Bangladesh

FY 2001 Program Description and Activity Data Sheets

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FY 2001 Program USAID will continue its leadership role in family planning and health/child survival activities aimed at meeting the Mission objective of "Fertility Reduced and Family Health Improved (SO1)." Among its components, this will include a new emphasis on polio eradication, and on HIV/AIDS prevention for high-risk groups to contain the still limited incidence of the disease in Bangladesh. The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) provides most of the funding for the national family planning and health program, with a FY 1997/8 budget of approximately $400 million. The GOB supports the delivery of family planning and health services through its rural and urban infrastructure of facilities and personnel. During 1999, USAID/Bangladesh disaggregated its Strategic Objective (SO), "Enhanced Household Income and Food-based Nutrition (SO2)" into four discrete SOs. This restructuring was done to better manage and report on the diverse activities combined under the former objective, and to expand environment and energy programs. Support for economic growth programs in Bangladesh, previously under the consolidated SO2, is continuing under the newly created SO5. SO5 activities will focus on improving the enabling environment for agribusiness, aquaculture, small and medium enterprises, and micro-finance; and assisting individual entrepreneurs and businesses to improve their products, services, and market access. Activities to strengthen management of open water and tropical forest resources, formerly under SO2 and now under SO6, will improve floodplain and forest management practices at the community level. To achieve its objective of "Improved Performance of the Energy Sector (SO7)," USAID will continue its long-standing support for Bangladesh's rural power program while implementing new activities to foster deregulation of the power sector and development of the nascent natural gas sector. Support for humanitarian assistance is a major component of USAID assistance to Bangladesh. The poorest families, and those in disaster-prone areas, will continue to benefit under USAID's Public Law (PL) 480 Title II program, previously under SO2 and now under the new SO8, "Improved Food Security for the Most Vulnerable Groups." Activities will assure food availability through the government's safety net and by promoting policy changes to improve private sector channels; support a Food-for-Education program to encourage families to keep primary school-age children in school; finance Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) and World Vision programs to upgrade community infrastructure; and enhance disaster preparedness. During major natural disasters, humanitarian aid is also provided by USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). USAID's current Democracy/Governance (DG) objective, SO3, aims to improve representation of the rights of women and the poor. Despite excellent results to date, funding constraints have limited the scope of this program. The Mission's DG strategy is now under review. Important elements of the current strategy will be retained, but changes are likely in the overall objective and in some of the SO activities. A recent DG initiative will continue in FY 2001 to support Transparency International- Bangladesh in addressing anti-corruption issues in the public and private sectors. ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Bangladesh TITLE AND NUMBER: Fertility Reduced and Family Health Improved, 388-001 STATUS: Continuing PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $18,975,000 DA; $14,800,000 CSD PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $29,000,000 DA; $19,050,000 CSD INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1997 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2004 Summary: Activities under this Strategic Objective are intended to lower fertility and reduce infant, child and maternal mortality. Major planned results include a reduction in fertility from about 3.4 live births per woman in 1993/4 to 2.8 by 2004 and a decline in infant mortality from 87 per 1,000 live births in 1993/4 to 72 by 2004. The huge size and continuing growth of Bangladesh's population adversely affect the country's ability to feed itself, create sufficient jobs, and provide health, education, and other public services. At the family level, high fertility increases the vulnerability of poor households while continued high mortality further erodes the quality of life. Although fertility and infant and child mortality have declined substantially over the past two decades, continuing efforts are needed to achieve replacement level fertility and further reduce high mortality rates. USAID supports a network of 45 local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide integrated maternal and child health (MCH) services, including family planning, among a population of approximately 22 million. National level assistance that benefits all Bangladeshis is provided for social marketing; improved distribution of family planning commodities; immunization, including polio eradication; disease surveillance; and mass-media health-communications programs. In addition, HIV-prevention activities are targeted on high-risk groups. Child survival funding supports immunization and other child health, and Helen Keller work on nutrition; and portions of the urban and rural service delivery, social marketing, quality improvement, and operations research components of the program. The remaining portions of the program are funded under population and other health accounts. Key Results: The principal result to be achieved under this strategic objective is the increased use of high-impact health services. This requires increasing the availability of integrated health and family planning services through a system that has traditionally emphasized vertical service provision through separate health and family-planning infrastructure and staff, improving service quality, and changing attitudes and behaviors with respect to service utilization among potential clients. It also requires the active involvement of the private sector, including NGOs and commercial product-distribution networks, to substantially complement and extend the reach of government health services. Performance and Prospects: Performance over