United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are jointly working towards sustainable development in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), under a project called Sustainable Management of Community Development for Chittagong Hill Tracts, aiming at better infrastructure, skills training, and capacity building.

UNDP and ADB have long been working in the region, but this is the first time the two development organisations are collaborating in CHT through an administrative arrangement,  worth USD 471,000.

ADB has largely worked on developing infrastructure in CHT in past projects, which included strengthening institutional capacity, improving accessibility in remote areas, providing better alternative resources, and increasing economic opportunities particularly for women.

UNDP on the other hand, has made progress on community development and engagement, building a network of 3,507 community-based organisations across the hill tracts. These organisations are playing a key role in community-centred development activities and engaging with government institutions.

Though ADB and UNDP’s work in the CHT continues to improve the lives of target beneficiaries, it is a challenge to ensure that this development remains sustainable.

Pointing out that ADB has been working in the CHT for 18 years doing various infrastructural development like roads and irrigation systems, ADB Country Director, Manmohan Parkash said, “Now once these infrastructures are built, a main issue is also how these are maintained. If the maintenance is not good, the roads will not sustain, the water systems will fail.”

He continued that best people to sustain the infrastructures are the locals themselves, which is why ADB has partnered with UNDP. “UNDP has a very strong presence in the hill tracts. They have been working very closely with the local communities and NGOs since 2003,” he said.

UNDP Country Director Sudipto Mukerjee mentioned that they have been working in CHT since the peace accord was signed to prevent conflict and preserve peace.

“A lot has changed but one of the concerns we still have is inadequate access to services, and another is growing youth unemployment. I think these are two areas where there is opportunity for the two agencies to work together,” he continued.

The new collaborative arrangement will ensure community mobilisation and skills training. It will enhance capacity of 300 Para Development Committees (PDCs) on managing and sustaining community assets and infrastructure; train 900 PDC leaders on leadership, organisational and financial management and 500 PDC members on participatory planning and monitoring towards strengthened governance and rural development.

Ultimately, it will contribute to creating a skilled youth resource pool.

Prasenjit Chakma, the project manager expressed his optimism with this initiative. “This pilot project can be successful if all parties can effectively collaborate. After we reach this project’s goals, we can scale up and reach more communities in the hill tracts.”