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Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)Local Government Division (LGD),Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives
Annual Report 2013
Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)Local Government Division (LGD),
Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives
Annual Report 2013
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 UNCDF. The views expressed
herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the supporting donors.
Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
June 2014
Md. Shah Kamal, Additional Secretary (Admin), LGD & National Project Director, UZGP
Md. Akram Al-Hossain, Joint Secretary, LGD & Focal Person, UZGP
Shaila Khan, Assistant Country Director, Local Governance Cluster, UNDP
Mozammel Haque, Project Manager, UZGP
Nazrul Islam, Programme Analyst, UNDP
Ataul Gani Osmani, Communications Officer, UZGP
Md. Mizanur Rahman, Monitoring & Evalution Officer, UZGP
Annual Report 2013
Published in
Editorial Board
Table of ContentsMESSAGES 04
LIST OF ACRONYMS 06
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 07
UZGP AT A GLANCE 08
Brief Introduction of UZGP 08
Implementation Modality 09
Geographical Coverage 10
Key Achievements of 2013 11
UZGP YEAR IN NUMBERS 12
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND RESULTS 14
Output 1: 14
Output 2: 21
Output 3: 27
Output 4: 31
CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD 32
Challenges 32
Sustainability 33
Way Forward 33
ANNEXES 34
Annex-1 Progress Made Against LFM Indicators 34
Annex-2 Statement of Expenditure 2013 37
Annex-3 IEC Materials and Knowledge Products 37
Annex-4 UZGP in News 40
UZGP in Photos 42
Decentralization and local governments are recognized as basic components of democratic governance for creating
an enabling environment in which decision-making and service delivery can be brought closer to the people. There
is growing evidence that improved local governance practices, such as the adoption of local-level participatory
planning and budgeting, result in increased efficiency and effectiveness in promoting local infrastructure and
delivering services.
The Government of Bangladesh upholds its commitment to strong local government institutions at different levels
through active participation of the people through elected representatives in the administration as well as initiating
development activities targeting the poor and vulnerable.
The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) is an initiative on the part of the Government of Bangladesh to fulfill some of
its commitments towards promoting devolution of authority as well as decentralized service delivery. The
Government of Bangladesh, through the Local Government Division (LGD) in partnership with its development
partners, including European Union (EU), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), has been implementing
UZGP since 2012 to further strengthen local level democracy and ensure transparent and accountable service
delivery.
The year 2013 is marked by some significant achievements by UZGP such as regular holding of monthly meeting and
ensuring participatory planning and budgeting by majority of Upazila Parishads. The project has contributed in
influencing and positively impacting institutional practices and attitudes towards qualitative changes that start from
conduct of Upazila Parishad monthly meeting to annual planning and budgeting. It is providing opportunity to
government and elected officials at local level to interact, dialogue and coordinate their mandates, which is
consequently strengthening local demand driven development and service delivery. Mainstreaming elected
women at the local level through project activities, and formation of Women Development Forum have provided
them with an opportunity to have a collective voice.
I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to our development partners and would like to reaffirm that the
Government will remain steadfast in strengthening local government systems, practices and institutions in
Bangladesh.
Message from Senior Secretary, LGD
Monzur HossainSenior Secretary
Local Government Division (LGD)
Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives
The Government of Bangladesh recognizes the need for strengthened and responsive local government institutions
in order to serve the citizen with improved service delivery. The consolidation of local democracy and strengthening
of local government move simultaneously that help ensure accountable and improved service delivery at the local
level. The local government institutions can manage public resources and serve the people, and they also have the
desire to do so. The Government, together with its development partners, is extending its support to materialize this
desire of local government for providing efficient public service delivery and further strengthen local democracy.
The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP), since its inception, has supported to build the capacity of elected and
government officials to enable Upazila Parishad (UZP) to further strengthening democratic practices in serving their
constituents. The project-supported capacity development initiative has resulted in MDG-oriented Planning,
Budgeting and improved service delivery at Upazila level. The project also provides performance-based block grants
to select Upazilas to implement development schemes that benefit tens of thousands of people in rural Bangladesh.
I am pleased to share some of the achievements of the project. UZGP has contributed to ensure efficient functioning
of Upazila Parishad as 70 per cent of the UZPs held mandatory monthly meetings in 2013 as compare to 30 per cent
in 2012. Cent per cent of the UZPs formed Standing Committees as compare to 50 per cent in 2012, while 40 per cent
of the UZP Standing Committees were operationalized. The project also contributed to enhance the effectiveness of
Upazila Parishad through technical guidelines, dialogues and drafting of necessary Rules and Regulations.
The project further strengthened institutional practices as 100 per cent UZPs prepared Annual Budget as compare
to only 20 per cent in 2012. Fourteen select UZPs could prepare and publish their first ever Annual Plan Books with
Five-year Development Vision. Seven select UZPs, under project-supported Upazila Fiscal Facility, completed 104
schemes, of which 62 per cent addressed MDGs, particularly primary education, health and poverty issues. It has
316,455 beneficiaries, of which 116,168 are female. The project also facilitated formation of 214 Women
Development Forums to provide organized platform for elected women representatives to partner and network at
Upazila and district level.
I would like to thank our development partners--European Union (EU), Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation (SDC), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) for their continued support. Finally, I would like to thank all the project staff and relevant
government officials for their efforts in making 2013 a successful year for UZGP!
Message from NPD, UZGP
Md. Shah KamalAdditional Secretary (Admin), LGD &
National Project Director, UZGP
List of Acronyms
ADP Annual Development Plan
AWM Alternate Work Modality
AWP Annual Work Plan
BARD Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development
BIDS Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies
BIM Bangladesh Institute of Management
BMDF Bangladesh Municipality Development Fund
CBOs Community-based Organizations
CSOs Civil Society Organizations
DC Deputy Commissioner
DDLG Deputy Director, Local Government
DF District Facilitator
DLG Director, Local Government
DVFs Divisional Facilitator
EU European Union
FP Focal Person
LG Local Government
LGD Local Government Division
LGIs Local Government Institutions
LGSP Local Government Support Programme
LGSP-LIC Local Government Support Programme-Learning and Innovation Component
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
MI&E Monitoring, Inspection and Evaluation
MIS Monitoring and Information System
MLGRD& C Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives
NAPD National Academy for Planning and Development
NEX National Execution
NILG National Institute of Local Government
NGOs Non-government Organizations
NPD National Project Director
PAG Project Advisory Group
PB Project Board
PM Project Manager
PMU Project Management Unit
PSC Project Steering Committee
RDA Rural Development Academy
SDC Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
SC Standing Committee
ToR Terms of Reference
UFF Upazila Fiscal Facility
UNCDF United Nations Capital Development Fund
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNOs Upazila Nirbahi Officer
UZGP Upazila Governance Project
UZP Upazila Parishad
UP Union Parishad
UPGP Union Parishad Governance Project
VC Vice-Chairman
WDF Women Development Forum
06 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
07Annual Report-2013
2013 witnessed implementation of the Upazila
Governance Project (UZGP) in full swing, despite
frequent disruption. The project strategized to
implement its planned activities, and could do so
ensuring financial delivery and substantial results.
The two-pronged approach of the project has
contributed significantly in enhancing the institutional
and individual capacity of the stakeholders that in turn
impacted on institutional strengthening. UZGP has
significantly contributed in augmenting the capacity of
elected and government officials for effective functioning
of the Upazila Parishad (UZP) in compliance with the
Upazila Act 1998 and amended in 2009 and 2011.
The outreach of Generalised and Specialised training
programme to over 7,000 stakeholders together with
backstopping support by the project teams at the
Divisional and District level helped the elected and
government officials in enhancing their understanding
of legal, administrative and institutional functions and
their corresponding roles which in turn, resulted in
promoting pro-poor service delivery and strengthening
the local democracy. The project published an updated
Upazila Parishad Manual, a compendium of Rules,
Circulars, and Government Orders (GOs) related to UZP
to facilitate effective functioning of UZP.
Significant results were achieved in democratic
functioning and leadership in Upazila Parishads (UZPs)
as 70 per cent of the UZPs held mandatory Monthly
Parishad meetings in 2013, as compared to 30 per cent
UZPs in 2012. Due to capacity building initiatives taken
by the project throughout the year, 100 per cent of UZPs
were able to form their Standing Committees as
compare to 50 per cent in 2012 while 40 per cent of the
UZP Standing Committees conducted mandatory
monthly meetings.
The democratic oversight, civic engagement,
transparency and accountability in local governance
were improved through conduct of seven workshops at
Upazila levels with local administration, civil society,
NGOs and CBOs and associating with respective UZP
Standing Committees and to providing assistance in
formulating Upazila Parishad Development Plan.
In 2013 the project contributed to the preparation of
Annual Development Plan and Budget at Upazila level in
compliance to the UZP Act. All 487 Upazila Parishads
prepared the Annual Budget and submitted to Local
Government Division (LGD) as compared to 20 per cent in
2012. Fourteen pilot UZPs were also able to prepare and
publish their first ever Annual Plan Book with five-year
development vision and submitted the same to LGD.
The institutionalised skills and Fiscal Facility Support by
the project contributed to the attainment of local MDG
targets. The project also demonstrated good practices of
local planning and financing as per local needs. A total
of 316,455 beneficiaries, of which 116,168 are female,
received direct benefit from the schemes. The
institutional capacity development of Upazila Parishad
together with Fiscal Facility Support contributed to
attaining of results MDG-focused pro-poor planning,
budgeting and service delivery.
Fiscal Facility operational guidelines were approved and
distributed to UZPs. Following an independent
performance assessment, seven pilot UZPs
implemented 104 schemes, of which 63 (62 percent of
the total) were MDG focused, particularly in the area of
primary education, health and poverty.
The UZGP, along with Union Parishad Governance
Project (UPGP), facilitated the establishment of Women
Development Forums (WDFs) as a platform for elected
women representatives at local government level.
Project formed 214 WDFs of which 191 are at UZP level
and 23 at District level. The total number of WDF
member in 2013 stands at 7,311. Through Training of
Trainers (ToT), a pool of 278 master trainers were
developed that in turn trained 1,717 WDF members in
65 UZPs. The WDFs has started contributing in raising
community awareness on social and discriminatory
issues i.e. violence against women, stopping early
marriage, dowry, to allocate more development funds in
women issues.
