Written evidence submitted by Voluntary
Service Overseas Bangladesh
VSOB has been working in Bangladesh since 1974 with
a range of regional, local and community partner organisations.
The current focus of our work is within the areas of Governance,
HIV/AIDS, Indigenous Community Rights and Secure Livelihoods Rights.
Based on our experience we are well placed to contribute to the
ongoing debate around the development direction of Bangladesh
and we welcome the opportunity provided by the members of the
International Development Select Committee.
In preparing of our submission to the inquiry
VSOB developed a concept note and sought feedback from our key
partners and volunteers in Bangladesh.
CONTEXT:
Bangladesh has made considerable inroads towards
achieving several of its Millennium Development Goals including
gender parity in education, consumption poverty and child mortality.
However, significant challenges remain. Despite sustained domestic
and international efforts to improve economic and demographic
conditions, Bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated and ill-governed
nation. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones
and floods, insufficient water and power supply; inefficient state-owned
enterprises; inadequate port facilities; a rapidly growing labour
force that cannot be absorbed by agricultural sector; high risk
of major infectious diseases from food, water and animals; and
very slow implementation of economic reforms. Another critical
factor that blocks progress is vested interest from political
groups and opposition from the bureaucracy itself.
One encouraging note is that Bangladesh has
a steady 5% economic growth for the past several years. The country
has to take more development initiatives and demonstrate a determination
to rise above its current socio-economic condition.
DFID'S APPROACH
TO DEVELOPMENT
IN BANGLADESH:
The Department for International Development
(DFID) should take pride in its contribution to promoting economic
growth, institutional reform and poverty reduction in Bangladesh.
DFID has contributed to an improvement in overall aid delivery
through direct assistance to the poor and influencing others.
DFID's support of a joint UNICEF-Government of Bangladesh programme
on sanitation, hygiene education and water supply benefited seven
and a half million people in the first five year phase (2001-06)
and the additional £36 million from DFID will increase
access of this excellent initiative to 30 million people
by 2011.[46]
Over the last two years the DFID funded Chars
Livelihood Programme[47]
(CLP) has been working to raise the homes of 32,700 families
onto stabilized earth plinths in order to reduce the risk of flooding.
The severe floods that affected northern Bangladesh in August
2007 gave the programme its greatest test. The programme
proved a success as the rising water levels washed away only 2%
of plinths. In addition, more women in Bangladesh have access
to education as a result of DFID's initiatives to empower women.
VSOB believes that DFID's current approach to
development in Bangladesh is effective. However, we have several
recommendations that would improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Thematic approach
DFID's move to a programmatic/thematic approach
is welcomed as it provides the opportunity to ensure that the
development of projects is based on local needs. DFID should utilize
the opportunities provided by a thematic approach to ensure that
lessons learnt under any one theme are shared throughout all themes.
It is not clear how learning is incorporated into future planning.
Monitoring and evaluation
Monitoring and evaluation is a skill gap in
Bangladesh and at the same time there is an increasing demand
for it from implement organisation and donors. It is vital the
recipients of DFID funds are giving back the correct information
on outcomes to DFID. DFID should support programmes that will
build the monitoring and evaluation capacity of Civil Society
Organisations (CSOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs).
Better monitoring and evaluation processes are
needed to monitor social inclusion issues.[48]
Key learning in the area could be validated by a number of projects
under Manusher Jonno Foundation[49]
Learning from these projects could then feed into programmes of
the Government of Bangladesh. Our partner organizations raised
concerns that DFID invest hugely in health but there is no attempt
to integrate disability, a very neglected area, with clear outcome
indicators into government health programmes supported by DFID.
Intermediary agencies
DFID increasingly channel their funds through
intermediary agencies. This model provides opportunities for small
CSOs to create partnerships and access funds, resulting in a more
de-centralised delivery mechanism. The larger programmes being
managed by intermediaries have allowed some of our bigger partner
organisations to develop existing programmes. DFID's shiree[50]
programme is an example of good practise.
There is a perception that intermediary agencies
are not transparent and it is not clear how they are monitored
by DFID. To boost confidence in intermediary agencies DFID should
make the monitoring process clearer and make information about
the agencies more accessible. The opinion of our partner organisations
is that DFID should review the selection process and criteria
for intermediary agencies to allay concerns about how rigorous
this is.
DFID should support the development of the monitoring
and evaluation systems of these agencies in order develop best
practice, accountability and transparency. The grants received
by the agencies should cover a more comprehensive plan for capacity
building, strategic approaches for better implementation and viability
of the organisations.
DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES
IN BANGLADESH:
VSOB is confident that DFID is well placed to
ensure that the development debate takes into account how emerging
challenges in the global context impact directly and indirectly
on Bangladesh. There are a number of areas where we would like
to see DFID take proactive action.
Climate change
DFID should be optimistic about its successes.
DFID's approach of developing harmonized sector approaches, exploring
new partnerships, exploring partnership for capacity building
within the public sectors and creating "challenge-funds"
to finance NGOs on a competitive basis, is in our analysis an
effective approach. The decision to provide additional funds for
adaptation is welcomed.
