Govt, UNDP sign deal to strengthen local govt institutions
The government and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Tuesday signed an agreement for implementing a new local government (LG) project titled “Efficient and Accountable Local Governance (EALG)”.
The project aims to further strengthen the capacities of local government institutions (LGIs) in the country and other stakeholders to foster participatory local development service delivery for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said a press release of UNDP.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) additional secretary Shamima Nargis and UNDP Bangladesh country director Kyoko Yokosuka signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides at the planning commission in capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
Local Government Division (LGD) additional secretary Saurendra Nath Chakrabhatty also signed the agreement on behalf of the implementing agency, LGD.
The USD 7.03 million project, funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Denmark through DANIDA and UNDP, will run for the next five years (July 2017 to June 2022).
The signing of the project comes after the successful implementation of two flagship local government projects—Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) and Union Parishad Governance Project (UPGP), jointly funded by EU, SDC, DANIDA, UNDP and UNCDF.
Those two projects have made significant progress in local government arena since 2011, making the LG system more participatory, proactive and pro-people, said the press release.
Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 7th Five Year Plan, the new project aims to further strengthen planning and budgeting system at Upazila and Union Parishads with SDGs orientation and localisation and pro-poor service-delivery mechanism.
The project is expected to support the government to further strengthen downward accountability through effective and inclusive public engagement and will provide policy support for establishing effective local governments, according to the press release.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to make the local government system more efficient and accountable service-provider, Saurendra Nath Chakrabhatty said that the new project will help government to fulfil the “unfinished business” of the two successive LG projects by making the LGIs a real hub for service delivery to the people.
Kyoko Yokosuka said the support will contribute to ensure delivery of services to the door steps of the community and leave no one behind.
She also thanked the government and the development partners—SDC and DANIDA—for continuing their support in further strengthening the LGIs in Bangladesh.