Annual report for upazila governance project (uzgp) of undp by Grey Shack

Annual Report 2015 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) Local Government Division (LGD) Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives

Wasif Gaws Creative Director Grey Shack Limited Grey Shack, a communications and consultancy company which provides support to development organizations, multi-nationals, large corporations, SMEs, NGOs, institutions and individuals in all aspects of Communication Solutions, ICT Solutions and Strategic Business Consultancy. We provide special assistance in social awareness raising, behavior change communication, advocacy campaign, information education and communication, visibility and branding. By creating an end to end communication strategy and carefully planned implementation, Grey Shack helps to empower all its stakeholders understand the project goals and to contribute actively to the decision-making processes of development as a whole.

E ditorial Board Saurendra Nath Chakrabhartty Additional Secretary, LGD and National Project Director, UZGP

Amitavh Sarker Joint Secretary, LGD and Focal Person, UZGP

Shaila Khan Assistant Country Director and Head, Local Governance Cluster, UNDP

Md. Mozammel Haque Project Manager, UZGP

Md. Sydur Rahman Molla Programme Analyst, UNDP

Ataul Gani Osmani Communications Ofﬁcer, UZGP

Md. Mizanur Rahman Monitoring and Evaluation Ofﬁcer, UZGP

This publication is formal publication of Upazila Governance Project (UZGP). The document has been produced with the ﬁnancial assistance of the contributing donors of the UZGP i.e. the European Union (EU), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNDP and the UNCDF. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the ofﬁcial opinion of the supporting donors. Photo Credit: GMB Akash

02 Annual Report

Published in June 2016

Annual Report 2015

EUROPEAN UNION

Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) Local Government Division Wasif Gaws Creative Director Grey Shack Limited Grey Shack, a communications and consultancy company which provides support to development organizations, multi-nationals, large corporations, SMEs, NGOs, institutions and individuals in all aspects of Communication Solutions, ICT Solutions and Strategic Business Consultancy. We provide special assistance in social awareness raising, behavior change communication, advocacy campaign, information education and communication, visibility and branding. By creating an end to end communication strategy and carefully planned implementation, Grey Shack helps to empower all its stakeholders understand the project goals and to contribute actively to the decision-making processes of development as a whole.

Annual Report

C ontent Messages

List Of Acronyms Executive Summary

Introduction To UZGP UZGP Objectives and Purposes

Geographical Coverage Key Results And Achievements In 2015

Progress Towards Outputs Challenges And The Way Forward Financial Statement

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49 52

UZGP, by providing pesticide-free pheromone traps and training, helps vegetable farmers in Barguna Sadar Upazila under Barguna district to produce toxic-free vegetables. The new pest control method better protects human health a well as the environment.

Annual Report

Message from LGD Secretary The continued capacity development efforts, in the form of training, backstopping support, needed guidelines, manuals and directives, is making the functionaries more skilled and conﬁdent; UZP Committees formed and took off smoothly, key committees are now sitting regularly in its bi-monthly meeting; female VCs of UZP, who are chairing half of the UZP committees, are now more skilled and conﬁdent in steering those.

Message from LGD Secretary

The functional and institutional capacity of UZPs has increased signiﬁcantly; planning and budgeting are now far better; citizens are now more actively engaged in designing, implementing development schemes and, thus, downward accountability and transparency to deliver services to the people was ensured.

ABDUL MALEK

Secretary Local Government Division

The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP), for the fourth consecutive year, is going to publish its Annual Report. We are taking the pride that the five-year multi-donor funded project has created a strong vibe in country’s local government arena. In line with the government’s commitment to make a strong local government system in Bangladesh, the project has already proved its mettle by revitalizing Upazila Parishad through instilling skills and knowledge into its functionaries. The project, through various activities and initiatives, played a significant role in making the important tier of country’s local government system a participatory, proactive and efficient pro-people service-provider.

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The Citizen Perception Survey (CPS) 2015 revealed a overwhelming 51.2 percent citizen’s satisfaction in overall performance of UZP as compared to paltry 12.9 percent in 2012. Female members are now participating in debate, their voices are heard, and playing a significant role in decision-making process of UZP. The fiscal facility-funded schemes benefitted thousands of rural poor, especially women and disadvantaged people, to come out of poverty through providing income-generating training and capacity development. It’s not only helped achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but also to have clear understanding on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I take the opportunity to extend my gratitude to our development partners and would like to reaffirm government’s commitment in strengthening local government systems, practices and institutions in Bangladesh.

Message from NPD, UZGP The continued capacity development efforts and backstopping support provided by the project helped groom the new leadership (4th Upazila Parishad) in running their offices efficiently and effectively and also boost their confidence to a higher level.

Message from LGD Secretary With the technical and ﬁnancial support provided by the project, a total of 187 UZPs have prepared and published such books with Annual Plan and Five-year Development Vision. Project initiatives in empowering women is making great strides, prompting the LGD issuance of a circular for allocating 3 percent of ADP fund for Women Development Forum (WDF) and 25 percent schemes of UZP by women representatives for gender-responsive development plans.

SAURENDRA NATH CHAKRABHARTY Additional Secretary, LGD & National Project Director, UNGP

This is a matter of great pride that the Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) has completed another successful year, making signiﬁcant progress in many areas. Various interventions taken by the project have helped the Upazila Parishad (UZP) to grow more stronger and delivering its services effectively. Functional and institutional capacity of the most important tier of the local government system in Bangladesh have improved to a great extent with 100 percent of UZPs in project areas holding their mandated monthly meeting regularly, 100 percent formation of UZP committees within one month of newly elected 4th Upazila Parishad.

The project has taken an deliberated initiative to develop an “Comprehensive Capacity Development Framework for LGIs” in order to establish discipline, consistency and efficiency among LGIs for better service delivery. As we take stock of the good progress, we remain steadfast to achieve more. Going forward, the Government is reaffirming its commitment to make the UZPs an efficient, effective pro-people service provider. We take this opportunity to convey our sincere gratitude to our development partners –European Union (EU), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNCDF and UNDP-for extending generous support to the Upazila Parishad. I would also like to thank all the project staff and relevant government officials for their efforts in making the 2015 a successful year for UZGP!

Annual Report

Message from Country Director, UNDP We are pleased to convey that the UZGP was able to achieve signiﬁcant results in 2015. The strength of UZPs in delivering service to its citizens grew tremendously, with 100 percent of UZPs have regularly held mandated monthly meetings, 100 percent UZPs have prepared and submitted Annual Budget to LGD, 85 percent UZP committees are now more functional, and six key UZP committees in 72 percent UZPs in project areas held their bi-monthly meetings regularly as compared to 34 percent UZPs in control areas.

Message from LGD Secretary

PAULINE TAMESIS

Country Director UNDP Bangladesh

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under its Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) Pillar 1 recognizes that public administration reform focusing on civil service reform, decentralization and local governance are key areas to develop in order to achieve more effective service delivery and local development based on the needs of people at local level. In 2015, under the Upazila Governance Project (UZGP), UNDP continued supporting the Government of Bangladesh with strategic public administration local governance reforms and assisted to further develop the capacity of key local institutions together with elected public representatives, government ofﬁcials and local government entities for better public service delivery and gender responsiveness.

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The continued capacity development initiatives and other backstopping support provided by the project to UZP functionaries resulted in better planning and budgeting, in a participatory and inclusive manner, focusing the off-track MDGs and improved pro-poor service delivery mechanism. It’s a great success that a total of 187 UZPs, with the technical and ﬁnancial support from the UZGP, have prepared and published “UZP Information, Plan and Budget Book” with Annual Plan and Five-year development vision. I would like to convey my sincerest thanks to the Government of Bangladesh for continuing its longstanding partnership with UNDP in an effort to assist the country in eradicating poverty through its reform agenda promoting good governance and pro-poor service delivery at the local level. My sincere appreciation also goes to our development partners- the European Union (EU), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)who have contributed to the successful, and continuing, implementation of UZGP.

