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USAID & USGBC Project

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With the help of Catalyzing Clean Energy in Bangladesh (CCEB) project, USAID supports industrial energy efficiency in Bangladesh. According to the study, 30% of the total cost has been made by private sector SME industrial companies and around 70% of the funds has been controlled by private sector investment which is basically cost-sharing. Embracing the energy efficiency technologies and practices for energy and emission savings by industries like private sector SME industries in the textile, frozen-food, steel rerolling, and jute sectors got the chance to implement increased energy efficiency improvement options (EEIO). http://www.cleanenergy-bd.org

However, all grants under the project will tend to be expended prior to the CCEB completion date and to be associated with the time when EEIO is fully completed. Basically 12-month completion period is preferred to allow sufficient time for monitoring and evaluation.
Furthermore, Grant selection process of USAID supported project is made through full and open competition. Because of the activities supporting industrial energy efficiency in Bangladesh, several counterparts showed interest to apply for the grant. Proposed Recipient was selected as a result of concept paper submitted in response to an APS or other program announcement, Concept paper submitted in response to a formal Call for Concept Papers, an application submitted in response to a formal request for assistance (RFA) Unsolicited concept or application.
On the other hand, the rationale for choosing of recipient is based on the proposed grant activities were well suited to the overall EEIO objectives and the activity was clearly articulated with appropriate technical strategies, management and monitoring plans, and the proposed Recipient’s past performance and qualifications were appropriate. Details of the rational for grants are available in the EEIO Brief. However, the percentage of grant funding determined based on the factor like energy savings, investment amount on procurement, payback period, beneficial option and innovative, new & proven technology etc.

The proposed cost-share was also judged both to be realistic, adequate and necessary for the Plant to fund and push through with the project. Grant funding on equipment with the proposed grant recipient has been fixed up by the CCEB team with taking three quotations from them and ensured the administration including commission cost with budget and in line with good industry practice for similar projects.
Nonetheless, results of project reviews and pre-award survey reports is consisting of a part of the Pre-Award Survey process, interviewing key grantee managers, checking references within the local community and with other donors, examining samples of manuals, forms, reports, etc. As a result of the whole process the recipient has shown a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics, which is the success of the project to some extent.

In terms of payment, all requests for payment must correspond to a milestone specified in the Fixed Amount Award. Presented vouchers must list milestones, not costs, as the product, task, deliverable or objective for which reimbursement is being made. The Recipient certifies its understanding that Grant fixed amount payments will be disbursed payable to Recipient against presentation of verifiable report indicating completion of milestones as mentioned in the “disbursement Schedule” and CCEB Team’s concurrence report to https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en.html.
Moreover, the terms and Conditions of the grant of the project includes Description of the program, Representations of recipients, Certifications, Performance Reporting of recipients, Obligations of recipients, Mandatory Standard Provisions, Reimbursement for Allowable Goods and Services, Grant Funding Disbursements along with Personnel Salaries. Other terms and conditions includes the relationship to USAID, No Liability for Third Party Claims, indemnification, limitation of Liability, Modification of the Grant Award, Termination, Governing Law, Waiver if Jury Trial, Ownership Change, Publicity, Subcontracting and Assignment, Rights in Data.

A brief case study on CCEB Task 3 Industrial Energy Efficiency in which Libas Textiles Ltd was the main applicant, shows that The Company is a duly registered Company in Bangladesh with sound financial condition and no known deficiencies or judgments and meets all the selection criteria requirements. At the same time the Company has identified the following two EEIOs:

Thus, The Company has requested for a grant amount equivalent to 30% on cost sharing basis of principal machinery cost. Study has shown that they are currently implementing the Biological ETP erection and commissioning project. Hence the team of the utility department has the capacity and capability to implement the energy efficiency improvement options in the factory facility. They have also showed interest in sharing their results and present case studies by participating in workshops and training sessions organized by CCEB http://www.cleanenergy-bd.org .

Along with the other rules and regulations of catalyzing clean energy in Bangladesh (CCEB) program of Energy Efficiency Incentive fund the environmental review and assessment assure whether the proposed scope of work has any type of potential for environmental pollution or not. As per statement of Grant of USAID, Strict measurement is to be taken in order to mitigate environmental pollution, evolution and other environmental hazard caused by pollution. However, officers’ representatives (AOR/COR) has been set up to ensure the environmental consequences that has to be taken into consideration by USAID and the host country.

Other focused consideration for environmental issues includes earth resources, agriculture and agrochemical, industries and air qualities, water resources and qualities, cultural resources, biological resources, land use planning and the quality, traffic, transportation and circulation, environmental hazard and other environmental issues.

Last but not the least, Catalyzing Clean Energy in Bangladesh (CCEB) Project by USAID ensure the mitigation of environmental pollutions with different alternative and recommended monitoring measures. Along with this initiative we are implementing a GREEN Building Project under the USGBC http://www.usgbc.org/projects/libas-textiles-ltd. Through the coordination of USAID and BKMEA team we are implementing this big initiative. Also, from the industry site our Consultant and Coordinator Muhammad Ferdaus is the key person of those two projects.

Biography of Consultant & Coordinator

Muhammad Ferdaus closely worked with the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense forces as a Volunteer Coordinator in Rana Plaza Building collapsed, which was the most notorious industrial hazards in the world history, in 2013. During her rescuing work, he has done many heart touching operations, which was recognized by many people including the honorable Prime Minister. He rescued many workers by cutting different parts of the body which were clasped under the collapsed structure.
As a recognition of his contribution to Rana Plaza and other volunteer activities he has been recognized by the U.S. Department of State as the International Exchange Alumni Excellency Award 2013, the Young Leaders Award was recognized by the Yes Alumni Bangladesh and the U.S. Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh. Mr. Ferdaus was also a Project Manager of Emergency First Responded Training Program under the U.S. Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Department of States in 2014.
Mr. Ferdaus has completed a master’s degree in Disaster Management and Environmental Science from the BRAC University, Dhaka. He was selected by the U.S. Embassy Dhaka for a yearlong Community College Initiative Program (CCIP) in Public Safety (Disaster Management) in the United States of America in 2014-2015. He has the experience to work with the different organization in the U.S.A. As a volunteer Mr. Ferdaus worked with Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD), ICNA Relief, Gender Equality, American Red Cross and has done 603 hours volunteering activities with those social organizations.
Mr. Ferdaus accomplished his internship with the Boston Elderly Affairs Commission as Program Assistant and the American Red Cross Disaster Management Department, Massachusetts Headquarters as an Intern in 2015. He also attended in the Deliberation for Social Change short course under the Harvard Extension School and he was selected as one of the 199 delegates for the conferences on Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) in January, 2015 and in the Harvard South Asian Institute Symposium in Cambridge, USA.
Moreover, he is also one of the 200 Global Young Leaders Fellow from the globe on Women Deliver organization, now he is working to promote women and girl’s right and advocacy in various sectors including garment and textile industry. In 2016, the U.S. department of state selected him as an international orator for a youth advocacy program in Pakistan. Mr. Ferdaus has completed different short course in environmental management from the University of Huddersfield in the United Kingdom and from the University of Ruhuna, in Sri Lanka. Since 2015 Mr. Muhammad Ferdaus working for this Group of Companies as Consultant & Coordinator.