WaterAid, NILG collaborate on climate-resilient public service delivery

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today between WaterAid Bangladesh and the National Institute of Local Government (NILG) to strengthen the capacity of local government institutions (LGIs) and deconcentrated line agencies across Bangladesh.

The signing ceremony, held at NILG in Dhaka, was attended by senior officials from the Local Government Division (LGD), NILG, and WaterAid Bangladesh. The partnership aims to enhance the capacity of elected representatives and appointed officials of local government institutions, as well as officials from deconcentrated line agencies, to deliver climate-resilient basic public services in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), integrated water resource management (IWRM), and solid waste management (SWM).

Under this five-year MoU, both organisations will jointly develop and institutionalise training modules, conduct research, and organise capacity-building programmes for local government institutions and deconcentrated line agencies. The collaboration will initially be implemented in Naogaon and Satkhira under the Swiss-supported GO4IMPact programme, jointly implemented by the WaterAid Bangladesh-Swisscontact Bangladesh Consortium in partnership with ESDO and Rupantar, before being scaled up nationwide.

Speaking at the ceremony, Md Abdul Quaiyum, Director General (Grade-I), NILG, said, "This partnership marks a milestone in advancing institutional capacity for effective local governance. Through this collaboration, NILG and WaterAid will work together to strengthen local governance and ensure more effective delivery of basic public services at the local level."

Mr Azman Ahmed Chowdhury, Country Director (In-Charge), WaterAid Bangladesh, added, "Enhancing the capacity of local government institutions and deconcentrated line agencies is central to inclusive and climate-resilient local governance. Together with NILG, we aim to build a strategic partnership that drives lasting change at the grassroots."

Surayya Akhtar Jahan, Additional Secretary, LGD, stressed the need to address capacity constraints of LGIs through this partnership, particularly in integrated water and waste management sectors. Md Shafiqul Islam, Policy Advisor (Former Additional Secretary), WaterAid Bangladesh, highlighted the goals, objectives, expectations and next steps of the collaboration.

Md Kaesuzzaman, Director, Training and Consultancy (Joint Secretary), NILG, concluded the event, affirming the commitment of both institutions to support the Government of Bangladesh in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).