View source for 01 Overview, Purpose and Structure of Report

===Blue Gold Program===
To address the situation of the coastal zone, the Governments of Bangladesh and The Netherlands agreed to improve the quality of life for communities in south-western Bangladesh. The 22 polders selected for interventions through Blue Gold are located in the districts of Patuakhali, Khulna, Satkhira and Barguna, have a resident population of around 800,000 and cover a gross area of 115,000 ha (refer to Figure 1.1). Specific objectives of the Blue Gold Program are to:

#Reduce the threat to polder communities and their land from floods from river and sea, and from saline intrusion
#Optimise the use and management of water resources for agricultural production, thereby increasing economic development for the polder communities, with a special focus on creating income opportunities for the poor and landless
#Encourage the adoption of modern agricultural technologies and strengthen linkages with the private sector
#Empower communities through water management organisations to lead natural resources-based development (agriculture, fisheries and livestock) with the support of public and private sector partners
#Strengthen the institutional framework for sustained water resources development and related development services.

<br />
[[File:Overview map updated.jpg|alt=|border|center|thumb|800x800px|'''Figure 1.1''' Map of Project Area]]


A number of government agencies implement the program:

''The '''Bangladesh Water Development Board''' (BWDB) is the lead agency, responsible inter alia for protecting the communities from flooding and surges by ensuring the integrity of the embankments and associated structures, and for forming and registering water management organisations (WMOs).''

''The '''Department of Agricultural Extension''' (DAE) works alongside farmers to encourage the selection and cultivation of crops and varieties that are well-suited to the coastal environment and which, as part of an interlinked annual cropping system, form the basis for profitable business.''

''In addition, the '''Department of Livestock Services''' (DLS) and '''Department of Fisheries''' (DoF) provide specialist advice for the development of training modules to farmer field schools, and contribute to other project interventions.''

'''''Local government institutions''' (LGIs), especially Union Parishads (UPs), are partners in polder development planning, coordination and maintenance.''


The total project investment amounts to € 75.3 million, allocated as follows (Table 1.1):
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;"
|+Table 1.1: Project budget by financier
|'''Contribution'''
|'''Amount'''
|-
| colspan="2" |'''Government of Bangladesh'''
|-
|BWDB
|€ 13,513,713
|-
|DAE
|€ 535,015
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''€ 14,048,728'''
|-
| colspan="2" |'''Government of the Netherlands''' (grant)
|-
|Administered by BWDB
|€ 27,320,000
|-
|Administered by DAE
|€ 1,495,000
|-
|Technical Assistance
|€ 32,425,663
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''€ 61,240,663'''
|-
|'''Grand Total'''
|'''€ 75,289,391'''
|}
The Blue Gold Program was implemented from 2013 to 2021. Project implementation activities were planned to be completed by end-June 2021, whilst administrative closure of the project continued for the six-month period from July to end-December 2021. During this period of administrative closure, final payment certificates for civil engineering construction contracts and other service contracts were processed, recommendations for reimbursement by EKN were prepared, and contributions to the BWDB project completion report were made.