List of acronyms ADP

Annual Development Plan

MoU

AWM

Alternate Work Modality

MLGDR & C Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development

AWP

Annual Work Plan

BARD

Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development

NAPD

National Academy for Planning and Development

BIDS

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies

NEX

National Execution

BIM

Bangladesh Institute of Management

NILG

National Institute of Local Government

BMDF

Bangladesh Municipality Development Fund

NGOs

Non-government Organizations

CBOs

Community-based Organization

NPD

National Project Director

CEDAW

United Nations Convention on the Elimination

NWDP

National Women Development Policy

of All forms of Discrimination Against Women

PAG

Policy Advisory Group

CSOs

Civil Society Organizations

Project Board

Deputy Commissioner

Project Manager

DDLG

Deputy Director, Local Government

PMU

Project Management Unit

District Facilitator

PSC

Project Steering Committee

DLG

Director, Local Government

RDA

Rural Development Academy

DPP

Development Project Proposal

SDC

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

DSCC

Dhaka South City Corporation

Standing Committee

DVF

Divisional Facilitator

ToR

Terms of Reference

European Union

UFF

Upazila Fiscal Facility

Focal Person

UNCDF

United Nations Capital Development Fund

ICT

Information and Communications Technology

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

Local Government

UNOs

Upazila Nirbahi OfďŹ cers

LGD

Local Government Division

UZGP

Upazila Governance Project

LGIs

Local Government Institutions

UZP

Upazila Parishad

Union Parishad

Cooperatives

UPGP

Union Parishad Governance Project

Local Government Support Project

VAT

Value Added Tax

LGRD & C Local Government, Rural Development and

LGSP

Memorandum of Understanding

and Cooperatives

VAW

Violence Against Women

Innovation Component

Vice Chairman

MDGs

Millennium Development Goals

WDF

Women Development Forum

M&E

Monitoring and Evaluation

Ward Shava

MI&E

Monitoring, Inspection and Evaluation

MIS

Management Information System

LGSP-LIC Local Government Support Project- Learning and

Annual Report

E xecutive Summery The 2015 was a successful year for Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) as marked improvement was seen in many areas the project has intervened through various activities. The continued capacity development initiatives, fiscal support and policy efforts helped consolidated its results towards achieving intended goals by end of the project next year. The individual capacity of elected public representatives and government officials vis-à-vis institutional capacity of Upazila Parishad (UZP) have improved significantly resulted in effective functioning of the UZP in compliance with the Upazila Act. A general and specialized training, provided by the project, to more than 4,000 elected public representatives and government officials helped the UZP functionaries enhancing their understanding of iinstitutional nstit stituti stitu l functi fun cti and legal, administrative and in functions their corresponding roles, prompting the UZPs holding their meeting regularly and effectively. Wasif Gaws Creative Director Grey Shack Limited

The democratic oversight, citizen engagement, transparency and accountability in local governance were improved further through conduct of four thematic workshops on Health, Education, Agriculture and Climate Change in 65 UZPs with local administration, CSOs, CBOs and NGOs. The most stunning success of the project is preparation and publication of “UZP Information, Plan and Budget Book”. With technical and ﬁnancial support from the project, more 54 UZPs have prepared and published the plan books with Annual Plan and Five-year Development Vision, raising the total number of such books to 187. A new 137 Women Development Forums (WDFs) were formed, taking the total number to 551 and mobilized over 16,000 elected women UPs and Municipalities. rrepresentatives re ep prrese esen ntta ati tivves es of UZPs, UZPs, UP The forums have successfully addressed 765 early marriages, 312 dowries, 266 sexual harassments and 461 other types of violence. Some 213 more WDFs were registered with Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA), taking the total number of registered WDFs to 240.

Grey Shack, a communications and consultancy company which provides support to development organizations, multi-nationals, large corporations, SMEs, NGOs, institutions and individuals in all aspects of Communication Solutions, ICT Solutions and Strategic Business Consultancy. We provide special assistance in social awareness raising, behavior change communication, advocacy campaign, information education and communication, visibility and branding. By creating an end to end communication strategy and carefully planned implementation, Grey Shack helps to empower all its stakeholders understand the project goals and to contribute actively to the decision-making processes of development as a whole.

Despite a new leadership (4th Upazila Parishad), 100 percent of UZPs in project areas have regularly held mandated monthly meetings while 89 percent in control areas. UZP Committees are now more functional; monthly and bi-monthly committee meetings are being held regularly showing a signiﬁcant improvement in democratic practices in UZPs. Due to efforts by the project, all 490 UZPs (100 percent) have prepared and submitted Annual Budget to LGD in time. Citizen engagement in UZP planning and budgeting were ensured through open sessions and publicly displaying the budget for their feedback.

In 2015, the project has disbursed Tk. 70 million to 14 top ranking UZPs for implementing 152 schemes with 89 percent direct focus on poverty, health, education, youth and women development. Co-ﬁnancing in the schemes was increased by 13 percent compared to previous year. More than 15 percent of the schemes was targeted to marginalized groups while 10 percent of total investment was spent addressing the needs of disadvantaged groups.

Financial discipline in the UZPs have improved further while in-house web-based MIS capacity of 65 UZPs under selected seven districts have enhanced signiﬁcantly.

A Citizen Perception Survey (CPS) in 2015 revealed a overwhelming 51.2 percent citizen’s satisfaction in overall performance of UZP as compared to paltry 12.9 percent in 2012.

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On policy front, the LGD, having assistance from UZGP, put forward seven Rules and one Regulations to the Ministry of Law for vetting; of which two Rules are already vetted and remaining are under the process. The LGD also issued a circular that directed the UZPs to allocate 3 percent Annual Development Plan (ADP) allocation for WDF. A sub-committee of

the Policy Advisory Group (PAG) was formed to review policy studies conducted by projects. The project has also provided technical support to LGD to develop a “Comprehensive Capacity Development Framework for LGIs” in order to establish disciple, consistency and efﬁciency among LGIs for better service delivery.

In terms of key results in 2015 of the project in comparison with previous years 100 percent of UZPs in project areas have held mandated monthly meeting regularly while 89 percent in control areas as compared 70 percent in 2013 and 30 percent in 2012. General and specialized trainings provided to more than 4,000 elected public representatives and government officials have helped effective functioning and institutional strengthen of UZPs. UZP Monthly and bi-monthly Committee meetings are being held regularly, meeting procedures are better recorded and maintained, participation of both male and female functionaries have increased significantly. The orientation and specialized training to 3906 Chairs and Members of UZP committees in 65 UZPs along with DLGs and DDLGs helped 85.7 percent of UZP Committees in project areas to make more functional while 78 percent in control areas. Six key UZP Committees held their bi-monthly meeting regularly in 72 percent UZPs in project areas as compared to 34 percent UZPs in control areas. Understanding of 3112 UZP Committee (SC) chairs and members have enhanced significantly on legal, administrative and institutional functions and their corresponding roles through a day-long orientation. All 490 UZPs (100 percent) prepared and submitted Annual Budget to LGD in time as compared to 95 UZPs (20 percent) in 2012.

90 percent of the total 150 schemes implemented in 2014-15 FY by selected 14 UZPs was MDG-responsive while 380,355 people were directly beneﬁted from the schemes. Of the total, 201,268 were female and 179,087 were male. 54 more “UZP Information, Plan and Budget Book” with Annual Plan and have been prepared and published in 2015, taking the total number of such books to 187. A total of 271 members of Women Development Forum (WDF) were oriented on Gender and LGI’s affairs through a 5-day “Leadership Training”. Some 16,000 elected women representatives mobilized through 551 Women Development Forums (WDFs), of which 240 registered under Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA). A total of 42,212 participants were oriented through four thematic workshops in 65 UZPs on Health, Education, Agriculture and Climate Change and their understanding on a democratic, transparent and accountable local government has enhanced signiﬁcantly. Seven Rules and a Regulations related to UZP have developed by the project and now under Law Ministry for its vetting after reviewed by the LGD.