One of the potential challenges for DFID could
be to build the capacity of government and non-government institutions
in Bangladesh to advocate for responsible carbon emission and
mitigation policies in northern countries. DFID should use the
Copenhagen Conference[51]
to promote mitigation and argue for additional financial support
for adaptation in counties like Bangladesh to help the south avoid
further hardship.
Synchronisation of urban and rural based programmes
Greater co-ordination is needed between urban
and rural based programmes to address the root causes of unplanned
urbanization in Bangladesh. One of the major causes of poor urbanization
is overpopulation which in turn is caused by internal migration.
DFID funded projects should address overpopulation at the planning,
operational and evaluation stages. It was pointed out by partner
organizations that it would more helpful if DFID can include CLP
learning into current urban programme "livable cities"
which is not evident in the current strategy.
Working in partnership with the Government of
Bangladesh
VSOB fully supports DFID's efforts to work with
the Government of Bangladesh in building the capacity of civil
servants. It is vital to create a model of governance that is
transparent, accountable and offers a model of good practice.
However ineffective political and institutional decentralization
and poor performance of civil servants remains a major obstacle
to development. Particularly we would like to highlight the lack
of any substantial attitudinal changes amongst individual civil
servants and/or an inclusive approach at government office level
especially in terms of gender and disability issues and slow rate
of Annual Development Plan (ADP). It is vital, in terms of tracking
impact and transparency within Government, that there is clear
evidence within the ADP budget of DFID's contribution and specifically
how this contribution is reflected within the Poverty Reduction
Strategic Programme (PRSP) of Bangladesh.
VSOB's good governance programme is working
to develop the capacity of Union Parishads.[52]
We would like to thank DFID for its continuing support in this
area and we look forward to working together in the future. Based
on our experiences we recommend that DFID review their approach
and style of training delivery in their work towards capacity
building of civil servants. The most effective approach in our
experience is participatory, applied and appropriate training.
Within the Bangladeshi context it would be critical that DFID
ensure monitoring mechanisms are in place and that capacity building
gets high priority within government institutions.
Ensuring harmonisation of aid effectiveness
The Paris Declaration 2005[53]
of which the United Kingdom is a supporter[54]
outlined the need to have a streamlined, unified donor approach
in order to harmonize and increase aid effectiveness at the global
level and provide a joint global voice. DFID needs to ensure that
it takes seriously and proactively its role in effectively working
towards making the Declaration a reality as outlined in The Accra
Agenda for Action (AAA) 2008.
Drawing on agreements and best practice outlined
in the Paris Declaration 2005, VSOB would welcome more opportunities
for collaboration with DFID specifically in the area of capacity
building at organisational, community and local governance levels,
a work area in which VSOB has vast experience, knowledge and skills.
More engagement and leadership from DFID would increase the legitimacy
of DFID's International NGO (INGO) partners in Bangladesh.
SUMMARY OF
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
— Monitoring of work carried out under
DFID development themes should address social inclusion.
— More support from DFID for programmes
that will increase the monitoring and evaluation capacity of CSOs
and CBOs in impact analysis and robust planning.
— DFID should make the monitoring process
for intermediary agencies clearer and make information about the
agencies more accessible.
— The process and criteria for selection
of intermediary agencies should be reviewed.
— DFID should provide capacity building
support to intermediary agencies.
— At the Copenhagen Conference 2009 DFID
should promote more responsible mitigation policies in northern
countries and argue for additional financial support for adaptation
in southern countries.
— DFID needs to fund more to research institution
related to science and technology to promote appropriate &
advance technology for poverty reduction eg BRRI (Bangladesh Rice
and Research institute).
— Greater co-ordination and harmonization
is required between urban and rural based programmes and thematic
areas to ensure there is a unified approach.
— Request that the Government of Bangladesh
provide clear evidence within the ADP budget of DFID's contribution
and how this contribution is reflected within PRSP.
— DFID should review their approach and
style of training delivery in their work towards capacity building
of civil servants.
— DFID needs to work proactively with its
INGO partners in Bangladesh to make the Paris Declaration a reality.
September 2009
46 DFID Annual Report 2009 (http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Documents/publications/PSA/E_Bangladesh.pdf) Back
47
The CLP aims to improve the livelihood security of extreme poor
island chars dwellers living in the five districts of the northern
Jamuna River, north-west Bangladesh (http://www.clp-bangladesh.org/) Back
48
Adivashi (indigeonous) groups rights, gender issues, disabled
rights, religious minorities, etc. Back
49
Manusher Jonno Foundation is an initiative designed to promote
"human rights" and "good governance" in Bangladesh
(http://www.manusher.org/) Back
50
shiree is a management agency supporting several challenge funds
established by DFID in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh.
Grants are provided to NGOs that will implement activities aimed
at economic empowerment and "graduating" the poorest
from poverty (http://www.shiree.org/) Back
51
United Nations Climate Change Conference, Dec 7-18 2009 (http://en.cop15.dk/) Back
52
A Union Parishad is the lowest administrative unit in the rural
areas of Bangladesh. Back
53
Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness 2005 (http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/11/41/34428351.pdf) Back
54
Countries, Territories and Organisations Adhering to the Paris
Declaration (http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/11/41/34428351.pdf) Back
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