Utilizing Asian Development Bank (ADB) funds effectively

(Baonghean.vn) Nghe An is one of six provinces (Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh) that benefited from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Central Vietnam (funded by the Asian Development Bank ADB) with a total investment of 50 million USD (of which 5 million USD was counterpart funding). The project was implemented from 2010 to 2016.

Through this funding, in the rural clean water and sanitation project area of ​​the central region, investment will be made in the construction of centralized clean water supply facilities to ensure a standard of at least 80 liters/person/day and meet the standards of the Ministry of Health. Simultaneously, support will be provided to people to improve community and family hygiene, including: constructing new or renovating toilets and wastewater drainage systems for households; constructing new or renovating water supply systems and toilets in schools and health centers, and community living areas; and constructing new small drainage systems in public facilities.

Dien Nguyen Water Treatment Plant - Dien Chau.

As an investment project in rural areas, the Central Region Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project pays special attention to raising hygiene awareness to ensure the continued benefits for users after the project is completed, aiming for at least 90% of the population in the project area to have access to water supply and pay their water bills on time. One area of ​​focus is strengthening the capacity for sectoral planning and implementation through activities related to the operation and maintenance of facilities. Effective monitoring and evaluation of water supply and sanitation investments is also crucial.

According to the project plan, the following items will be included: construction of civil works, consulting services, workshops, training, a community fund for improving sanitation conditions, and interest payments during the project implementation phase. In our province, after benefiting from the project, relevant agencies at all levels have actively implemented it, establishing a Project Management Board, issuing operating regulations, coordinating with the Women's Union to draft the Implementation Contract and a handbook guiding the disbursement of the revolving credit fund for building family toilets, and participating in professional training courses organized by the ADB. This is an important project, so the province has allocated an initial capital of 2 billion VND to support its activities. Our province has selected Dien Yen commune (Dien Chau district) as the pilot site for the project. Currently, community surveys and technical surveys for investment project planning have been conducted.

With the timely support of relevant agencies, the investment project and the bidding plan for consulting services (survey consulting, construction drawing design consulting, supervision consulting) have been approved by the province. Currently, in Dien Yen, planning, land acquisition, compensation, resettlement, and site clearance for the construction of the connection area for the centralized clean water supply system are underway. Besides the project in Dien Yen, potential sub-projects are also being implemented in Dien Hong, Dien Thap, Dien Lien, Dien Binh, Dien Cat (Dien Chau), Long Thanh, Nam Thanh, Trung Thanh (Yen Thanh), Quynh Giang (Quynh Luu), and Hung Chau (Hung Nguyen).

Officials from the Clean Water Supply Project Management Board - VSMTNT Nghe An province stated: “With the timely support from all levels and sectors, in the coming time we will proceed to submit to the competent authorities for approval the counterpart plan, organize the activities of the water supply components according to the program of the international consultant and in the pilot communes, continue to train and improve the capacity of commune-level implementation organizations and volunteers, and organize communication activities.”

Hoang Vinh