The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Commission (EC) have signed a MoU to jointly support Bangladesh in its environmental management activities.

Ambassador Stefan Frowein, Head of Delegation of the EC to Bangladesh and Denise Rollins, Mission Director of USAID Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard at a ceremony at the European Commission office in Dhaka yesterday.

The MoU was signed aiming at facilitating work on collaborative natural resource and protected area management programs in Bangladesh, particularly in the Sundarbans, in line with the Government of Bangladesh's policy and programmes, according to a press release.

It said the USAID and the EC will work together to implement and monitor progress of the Sundarbans Environmental and Livelihood Security project, (SEALS), with € 7.5 million Euro from the EC, and the Integrated Protected Area Co-management project (IPAC), with a USAID project grant of $15.5 million.

These five-year projects include the creation of various alternate income generation opportunities for people living in and around the Sundarbans and infrastructure rehabilitation in the Cyclone Sidr-affected areas.

Other project activities include promoting conservation of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest, including the Sundarbans East, Sundarbans South, and Sundarbans West Wildlife Sanctuaries, and helping people living in these areas adapt to the impact of global climate change.

The US Government has a long commitment of helping Bangladesh recover from disasters, escape from the unending cycle of poverty, and to strengthen its democracy.

Through USAID, the US Government's assistance to Bangladesh includes support for a return to democracy through free, fair and credible elections and more transparent and accountable governance.

US assistance to Bangladesh also helps foster a better educated, healthier and more productive population; provides increased economic opportunities through equitable economic growth (including energy, private sector competitiveness and conservation), and enhances food security and improved disaster preparation and mitigation, the press release said.