In line with the project’s communication strategy,
community awareness was raised through installation of
551 UZP Information Billboards at 487 UZP offices and
64 Deputy Commissioner’s office premises with detailed
roles and responsibilities of Upazila Parishad. The Project
established a total of 23 knowledge-based Resource
Corners (RCs) at the Divisional and District levels. It has
strengthened its resource base by completing Baseline
Survey, Planning Manuals for UZP, M&E Strategy and
tools for data collection.
Under a shared output with its sister project, UPGP, the
UZGP held five Policy Dialogues at five Divisional
headquarters to dialogue, disseminate and gather
feedback on the state of LG in terms of its effectiveness,
need for reform, policy development, electoral system
and service delivery. The policy advocacy with the
Government has resulted in appointment of designated
Information Officers (IOs) in 14 select UZPs.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
08 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) is part of the
overall programmatic framework for the UNDP and the
UNCDF support to the Government of Bangladesh in
Local Governance reforms, assisted by the European
Union (EU) and Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation (SDC).
The Upazila as an administrative unit and elected body
occupies a strategic, political and administrative position
in Bangladesh. The re-establishment of the Upazila
Parishad (UZP), after a gap of 18 years, created
democratically elected institutions at sub-national level
that act as a structural linkage between Union Parishads
(UPs) and service-delivery line agencies at Upazila level.
The Upazila Act of 1998 that was subsequently
amended in 2009 and 2011 empowered Upazila
Parishad.
The re-introduction of UZPs in 2009 resulted in elections
to 482 Upazilas. The number of Upazilas now stands at
487. With an average population of 300,000, UZPs are
entrusted to anchor local democracy, undertake local
development and ensure efficient public service
delivery within the realm citizen engagement,
accountability and transparency. The government has
undertaken administrative decentralization as 17
designated departments have Upazila level presence.
The Upazila Nirhabi Officer (UNO) has been appointed
to maintain vertical and horizontal administrative
coordination i.e. with central government, UZP and local
administration.
Local Government Institutions (LGIs) in general and
Upazila Parishad (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 non-availability of elaborative rules and
regulations. Poor coordination between Upazila
Parishads (councils) and the devolved departments
further fiscal constraints in terms of their collective
capacity to plan, budget and ensure service delivery as
per available resources to address local development.
The UZGP is positioned to assist the Government of
Bangladesh in implementation of the local governance
reforms and to contribute in addressing challenges
including participatory decision making, planning, and
budgeting and improved service delivery. The project is
designed to improve functional and institutional
capacities of local government institutions for effective,
efficient and accountable delivery of pro-poor
infrastructure and services.
UZGP AT A GLANCE
UZGP Objectives and Purpose:
The overall objective of the Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) 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 of the project is “to strengthen the capacities of local governments and other stakeholders to foster participatory local development services for the MDGs.”
To achieve the goals and overall objectives, the project has four outputs:
Upazila Governance Project
Output Target Coverage
Output 1: Strengthened Upazila Parishads as more functional,
transparent and accountable
Output 2: Strengthened Planning and Budgetary system at UZP with
MDG orientation and pro-poor service delivery mechanism
Output 3: Strengthened national capacity for effective policy review,
monitoring, lesson learning and capacity development of local
government institutions (LGIs) for enhanced Local Governance.
Output 4: Effective Project Management Arrangements
487 Upazila Parishads
14 Upazila Parishads/Year on
competition basis from 65 target UZP
Nationwide
Project Offices
09Annual Report-2013
The UZGP is Nationally Implemented (NIM) project, in
accordance with the National Implementation Manual,
adopted in December 2004 by the Economic Relations
Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance and UNDP. Under NIM
modality project has following structure:
The National Project Director (NPD), the Additional
Secretary of Local Government Division (LGD), leads the
project. The NPD is assisted by a Joint Secretary, who is
the project’s Focal Person from the LGD and by the
National Project Manager provided by UNDP.
The Project Steering Committee (PSC) is chaired by the
Secretary, LGD, and serves as strategic guidance provider
and oversight body for the project. The PSC is the key
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.
The Project Board (PB), chaired by the NPD, is responsible
to oversee the implementation of project activities. The
PB is responsible for preparing and endorsing the annual
and quarterly work plans and progress reports. It
supervises the overall project implementation and
day-to-day management of the project. In comprises of
representatives from UP and UZP, UNOs, the UNDP and
the UNCDF. Project Coordination and Management
meeting are held regularly to aide the PB.
The Project Assurance (PA) role is vested with the UNDP
and the UNCDF. The Local Governance Cluster of UNDP
has overall responsibility for quality assurance, with the
technical support of the UNCDF, for the project. The PA is
to ensure that the project deliver planned outputs as per
the annual work plan, project document and results on
the basis of monthly, quarterly and annual progress
reports.
Implementation Modality
The UZGP intervention areas comprise of seven (7)
districts, one under each Division, and corresponding 65
UZPs. The target districts are --- Kishoreganj,
Brahmanbaria, Sunamganj, Sirajganj, Khulna, Barguna,
Rangpur. The project through its capacity building and
technical policy support extended its outreach to 487
UZPs; whereas Upazila Fiscal Facility (UFF) is targeted for
intensive support to 14 Upazilas. This support will be
extended to 65 UZPs under 7 districts from 2014.
Geographical Coverage of the Project
District UpazilaDivision
Kishoreganj
Brahmanbaria
Sirajganj
Khulna
Barguna
Sunajganj
Rangpur
Dhaka
Chittagong
Rajshahi
Khulna
Barisal
Sylhet
Rangpur
• Kishoreganj Sadar
• Mithamoin
• Brahmanbaria Sadar
• Bancharampur
• Kazipur
• Ullapara
• Dumuria
• Dacope
• Betagi
• Barguna Sadar
• Jagannathpur
• Salla
• Pirganj
• Pirgacha
7DistrictsBarguna, Brahmanbaria, Khulna, Kishoreganj, Rangpur, Sirajganj and Sunamganj.
14 UZPsKishoreganj Sadar, Mithamoin, Brahmanbaria Sadar, Bancharampur, Kazipur, Ullapara, Dumuria, Dacope, Betagi, Barguna Sadar, Jagannathpur, Salla, Pirganj and Pirgacha.
Map of the Intervention Area
UZGP Districts
DINAJPUR
THAKURGAON
RANGPUR
NAOGAON
NAWABGANJ
RAJSHAHINATORE
BOGRA
SIRAJGANJ
PABNA
KUSHTIAMEHERPUR
CHUADANGAJHENAIDAH
MAGURAFARIDPUR
RAJBARI
NARAILJESSORE
SATKHIRA KHULNABAGERHAT
SUNDARBAN FORESTBARGUNA
NAWAKHALI
JHALAKATI
PIROJPUR BHOLA
BARISAL
GOPALGONJ
MADARIPUR SHARIATPUR
MUNSHIGANJ
MANIKGANJ
TANGAIL
DHAKANARAYANGANJ
NARSHINDIGAZIPUR
BRAHMANBARIA
BRAHMANBARIA
MOULVIBAZAR
SYLHETSUNAMGANJNETROKONA
MYMENSINGHJAMALPUR
SHERPUR
COMILLA
CHANDPUR
LAKSHMIPUR
NOAKHALI
FENI
KHAGRACHARI
KHAGRACHARIRANGAMATI
BANDARBAN
COXBBAZAR
PANCHGARH
NILPHAMARI LALMONIRHAT
KURIGRAM
GAIBANDHA
KISHOREGANJ
10 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
11Annual Report-2013
Capacity building of approx 7000 elected and government stakeholders
100% timely submission of UZP budget to LGD as compared to 4% in 2009-10
70% UZPs are holding Monthly Meeting and preparing minutes as compared to 30% in 2012
Formation of 17 Standing/ UZP Committees in all UZP completed
7,311 women members organized under 214 WDFs and started raising voice to LGIs for
inclusion of women issues in planning and budgeting
Baseline on Upazila Parishad completed, initiation of Citizen Perception Survey, 9 Rules and
Regulations drafted
14 pilot Upazilas prepared, printed & submitted first ever Annual Plan Book
104 schemes approved for 7 UZPs of which 63 were MDG focused with a value of BDT 35
million
25,000 copies of UZP Manual published & being distributed
5 Divisional Dialogues held where 960 participants from different section of society took part
551 Billboards with charter of duties of UZPs displayed at all 487 UZP premises and in 64
Deputy Commissioners’ office
Gender Strategy, Gender Brochure and WDF: Concept to Implementation published and
disseminated to stakeholders
23 Resource Corners established in dists & divisions.
Key achievements of 2013
13Annual Report-2013
442 Stakeholders
from 65 UZPs received specialized traning
104 Schemes
taken by seven select UZPs
14 UZP Informa on, Plan
and Budget Books
prepared
1717 WDF members
received field level training
35 Million BDT
disbursed to seven select UZPsas fiscal facility
4401 Stakeholders
received generalized trainings/
workshops/orienta ons
1735 UZP Chairs, Vice-Chairs and UNOsprovided 3-day General Training
214WDFs
formed at UZP anddistric levels 551
Informa on Billboards onUZP charter of du es installed
14 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
Capacity of the Upazila Parishads (UZPs) to perform basic functions has been improved through intensive general
and specialized trainings. The technical assistance provided by the project helped UZPs hold its monthly and
standing committee meetings regularly and ensured participation of appropriate officials including the elected
representatives in line with the law that has enhanced effectiveness of such meetings.
The UZGP has provided a 3-day General Training to 1,735
UZP Chairs, Vice-Chairs and UNOs in 483 UZPs. Of the
participants 503 were female. The training was aimed at
providing them with necessary knowledge and skills to
effectively play their designated role as provided in the
Act in making UZP a pro-poor service provider. The
training has deepened their knowledge and
understanding of the legal and administrative structures
of UZP.
They have also learned how to properly implement UZP
2009 Act, Rules and Regulations. It has also enabled
them to hold monthly meetings and standing
committee meetings as required by the law.
It has also improved their understanding of accounting,
auditing and other requirements for financial
management of public resources at UZP. Additionally, it
has enhanced their capacity to develop and implement
development plan and budget. The training was held in
52 batches and during the period of January and July
2013.
The capacity of the three national training institutions
that provided the training---National Institute of Local
Government (NILG), Dhaka; Bangladesh Academy for
Rural Development (BARD), Comilla; and Rural
Development Academy (RDA), Bogra—has also been
improved through upgrading relevant training
curriculum/module.