the past year, the second full year of the program, exceeded expectations. The program expanded access to high impact services, including immunization; treatment of diarrheal diseases, lower-respiratory infections and sexually transmitted diseases; family planning; vitamin A; and antenatal care. This has been done primarily through (1) 300 community clinics and 12,000 monthly satellite clinic sessions, all managed by NGOs; (2) technical assistance to government health sector; and (3) support for the Social Marketing Company, which has increased the sale of oral contraceptives and oral rehydration packets by 97.5% and 33%, respectively, from the 1997 baseline. In addition, USAID has focused it's HIV activities on high-risk groups in 26 urban areas to maximize impact and is substantially expanding polio-eradication efforts, with an emphasis on improving surveillance and reaching children typically overlooked in previous vaccination campaigns. Progress was also achieved in expanding access to health information. New communication materials and programs were developed for use by USAID-supported NGOs, and assistance was provided to the GOB to design a national communication strategy for HIV/AIDS and to address, along with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), key behavioral factors associated with high maternal mortality. In 1999, USAID supported the design or updating of service delivery guidelines for family planning, emergency obstetric care and HIV/AIDS; the development of curricula for improved client counseling and supervision; and the training of more than 700 service providers. The program also revised quality assurance mechanisms to incorporate these new additions and further strengthened logistical systems through training and technical assistance to ensure availability of contraceptives. USAID logistics assistance will be expanded in FY 2000 to include MCH supplies and drugs, in keeping with GOB desire to unify its health and family planning logistics systems. Finally, in 1999, the program enhanced programmatic and institutional sustainability through training, technical assistance and continued transfer of responsibility for management and implementation to Bangladeshi partner organizations. Measures to improve cost effectiveness and cost recovery are being investigated to maximize financial sustainability while safeguarding access by the poor. Baseline studies for operations research to test and scale-up improved service delivery approaches have been completed. USAID is actively involved in policy dialogue with the GOB to ensure that the lessons learned from the program (initiated a year before the GOB's program to integrate family-planning and other health services in government facilities) can facilitate GOB program implementation. In FY 2000 and FY 2001, service delivery will be enhanced by increasing the frequency of satellite clinic sessions; converting high-volume satellite sites to static clinics; opening new sites in up to 45 low-performing, under-served areas; and expanding access to clinical contraception. Pricing strategies will be evaluated and revised, and initiatives in adolescent health, HIV/AIDS, polio eradication, and nutrition will be expanded. Continued staff development and refresher training will be emphasized. Community mobilization will be strengthened through dissemination of key health messages, and referral linkages will be strengthened among GOB, NGO and private facilities. The Social Marketing Company will expand the non-pharmacy sales of oral contraceptives nationwide, expand STD/HIV educational programs for high-risk persons, test market pre-packaged STD drugs for men, investigate the potential for marketing female condoms, and promote wider condom utilization on television. Possible Adjustments to Plans: Intermediate results and associated indicators are being revised to sharpen the focus of the program, without changing its substance. Other Donor Programs: The World Bank and its consortium of nine bilateral and five multilateral donors are supporting the planned delivery of integrated health and family planning services primarily through the government sector via a comprehensive sector-support program. Though USAID does not fund this program, it coordinates closely with it, especially regarding logistics, procurement and training. Annual expenditures approach $80 million. UNICEF provides approximately $8 million of annual support for specific child survival and selected maternal health activities. Since 1995, under the Common Agenda initiative, the Japanese Government has provided or committed over $15 million for the immunization program (primarily vaccines), the expansion of family planning services through local governments, and support for NGOs. USAID is the second largest donor in the population/health sector, after the World Bank and its partner consortium. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID implements activities through U.S. and local private firms, universities, and NGOs. The major partners are: the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, for operations research; Management Sciences for Health for technical support related to immunization (including polio eradication) and other child-health services; AVSC International for quality-improvement activities; John Snow, Inc., for urban service delivery and logistics management; and Pathfinder International for rural service delivery. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1997) Actual (1998) Actual (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Target (2002) Percent of aggregate operating costs of USAID-supported NGOs covered by program generated revenues 6 7 10 12 14 16 Sales of Oral Contraceptives by the Social Marketing Company (in millions of cycles) 8.0 12.1 15.8 19 21 23 Sales of Oral Rehydration Salts Packets by the Social Marketing Company (in millions of cycles) 53 62 70.3 77 80 84 Percent of children fully vaccinated by age 12-months with recommended EPI1 antigens 51 54 52 56 58 60 Non-polio AFP2 case identification rate per 100,000 children under 15-years of age .10 .30 .66 .75 1.0 1.0 Note 1. Expanded program on immunization Note 2. Acute flaccid paralysis U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Bangladesh TITLE AND NUMBER: Food Security for the Poor Improved, 388-002 STATUS: Terminating. Strategy revised FY 1999. See 388-005 - 388-008 PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: -0- PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: -0- INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 1999 Summary: For FY 2000, this Strategic Objective has been superceded by four new objectives (388-005 - 388-008). This restructuring was done to better reflect the level of the Mission's manageable interest in each of the program areas. Results and performance under SO 2 are described in this section and the new SOs' numbers and names are referenced. This SO directly supports the U.S. foreign policy goal of "promoting broad-based economic growth in developing and transitional economies." It utilizes Development Assistance and Child Survival funds to focus on both economic growth and nutrition through improved efficiency and diversification in agricultural production, and development of related rural industries and infrastructure. In addition, this SO works with the GOB and the donor community, using P.L. 480 food programs to improve rural infrastructure, promote natural disaster preparedness and feed those most in need. USAID will continue to support food policy reform, disaster management, rural electrification, enterprise development, natural resources management and food security, areas that were all formerly part of this one SO. Performance: From 1992 to 1998, USAID-supported horticulture and aquaculture activities have assisted over one million households to produce, consume and sell more nutritious food. This activity is amalgamated under SO 5 "Growth of Agribusiness and Small Business." The results of the private enterprise initiative have created at least 80,000 new jobs in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises by making available information, expertise and credit. USAID, in collaboration with other donors, recently convinced the Bank of Bangladesh to eliminate interest rate ceilings for agriculture and small business. This significant reform should facilitate the flow of credit to those sectors. This activity is now under SO 5 "Growth of Agribusiness and Small Business." Regarding SO 2 activities to promote conservation of the environment, the GOB and USAID jointly developed a program, "Management of Aquatic Ecosystems Through Community Husbandry" (MACH). By 1999, activities in two open-water sites have begun, a national steering committee has been formed, and community level management groups have been setup with representation from fisher folks, subsistence fishermen, local government, and relevant GOB departments. The direct beneficiaries have been trained and provided with credit and technologies for alternate income generating activities. Public awareness has been raised through meetings, news media, leaflets and other printed materials, regarding degradation of environment and effects on biodiversity. This activity has used Child Survival funds since it works directly with households to improve the nutrition of the family, mostly women and children. This activity now resides in SO 6, "Improved Management of Open Water and Tropical Forest Resources." The impact of the rural electrification program across the country during the past two years has been substantial. Over 16,200 new electric connections were made for electrical irrigation pumps. As a result farmers now have greatly expanded access to low cost, dry season irrigation, contributing to increased agricultural productivity. There have been over 100,500 new commercial and industrial consumer connections for the same period. This expansion contributes to improved economic conditions within the rural areas, including increased employment opportunities with both direct and indirect benefits to the rural population. Regarding improved efficiency and better management, the program's system loss remained at 16% to 18% compared with the national utility average loss of 30% to 35%. About 19 million rural people now have access to electricity, generating more than five million jobs in rural areas. This rural electrification activity in FY 2000 will be under SO 7, "Improved Performance of the Energy Sector." This Strategic Objective has had remarkable success in assisting the GOB to better manage and target its food resources to benefit the poor and needy. The Ministry of Food is now distributing 88% of the public food distribution system food to the targeted programs, such as Food for Education and other food programs for the vulnerable people, an increase of 24% since 1995/96. During the 1998 flood, CARE, working through local NGOs, distributed emergency dry food ration to over 80,000 families; provided supplementary food to feeding centers that served over 150,000 pregnant and lactating women and 300,000 under five children; and distributed potable water to 5,500 families daily. About 17 million vulnerable people (over 40 % of the total population in 180 high disaster prone areas) now have access to emergency relief supplies, reducing their need for distress sales for their physical survival. There has been substantial progress under SO 2 to increase the reach of rural roads in rural areas. Over 13,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads have been rehabilitated from 1995 through 1999, creating both jobs and greater access to markets and service. These activities are also under SO 8, "Improved Food Security for Vulnerable Groups." Adjustment to Plans: SO strategy revised in FY 1999. Please see narratives for SO 388-005 - SO 388-008. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1995) Actual (1998) Target (1999) Actual (1999) Number of households producing vegetables 366,300 924,500 1,075,000 1,100,000 Kilometers of rural roads either constructed or rehabilitated 3,327 9,828 12,455 13,385 Number of small, rural businesses using electricity 178,700 312,500 325,000 348,086 Percent of public food programs targeted 65% 76% 85% 88% Number of enterprises assisted 129,000 184,000 210,000 214,788 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Bangladesh TITLE AND NUMBER: Improved Representation of Interests of Women and the Rural Poor, 388-003 STATUS: Continuing PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $1,507,000 DA PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $4,000,000 DA; $2,500,000 P.L. 480 TITLE II INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2001 Summary: This Strategic Objective (SO) assists local elected bodies (LEBs) to be more open, participatory, and responsive to the needs of women and the rural poor. It