Democracy and Governance Programme
Project Title:
Improving Local Level Governance by Strengthening Union Parishads and Creating Citizen’s Awareness”
Funded By: USAID
Project Duration:
6th August 2002 to 31st March 2011 ( 1st October-2008 to 31st March 2011 Third Phase)
Year of Reporting:
2009
Total Project Fund:
Tk. 25,49,15,126
Project Introduction:
The project “Improving Local Level Governance by Strengthening Union Parishads and Creating Citizen’s Awareness” is a USAID funded on-going project. This report covers the program implementation of third phase (1st October-2008 to 31st March 2011).
During this phase, the project area is extended to 210 Union Parishads (UP) and 4 Pourasavas of which 159 local government institutions in southwestern part of Bangladesh that was severely affected by cyclone SIDR and 55 LGI in northwestern part including Norail district.
The project developed Citizen Committees in the new project areas. The project initiated capacity building for the LEBs and the citizen Committees both in the old and new areas of the project. Special emphasis was given to the Sidr affected areas for activation of the UP level Disaster Management Committees (DMC) so that in future they can successfully support and assist the people in reducing the effects of any disaster.
Disaster Management Committee members along with the LEBs were exposed to training and orientations on DRR and as well as their roles and responsibilities in disaster. It was observed that the participants expressed their sense of satisfaction and capacity in dealing with any disaster situation.
The LEBs having trained on accountability and public financial management are expected to exercise better initiatives and efforts for better revenue earning and utilization fund as pro-people institutions.
The LEBs, the Citizens Committees as well as the general people appear to have been sensitized to certain extent in undertaking coordinated local initiatives towards their social, political and economical development. The LEBs are more responsive and accountable to the citizens because of the citizens’ participation in UP activities and activation of UP Standing Committees.
Project Goal:
Strengthening Local Government Institutions in South West and North West of Bangladesh as examples of democratic local government bodies responsive to citizens’ needs
Project Objective:
- Build the capacities of the target local governments through training and technical assistance to ensure restored and improved public service delivery to the communities.
- Integrate the target governments more closely into the government Sidr relief distribution system and improve the transparency, equity and accountability of this distribution system.
- Strengthen the financial and administrative management capacity of local governments to safeguard and properly utilize public funds.
- Increase the capacity of local elected official and citizen group to prepare for and mitigate the impact of future natural disaster.
- Creating high-level community awareness about the roles and responsibilities of Local Government Institutions and about the need for local level good governance through alternative awareness campaign process using folk media.
Activities:
- Project inception
- Baseline Data Collection
- LEB's Training Manual Printing & Buinding
- Hand book
- Training on Disaster Management & Risk Reduction for SIDR AREA
- Training on Accountability & Public Finance
- Training on UP function, Roles & Responsibilities of LEB's
- Bi-monthly UP St. Committee Meeting
- Workshop with Union Disaster management committee & LEB's on PSP action
- Regional Level Seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Day with participation of GO, NGO, LEB's & Media Personnel
- Disaster related Day observation by the LGI & DMC World Environment Day (5th June) for June
- Consultation Meeting with BUPF & MAB for Disaster management at national level
- National Level Advocacy Meeting with Policy makers & LG activists
- Training manual development
- Training materials
- DMC Active
- Citizen Committee Formation
- Upazilla Level Orientation on LGI Disaster management committees for their roles & responsibilities
- DMC roles & Duties
- DMC Quarterly Meeting
- Bi-monthly C.S Committee Meeting
- Workshop on UP function roles & responsibilities for Disaster management committees & Citizen committee
- Training on Disaster Management & Risk Reduction for Citizen Committee Members in Non SIDR Area
- Upazilla Level DMC Committee Meeting.
- Radio Program Amader Union
- TV Talk show Amader Union
- Drama & Pot Song
- Awareness Material (BOOK LET)
- Awareness Material (Poster)
- Notice board
- Local govt. manual publication
- Staff training on project orientation & development communication
- Quarterly Staff Meeting
- Technical Training on Financial Management in country with project staff on A/C. HR. Logistic & Internal Auditor
- Technical Training on Research methodology, Data Compilation & report writing.
Project Challenge:
- Upazilla Chairman & Vice-Chairman are not in a position to perform activities in their respective Upazilla Parishads due to lack of policy and job specification and Controlling the LEBs by the local Member of Parliament.
- UPs have a few roles & responsibilities in building, re-construction and maintenance of coastal embankment.
- There is no International weather-monitoring center in coastal area.
- Lack of emergency relief & rescue fund for UP.
- There are no CPP (Cyclone Preparedness Program) in 3 coastal districts.
- Lack of Political Commitment and initiatives for Decentralization
- Poor Citizen participation in LG activities
- Use of LG as strategic weapon by the political parties and others
- Bureaucratic and Law-makers control over LG
- Contradictory and illegible law, ordinance and regulations
Project Learning:
- Sustainable development can be ensured through coordinated development planning and implementation at local level.
- Active role of the Disaster Management Committees can ensure Disaster risk Reduction.
- Development activities will be transparent, accountable if peoples participation & sharing on the preparation of UP budget.
- If UP, DMC/Citizen Committees are aware on HAP, SPHERE & are aware of their roles, responsibilities relief & rehabilitation works will be transparent & accountable.
- Awareness and information dissemination can ensure people knowledge in building transparent and accountable LG bodies through participation.
Project Recommendation:
- Political Commitment and initiatives for Decentralize Local Government.
- Ensure More poor Citizen participation in Local Government activities.
- Local Government will be considered as strategic weapon for local development to all Political parties.
- Local Government act as self governed institute.
- Local Government directed as per Constitution.