ADB preparing new aid plan for Bangladesh
Saturday, 7 May 2011
FE Report
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is preparing a new assistance strategy for Bangladesh for 2011-2015 through a broad consultative and participatory process. The first phase of consultations for the new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) has concluded with 12 dialogues involving development partners, civil society, women's groups, academia, and minority groups, said an ADB press release Friday. The second phase of the consultations will focus on dialogues with senior government officials and project executing agencies. The new CPS is scheduled to be submitted to the ADB's Board of Directors for endorsement in September 2011, it said. Feedbacks received from the field-level consultations have been included in the draft CPS to identify priorities and develop assistance pipeline. Major feedbacks included the need to place greater focus on infrastructure, skills development, and urban services; and address the effects of climate change. The new CPS follows a previous CPS which lapsed in 2010. "The new CPS is aligned with the vision and priorities of Bangladesh's draft sixth five-year plan, which emphasises boosting growth by creating enabling environment for private sector development, and promoting investment in power, transport, urban services, and marketable skills", the press release said quoting Country Director for ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission Thevakumar Kandiah,. "During the CPS period, ADB assistance will seek to foster green growth by integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in all ADB operations. ADB will also support public-private partnership initiatives to help meet the country's huge infrastructure needs," the ADB country chief was quoted as saying. "The new CPS aims to be more selective and focused, building on ADB's experience and sector strength while engaging in sectors where reforms are difficult but are of fundamental importance to the growth of the national economy," Mr Kandiah added. Despite steady growth and significant economic and social development gains, around 32 per cent of Bangladesh's population remain poor, while per capita gross domestic product was $685 in FY2010, the press release said, adding efforts to overcome poverty face numerous constraints, including inadequate institutional capacity, and a poor overall governance situation. CPSs define ADB's medium-term development strategy as agreed with the country. A Country Operations Business Plan is usually prepared every year to update the assistance pipeline taking into account the continued relevance of the CPS, its implementation, and ADB's operational programme.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is preparing a new assistance strategy for Bangladesh for 2011-2015 through a broad consultative and participatory process. The first phase of consultations for the new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) has concluded with 12 dialogues involving development partners, civil society, women's groups, academia, and minority groups, said an ADB press release Friday. The second phase of the consultations will focus on dialogues with senior government officials and project executing agencies. The new CPS is scheduled to be submitted to the ADB's Board of Directors for endorsement in September 2011, it said. Feedbacks received from the field-level consultations have been included in the draft CPS to identify priorities and develop assistance pipeline. Major feedbacks included the need to place greater focus on infrastructure, skills development, and urban services; and address the effects of climate change. The new CPS follows a previous CPS which lapsed in 2010. "The new CPS is aligned with the vision and priorities of Bangladesh's draft sixth five-year plan, which emphasises boosting growth by creating enabling environment for private sector development, and promoting investment in power, transport, urban services, and marketable skills", the press release said quoting Country Director for ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission Thevakumar Kandiah,. "During the CPS period, ADB assistance will seek to foster green growth by integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in all ADB operations. ADB will also support public-private partnership initiatives to help meet the country's huge infrastructure needs," the ADB country chief was quoted as saying. "The new CPS aims to be more selective and focused, building on ADB's experience and sector strength while engaging in sectors where reforms are difficult but are of fundamental importance to the growth of the national economy," Mr Kandiah added. Despite steady growth and significant economic and social development gains, around 32 per cent of Bangladesh's population remain poor, while per capita gross domestic product was $685 in FY2010, the press release said, adding efforts to overcome poverty face numerous constraints, including inadequate institutional capacity, and a poor overall governance situation. CPSs define ADB's medium-term development strategy as agreed with the country. A Country Operations Business Plan is usually prepared every year to update the assistance pipeline taking into account the continued relevance of the CPS, its implementation, and ADB's operational programme.