Output 1: Strengthened Upazila Parishads as more functional,
transparent and accountable
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND RESULTS
Basic Functions of the Upazila Parishads Operationalised
General Training
General Training by UZGP in 2013
SL Designation Female Male Total1
2
3
Upazila Chair
Upazila Vice-Chair
Upazila Nirbahi Officer
Total
0
426
77
503
418
417
397
1,232
418
843
474
1,735
The project has provided a 9-day specialized training to
442 stakeholders from 65 UZPs of seven select districts.
Of them, 77 are female while rest 365 are male. The
training focused on Planning and Budgeting; Leadership
and Management; and Financial Management and
Public Procurement Rules. National Academy for
Planning and Development (NAPD) and Bangladesh
Institute of Management (BIM) in Dhaka have provided
the training in 17 batches.
Specialised Training
UZP Chairs, Vice-Chairs and UNOs received 3-day
General Traning1735
stakeholders received generaised trainings/
workshops/orientation4401
stakeholders from 65 UZPs received 9-day Specialised Training442
15Annual Report-2013
Specialized Training by UZGP in 2013
SL Designation Female Male Total
* 2 elected and 3 Acting female UZP Chair Source: Training reports from NAPD & BIM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UZP Chair
Vice-Chair
Upazila Nirbahi Officer
Family Planning Officer
Upazila Education Officer
Upazila Agriculture Officer
Upazila Engineer/Assisstant Engineer/Sub-Assistant Engineer
UZGP Official
Total
5*
48
5
7
6
1
0
5
77
49
47
40
49
46
57
56
21
365
54
95
45
56
52
58
56
26
442
UZPs held mandatory monthly meetings70%
UZP standing committees conducted
mandatory meetings40%
UZPs prepared & submitted annual
plan & budget to LGD100%
The trainings carried out by the project have contributed to capacitating 1,410 elected public representatives
and 1,516 government officials that established community of practice for effective functioning and institutional
strength of 487 Upazilas. This positively impacted on behavioural change and contributed to improve, both
individualistic and institutional, coordination and clarity of institutional functions i.e. reduction in conflicting
attitude between and among UZP Chairs, Vice-Chairs and UNOs. It has also helped improve coordination among
them in discharging their respective institutional duties and responsibilities.
The enhanced capacity of the UZP functionaries, thus, in turn, resulted in:
• 70 per cent UZPs held mandatory monthly meetings of Upazila Parishad and its (Standing) Committee
meetings as compared to 30 per cent in 2012
• 100 UZPs prepared and submitted Annual Development Plan and Budget to LGD as compared to 20
per cent in 2012.
0
500
1000
1500
2000
General Training
19321735
1232
503
Target Achievement Male Female0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Specilalized Training
520
442
365
77
Target Achievement Male Female
Capacity Building by UZGP
16 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
Success Story-UZGP Trainings
Upazila Now Have Skilled Human ResourcesAs soon as he was elected as Chairman of Dacope Upazila Parishad under Khulna district, S.M. Abul Hossain began to ponder
on how to conduct the Parishad meetings that has not been practiced properly for a while.
‘I found it difficult to grapple with the never-ending list of questions: How the meetings will be conducted? What will happen
after the meetings? What are the meeting documents? etc.,’ he recalls.
‘But today, I can say with utmost confidence that I have
successfully managed and operationalized my individual and
Parishad’s mandate and responsibilities with support from
Upazila Governance Project (UZGP),’ Abul Hossain was
explaining in this way with a sense of satisfaction in his face.
He maintained, ‘The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
training programmes immensely contributed to orient me
with Local Government (LG) concepts, improved
understanding and practice to apply the Upazila Act and
conduct Parishad’s work.’
Hossain was among the 7,000 select stakeholders--UZP Chairs,
Vice-Chairs, Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and relevant
officials from devolved government departments at UZP
level---who received a series of orientation workshops,
generalized and specialized trainings focusing on UZP Act and efficacy of local government system.
‘Conducting the UZP meetings was not the only issue for me,’ says Md. Abdur Rouf, Chairman of Adarsha Sadar Upazila,
Comilla. ‘Understanding of the UZP Act to form, activate and conduct 17 UZP committees require higher level of legislative
and institutional understanding, especially in absence of the operational rules and regulations which also required me to
coordinate with government officials,’ he adds.
‘The UZGP-supported trainings answered all my queries to clear my understanding. The manual and notes of the training
became handy guides for me in case of clarification,’ he informs.
The challenge for these stakeholders at operational level was the absence of practice and knowledge set, especially
administrative, functional and policy that can support them in immediate functioning and performance in their new roles.
These stakeholders were expected to pick up their respective institutional mandate and work in a coordinated manner to
deliver a locally prioritized and MDG responsive development and corresponding service delivery mechanism, with scarce
to scattered financial resources.
Without these skills, the institutional mandates and coordination mechanism would be stalled.
One of the major outcomes of the General training was that for the first four key functionaries of UZP—Chairs, Vice-Chairs
and UNOs—were placed together on the same table leading to a positive behavioural change that helped reduce the
juxtaposed attitude both between and among them. This resulted in improved coordination of their respective institutional
duties.
‘The training gave us an opportunity to understand each other’s role and conflicting issues from each other’s perspectives
and institutional mandate. This helped us a lot in revitalizing the UZPs to become functional and collectively solve many
issues which were pending over the years,’ says Md. Shafiul Islam, UNO of Kazipur UZP under Sirajganj district.
The trainings, together with technical and institutional backstopping from the project, have resulted in effective institutional
performance of the Upazila Parishad as 70 per cent held its mandatory monthly meetings; 100 per cent UZPs established its
all 17 committees; 100 per cent UZPs prepared and submitted Annual budget to Local Government Division (LGD) and 14
select UZPs prepared 14 UZP Information, Plan and Budget Books which will soon be replicated by select 65 UZPs under
select seven districts of UZGP.
17Annual Report-2013
The technical support provided through the District and
Divisional Facilitators have helped UZPs in conducting
the monthly and standing committee meetings in
compliance with legal requirements that include
assistance in preparation of meeting agenda, working
paper and meeting minutes, etc. It helped the Parishads
in holding the monthly and standing committee
meeting regularly and effectively.
Holding of monthly and standing committee
meetings effectively
In pursuit of raising public awareness and as a part of
advocacy on 21 activities mandated to UZP, the UZGP
has supported the LGD in designing, developing and
installing UZP Information Billboard to all UZPs across the
country. With the support from the project, the LGD
installed a total of 551 UZP Information Billboards in 487
UZP and 64 district offices premises. The billboard entails
21 roles and responsibilities of the UZP that will
contribute to accountability through dissemination of
information to the larger public.
Mass Awareness of UZP Activities
The project has prepared six draft Rules and three draft
Regulations. The drafts are now in the process of field
validations through structured Focus Group Discussion.
It is expected that once approved by the Government,
these Rules and Regulations will further streamline the
functioning of UZP as pro-poor service provider.
Support LGD in drafting of legislation framework
(laws, rules, regulation and guidelines)
To further the policy advocacy and participatory
consultation, the project held seven (7) workshops at
UZP level with local administration and local civil society.
These workshops identified areas of common interest
and opportunities between CSO and UZP. These
workshops promoted participation of NGOs and CBOs in
relevant standing committees of UZP and in providing
assistance in formulation of development plan for
Upazila Parishad. These workshops were held at
Brahmanbaria Sadar, Kishoreganj Sadar, Dumuria, Betagi,
Pirganj, Kazipur and Jagannathpur Upazilas where 238
participants attended, of which 38 were women.
Mapping/Orientation of Local Level
Administration, CSOs, NGOs, and CBOs for
Capacity Development at 7 UZPs
Dialogue Between Local Administration and CSOsDivision UZP Male Female Total Participants
Chittagong
Dhaka
Khulna
Barisal
Rangpur
Rajshahi
Sylhet
B. Baria Sadar
Kishoregonj Sadar
Dumuria
Betagi
Pirgonj
Kazipur
Jagannathpur
Total
18
33
18
20
22
20
69
200
7
7
7
1
1
4
11
38
25
40
25
21
23
24
80
238
The policy advocacy with the government resulted in
appointment of Information Officer in each of the 14
pilot UZPs. The project has trained the designated
information officers to effectively enforce the provision
of the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2009 at UZP level.
Twelve out of 14 officers attended a day-long training
organized at National Institute of Local Government
(NILG), Dhaka which was structured in six sessions
focusing on a) importance and function of RTI Act, b)
identification of challenges in scope of work on RTI
Act-2009, and c) Way Forward.
“Information Officers” at 14 pilot UZPs appointed and received orientation as per RTI Act 2009
designated UZP Information Officers
appointed 14stakeholders trained7,000
UZP Information, Plan and Budget Books
Prepared 14
18 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
14 UZP Information, Plan and Budget Books published
One of the biggest successes the UZGP achieved in 2013
was the publication of 14 UZP Information, Plan and
Budget Books for 14 select UZPs in seven pilot districts
under seven divisions. This was the cumulative results of
3-day General Training, 9-day Specialised Training,
One-day “Planning and Budgeting Exercise” workshop,
technical guidelines and manuals provided to the UZPs.
This was the first-ever Annual Information, Plan and
Budget Book the 14 UZPs has prepared and published
and submitted to the LGD. The UZP Plan Book is the
public document of UZP that contains UZP
geographical information, five-year sectoral vision,
annual plan and budget. The project has extended all
the technical and financial assistance to the UZP to
prepare and print the plan books.
19Annual Report-2013
WOMEN DEVELOPMENT FORUM (WDF)
214 WDFs formed
The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) and Union
Parishad Governance Project (UPGP) have jointly facilitated
the formation of Women Development Forums (WDFs) at
Upazila and district levels with the elected women
representatives from UZPs, UPs and Municipalities.
Led by Local Government Division (LGD), a total of 214
WDFs were formed in 2013. Of them, 23 were at district
level while the rest 191 at Upazila level. The total number
of membership of elected women representatives
stands at 7,311. Of them 5,935 at Upazila level while
1,376 district levels. The formation workshops were used
by the WDF to elect their forum leadership that resulted
in 1,969 at Upazila and 242 at District level elected as the
members of their respected WDF committees.
The forum is providing structured capacity building,
partnership building and advocacy forum to the elected
female representatives for their institutional and political
mainstreaming and strengthening. It is playing an
important role as a “Platform for Elected Women” to raise
voices on their issues, capacitate and groom (local level)
women leadership to promote democracy at grass-roots
level. This is also helping them to link with other Civil
Society Organizations (CSOs). The forums are also
assisting the LGIs in gender-responsive budgeting,
planning and interventions and providing inputs for
policy reforms towards promoting gender equality.
