of Nuclear Power Plant 2. Developing nuclear service ˇ ensure government funding and IAEA technical support ˇ establishment of R&D facilities ˇ health services, analytical services related infrastructure ˇ procure necessary equipment and ensure HRD ˇ NDT services and environmental monitoring 3. Developing technologies and ˇ hire competent scientists and technical workers ˇ no, of commercial process ˇ no. of SMEs industrial processes for ˇ procure scientific equipments ˇ no. of leased out of process ˇ technology for food industries production and preservation of ˇ increase expenditure for research and development (R&D) ˇ no of patent ˇ food safety and food quality status food items activities ˇ services provided in research ˇ employment generation for poor ˇ technical assistance ˇ development of R&D skill 4. Reducing irrigation cost ˇ hire competent engineers & technicians ˇ no. of medium lifting shallow tube-wells run ˇ Using the duel/fuel kit through dual fuel shallow water ˇ procure scientific equipment and machine tools by dual fuel kit ˇ production cost of crops pump 5. Introducing new energy ˇ provide training on improved stoves, biogas technologies and ˇ no. of biogas plant established by BCSIR ˇ use of sustainable energy technology solar oven in urban and rural areas ˇ no. of new model of improved stoves ˇ environment pollution control ˇ organise seminar and exhibition in rural areas innovated ˇ green house gas emission ˇ provide technical support to people to establish new technologies ˇ no. of new model of solar oven innovated ˇ employment generation ˇ undertake loop research 6. Developing and promoting of ˇ develop scientists and technical workers in area of AMC ˇ new medicinal use of plants innovated and ˇ no. of people use and benefits form alternative medicine care ˇ increase expenditure on R&D cultivated AMC (AMC) ˇ new industries for AMC products 7. Increased agricultural ˇ increase expenditure on R&D, infrastructure, scientists, technical ˇ technology for crop improvement, plant ˇ technology transfer to no. of productivity through the personnel etc. tissue culture, DNA finger printing, stakeholders and farmers innovative application of ˇ innovate DNA technology for transgenic plants and identification of GMOs genetic engineering and environmentally safe rice bio-fertilizer ˇ DNA technology for transgenic plants and 262 Strategic goal Input indicators Output indicators Outcome/Impact indicators biotechnology environmentally safe rice bio-fertilizer 8. Innovating building materials ˇ increase expenditure on R&D, engineers, technical personnel ˇ developed technology that withstands strong ˇ new material and technology for appropriate for coastal areas ˇ undertake research activities tidal waves construction of infrastructures in coastal areas 9. Developing and disseminating ˇ ensure hiring of competent engineers/technologists/scientists ˇ no. of new products ˇ no. of new industries and product products and processes for ˇ procure technical and scientific equipments. ˇ availability of process for manufacturing of lines SMEs. ˇ increase expenditure on R&D products ˇ generation of new employment ˇ operation of process in a cost effective way ˇ minimum production cost through less resource use 10. Establishing technology ˇ establish technology transfer centre for SMEs in all districts ˇ dissemination of technology for SMEs ˇ competitive production costs transfer centre for SMEs and ˇ employ sufficient human resources for technology dissemination promotion ˇ production by SMEs including SMEs ensuring SME technology ˇ gap between research and commercial owned by women incubation organizations ˇ employment generation for men and ˇ training for skill development and other women necessary facilities ˇ services for technology adaptation 11. Developing ICT for mass use ˇ develop ICT Policy and Infrastructure ˇ access to related information for RNFA and ˇ access of product to global and local ˇ develop human resource development for ICT SME markets ˇ enhance Research & Development in ICT applications ˇ development/Improvement of operational ˇ employment generation in ICT (men ˇ promote use of ICT system and women) ˇ ensure e-Governance for delivery of public services to the people ˇ implementation of e-business for access ˇ e-Community centres in Upazila and ˇ provide broadband internet connectivity to ICT Incubator and to market growth centres with provision for important Ministries /Divisions/ Departments ˇ employment data base women ˇ provide ICT based services for available to all citizen ˇ use of ICT for education ˇ e-Governance to ensure public ˇ Centre of excellence for ICT services to people ˇ increase access to ICT among disadvantaged groups including women ˇ no. of rural population (male/female) with access to ICT ˇ increase export of Software and ITES ˇ multimedia courseware for SSC level ˇ ICT awareness among all the citizens ˇ use of ICT to provide services in remote areas for e-learning, e- agriculture, e-health etc. 263 Annex 4 Thematic Committees and Their Composition Sl. Names of the Composition of Committees No. Thematic Committees 1. Macroeconomic Chair: Member, General Economics Division, Planning Commission Management for Pro-poor growth Committee Members including i) Chief, GED, Planning Commission