Annual Report

I ntroduction To UZGP The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) is part of UNDP and UNCDF’s overall programmatic framework for the support to Government of Bangladesh in the area of local governance reforms, assisted by the European Union (EU) and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The Upazila is a middle-tier administrative unit and elected body which occupies a very strategic political and bureaucratic position in Bangladesh. The re-establishment of the Upazila Parishad (UZP) in 2009, after a gap of 18 years, created these democratically elected institutions at the sub-national level that act as the linkage, and a point of administrative decentralization, between the lowest tier of local government, Union Parishad (UP) and the 17 service-delivery line agencies at Upazila level. The Upazila Act amended in 2009 and 2011 aris aris empowered Upazila Parishad to play a major role in the process of promoting ti llocal democracy and management and delivery of basic social services. Wasif Gaws Creative Director Grey Shack Limited

The re-introduction of Upazila Parishad in 2009 resulted in elections being held in all 482 Upazilas nationwide. The number of Upazilas now stands at 490. Local Government Institutions (LGIs) in general, and the UZP in particular, are facing number of challenges affecting their efﬁciency and effectiveness. The broad range of challenges includes capacity constraints, limited institutional practice of process under law and absence of elaborative Rules and Regulations. UZPs and the transferred departments results in further ﬁscal constraints in terms of their collective capacity to plan, budget and ensure service delivery as per available resources to address local level development. The project is designed to improve functional and institutional capacities of UZPs for effective and accountable delivery of pro-poor infrastructure and services.

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A mid-wifery training and kits, provided by the project, helps saving the lives of pregnant mothers and potential life-threatening birth at home in the remote â&#x20AC;&#x153;chalan beelâ&#x20AC;?, largest wetland of Bangladesh, under Sirajganj district. The UZGP, under a scheme through Upazila Fiscal Facility (UFF), provided a 12-day training to 70 community mid-wives in Kazipur Upazila Parishad under Sirajganj district aimed at improving maternal services, lower maternal mortality rates and empower women in the area.

Annual Report

UZGP Objectives and Purposes The overall objective of the project is “Government institutions at the national and sub-national levels are able to more effectively carry out their mandates, including delivery of public services, in a more accountable, transparent and inclusive manner”.

The speciﬁc objective is “to strengthen the capacities of local governments and other stakeholders to foster participatory local development services for the MDGs.

OUTPUT 1

TARGET COVERAGE

Strengthened Upazila Parishads as more functional, democratic transparent and accountable institutions.

487 Upazila Parishads

OUTPUT 2 Strengthened Planning and Budgeting system at Upazila Parishad with MDG orientation and pro-poor service delivery mechanism.

14 Upazila Parishads/Year on a competitive basis from 65 target UZPs

OUTPUT 3 Strengthened national capacity for effective policy review, monitoring, lesson learning and capacity development of local government institutions (LGIs) for enhanced local governance.

Nationwide

OUTPUT 4 Effective Project Management Arrangement

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Project Ofﬁces

Geographical Coverage basis from 65 Upazila Parishads under seven select districts. The selected top 14 UZPs that received Performance-based Grants (PBGs) in 2014-2015 FY are: Kishoreganj Sadar and Mithamoin under Kishoreganj district, Brahmanbaria Sadar and Bancharampur under Brahmanbaria district, Kazipur and Ullapara under Sirajganj district, Dumuria and Digholia under Khulna district, Barguna Sadar and Betagi under Barisal district, Sunamganj Sadar and Jagannathpur under Sunamganj district and Rangpur Sadar and Pirganj under Rangpur district.

The project, through its capacity building and technical policy support, extends its outreach to all 487 UZPs across the country while Upazila Fiscal Facility (UFF) targets 14 Upazila Parishads per year on a competitive

• Rangpur sadar • Pirgang

PANCHGARH

NILPHAMARI

THAKURGAON

LALMONIRHAT KURIGRAM

DINAJPUR

RANGPUR

GAIBANDHA

SHERPUR

SUNAMGANJ

NETROKONA NAOGAON

JAMALPUR

BOGRA

• Sunamganj Sadar • Jagannathpur

SYLHET

MYMENSINGH

NAWABGANJ RAJSHAHI Wasif Gaws Creative Director Grey Shack Limited

NATORE

KISHOREGANJ

SIRAJGANJ

MOULVIBAZAR HABIGANG

TANGAIL

• Kazipur • Ullapara

PABNA

GAZIPUR

KUSHTIA

MANIKGANJ

MEHERPUR

DHAKA

RAJBARI CHUADANGA

JHENAIDAH

FARIDPUR

NARSHINDI

COMILLA

MAGURA

JESSORE

NARAIL

SHARIATPUR

MADARIPUR

• Brahmanbaria Sadar • Bancharampur

BRAHMANBARIA

NARAYANGANJ

MUNSHIGANJ

• Kishoreganj Sadar • Mithamoin

KHAGRACHARI

CHANDPUR

GOPALGONJ

FENI

LAKSHMIPUR

BARISAL

NOAKHALI

• Dumuria • Digholia

SATKHIRA

BHOLA

PIROJPUR

KHULNA

BAGERHAT

JHALAKATI

KHAGRACHARI

RANGAMATI

NAWAKHALI

SUNDARBAN FOREST

• Barguna sadar • Betagi

BARGUNA

UZGP Districts

BANDARBAN

COXBBAZAR

Annual Report

Section 1 Key Results And Achievements In 2015

A UZGP scheme helps prevent indoor air pollution, reduce fuel consumption and carbon emission through installing eco-friendly â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bondhu-chulaâ&#x20AC;? that helped transforming lives of hundreds of families in rural areas.

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Result 1: UZP improved democratic practices in managing its businesses complying with UZP Act Strengthening capacity of Upazila Parishad (UZP) functionaries for effective functioning of UZP in compliance with the Upazila Act was the major focus of UZGP’s capacity building intervention. The training and backstopping support rendered by the project has significantly contributed in enhancing capacity of elected public representatives and government officials vis-à-vis institutional capacity of UZP. As a result of general and specialized training provided by the project, despite a new leadership (4th Upazila Parishad), 100 percent of UZPs in project areas have held the mandated monthly meetings regularly while 89 percent in control areas. At the end of the tenure of last Upazila Parishad (3rd Upazila Parishad) in 2014, it was 70 percent while 30 percent in 2012. The training to more than 4,000 elected public representatives and government officials helped the UZP functionaries enhancing their understanding of legal, administrative and institutional functions and their corresponding roles, prompting the UZPs holding their meeting regularly and effectively. Democratic practices in UZPs have improved further through making the UZP Committees more functional. A two-day specialized training to 794 Chairs of UZP Committees, DLGs and DDLGs and a day-long field level orientation to 3112 members of the UZP Committees in 65 UZPs gave a big boost to the Committees. As a result of this training and orientation, 86 percent UZP Committees in project areas were more functional while 78 percent in control areas. UZGP Monitoring Data 2015 revealed that six key committees in 72 percent of UZPs in project areas have regularly held its bi-monthly

meetings as compared to 34 percent UZPs in control areas. All 490 (100 percent) UZPs have prepared and submitted Annual Budget to LGD in time as compared to 95 UZPs (20 percent) in 2012. Citizen engagement in UZP planning and budgeting were ensured through open sessions and publicly displaying the budget for their feedback. A three-day training on financial issues have helped UZPs improving its financial discipline significantly and the UZGP Monitoring Report 2015 revealed that 70 percent women representatives were participated in tendering process, demonstrating increased individual capacity and confidence in managing UZP business. The democratic oversight, citizen engagement, transparency and accountability in local governance were improved further through holding of four thematic workshops on Health, Education, Agriculture and Climate Change in 65 UZPs with local administration, CSOs, CBOs, NGOs. The most significant success the project has achieved in 2015 was the publication of 54 more “UZP Information, Plan and Budget Book”, raising the total number of such books to 187. The Citizen Perception Survey (CPS) 2015 revealed a 38.3 increase in the citizen satisfaction on the overall performance of UZP, thanks to various activities taken by the project. The citizen’s satisfaction rose to 51.2 percent in 2015 from a paltry 12.9 percent in 2012.

Annual Report

With the financial support from UZGP, 14 secondary schools under Brahmanbaria and Kishoreganj districts are provided free medical treatment and medicines to the students. A total of 10,000 students received free healthcare services which in turn helped achieving the MDGs at local level.

