📋 Tender Overview
Project Name
Transport Interventions to Boost Trade and Tackle Climate Change in the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Region
Project Number
58064-001
Country / Economy
Regional
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Project Status
Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance
Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 10414-REG: Transport Interventions to Boost Trade and Tackle Climate Change in the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Region
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 500,000.00
Operational Priorities
OP1: Addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities
OP3: Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability
OP4: Making cities more livable
OP5: Promoting rural development and food security
OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity
OP7: Fostering regional cooperation and integration
Sector / Subsector
Transport / Transport policies and institutional development
Gender
No gender elements
Description
The technical assistance (TA) aims to support the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) developing member countries in formulating strategies and plans to boost cross-border trade and improve subregional transportation by reducing travel time and increasing the efficiency of the region's dominant transport mode, and tackle climate change through transport decarbonization. Transport will be decarbonized through a multipronged approach: (i) building road infrastructure (as necessary to increase trade and economic activity) that enables longer periods of constant-speed operations and minimizes acceleration and deceleration, (ii) improving border infrastructure and operations, (iii) increasing the modal share of rail and waterways in the region, and (iv) transitioning to low- or zero-emission operations. Carbon emissions per kilometer for rail and waterways are significantly lower than those for road transport; thus, shifting traffic from road to railway will help reduce the overall transport emissions.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
The TA was conceptualized following discussions at the SASEC Transport Working Group Meeting in November 2023 and the SASEC Senior Officials Meeting in December 2023 in New Delhi, India. During the meetings, the delegates from SASEC countries endorsed the transport projects and knowledge work list for the Action Plan for SASEC Initiatives 2023-2025. As a leading knowledge partner for the SASEC program, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was requested to provide TA to support the knowledge work included in the action plan.
Impact
Economic cooperation and integration among SASEC member countries, and between SASEC and its neighboring subregions, accelerated.
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome
Implementation of SASEC programs, projects, and initiatives accelerated.
Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Des