Financial Sector ii) Chief, Programming Division, Planning Commission and Trade iii) DG, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Development iv) Representative, Finance Division v) Representative, NBR vi) Representative, Ministry of Commerce vii) Representative, Bangladesh Bank viii) Representative, Export Promotion Bureau ix) Representative, BEPZA x) Representative, Securities Exchange Commission xi) Representative, ERD xii) Representative, BSTI 2. Resources Chair: Secretary, Internal Resources Division Mobilization (Domestic and Committee Members: Foreign) i) Chief, Programming Division, Planning Commission ii) Representative, Finance Division iii) Representative, ERD, Ministry of Finance iv) Director General, National Savings Directorate v) Director General, Department of Postal Service vi) Representatives, Other concerned Ministries/Agencies 3. Improvement of Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Establishment Governance including Civil Committee Members: Service Reforms, i) Chief, SEI Division, Planning Commission Judicial Reforms ii) Representative, Chief Advisor's Office and Law and Order iii) Representative, Local Government Division Improvement iv) Representative, Ministry of Home Affairs v) Representative, Finance Division vi) Representative, GED, Planning Commission 4. Health including Chairperson: Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Nutrition, Sanitation and Committee Members: Population i) Chief, SEI Division, Planning Commission Planning ii) Representative, Ministry of Agriculture iii) Representative, Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock iv) Representative, Ministry of Food & Disaster Management v) Representative, Local Government Division vi) Representative, National Nutrition Institute vii) Representative, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare viii) Director Generals, Relevant Directorates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 5. Education Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Education including Primary and Mass Committee Members: Education, Female i) Chief. SEI Division, Planning Commission Education, ii) Representative, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Vocational and iii) Representative, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Technical iv) Representative, Ministry of Youth and Sports Education v) Representative, Ministry of Labour and Employment 264 Sl. Names of the Composition of Committees No. Thematic Committees vi) Representative, Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment vii) Representative, Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology viii) Representative, Ministry of Religion Affairs ix) Director General of Technical Education 6. Employment Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment Generation and Labour Welfare Committee Members: i) Chief, SEI Division, Planning Commission ii) Representative, Programming Division iii) Representative, Ministry of Expatriate, Welfare and Overseas Employment iv) Representative, Finance Division v) Representative, Ministry of Social Welfare vi) Representative, Ministry of Woman and Children Affairs 7. Women's and Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Children's Advancement and Committee Members: Rights Including i) Chief, SEI Division, Planning Commission Social Inclusion ii) Representative, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and iii) Representative, Ministry of Social Welfare Empowerment. iv) Representative, Ministry of Home Affairs v) Representative, Ministry of Labour and Employment vi) Representative, Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment vii) Representative, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education 8. Social Safety Net Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Food and Disaster Management including Food Security, Disaster Committee Members: Management, i) Chief, Agriculture, Rural Institution and Water Resources Division Micro credit and ii) Representative, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Rural Development iii) Representative, Local Government Division / Non-farm iv) Representative, Ministry of Social Welfare Activities v) Representative, Ministry of Labour and Employment vi) Representative, Ministry of Youth & Sports vii) Representative, Ministry of Industries viii) Representative, Finance Division ix) Chairman, BRDB x) MD, PKSF 9. Agriculture (Crops, Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Livestock) Committee Members: including Forestry i) Chief, Agriculture, Rural Institution and Water Resources Division ii) Representative, Ministry of Land iii) Representative, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock iv) Representative, Ministry of Water Resources v) Representative, Local Government Division vi) Representative, Ministry of Industries 10 Land Use Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Land Management including Land Committee Members: Reform i) Chief, Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Resources Division ii) Representative, Ministry of Land iii) Representative, Ministry of Agriculture 265 Sl. Names of the Composition of Committees No. Thematic Committees iv) Representative, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock v) Representative, Ministry of Water Resources vi) Representative, Local Government Division vii) Representative, Ministry of Industries 11. Water Resources Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management Committee Members: i) Chief, Agriculture, Water Resource and Rural Institution Division, Planning Commission ii) Representative, Ministry of Agriculture iii) Representative, Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock iv) Representative, Ministry of Land v) Representative, Ministry of Finance vi) Representative, Local Governments Division vii) Representative, Rural Development & Cooperatives Division viii) Representative, Ministry of Environment and Forest ix) Representative, Programming Division, Planning Commission 12. Private Sector Chair: Secretary, Prime Minister's/Chief Advisor's Office Development Committee Members: i) Chief, Industries Division, Planning Commission ii) Representative, Ministry of Industries iii) Chairman, BOI iv) Executive Chairman, BEPZA v) Chairman, BTRC vi) Representative, Energy Regulatory Commission vii) Executive Director, Privatization Commission viii) Chairman, BSCIC ix) Executive Director, Bangladesh Shilpa Bank x) Chief, Controller of Insurance xi) Managing Director, BASIC 13. Small and Medium Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Industries Enterprise (SME) Development Committee Members: i) Chief, Industries Division ii) Representation, Ministry of Commerce iii) Representative, Ministry of Woman and Children Affairs iv) Representative, Board of Investment v) Representative, Bangladesh Bank 14. Infrastructural Chair: Secretary, Power Division Development including Power, Committee Members: Energy and i) Chief, Physical Infrastructure Division, Planning Commission Communications ii) Representative, Ministry of Communication (Roads, Railways, iii) Representative, Energy Division Ports, Shipping, iv) Representative, Ministry of Commerce Inland Water v) Representative, Ministry of Shipping Transport and vi) Representative, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Telecommunication) vii) Representative, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications viii) Representatives from concerned agencies 266 Sl. Names of the Composition of Committees No. Thematic Committees 15. Technology Policy Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Science and Information & Communication including Technology Information and Co-Chair: Member, SEI Division, Planning Commission Communication Technology Committee Members: i) Chief, SEI Division, Planning Commission ii) Representative, Ministry of Education iii) Representative, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications iv) Representative, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare v) Chairman, BTRC vi) Chairman, BCSIR vii) Representative, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, and viii) Chairman, Bangladesh Computer Council 16 Housing Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Public works Development (both urban and rural) Committee Members: i) Chief, SEI Division, Planning Commission ii) Representative, Ministry of Social Welfare iii) Representative, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs iv) Representative, Ministry of Land v) Representative, Local Government Division, vi) Representative, Rural development and Co-operatives Division vii) Representative, Ministry of Water Resources 17 Utility Services Chair: Secretary, Local Government Division Development including Safe Committee Members: Water Supply i) Chief, Agriculture, Water Resource and Rural Institution Division Planning Commission ii) Representative, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education iii) Representative, Ministry of Education iv) Representative, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare v) Representative, Power Division vi) Representative, Ministry of Land vii) Representative, Roads and Railway Division viii) Representative, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications ix) Representative, Energy and Mineral Resources Division x) Representative, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism xi) Representatives , All concerned Agencies 18 Environment for Chair: Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest Sustainable Development Committee Members: i) Chief, Agriculture, Water Resource and Rural Institution Division, Planning Commission ii) Representative, Ministry of Agriculture iii) Representative, Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock iv) Representative, Ministry of Land v) Representative, Ministry of Water Resources vi) Representative, Ministry of Home Affairs vii) Representative, Ministry of Defence 267 Annex 5 Summary Proceedings of NSAPR II Consultation Meetings The NPFP (National Poverty Focal Point) of the GED (General Economics Division) organized several consultations with a cross-section of stakeholders to make the NSAPR II (revised) a truly country owned document. The first consultation was held with academics, researchers, CBOs and NGOs on the structure of the document. The National Steering Committee for the preparation of PRSP then finalized the structure of NSAPR on 17 September 2007. After the draft thematic reports were prepared, a