also educates them on their legal rights, increases access to local mechanisms of justice, and improves election quality. Related SO activities address child labor; support the labor rights of urban-residing garment workers, mostly women from rural areas; develop the effectiveness of political parties in parliament and open parliamentary committees to public input; curb women and child trafficking; and promote anti-corruption measures. The SO is implemented through non-government organizations (NGOs). Despite strong prospects to meet short-term performance expectations, the program suffered a major setback in 1999 when the assumed level of funding was not available. Instead of the increased activities, coverage and results, funding constraints led to substantial cutbacks in existing activities; several NGOs were dropped from the program; more will be phased out in 2000 if the requested level of FY 2000 and FY 2001 funding is not realized. Key Results: Improvements in the functioning of LEBs have increased public confidence in the responsiveness of local government in the 85 unions (lowest units of local government) where the program is active. Democratic practices have been instituted to make the LEBs more accountable and transparent, and to allow public input into their decision-making processes. The alternative dispute resolution (ADR) program has had a considerable effect on the public perception of access to justice in 438 program unions. The total number of clients served in dispute mediation cases in USAID-supported areas in 1998 was 9,747, more than triple the number of clients served the previous year. Finally, the Bangladesh Independent Garment Union Federation (BIGUF) continued to grow in size and effectiveness. Membership increased from 23,687 in 1998 to over 30,000 in 1999 and the number of BIGUF's affiliated factory unions has increased to 24. In 1999, BIGUF saw its first democratic turnover of officers. Performance and Prospects: In 1999 the title of this SO was revised from "Broadened Participation in Local Decision Making and More Equitable Justice" to "Improved Representation of Interests of Women and the Rural Poor." This revision provides a clearer description of the objective and allows more effective performance monitoring. A "Democracy Partnership (DP)" comprised of USAID, The Asia Foundation (TAF) and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee manages the bulk of SO activity. Through 21 sub-grants to NGOs, the DP strengthens the ability of the poor to advocate their own interests; enhances the quality of electoral processes; improves the performance and accountability of local elected bodies; increases awareness of women's legal rights; and improves local mechanisms to resolve disputes. Over 100 NGOs are engaged in different elements of the DP program in 30% of Bangladesh's 4,400 unions. A comparison survey of unions, with and without DP activities, shows a strong, positive program impact in ADR and in increasing responsiveness of LEBs, while two other program elements, advocacy and legal awareness, had mixed results. Legal awareness programming conducted in conjunction with ADR appears to be more effective than when these elements are implemented in separate jurisdictions. NGO collaboration to build union council effectiveness took firm root in 1998/99 in 85 unions. There was a 27.8% difference in customer confidence in responsiveness of LEBs between unions with LEB programs and those not assisted. USAID partners promote best practices related to constituent input, accountability, transparency, and women's participation. In 1998, NGOs reported that 34% of program LEBs had adopted at least five of the best practices. Under its new P.L. 480 Title II food security agreement, CARE is expanding its training and technical assistance to union councils. DP-supported NGOs also increasingly engage in national level policy advocacy; NGOs working with LEBs successfully lobbied the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for a policy which clarified roles for newly elected women members, to assure that they would be accorded the full authority of other elected members. Other NGOs have addressed human rights violations by the government in 1999. Over several years, USAID has helped build a domestic election monitoring capacity through a coalition of NGOs and through voter education related to local government elections. Data indicated that voters had more confidence in electoral processes in the DP sample than did voters in the control sample. There was also an 11% difference in knowledge of local elected candidates' characteristics in areas where the DP has worked intensively with local elected bodies over the control sample. The SO has improved local access to justice for rural women and the poor considerably. Eighty-six community organizations in 438 unions are now providing alternatives to the formal court system for dispute resolution. Of the women whose disputes were resolved in 1998, 65% reported that the mediation decisions were satisfactory, while only 6% found the decisions unacceptable. Several grantees now use mass media to disseminate messages. The legal advocacy element broke new ground for Bangladesh in public interest litigation in the High Court in 1998/99. The court addressed two human rights issues related to the abuse of police power and authority while in custody, and the other issue required action against the manufacturers of common salt labeled as iodized salt. Economic Support Fund (ESF) and DA grants support the nascent movement against trafficking of women and children, building networks opposing trafficking, and collecting data on trafficking in Bangladesh. A National Democratic Institute (NDI) activity for political parties in Parliament has opened the parliamentary committee system to civil society input, but deep-rooted political animosities make it difficult to improve working relationships between government and opposition parties. Performance projections for FY 2000 will be scaled back to adjust for lower funding than originally planned. Most existing activities will be phased out in early 2001, rather than 2002 as previously planned. A new DG SO will be developed over the next year. Possible Adjustments to Plans: USAID plans to submit a revised SO for approval in FY 2000, that will likely focus on 1) protecting the rights of women and children, 2) strengthening elected governments, and 3) strengthening