ADB awards three best performing project teams

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Bangladesh Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tuesday awarded three best performing project teams implementing ADB-supported projects in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
The 2007 award-winning project teams are-- the Northwest Crop Diversifica-tion Project (NCDP) implemented by the Department of Agriculture Extension and Bangladesh Bank, and the Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement (Sector) Project (UGIIP) and the rural infrastructure improvement project (RIIP) - both implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). ADB Country Director Hua Du handed over the plaques and certificates to the project directors, coordinators and project representatives at a ceremony at the ADB's Dhaka office.
Senior government officials, award-winning project team members and ADB staff attended the function.
"The awards were given recognising the project teams' excellent performance, efficiency, integrity, transparency in procurement, effective project implementation, achievement of targets, innovations, strong leadership, overcoming project start-up delays, efforts in women's empowerment and other criteria," Hua Du said.
NCDP, which covers 61 upazilas of 16 north-western districts, is helping to increase income of small farmers by promoting high value crops, disseminating appropriate modern production technologies, and improving the rural marketing system, management and infrastructure through public-non-government organisations (NGO) partnerships.
The project also promotes women empowerment and contributes to diversification, import substitution and improving balanced nutrition by increasing access and availability of fruits, vegetables and spices.
UGIIP aims at promoting human development and good governance in 30 selected municipalities to enhance management accountability and strengthen capabilities in providing services, develop physical infrastructure and urban services to increase economic opportunities and reduce vulnerability to environment degradation, poverty and natural hazards.
RIIP is helping to alleviate rural poverty through improving rural roads, markets and union council office complexes in 16 districts of Khulna and Barisal divisions. The project will enable farmers to reach markets more easily to sell their produce and buy seeds and fertiliser, and provide easier access for rural children to school.
Hundreds of destitute women are being given jobs to plant trees and maintain the roads, and the rural population will get access to health and other social services provided by the government organisation and NGOs, says a press release.