three-day national-level consultation attended by academics, researchers, CBOs, NGOs, and trade bodies, was held in Dhaka on 18 -20 March 2008. This was followed by a two-day regional consultation at Barisal on 29 ­ 30 March 2008 which was participated by concerned local government officials, representatives from chambers of commerce and industry, professional organizations, NGOs, media, different occupational groups, and thematic experts. The recommendations of these consultations were reflected in the final thematic reports. The draft NSAPR was prepared drawing on the 18 thematic reports produced by the thematic groups. The endeavour was supported by thematic experts. A two-day long consultation was held in Dhaka on 1 ­ 2 June 2008 which was participated in by academics, researchers, and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, professional organizations, CBOs, NGOs and concerned ministries. A consultation on the draft was also held with the development partners in Dhaka on 10 June 2008. Two more consultations on the draft were held­ one at Rangamati on 21 June 2008 and the other at Rajshahi on 28 June 2008. The participants in these consultations included local people representing various stakeholders and local government functionaries. The consultations outside Dhaka were facilitated by the district administration while that with the development partners was facilitated by the Economic Relations Division of the Finance Ministry. Valuable comments were received in the consultations and these were supplemented by written comments sent afterwards. The participants discussed both general and sectoral issues. The rationale of preparing the NSAPR II by the caretaker government instead of extending it for another year was questioned and it was suggested that the strategy must be owned by the future elected government through appropriate process. The logic of abandoning five-year plans and shifting to the three-year PRS was also questioned. A more broad based consultation was recommended to reflect the aspirations and opinions of people from all walks of life. Some participants questioned the relevance of the strategies followed by successive governments for the poor and opined that they were not pro-poor and inclusive as claimed. Some participants opined that the current development paradigm in Bangladesh is termed as market friendly but it is actually corporate friendly. The economy is gradually shifting to a corporate economy culture. The focus on growth rather than distribution was also questioned. While growth may be good for some people it may exclude the poor. When bottled water is sold it enhances growth but the poor do not have access to this water. The sectoral recommendations obtained from the consultations are briefly presented below: 1. Macroeconomic Environment for Pro-Poor Economic Growth ˇ Suitable policies are needed for promoting development in different regions of the country, especially the regions having high incidence of poverty or chronic poverty. The policies should include special incentives like tax holidays and low interest loans for industries, promoting development of exports following the "one district one product policy", and promoting export of manpower from the regions lagging behind by providing appropriate skill training. ˇ Establishment and operation of training institutes by the manpower recruiting agencies should be made mandatory. For migrant workers passports should be issued for 10 years. ˇ For private sector development some thrust sectors should be identified. 268 ˇ The government should avoid adopting anti-poor policies like banning rickshaws on major city roads. ˇ Automation of income tax administration is needed. ˇ Bangladesh should reap the benefits of regional trade. It should establish industrial clusters of SMEs near the land ports to serve the regional markets. 2. Critical Areas of Focus for Pro-Poor Economic Growth 2.1 Agriculture ˇ Development of agriculture should be promoted through supply of modern seeds, introduction of crops suitable for particular regions, like drought resistant and less water intensive rice in the north-western region and salinity resistant rice in coastal areas, fruits, spices and medicinal plants in CHT districts, promotion of livestock and fisheries sub-sectors through provision of research and extension services, and promotion of the cultivation of local fruits and spices. ˇ Awareness about bird flu and similar devastating diseases should be created in order to have a sustainable poultry industry. ˇ Increased agricultural production should be based on the use of more organic fertilizers and compost and less chemical fertilizers. ˇ In order to stop the distress sale of rice by small farmers and ensure fair price for them, cooperative marketing along the lines of Thailand can be introduced. ˇ In coastal districts cultivation of three crops in a year instead of the current single crop should be promoted through the development of agriculture. 