WB to review 24 poorly-performing projects

The World Bank (WB) will sit with the government agencies next week to review 24 projects that the Bank has already identified as poor performers, officials said Saturday.
Officials said the WB will meet officials of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) and the project implementing agencies of the government in Dhaka from September 20 to 21 to review the US$5.5 billion projects it is financing.
"Since performance of 24 development projects is not satisfactory in terms of fund utilisation and physical progress, the Bank will review those in the next meeting," a senior ERD official said.
The WB has already informed the ERD and the government implementing agencies about the poor execution of those projects.
An official at the WB Dhaka office told the FE that they had picked up 24 Bank-funded projects and already requested the ERD and relevant ministries to be prepared for the review meeting.
The WB committed nearly US$5.5 billion concessional loans for the 24 projects to improve  different sectors including energy, education, financial, water supply and sanitation.
Currently, the WB's total portfolio in Bangladesh consists of 50 projects (including 24 projects under the trust fund) with a commitment of $8.86 billion loans and grants.
Of the 24, the WB identified some projects as the 'risky' ones due to unsatisfactory implementation progress, an ERD official told the FE.  
Among the lower performed projects are $195 million Identification System for Enhancing Access to Services (IDEA) of the Election Commission, $166 million Chittagong Water Supply Improvement, $149 million Dhaka Water Supply and Sanitation, and $165 million Disability and Children at Risk projects, $358.9 million health sector development programme, and $60 million VAT improvement programme, which are included for review.
The WB has identified some other projects like the $120 million Investment Promotion and Financing Facility, $302 million Rural Transport Improvement Project-II, and $75 million Rural Water Supply Project, $16.6 million Strengthening Auditor General's office, $210 million modern grain storage facilities and $350 million Siddhirganj power project as weak performers among the ongoing ones.
Besides, it also included some new projects including $600 million rural electricity transmission and distribution project, $300 million financial sector support project, and $375 million multi-purpose disaster shelter project for review due to delay in completing loan effectiveness and start-up.
The global lender also expressed its dissatisfaction on mis-procurement in some projects, the ERD official said adding all these issues are expected to be discussed at the review meeting next week.
The Bank has suggested speeding up the process of implementation or it (WB) would be forced to review its assistance.
Another ERD official said they would sit to remove obstacles in project implementation which is facing various difficulties at different stages.
The WB helps Bangladesh develop its infrastructure and cut poverty including increasing school enrolment, improving health status, expanding renewable energy access, and providing rural roads and water supply.
In the last fiscal 2014-15, the World Bank provided $1.0 billion assistance.
Since independence, Bangladesh got nearly US$18 billion assistance from the World Bank.
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