Monitor climate projects like ADP
Projects related to climate change would be even more effective if they were monitored and evaluated like Annual Development Programme (ADP), recommends a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) study.
During a presentation held at TIB office in the capital yesterday, speakers said it is necessary to create synergy between climate change trust funded projects and regular development projects, since activities under those projects often overlap.
This overlapping of activities could be up to 25 percent, and this is happening as the government is yet to formulate the climate finance policy, they added at the event.
The study titled, “Assessing Synergy between Climate and Development Projects”, was conducted by a group of experts led by Dr AK Enamul Haque, director of the Asian Centre for Development.
Estiaque Bari and Dr Rumi Shammin were the two others members of the research team.
Between July last year and May 2019, the research team interviewed 390 stakeholders -- including beneficiaries, local people, officials of 17 Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund projects and 14 Annual Development Projects located in Bhola, Barguna, Satkhira and Cox’s Bazar.
They asked the interviewees a total of 41 questions to understand the similarities and differences between projects funded by climate change trust fund and ADP.
Dr AK Enamul Haque, in his presentation, observed that projects financed through the ADP are relatively more effective than those financed through the climate change trust fund.
He also said the government should introduce DAC (development assistance criteria) evaluation and monitoring for climate projects, as it will make them more effective.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the graft watchdog body, said developed countries are yet to disburse most of the fund they pledged for climate vulnerable countries.
According to estimation by the government, Bangladesh needs USD 2.2 billion annually to battle the impacts of climate change, but so far the country has received only USD 113 million, Dr Iftekharuzzaman added.
It is unlikely that the flow of funds will increase in near future; so, it is necessary to implement climate related projects with the highest care, the TIB executive director also said.
Dr Sumaiya Khayer, deputy executive director of TIB, and M Zakir Hossain Khan, climate change programme manager, were also present at the programme.
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