Outline of the Project

Project Name

Upazila Integrated Capacity Development Project (UICDP)

Date R/D Signed

2017/07/10

Project Site

Bakerganj,Bijoynagar,Gajaria,Chuadanga Sadar,Gaffargaon,Ullahpara,Kaliganj
Baralekha,Ukhia,Teknaf

Term of Cooperation

September 16, 2017 to December 15, 2022

Implementing Organization

• Local Government Division (LGD), Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (MLGRD&C)
• National Institute of Local Government (NILG) under LGD

Background

Bangladesh has a three-layer rural local government system; District Council, Upazila (sub-district) Parishad and Union Parishad. Based on the provisions of autonomous local governments in the Constitution of Bangladesh, the country tries to transform its highly centralized management system into a more decentralized system with strengthened local government institutions (LGIs). In this line, the functions of Upazila Parishad, a middle tier LGI which have an appropriate size of area and population for planning and development interventions, have been strengthened steadily in recent years. Elections of Upazila Parishad were properly conducted in 2009 and 2014; the Upazila Parishad Act was promulgated in 2009 and amended in 2011; the Annual Development Program (ADP) for Upazila was introduced and enhanced gradually. The Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) supported by UNDP demonstrates the successful implementation of enhanced ADP in several pilot Upazilas, initiates overall capacity development for Upazila Parishad chairs and key line department (NBD) staff, and starts promoting Upazila long-term development planning. However, decentralization and governance improvement at the Upazila level still have many challenges. Also, linkage between Upazila Parishad and Union Parishad (UP) and other LGIs in development coordination is still weak.

Considering the above-mentioned decentralization and governance improvement efforts at Upazila level, a comprehensive and integrated local governance project, focusing on Upazila as a pivotal institution to realize decentralized and effective service delivery to local communities, should be initiated. The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) and the Government of Japan (GOJ) agreed to implement the Upazila Governance and Development Project (UGDP) in 2016. The project is expected to promote a comprehensive decentralization measures which promotes need-based infrastructure development by Upazila Parishad with enhanced Upazila ADP and ensures more close linkage between Upazila, Union and other LGIs and also NBDs for better public service delivery to the local communities.

In addition to UGDP, the Local Government Division (LGD) of GOB has requested GOJ through JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) to formulate a technical cooperation project which supplements and facilitates UGDP and undertakes a various pilots toward the establishment of an advance model of Upazila Parishad.

The Overall Goal

Promoting development works and public service delivery, based on the regional characteristics, through strengthened capacity of Upazila Parishad.

Project Purpose

To establish a framework to improve "comprehensive coordination capacity of Upazila Parishad".
* Comprehensive coordination capacity is the capacity of Upazila Parishad to formulate and implement Upazila development plans (both Five-Year Plan and annual development plan) in coordination with all stakeholders (Union Development Coordination Committee (UDCC) at Unions, Town Level Coordination Committee (TLCC) at Paurashavas, and transferred government departments) so that citizens' needs of Unions/Paurashavas, regional development plans and the needs of each sector can be properly integrated.

Output

1. Mid-long term strategy for Upazila Parishad Governance Improvement is developed and its implementation mechanism and monitoring system are established.
2. Model for Upazila Integrated Development Plan and related guidelines are developed.
3. Capacity of the National Institute of Local Government (NILG) and related institutes to implement trainings for Upazila Parishad stakeholders is strengthened.

Project Activities

Output 1

1-1	Review existing legal framework (e.g. act, regulation, guidelines) and other Upazila related project activities to analyze institutional/policy environment and identify issues.
1-2	Form a working committee to develop Mid-Long Term Strategy for Upazila Parishad Governance Improvement.
1-3	Develop Mid-Long Term Strategy for Upazila Parishad Governance Improvement.
1-4	Identify actions to be taken based on the strategy.
1-5	Implement actions based on 1-4.
1-6	Conduct periodical monitoring on the strategy implementation after its approval.

Output 2

2-1	Select Pilot Upazila based on the results of governance performance survey conducted by UGDP.
2-2	Review existing process of preparing, implementing and monitoring Upazila development plan as well as similar efforts by other development partners.
2-3	Develop a set of manuals (draft) and formats (draft) for Upazila Integrated Development Plan (5-year and annual), including already transferred17 line departments.
2-4	Collect information on development projects implemented by transferred 17 line departments in the pilot Upazila Parishads.
2-5	Collect information on Union and Paurashava Development Plan (5-year and annual) through Upazila Committee, UDCC, TLCC, etc.
2-6	Compile Union and Paurashava Development Plans into area and sector basis through Upazila Committee and Upazila Monthly Committee meeting.
2-7	Develop Upazila Integrated Development Plan in pilot Upazila based on 2-1~2-5 and obtain approval in Upazila Monthly Meeting.
2-8	Review implementation of the Upazila Integrated Development Plan and finalize the set of manuals and formats, all of which compile as Guideline for Upazila Integrated Development Plan.
2-9	Monitor and review the progress of formulating Upazila Integrated Development Plan in expanded Pilot Upazila.
2-10	Update Guideline for Upazila Integrated Development Plan based on 2-8 and 2-9.
2-11	Update the set of manuals and formats on Formulation of Upazila Integrated Development Plan.
2-12	Identify good practices in pilot Upazila and disseminate through exchange visit, workshop, social media network, etc.

Output 3

3-1	Review existing capacity development framework on Upazila stakeholders (e.g. training plans, curriculums) and identify issues.
3-2	Based on 3-1 and in parallel with 1-3, develop mid-long term training plan for capacity development of Upazila Parishad stakeholders.
3-3	Develop training materials and manuals, in parallel with 2-1~2-7, for a guideline to prepare Upazila Integrated Development Plan.
3-4	Develop training materials and manuals on necessary subjects except for development plan to be identified through 3-2.
3-5	Conduct Training of Trainers (TOT) for NILG and related institutions officers, and implement trainings for pilot Upazila using training materials and manual developed by 3-3 and 3-4.
3-6	Conduct training follow-up survey for pilot Upazila to assess training impact.
3-7	Update and finalize training materials and manuals based on 3-5 and 3-6.
3-8	Incorporate training materials and manuals, to be developed by 3-3 and 3-6, into training courses for Upazila stakeholders in nation-wide, to be conducted by NILG and UGDP.
3-9	Conduct TOT for NILG and related institutions officers and implement trainings for extended Pilot Upazila using training materials and manuals finalized by 3-7.
3-10	Update mid-long term training plan for Upazila Parishad.

Inputs
[Japanese side]

Japanese Experts

1. Chief Advisor/Local Government System
2. Development Plan
3. Capacity Development
4. Project Coordinator/Public Relations
5. Others when necessary

Local Consultants

1. National Coordinator (Development Plan/Capacity Development)
2. District Coordinator (8)

Japan/Third Country Training

Equipment and Facilities
Computers, Printers, Photocopy machinesm, Vehicles, etc.
Local Activities Cost
Survey, training curriculum/materials, local training, workshops/seminars

Inputs
[Bangladesh side]

1. Personnel
   - Project Director 1 (AS, LGD)
   - Deputy Project Director 2 (JS LGD/JS NILG)
   - Counterpart personnel (LGD/NILG)
   - Personnel from Concerned Organizations (e.g. LGED, BRDB)
2. Equipment and Facilities
   Office space and facilities
3. Local Cost
   Salaries/remuneration and other allowances for C/P personnel, running expenses for utilities, tax and CD/VAT, other necessary expense