Pool of 278 master trainers created, 1,717 WDF members trained
The project has initiated cascade-training programme
for the leadership of WDFs. A pool of master trainers was
also formed by providing Training for Trainers (ToTs) to
278 participants mainly drawn from amongst the local
level government officials. Of them, 90 were female
while rest 188 were male. The master trainers in turn
trained 1,717 WDF members in 63 batches at 65 UZPs.
Immediate Results
WDF helps raising women’s voice on gender equality
WDF formation process was completed by 2013,
subsequently most of the platforms were holding
bi-monthly meetings at Upazila and District levels. The
agenda items for the meetings was diverse that covered
topics such as WDF Annual Work Plan, forum members’
roles and responsibilities, opening of back accounts,
fund-raising, preparation of bye-laws, information
collection, forum office selection, increase women’s
participation in local development activities, building
awareness on social issues through WDF at ward level,
address violence against women (VAW), early marriage,
dowry, identify case against VAW, raise voice at UP, list
local resources and plan to utilize for poor women,
communicate with line departments for solving
problems at UP level, list ultra-poor women at respective
ward, constraints of women empowerment, raise
women’s voice to get allocation from LGSP, UPGP etc.
Some of these issues were also raised by them in the
Parishad (UZP and UP) meetings.
The WDF members participated in month-long
programme of “Nari Sanglap: Apnara Kemon Aschen
(Women’s Dialogue: How Are You?)” led by the Ministry
of Women and Children Affairs. They actively
participated in the dialogue with other participants,
formed women’s chain, discussed local women’s
constraints, raised issues of vulnerability and
underprivileged women.
Gender equality and integration was part of five
divisional-level policy dialogues. The WDF members,
elected women representatives and representatives of
women groups, CSOs and homemakers participated in
it. The construct and execution of policy dialogue was
gender integrated. Besides identifying range of
challenges, many recommendations that come out of
these dialogues gender-focused e.g. a) gender
responsive policy change; b) to elect one man and one
women representatives in each Ward; c) strengthen role
of three women representatives at Ward level; d)
strengthen LGIs to act against discriminatory practices
such as dowry, early marriages and VAW; and e)
introduction of women friendly business environment.
The joint initiatives of the projects of forming the WDFs
has been positively noticed by the different ministries,
including the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), to know
more about the WDFs. The Women and Children Affairs
Ministry, at the invitation of Local Government Division
(LGD), took part in a meeting and contributed to
developing the curricula for the forums. The WDF has
already created a momentum among the elected
female representatives of UZPs, UPs and Municipalities,
and it is expected that the forums will play a critical role
raising the issues affecting women at different platform.
20 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
WDFs formed 214 WDF members trained 1,717elected women
representatives became WDF members
7,311
Success Story on WDF
Coming Out from Darkness“We Have Come Out From Darkness And Have Found Our Feet To Take Us Towards Our Goal And
Rights” Lipi Akter, a UP member from Naogaon, expressed these sentiments during the orientation workshop
on WDF formation at Sorail Upazila, which was agreed by her colleagues. Little she knew that opportunity to
apply what she and her WDF colleagues have been oriented at WDF formation workshop may just be around the
corner.
A few days later she came to know about the provisions of block grants available to the Parishad; and its emphasis
that 33% of grant must be used exclusively for women development. Lipi Akter, along with her WDF colleagues,
Ms. Shahida Begum and Rashida Begum, UP members Naogaon, started their work to prepare a scheme to
access the grant. While planning towards their goal, they consulted Ward Shava members as well and applied for
scheme worth BDT 90,000 from UP Chairman. The scheme focused on providing income generation
opportunities for poor women of the community and planned to train 10 women on tailoring skills along with
the provision of sewing machines.
They faced reluctance from UP Chairman to accommodate their scheme for allocation of funds. But this did not
deter them and rather they started a vigorous contact campaign to access and secure the funds. Their efforts
were not bearing fruits. Concerned with delays, they decided to raise the bar of their efforts and wrote a formal
letter to DC, UNO, Vice-Chair of Sorial UZP. They involved Chair of the WDF Sorail Upazila, Mahamuda Parvin, and
she took the initiative and arranged a meeting of concerned i.e. UNO, UP members and UP Chairman of Noagaon.
Being well prepared and using their newly acquired agenda setting skills through WDF training, they lead the
deliberation and with their argument convinced the UP Chairman who agreed to accept the scheme and release
funds under intimation to UNO. The scheme is under implementation at the moment.
21Annual Report-2013
Output 2: Strengthened Planning and Budgeting System at UZP with
MDG Orientation and Pro-poor service delivery mechanism
Performance Assessment Manual under
Upazila Fiscal Facility (UFF) Support revised
Financial Audit, Minimum Conditions and
Performance Measures Assessments of
Targeted 14 UZPs carried out through
independent sub-contracting process
The project has revised the performance assessment
manual for 2013-14, adding six more composite
performance indicators and raised the maximum score
from 40 to 100. Earlier, the performance of seven UZPs
for 2012-2013 was evaluated against four composite
performance measures having 40 as its total score. The
10 performance areas assess the compliance, as
specified in UZP Act 2009 and its amendment, of a UZP’s
structure, administrative process, financial management,
targeted development expenditure, development plan,
sectoral committees, integration/address social sector in
UZP expenditure, co-financing of UZP development
scheme from multiple sources, coverage of multiple UPs
by UZP development plan and UZP Parishad and
community oversight for UFF schemes.
Under the UFF guideline a maximum ceiling of BDT 5
million has also been set for UFF support. The
assessment provides opportunity to the leadership of
UZP to use this performance to attract parallel funding
from other available sources.
Led by LGD, the project has carried out financial audit,
minimum conditions and performance measures
assessment for 14 pilot UZP though an independent
consultant. The consultant has already submitted a
comprehensive report to the LGD. The first round of
assessment for 7 UZP was against 4 indicators having 40
as maximum score.
Source: UZP Performance Assessment Report
The second round of performance assessment was against 10 indicators having 100 as maximum score:
Round1: Performance Assessment Result
Upazila
Mithamain (Kishorganj)
Bancharampur (B.Baria)
Dacope (Khulna)
Sullah (Sunamganj)
Ullaphara (Sirajgunj)
Pirgachh (Rangpur)
Barguna Sadar (Barguna)
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
29
29
29
30
34
33
31
4,284,736
3,861,813
5,415,361
4,733,769
6,171,434
4,583,900
3,862,936
Max. Score Performancescore
Possible Fiscal Allocation as perPerformance assessment (BDT)
Round-2: Performance Assessment Result
Upazila
Kishorganj Sadar
B.Baria Sadar
Dumeria
Jaggnathpur
Kazipur
Pirganj
Betagi
Kishorganj
B.Baria
Khulna
Sunamganj
Sirajgunj
Rangpur
Barguna
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
68
67
69
72
77
66
67
5,672,242
4,968,339
4,703,638
6,468,493
4,601,626
4,952,006
2,377,304
Max. ScoreDistrict Performancescore
Possible Fiscal Allocation as perPerformance assessment (BDT)
Over
22 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
Seven Divisional level Workshops for UZP led
Development Needs Assessment and
Identification of Resources held
The project held seven divisional level workshops on
“UZP led Needs Assessment and Identification of
Resources”. The project has prepared explanatory
guidelines for field staff and the NPD briefed the
Divisional and District facilitators, and DLGs and DDLGs
for joint execution of the activity. A total of 415 officials
of the transferred departments participated in the
workshops and oriented on UZP-led development
needs and identification of available resources.
The institutionalized financial management and
planning skills together with structured fiscal support
guidelines by the project contributed to the attainment
of local MDG targets besides demonstrating good
practices of local development as per local needs. It has
also initiated participatory budget making process i.e.
discussing scheme in UZP sectoral committee, taking
recommendation of the UZP sectoral committees for
Upazila Parishad approval.
BDT 35 m disbursed, 104 MDG-focused
schemes taken in seven pilot UZPs
To support select UZPs to implement MDG focused
development schemes based on their local needs and
priorities, the UZGP has provided two tranches of
Upazila Fiscal Facility Support (UFF) grants in 2013. The
facility has delivered additional financial resources to the
select UZPs to enable the elected local leadership to
play a catalytic role in accelerating local development, as
well as MDGs.
The UZGP, under its fiscal facility support, disbursed a
total of BDT 35 m to seven pilot UZPs. With the grants,
the UZPs has taken and implemented a total of 104
schemes, of which 56 are single sourced and the rest 46
are co-financed with Union Parishad and community
support. The UFF are engendered from criteria setting to
its guidelines to utilization. Of the completed 104
schemes, 63 schemes has directly contributed towards
achieving MDGs, particularly primary education, health
and poverty issues. A total of 316,455 beneficiaries, of
which 116,168 are female have been benefited from
these schemes.
Source: UZGP M&E Report
104 UFF SCHEMES: SECTORAL DISTRIBUTION & MDG COMPLIANCE
54%46%
Scheme finance mode
56 Single financed scheme46 Co-financed scheme
MDG focused 63 schemes
Eradicat ExtremePoverty andHunger 40%
Achive UniversalPrimary Education 16%
Promote GenderEquality andEmpower Women 8%
Ensure EnvironmentalSustanivility 17%
Combat HIV/AIDESMalaria and other
Diseases 5%
Improve MaternalHealth 5%
Reduce ChildMortality 9%
SL
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
B.baria
Kishorgonj Sadar
Jagannathpur
Dumuria
Betagi
Kazipur
Pirgonj
Total
9
8
20
9
28
17
13
104
12050
39370
47088
20535
30200
9840
7085
166168
9850
41030
15334
18618
48100
10440
6915
150287
21900
80400
62422
39153
78300
20080
14000
316455
Name of UZP Total Direct Benificiaries
Female Male
Number ofProject
23Annual Report-2013
Success Story-UZGP Scheme
Nazma Weaves a Better Future for Herself Nazma Begum, 40, a poor rural women from Pirganj Upazila under Rangpur district, Bangladesh, is now sure that
her children will not go hungry and can continue their schooling.
Struggling with sheer poverty, she was trying hard to find a work to maintain her six-member family, as her
husband took his bed due to a bone-related disease two years ago.
“My husband has been bedridden for the past two years due to the bone-related disease. It was devastating for
us as he was the sole bread-earner for the family. We have spent all our savings for his treatment, sold our cattle
and I even had to stop sending my children to school due to the financial hardship,” Nazma said, sobbingly.