democratic institutions. The new SO would be rooted in the existing SO, but would aim for a conceptually more focused program, and adapt to funding realities, using more diverse sources of funds, including local currency generations. FY 1999 ESF funds will be used this year in coordination with other donors to initiate civil society activities for the general elections in 2000-2001. Other Donor Programs: Other bilateral and multilateral donors that address human rights, democracy, and/or governance issues include Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Labor Organization, and the World Bank. Coordination with these donors occurs through donor consultative groups on governance and specific topics, like corruption. The EU has begun a parallel program through The Asia Foundation, which reinforces the work of the DP in the areas of legal awareness and alternative dispute resolution. UNDP projects complement USAID's in the areas of local government training, elections, and parliamentary development. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: The SO grantees are TAF, ACILS, the Khan Foundation (local government training), Red Barnet and the Bangladesh National Women's Lawyers Association (trafficking), Transparency International/Bangladesh (corruption), and NDI (political parties in Parliament). Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1997) Actual (1998) Target (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Customer Confidence in Local Elected Bodies' Responsiveness** * 27.8%* 30%* 30%* 30% Customer Confidence in Local Justice Processes*** * 13.6%* 15%* 18%* 20%* Percent of Marriages Registered * 6.3%* 8%* 11%* 12% Number of BIGUF members 16,087 23,687 30,000 33,000 35,000 *Difference between area samples for those areas being assisted by the USAID program and the "control" sample areas not being assisted by the USAID program. **Targets for LEB responsiveness are constant due to program cutbacks caused by budget constraints. Higher targets will be established if preliminary FY 2001 funding projections are met. ***Program coverage related to local justices processes has decreased in 1999 and will likely decrease further in 2000. However, in unions where the program continues, customer confidence levels are targeted to increase further. U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Bangladesh TITLE AND NUMBER: Growth of Agribusiness and Small Business, 388-005 STATUS: New PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $6,301,000 DA PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $5,600,000 DA INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2004 Summary: USAID technical assistance to policy makers, private enterprises and private financial institutions will help transform agriculture from mono crop (rice) and subsistence farms to diversified, market-oriented businesses. Agriculture still employs over 60% of the labor force, but contributes less than 25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The expansion of agribusiness, with its market-driven, private sector approach, is key to raising productivity and incomes on the farm as well as creating off-farm opportunities in input supply and processing. Small businesses, other than agribusiness, are also critical for creating job opportunities for displaced farm workers as well as new entrants to the labor market. Small business is currently dominated by labor-intensive garment factories, which have provided a tremendous boost to the economy in recent years, accounting now for over $4.0 billion dollars of exports per year and 1.5 million jobs. However, the end of preferential access to developed country markets resulting from the phase out of the Multi Fiber Agreement in 2004, and the entry of nearly two million new job seekers into the labor force each year, means that Bangladesh must rapidly develop new, labor-intensive small businesses. Key Results: This SO will focus on obtaining results in four major areas: (1) more market-oriented policies, laws, regulations, and practices for targeted sectors; (2) stronger market orientation in assisted enterprises; (3) improved products and services in assisted enterprises; and (4) increased access to capital for targeted sectors. Performance and Prospects: Prospects for this SO in FY 2000 and FY 2001 are promising in light of USAID's strong base of experience in agriculture and small business development, which is leading the way in transforming Bangladesh's agriculture from a subsistence to market orientation. The GOB has welcomed the extension of the agribusiness promotion project for an additional five years and a new contract will be signed shortly. Political and business leaders agree on the need to expand the manufacturing base beyond garments in order to address the challenge of the phase out of the Multi-Fiber Agreement at the end of 2004, and to expand the number of small businesses. On the policy front, the GOB still needs to implement major reforms such as elimination of subsidies in agriculture (e.g. fertilizer), the privatization of state-owned industries and banks, and the removal of remaining interest rate ceilings. But such actions will be politically risky before the next parliamentary elections planned for mid-2001. In FY 2000 and FY 2001, SO 5 activities will focus on improving the enabling environment for agribusiness, aquaculture, small and medium enterprises, and micro-finance; and assisting individual entrepreneurs and businesses to improve their products, services, and market access. In FY 2000, baseline data will be collected for new indicators that will measure results for the coming reporting periods. Possible Adjustment to Plans: None. Other Donor Programs: Other donors that are actively involved in agriculture include the World Bank (IBRD); Asian Development Bank (ADB); the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); the United Nations Development Program; bilateral donors (United Kingdom, Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, and Germany); and the European Commission. Along with the British Department for International Development, the World Bank has taken the lead in the development of fisheries. The World Bank also supports projects in agricultural research and extension. The ADB is now designing a $70 million agricultural project in collaboration with the FAO. In small business development, bilateral donors are implementing a number of technical assistance and training programs. These include the Swiss Development Corporation's Business Development Services Program, the Netherlands' Small Enterprises Development Program, Denmark's Promotion of Business Partnerships, Germany's Business Advisory Services Program, and the British Government's handicraft and micro-enterprise support activities. Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID will implement its activities in partnership with the International Fertilizer Development Center for agribusiness promotion; University of Maryland Center for Institutional Reform and the Informal Sector for enterprise promotion and policy reform; International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management for aquaculture development; Helen Keller International in horticulture/nutrition; Asian Vegetable Research & Development Center in horticulture; International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center in wheat production; and Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation for micro-credit. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline1 (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Growth in sales ($ million) $6.0 $50.0 $80.0 Growth in exports ($million) $1.0 $10.0 $50.0 Growth in full time equivalent jobs 21,000 (1997) 25,000 30,000 New market-oriented policies, laws, regulations, and practices 2 3 4 Note 1. 1999 figures are estimates that will be revised based on actual data. U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Bangladesh TITLE AND NUMBER: Improved Management of Open Water and Tropical Forest Resources, 388-006 STATUS: New PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: -0- PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $600,000 DA; $1,000,000 CSD INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2004 Summary: Bangladesh's population pressure has placed a major stress on natural resources. Overuse of natural resources has caused environmental degradation. Open water fish production has declined by 30% - 40% over the last 20 years and this has adversely affected the income and employment of 13 million Bangladeshis. It has also severely impacted bio-diversity; over 200 local vertebrate species are now vulnerable to extinction. Tropical forest resources have also been declining at an alarming rate. About half of the tropical forests have been deforested due to population pressure, crop cultivation, encroachment, theft, land transfer and lack of proper forest management and conservation efforts. This Strategic Objective (SO) is an outgrowth of SO 2, "Food Security for the Poor Improved" and the ongoing natural resource management component of that SO, "Management of Aquatic Ecosystems Through Community Husbandry" (MACH). The purpose of this SO is to demonstrate improved management of open water and tropical forest resources to communities and local government. The improved management system will be replicated in select areas throughout the country and will benefit the entire Bangladeshi population. Improved natural resource management will create jobs, increase the income and nutritional status of poor people, reduce future degradation of the environment, and improve bio-diversity. The main beneficiaries are those people who depend, either economically or nutritionally, on the open water and its products. This SO utilizes Development Assistance and Child Survival and Diseases (CSD) funds for open water resources management activities since the program works directly at the community level to enhance fish catch which increases the protein intake of families. If the GOB's application under the U.S. Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA) is approved, then the Mission expects to utilize debt buybacks for conservation and management of Bangladesh's tropical forest resources. Key Results: This SO will focus on obtaining results in four major areas: (1) improved floodplain resource management practices; (2) increased public awareness; (3) supplemental income generated; and (4) improved conservation and management of tropical forest resources. Performance and Prospects: During FY 2000-2001, MACH will increase its activity sites from two to three, and will continue activities to generate baseline information on biological, sociological, and environmental parameters in all three sites. MACH will use geographical information system (GIS) and remote sensing technology to provide performance information that should show that improved management of open water and tropical forest resources by communities and local government results in increased income, improved nutritional status, and more jobs. Activities to strengthen community organizations will continue, but MACH will concentrate on important floodplain management activities such as participatory community planning, physical interventions, and policy guideline development. In the tropical forestry sector, the GOB has undertaken massive afforestation and reforestation programs and has adopted a "Forestry Sector Master Plan, 1993-2012." The GOB has also officially requested the U.S. Government to include Bangladesh in the debt-buy back program under the TFCA. In FY 2000, baseline data will be collected for new indicators that will measure results for the coming reporting periods. Possible Adjustments to Plan: If the Tropical Forest Conservation Act is approved, the Mission will proceed to develop with the GOB a program to conserve the tropical forest and biodiversity in selected areas of Bangladesh. Other Donor Programs: The World Bank and GOB have signed an $88 million agreement in the Fourth Fisheries project to support the development of fisheries production, conservation and improved management. The British Department for International Development, Ford Foundation, United Nations Development Program and other donors have also been providing support for improvement of open water fish production. The Asian Development Bank has recently signed an agreement with the GOB for $80 million to support tropical forests and biodiversity. Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: Winrock International and local non-governmental organizations. