UNDP in Bangladesh

(24 Jul 2010) Improving effective revenue mobilisation in LGSP-LIC

(25 Apr 2010) Training for 1st batch of Upazila chairs held

(22 Apr 2010) Refresher trainings for union facilitation teams held

(8 Mar 2010) International Women�s Day observed in LGSP �LIC Upazila under Habiganj District

(11 Sep 2008) Local level resource mobilisation by union parisad stressed

(14 Jun 2008) District Orientation Session

(17 Sep 2007) Signing ceremony of LGSP-LIC project

Local Governance Support Project-Learning and Innovation Component

Background

The Sirajganj Local Governance Development Fund Project (SLGDFP), an $8.9 million pilot program, began in July 2000 and had an expected completion in 2007. The project was co-funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) with the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) and the Government of Bangladesh. Sirajganj Local Governance Development Project (SLGDP) has established an example of the potential benefits of decentralized funding for local development and poverty reduction combined with capacity development for participatory planning and delivery of local infrastructure and improved management and accountability for service delivery.

Inspired by the success stories and best practices of SLGDFP, the Government of Bangladesh has shown interest to initiate a nation wide project. And in 2006 the Government with the assistance of World Bank, UNDP, UNCDF, the European Commission (EC), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and Danish International Development Assistance (Danida) initiated �Local Governance Support Project� which aims to foster good local governance through fiscal decentralization as well as support the Union Parishads to develop as pro-people and accountable public institutions with enhanced service delivery capacity. Learning and Innovation Component (LIC), an integral part of the national LGSP, will be implemented by the Local Government Division, Ministry of LGRD&C with the technical support of UNDP and UNCDF. This project is funded by UNDP, UNCDF, EC and Danida which aims to experiment new innovative ideas to strengthen the UPs along with the SLGDFP approaches and feed these innovations into the national LGSP. LIC will be implemented in six districts, one in each division, Sirajganj, Habiganj, Feni, Barguna, Satkhira and Narsingdi, of Bangladesh.

Objective

The key objectives of the LGSP-LIC are:

To ensure transparent, accountable Union Parishads to contribute to poverty reduction in rural Bangladesh.

To deliver sustainable basic infrastructure and socio-economic services by the UPs, which would meet the local priorities and contribute to poverty alleviation and socio-economic development.

To build capacity of elected bodies in terms of planning, financing and managing service delivery in response to local needs.

To build capacity of elected bodies in terms of planning, financing and managing service delivery in response to local needs.
To ensure the voices of the poor and marginalized are heard, especially women

Apply lessons on innovative ways in planning, financing and managing services to the national LGSP and policy development

Expected Results

Improved Local Governance for Poverty Reduction

Enhanced Capacities of the Local Government Institutions

Partnerships developed of local governance actors for policy formulation, service delivery and resource management

Introduce innovative ideas and perceptions to inform national LGSP to strengthen the Union Parishads as accountable and pro-people public institutions

Start and end period:	Sep 17, 2007 - Dec 31, 2011
Approved Budget:	US$ 18118000.0
Donors:	UNDP-TRAC (1 & 2), UNCDF, European Commission, Danida
Implementing Partners:	Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives