Promoting Access to Information in Local Governance (PAILG)

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Introduction

In Bangladesh we have a long tradition of secrecy which prevails from the top level (Ministry, Secretariat etc.) to local level (local governments, local service delivery bodies etc.). This tradition of secrecy appears to be a powerful enemy of human rights. Because at this age Information Technology is dominating the economical, social and political life of the world population. It is said that ‘an informed nation can effectively exercise its rights and become developed’. The enactment of RTI Act 2009 is a milestone progress for us to become an informed nation. Now, all we need is effective implementation of the RTI Act. Therefore, DW proposes this nine months pilot project to initiated implementation at six newly elected local governments.

Objective

    • Promote Right to Information Act 2009 among LGs and community people.
    • Activate Union Information Service Centre (UISC) to make LGs the local hub for information.
    • Enhance knowledge and capacity of LGs on information management and dissemination.
    • Assist LGs in giving out information.
    Program/Project area coverage

    This project is implementing in six Union Parishads of Dinajpur and Nilphamari Districts. They are,

    District

    Upazila

    Union Parishad

    Dinajpur

    Birampur

    Mukundopur UP

    Khanpur UP

    Poliproyagpur UP

    Nilphamari

    Sadar

    Palashbari UP

    Khokshabari UP

    Ramnagar UP

    Targets/Beneficiaries

    • Elected representatives of selected local governments, Institution(LGI)
    • secretaries of UPS
    • Voters of project area/ constituency..

     Output/Results

    • Local government officials have demonstrated knowledge on RTI Act.
    • UISC are activated by LGs through efficient management of information and dissemination.
    • Local community is more familiar with their rights to information and demands it from their elected representatives.
    • LGs adopt the practice of information sharing and local government becomes local hub for information.
    • LGs function in a more democratic, accountable and transparent manner.

     Activities

    • Conduct rapid assessment in selected UPs about the state of RTI practices by Union Information Service Centers Target-1 in each UP, Achievement-1
    • Share rapid assessment findings with UP officials and the officials of government service delivery bodies.T-2Dist…2UPazila….6UP
    • Conduct orientation workshops for the UP officials and the officials of government service delivery bodies on RTI Act and functions of UISC. This will include information management, dissemination, community participation (democratic decision making), transparency and accountability.
    • Organize community campaigns on RTI Act Target-54 Number-54, functions of UISC, citizens’ rights, demands and responsibilities. Community campaigns will be done through ward level court yard meetings.
    • Citizen Charter based on RTI-Target-6,A-6
    • Campaign to promote Wed Portal T-12,Achi-12
    • Organize a national level policy advocacy with the findings and recommendations from RTI pilot practices.T-1.A-1

    Achievement

    • Local government officials have demonstrated knowledge on RTI Act.
    • UISC are activated by LGs through efficient management of information and dissemination.
    • Local community is more familiar with their rights to information and demands it from their elected representatives.
    • LGs adopt the practice of information sharing and local government becomes local hub for information.
    • LGs function in a more democratic, accountable and transparent manner.

    Operation / Working Strategy:

    A baseline survey was conducted to decide the situation at the beginning of the project Assigned Project coordinator in cooperation with stakeholders complete.The task closes sharing with the Donors for future course/ action.


    Challenge addressed

    Union Information Service Centre are not active as LGs have little or no knowledge on what information to give and how.

    • People & rsquo;s demand for information  yet to be crated
    • The traditional methods and formats of information sharing do not reflect peoples’ demand.
    • LGs are afraid of being exposed to people about their corruption and mismanagement.
    • Lack of social/ community monitoring of UP’s function.
    • Lack of expertise and also designated persons for giving information to people.

    Lesson Learned

    a) RTI Act, 2009 is a law that started to be enforced as an information receiver/citizen applies for information which is different from other law.
    b) The citizen involve in the process and his/her sense of responsibility enhance as citizen to fulfill  his obligation from any corner of her society 

    Future course of action

    • Staff capacity building training on RTI Act, 2009
    • Organize training for UP representatives and the government officials of the UP
    • Organize training for UP local people
    • Organize community campaigns on RTI Act,
    • Information upload though web portal and initiate the practice of giving out information.
    • Organize  national level policy advocacy
    • Develop citizen charter( Bangla)