Result 2: UZP improved its planning practices by engaging citizen/constituents and addressing MDG off-tracked issues in planning and service delivery The innovative Upazila Fiscal Facility (UFF) Support, proved working very well in accelerating MDG implementation at local level targeting marginalized and vulnerable groups such as Dalits and other locally relevant excluded groups. Project Monitoring Report 2015 and a relevant “Impact Assessment of UFF-funded Schemes Report 2015”, justiﬁed that the schemes were contributed signiﬁcantly in increasing income at household level, thus, improving lives of community people, especially women and marginalized people. The project has disbursed Tk. 70 million in 2015 for implementing 152 schemes taken by top 14 UZPs selected through a performance assessment. Of the total 152 schemes, 15 percent were targeted to marginalized groups including persons with disabilities, religious and ethnic minorities while 10 percent of the total fund was spent addressing the needs of disadvantaged groups.

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UZGP Monitoring data found a marked improvement in addressing off-tracked MDG issues, a overwhelming 89 percent or 135 schemes directly focusing on poverty, health, education, youth and women development issues. The number of direct beneficiaries were 3.8 lakh, of which 53 percent are women, while 4.5 lakh got indirect benefits. Co-financing in the schemes was increased by 13 percent in 2015 compared to previous year. Upazila Parishads engaged community people in preparing its plan and budget as well as identifying the development priorities. As a result 54 UZPs have developed their five-year plan in a participatory manner with UZGP’s facilitation. In addition, 100 percent UZPs submitted their budget to LGD in time in subsequent fiscal years, which was only 4 percent before UZGP’s intervention. The Citizen Perception Survey (CPS) 2015, revealed that the citizen’s awareness on UZP Plan is increased by 10 percent while on UZP Budget by 26 percent.

A female participant is speaking at a “UZP Planning and Budget Discussion Meeting” held at Ullapara Upazila Parishad under Sirajganj district.

Result 3: LGD demonstrated improved capacity by taking affirmative action in providing policy guidance and support to UZPs for effective service delivery and mandated responsibilities The project has provided technical support to LGD in drafting seven Rules and one Regulations of Upazila Parishad, a set of directives or by-laws to bring more clarity and execute the mandated activities of UZP in line with the UZP Act. After completing necessary review by LGD, the Rules and the Regulations are sent to Law Ministry for vetting. Once vetted, the LGD will approve and place those into action.

percent increase in the satisfaction on overall performance of Upazila Parishad. It rose to 51.2 percent in 2015 from a baseline 12.9 percent in 2012, mainly due to various interventions taken by the project. The CPS also found that the citizens’ awareness on UZP Plan and Budget have also improved signiﬁcantly-from 10.1 percent and 0.0 percent to 20.8 percent and 26.8 percent in 2015.

The Policy Advisory Group (PAG) was reconstituted and ToR was approved. It also formed a sub-committee to review the ﬁve policy studies conducted by projects.

An action research on “Effectiveness of UZP Committees” found that the training and backstopping support provided by the UZGP have played a signiﬁcant role in effective functioning of UZP committees, prompting a pro-poor service delivery and strengthening local democracy.

The project has provided technical support to LGD to develop a “Comprehensive Capacity Development Framework for LGIs” in order to establish disciple, consistency and efﬁciency among LGIs for better service delivery. The CPS 2015 has revealed a overwhelming 38.3

Meanwhile, orientation and training on Web-based MIS system to LGD MIE Wing and UZP level ofﬁcials paved the way of quick uploading of data in the system.The project hs also set up a web-server at project ofﬁce to capture all online data coming from UZPs.

Annual Report

Section 2 Progress Towards Outputs

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Output 1: Strengthened Upazila Parishads As More Functional Transparent And Accountable Institutions Members of UZP committees boosted to run committees effectively Capacity of the members of UZP Committees boosted further through a day-long orientation to 3112 members of UZP Committee in 65 UZPs under seven selected districts to carry out their mandated roles and responsibilities for smooth and effective functioning of UZPs. Making an “unprecedented experience” in UZP history, the project has acted promptly and provided the orientation to newly elected public representatives of 4th Upazila Parishad soon after sworn into the ofﬁce. Through the orientation, the new entrants in UZP, along with other functionaries including government ofﬁcials and co-opted members from civil society, got familiar and clear understanding on the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of the Business in the committees. It helped committee members formulating a priority-based sector-wise planning with long-term development

vision and necessary budget to ensure better services to the people. The UZP Chair, Upazila Nirbahi Ofﬁcer (UNO), Vice-chairs, UP Chairs, relevant government ofﬁcials working at UZP level and co-opted members from Civil Society, Media and WDFs had taken part in the orientation. UZGP Monitoring data revealed that at least 6 key committees are holding regular meetings in 72 percent UZPs in project area compared to 34 percent in control areas.

Skills of UZP committee chairs sharpened through a 2-day training Skills of UZP Committee Chairs, specially the female ones, have sharpened further through a two-day training, helping to hold meeting compliant with legal procedure, judiciously picking development priorities and setting recommendations to place before Parishad for annual and long-term plan. Conducted by National

In 2015, the UZGP has provided generalized and specialized training to 4,000 elected public representatives and government officials which, in turn, helped effective functioning of Upazila Parishad in compliance with the Upazila Act. UZP Monthly and bi-monthly committee meetings are being regularly, meeting procedures are better recorded and maintained, participation of both male and female functionaries have increased significantly.

Annual Report

Institute of Local Government (NILG), Dhaka, a total of 794 UZP Committee Chairs along with DLGs and DDLGs took part in the training and learned how meticulously can prepare notice, working paper and minutes of the committee meeting and setting agenda as well. The UZGP Monitoring Report showed that the committee meetings are now better compliant with legal procedure, records are better maintained and ‘marked’ gender-parity in participation of both genders in decision-making and governance process in project areas than the control UZPs.

Citizen engagement in local planning, budgeting enhanced Citizen engagement in local development planning and budgeting that directly affect their lives was enhanced signiﬁcantly through four thematic workshops held in 65 UZPs under seven select districts. The thematic

22 Annual Report

areas of the workshops were-Education, Health, Agriculture and Climate Change. The workshops created a platform for community people, women, minorities and marginalized people to participate in the development plan of their communities, and influence decision-making process for better service delivery of local government institutions. About 42,000 participants, including community people, members from CSOs, CBOs, NGOs, poor and marginalized people, women and minorities have participated in the discussions; engaged in the debate for and against the development agenda; raised their demands, gave opinions to include in the development planning and budgeting. Of the participants, 8,628 were female. The citizen’s inclusion and participation, through the workshops, helped building a stronger and vocal communities to hold LGIs accountable and enhancing democracy at local level.

UZGP helps UZP functionaries to develop plan and budget more meticulously and exploring ways for mobilizing local resources.

Motivated to mobilize local resources The UZP functionaries, through a two-day training on “Planning, Budgeting and Local Resource Mobilization” were highly motivated to mobilize local resource to meet local development needs. The training helped them develop plan and budget of UZPs more meticulously and exploring ways for mobilizing more local resources. The UZP functionaries were oriented how to build community awareness and develop creative and innovative approaches to tap untapped local resources. It also stressed the need for sense of community ownership, building a social capital, sustainability of the development activities and flexibility in implementing activities targeting needs of the community. Conducted by National Academy for Planning and Development (NAPD), Dhaka, a total of 677 participants, including UZP Chair, Vice-Chairs, Engineer and UP Chair, took part in the training. As a result, 65 UZPs have developed their plan engaging community.

Skills of UZP functionaries on financial management, audit and PPR enhanced A three-day specialized training on financial management, audit and public procurement rules (PPR) enabled the UZP functionaries improving their understanding and skills in financial and audit issues and dealing PPR in compliance with Upazila Act. Conducted through Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM), Dhaka, the training helped functionaries efficiently managing the fund, selecting and implementing development schemes, and properly following the PPR for purchasing goods and services. A total of 2384 participants, drawn from 65 UZPs under seven select districts, including UZP Chair, Vice-chairs, UNOs, UZP Engineer and Project Implementation Officer (PIO) took part in the training. Of them, 1892 were male while 492 were female. UZGP Monitoring Report showed that the UZPs are now better able to select schemes, managing ADP resources and revenue fund in line with the UZP Act, Rules and Guidelines and

Annual Report

UZGP helps UZP functionaries improving their understanding and skills in financial and audit issues and dealing public procurement rules (PPR) in compliance with Upazila Act.