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1998) Target (2000) Target (2001) Target (2002) Hectares of floodplains where sustainable management is being implemented 0 1,000 5,200 10,000 Fish production in the selected floodplains, expressed in kilograms per hectare 50 60 70 80 Number of fish species in the selected floodplains 30 40 45 50 Note: As noted above, the tropical forest management activity is expected to begin in 2001. At that time, selected performance measures will be identified. U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Bangladesh TITLE AND NUMBER: Improved Performance of the Energy Sector, 388-007 STATUS: New PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $4,000,000 DA PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $5,000,000 DA INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2004 Summary: Bangladesh's energy sector holds enormous promise for economic growth. However, inefficiency in energy production (transmission and distribution), inadequate funding for the operation and maintenance of facilities, insufficient investments in new facilities, low levels of commercialization, poor financial discipline (billing and collection), and excessive central intervention impede the sector's progress. The energy sector remains largely publicly managed with generation, transmission, and distribution of both power and natural gas dominated by integrated public utilities. State-owned utility monopolies and subsidized energy prices create little incentive to replace inefficient equipment or to invest in new technology that will promote energy efficiency. Under this current situation, system losses are estimated to be between 30% to 40%. This SO is an outgrowth of a portion of SO 2, "Food Security for the Poor Improved," which is the Rural Power for Poverty Reduction (RPPR) Program. The purpose of this new SO is to improve the performance and efficiency of the energy sector, thus reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. Significant reforms in the Bangladesh energy sector need to be undertaken to achieve this goal. Enhancing institutional capacity and encouraging policies that promote the use of cleaner fuels, such as natural gas, and reducing energy demand through more efficient energy use and decreases in system losses will lessen GHG emissions. The development of the energy sector in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner will benefit the entire Bangladeshi population. Increased commercial energy will create jobs, lifting many out of poverty; provide consistent, reliable energy that will improve the lives of many; and allow those who depend on power for income generating purposes to operate their businesses, unimpeded by load shedding. Key Results: This SO will focus on obtaining results in three areas: (1) increased institutional capacity to make decisions in clean energy development; (2) improved enabling environment; and (3) increased public support for energy sector reform. In addition, USAID is supporting the development and the implementation of a U.S.-Bangladesh Action Plan for Cooperation in the Energy Sector. Two high-level interagency visits occurred in 1999 that defined and initiated this new SO. A coalition of United States Government agencies, led by the Department of Energy and financed in part by USAID, has provided technical assistance for the establishment of regulatory bodies for the natural gas and electric power sectors, organized workshops on development and dissemination of energy data, partially completed a Bangladesh Natural Gas Resource Assessment, partially completed a Strategic Gas Utilization Study to identify the most beneficial potential uses for Bangladesh of its natural gas resources, and supported USAID-organized visits of Bangladeshi energy experts to the United States. Performance and Prospects: USAID pioneered the rural electrification program in Bangladesh beginning in 1977. This activity has provided electricity to over 12 million rural people. Despite its successes, most rural people still lack power; therefore, the rural electric cooperatives will be expanded and strengthened and their power generation capacity increased. USAID and its implementing partners help cooperatives provide more reliable energy and better services. USAID, through the RPPR, is complementing the activities of other donors by strengthening the institutional capacity of the Rural Electrification Board and rural electric cooperatives. With the discovery of major gas fields, Bangladesh has the opportunity to use this natural resource to strengthen and expand its energy sector and to spur economic growth and development. In FY 2000 and FY 2001, USAID will provide institutional capacity building assistance to the entire energy sector. Design of specific activities will be undertaken in FY 2000. In FY 2001, we anticipate that USAID will provide technical assistance to the GOB and regulatory bodies for the natural gas and electric power sectors, provide technical assistance to improve the analytical capacity to undertake energy, economic, and environmental analyses necessary for energy policy making and planning, organize workshops on development and dissemination of energy data, expand support for USAID-organized visits of Bangladeshi energy experts to the United States, and encourage cooperation and the eventual trade in clean energy between Bangladesh and other South Asian nations. This SO will support, in conjunction with the regional South Asia Regional Initiative in Energy, a regional partnership between the Bangladeshi Chamber of Commerce and other regional chambers. However, USAID will not provide funds for infrastructure development. A long-term senior energy advisor recently has been added to the Mission staff for this Strategic Objective. Possible Adjustment to Plans: None. Other Donor Programs: The World Bank and the GOB are negotiating an Adaptable Program Loan of $600 million, conditioned upon reforms in the energy sector. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has: (1) provided loans to the energy sector, totaling over $1.0 billion; (2) just approved a $157 million loan to upgrade distribution and transmission of power in Dhaka, conditioned on reforms; and (3) several smaller technical assistance projects. In the rural electric sub-sector, the ADB, Kuwait Fund, Canadian International Development Agency, and Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund are the largest of the 14 donors, providing electrical hardware supplies and other commodities for infrastructure development. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the U.S. Department of Energy, and other U.S.G. agencies. