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Strengthening Local Governments’ Initiatives in Bangladesh

Photo: UNDP International Poverty Center The participants of the Study Tour on Participatory Budgeting and Planning visit completed and in progress work decided by popular participation.

The UNDP International Poverty Centre hosted the Study Tour on Participatory Budgeting and Planning for representatives of People's Republic of Bangladesh from 17 to 22 August 2008. The mission was composed by four senior government officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives. The Study Tour was an initiative by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and UNDP Bangladesh and was organized by the International Poverty Centre and UNDP Brazil, with support from Claudia Jardim Verdolin D'Abreu, Consultant on Participatory Budgeting and Planning.

The purpose of this Study Tour was to provide the Bangladeshi government officials with training sessions and knowledge-sharing opportunities on the Brazilian experiences with local governments and participatory budgeting and planning processes. The focus of the discussions was on the impact of increased popular participation in the decision making process at local level and its impacts into sustainable development and poverty reduction through the empowerment of poor people. This Study Tour fostered the exchange of innovative experiences between Brazil and Bangladesh in several aspects. The Bangladeshi government officials learned from Brazilian innovative practices under the spirit of South-South Cooperation and are committed to promote a wide policy dialogue in Bangladesh based on their learning experience in Brazil.

The meetings and discussions rounds took place in Brasilia and Belo Horizonte and involved the academia, representatives from the Brazilian government, international organizations, NGOs and several other stakeholders involved in participatory planning processes.

The Bangladeshi representatives also took part in several field visits to follow the implementation of local planning councils and interact with the communities involved in the decision making processes. In Brasilia, the delegates went on a field visit to a middle-income housing project in the satellite city of Águas Claras. The region was developed by employers of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) through cooperatives. In Belo Horizonte, they participated in visits to the slum area of Serra to see the achievements of Programa Vila Viva, created by the demand of the population for the resettlement from risky areas, as well as the Vila Marçola Cultural Center and the Padre Cícero Local Child Education Unit (Umei).

The Study Tours represent one of the IPC’s efforts on building South-South dialogue on innovative development policies. The target audience is composed by government officials from developing countries and representatives of UNDP Country Offices, Regional Centres and other units. The Study Tours promote partnerships to fight poverty through advocacy and capacity building.

Additional information: www.undp-povertycentre.org/training