|
|
|
Democracywatch
Starts a project to Improve the capacity of selected Union Parishads,
Upazila Parishads and Municipalities to deliver better services
to their constituents in participatory, transparent and accountable
manner. The Local Government Units (LGU) in Bangladesh operates
in an environment which is not conducive either for speedy delivery
of goods and services, or for sustainable social and economic development
activities. The weak revenue base of Union Parishad is well documented.
Their power and authority is minimal compared to field administration
units, other semi autonomous and autonomous public organizations.
The limited number of staff and low level of their knowledge and
skills make it difficult for the local government to act with efficiency
and effectiveness.
Democracywatch
firmly believes that democracy begins at the local level. Local
governments need to be more effective and accountable. For democracy
to consolidate, governments must be able to meet their citizens'
demands. Discussions on decentralization have begun but real actions
need to replace words. The scope of local powers and the provision
of resources allocation need to be clarified and expanded.
Summary
of the project
Total
duration of the action
|
 |
2
Years (December 2011- November 2013) |
Funded
by
|
|
Tetra
Tech ARD |
Geographical
Location
|
|
24
UPs, 5 Upazilas and 5 Municipalities in cluster 14
|
Purpose
and Objectives:
|
|
Primary
objective:
Improve the capacity of selected Union Parishads, Upazila
Parishads and Municipalities to deliver better services to
their constituents in participatory, transparent and accountable
manner.
Immediate
objectives:
1. Enhance understanding of elected local government representatives
with a special emphasis on women members on local government
practices, roles and authorities.
2. Improve capacity of selected local government units to
deliver services.
3. Increase ability of selected LGUs to identify appropriate
sources of revenue.
4. Greater transparency and accountability of selected LGUs
in participatory planning (identifying and prioritizing development
scheme through ward shava), open budgeting and democratic
decision making.
5. Initiate citizen's participation and watchdog over selected
LGUs and government service delivery bodies by formation and
activation of Citizen's Participation Forums.
6. Open up windows for knowledge sharing with other concerned
stake holders.
|
Expected
project results
|
|
1.
Increased understanding and expanded capacity of selected local
governments to deliver services
2. Increased
inclusion of deprived and marginalized sections of the community
3. Increased revenue generation by a minimum of 25 percent in
target LGUs
4. Increased numbers of locally elected officials with a special
emphasis on women members are trained on local government practices,
roles and authorities
5. More transparent and efficient financial management, budgeting
and decision making system in place
6. Improvements in the quality and quantity of the essential
services i.e. education, health and agriculture as well as other
services provided by the LGUs
7. Established commonly accepted practice of citizen participation
by the LGUs
8. Improved local decision making, strategic planning, budget
formulation and prioritization of development projects as a
result of constant citizen participation
9. Networking with government and other service delivery agencies
at the local and sub national level
10. Adoption of the PSP approach by the LGUs
11. increased knowledge generation in the area of local governance
through innovations |
|