Second Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project (PPTA 7432-BAN)

The main objective of the technical assistance was to prepare a sector development project for possible Asian Development Bank (ADB) financing for improved rural livelihoods to reduce poverty amongst rural population of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The TA was to be based on lessons learned from ADB Loan 1771: CHT Rural Development Project (CHTRDP) which was completed in September 2009 and outputs of ADB-funded CHT Regional Development Plan.

Project consultants were expected to:

• Explore options for institutional strengthening of the executing agency, the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and implementing agency, HT Regional Council, Hill District Councils and Local Government Engineering Department to enhance their role in planning and implementing sustainable rural development interventions,
• Design beneficiary selection criteria and participatory development process for community-driven rural development interventions,
• Assess environmental impact and social safeguards,
• Selection criteria, feasibility stage design and cost estimation for typical rural development interventions including, rural access, small-scale water resources interventions, watershed management and community level infrastructure, and
• Design of ensuing investment package including objective, scope, cost and financing plans, procurement plan, and institutional arrangements to facilitate timely planning and implementation of loan project activities.

FCG New Zealand drew on lessons learned from start-up and implementation delays encountered under the previous CHTRDP and other similar projects to develop appropriate but efficient implementation.