Sep 10, 2006

Chittagong Hill Tracts: UN to provide $ 266.05 Millions for Bangladesh


The initiatives will facilitate confidence building in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and develop infrastructure for better governance in the region.

Dhaka, Sept. 9 (PTI): With greater emphasis on democratic governance and poverty alleviation, Bangladesh and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an agreement to support Dhaka's efforts to meet development challenges over the next five years.

The agreement-Country Programme Action Plan 2006-2010 (CPAP) - will provide $ 266.05 million to Bangladesh to fund projects in five priority areas- economic growth and poverty alleviation, sustainable environment and energy management, reduction of social and economic vulnerability, gender equality and the advancement of women and democratic governance and human rights, an official spokesman said yesterday.

Over 63 million people in Bangladesh still live below the poverty line, under the constant threat of natural and manmade disasters while the uncertain impact of globalisation and an increasingly competitive international trade environment impedes higher growth rates.

Challenges in governance remain as persistent constraints to development. Bangladesh's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper finds that governance has justifiably emerged as the most critical of issues at the interface of democracy and development.

The initiatives will facilitate confidence building in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and develop infrastructure for better governance in the region. Support will be provided to enhance skills for high quality police operations and investigations.

UNDP will also contribute to the development of umbrella programmatic initiatives as well as separate projects to address the impact of climate change, land and water management issues, biotechnology potentials, energy issues and management of ecologically critical areas.