South-western Bangladesh Rural Development Project (SWBRDP)

The objectives of this JICA-financed project formulated by IC Net are to increase economic opportunities for the rural poor, improve their accessibility to social services, and promote recovery from damage by natural disasters in rural areas in south-western Bangladesh through the construction and rehabilitation of rural infrastructure. The quantitative outputs of the various components of the project are as follows.

• Improvement of 1,035 km of bitumen surfaced Upazila roads
• Construction of 7,962 m bridges and culverts on Upazila roads
• Construction of 67 km of bitumen surfaced Union roads
• Construction of 339 m of bridges and culverts on Union roads
• Upgrading of 38 Growth Centre markets and 12 rural markets
• Tree plantation and care-taking on 1,185 km of Upazila and Union roads
• Maintenance of 1,400 km of Village roads

IC Net, in partnership with international and national consulting firms, has been providing technical services to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) of the Government of Bangladesh in project implementation and benefit monitoring and evaluation.  The scope of the project includes: 1) supporting the design and implementation of a baseline survey; 2) refining the benefit monitoring and evaluation methodology, including methods of data collection and analysis; 3) providing assistance in conducting assessments of the project’s impacts, including those on poverty reduction; 4) reviewing and modifying indicators of the project; and 5) conducting capacity development of LGED staff and other relevant personnel in monitoring and evaluation.

Additionally, IC Net experts are tasked to: 1) prepare and execute project implementation plans; 2) review detailed engineering designs; 3) supervise construction works; 4) tendering and contracting; 5) ensure the participation of stakeholders and civil society; 6) manage Labor Contracting Societies; and 7) establish rural infrastructure management committees.