| World Bank Helps
Improve Life of Slum Dwellers in Vietnam |
| |
Hanoi, April 30, 2004
–The World Bank’s Board of Directors yesterday approved a
US$222 million credit for the Vietnam Urban Upgrading
Project to help reduce poverty in four cities in Vietnam by
improving the living and environmental surroundings of the
urban poor.
With the poor people actively participating in planning and
implementation, the project will ensure that numerous
low-income communities in Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Ho Chi Minh
city and Can Tho will have better living conditions by
providing clean water, better sanitation and sewerage
systems, stable electricity and sufficient public lighting
services. The project will also help reduce flooding in
these areas and hence reduce environmental pollution and
waterborne diseases.
“Nearly a million of urban poor people will benefit directly
from this project, and over one million more will enjoy the
extended infrastructure network and the environmental
improvements,” said Klaus Rohland, Director of the World
Bank in Vietnam. “Through upgrading alleys and bridges,
renovating markets and public toilet facilities, and
improving the electricity and water supply networks, the
project is expected to save millions of dollars every year
through reduced water leakage and electricity loss, and
avoided property damage and death due to flooding.”
The Project is based on the principle that active
participation by communities in critical stages of
preparation, design and implementation is a pre-requisite to
effectively respond to the needs in these areas. The design
of infrastructure improvements will take into account the
communities’ and local administrations’ willingness and
ability to pay. As such, infrastructure will be designed to
appropriate functional standards to ensure that as many
people as possible benefit.
As relocation and resettlement will be minimized in order to
maintain the social fabric of the communities, the Project
is expected to improve the living conditions of all
residents living in the project areas, irrespective of their
registration status.
In support of poverty reduction, the Government is providing
the credit funds mostly as grants to the four cities. In
order to expedite implementation, the Government has
delegated project implementation to the city/provincial
authorities. During the project design period over the last
two years, poor people in project areas in 4 cities’ project
areas participated actively in discussions – giving their
opinions on technical standards and designs, and eventually
reaching agreement on Community Upgrading Plans. They also
agreed to contribute to capital costs, pay for household
connections, and take responsibility for the operation and
management of infrastructure and services in the Community
Upgrading Plans.
For more information about the Vietnam Urban Upgrading
Project, please visit our web site at
www.worldbank.org.vn
.
Basic facts
|
Project Name: Urban Upgrading Project
Total cost:
US$417.5 million
Local contribution: US$148.5 (Government) and
US$4.15 (local community)
Donor contribution: US$222.5 million (World
Bank) and grants presently worth $42.5 million
from the France and Japan
Duration: 2004-2012
Responsible
agency: Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh and Can Tho City
Government, Nam Dinh Province and Ministry of
Construction
Contact in HCM
City: Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nhan, Director, PMU 25
Pham Ngoc Thach street, District 3,
Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam
Telephone: (84-8) 8246498 Fax: (84-8) 8246499
E-mail:
bqlda-ncdt@hcm.vnn.vn
Contact in Nam
Dinh: Mr. Bui Van Que, Director, PMU
10 Tran Dang Ninh, Nam Dinh City, Vietnam
Telephone: (84-350) 864451 Fax: (84-350) 864451
E-mail:
duanwb_tpnd@hn.vnn.vn
Contact in Can
Tho: Mr. Phung Kim Chau, Director, PMU
51 Phan Chu Trinh street, Can Tho City, Vietnam
Telephone: (84-71) 823917 Fax: (84-71) 823918
E-mail:
pmucantho@hcm.vnn.vn
Contact in
Haiphong: Mr. Pham Vu Cau, Director, PMU
2G Tran Quang Khai street, Hong Bang district
Hai Phong, Vietnam
Telephone: (84-31) 810811 Fax: (84-31) 810812
E-mail: haiphongppu@hn.vnn.vn |
|
For more information on the World Bank in Vietnam, please visit
our Web site at
www.worldbank.org.vn
|
