Gender and Development

Bangladesh

Capacity Building on Gender and Governance in Municipal Bodies

Case of Municipal Bodies in Bangladesh

Municipal bodies are the leading agencies in local level urban development activities in Bangladesh. They are responsible for implementing development projects funded by various donors including the ADB. Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) of Government of Bangladesh, engaged in implementation of infrastructure development activities, has undertaken a project supported by ADB in 21 districts which involve municipal bodies as the key stakeholders. The project mainly deals with urban infrastructure development, water supply, sanitation and slum development activities in which women are the key beneficiaries.

The introduction of the reservation quota system in Bangladesh has led to three women members being elected directly for each municipality to ensure women's representation in local government. Women are key stakeholders in the community and municipal members are the vital force to improve women's participation in the various activities to undertake civic responsibilities. Currently the Municipal bodies are not well equipped to play the desired role of mobilizing women as a key stakeholder group. Therefore, it was felt that building the capacity of municipal bodies and especially the elected women members was required especially if the women members have to more effectively represent the interests of their constituency.

A pilot project in one municipality was initiated in collaboration with a local women's NGO to build the capacity of the newly elected women members to promote and involve women in municipal work under RETA 5889. The women members will be trained to become more effective representatives of women in the community.

The objectives of the project were to

1. create a positive environment in municipalities to involve women in delivery of services
2. enhance the capacity of municipal bodies to address the needs of women in its activities
3. strengthen the role of municipalities in ensuring women's participation in development and in addressing their needs
4. assist the women ward commissioners to develop themselves as public representatives

Another related aim was to raise public awareness of the role and responsibilities of municipal bodies and the elected women members through public campaigns in each ward.

The project operates in two municipalities: Sirajgani and Rajbari comprising of 24 wards (nine in Rajburi and 15 Sirajgan). These areas are covered by the loan project Secondary Towns Improvement Development Project II. Lessons learnt have the potential for replication in other municipalities covered under the loan.

The project activities undertaken to achieve the objectives were

1. rapport building with the municipal bodies
2. training of women ward commissioners and stakeholders on 'Training on Participatory Development and Roles and Responsibilities'
3. training of Chairmen and Ward Commissioners on 'Gender and Development'
4. ward based community awareness campaigns
5. preparation of municipal profiles
6. development of training modules and advocacy materials
7. national workshop on the objectives and outcomes of the project

The pilot project will help identify areas of municipal work where women can be involved as stakeholders, and will develop materials for use in related training programs. The municipal chairperson and members will be trained in techniques of participatory development and on their role in the mobilization of women for development activities. Municipal members will then develop targets to involve women and address gender issues in their own wards. Their activities, fostered through an incentive system, will be monitored regularly. In the process, terms of reference for women ward members will be developed. If the pilot project is successful it will be replicated in the other wards covered under the loan project. In addition, the lessons learned will be compiled for use in other urban development projects. This pilot project is now being replicated and scaled up into a regional technical assistance - RETA - project which covers three countries in South Asia to promote gender-responsive governance.