“But the training in Sataranji gave me a
new hope, a new life, and confidence to
fight against poverty,” Nazma said,
brimming with confidence.
The training has completely changed
the life of Nazma, who had earlier
struggled to earn Tk. 2,000 a month is
now earning over Tk. 6,000. This has
given her a sense of gratification as she
can now give her family a better life. A
real life fighter, Nazma dreams of
something even better not only for
herself but also for the community. She
wants to motivate other poor women in
her community to take training nd
create self-employment for
emancipation from poverty.
She is one of the 30 women who received a new inspiration in life after completing a 15-day “Skill Development
Training in Sataranji Weaving for Women Entrepreneurs” at Pirganj Upazila Parishad, Rangpur district, Bangladesh.
Sataranji is a special hand-loomed and woven carpet typical of Rangpur region and a very unique handicraft in
Bangladesh. The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP), under its fiscal facility grant, has provided the financial
support to the training aimed at helping local poor women in Pirganj Upazila, Rangpur, to enhance livelihood
skills of women, particularly the poor and destitute, to eventually bring the ultra-poor communities out of
poverty and to empower women.
“This is not just weaving a carpet or mat...this is weaving a dream, weaving for a better future, a better life,” Nazma
said, beaming broadly. “With the skills I learned from the training and by the money I am making after selling the
products, I can feed my kids better and send them to school again. The training has just given me a ray of hope,
opened up an economic opportunity for better life.” This is a beginning of prosperity for a down-trodden rural
woman who earlier was scared of even dreaming. The support provided by UZGP has transformed a fragile
woman into a confident person, who is becoming inspiration for many others in her community.
schemes directly MDG-focused63disbursed to seven
select UZPs as UFF 35m BDTschemes implemented
in seven select UZPs104
24 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
66900
20,400
71,660
128,860
25,750
9,890
17,720
B.baria
Kishorgonj Sadar
Jagannathpur
Dumuria
Betagi
Kazipur
Pirgonj
(341,180) Indirect Beneficiaries of schemes by UZPs
Source: UZGP M&E Report
Success Story-UZGP Scheme
Driving Away Silent Killer-Formalin “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away,”---Lipi Akter, 30, a mother of two, was following the opposite diet motto religiously
for over the past five years in fear of formalin, the silent killer!
“I can’t give my kids poison. Well, I am depriving them of necessary nutrients, but as a mother, I would not tolerate my kids
swallowing poisonous substance,” she says, venting her anger. A mother, frustrated with the situation due to the malicious
act of unscrupulous traders in the kitchen markets, says: “Not only apple or any kind of seasonal fruits, I was scared of
vegetables and meat too.”
She explained the reason behind all the fear and
frustration was simply -formalin.
“All the food items in kitchen markets were
contaminated with formalin. You will not get
anything---from fish to tomatoes to litchi, mango,
blackberry---free from formalin. All these were soaked
with formalin and poisonous carbide,” says Lipi, also a
housewife hailed from Sajiara village under Dumuria
Upazila, Khulna district.
But a small initiative taken by the Dumuria Upazila
Parishad, with the support from Upazila Governance
Project (UZGP), offered a great relief to the rural
housewives like Lipi.
“You can’t imagine what a great help it is to us. I had
stopped buying fruits and fish from local markers. Now,
with the drive of Upazila Parishad to make the markets
formalin and carbide-free, I have resumed buying and adding fish, vegetable and fruits in my everyday menu,” Lipi said, with
a sigh of great relief.
Over the past few years, the national and local media are regularly running the reports that the sale of formalin-laced food
items has become a rampant practice in all the kitchen markets across the country, raising concern of the people about its
impact on health. Formaldehyde (formalin) is a toxic substance illegally used by merchants to preserve food, making it look
fresh and attractive in the market for longer time, thus maximizing profits. The widespread use of formalin in fruits,
vegetables, fish and meat poses a great threat to public health, and it is extremely harmful to pregnant women and
new-born babies.
“This really gave us a great relief and we don’t have to worry anymore about formalin-mixed foodstuff, especially for our
children,” says Lipi, making an urge to the Upazila Parishad to continue its drive and campaign against formalin and provide
exemplary punishment to the culprits.
21900
80400
62422
39153
78300
2008014000
(316,455) Direct Beneficiaries of schemes by UZPs
25Annual Report-2013
Success Story-UZGP Scheme
Putting Poor Pupils in SchoolWhether it rains or the sun is too hot, Ria Rani Das, 10, doesn’t want to miss her school now.
Coming from a very poor family where her parents could hardly afford two meals a day, Ria, a class five student,
now knows that food is ready for her in school and she would not go hungry all through the day.
“My parents can hardly serve lunch for me always, let alone the breakfast. Sometimes I may have some parched
rice in the morning and have to go hungry the whole day. But now I know for sure that I will not go hungry if I go
to the school,” said Ria, who just have finished her mid-day meal her school served.
Her parents are also more
convinced now than ever before
to send their daughter to school
because they know the school
provides meals to students,
thanks to an Upazila Parishad
(UZP) scheme supported by
Upazila Governance Project
(UZGP).
“I like the food, it’s really delicious
and fills my stomach,” said Ria. Her
mother is a housewife and her
father a rickshaw-puller. They can
hardly afford two meals a day for
their five kids aged between five
to 13.
Like Ria, 500 other Class One to
Class Five students are now
regularly attending the school enticed by the daily meals they receive. Once dull and empty classrooms of the
Nayachilaura Government Primary School in the remotest Chilauradhalipur Union under Jagannathpur Upazila,
Sunamganj district, are now buzzing with energetic children fidgeting, chattering and laughing. Some others are
trying to read rhymes aloud.
“All these were possible for the fiscal facility grants we got from Upazila Governance Project. With the grants, we,
the Jagannathpur Upazila Parishad, took the School Feeding Programme which help attract poor children to
enrol and stay at school and thus help increase enrolment rate and reduce dropouts,” says Muktadir Ahmed,
Vice-chairman of Jagannath Upazila Parishad.
The UZGP, through its fiscal facility support, provided Tk 4 lakh to the Upazila Parishad (UZP) for implementing the
five-month pilot scheme titled “Mid-day Meal for School Student”. The Upazila Parishad launched the programme
at Nayachilaura Government Primary School in November 2013 aims at reducing hunger and malnutrition
among schoolchildren and help keep poor students at schools.
Ranendra Kumar Das, Headmaster of Nayachilaura Government Primary School, said, “The Mid-day meal
programme has already started yielding encouraging results. The number of students in the school was 390 last
year (in 2013) while it reached to 500 by this year (2014). Enrolment is still going on and we hope that more
students will be enrolled soon.
“We have also witnessed the decrease in dropouts and increase in class attendance just because of mid-day meal
programme,” he said, adding, “And surprisingly, the enrolment rate of girls’ is also increasing. About 10 per cent
more girls are enrolled this year than the last year.”
26 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
Source: UZP performance assessment report
Success Story-UZGP Scheme
A Road to Education, Economic ProsperityUnlike previous years, Rina Begum, 36, a mother of three kids, is not very much worried about sending her kids to
schools during the upcoming rainy season.
The housewife from Uttar Karuna village of Hosnabad Union under Betagi Upazila, Borguna district recalls, “Earlier,
rainy season meant a great loss of school days. Rainfall during the four-month period makes the roads connecting
nearby villages to schools inaccessible. Children could hardly use these roads to get to school, leading to loss in
school days.”
Seasonal rain left deep craters in the dirt
road, rendering it inaccessible to any
vehicle. “When it rained, the potholes
turned into lakes,” says Soma Akhter,
daughter of Rina Begum and a Class Three
student at 27 No. Madhya Karuna
Government Primary School. “We, very
often, avoided the road altogether and
drove through the paddy fields inundated
with rainwater.”
“It was better to take boat to pass through
neighbouring small water-body to reach
schools. It was really risky. Lots of
schoolchildren sustained serious injuries
after slipping on the muddy road,” Rina said, adding, “We, the parents, were really scared about our kids...we could
not send them to schools through the dirt road.” “So, it was annual and unofficial vacation for most children, as
well as big disruption to education, says Rina.
A Road to Education
Only recently, after completion of a new road with brick flat soling, Soma now can go to her school everyday
easily no matter how bad the weather is. Her mother, Rina Begum, does not need to worry about her girl now.
The Betagi Upazila Parishad, with the support from Upazila Governance Project (UZGP), constructed the road
which has begun rendering results. Like Soma, 10,500 other students studying at the four primary schools, two
secondary schools and two colleges of two Union Parishads--Hosnabad and Mokamia---under the Upazila have
begun to get the benefit from the all-weather road which enables them to access the schools with greater ease.
“Students, particularly the girls, are now attending schools regularly and we believe that it will have a great impact
on education, reducing the number of absentees and dropouts, in the UZP,” said Md. Zakir Hossain, Assistant
Headmaster of Madya Karuna Government Primary School.The UZGP, under its fiscal facility grant, co-financed to
the UZP in repairing the road.
Reaping Economic Benefits
But the benefits of the road go much further. The new road, made of bricks, connects a number of villages in two
UPs to markets, hospitals, administrative centres, enabling the rural poor to avail of better economic
opportunities and access better health, education and business services. The smoother road not only cut travel
time and cost for the villagers, it is helping the farmers to carry more goods/products to sell in the local markets.
What the villagers are also saying that the smoother road will also save lives, particularly the pregnant women and
children. “Now we will be able to take the patients to UZP Sadar Hospital and other clinics there more quickly,”
said, Runu Begum, one of the inhabitants of South Karuna village.
27Annual Report-2013
Output 3: Strengthened technical capacity of Local Government
Division for effective policy review, monitoring, lesson learning and
capacity development of LGIs for enhanced Local Governance
PAG formed
The LGD Secretary has notified formation of a Policy
Advisory Group (PAG) aimed at enhancing the policy
development function in government and create a
coordinated framework for support to the LGI capacity
development. The PAG will learn a review from field
experience and advocate for change at national level. It
will be a “think-tank” of the ministry on key policy issues
led by the LGD. Meeting of PAG could not be held due to
reasons beyond control of the project.
People’s Voices Heard through Five
Divisional Dialogues
The project has facilitated holding of five divisional level
policy dialogues aimed at reviewing and reforming the
policy related to LG electoral system and service
delivery.
A total of 964 participants (772 male and 192 female)
from 35 categories---from lawmakers to government
officials, LGI representatives to professionals, NGOs
representatives, academician, freedom fighter, religious
leader, media, farmer and students participated in the
dialogues held in five divisional towns---Barisal, Khulna,
Rajshahi, Chittagong and Sylhet.
Finance Minister Mr. A M A Muhith attended the first
policy dialogue held in Sylhet while the then State
Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan
Sufian in Khulna. Former LGD Secretary Mr. Abu Alam
Md. Shahid Khan was also present at the policy
dialogues held in Rajshahi and Chittagong.
The participants placed a set of recommendations
including greater role of LGIs, especially in health,
education, agriculture, fisheries, livestock, poverty
alleviation and in promoting gender equality rather than
just concentrating on physical infrastructure
development.
The project has also a plan to hold two more dialogues
in Dhaka and Rangpur and after that it will hold a
national level dialogue with the recommendations
drawn from the seven divisional level policy dialogues to
propose overall policy framework. The proposal for
reforms will be submitted to the government to
strengthen LG service delivery and to bring necessary
reforms in terms of structure and function of local
government institutions.
It is expected that the valuable recommendations made
by cross-section of people participating in the dialogues
will help guide the policy-makers to seriously think
about local governance reforms in Bangladesh. Once
accepted, these reforms will certainly bring about
positive changes in service delivery and democratic
accountability at the local level.
Development of National Framework for Local
Government Policy and Capacity Development
The project has initiated contracting process of
awarding international and national teams to provide
institutional support in conducting transformational
policy studies. The two transformative studies are 1)
Local Government System in Bangladesh: Comparative
Perspective and Practices and 2) First Phase of Policy
Review of Functional Assignment to the Local
Governments (Upazila and Union Parishad levels) in
delivering Health and Education services. The study
reports will be published in 2014. The project has also
initiated a ‘Citizen Perception Survey on Service Delivery
by Upazila Parishad and Union Parishad’. The report of
the survey will be published in 2014.
Support to Policy Support Unit
Though the activities were dropped in 2013, the project
has adopted an alternate strategy to technically
backstop LGD through position paper based input for
institutional strengthening of LGIs in general and UZP in
particular. This resulted in (a) issuance of series of
clarification memos, compliance orders and operational
guidelines to UZP elected and government officials; (b)
structured job description for DLG and DDLG in line with
UZP Act; (c) UZP manual (compilation of legal and
administrative requirements) and (d) guidelines for LGI
for Local Planning (under submission to Planning
Division). All of them directly contributed in effective
functioning of UZP and anchoring of LGI.
28 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
Evaluation of quality of training
The evaluation informed that the training contributed to:
• Team Building by bringing public representatives and government officials together. 90 per cent
respondents mentioned that training enabled interactions among the participants even beyond the
classrooms.
• Developing Understanding On Rules and Functions as per the Upazila Act and improved skills in planning,
budgeting and formation of Standing Committees
• In effective Coordination among elected public representatives and government officials
• Augment Women’s Empowerment in UZPs work while female Vice-Chairs’ confidence level improved
The report also identified areas of improvement that included
a) Extend duration from 3 to 5 days
b) Reduce number of participants per batch to max of 25
c) Devise refresher or post-learning mechanism
d) Inclusion of female trainers a resource person
e) Improve logistic arrangement at the training centres
The project has initiated a third party evaluation of trainings provided to the stakeholders over the past two years.
It also assessed the capacity of the national trainings institutes—NILG, BARD, NAPD, BIM, RDA and evaluated the
quality, effectiveness and impact of training imparted by these institutes.
1. Withdrawal of the advisory role of the Member of Parliament (MP) in the Upazila Parishad
2. Comprehensive Charter of Duties for elected and Government Officials of devolved departments including UNOs for improved coordination’s
3. Enhanced administrative support to operationalize and functioning of Standing Committees of UP, UZP Pourashava and City Corporation
4. In the wake of diminishing Rural and Urban divide of LG, initiation of Policy Reform debate to integrate/reduce number of existing LGI e.g. merging small Pourashava and UZPs; not creating or dividing new UPs or declaring them part of Pourashavs
5. Each haat must disclose status of their revenues and services for public consumption
6. Sectoral and departmental resource mapping for each LGI.
7. Increased fiscal allocation for all LGIs.
8. Introduction of a new cadre “Local Government Services” against the deputation system.
9. Removal of discrepancies among LG tiers with reference to allowance and honorarium for elected representatives
10. The re-establishment of Local Government Commission and appointment of Ombudsman
11. Reform of organizational structure of LGI from “Single post (Chair/Mayor) dominated System” to “Council-led institutions” popularly expressed as “Presidential System to Parliamentary System”.
Major Recommendations came up in the dialogues
29Annual Report-2013
2nd Edition of UZP Manual Published
In a landmark step to strengthen the capacity of UZP, the
UZGP compiled all the rules, circulars and government
orders related to UZP and printed 25,000 copies of the
manual for stakeholders. The project distributed the manual
to various stakeholders including 487 UZPs and Divisional
and Deputy Commissioners’ offices of the country.
The compendium is helping the UZP functionaries to
remove confusion about the rules and regulations for
effective functioning of the Upazila Parishad.
The UZP functionaries (UZP Chairs, Vice-chairs and
UNOs) often complained of not getting the relevant
circulars and government orders issued by different
ministries and divisions in time. Since publication of the
first edition of the UZP Manual in 2010, key changes
have been introduced in the UZP Act through more
than 50 rules, circulars and government orders, which
were incorporated in the current version.
23 Resource Corners set up at district and divisional offices
In efforts to generate and disseminate knowledge on
local governance among government officials, public
representatives and general people, the project
continued to establish Resource Corners at district and
divisional levels across the country. A total of 23
Resource Corners (12 at local administration offices
while rest 11 at public libraries) have been established,
positioned to knowledge warehousing and increased
access to information for local stakeholders on local
government systems and local democracy. The RC at
district and divisional administration level is targeted to
facilitate the government and elected public
representatives whereas RCs at public libraries are to
facilitate body of academics, researchers and general
public.
The RC is a well-stocked mini-library having all kinds of
local government related laws, rules and regulations,
circulars reports, manuals, audio-visual materials and
books on human development, poverty alleviation and
good governance. The UZGP has provided the financial
support for purchasing the books, furniture and other
necessary equipment for the corners. The facilities at the
RC are open to the public and free of cost.
Prime Minister Praises UZGP
The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) has won
praise from the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for
publishing the Upazila Parishad (UZP) Manual (2nd
Edition), a compendium of amended Upazila Parishad
Act in 2011, rules, circulars and government orders
related to UZP.
The PM spoke highly of UZGP at a meeting with
Upazila Chairs and Vice-chairs at Gono Bhaban on 19
October.
“I can’t praise enough...You did a great job,” Mr. Md.
Shah Kamal, Additional Secretary (Admin) and
National Project Director (NPD), UZGP, who was
present at the meeting, said, quoting the Prime
Minister.
“Compiling the UZP Act, Rules, Circulars and
Government Orders related to the UZP and publish
those in a complete book is simply a great job. I lauded
the initiative. It would help a lot in removing confusion
exists among the UZP functionaries on its rules and
regulations,” she added. “I have gone through the
manual several times over the last few days. Please
read the manual minutely and you will have no
confusion on the UZP rules and regulations you are
talking about,” she said, flapping the manual towards
the attending UZP Chairs and Vice-chairs.
“I thanked the UZGP and the Local Government
Division (LGD) for its great effort in compiling all the
rules, circulars and government orders related to UZP
and print those in a complete book,” she says.
30 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
M&E Framework and Tools, MIS System
developed
In 2013 support of project specific M&E work, project
developed M&E Plan, Multi-year Monitoring Framework
and Tools. The process includes submission of monthly
to quarterly information on project and field activities by
DF and DVF. Field visits by project staff were also
documented in the form of Back to Office report
through a structured format. Official
website–www.uzgp.org–has been operationalised with
a temporary host site. M&E tools were also developed
and in the field for pilot testing after which it will be
finalized and printed.
Besides, M&E tools reporting formats have also been
prepared that include capacity building /training
reporting format, WDF training reporting format, Upazila
Fiscal Facility Scheme (UFF) reporting format. M&E
strategy was upgraded by developing specific business
processes and plans including operational definition of
indicators and data flow chart.
Development of data base based linked with on M&E
tools have been initiated. A prototype has been
developed to capture data in four customized forms. The
same forms were piloted with the assistance of DVF, DF,
and DDLG from seven Districts.
International Training held in Dhaka
The project arranged for a comprehensive international
training programme at Dhaka, conducted by the team
of experts from The Hague Academy for Local
Governance, the Netherlands. The course was titled
“Decentralization and Local Development in
Bangladesh”. It was a residential training of 5-day
focusing on basic concepts of Decentralization, Public
services management, Public financing for local service
delivery, Fiscal decentralization, and local strategic
planning for poverty alleviation and attainment of the
MDGs. The course also deliberated on state of local
governance, institutional profile of the local public
sector and options for intergovernmental cooperation
and consequent capacity development. The 47 (40 M &
7 FM) representatives came from LGD, NILG, BARD, RDA,
BIM, NAPD and BMDF. This contributed in individual and
institutional capacity building of the core staff of these
institutes, which are engaged with the project for
imparting generalized and specialized training to the
UZP stakeholders.
UZP Information Billboards installed551Policy Dialogues held 5 Resource Corners
established 23
31Annual Report-2013
Output 4: Effective Project Management
The PMU worked with full field and HQs staff capacity till
November when 2 of the project staff members i.e.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and MIS Officer, left
the team. The operation team was heavily involved in (a)
shifting of premises from Dhaka South City Corporation
to NILG; and (b) procurement and disbursement of office
equipment and furniture from HQ to filed level. The
political impasse added additional responsibility on
Project Management team to ensure implementation of
Business Continuity Plan (BCP). During 2013 project
procured 10 vehicles (7 vehicles for Divisional offices and
3 for central project office), 49 desktop computers (21 for
Divisional offices, 7 for District offices and 21 for Central
project office), 49 UPS (21 for 7 Divisional offices, 7 for
District offices and 21 for Central project office), 17
Scanner machine ( 7 for Divisional offices, 7 for District
offices and 3 for Central project office), 17 Printer (7 for
Divisional offices, 7 for District offices and 3 for central
project office), 17 Photocopier Machine (7 for Divisional
offices, 7 for District offices and 3 for central project
office), 7 Air Conditioners for central project office, office
furniture for central project office, installation of PABX
machine with 24 intercom hand set, 6 Fire Extinguisher
for central project office, setup office internet for central
project office and renovation of central project office.
