The Brac WASH program, in collaboration with IRC Netherlands, has achieved remarkable milestones in just one year by successfully providing clean water and access to safe sewage facilities to people affected by climate variability.
Funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, the project titled, “Equitable and Sustainable Wash Services in Bangladesh Delta Plan Hotspot 2022-2026,” aims to safeguard one million people vulnerable to climate change by providing clean water and safe sanitation services.
Highlighting its accomplishments, the project recently held its annual workshop on Thursday at the Brac Centre in Dhaka.
The workshop served as a platform to assess achievements, address challenges, and chart a course for the project’s future endeavours.
Key findings from the workshop revealed that between November 2022 and December 2023, over 30,000 individuals benefitted from clean water provisions.
Moreover, 1,129 safe water sources were established through local loans, alongside the installation of 7,830 latrines, financed through a combination of loans and grants.
Approximately 36,000 people now have access to safe sewage facilities. Notably, these initiatives have particularly benefited approximately 18,000 women among the participants.
The project’s scope extends across barind, coastal, haor, and flood-prone areas.
Encompassing districts such as Khulna, Satkhira, Pirojpur, Bagherhat, Borguna, Patuakhali, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Jamalpur, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, the project operates strategically to address the most pressing challenges posed by climate variability.
Hossain Ishrath Adib, director of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Brac delivered a speech in the workshop and a panel discussion was moderated by SM Monjur Rashid, program head, Advocacy for Social Change, Brac, Dr Md Shibly Sadik, senior policy advisor, Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, AHM Khalequr Rahman, superintending engineer (Store Circle), Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Dhaka, Advocate Fayazuddin Ahmed, advocacy and campaign lead, WaterAid Bangladesh and Ingeborg Krukkert, innovation lead, IRC, participated as panellists.
