WaterAid signs a grant agreement with SDC 

30 November 2011

WaterAid in Bangladesh has signed a grant agreement with SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) for 316 million Taka (equivalent to £2.71 million) for a 3 year rural WASH project. As agreed in this co-op deal, SDC will provide an amount of  265.5 million Taka (equivalent to £2.28 million, 84% of the total cost) while WaterAid will provide  50 millionn Taka, 16% of the total cost.

Mr U Herren, Ambassador of Switzerland to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of SDC with Khairul Islam, Country Representative of WaterAid in Bangladesh today on 30 November 2011.

The support will mainly fund the Rural WASH programme of WaterAid in Bangladesh under the project title "Promotion of water supply, sanitation and hygiene in hard -to-reach areas of rural Bangladesh" which will be implemented in 14 districts covering 19 Upazilas (sub-districts) and 90 Unions in Bangladesh. It will also cover part of Inclusion, and the Climate Change programme of WaterAid in Bangladesh.

In next three years, the project will directly benefit half a million rural people (men, women and children) with access to safe drinking water supply, and 1.3 million with access to improved hygienic latrine facilities. Alongside this another 1 million people will be reached through hygiene education and campaigns. The project will be implemented in partnership with 12 National NGOs.

SDC has defined this as the first phase of the project meaning that it may be extended for another 3 years if WaterAid can deliver the above effectively and with a good reputation.