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Background
The
first specific governance policy document covering 2004 to 2007 was
written in 2004. Intervention areas identified were democracy and
human rights, corruption, public financial management, and promoting
gender equality. The key objective was twofold: supporting
institutional building and supporting thematic interventions. In
financial terms the input into governance was in excess of 20
percent of the Embassy’s annual budget.
In
2005 the governance strategy was updated. Operationalisation
of the governance agenda of the Embassy of the Kingdom of The
Netherlands (EKN) during 2005-2008 focussed on three components: (1)
ensuring human security and human rights, (2) fighting corruption,
and (3) promoting democracy. The key activities undertaken were
support to birth registration, democratisation, combating child
labour, support to female victims of violence, awareness raising and
advocacy on violence against women, support on public financial
management and anti-corruption, support to the Bar Council,
development of a code of corporate governance, as well as gender and
governance mainstreaming in the health, education and water sectors.
Alongside support to Bangladeshi institutions and actors on
governance and human rights issues, EKN applies a policy of zero
tolerance to corruption in its internal and programme management. If
there is any evidence of misappropriation, patronage or any form of
corruption, appropriate steps are taken. A corruption risk analysis
and institutional analysis are done prior to finalising any
programme. If such financial assistance is provided to GoB it has
always been linked to technical assistance, whereby the latter is
responsible for checking the legitimate expenditure under the
former. This reduces the risks of illegitimate expenditure. Regular
activity monitoring, mid-term evaluation and financial audits are
the other tools for proper management of projects.
Why is EKN active in governance and gender?
In
Our Common Concern, a policy paper for the Dutch House of
Representatives dated October 2007, one of the six major changes in
development cooperation identified is the need for deepening and
strengthening the quality of political and economic governance.
Failure to achieve the MDGs is certainly not only caused by
external factors. It is connected with the quality of governance,
which is also a reality in Bangladesh. Although more and more
countries (and Bangladesh is no exception) are holding democratic
elections, the interests of the political and economic elites still
determine the agenda. In Bangladesh, poor people, particularly
women, lack the resources to inform and organise themselves to
influence government services and a more equal distribution of
economic growth and prosperity. Institutional reform and
democratisation will allow a larger proportion of the population to
participate. Bangladesh has many of the characteristics of a
fragile state with poor governance, lack of financial accountability
and effective institutions, which justifies the emphasis given to
strengthening government structures and increasing legitimacy.
Governance and gender objectives
Since
2008, EKN Dhaka is implementing its multi-annual strategic plan.
Governance and gender remain important cross-cutting themes which
need further strengthening, both within the three sectors of health,
education and water, as well as independent themes in themselves.
EKN support to this sector is crucial because Bangladesh, after
achieving a certain level of success in the social sectors, needs to
further improve its governance to sustain those achievements.
Under
strategic goal 1 improved human rights and human security,
EKN is monitoring closely and keeping up active and
critical/constructive dialogue with the government and other
development partners on general human rights issues. EKN is
supporting community policing, birth registration and NGO
initiatives to promote gender equality, prevent violence against
women and making people aware about women’s rights.
Under
strategic goal 2 of deepening democracy, EKN is
supporting the Election Commission in developing the most modern and
complete voter list on the one hand and in setting up server
stations for the maintenance and updating of the voter list on the
other. EKN also supported a civil society initiative of election
observation during the last parliamentary elections held in December
2008.
Under
strategic goal 3 of well-functioning and reliable public
service, EKN is working with BRAC University Institute of
Governance Studies to train civil servants and to monitor and
analyse governance trends and situations. It is also supporting the
Ministry of Finance for improving public financial management for a
more efficient use of public resources and delivery of services
through better budget execution, enhanced transparency and
accountability, with proper oversight by checks and balances
institutions.
Results: EKN actively participates in
the EU Human Rights Taskforce in Bangladesh that monitors the human
rights situation in the country and intervenes as needed.