24 Annual Report

conﬁdently dealing with the procurement process and record management. It also showed that 70 percent women representatives are now participating in the tendering process, which demonstrates increased individual capacity and conﬁdence in managing UZP business.

Vice Chairman 14%

Chairman 17%

Participants Attended

(Designation Wise)

PIO 16%

Upazila Engineer 19%

UNO 14%

Meanwhile, skills of 223 UZP office staff including computer operator, office assistant, office secretary and confidential assistant of 65 UZPs in office management, filing and documentation was enhanced further through a separate two-day training.

Annual Report

Nine district-to-district exchange search of best practices

visits: in

As part of peer learning and to pick best practices, nine exchange visits were held from non-pilot districts to pilot districts. UZP functionaries, DLGs, DDLGs and Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of respective districts made the visits. They learned from each other’s knowledge and experience how to handle the complex situations, preparation of plan book, and innovative WDF interventions. Impressed with setting up of digital classroom in eight schools in Sunamganj district, Habiganj district decided to set up similar digital classroom in eight of its schools. The non-pilot Narail district that visited pilot Khulna district also brought some innovative schemes’ idea back to its Upazilas including NGO-Upazila partnership in supplying water to people, introducing “Health Card” system for better healthcare of school students, setting up of Beauty Parlour and distribution of Sanitary Pad to adolescent schools girls.

Peer learning through sharing experience on preparing UZP plan book Nine experience sharing meetings helped peers preparing UZP Information, Plan and Budget Book in a more planned way. The UZPs those have already prepared the plan books, shared their experience and challenges they have faced in gathering sector-wise information and reaching a consensus over priorities in long-term development vision. A total of 433 participants including DLG, DC, DDLG, UNOs, UZP Chair, Vice-chairs, media, representatives from the CSOs and NGOs, youth group took part in meetings where respective Divisional Commissioner was present as chief guest. With the technical and ﬁnancial support provided by the project, a total of 133 UZPs have published its plan books till 2015

26 Annual Report

A UZGP “Health Card” scheme for secondary level students helped ensure better healthcare services.

Riding high on UZP plan book success: 108 more plan books published The project has extended its ﬁnancial and technical support to 108 more UZPs to prepare and publish UZP Information, Plan and Budget Book, taking the total number of such books to 187. This was the cumulative results of general and specialized training, technical guidelines and manuals provided by the project to the UZPs over the years. This is for the ﬁrst time in Bangladesh that UZP has engaged community people in preparing its plan and budget and also in identifying development priorities. This was the landmark step for UZPs in creating visions, formulating plans and budgets.

28 district-level quarterly coordination meetings to speed up UZP activities Aimed at speeding up UZP activities to make the local body more functional, UZGP has organized 28 district-level quarterly coordination meetings in seven selected districts to monitor and review progress. Besides acting as an informal forum to share and debate “best practices”, it paved the way to ensure transparency and democratic governance by holding the functionaries accountable. The meeting reviewed progress, discussed major challenges and formulated a plan of action for next six months. A total of 1691 UZP functionaries including UZP Chair, VCs, UNOs, WDF members, government ofﬁcials at UZP and district levels took part in the meetings. Deputy Commissioner (DC) of respective district was present at the meeting as chief guest with DDLG was in the chair.

A UZGP scheme in Dumuria Upazila, Khulna district, ensure providing safe drinking water to 300 families those who, otherwise, didn’t have access to safe drinking water due to salinity.

Annual Report

19 17

Sylhet

15 13

5 0

Rangpur

Barisal

A total of eight half-yearly divisional-level progress review meetings were held to monitor and review progress made at divisional level. A total of 105 participants including DLGs, DDLGs and line department ofďŹ cials were present at the meetings. Divisional Commissioner of the respective division attended the programme as chief guest with DLG was in the chair.

Rajshahi

progress

Chittagong

Eight half-yearly divisional-level review meeting held

Khulna

A vermicomposting scheme, supported by the UZGP, helps farmers to yield more crops than chemical fertilizers and increases fertility of the soil. A farmer is processing the vermicompost

Number of participants attended in half-yearly review meeting by divisional level. Dhaka division could not held any half-yearly meeting during this reporting period.

28 Annual Report

A UZGP-supported training on outsourcing helped female students in Bancharampur Upazila, Brahmanbaria district, to get employment, ushering a new hope, new life.

Enhanced Access To Information and Helped Implement Digital Bangladesh Vision The immediate effect of RTI training was recruitment of designated Information Ofﬁcer in most of the UZPs. A recent “Study on Assessing the Effectiveness and Impact of RTI Training” revealed that 71 percent of the UZPs in project areas have the designated ofﬁcer while 42 percent UZPs have information preservation system as per RTI Act. It also revealed that 100 percent UZPs in project areas displayed citizen charter while 65 UZPs in control areas; 71 percent UZPs in project areas are

using web-site for information sharing while 67 UZPs in control areas. Due to RTI training and subsequent recruitment of information ofﬁcer, 50 percent respondents opined that they are now are getting better service from UZP than ever before and 80 percent respondents claimed that the time and cost in getting the services has been reduced considerably.

Annual Report

Women Development Forum (WDF) 137 WDFs formed, 213 registered

WDF chair, secretary get leadership training

Continuing its march, the UZGP have facilitated support to form 96 more Women Development Forums (WDFs) at Upazila level while 41 at district level, through a one-day workshop. With the newly formed WDFs in 2015, the total number rose to 551, of which, 487 at UZPs and 64 at district level, mobilizing over 16,000 elected women representatives. A total of 2733 participants including elected women representatives of UZP, UP and Municipalities have participated in the workshop and oriented on WDF functions, roles and responsibilities, and gender and LG issues. Meanwhile, 213 more WDFs were registered with Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) for proper functioning, sustainability and proper monitoring. The total number of registered WDFs now rose to 240.

Leadership capacity of chairs and secreaties of WDFs were enhanced significantly through a five-day training. A total of 271 WDF leaders participated in the training and learned about leadership, gender-responsive UP and UZP planning and budgeting, women’s empowerment, sustainable development goals (SDGs), National Women Development Policy, preparation of project proposal, gender-responsive project monitoring and violence against women (VAW), and networking and e-governance etc. UZGP’s monitoring report and field visit reports depict WDF as an emerging platform of increased political participation of women at local level that enabled benefit for disadvantaged women by undertaking relevant schemes from UP and UZPs.

A training on sewing and tailoring helped rural poor women in Barguna Sadar Upazila under Baguna district to find a way to make a living.

30 Annual Report

A training on sewing and tailoring helped rural poor women in Barguna Sadar Upazila under Baguna district to find a way to make a living.

Pool of 212 master trainers created, 6146 WDF members trained

Top WDF executive members trained Knowledge and skills of top four executive membes of

As part of its continous efforts to create a pool of master trainers to train WDF members across the country, the cascade-training programme initiated by the project in 2013 was continued successfully in 2015. A two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) was provided to 212 participants, mainly drawn from amongst local level government ofďŹ cials on the gender issues linking with LGIs. With the newly trained master trainers, the total number rose to 901. Later, the master trainers provided a two-day capacity deveopment training to 6146 WDF members. The WDF members were oriented on gender issues in LGIs, gender-responsive planning and budgetting at LGIs, women empowerment, violence against woement, resource mobilization and networking

WDF

project

management,

designing

and

implementing gender-resposive schemes were enhanced signiďŹ cantly through a three-day training provided by the project. A total of 255 WDF executive members were oriented

formulation,

implemention

gender-responsive scheme and monitoring..

Support to WDF for holding Bi-monthly meetings In 2015, a total of 1833 WDF bi-monthly meetings in 330 UZPs were held and discussed over women related issues at UP, UZP and Municipality levels. The meetings enabled WDF members to share their achievements, challenges and lessons learned from each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience in addressing issues including preventing dowry, child marriage and violence against women.

Annual Report

UZGP engages the community to fight violence against women by carrying out a school-level awareness-raising campaign putting emphasis on combating sexual harassment and child marriage.