Project Management team also facilitated two Project
Steering Committee (PSC) meetings, two Project Board
(PB) meeting and a Coordination meeting with
Development Partners and UZGP quarterly staff
meetings.
A series of national events including Parliamentary elections and Upazila elections scheduled for 2014 had
made the year 2013 quite challenging.
Since it was the last year for UZP elected representatives in the office, there was lack of concentration and sense
of uncertainty that made the project to provide extra effort in maintaining the momentum of implementation
of project activities.
Since UZGP was the lone donor supported programme at UZP level, there was substantive gap between the
demand and supply of institutional development support at that level.
A total of 77 working days were lost due to political turmoil marked by violent political programmes; the project
however managed to maintain its pace of implementation by organizing programmes/events over weekends,
communicating via Skype, email, cell phone, etc.
The project was able to push start the operationalization of UZP sectoral committee and made UFF grants
available that helped initiate MDG focused development schemes at UZP level; the project also contributed
development and submission of UZP budget by 482 UZPs in a timely manner.
Through provision of technical support and financial resources 14 Target UZPs were able to print first ever UZP
Plan book and sharing of those has influenced another 51 UZPs to publish their Plan Book with support from
the project.
UZGP continued to maintain coordination and collaboration with UPGP in terms of formulation of Women
Development Forum, conducting of five policy studies, etc. The coordinating roles played by the shared staff,
National and International Technical Advisors have been beneficial for both the projects.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
32 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
33Annual Report-2013
Functional and institutional capacities of local
government institutions
During the reporting period, the UZGP strengthened its
cultivated institutional relationship with UZP Parishad
through continued capacity building initiatives to fulfill
their institutional mandate for service delivery at the
local level. The project supported the smooth
functioning of UZP through range of technical
guidelines for UZPs that were issued by the LGD. This has
established a community of practices with the support
of over 10,000 government and elected representatives
trained by the project to-date that will positively anchor
UZP in particular and LGI in general as critical
democratic institution.
Alignment with national systems
During the reporting period, project continued to
strengthen the UZP functionaries to align their planning
and budget making processes with national system and
requirements. This resulted in 482 UZP’s preparation and
submission of budget in time to the LGD as compare to
only 95 in 2012. Similarly, select 14 UZP prepared annual
plan books containing geographical and statistical
information about the Upazila, annual plan, budget and
5-year sectoral vision. 51 UZPs are also working on the
same. Upazila fiscal support facility has created
demonstrative effect to operationalize the UZP
committee; initiated co-financing with community and
UP funds; and have used ADP funds as well as
co-financer. Collectively, pursuance of processes and
establishing practices is creating foot-prints for next UZP
to follow that ultimately contributes to sustainability.
However, the project assesses that administrative
decentralization of line departments is still struggling for
clarity and the conflicting role of MP in UZP functioning
is a huge challenge to the strengthening of UZP.
WAY FORWARD
SUSTAINABILITY
Year 2014 presents strategic opportunity for the project
to re-align itself with the new tenure of Upazila Parishad.
This will mean for the project to re-cultivate functional
relationship with newly elected UZP members; plan and
execute generalized training for the newly elected UZP
leadership; and continue to use Upazila fiscal facility to
augment both service delivery and strengthening of
local democracy.
Project will continue its efforts to align project goals
towards achieving operational convergence and
alignment at the Upazila Parishads. The UZGP through
UFF will continue to contribute in attainment of MDGs
and facilitate the UZP to prepare MDG aligned plans and
budget. The Citizen Perception Survey will be
completed and would lead to creation of database and
updating of baseline for new UZP tenure. Policy
researches will put-forth the landscape of challenges
and opportunity for policy reform. Collectively, the
analysis will provide insights to fine tune UZGP annual
activities.
Women empowerment will be maintained as corner
stone of project activities. WDF formation will be
completed for remaining UZP and Districts along with
completion of orientation training of the WDF members.
The WDF related work will be jointly performed with
UPGP. Knowledge Management (KM) – generation,
codification and sharing of knowledge - will be retained
as focus area as project will prepare fact sheets and briefs
on its initiatives with outgoing UZP. Policy researches will
be used to activate PAG and further discussion on
strengthening of local democracy.
Engagement with MIE Wing of LGD that could not be
initiated in 2013 will be jointly pursued with UPGP
support to identify that how two projects data can be
used by the government. The projects’ own M&E and
corresponding MIS support will continue for effective
project management and reporting.
The long-term impact of UZGP lies in the manner in
which the learning generated from the project will be
shared and mainstreamed. The project will engage other
donor supported projects to further common objective
of strengthening LGI that include SHARIQUE of SDC,
USAID & UK aid supported project “Democratic
Participation and Reform Program” and JICA’s intended
support for Pourshavas to share and mainstream lessons
learnt.
ANNEXURE
34 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
Annex -1
Progress made against LFM indicators
Intervention Logic Objectively Verifiable Indicators Achievements of reporting period
Result 1:
Strengthened Upazila Parisads as more Functional, Transparent and Accountable
By the end of the project, women and men
councilors in all UZPs assert their ability to
participate in debate and influence
decision making to a significantly greater
degree (95% confidence level) than those
in a control group.
By the end of the project, all UZPs are
compliant with 90% of the provisions of
the Right to Information Act
By the end of the project, all UZPs have 6
key standing committees functioning
Baseline value:0
By end of project, women UZP
representatives and functionaries from all
Upazilas participating in officially
registered Women’s Development Fora at
District level.
Baseline value:0
By end of project, all UZPs have prepared a
“Citizens Charter” incorporating
arrangements for UZP-constituent
relations
Baseline value:0
- Over 134 trainings, workshop sessions
& policy dialogues held
- 4131 (3126 Male & 1005 female)
elected & Government representatives
trained
- 70% UZP holding monthly meeting &
Standing Committees formed
- 12 out of 14 GoB designated RTI officers
in 14 traget UZPs trained
By end 2013:
100% Committees formed
70% UZPs held mandatory meetings &
prepared minutes
100% UZPs prepared & submitted budget
to LGD
14 target UZPs prepared & printed Annual
Plan Book (Annual plan+Budget+5 year
vision); 51 under progress
214 WDF formed: 191 at UZP and 23 at
District Total members 7,311 from UP, UZP
& Pourshavas 278 Master Trainers trained
(90 Male & 188 Female) 1,717 elected
women representatives trained
Due to political impasse this activity could
not take place
Result 2:
Strengthened planning and budgeting system at UZP with MDG orientation and pro-poor service delivery mechanism
A draft horizontal and vertical assignment
of key development functions at Upazila
level is agreed with GoB by project
mid-term and is tested in 21 Upazila by
end of project.
Baseline value: 0
Upazila Fiscal Facility (UFF) technical
guidelines revised and approved by LGD
35Annual Report-2013
By end of project, 14 Upazila have each
produced development plans responding
to local MDG assessment
Baseline value: 0%
In final year of project, at least 90% of
performance-based grants are allocated to
projects identified as MDG-responsive in
annual development plans
Baseline value: First round PMS
By end of the project, all selected Upazilas
will have had at least one development
intervention addressing needs of the
identified most vulnerable groups (such as
the Dalits or other locally excluded groups)
Baseline value: 0
Assessment of Minimum Conditions,
Performance assessment & Audit
completed for 14 target UZPs under
revised guidelines
By 2013, 63 schemes out of approved and
under implementation 104 schemes are
MDG and gender responsive i.e. 62%
Result capture in field will be reported in
2014
Result 3: Strengthened national capacityfor effective policy review, monitoring, lesson learning and capacity development of LGIs for enhanced Local Governance
Policy development: By end of the project,
at least 2 legislative or regulatory
instruments influenced by outcome of
piloting activities are drafted and
approved.
Baseline: current set of legislative and
regulatory instruments
Capacity building: By end of the project, the
Policy Advisory Group has prepared and the
GoB has adopted a National Framework for
Local Government Capacity Development
Baseline: No draft framework exists
Monitoring: By end of the project, the
Monitoring, Investigation and Evaluation
Wing of LGD has a functioning MIS capturing
key data on local government performance
Baseline: Only a project based MIS (and in
early design stage) is used by LGD
Backstopping: By the end of the project, the
DLG has a sustainable system for monitoring
and backstopping local governments
Baseline: No system in place
No national firm could qualify to undertake
research under procurement process of the
UNDP. Due to political impasse
international consultant incoming mission
were with held. Following 2 policy
researches will start in 2014:
1. Local Government System in
Bangladesh: Comparative Perspective
and Practices
2. Policy Review of Functional Assignment
to Local Governments (Union Parishad
and Upazila levels) in the delivery of
health and education services
6 Rules and 2 Regulations to elaborate UZP
Act initiated
PAG could not meet
Project M&E strategy and tools in place to
capture the data.
Project’s elaborated M&E tool and being
used to aide DLG/DDLG backstopping
36 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
The following expenditure arrived in 2013 as per final combined delivery report of 2013 against Annual Work Plan
2013
Annex -2
Statement of Expenditure 2013
Outputs Budget
(in USD)
Expenditure
(in USD)
Percentage of
Expenditure
Total
Output 1: Strengthened Upazila Parishads as morefunctional, transparent and accountable
Output 4: Effective Project Management
Output 2: Strengthened Planning and Budgetary system at UZP with MDG Orientation and Pro-poor service delivery mechanism
Output 3: Strengthened National capacity for effective policy review, monitoring, lesson learning and capacity development of local government institutions for enhanced Local Governance
1,399,260 1,508,807 108%
946,786 368,331 39%
333,414 137,296 41%
1,003,375 1,028,305 102%
3,682,835 3,042,738 83%
37Annual Report-2013
Annex-3
List of IEC Materials and Knowledge Products
Baseline Survey Report on Upazila Governance in Bangladesh
Upazila Parishad Manual (2nd Edition)
Manual for General (Refresher) Training
Manual for Specialised Training
Upazila Fiscal Facility Guideline
14 Upazila Information, Plan and Budget Books
UZGP Fact Sheet
Gender Strategy
Joint Communications Strategy
Women Development Forum (WDF): Concept to Implementation
Engendering Local Government Institutions
Upazila Fiscal Facility: Integrating local planning and Resources for the MGDs
Five Briefs on UZGP
40 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
Annex-4
UZGP in News
Empowering local govt institutions stressed Star Report Speakers at a policy dialogue on local governance yesterday stressed the need for empowering local government institutions (LGIs) at all levels to deliver quality services to the citizen. The policy dialogue was held at the deputy commissioner’s office in Khulna, says a press release. The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP), being implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD), organised the dialogue to create and collect public opinions on local governance reforms. The speakers demanded that overlapping functions between LGIs and government functionaries at all levels such as union, upazila and district be removed. State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monuujan Sufian, as chief guest, said the government was committed to reforming and developing the existing local government system. Md Shah Kamal, additional secretary (admin) of LGD and national project director of UZGP was present at the programme as special guest.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Strengthen local govt bodies for development: Speakers
Reported on: August 31st, 2013 07:18:45 pm
Khulna, Aug 31 (UNB)- Speakers at a policy dialogue on local governance on Saturday stressed the need for empowering local government institutions (LGIs) at all levels to deliver quality services to the citizen.
