Status:
On-going
Location:
Dhaka - Bangladesh
Region:
Asia
Total cost:
USD $638,969
Duration:
3 years
Start:
22 February 2022
End:
22 February 2025
Working Areas
Investment Projects
Service in Low-Income Areas
Other
Organizations Involved
Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Company — Lead Mentee
VEI Dutch Water Operators — Lead Mentor
UNESCO--IHE Institute for Water Education
Supporting Org
The European Union
Funder
better with water
Supporting Org
SDGs
6.1Universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.4Increased water-use efficiency and sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater
Project description
WOP for Scaling of NRW Management and Pro-poor Water Supply within Dhaka and to other Cities in Bangladesh

This WOP aims to improve the capacity and performance of Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) in NRW management and water services delivery improvement in Low Income Areas. The WOP will also support DWASA in becoming a mentor to other water service providers in the region.
Project main objectives
The overall objective of the WOP is to improve the capacity and performance of Dhaka WASA in water services delivery to its 14 million customers in Dhaka and Narayanganj -with a specific focus on water service delivery in Low Income Areas (LIAs)- and support DWASA in its mentor role to other water services providers in NRW management.
More specifically the WOP aims to realize the following outcomes:
• Outcome 1: DWASA's capacity developed for upscaling the 'DMA caretaker approach' and DMA benchmarking for Non-Revenue Water (NRW) management to 6 of the 7 remaining MOD zones.
• Outcome 2: Improved water services for 1,722 low income households (7,400 beneficiaries) in Dhaka By request of DWASA's CPCR unit, Eau et Vie will -with co-funding support of VEI and technical assistance through this WOP- provide access to safe drinking water for 1,722 Low Income Area households / 7,400 people (520 connections will be funded under this EU-WOP, for the additional 1,202 Eau et Vie will leverage investment funding) through its local social enterprise based on a delegated management contract with DWASA.
• Outcome 3: Strengthened capacity of DWASA's Community Planning and Customer Relations (CPCR) unit. The CPCR unit is responsible for water and sanitation service improvement to 4 million low income dwellers in Dhaka. A recent study issued by VEI and DWASA recommended the following activities to strengthen DWASA's Low Income Consumers (LIC) approach: i. Develop a central knowledge base on LIC WASH services provision. ii. Develop a multi-stakeholder plan for WASH in LIAs under the leadership of DWASAs. iii. Further anchoring of multiple water service models in contention which may be suitable in different LIC contexts iv. Introduce measures to empower and hold CBOs accountable . v. Integrate regular planning events into the operations of the CPCR Unit . vi. Expedite implementation of a progressive tariff scheme.
• Outcome 4: Developed capacity at DWASA to be a mentor to other water service providers (in Bangladesh and South East Asia) in the field of (improved) operational, financial and social-responsive water utility operations. At the end of this EU-GWOPA WOP program, the partners, DWASA, VEI and IHE Delft will have developed a package of training modules and support programmes, and have provided these trainings to other WASAs e.g. in Chittagong, Kulna and/or Rajshahi.
Most significant results
Expected results:
- Improved capacity and performance of the water and sanitation Beneficiary Partner(s) in relevant operational, financial, social and/or environmental sustainability/efficiency considerations
- Additional finance for water and sanitation operational or infrastructure improvements
- Strengthened capacity of Beneficiary Partner(s) to address cross-cutting considerations (climate change, human rights, gender, age and disability)
- Strengthened capacity and commitment among WOP Partners to engage in Water Operators’ Partnerships beyond the scope of this programme.³¹