School awareness programme to fight VAW

Six WDF regional conferences held

The project has engaged community people by providing

Six regional conferences of WDFs were held in six

support in carrying out school level awareness-raising

divisions with participation of 1105 WDF members. Ms.

campaign and social mobilization to protect and uphold

Meher Afroz Chumki, State Minister for Women and Child

human rights putting emphasis on combating sexual

Affairs, was present at Khulna Division conference as chief

harrasment, child marriage. The campaign, carried out in

guest while Ms. Nasima Begum, Secretary to Ministry of

130 schools under 65 UZPs, involved 84,470 community

Women and Child Affairs, at Dhaka Division conference as

people and created an enabling environment in combating

chief

gender-based violence having support from the Upazila

commissioners of respective divisions were present as

Parishads and local administrations.

chief guest.

32 Annual Report

guest.

other

conferences,

divisional

UZGP-supported â&#x20AC;&#x153;Skill Development Training in Sataranjiâ&#x20AC;? in Pirganj Upazila under Rangpur district helped hundreds of rural poor women to come out of poverty.

Annual Report

34 Annual Report

Success Story UZGP helps provide safe drinking water to villagers surrounded by salt water “Water, water, everywhere/Nor any drop to drink”---the situation of 900 families of two remote villages under Sharafpur Union Parishad was no better than the sailor in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, who was surrounded by salt water that he could not drink. While entering the two remote villages---Akhra and Chandghar—of Sharafpur Union Parishad under Dumuria Upazila Parishad, Khulna district, through zigzag roads, you will see more than hundred of small water bodies (saline-water shrimp farms) ﬁlled with saline water. The daily high tide which brings saline water into the fresh water resources might be helpful for shrimp farming, but a bane for the poor people living in the two villages of low lying coastal areas.

saltwater in seven villages under Sarafpur and Shahos Union Parishads under Dumuria Upazila Parishad, Khulna district. People living in seven villages under the two UPs of the UZP could not get a drop of drinking water due to intrusion of saltwater into the fresh water sources by a daily tidal surge in the low lying coastal areas. The groundwater within a 5-kilometre radios of the villages is also salty, adding the sufferings of the poor villagers. The UZGP, through a scheme, helped the UPs to install a deep-water plant at 5-kilometre far from the villages and transported a 20-litre water jar to every family every day by BDT. 1 only.

In the two villages, everywhere there is water, but the villagers could not drink, even a single drop. The back and front courtyards of most of the huts or thatches in the villages are muddy or literally flooded by the daily high tide; making a way to the high road nearby was very difﬁcult as the saline water rushes into the villages during the high tide. So, oo surface level safe drinking water within periphery of the villages.

The Any search for fresh water is a futile attempt as The UZGP, through a scheme under Upazila Fiscal Facility (UFF) support, helps provide pure drinking water to 1000 vulnerable families surrounded by

Annual Report

Progress Towards Outputs Output 2: Strengthened planning and budgetary system at UZP with MDG-orientation and Pro-poor service delivery mechanism BDT 70m disbursed, 152 MDG-focused schemes taken in 14 UZPs Through a competitive performance process, 14 UZPs, two best performing Upazilas from each seven selected district, were selected for receiving performance block grants (PBGs) for 2014-2015 FY. The selected 14

Division

District

Dhaka

District

Wasif Gaws Creative Director Grey Shack Limited

Chittagong

Upazila Parishad 1. Kishoreganj Sadar 2. Mithamoin 1. Brahmanbaria Sadar

Brahmanbaria

Rajshahi

Sirajganj

Khulna

Barisal

Barguna

Sylhet

Sunamganj

Rangpur

36 Annual Report

UZPs, through two tranches, received a total of BDT 70m during the fiscal year and implemented a total of 152 schemes addressing off-track MDG issues in UZP. The fiscal facility has delivered additional financial resources to the selected UZPs to enable them accelerating local development, as well as MDGs. The 14 UZPs that received PBGs in 2014-2015 FY are given below:

2. Bancharampur 1. Kazipur 2. Ullapara 1. Dumuria 2. Digholia 1. Barguna Sadar 2. Betagi 1. Sunamganj Sadar 2. Jagannathpur 1. Rangpur Sadar 2. Pirganj

UZGP support to community clinics ensured better healthcare to mothers and child.

Annual Report

A UZGP-supported “Cage Fish Farming” scheme helped boost fish production in rivers and different other water bodies to meet up country’s nutritional deficiency.

Education, Health and Youth Development Dominate the schemes Education, health and youth development dominated the schemes implemented through ﬁscal facility grants. Of the total 152, highest 45 schemes were implemented in education sector while 16 schemes each on health and youth development. Women empowerment has got much attention with 14 schemes while 13 on public health

40 30 20

10 0 Education

Health

Youth Development

Women Public Health Empowerment

sector. According to UZGP Monitoring Report 2015, of the total 152 implemented schemes, 135 schemes or 89 percent

11%

Other than MDG focused schemes

has directly contributed towards achieving MDGs, particularly education, health, youth and women development and poverty issues.

38 Annual Report

89%

MDG focused schemes

A “Tiles and Mosaic Installation Training” provided by the UZGP brought new hope to the unemployed urban youths of the country. Wasif Gaws Creative Director Grey Shack Limited Grey Shack, a communications and consultancy company which provides support to development organizations, multi-nationals, large corporations, SMEs, NGOs, institutions and individuals in all aspects of Communication Solutions, ICT Solutions and Strategic Business Consultancy. We provide special assistance in social awareness raising, behavior change communication, advocacy campaign, information education and communication, visibility and branding. By creating an end to end communication strategy and carefully planned implementation, Grey Shack helps to empower all its stakeholders understand the project goals and to contribute actively to the decision-making processes of development as a whole.

Direct and indirect beneficiaries of the schemes Financial grants provided by the project to 14 selected Upazilas helped bring thousands of people in ultra-poor communities out of poverty. A total of 3.80 lakh people, of which 53 percent are women, are directly beneﬁted from 152 schemes undertaken while 4.50 lakh were indirect beneﬁciaries, of which 2.46 lakhs are women.

Vice Chairman 14%

Chairman 17%

Participants Attended

Co-finance increased by 13 percent

(Designation Wise)

Co-ﬁnancing in the schemes was increased by 13 percent compared to previous year. Of the total 152 schemes, 97 schemes or 56 percent were co-ﬁnanced with UP or community while rest 53 schemes or 35 percent were single-sourced. During 2013-2014 FY, it was 43 percent. This increase demonstrated altitudinal shift of UZP functionaries in terms of greater ownership and accountability for locally-proposed schemes.

PIO 16%

Upazila Engineer 19%

UNO 14%

Annual Report

Best performing 14 UZPs identified for 2015-16 FY The UZGP has completed a performance assessment of 65 UZPs to select best performing 14 UZPs to provide PBGs 2015-2016 FY. The Public Administration Department of Dhaka University (DU) have conducted the review against 10 composite performance indica

40 Annual Report

tors jointly set by the LGD, UNDP and UNCDF. Belkuchi Upazila under Sirajganj district topped the ranking table with highest score 87 out of 100, followed by Ullapara Upazila under

A UZGP-supported “Sanitary Pad Scheme” in Mithamoin Upazila, Kishoreganj district, helped school-going girls to maintain both their health and education by providing hygienic menstrual supplies. Period, is one of the biggest reasons for girls to miss school in poor rural areas in Bangladesh, making them more likely to fall behind, drop out, and get struck in the cycle of poverty. A significant number of girls drops out of school once they start their periods, and many of them say their families could not afford pads.

the same district, scoring 77. Among the 14 high performing UZPs, Barguna Sadar under Barguna district has scored the lowest 67. The review revealed that overall score of the UZPs, compared to previous two years (2012-2013 FY and

2013-2014 FY), have increased signiﬁcantly in 2014-2015 FY. Range of the score of 14 high performing UZPs (71 to 87) demonstrated signiﬁcant improvement compared to previous two years score range (37 to 72).