It was also observed that most of the efforts of local government institutions (LGIs) concentrate on micro-infrastructure such as roads and culverts while services like education, health, agriculture, fisheries, livestock, sports and culture remain neglected.
They made the observations at the policy dialogue held at Conference Room of Deputy Commissioner’s office. The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP), being implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD), organised the dialogue aimed at crea ng public opinions on local governance reform from local level func onaries, public representa ves, general ci zens and members of the Civil Society Organiza ons (CSOs) and NGOs, said a press release.
‘Strengthen local govt instts’
Sunday, 15 September 2013
Author / Source: BSS
RAJSHAHI, SEPT 14: Speakers at a daylong workshop said strengthening the Local Government Ins tu ons (LGIs) has become essen al for eleva ng the living and livelihood condi on of the grassroots people especially the poor and marginalised groups. They viewed cherished and overall development of the na on couldn’t be possible through keeping the local government bodies neglected and weakened. Du es and responsibili es of the elected public representa ves par cularly the women in reserved seats need to be specified. Besides, pro-people services and policy has become indispensable to make the local bodies effec ve and func onal. Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) and Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner’s office jointly organized the divisional workshop tled “Services and Policy of Local Government Ins tu ons” held at Nanking Darbar Hall. State Minister for Industries Omor Faruk Chowdhury, MP, addressed the inaugural session as the chief guest with Commissioner of Rajshahi division Helaluddin Ahmed in the chair. Ziaur Rahman, MP, Ishaque Hossain Talukder, MP, Shahiduzzaman Sarker, MP, Local Government Division Secretary Abu Alam Muhammad Shahid Khan, Director of UZGP Shah Kamal and Assistant Country Director (Head of Local Governance Cluster) Shaila Khan also spoke on the occasion.
Strengthening local govt stressed to promote democracy Our Correspondent . Barisal
Participants in a daylong divisional workshop on Friday in the Barisal city stressed strengthen capacity of local government institutions to play an instrumental role in transforming them into fully functional, democratic and transparent entities.
They also underscored the need for drastic reforms to the existing local government system and amendments to the related acts to enable elected representatives of people to work independently and effectively.
The workshop on ‘service and policies of local government institutions’ under Upazila Governance Project was held at Barisal Model School and College auditorium. Local government division under ministry of local government, rural development and cooperatives organised the programme for creating and collecting public opinions on local governance reforms.
European Union, the Swiss Agency for Development and Coopera on, UNDP and UNCDF providing financial and technical assistance to the project, the organisers said.
Promotion of Democracy Call to strengthen local govt→ A Correspondent BARISAL: Par cipants at a day-long divisional workshop on Friday in Barisal stressed the need for strengthening the capaci es of local government ins tu ons to play an instrumental role in transforming them into fully func onal, democra c and transparent en es. They also laid emphasis on carrying out more reforms in the exis ng local government system to enable elected representa ves of people to work independently and effec vely. The workshop on ‘Service and Policies of Local Government Ins tu ons’ under Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) was held at Barisal Model School and College auditorium. Local Government Division, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Coopera ves organised the programme to collect public opinion on local governance reforms. European Union (EU), the Swiss Agency for Development and Coopera on (SDC), UNDP and UNCDF are providing financial and technical assistance to the project.
Created on August 30, 2013 at 23:08
Strong local government a must for flourishing democracy Our Correspondent, Barisal Development
Service-orientation should be improved in areas related to health, education, agriculture, isheries, livestock, poverty alleviation and gender development
Strengthening capacities and transforming local government institutions is necessary for them to play an instrumental role as functional, democratic and transparent entities, said speakers at a workshop.
Stressing the need for drastic reforms of existing local government structures, speakers urged the government to amend related laws so elected representatives are able to work effectively and independently.
The observations were made at an Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) workshop titled “Service and Policies of Local Government Institutions” held in Barisal.
Participants said the government must take credible steps to strengthen local governance and it is crucial for citizens to be empowered so they can demand quality service delivery in a transparent, accountable and inclusive manner.
The programme organised by the Local Government Division, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Coopera ves, is part of the project for which the European Union (EU), Swiss Agency for Development and Coopera on (SDC), United Na ons Development Programme (UNDP) and United Na ons Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) are providing financial and technical assistance.
41Annual Report-2013
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Policy dialogue stresses drastic reforms in local govt system BARISAL, Aug 30 (UNB): Speakers at a policy dialogue on local governance on Friday stressed the need for drastic reforms in the existing local government (LG) system.
They made a set of recommendations for bringing reforms to the LG system including removing overlapping functions of government departments and local government institutions (LGIs) of Zilla, Upazila and Union Parishads at all corresponding levels.
The recommendations include, among others, balanced allocation of resources, changing existing chairmen and mayor-dominated proto-type presidential system into a parliamentary one and withdrawal of the role of MPs (members of parliament) over the local bodies. The recommendations came at the policy dialogue held at the Barisal Model School and College auditorium in Barisal.
The speakers also recommended for more service-orientation, especially in health, education, agriculture, fisheries, livestock, poverty alleviation and gender development, rather than only physical infrastructure development, says a press release.
The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP), being implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD), organised the dialogue aimed at creating and collecting public opinions on local governance reforms from local level functionaries, public representatives, general citizens and members of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and NGOs.
The European Union (EU), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNCDF and UNDP, are providing financial and technical assistance to the project.
42 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
UZGP in Photos
Participants including
elected public
representatives and
government officials
are attending a 3-day
General Training
organised by Upazila
Governance Project
(UZGP) at National
Institute of Local
Government (NILG)
Dhaka.
Mr. Shah Kamal,
Additional Secretry,
LGD and National
Project Director, UZGP
is giving lecture at a
session of a General
Training organized by
the project.
From left- Ms. Shaila Khan, Assistant Country
Director and Head, Local Governance
Cluster, UNDP Bangladesh, and Mr. Shah
Kamal, Additional Secretary, LGD and NPD,
UZGP are distributing certificates among
the participants of a 9-day Specialised
Training organised by UZGP.
43Annual Report-2013
Mr. Akram-Al-Hossain,
Joint Secretary, LGD
and Focal Person,
UZGP is facilitating a
session of a 3-day
General Training
organised by UZGP at
NILG.
This group photo was taken after the
participants completed a 3-day General
Training organised by UZGP at Bangladesh
Academy for Rural Development (BARD),
Comilla.
The designated
Information Officers of
14 select Upazilas are
attending a day-long
training organised by
the project at NILG.
44 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
A farmer is speaking
at an Open Budget
Session at Devhata
Upazila in Sathkhira .
In line with the project’s
communications strategy, community
awareness was raised through
installation of 551 UZP Information
Billboards at 487 UZP Offices and 64
Deputy Commissioner’s Office
premises with detailed roles and
responsibilities of Upazila Parishad.
A snapshot of a
meeting on
formation of Women
Development Forum
(WDF) held at
Badarganj Upazila
Parishad, Rangpur.
45Annual Report-2013
In efforts to generate and
disseminate knowledge on local
governance among
government officcials, public
representatives and general
people, the project established
Resource Corncers at district
and divisional levels.
Finance Minister Mr. A M A Muhith is speaking as Chief
Guest during a Policy Dialogue jointly organised by the
UZGP and UPGP in Sylhet.
UZGP has facilitated
holding of five
divisional level policy
dialogues aimed at
reviewing and
reforming the policy
related to LG electoral
system and service
delivery.
46 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
Participants are attending
a 5-day Training on
Decentralization and
Local Development at a
city hotel in Dhaka. The
UZGP has organised the
comprehensive training
which was conducted by
the team of experts from
the Hague Academy for
Local Governance, the
Netherlands.
Group photo from 5-day Training on Decentralization and Local Development conducted by the Hague Academy
for Local Governance, the Netherlands.
47Annual Report-2013
The project has provided a “15-day Training
on Pottery” in Pirganj Upazila Parishad,
Rangpur, aimed at creating
self-employment for ultra-poor women and
empowering them.
Representatives of the development partners
including European Union (EU), Swiss Agency
for Development and Cooperation (SDC),
United Nations Capital Development Fund
(UNCDF) and United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) are looking at
handi-craftsin Rangpur prepared by women
with support from the project.
A 15-day “Skill
Development Training
in Sataranji Weaving for
Women Enterprenuers”
provided by the UZGP
at Pirganj Upazila
Parishad, Rangpur
district helped rural
poor women to
enhance their
livelihood skills which
evatually bringing the
ultra-poor communities
out of poverty and
empowering the
women.
48 Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)
Members of the
Project Board (PB) of
Upazila Governance
Project (UZGP) are
attending a meeting at
NILG, Dhaka. The
Project Board (PB),
chaired by the NPD, is
responsible to oversee
the implementation of
project activities,
preparing and
endorsing the annaul
and quarterly work
plans and progress
reports.
Staff of the
Upazila
Governance
Project (UZGP) are
attending a Staff
Coordination
meeting of the
project at
National Instituite
of Local
Government
(NILG), Dhaka.
Members of the Project
Steering Committee (PSC)
sits in a meeting at LGD
Conference Room. The
PSC, chaired by the
Secreatry, LGD, serves as a
strategic guidance
provider and oversight
body for the project. The
PSC is the key
decision-making body for
the project and provides
policy guidelines, review
project progress against
targetted results and
tracks financial delivery.
Upazila Governance Project (UZGP)Local Government Division
Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives
Project Office National Institute of Local Government (NILG), 3rd Floor,
29, Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207Tel : (+88-02) 8181109-10, 8181112-13
Website : www.uzgp.org