From January to June 2008, with Dutch support, almost 383,000 births
were registered, 1250 family disputes on violence against
women-issues were resolved by mediation and 89 court cases were
supported. Dutch support was used in developing the voter roll with
photograph and civil society observation of elections. Introduction
of mid-term budgetary framework, introduction of a government
accounting system (I-bas), introduction of gender-based budgeting
and capacity building of a large number of government officials on
accounting and auditing have also been possible with Dutch support
through the Financial Management Reform Programme (FMRP). So far two
annual State of Governance reports were published (in 2006 and 2007)
and 50 government officials received a master’s in governance and
development from the BRAC University Institute of Governance
Studies.
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Cooperation with GoB
Because the previous Dutch Minister for Development Co-operation
instructed not to work directly with the GoB, taking into account
the corruption risks involved in directly financing GoB, we are
mainly working in partnership with local non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) and international organisations such as the
UNDP, UNICEF and GTZ. For example, our gender based community based
policing project, implemented by the Ministry of Women and Children
Affairs is funded through GTZ and our support to the Ministry of
Finance to reform financial management through DFID.
Key donors in governance and gender
The
most important donors in governance and gender are the World Bank,
ADB, UNDP, USAID, The Royal Danish Embassy, EC, GTZ, DFID, CIDA, SDC,
SIDA, UNICEF, and UNFPA.
Cooperation with other donors
In
pursuing gender and governance objectives the EKN reinforces the
political dimension of its efforts by strengthening the political
dialogue both within the sectors as well as with regard to good
governance, anti-corruption, gender, etc. EKN works closely with
both the European Commission and UN, as well as with the Local
Consultative Group (LCG). Currently EKN chairs the LCG justice and
human rights working group, a subgroup of the LCG Governance. Next
to that, EKN is active in the LCG Governance, LCG WAGE (Women and
Gender Equality). EKN also participates in the LCG group on
Political Governance and the LCG group on Public Service Reform.
Efforts are being made to strengthen the political role of the LCG.
The Head of Mission (HoM) and deputy HoM play an active in this.
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1.
Institutionalising the Department of Women’s Studies at the
University of Dhaka Objectives
Partner organisation
Budget
Timeframe: 2002-2011
Relevant website:
www.univdhaka.edu
2.
Support to Acid Survivors Foundation
Objectives
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Enhance direct support to
survivors of acid violence through provision of medical services,
counselling and follow-up services.
-
Work with partner
organisations to undertake legal redress, reintegration of survivors
into society, and raising awareness about acid violence.
-
Enhance capacity of the
implementing partner.
Partner organisation
Budget
Timeframe: 2004-2010
Relevant website:
www.acidsurvivors.org
3.
Support to birth registration in Bangladesh
Objectives
Partner organisation
Budget
Timeframe: 2007-2009
Relevant website:
www.unicef.org/bangladesh
4.
Legal Education and Gender Awareness Leadership (LEGAL II)
Objectives
Partner organisation
Budget
Timeframe: 2006-2011
Relevant website:
www.rdrsbangla.net
5.
Gender responsive community based policing
Objectives
Partner organisation
Budget
Timeframe: 2007-2010
Relevant website:
www.gtz.de/bangladesh
6.
Preparation of Electoral Roll (2007-2010)
Objectives
Partner organisation
Budget
Timeframe: 2007-2010
Relevant website:
www.undp.org.bd;
www.ecs.gov.bd
7.
Construction of server stations for the electoral database (CSSED)
(2009-2010)
Objectives
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Construction of 481
upazila (rural local government) server stations, 16 server stations
in city thanas (units of urban areas), and five multi-story regional
centres at divisional level, including building of nationwide
facilities for internet networking among the server stations and the
Election Commission, adequate road links and overall site
development.
Partner organisation
Budget
Timeframe: 2009-2010
Relevant website:
www.undp.org.bd;
www.ecs.gov.bd
8.
Support to BRAC University, Institute of Governance Studies
Objectives
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Creation of a critical
mass within GoB catalytic for initiating, enhancing, implementing
and sustaining pro-poor reforms.
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Establishment of a centre of
excellence for promoting good governance in Bangladesh.
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Increased local capacity for
training (faculty, researchers) and a resource pool (within NGO,
private and civil sectors) equipped with tools for addressing
governance failures.
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Annual in-depth analyses,
diagnosis and ratings of Bangladesh’s governance standards.
Partner organisation
Budget
Timeframe:2005-2009
Relevant website:
www.igs-bracu.ac.bd
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