Annual Report

Impact assessment of UFF-funded schemes An Impact Assessment Study on Upazila Fiscal Facility

increase in ADP programmes, it was found that the UFF

(UFF)-funded schemes, conducted by Bangladesh

programme oriented training generated higher income

Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), revealed that

than those of ADP programmes; the UFF-supported

UFF schemes implemented in selected 14 UZPs have

youth training programmes helped generating self-em-

made signiﬁcant contribution in strengthening institu-

ployment in rural non-fram sector with 84 percent of

tional capacity, enhanced public service delivery and

youths attending the training became able to increase

community development, specially on women and

their monthly income by Tk. 1409; 93 percent of

marginalized people as well as achieving the MDGs at

trainees beneﬁted from the training on internet; 99

local level.

percent households opined that the education related schemes helped increase the quality of education with

The study found that the schemes related to infrastruc-

15 percent increase in study time of the students and

ture beneﬁted the community in several ways through

signiﬁcant increase in children’s willingness to go to

connecting once disconnected and remote villages to

school and spend more time in playing at schools.

markets, schools, hospitals, administrative centres, enabling rural poor to avail better economic opportuni-

It also found that the co-ﬁnanced schemes are better

ties and access to better health, education and

managed and implemented than others because strict

business services.

monitoring from ﬁnanciers and the management process is more accountable and transparent as

A water-pipe installation scheme for irrigation helped

ownership builds on it; it takes less time to implement

reduce cost of agriculture production and solved

and in terms of direct beneﬁciaries, the co-ﬁnanced

sewerage problem in the locality; monthly income of 40

schemes are doing far better, on an average around

percent beneﬁciaries who received a training on Mash-

1690 people are getting the beneﬁt of such schemes.

room production through UFF scheme gone up Tk.

Overall, it can say that the UFF-supported schemes has

2025; setting up a over-head water tank helped a

highly signiﬁcant impact in increasing income at

community a 20 percent increase in getting access to

household level, thus, improving the lives of community

arsenic free safe drinking water and the rate of diarrhe-

people, especially women and marginalized people and

al diseases have gone down by 30 percent.

achieving MDGs at local level.

The mid-wifery training proved 100 percent successful, maternal and child health care system improved; women empowerment enhanced signiﬁcantly with monthly income of women worked under UFF schemes increased by Tk. 1798 which is Tk. 542 higher than

42 Annual Report

A UZGP-supported scheme provided school bags and uniforms to students, particularly the physically-challenged ones, of Kallayani Inclusive Primary School in Kishoreganj Sadar Upazila under Kishoreganj district.

Annual Report

Progress Towards Outputs Output 3: Strengthened National Capacity for Effective Policy Review Monitoring Lesson Learning and Capacity Development of LGIs for Enhanced Local Governance PAG reconstituted, approved its ToR As per recommendation made in Mid-term Evaluation, the LGD in May 2015 reconstituted the Policy Advisory Group (PAG) with a 10-member body comprising of representatives from government, NGOs, CSOs, academicians and LG experts of the country. Earlier the number of PAG members was 17. The PAG sat in two meetings with LGD Secretary Mr. Abdul Malek was in the chair and approved its Terms of Reference (ToR). It also formed a sub-committee to review ﬁve policy studies jointly conducted by UZGP and UPGP.

Development of National Framework for LG Policy and Capacity Development One international consultant team leader and two other national consultants were on board and were collecting information from stakeholders concerned to prepare a National Capacity Development Framework for LGIs. With the support from both UZGP and UPGP, the LGD has taken the deliberated initiative to develop a “Comprehensive Capacity Development Framework for LGIs” together with an implementation plan within the LGI system in order to establish discipline, consistency and efﬁciency. The City Corporations, Municipalities, UZPs and Ups will be brought under the framework. Developing the comprehensive capacity development framework for LGIs comes on the heels of non-existence of such framework which is hindering the LGs in Bangladesh to work in a coordinated manner to deliver better services to the citizen. Despite individual unit of LGIs have separate set of legislation, it is difﬁcult to keep consistency and ensure coordination between and amongst the institutions.

44 Annual Report

Citizen perception survey on service delivery of UZP and UP, 2015 Citizen Perception Survey (CPS) 2015, conducted by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), revealed a overwhelming 38.3 percent increase in the satisfaction on overall performance of Upazila Parishad while more than 9 percent increase in having knowledge on income and expenditure of Parishad. In baseline survey conducted in 2012, citizen’s satisfaction on overall performance of UZP was merely 12.9 percent and rose to 51.2 percent in 2015 thanks to various interventions taken by the project. Citizen’s knowledge on UZP income and expenditure was also rose to 9.3 percent from zero percent. UZP functionaries’ knowledge on scheme selection was increased significantly from less than 1 percent in 2012 to 53.5 percent in 2015. Citizens’ awareness on UZP Plan and Budget have also improved significantly. In baseline survey, citizens’ awareness on UZP Plan and Budget was only 10 percent and zero percent respectively while it rose to 21 percent and 26.8 percent in 2015. There is also significant improvement in coordination between UZP Chair and UNO. In 2012 Baseline Survey, it was 21.6 percent and by 2015 it rose to 31.7 percent. The CPS 2015 was conducted in 14 pilot and 14 other control UZPs with the sample size of 3024 respondents (citizens).

International Training The UPGP and UZGP have jointly organised a ﬁve-day international (in-country) training on “Strengthening Local Government and Decentralization in Bangladesh” at Cox’s Bazar in 2015. Mr. Abdul Malek, Secretary of Local Government Division (LGD), inaugurated the training as chief guest while Ms. Pauline Tamesis, Country Director, UNDP Bangladesh; Mr. Nick Beresford, Deputy Country Director, UNDP Bangladesh; and Ms. Shaila Khan, Assistant Country Director and Head, Local Governance Cluster, UNDP Bangladesh, as special guests. Professor Roy Kelly of Duke University,

Professor Salahuddin M. Aminuzzaman of Dhaka University facilitated the training. The training was designed to further strengthen the technical capacity of relevant government ofﬁcials and other stakeholders including elected public representatives from Upazila and Union Parishad in the area of policy review, monitoring, lesson learning and policy formulation for improved local governance. A total of 41 participants from different ministries and departments and elected public representatives from Upazila and Union Parishads took part in the training.

Professor Jamie Boex of Georgetown University and

Participants of a five-day International (in-country) training on “Strengthening Local Government and Decentralization in Bangladesh” at Cox’s Bazar poses for the photograph.

Annual Report

Action Research on Effectiveness of UZP Committees

Action research on UZP plan and budget: process and practice

An action research conducted by two independent national consultants on “Effectiveness of UZP Committees” found that training and backstopping support provided by UZGP have played a signiﬁcant role in effective functioning of UZP committees, prompting a pro-poor service delivery and strengthening local democracy.

An action research conducted by an independent consultant on “Process and Quality of Planning and Budgeting of UZP” revealed that despite taking important steps by the project, still there is a room for UZPs to improve its planning and budget procedure. The research, conducted in seven pilot UZPs and three non-pilot UZPs under selected 10 districts, found that preparation of plan and budget just meets the statutory requirement and lacks vision and mission of overall development. It also observed that the UZP plans were prepared in hasty way; lacked consistency, coherence and logical sequence ignoring vertical and horizontal integration of UP, Pourashava and Zilla Parishad plans. Revealing a general weak linkage between annual and FYP, the study also put forward a set of recommendations--including a comprehensive guideline on UZP Planning Rules to keep it consistent with National Plan, vertical and horizontal integration of plan and making the open budget meeting mandatory--to overcome the challenges.

The research, conducted in seven pilot UZPs and three non-pilot UZPs under selected 10 districts, also found that all 17 committees have formed in pilot UZPs and are holding meetings regularly (100 percent) in compliance with the Rules. In contrast, though all 17 committees are formed in all control UZPs, committees in 60 percent of non-pilot UZPs have found inactive and are not functioning properly following the Rules. A low level of understanding on ‘Roles and Responsibilities of Committees’ have been noticed among different actors in absence of well-documented ToRs and different committees are seen functioning differently in different UZPs. Alongside lacking of adequate knowledge of functionaries on legal provision to engage in process and running the committees, lack of ownership and positive attitude is also identiﬁed as major stumbling blocks in running the committees effectively. Quorum crisis is also a regular phenomena in both pilot and non-pilot UZPs. Among major challenges identiﬁed by the research are –lack of clear guideline of law, absence of UP members in the committee meeting, contrast between UZP committees and departmental committees, and lack of coordination between and government line ministries.