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline Actual (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Progress in unbundling of transmission Number of utility partnerships established 0 1 1 1 Kilometers of 230 kilovolt electric transmission line transferred to PGCB 0 45 16.6 600 Kilometers of 132 kilovolt electric transmission line transferred to PGCB 0 0 0 3000 Small power generation program exists and functioning Number of small power plants installed and functioning 0 0 3 8 Power sector reform act finalized Number of acts 0 0 1   Policy-makers and professionals better informed of energy sector reform Number of persons trained 0 2570 5000 5000 Note: Numbers are not cumulative. U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Bangladesh TITLE AND NUMBER: Improved Food Security for Vulnerable Groups - 388-008 STATUS: New PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $1,300,000 DA; $500,000 CSD PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $4,152,000 DA; $1,000,000 CSD; $40,617,000 P.L. 480, TITLE II INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2004 Summary: Food security is an ever-present problem for the rural and urban poor. While Bangladesh appears to be approaching aggregate food self-sufficiency, 32 million people can not afford an average daily intake of more than 1800 calories. This group is extremely poor, malnourished and vulnerable. This Strategic Objective (SO) is an outgrowth of SO 2, "Food Security for the Poor Improved." This new objective was created to better focus on the needs of the most food insecure (vulnerable) people. USAID activities concentrate on three program areas: public food management policy, environmentally sound infrastructure, and disaster management. Activities are focused in the most food insecure rural areas, and in selected urban slums. The targeted beneficiaries of this SO are the rural and urban poor. P.L. 480 Title II resources are the major source of funding for this SO. Title II wheat is sold to the GOB for the local currency equivalent of importing the grain. The GOB then uses the grain for its "Food For Education" safety-net program, a cost effective food delivery program for the poor, which benefits the most vulnerable households by encouraging them to send their children to primary school instead of the fields and factories. CARE and World Vision use the local currency proceeds, supplemented by dollar grants, to implement activities directly, focusing on improving food security of the most vulnerable groups. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) complements the Title II efforts by assisting the GOB to identify and implement more appropriate policies for managing its food stocks and its food safety net programs, ensuring food reaches the extreme poor. USAID's infrastructure development in the rural areas focuses on low cost, hard surface farm to market roads, and earthen village roads. These roads support sustainable growth in agriculture and facilitate rural business and commercial activities, directly contributing to greater rural employment. Rural roads provide access to markets, health and education facilities and government administrative centers. Infrastructure efforts also include sanitation and potable water programs associated with flood proofing and urban area slum rehabilitation. Strengthening disaster response and preparedness mechanisms at the community level is the major focus of USAID's disaster preparedness activities. As one of the most disaster prone countries in the world, Bangladesh is often confronted by cyclones, tidal surges, flooding, droughts and tornadoes. Disaster management has been defined in terms of response. USAID programs bridge the gap between disaster response and development through preparedness and mitigation. Key Results: This SO will focus on obtaining results in three areas: (1) improved public food management policy, (2) improved environmentally sound infrastructure, and (3) improved disaster preparedness. Performance and Prospects: The combined efforts of the GOB, NGOs, USAID and other donors have led to a remarkable evolution in Bangladesh -- from a famine-prone country in the early 1970s to a country capable of managing food emergencies in the 1990s. While Bangladesh has moved steadily in the direction of reducing public intervention and increasing the participation of private markets in food grain management, the process of adjustment is far from complete. Continued support for food policy reform and expanded private sector participation in food grain markets is critical. Also, given the high level of poverty, the percentage of public food grain distribution needs to be maintained by the GOB at no less than 85% going to the poor. This objective will maintain this percentage of directed food for vulnerable groups. In FY 2000 and FY 2001, CARE and World Vision will continue to implement sustainable infrastructure activities that impact directly on the very poor in rural and urban areas, including farm to market and village roads, installation of tube wells and construction of latrines. In addition, they will expand and enhance their community based disaster management activities. Possible Adjustments to Plans: None. Other Donor Programs: The World Food Program supports food policy development and the rehabilitation of rural roads. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank focus on major roads. The United Nations Development Program, United Nations Children's Fund and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development all contribute to disaster preparedness and response activities. Principal Contractors, Guarantees or Agencies: IFPRI, CARE, World Vision and local NGOs. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline Actual (1998) Actual (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Percent of Public Food Distribution System food going to targeted programs 64% (1996) 76% 88% To maintain 85% To maintain 85% Kilometers of farm-to-market roads (low-cost paved surface) upgraded for year-round road traffic 0 (1999) ** ** 375 750 Percent decrease in staple food transportation costs in target area Tk.38/km/mt (1999)* ** ** 35% 40% Percent people in target areas with access to emergency relief supplies 7% (1994) 58% 71% 77% 84% *Baseline is expressed in Taka per kilometer per metric ton of product transport. **Activity initiated in FY 2000. U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel)

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