Projects and Mandates

SHARIQUE (Local Governance Programme in Rajshahi and Sunamganj)

Description

SHARIQUE, means 'partner' in Bangla. The aim of the project is to reduce poverty through participatory and accountable local governance, leading to equitable local development for all segments of the society, especially the poor, women and other marginal groups. The rationale is that with government drawing closer to the people, more citizens participate and are able to influence the decision making process at local level. Communities taking their own decisions results in more appropriate services and infrastructure and contributes to better living conditions and economic growth. This in turn contributes to poverty reduction and creating equity among all.

The project has the following four objectives:

1)Local government authorities manage public affairs in a more effective, efficient and transparent way and are more responsive and accountable to the community, specially the poor, women and marginal groups (Supply side);

2) The citizens participate more responsibly in local planning and decision-making processes and ask for transparency and accountability, playing a more significant role in local development processes (Demand side);

3)The main local governance actors have improved their capacity to coordinate and interact among themselves (government, civil society, private sector) for local development, with the UPs playing a central coordinating role (Coordination aspect);

4) Experiences and good practices have been capitalized and disseminated to other relevant actors and are introduced into the national policy discussion (Policy reform aspect).

Fact sheet

Type: Trust fund project
Start: 2006 End: 2009 Status: Current
Joint venture with: CARE Bangladesh

Region: South Asia

Country: Bangladesh

Working domain: Local Governance and Civil Society

Key topic: Municipal development and decentralization | Political decentralization | Fiscal decentralization | Local governance | Municipal management