46 Annual Report

LGD completes regulation

review

drafted

rules,

LGD has completed review of seven drafted Rules and one Regulations aimed at making UZPs more functional and sent those to Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for vetting. It also incorporated the feedbacks got from law ministry and sent it back to the ministry for its further scrutiny. The UZGP has long been engaged, through providing technical support to LGD, in drafting the Rules and Regulations--a set of directives or bylaws--to bring more clarity and execute mandated activities of UZPs in line with Upazila Act.

The drafted Rules and Regulations are— •

Upazila Parishad (Accounts and Audit) Rules, 2015

•

Upazila Parishad (Appeal against Orders) Rules, 2015

•

Upazila Parishad (Services of Employees for Property Maintenance) Rules, 2015

•

Upazila Parishad (Members’ Resignation, Removal and Vacation of Ofﬁce) Rules, 2015

Upazila Parishad (Ofﬁce Maintenance and Record Preservation and Publication) Rules, 2015

•

Upazila Parishad (Tax) Rules, 2015 and Tax Schedule, 2015

•

Upazila Parishad (Preparation and Implementation of Development Planning) Rules, 2016

•

Upazila Parishad Model Regulations, 2015

•

Upazila Parishad (Fund Maintenance, Administration, Controlling and Investment) Rules, 2015

Monitoring and Evalution Strengthening M&E and MIS System of LGD and UZGP UZGP has facilitated a two-day orientation for government ofﬁcials at LGD Monitoring, Inspection and Evaluation (MIE) Wing, DLGs and DDLGs on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system, M&E tools and web-based MIS system. The project also gave a demonstration on the planned MIS system LGD ofﬁcials.

The project has also organized a two-day training on Integrated Web-based MIS system to UZP staff including Computer Operator, Office Assistant, Office Secretary, Confidential Assistant at district level where 265 participants from 65 UZPs participated. The training helped the UZPs to improve its in-house capacity, thus, paving the way of quick uploading of data in the system e.g. information of UZP monthly meeting and committee meetings including meeting notice, meeting resolution and Government Order (GO). The project has also set up a web-server at project office to capture all online data coming from UZPs.

Annual Report

Progress Towards Outputs Output 4: Effective Project Management

Annual Planning Workshop

Staff Coordination Meeting

The UZGP Annual Planning Workshop 2016 was held in Coxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bazar on 16-17 January, 2016 where LGD Secretary Mr. Abdul Malek was present as chief guest. Representatives from development partners including UNDP, SDC and UNCDF along with UZGP staff members took part in the workshop. The workshop was a big gathering of UZGP staff, with DLGs and DDLGs from the selected seven districts and members of PSC and PB. The event facilitated the opportunity to reflect on achievements and challenges faced in 2015 and for better planning in 2016. The draft UZGP Annual Work Plan for 2016 was also ďŹ nalised in the workshop.

A UZGP Staff Coordination Meeting was held at Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogra on 7-8 August 2015 with Mr. Saurendra Nath Chakrabhartty, Additional Secretary, LGD and National Project Director, UZGP was in the chair. At the meeting, they discussed about progress of ongoing activities, challenges facing and way to overcome those for smooth implementation of the planned activities.

PB and PSC meeting Two project board (PB) meetings and a project steering committee (PSC) meeting was held. Decisions taken in the PB and PSC meeting were implemented fully.

A group photo of the UZGP team with government officials concerned attending a staff coordination meeting held at Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogra.

48 Annual Report

Challenges And Lessons Learned

Lesson Learnt The municipality elections in most of the Upazilas affected training schedule of UZP functionaries as well as field level activities that resulted in delaying of implementation of planned activities. Issuance of Rules for UZP was taking longer time for review and vetting. Challenges includes frequent transfer and timely placement of full time DDLGs, suspension of elected functionaries especially the Upazila Parishad Chairs and VCs, lack of coordination among line department officials, rivalry of LGI representatives with local lawmakers, delay in releasing ADP allocation from LGD to Upazila, limited role of Vice-chair in managing UZP business were some challenges that affected on smooth implementation of activities on the ground. However, initiatives were taken to address most of the challenges through timely communication with LGD, organizing coordination and review meeting with the line department officials at district and division level, discussing in the Project Board and Project Steering Committee meeting. In addition, UZGP’s risk apprehension and risk mitigation strategy worked better in overcoming most of the challenges. UFF grants along with the simple guideline and backstopping support in planning worked better in addressing MDG based service delivery. Technical assistance backed with financial support and flexibility in investment choices increased outreach of services to the disadvantaged. Performance Assessment induced healthy completion among Upazilas that enhance overall performance of Upazila Parishad.

WDF’s advocacy influenced UZP in selecting schemes that enabled women’s leadership in decision making process thereby benefit more women. United strength of WDF expanded space for women representatives’ active participation in LGIs that largely benefitted women. School based awareness raising campaign against early marriage and sexual harassment created space for wider engagement of community and created public opinion. School based campaign is best value for money that enabled wider outreach and confidence of children to take action against sexual harassment. Divisional and district level coordination meeting with DDLGs, UNOs, key line department officials and representative of UZP chairmen worked better in managing UZP affairs. Improved coordination among the UZP functionaries improved management efficiency and service delivery. In addition, technical assistance backed by financial assistance induced UZPs to engage community participation in planning and budgeting process. Active citizen participation and quality inputs encouraged UZPs to uphold commitment of continuation such pre-budget consultation.

Annual Report

Mitigation of challenges

Challenges

Mitigation Measures

Holding of UZP Committee bi-monthly meeting regularly

Issuing of letter from respective ministry to hold the meeting regularly

Long time vacant of DDLG post in district level deadly hampered project’s activities

Posted DDLGs need to be conﬁrmed at district level for ensuring better performances as ADC (Gen.) who remains in charge of DDLG mostly engaged in administrative jobs.

Vacancy of line department ofﬁcial is a barrier for activation of UZP Committee and frequent transfer of line department ofﬁcials hampers smooth functioning of UZP activities.

LGD could influence line ministries to appoint its ofﬁcial quickly and for a certain period of time

Harmonization and coordination with UPGP and LGD

Keep communication and coordination with LGD and UPGP

50 Annual Report

W ay Forward

Through timely communication with LGD, organizing coordination and review meeting with the line department ofﬁcials at district and division level, discussing in the Project Board and Project Steering Committee meeting. In addition, UZGP’s risk apprehension and risk mitigation strategy worked better in overcoming most of the challenges. Respective ministry could issue a letter in making SCs functional as the Departments have already been transferred to the Upazila Parishad. Posted DDLGs

need to be confirmed at District level for ensuring better performances as because ADC (Gen) who remains in the charge of DDLG mostly engaged in administrative jobs. Need to continued coaching and mentoring support to the LGI representatives in bringing changes in their mental setup. District administration, DLGs and DLG can a pivotal role in this regard. Project has been successful in changing the mindsets of UZPs elected representatives and Govt. officials and able to minimize misunderstanding between UZPs officials and public representatives through capacity building.

The Project Steering Committee (PSC), chaired by the Secretary, LGD, is the highest decision-making body for the project and provides policy guidelines, review project progress against targeted results and tracks financial delivery. The PSC members include representatives from relevant ministries and departments of the Government of Bangladesh and respective development partners.

Annual Report

F inancial Statement The projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financial delivery in 2015 was 86 percent. Output - wise expenditure has given below in the table:

Output

Revised Budget-2015 (in USD)

Total Expenditure

% Total

(in USD)

2,726,265

3,161,784

116%

2,115,462

1,503,692

71%

962,684

355,834

37%

616,070

516,266

84%

Total

6,420,481

5,537,575

86%

52 Annual Report

Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) 2015 ANNUAL REPORT Concept and design by

Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) Local Government Division Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives

Project Office: National Institute of Local Government (NILG) 3rd Floor, 29, Agargaon Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Tel : (+88-02) 8181109-10, 8181112-12 Website: www.uzgp.org