2.2 Water resources Development and Management ˇ Over exploitation of underground water for irrigation and other uses which has a severe adverse impact on environment should be discouraged. Rather, use of surface water for irrigation and other purposes should be encouraged. ˇ Existing heights of embankments have to be raised as per engineering studies in view of the apprehended sea-level rise. Compaction of sea-facing embankments has to be ensured. Plantation of trees with long roots well outside the toe line of embankments has to be ensured. ˇ Awareness of water use and its economic importance needs to be created. 2.3 Small and Medium Enterprises ˇ Development of SMEs should be promoted, especially in the regions lagging behind and regions outside Dhaka through the provision of tax incentives, low-interest credit and adequate and uninterrupted supply of electricity and tax-free import of raw materials. ˇ In order to sustain the silk industry in Rajshahi, the establishment of reeling factories should be encouraged and the reeling sections in the Resham Board should be re- started. ˇ ICT should come under the purview of SME. ˇ Women entrepreneurs should be given training on marketing, accounting and pricing. ˇ Rescheduling of loans is needed in enterprises affected by natural disasters. ˇ Women entrepreneurs should have easy access to credit and mortgage-free loan. They should be exempted from requirements like trade license or tax certificate and should given loans on individual security. ˇ There should not be any restrictions on the movement of goods produced in the hill districts and forest products to facilitate growth of SMEs and agriculture in the region. 269 2.4 Land Use Policy and Administrative Issues ˇ Implementation of the Land Use Policy 2002 will be able to put a stop to the non- agricultural use of agricultural land. ˇ Implementation of the land policy is needed to promote development in hill districts. ˇ Land administration and related issues should be adequately dealt with as land disputes are an important problem for the poor. 3. Essential Infrastructure for Pro-Poor Economic Growth 3.1 Power and Energy ˇ Measures should be taken to construct a nuclear power plant at Rooppur for generating electricity. Another plant can be constructed in a less populated area of Rangpur district. ˇ The capacity of the hydroelectric power plant at Kaptai should be increased and the provision of 15 MW electricity sub-stations for hill districts should be assured, especially in view of the sacrifice of the people in this region for electricity. ˇ Gas should be supplied to yet un-served areas, especially in the western region. In case of gas connections priority should be given to industries over households. ˇ Low cost and environment friendly energy supply for the poor should be assured. ˇ Use of solar energy, wind energy and bio-gas to reduce the magnitude of the energy problem should be emphasized. 3.2 Transport ˇ Road transport network should continue to develop connecting Upazilas with district towns. Quality of construction and maintenance of roads should be ensured. ˇ Two bridges, one at Maoa over the Padma and another near Bahadurabad over the Jamuna, should be constructed to integrate the eastern region with the western region of the country. ˇ The toll for crossing the Jamuna Bridge should be drastically reduced to facilitate the flow of goods between the two regions. ˇ Measures should be taken to prevent road accidents which impose heavy costs on people. ˇ Road communication should be expanded in coastal districts to connect important places which are not yet connected. Construction and maintenance work should be completed before the advent of the rainy season. ˇ The railway should be developed as a relatively cheap and comfortable means of transport for people and goods. Double tracks should be provided on major routes like the Dhaka-Chittagong route. ˇ In coastal areas the dredging of rivers should be undertaken to facilitate year- round navigation and pontoons should constructed at all launch/steamer ghats. Security of river routes should be ensured. 3.3 Post and telecommunication Telecommunication facilities should be expanded to link Upazilas with district towns in Rangamati, Banderban, and Khagrachari hill districts. 3.4 Housing and Shelter ˇ Loss of agricultural land through various non-agricultural uses should be minimized; loss owing to housing can be reduced by encouraging building clusters of houses in villages and providing them with infrastructural facilities. ˇ In coastal areas the poor should be provided with houses built on RCC pillars, more cyclone shelters at cyclone prone coastal districts should be constructed and old shelters should be properly maintained. ˇ The middle-class people in coastal areas should be provided with housing loans on easy terms to construct houses that can tolerate cyclone and tidal surges. ˇ The extreme poor and distressed people should be accommodated in clustered homes. 270 4. Effective Social Protection for Vulnerable People 4.1 Social Safety Net Programmes (SSNPs) People living in remote char areas should be brought under SSNPs. The coverage of the Char Livelihood Project should be expanded to all char areas. 4.2 Micro Credit Zakat fund should be mobilized for poverty alleviation. 4.3 Rural development Mosque-based employment generation activities can contribute to poverty reduction and they should be supported. 4.4 Disaster Management Community radio should be established to provide early warning of cyclones and other natural disasters. 5. Human Development 5.1 Education ˇ General education should be discouraged while technical and vocational education should be encouraged so that young people can find jobs both within and outside the country; they can also start their own business. However, the current state of technical and vocational education should be assessed in terms of their success in generating self or wage employment. ˇ Students outside major metropolitan cities are in general weak in English; special programmes should be undertaken to promote effective English teaching in the country. ˇ Administration of primary education should be handed over to the local governments. There is no example of running primary education by the central bureaucracy in the world. ˇ Arrangements should be made to impart primary education to indigenous people in their own languages beside Bengali and English. ˇ Researches in science laboratories should be evaluated in terms of their contribution to the country's industrial development and future research programmes should be linked to the solution of the country's specific problems. ˇ A Knowledge Council should be established along the lines of India to facilitate creation of a knowledge-based society. ˇ More attention should be given to promoting quality education at all levels especially for the poor. ˇ Demand-based training should be given to cater to the domestic as well as international markets. 5.2 Health ˇ Administration of primary healthcare should be handed over to the local governments. Community clinics and other health facilities at union level should be made fully operational. ˇ Quality of healthcare services should be improved in the rural areas. The private sector should be encouraged alongside with the public sector to offer healthcare in rural areas. ˇ Government should regulate public health services so that private practice by public hospitals doctors must not affect the public hospital services. 6. Ensuring Participation, Social Inclusion and Empowerment ˇ The term `indigenous people' should be used to mean people of different ethnic communities living in CHTs as well as on the plains. Similarly, `people with disabilities' should be used instead of `disabled people'. 271 ˇ Education of domestic servants and street children should be ensured; domestic servants should be given some training in household work. ˇ Inclusive education should be provided to people with disabilities. ˇ The post of Vice President of Upazila Parishad should be reserved for women. ˇ The implementation strategy of the Women Policy 2008 should be articulated. 7. Promoting Good Governance ˇ Access of people to government offices should be made easier and the citizens' charter should be displayed in all offices. ˇ Promotion of government officials should be based on efficiency, honesty, seniority, merit and commitment. ˇ The media should play an impartial, constructive and objective role to ensure good governance. ˇ In post-disaster management, activities of the government and NGOs should be coordinated so that some families do not receive more than the usual share of relief goods while many other families do not receive any relief at all. ˇ Peace in CHTs is the basic requirement for development in this region. Peace has to be maintained and promoted through creating a relationship of trust between the Paharies and Bengalee and by looking after the interests of all people living in the hill districts. Local government offices should be placed under the hill councils in line with the Peace accord. ˇ Local government elections in hill districts, which are long overdue, should be held to institutionalize democratic local government. ˇ Local government institutions should be strengthened. 8. Ensuring Effective Service delivery 8.1 Water and Sanitation People in CHT suffer from lack of safe drinking water and access to sanitation. Adequate measures need to be taken to ensure access of all people in this region to water and sanitation. 8.2 Development of Tourism The government should support the development of tourism by the private sector in Rangamati, Banderban and Khagrachari hill districts and other potential tourist areas. 9. Caring for Environment and Tackling Climate Change for Sustainable Development ˇ Environmental sustainability should be ensured through social forestry and by maintaining reserve forests. ˇ Globally the climate change issue puts emphasis on adaptation mechanisms. As a potential worst sufferer from climate change Bangladesh should ask for global prohibition on pollutions causing climate change and for adequate compensation. ˇ Climate change issues should be mainstreamed in the development discourse. 10. Increasing Productivity through technology including ICT and Bio-technology ˇ All government offices from the ministry to the field level should be brought under the Wide Area Network. 11. NSAPR II Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation ˇ PRS implementation monitoring and evaluation is weak and should be strengthened. Monitoring indicators should be small in number so that relevant data can be generated. ˇ Independent research organizations in collaboration with GED should be encouraged to undertake monitoring of NSAPR II. ˇ Social Auditing can be introduced to monitor the access of the poor to resources. 272